The power to be invisible...when no one's looking!

I recently overheard a conversation of smart, well-intentioned people talking about the dangers of motorcycle riding. They called them “donor cycles” and scoffed at anyone who’d be crazy enough to ride one. Of course, it was obvious that none of them were riders. This fact alone doesn’t make them wrong. Certainly there is some inherent risk putting yourself on two wheels. But like most controversial topics, assumptions are made based on feelings rather than a cold hard look at the facts.

At this point, I deleted my entire blog. It was filled with statistics and an analysis of high performance engineering versus adrenaline junkie mentality essentially attempting to persuade you that, “it’s not the bike, it’s the rider.” And while I think it was all accurate and relevant, it was an exercise in futility. Because a motorcycle rider will NEVER convince a non-rider that we’re not all a bunch of suicidal, irresponsible maniacs. That’s okay. That’s part of the reason we ride.

But consider the following. Here’s a list of the things a motorcycle rider is doing while driving through city traffic:

1. Constantly focused on EVERY single vehicle in front, to the side and in back of them.
2. Actively looking at the road for gravel, oily spots, pot holes, etc.
3. Expecting EVERY car to suddenly change lanes or turn in front of them.
4. Driving as if they were completely invisible to everyone around them.

Now here’s a list of the things that a motorcycle rider is NOT doing while driving through city traffic:

1. Talking on their cell phone.
2. Texting.
3. Yelling at their kids in the backseat to keep it down and stop touching your brother.
4. Trying to find that Jack Johnson song on their Ipod.
5. Putting on make up.
6. Shaving.
7. Tying their shoes.
8. Trying to find the quarter that just slipped between the seats.
9. Wondering if they closed the garage or not.
10. Checking out the blonde in the Miata next to them.
11. Eating a bacon double cheeseburger.
12. Drinking a chai crème frappachino.
13. Reading.
14. Driving with their knees.
15. Making a doctor’s appointment.
16. Talking with the four other friends in the car about how Jeff, like, totally likes Jennifer even though he’s going to prom with Kelly and Kelly like, doesn’t even know and now Jennifer’s going to steal Jeff at prom and it’s going to be like, the biggest fight ever!
17. Telling the dog to “sit!” while driving him to the vet.
18. Trying to beat the light.
19. Listening to loud music.
20. Realizing that they just drove twenty minutes across town to work and can’t even really remember driving there, they just sort of “arrived.” Weird huh?

So, are motorcycles dangerous? Yes. So are guns. And cheeseburgers. And swimming pools. As is hiking, scuba diving, playing sports and being in a relationship. Incidentally, you know what the number one cause of death for a woman in the workplace is? Her husband or boyfriend murdering her. It’s true. Maybe all women should just quit working.

There are just some things that people won’t understand. That’s okay. You can have your opinion and feel good about it too. We talk about you too. The “cagers” who haven’t experienced the tactile feel of the pavement beneath their wheels, the smells and sounds of the world around them. The sometimes profound experience that comes with being alone on a motorcycle. All we ask is that you please look out for us. Just because we pretend we’re invisible, doesn’t mean we’re not out there.