What to say to people who think they will get killed biking?

[glynlowen]

Hi, I am a 17 year old doing A-levels, and have just passed my full Module 2 test, so have 2 years till the 33 bhp limit is up. I'm always trying to tell my friends the positives of bikes, fun, cheap insurance, economical ect ect. However, they all seem convinced that I will be dead within the year!

The trouble is the stats do say that biking is dangerous.

What arguments can I use against those who give me grief
Anyone had similar problems?
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Passed Theory-19/07/11 Passed Module 1-5/09/11 Failed Module 2-23/10/11 Passed Module 2-16/11/11
Past Bikes-Honda CG125, 2005 Kawasaki ER5, Suzuki SV650S
Current Bike-Need a car now!

[nowhere.elysium]

Why does it bother you so much? Let them think that you're going to die. It's not like their belief will make it happen.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[MattJ]

"I might do."

[Jayy]

People with that mentality will never, ever listen. Unless you can get them on a bike and let them have a little go themself, that's usually enough to convince them. I now people like that... "You would never catch me on a bike, death traps bla bla bla". The thing is, I know I wouldn't see them on one or try one because they're too scared of trying anything new.

Most people in who I know who have never been on a bike, usually after going pillion or having a go themself, realise how much fun they are and brings them round to the idea.

...with the exception of an old school friend who I talked into getting on the back of a KX250 with me years ago and I booted it at about 70mph down a 2 mile dirt track. He was literally screaming like a girl and he's shit scared of bikes ever since.

[neil.]

Use the old 'it's more likely you'll be injured riding a horse, statistically'.

[stinkwheel]

We all have a level of risk we are prepared to accept.

It is demonstrably safter to drive a car with a five point harness fitted than with a standard inertia reel. They aren't expensive yet you wont see anyone with them fitted.

Why take that risk?

There is only one answer, because they are inconvenient and restrictive. They are sacrificing safety for convenience and comfort.

Well I ride a motorbike. I am sacrificing safety for enjoyment and not having to sit in queues of traffic.

OR

It is statistically 20 times more dangerous to ride a horse yet nobody comments when people send their 12 year old daughter horse riding.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Okeydokey]

There is the 'Do you want to live forever?' line, from a film I watched so long ago I cant remember!
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YB100 v. Ford Sierra (1982 I came 2nd place) Honda H100S (Currently 0 - 0) CX500 Cafe project (me 1 - wife 0.... maybe!)

[69.9mph]

Why are you bothered about what your friends think?

Man up.

[pinkyfloyd]

[Stelmer]

I simply say that the danger part of it is what makes it exiting and that anything fun or pleasurable has an element of risk to it.

[ruck bodgers]

it would be a sad state of affairs if everyone let statistics contradict how they lived .noone would smoke or drink or have sex noone would fly plains drive cars ride bikes or do just about anything.
if your going to cower under the protective veil of statistics u may as well be a baked potato

[pepperami]

How about replying something about how you have a chance of being killed crossing the road or horse-riding or many other pastimes and everyday chores.
However you enjoy life and dont mind taking a few risks in order to feel "alive"
It`s a lot less dangerous if it`s done with care and awarness of others on the road.

Or you could tell them to climb back into thier ball of cotton wool and go back to fluffy sleep where no nasty things in the world can hurt them!

Or dont bother because they already have pre-concieved ideas and closed ears
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Skudd]

Just tell them that you carry a donor card and what your wishes are in the event of your death.

Soon shuts them up.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[iooi]

[Redoko]

Stop giving a sh!t about what other people think.
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"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
Sudika Sportsman SK50QT > Gilera DNA50 > Honda CBR125 RW7 > Kawasaki Zephyr750 > Suzuki GSXR600 > Honda Hornet CB600F '51

[leonski]

Tell them if I die I died doing something I loved.
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[Teflon-Mike]

More people die in bed than on the roads..... where did you sleep last night?
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[Clanger]

[Manuel]

My mum said the same thing to me. "You'll only go and break your neck!"

And that's coming from her who rides horses and has been in hospital numerous times because of them...

[Drake]

ask them if they are chicken? if they say no tell them to jump on, if they say yes just tell em to fuck off,
also, i believe when your times up its up, i could die standing up.
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was: derbi senda, aprilia sx125, nsr250 mc16, cagiva mito, cb600 hornet now: mk1 bandit, KR1S, landrover series 3 light weight 2.5 petrol, 5speed box

[swampy]

Say the same as I do when people moan on at me about smoking...

I'd hate to end up in bed one day dying of nothing
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"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." Hunter S Thompson
"Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death..." Hunter S Thompson

[AlexW]

I got bored of it, Now joke about dying on the bike.

Most people say "You will kill yourself on that bike", I kept correcting them with "I won't, One of you car drivers will"

[ajbsmirnoff]

My wife got my daughters to say 'Daddy you are going to kill yourself' when I told her I was getting a motorbike.

I told them I'd be fine. I was.

If you ride like an idiot, you'll prove them right. If you don't keep up your obs, a Nissan micra (or white van) will.

To butcher one of my favorite quotes - If people think you're and idiot, don't ride like one and confirm it.

Incidentally, her father (late 60's and exceptionally myopic) rides a scooter in Shanghai, and for the life of me, I don't how he still draws breath.

[Vincent]

Statistics don't give am accurate picture, (they very rarely do). Most accidents are either riders new to bikes and unaware of where the dangers lay or idiots who think they're racing everyone. Neither of them know how to ride defensively.
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[The Shaggy D.A.]

"I'm immortal, so far"
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