Good Justification for ATGATT

[jdmetzger]

I found this link on another site. It's a pretty good writeup about why a sweatshirt, bikini top, and capri pants are not a good idea on a motorcycle. Extra bad when you fall off the back and slide 522 feet. This is a pretty detailed account about said incident, and the months of hospitalization, pain, skin grafts, pain, rehab, pain, and scarring that takes place. Did I mention pain? There are few semi-gruesome photos but they are small, so if you don't want to see that, don't click on them. Good to send to any friends you know who are not ATGATT.

http://www.speedfreakinc.com/content/articles/riding/roadrashqueen.html

[jwhite518]

Wow! What a story. That woman is inspirational. It make me want to give a copy to everybody I've ever seen riding in a tank top and flip flops.

[jshuck]

What's even worse is that if you do show the story to "others".. they will say
1. We don't go fast so that won't be a problem.
2. We ride "those" bikes and they don't crash.
3. I've been riding XX years and that won't heppen to me.
4. Those padded textile jackets won't show my tatoos.

pick one....

[SNC1923]

The idea I'm about to present reminds me a bit of "Red Asphalt" from the old driver's training courses. . .

But

This should be required reading for all MSF courses. What a painful, horrible example for others to possibly learn from.

Same thing happened to a friend's son, riding a borrowed Harley. T-shirt, sweatshirt, and jacket all bunched up around his neck as soon as he hit the ground. Two weeks in a burn ward, three surgeries to graft cadaver skin. . . .

What part of ATTGAT don't you understand?

[Motor31]

What's even worse is that if you do show the story to "others".. they will say
1. We don't go fast so that won't be a problem.
2. We ride "those" bikes and they don't crash.
3. I've been riding XX years and that won't heppen to me.
4. Those padded textile jackets won't show my tatoos.

pick one....


I learned a long time ago that you can't save the world. Not only does the world not want to be saved, but it will actively fight you if you try.

[ultracyclist]

I wish there was some way to get this story to the H-D crowd. But first they would have to sober up in order to read it.

[ltljohn]

Makes me glad to wear that funny gear in the heat.

Is anyone else curious about what happened to her friend that was driving, and how fast do you have to be going to get pulled off of the bike and skid/bounce over 500 feet

[GeneT]

I have forwarded this link to some friends that ride in tee shirts and shorts.

However it is not likely to register

:dance

[RandyB]

I just forwarded the page to my 16 year old. He completed the MSF BRC two weeks ago and we're on our way to look at bikes this evening. He asked the other day if he could ride to school without riding pants. :deal was ATGATT. Since Dad is ruthless and the small town reporting net functions well, we should have no problem.

This should go to a lot more folks, although I agree with previous posts. Those who need it likely won't understand and it's inbox clutter to us.

[Newstar]

I read this thread a few days ago and it's been sticking with me ever since. What a remarkable girl to come through this and share her story in such a straight forward way. Yes, I am curious about her friend who was driving. How has he been effected?

Where I live, we have quite a few yahoos who prefer high speed wheelies from traffic light to traffic light. I also shake my head at the guys on crotch rockets blowing by me on I-95 at 90+ mph with thier unbuttoned shirts flying like capes. Then we also have the HD guys who fit the numbered scenario's above. Unfortunately, when people find out I ride, they lump me in to the same category and I'm left defending myself and all others who try to ride safe.

One person is not going to change this behavior. The dealerships, the AMA, the politicians, etc. need to focus on motorcycle safety. I've seen that the AMA has sponsored a few billboards and ABATE signs are springing up in yards but there is plenty more that can be done to bring ATGATT to the forefront.

[jdmetzger]

I read this thread a few days ago and it's been sticking with me ever since. What a remarkable girl to come through this and share her story in such a straight forward way. Yes, I am curious about her friend who was driving. How has he been effected?

Where I live, we have quite a few yahoos who prefer high speed wheelies from traffic light to traffic light. I also shake my head at the guys on crotch rockets blowing by me on I-95 at 90+ mph with thier unbuttoned shirts flying like capes. Then we also have the HD guys who fit the numbered scenario's above. Unfortunately, when people find out I ride, they lump me in to the same category and I'm left defending myself and all others who try to ride safe.

One person is not going to change this behavior. The dealerships, the AMA, the politicians, etc. need to focus on motorcycle safety. I've seen that the AMA has sponsored a few billboards and ABATE signs are springing up in yards but there is plenty more that can be done to bring ATGATT to the forefront.

I was just having a discussion with some other bikers last night about the fate of the driver. First, he had to be going pretty fast for her to slide 522 feet. I would imagine if the police didn't site him, she might have sued for insurance money, and the obvious pain and suffering.

There is a group of riders in Toledo who (according to what they say on their web forum), like to go out and do wheelies, like to hit each others kill switches in traffic, and ride pretty fast trying to get a knee down on the road. I'm sure they aren't ALL like that, but it's enough to keep me from joining up. There have been a number of get-offs in that group, this year. I still read their forums, but that's so I know where they are riding, so I'm not in the area. :) They DO wear their gear, however.. and it's where I found this link, in fact.

As for ABATE, they DO get their signs out about watching for bikers (good), but they seem so preoccupied with getting helmet laws repealed. I don't think they're going to be big on ATGATT. I saw an ABATE article posted last year, which was trying to say a full-face helmet and a baclava lead to a rider passing out from lack of oxygen, crashing, and dying. I've been doing fine with all of that on. :D

[crazydrummerdude]

There is a group of riders in Toledo who (according to what they say on their web forum), like to go out and do wheelies, like to hit each others kill switches in traffic, and ride pretty fast trying to get a knee down on the road.

There are a group of riders in StL who open people car doors as they ride past.

[Braddog]

While I'm certainly glad that this young lady has recovered/is recovering, wasn't anybody just a little bent about how the rider was riding his sportbike? That writeup, to me, says a lot more about the irresponsible guy on the bars than it does about the passenger who wasn't wearing the proper gear. Apparently he didn't much care if the young lady could hang on or not.

Supposedly, she "blew off"? :doh

Good to know that she's now riding an R6... :violin

In my opinion, you really can't fault the idea of ATGATT, however on the other hand, cruiser riders riding shirtless with leather vests, showing the tats, probably aren't going to be riding to the point where their passenger will "blow off".

[BeemoKat]

I found this yesterday, interesting info on protective gear:

http://www.roadkill.com/~davet/moto/leather.faq.html

Lots of other good stuff if you take it back to the home page.

[Ridealot]

I found this yesterday, interesting info on protective gear:

http://www.roadkill.com/~davet/moto/leather.faq.html

Lots of other good stuff if you take it back to the home page.

That was a good read. I agree with his observation about ankle injuries being the most common on a bike.

I would have liked to look at the rest of his site but I couldn't get to his home page from the link. :cry

[BeemoKat]

http://roadkill.com/~davet/moto/bmw.html

[Daver90s]

Here - is a shot that a local Triumph rider sent to me...Yikes
At least she has a helmet on.

[jdmetzger]

Here - is a shot that a local Triumph rider sent to me...Yikes
At least she has a helmet on.

I think I saw that picture as a series. Based on my memory (not great) and the angle of the front wheel in tha picture, I believe they crashed... :doh

[PacWestGS]

That picture was also used in the "Tail Light" section of a recent magazine can't remember if it was Cycle Word or Sport Rider but, it had a catchy phrase along with it. Something like [Going for a ride with your boy friend on a nice sunny day, remembering to wear your gear = priceless] :violin

Doc

[RedBeemer]

Front wheel washed out and rear tire levered off the ground, I do belive the high side flip will test the padding she is wearing.

[Motor31]

Good photo of aligator attitude way over tweety bird riding ability. Pity he had to take the girl into the crash with him. Anyone know how it ended up?

[riderR1150GSAdv]

I really doubt that there is any way, that some folks will ever learn to be safer on their bikes. The careless attitude of some, really gives all riders a bad name. The girl was lucky to get off alive and learned her lesson the hard way. The 'cool' factor plays a large role with the-under-25-crowd. It is time that ATGATT became 'cool' too. Fortunately there is a lot of gear out there with flashy colors and graphics that is appealing to wear and is safe also. The day's of black drab riding gear are over, at least with some...... :D Now if only the media would get on the safety bandwagon without alienating the younger crowd....