Attitude towards bikers - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

'Red · 05-18-2009, 09:08 AM

I know I'm only new and everything, but I've encountered a lot of hostility in my life towards motorbikes in the past several months.

Sure, I saw a lot anyway just riding pillion for years, but it's slightly different when you become the rider.

At least, when I started shopping around for my bike, I always had a GSXR 600 in mind.

My mother, my gran and grandad all refused to even talk about it or have anything to do with it.

So when I found a bike in the newspaper, I pretty much had to fight against everything my family tried to put in the way of me getting that bike.

I got the bike, regardless.

And ever since, all my friends and family can say, is that I should have got a car and claim that my bike is going to kill me.

I understand why people are against bikes. They are more dangerous than cars in a lot of ways, you have a severe lack of protection and they don't really have a great history in accidents.

But when someone asks me why I don't get a car, all I can think of is this;

I love two wheels, I hate four wheels.
I love speed, I love acceleration.
I love being out in the open, I love the feel of the wind.
I love the feeling of freedom that comes with my motorbike.
I love that sense of community that comes with bikes, nodding to each other, looking after each other, etc.

Why can't people respect that and stop trying to scare me into a car by saying I'm going to die all the time? I know the risks and I have them in mind everytime I start my bike up. If you're not gonna respect my decision, just don't say anything.

Am I right in thinking this? Opinions please.