You know I've been thinking about this over the last three hours, and I feel like I need to add something to this:
While I'm and Administrator and I generally try and remain nuetral on subjects and people at Sportbikeworld.com, I feel compelled to speak my mind on this thread.
I'm greatly sorry to hear about the loss of another rider (sportbike or other). It saddens me every day to hear about someone dying because that means one less representative for our "Clan".
However what saddens me more is people who believe the things like youngrider mentioned. "Oh just one beer won't kill me", or "I'm just going to the store, I don't need my helmet, jeans, gloves, boots, etc." These people are the ones that we ultimately hear about dying or being paralyzed and/or maimed, because they didn't truly understand how their actions would affect them and the people around them. While ultimately it is they and their families that suffer the most, other riders suffer too...Usually monetarily, because statistics are what causes our insurance premiums to increase.
There's no doubt that education, training and a certain mentality/maturity about riding are absolutely required to even get near a motorcycle. If any of the three are lacking, there will ultimately be an accident and maybe even death.
On a side note, To Youngrider_250:
You don't know how relieved I was to hear that you opted not to get a ZX-11. From what I have read here by you, I personally don't feel that you need to be riding anything other than what you have. Your obvious lack of knowledge about bikes and alcohol and its affect on the rider lead me to believe that you still need a few years to "Figure it out".
Sorry if that offends you, just my .02
Sorry for the rambling, but I feel better.
My sympathies to the riders friends and families.
Will
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Will Darton
Sportbikeworld Co-Admin
http://azsportbike.net
99ZX-6e