Fixing other guys bikes and ATGATT*

[NoH2Oh]

So in my off time I work on friends and neighbors bikes that have stood idle for a while and get them back on the road. Nothing too crazy.

Anyway, I finish my neighbors 1985 Maxim engine a few weeks ago that stood dormant for ten ( 10! ) years and the engine starts on maybe the 3rd or 4th hit of the button. Cool. Now I tell him what pads to order, brake fluid type and that new seals and maybe pistons will be on the list. And off he goes before we do the brakes....in shorts...Vans and no helmet.

Thankfully he gets the brake parts I had him order and we service the brakes last week. NOW he rides in the same attire with the cute girlfriend on the back. In a tank top.....flip flops......and no helmet.

Should this bother me so much? How do you guys that work on other peoples bikes reconcile this? Could I be held liable if something were to happen?

Really makes me reconsider working on other peoples rides.

* Full disclosure: I am an ATGATT a-hole. Hate squids and I am truly envious of Harley riders that obviously purchase the Screaming Eagle invisible crash protection barrier.

 

[mattfeet]

I'm ATGATT as well and just convinced myself I'll be OK in a true summer riding jacket in place of my leather jacket (both with armor) so I don't die of heat stroke ON my bike. That said, it's his choice. Some people just don't understand the danger or are too naive to think anything will happen to them. The only item I skimp on are pants (just wear jeans), but jacket, gloves, helmet, and boots are all mandatory.

Matt

 

[Steve]

Wear what you want.

Ride what you want.

Don't force it on others.

Suggest, maybe even comment, but you can't force your opinions on him (them).

I caught flak a couple years ago for posting a picture of my sons leaving the driveway on both of my bikes.
Comments ranged from "I can't believe you would let them do that" to "If those were my kids, they wouldn't be leaving like that".
Personally, I had no problem with the way they were dressed. :-k

I have worked in and around hospitals since 1973.
Mrs. Steve has been a nurse since 1977.
Both kids have seen the results of accidents.
The way we happen to dress while riding is based on informed decisions.

Motorcycling itself involves accepting some risk, we have chosen how much we want to accept.

.

 

[Frank Z.]

+1 Steve.
This guy got very lucky (happened today)

http://www.mandatory.com/2014/07/01/motorcyclist-miraculously-lands-on-feet-after-flipping-over-car/

FWIW: Two main reasons for street motorcycle crashes are 1) entering curves too fast, resulting in run-off... or worse (mostly avoidable), and 2), of course, are intersections (sometimes avoidable). Proper riding gear lessens fatality rate in both occurrences. Just sayin'

 

[Vmass]

+1 Steve.
This guy got very lucky (happened today)

http://www.mandatory.com/2014/07/01/motorcyclist-miraculously-lands-on-feet-after-flipping-over-car/

FWIW: Two main reasons for street motorcycle crashes are 1) entering curves too fast, resulting in run-off... or worse (mostly avoidable), and 2), of course, are intersections (sometimes avoidable). Proper riding gear lessens fatality rate in both occurrences. Just sayin'

Steve has it right........it is up to each individual as to how they want to protect themselves.

It sure looks like that motorcyclist should have had time to safely bring that bike to a stop, considering the amount of time that goes by from when that car begins to make that turn, to the time of impact.

I am guessing he was distracted during his approach to the intersection.

 

[tkent02]

I wouldn't fix his bike anymore.

Not an ATGATT Nazi or anything, but he's dumb enough he'll probably dump it sooner than later, I wouldn't want to have had anything to do with it.

 

[Allie]

+1 to Steve, big boys and girls should make their own decisions. That being said your friend sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, I'd personally shy away from further enabling. I myself have discretely backed away from helping a friend whose judgment I found highly questionable. He can make his own decisions but I don't have to help him with them.

Leaving the driveway without gloves would not cause me to lose sleep even though I'd never do it. I did discretely comment to another friend however on his little fingerless Terminator gloves. I just mentioned the fact that he's a musician and did he think a little extra digital insurance might be worth the effort - he rides with his fingers shod now.

 

[Jethro]

* Full disclosure: I am an ATGATT a-hole. Hate squids and I am truly envious of Harley riders that obviously purchase the Screaming Eagle invisible crash protection barrier.

You must not ride with a lot of people. I ride with lots of the V-twin crowd and a lot of them ride with no gear at all. It's a choice people make, motorcycling should represent freedom of choice. So my advice to you is, if you can't accept other peoples choices about whatever, you should probably exit the service industry immediately.

 

[Guest]

Nothing so needs reforming as other people's bad decisions & habits.

 

[trevor]

AZR and I went for a ride today and at a light (getting ready to go on the hwy) stopped behind a cool dude on a Harley...what was he wearing? T-shirt, shorts and flip flops. Classic!

 

[Rob S.]

This ATGATT thing is on my mind almost every day now, as this is the first summer in 25 years that I've ridden.

When I used to ride my Kaw Z1 to the beach (25 highway miles), I wore high-top sneakers untied with loose laces, no socks, teensy denim cut-off shorts and teensy sleeveless "belly" shirt. I bungeed an army blanket to the rear of the seat and I was off.

I stopped wearing gloves two months ago, but (so far) I always wear my boots, Levi's and leather MC jacket. My helmet is full face.

If I'm just going to gas her up (less than a mile away), I skip the boots and jacket and don't even buckle the helmet. Once, a couple of months ago, I did it in shorts and burned my leg on the pipe.

I think about it almost every day, but I haven't made any decisions yet. It was certainly on my mind when I rode last weekend with a friend who does not split lanes and waits his turn at stop signs/lights.

The heat index is 94f now. What to do?

 

[trevor]

When I was 17 or 18 I remember riding to a pool party in a bathing suit.

I now have other people in my life that need and depend on me. That is why I wear the gear that I wear. I think it is selfish to not want to protect yourself as much as possable when you have a wife and child. Not to mention that I want to have a long life with them too. Just my opinion of course.

I also find it funny that people on here talk about riding with people that don't wear any gear. I don't do that..not because I am making a decision to not ride with those people but because I simply wouldn't have much in common values wise. Therefore it just doesn't happen.

 

[subforry]

NoH2Oh I can understand why this bothers you. I doubt you can change this guys choice in riding gear. But a simple comment or friendly suggestion from you could plant a seed that may grow into a habit of wearing protective gear.

My feeling and what I tell people whether it is a bicycle or motorcycle, is that the gear can be the difference between shaking it off or spend the next 2-3 weeks applying ointment and bandages.

Side story: for the first time I went to a HD dealer. I was looking at the "motorcycle" boots and jackets. They were all made of the thinnest material and no armor. As I left I saw a guy and his girl riding off. They both had t-shirts and he had a lit cigarette - while he was riding! You kind have to admire that level of bravado - or is it something else

 

[78550GS]

A few weeks ago, my brother in law offered to let me ride his ducati monster. I wasn't prepared to ride that day, so I didn't have any gear. I figured a quick trip around the block wouldn't hurt, so as I was waiting on traffic at the end of the driveway, my brother in law comes up beside me on his busa.

We were being very good (which is hard to do on those 2 bikes).

I was taking it easier than usual since I didn't have my helmet, but as we pulled around a car parked on the side of the street for a garage sale, we both played a bit.

He knew the road better than me so I let him get ahead. As we came upon a small left hand curve, he crested a small crown in the road. He was braking for the turn, so when the back wheel came off the ground, it locked up. He attempted to lowside to keep from hitting the guardrail, but the rear tire dropped onto the soft shoulder.

At that point, the bike stood back up onto the tires and dead into the guardrail. I was going 60 when he hit the rail maybe 10-20 mph faster.

In all actuality, the bike looks like a 20 mph lowside, but my brother in law got a concussion and 35% coverage of road rash on his body.

The ONLY time I have ever seen my brother in law go anywhere without a helmet. The LAST time I will ever go anywhere without a helmet. I'm in the process of looking for a riding jacket with armor that I like.

 

[Rob S.]

NoH2OhI saw a guy and his girl riding off. They both had t-shirts and he had a lit cigarette - while he was riding! You kind have to admire that level of bravado - or is it something else

Something else.

I think we've all seen the lit cigarette. But was it ever on anything other than a Harley?

 

[Rob S.]

...the bike stood back up onto the tires and dead into the guardrail. I was going 60 when he hit the rail maybe 10-20 mph faster.

In all actuality, the bike looks like a 20 mph lowside, but my brother in law got a concussion and 35% coverage of road rash on his body.

The ONLY time I have ever seen my brother in law go anywhere without a helmet. The LAST time I will ever go anywhere without a helmet. I'm in the process of looking for a riding jacket with armor that I like.

Rider error...we've all been there. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

Brother-in-law that lets you ride his Ducati? I don't have one of those.

Just curious - what state are you in? No helmet law? I used to go to Connecticut just to ride "bare".

 

[78550GS]

Rider error...we've all been there. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

Brother-in-law that lets you ride his Ducati? I don't have one of those.

Just curious - what state are you in? No helmet law? I used to go to Connecticut just to ride "bare".

He actually healed most of the rash up by going to a public pool with a ton of chlorine a couple times. Kept it real clean too.

I'm in Ohio, you are required to have a helmet only when you have your temporary permit and during your first year riding since the dub you a "novice."

 

[Wingsconsin]

Spread Information and Education -

Spread Information and Education -

I am sometimes called upon to help less experienced riders with routine maintenance or simple updates on their motorcycles.

AS one who ALWAYS wears a helmet , and armored mesh jacket and long pants when I ride I prefer to tell others about MY personal choices and WHY I made them..

After that - Personal responsibility takes over - You choose what you want to ride in and the risk level that goes with it...

I do think we more experienced riders have some wisdom to impart and share and should do it whenever we can.

 

[earlfor]

I started riding around 1963 and until 1990 or so, the only gear I owned was a 3/4 helmet and a pair of sunglasses and a fatigue jacket I wore when it was cold. It was rarely cold in south Fl. hehe I have for a long time, "changed over" to wearing full gear, full face helmet, gloves, "the whole nine yards", and I think it is the prudent thing to do.
However, I still think about the days I rode in a T shirt, jeans and a only a helmet. I enjoyed that. Even though I know the risks, now and then, I feel like really being in the wind, so I do ride sometimes with only a helmet. I don't recommend anyone else do it, but I'm not going to hide in a closet behind a pile of airbags hoping something doesn't fall on me either. LOL I can't very well be telling another rider to wear all the gear when I'm standing there in a T shirt. LOL

 

[niclpnut]

One of my employees has seen me on one bike or another for the past 4 years and wanted to get into motorcycling.

"What should I get?"

Get something you can lead to ride on and work on. Best to know how the machine works and get to know it intimately AND ride it properly. Cruiser or sportsbike doesn't matter. Get something that you can learn on and will allow you the opportunity to finetune your skills and comfort level.

Please read some books (twist of the wrist, etc..)


what's the guy get?

2005 Yamaha R1... A real starter bike.

Takes out a personal loan, gets the cheapest liability insurance out there and manages to high side the bike due to a "missed shift" into second on a straight, dry, and clear road.


At a minimum he followed my advice and got a Helmet, armored gloves and was wearing boots.

Now he's out several hundreds of dollars for repairs but walked away from the crash without splitting his head open.

He's learned an expensive lesson with a good bit of rash as a reminder.

I'm happy to report that he has recently purchased an armored jacket, begun repairs to the bike and has requested assistance in riding instruction and reccomendations for motorcycle safety classes.


Nic