General Halftrack -- far, far too long
From: "Lee Davis" <leedavis@gsaix2.cc.GaSoU.EDU>
Once someone asked me (out of the blue -- what nerve) if I were paralyzed in a motorcycle wreck wouldn't I be sorry I had bought one. Well, I have to allow that's probably
true. On the other hand, if I manage to make it 90 years old by hiding from everything that could conceivably shorten my life, I'd die a very old and unfulfilled man. I choose
to enjoy my life while I have it, and I hope when (and if) I'm old I won't look back and regret all the things I didn't do. Since that conversation, 20 years has passed, and
along with it over 100,000 miles of highway has disappeared under my two wheels. Lucky? Careful? Most of the time, I've been both.
On the other hand, I'm not inclined to feel too bitter at General Halftrack, however deprived of actual facts he might be. After all, we probably all need a reality check every
once in a while to remind us that, yes, this is dangerous. More so that driving in a Suburban, less so than hang gliding, but motorcycling has a degree of danger associated
with it that a good rider tries to minimize within reason but never assumes has been eliminated. I get my reminder when I ride my bike down south to visit my Mom, other people probably get it somewhere else.
Granted, the good General would be better off working on assuring that motorcycle safety courses are available to those in his command rather than engaging in
capitalized polemics against the sport. But he's probably not such a bad old fart after all; I think he means well.
I offer this. On the whole, the denizens of this list, I'll guess, are above average in experience and maturity. And given the antiquity of our preferred equipment, we don't
spend a lot of time over 150 mph, notwithstanding the claims of a recent Buffalo poster. But when I wheel old Sluggo out of the garage, I like to remind myself that this bike
has brakes that work perfectly but are, by 1998 standards, minimal. It has skinny little tires with tubes and wire spoke wheels not unlike those Barney Oldfield used before
the Great War. I treat Sluggo well but his previous owners did not. Most all of his old parts have been in use longer than any of Kawasaki's engineers intended. These
things endear the bike to me, but they represent an additional variable in the calculation of risk.
I accept all these risks because I choose to. If someone is inclined to point them out to me, well, fine. I doubt the non-motorcyclist can offer anything I don't know, but fine
, go ahead. Try and interfere with my right to make this choice, and you'll have a fight on your hands. Otherwise, no problem.
As for me, I intend to express my own opinion about motorcycling by doing it until I'm too old (or crippled or dead) to get a leg over the saddle. I doubt that will convince
anyone of anything they don't want to believe, but I'll enjoy the hell out of it anyway.
Lee Davis
'76 KZ750B
General Halftrack -- far, far too long
From "Scott Peterson" <map@fidnet.com>
In my time I've been involved in a few scrapes on bikes, and heard plenty about the dangers and perils of bikes. My uncle was killed on a Harley back in the forties, and I
had a room mate in college who had been brain damaged a few years before in a bike accident, which dimmed his faculties and ruined a promising career as an electrical
engineer. In addition I worked at a hospital and got a regular stream of "helpful knowledge" about bikes from both patients and visitors. But what I've seen is that most of
these accidents could have been prevented, but not by avoiding the motorcycle. My room mate had gotten a 750 for his first bike. His total riding experience was only two
weeks when he was driving home from a bar at 2AM after drinking, with a passenger on the back, and probably didn't even see the car. The same applied for the kid who
splintered his leg on the GS1100. And the fellow in a wheelchair the rest of his life had apparently been a wild and reckless youth on a dirtbike when he encountered the pickup truck.
Some accidents nothing could have been done about; my uncle was sitting at a stoplight when a trucker ran him over from behind, and another kid at the hospital was
riding home from a job interview when a car pulled out in front of him. There's no guarantee that if they had been driving a car they would have been less likely to be hit.
Bigger vehicle, brighter lights, but if the other guy's not even paying attention, it won't matter. There's also no guarantee they would be hurt less, only a probability. I saw
some crippling accidents in cars that were only going ten miles an hour, and one guy who walked away from an 80MPH motorcycle crash.
The point I'm making is accidents will happen regardless of what you're driving, or what safeguards you impose. But bikers who use their wits and common sense are
more likely to survive, and nothing can replace that, not even wrapping yourself in a metal cocoon because everyone else does, or someone thinks you ought to. With due
respect to this air force general, he should already know what a difference that makes.
Scott
USAF General's statement on motorcycles
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998
From: "Carl Askew" <mcyclmad@alphanet.com.au>
After reading the good Generals letter.
He only states the truth, as we all know, when we were young the full consequences of our actions were not active in our minds when we did some of those stupid things one does when ones young. I see him as a realist and wanting to, and caring for the young under his command. If I saw a Speedo that read 150MPH, I sure as hell wanted to see what that speed felt like (that was when I
was young). Motorcycles today are far too fast and powerful for all but a handful of the best riders to ride at those speeds. If my young brother was going to get on
a late model road rocket even if I did not say those things the General said it sure as hell would be going through my mind. I did not see that he was down on
Motorcycles as much as he wanted the people who were riding them to have his years of experience and maybe see what COULD happen. It can't happen but he
wanted to put his head on their shoulders as such. He was not saying to ban these bikes, he wanted to make the riders aware. As I am afraid is mission impossible. Old head on young shoulders just hardly ever happens. I have to
thank the good lord for me being still with us, after my hectic youth.
Carl I love anything that goes fast, I ride a 150MPH (in a 1/4 mile) Suzuki 1428cc Drag bike.
USAF General's statement on motorcycles
From: "Stanley" <shenko@iname.com>
To: "Carl Askew" <mcyclmad@alphanet.com.au>, <mstenger@top.net>
I can not agree with your assessment of the Good General's motives. Here's why:
He only states the truth, as we all know, when we were young the full consequences of our actions were not active in our minds when we did some of those stupid things one does when ones young. I see him as a realist and wanting to, and caring for the young under his command.
Yes, that is true. We all should eat our vegetables. But, unfortunately you are not bombarded almost weekly by this "concern" for bike riders as we in the military are. And guess what, at the ripe old age of 46 I'm still told that I must be looked after with such loving concern. It is not the young he is speaking to, but ALL bikers.
If I saw a Speedo that read 150MPH, I sure as hell wanted to see what that speed felt like (that was when I was young). Motorcycles today are far too fast and powerful for all but a handful of the best riders to ride at those speeds.
I'm sorry, but I've seen far too many Camaros, Firebirds and Corvettes with 150 mph speedometers. Funny, the General never calls these owners in for a "chat".
If my young brother was going to get on a late model road rocket even if I
did not say those things the General said it sure as hell would be going
through my mind.
Yes, as it should. I have the same care and concern for the young airman who says she is going "white water rafting" and "rock climbing". No danger there, huh? Funny, those people never get called in for a chat either.
I did not see that he was down on Motorcycles as much as he wanted the people who
were riding them to have his years of experience and maybe see what COULD happen. It can't happen but he wanted to put his head on their
shoulders as such.
Again, you don't see the situation as it is day in and day out. We get this spam constantly. Guess what? We can't send an e-mail back with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject area. I'm 46, I don't need or want his head on my shoulders.
He was not saying to ban these bikes, he wanted to make the riders aware. As
I am afraid is mission impossible. Old head on young shoulders just hardly
ever happens. I have to thank the good lord for me being still with us,
after my hectic youth.
If he COULD ban bikes, he WOULD ban bikes! That is the whole point! They are attempting to do ANYTHING they can to get you, the military motorcycle rider, to STOP RIDING MOTORCYCLES! That is what they want. All this clap-trap about concern for 'the poor young children' is just that -- clap-trap, horsesh*t or anything else you want to call it.
and I love anything that goes fast, I ride a 150MPH (in a 1/4 mile)
Suzuki 1428cc Drag bike.
Then how would you like to be singled out by your Boss, who is ordered to counsel you over this 'dangerous' activity you engage in? Just remember, he writes your evaluation -- and he recommends promotion. Still wanna ride?
Stanley
By the way, the Air Force encouages it's members to obtain their own private pilot license. Yeah, well go and apply for life insurance and get a price. Then tell them you are a private pilot and you fly your private aircraft all the time. Funny, the rate is so much higher! I wonder why?
Dissing the general (not too long)
To: "Lee Davis" <leedavis@gsaix2.cc.GaSoU.EDU>
It used to be possible in this country to disagree with someone without ridicule and disrespect. While, in general, I agree with what Lee Davis has to say (not snipped and found below,) I find his characterization of the General as "General Halftrack" somewhat offensive and uncalled for. And, it reflects poorly on Lee.
To play devils advocate for a moment, I don't recall that the General's memo called for forbidding motorcycle riding among his command. He was voicing a concern and telling his command to "counsel" the motorcyclists on the dangers of riding. I find all the hand ringing regarding this a little puzzling. Consider, for a moment, his point of view. He is responsible for young people, most offten just out of high school, probably away from their parents for the first time in their lives. Late teen, early 20 somethings are not noted for a overriding sense of good judgement. He is responsible for keeping his forces at a level of readiness--for minimizing any and all casualties (even accidental ones.) And he sees some statistics on motorcycle injuries and thinks "what a waste of manpower." I think, his memorandum, while perhaps a bit over the top, wasn't inconsistant with his duties and perhaps his own self concept as a substitute parent for the kids in his command. Were he my boss, I think an appropriate response would be to, smile sweetly and say "Thanks for your concern, I think I can handle it." (Something I, as a truck driver, must regularly do with customers, bosses, and, of course, the DOT.)
To characterize the General's concern as (according to SGT. Schneko) "big brother, big government intrusion into our daily lives" seems to me to be the standard right wing, reactionary response to anything they don't understand or agree with. It is hollow rhetoric which shows a lack of understanding of the basic tenets of a military organization and command which is inherently paternalistic and top-down directive oriented.
I would agree with Lee, however, that the General's efforts in this area were incomplete, and that motorcycle safety courses should be made available and even required of the riders under his command.
BRIAN LAMBERTS
box66@localaccess.com
ADNA WA 98522 USA
More GENERAL comments
From: pmatulew@ghs.guthrie.org
Forwarded for an interested lurker:
SSgt Rob Romano, AF vet:
O.k. 11 Airmen have been killed in Motorcycle fatalities. * How many have been killed this year in automotive accidents? * How many have died in ground mishaps due to their own error? (Falls, equipment failure, sticking your head in a closing hangar door, SP's "accidentally" shooting each other, etc.) * How many have died in the "low risk" activity of flying? (Or not in the case of contact with the ground!) * Of those 11, how many were registered on base users? When I was in SAC to ride on the base you had to pass a motorcycle safety course. All riders even had to wear orange safety vests while on base! * Supervisors are being "charged" to take care of this problem?! As a supervisor of many years, I would have been spending all my off duty time babysitting my troops. Swimming is a hazardous activity. Driving a car is hazardous. Rock Climbing. Boating. Jogging. (TRUE STORY: We had a troop die after jogging. He popped a piece of frozen Snicker's bar in his mouth and it went right on down into his wind pipe. Choked to death. SUPERVISORS! I charge you with making sure all your troops know of the dangers of frozen snack candy after vigorous activity!)
