Posted by Ben Kaufman on July 14, 2008, 5:44 pm
>>
>>> > Listing a bike for sale.
>>> >
>>> > Got a call from an "interested party" who lives about 5 blocks away.
>>> > Said he was going to walk over and look.
>>> >
>>> > Guy show up, no helmet, T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. Wants to
>>> > take a test ride. OK, I say, I have a spare helment here, you can
>>> > ride pillion and I'll just go around the block. I was informed that
>>> > this wouldn't be satisfactory - he had to ride it solo. Needless
>>> > to say I declined.
>>> >
>>> > Why do people even bother?
>>>
>>> I bought my Honda after test-riding it without a helmet.
>>>
>>> I think helmets are over-rated, especially on test-rides.
>>>
>>> People tend to be careful with a bike new to them -- very careful. Plus,
>>> there is only a small fraction of low-speed accidents where a helmet
>>> helps.
>>
>> I don't think you have empirical data to support that.
>>
>>> So, overall on a test-ride, it just isn't likely that someone will have
>>> an
>>> accident where a helmet makes a difference.
>>>
>>> I single-vehicled a motorcycle three times now ... the helmet never
>>> touched
>>> the ground.
>I agree with your statement that I don't have data, and that it is _my_
>data.
>If I were test-riding a motorcycle, I would be careful for a lot of
>different reasons. First, it is another person's property. Second, the
>chances of accident are greater on an unfamiliar bike. Third, my only
>purpose would be to ensure that the engine and its other bits and pieces
>were working properly ... reckless riding isn't generally required for that.
>But you are right -- my impressions could be WAY off.
And of course you had the police cordon off all traffic from the route you would
be taking the test drive on.
Ben
Posted by Twibil on July 13, 2008, 10:52 pm
> I bought my Honda after test-riding it without a helmet.
Dumb seller.
> I think helmets are over-rated, especially on test-rides.
Dumb buyer.
Posted by David T. Ashley on July 14, 2008, 12:05 am
> I bought my Honda after test-riding it without a helmet.
>Dumb seller.
> I think helmets are over-rated, especially on test-rides.
>Dumb buyer.
I took it around the block and reached a speed of no more than 25 miles per
hour. Even _I_ can't easily cause a serious accident at 25 and under.
Posted by Twibil on July 14, 2008, 1:39 am
> > I think helmets are over-rated, especially on test-rides.
> >Dumb buyer.
> I took it around the block and reached a speed of no more than 25 miles per
> hour. Even _I_ can't easily cause a serious accident at 25 and under.
Sigh.
*You* don't have to cause it. There are countless things that can
befall a motorcylist that aren't his fault but can still ruin both him
and the motorcycle.
Riding a motorcycle without a helmet is dumb under any circumstances,
but when you add that to riding a motorcycle that's new to the rider
and still belongs to someone else, the dumb factor goes right off the
scale.
Posted by David T. Ashley on July 14, 2008, 4:02 pm
> > I think helmets are over-rated, especially on test-rides.
> >Dumb buyer.
> I took it around the block and reached a speed of no more than 25 miles
> per
> hour. Even _I_ can't easily cause a serious accident at 25 and under.
Sigh.
*You* don't have to cause it. There are countless things that can
befall a motorcylist that aren't his fault but can still ruin both him
and the motorcycle.
Riding a motorcycle without a helmet is dumb under any circumstances,
but when you add that to riding a motorcycle that's new to the rider
and still belongs to someone else, the dumb factor goes right off the
scale.
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>>> > Listing a bike for sale.
>>> >
>>> > Got a call from an "interested party" who lives about 5 blocks away.
>>> > Said he was going to walk over and look.
>>> >
>>> > Guy show up, no helmet, T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. Wants to
>>> > take a test ride. OK, I say, I have a spare helment here, you can
>>> > ride pillion and I'll just go around the block. I was informed that
>>> > this wouldn't be satisfactory - he had to ride it solo. Needless
>>> > to say I declined.
>>> >
>>> > Why do people even bother?
>>>
>>> I bought my Honda after test-riding it without a helmet.
>>>
>>> I think helmets are over-rated, especially on test-rides.
>>>
>>> People tend to be careful with a bike new to them -- very careful. Plus,
>>> there is only a small fraction of low-speed accidents where a helmet
>>> helps.
>>
>> I don't think you have empirical data to support that.
>>
>>> So, overall on a test-ride, it just isn't likely that someone will have
>>> an
>>> accident where a helmet makes a difference.
>>>
>>> I single-vehicled a motorcycle three times now ... the helmet never
>>> touched
>>> the ground.
>I agree with your statement that I don't have data, and that it is _my_
>data.
>If I were test-riding a motorcycle, I would be careful for a lot of
>different reasons. First, it is another person's property. Second, the
>chances of accident are greater on an unfamiliar bike. Third, my only
>purpose would be to ensure that the engine and its other bits and pieces
>were working properly ... reckless riding isn't generally required for that.
>But you are right -- my impressions could be WAY off.