Accepting Risk While Riding a Scooter or Motorcycle
I’ve posted this video titled “Morning Fall” by Edward McGinty before as a reminder as the spring riding season (pandemic allowing) gets underway. It’s always seemed prudent to me to be honest about the realities of the road and the risk I’m willing to assume. What made sense last month, last year or decades ago may have no bearing on reality today. What matters now is to be safe on your scooter or motorcycle.
Every time I watch this video I’m reminder of aspects of riding I hold important — helmets and protective clothing, boots, gloves, and the haunting specter of deer on the highway. And I’m also reminded of the strategies I employ to make the most of the risks I take on.
As a video, this piece is well-produced and delivers an unexpected turn at the end. I hope you find some utility in watching.
Cast: Zia Harris
Written & Directed by: Edward McGinty
Produced by: Suzi Yoonessi & Ben Odell
Director of Photography: Adam Silver
Be smart and be safe as you embark on your spring rides. If you’re like me you’re itching to take advantage of the restorative powers riding can bring to the table.
And if you have parked your machines until stay-at-home orders expire or you just feel comfortable on the road again during this COVID-19 pandemic, let’s all hope we can ride again soon, safe from a virus, and with the best skills and strategies to return home in one piece.
Indeed, a sobering piece.
The thing to remember here is that while the larger risk exists on two wheels, you’re not immune on account of an extra pair: Le Wife has had a few harrowing close calls–and one direct hit–while driving in these parts, and more than once she’s fallen under that spell of false security a rolling cage often engenders. When I’m on the road, I have no illusions about how much “protection” I have, even if I’m ATGATT’d to the eyeballs (yes, I finally got a great pair of armored riding jeans to “complete” my gear), but the irony is that I think I worry just a bit more about her than she does about me, possibly because of my being insistent about gearing up, and checking my mirrors/lights/tire pressure et al most of the time. Like most riders, I assume that someone out there is going to get me today; I’d wager damned few drivers feel the same.
Meanwhile: I do take the occasional Therapy Ride, after assessing the potential risks of the day. A good 80% of my rides have long been task-related, and that hasn’t changed on account of what we’ll likely refer to years from now as The Crisis. Traffic in these parts (central New Jersey) is generally light: there’s little fear of impeding the movement of first-responders, and speeds are generally mild-mannered. When I do go for an extracurricular ride, you can bet it’s really, really special, and while I’ve savored every single time I hop on Melody, it’s that extra bit special now, for more than one reason.
Thanks for this one, Steve. Stay safe, and, just as important, sane.
I agree that while the protections provided by a modern automobile are far superior to a motorcycle, the risk in driving decreases as well by its intelligent operation by drivers. I continue to believe there are many things, including training, that I can do to make riding as safe as I can for me.
I don’t feel people are out to get me while I’m riding but I understand the sentiment. And you’re right in thinking that most drivers probably never think that way. We’ve been slowly lulled into thinking that an automobile is really just our living room on wheels complete with perfect sound and media.
I need some therapy riding. Seriously need it. It’s obvious to me more than ever how much riding soothes my soul. Still, I’ll wait until the stay at home order is lifted in less than two weeks now. Not so much because I’m worried but rather out of a sense of duty to my community. Many think I’m nuts thinking that way but that’s my choice.
I hope you continue to find your riding safe and sane and delivering the therapeutic effects you seek.
best wishes to your continued success on the road!
“Morning Fall,” an oldie but a goodie.
It’s not grown old for me yet!
Remembered this video well. Deer impacts have taken out many -including a nationally-famous safety instructor. One of my biggest gripes about observing the hobby (whether Youtube videos or print) is the constant emphasis on riding public roads MUCH faster than posted speed limits (“canyon carving”, “doing the tonne”, how the engine performs at redline, etc.) Risk can be greatly reduced by just adhering to posted limits and not driving faster than you can see (whether limited daylight, precipitation, or view of the road).
I think of that motorcycle safety expert, Lawrence Grodsky, every time I’m in an area thick with deer. It is the only act of God type situation I worry about consistently. The only ways to mitigate are riding more slowly in those areas and not ride in deer areas at the high traffic times of day.
I absolutely agree with what you’ve said about riding at posted speed limits. I’m not perfect in that regard but continue to improve. Speed kills on a motorcycle. If someone wants to go fast they might want to consider a track day.
Never had seen the vid. Good message/ending. I wrecked a 65 Vespa early one very chilly, but beautiful spring morning(1982?)when I came around a curve and water had frozen on the road in the shade of the hill. Slid on ice, lost control, tumbled and bounced head on pavement, but had a full face helmet. Then went through fence. Weirdly, ripped my pants off, ‘kinda embarrassing. Tow truck picked up my Vespa on a hook and hauled it away, swinging in the breeze. I rode in ambulance, and only needed stitches. Lucky man. I fixed it back up, rode it, it got stolen, and wrecked again. Fixed it, rode it, and eventually sold it to a young lady in Columbus, Ohio. I’ve got a 2009 LX now. I’m still riding during the Co-Vid thing, figure I’m no worse a risk than a good percentage of other individual driving cars.
Helmets. They’re lifesavers. I can’t imagine my head bouncing along the pavement without one. I just ordered a new helmet from Revzilla. From what I’ve read they decay and decline over time. My current helmet is 7 years old. Older than recommended. So a new one will arrive next week. Getting ready for the return to riding.
I had a 2006 LX150. I loved that scooter. It was the siren that drew me into riding.
Yes to helmets! I also think they might be good tornado protection. I’ve ridden your way quite a few time when I lived in the Warren, Ohio area, a lot of nice riding in PA. I’ve just gotten back into riding, after being otherwise occupied for 20 years. I couldn’t believe how nice the helmets were! I’m sure you’ll love yours. Vents, retractable sun visor, and the liftable chin piece seems crazy/good, and I got a cheapo!
I’m looking forward to a retractable sun visor inside the helmet. That will minimize the need to wear sunglasses.
Be safe back on the road. I was surprised how much of my early life riding skills evaporated after a 30-year hiatus.
You’ll like the new helmet with the visor and such! I don’t know about evaporation but I think I lost my, “to stupid to care or notice” youthful attitude and gained an ability to worry about anything. I’m riding the 2009 LX 150 and it feels really twitchy at anything above 45- 50. I’m thinking about a big wheeled Piaggio Liberty or Honda PCX. I’d like to keep it small enough to push around the garage. I enjoy the blog, keep up the good work. Summer and new adventures await!
Twitchy. I’ve heard both the LX and GTS scooters described as twitchy. I’ve always thought of it as nimble. Far more nimble than the bigger wheeled machines. I’ve also found that feeling of “Twitchy” was in part related to the tires I was running. The Pirellis were by far the most stable and traction filled I ever used. They also wore out the fastest. Kenda, Sava and other harder rubbers lasted a long longer but exaggerated the twitchy feel.
I was just looking at the new Honda ADV150 scooter which will come to the United States in June. It has a 14 inch front tire and much more robust suspension than the LX150 and a top speed of 74mph. Pretty good for a 150. As my GTS rolls on toward 50K miles I figure some serious engine problems or work are in my future and unless I do the work myself it won’t make a lot of sense to have a dealer do the work. So then what? Find a used Vespa? A new Vespa? Or something from Honda or Yamaha from a local dealer. The nearest Vespa dealer to me is in Cleveland I think.
Back to twitchy. It never bothered me and I didn’t ever confuse that nimble character with instability. But I understand the feeling. My GTS at 70mph tracks solidly but it feels “twitchy” compared to my BMW K75 with more weight and bigger tires. But the BMW is a pain to maneuver at slow speeds while the Vespa can run circles around it. I like them both though.
Good luck with whatever you decide!
Good video, Steve, and good idea to see it again as a reminder.
On a different subject, I’d been thinking of something a little lighter, Jack Reip! Now I know his health wasn’t great a few years ago, and worry that his reality isn’t as rosey as ours, but if it’s ok to do so at some point, maybe we could share some laughs! I used to read his columns in the BMW Owners News. And what of ‘Fireballs’?
I’ve considered more than once writing something in the vein of Jack Riepe. Difficult to suddenly transition from where I am now to that kind of stuff. We’ll see.
It’s been a month since I’ve talked to Jack. He had been improving at that point and I think he’s ok now. Traded some messages with him last week but we’ve not connected on the phone. Not sure the status of Fireball. He was trying to buy it back. I wanted to talk to him about crash bars for my K75.
Hey Steve, have my grandsons here we all watched the video and are split as what happened ,when who hit the deer???,etc.etc., are we supposed to know exactly???,or just one of those puzzlers?? One thinks the were riding together I totally disagree on that theory…Thanks I get the big picture regardless one can never b to careful and always expect the unexpected…Don E.
I suppose only Mr. McGinty would know for sure what was intended but here’s my read on the video:
The rider and his wife/girlfriend were out on an early morning ride and hit a deer. Since we only see one motorcycle and one dead deer I figured it was implied that the motorcycle collided with the deer. And seeing the other person at the end with the flashing cellphone suggests she was riding pillon. It would be unusual for deer to take out two riders. Possible but not likely. More likely she was his passenger.
Deer are scary. In Pennsylvania we have a lot of them. South of here the valley is known as Vension Valley because of all the deer-vehicle impacts. It’s a place to not ride in the high deer traffic times and if you do to slow down considerably. Deer are my biggest concern while riding.