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administrator · 04-01-2009, 10:48 PM

Original Article:
The Truth about Drinking and Riding

Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article The Truth about Drinking and Riding in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

Dr_Sprocket · 04-02-2009, 06:41 AM

While not popular among many motorcyclists, this article is a sobering reminder about the dangers of drinking and riding - something I always avoid.

Kenneth_Moore · 04-02-2009, 08:40 AM

The author makes a good point that's come up in the forums before: we're completely hypocritical as a society about drinking and driving or riding. I've rarely attended a motorcycle event that didn't feature alcohol publicly, and drugs on the sly. When Rossmeyer HD was forced by their insurance carrier to start drug testing employees, the only way they could keep the place staffed was by sending notices to everyone stating: DRUG TESTS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN 90 DAYS! Then there would be a countdown, and about a week before you had to go piss test they'd tell you the date and time. That allowed the coke and pot heads plenty of time to either taper off or get the herbal flush tea. Of course the insurance company seemed to have no issue with the mechanics going to lunch at the sports bar next door and getting the two for one pitchers. I always urged my pals and customers to schedule morning appointments, but never on Saturday. That way you'd have a shot at a reasonably sober mechanic who didn't have a nightmare hangover.

The guy from Denver who said he rode better after drinking is hardly a minority. When I got my Harley in '95 I bought into the whole "culture" thing with the fingerless gloves and skid lid helmet. I even had a "DAMM" sticker on it; "Drunks Against Mad Mothers." It's embarassing to admit now, but I actually thought I rode better after a few drinks. Driving or riding under the influence is fun; just like sex and dancing are. But, with a few exceptions, dancing and screwing while screwed up don't put your or other's lives at risk.

There is an entire economy built around operating motor vehicles under the influence. I never got a DUI, but I had a friend who did. I was with him when we went through a checkpoint. He was doing ok until the cop asked him to recite the alphabet backwards. He said "I couldn't do that even if I was sober." Oops. Between the bail, the lawyers, the various classes, fines, fees, and other nonsense, he figured the whole thing cost him about $10,000. It took almost a year before it was all said and done. I very rarely drink these days myself, but all those attorneys and cops and judges making a living off DUI, the MADD ladies who have found their calling in life, the companies who build the breath testers and the companies who sell the urine cleansing tea...nobody really wants to see drinking and driving go away.

seruzawa · 04-02-2009, 09:42 AM

I'm just glad to have this earth-shattering new data.

mscuddy · 04-02-2009, 09:49 AM

Feh, I can't get out of bed without a few shots of Jack and a norco or two.

What happened to "Liquid Courage, the drink of Champions"? Seemed to make my CR500 go over the whoops a lot faster...

pplassm · 04-02-2009, 09:52 AM

Let's lower the legal limit to 0.0. That way, everybody is a DUI!

longride · 04-02-2009, 10:44 AM

"...nobody really wants to see drinking and driving go away."

Dude, if everyone quit smoking, drinking and doing illegal drugs, the government would go bankrupt!

12er · 04-02-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longride

"...nobody really wants to see drinking and driving go away."

Dude, if everyone quit smoking, drinking and doing illegal drugs, the government would go bankrupt!

You got that right, most of the laws are just a legal means of stealing for the Gov.

tripleripple · 04-02-2009, 11:26 AM

Drinking and riding...I did it once. In the rain. That was enough for me.

Frankly, I'd be more worried about wadding up my bike than hurting myself. Drunks bounce like rubber chickens.

Kenneth_Moore · 04-02-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longride

"...nobody really wants to see drinking and driving go away."

Dude, if everyone quit smoking, drinking and doing illegal drugs, the government would go bankrupt!

Yeah, and a couple hundred thousand...or millions...of cops, judges, lawyers, prison guards, rehabitators, parole officers, etc. would all be out of their jobs.

Perhaps worst, the Zig-Zag Man would finally have to start doing Calvin Klein underwear ads.

04-01-2009, 10:48 PM	#1
administrator Administrator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: On My Bike Posts: 0	The Truth about Drinking and Riding Original Article: The Truth about Drinking and Riding Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article The Truth about Drinking and Riding in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

04-02-2009, 06:41 AM	#2
Dr_Sprocket Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Delmarva Peninsula Posts: 972	While not popular among many motorcyclists, this article is a sobering reminder about the dangers of drinking and riding - something I always avoid. __________________ Bodhi: Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true.

04-02-2009, 08:40 AM	#3
Kenneth_Moore Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: VIsiting the GIft Shop in the Pit of DIspair Posts: 5,569	The author makes a good point that's come up in the forums before: we're completely hypocritical as a society about drinking and driving or riding. I've rarely attended a motorcycle event that didn't feature alcohol publicly, and drugs on the sly. When Rossmeyer HD was forced by their insurance carrier to start drug testing employees, the only way they could keep the place staffed was by sending notices to everyone stating: DRUG TESTS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN 90 DAYS! Then there would be a countdown, and about a week before you had to go piss test they'd tell you the date and time. That allowed the coke and pot heads plenty of time to either taper off or get the herbal flush tea. Of course the insurance company seemed to have no issue with the mechanics going to lunch at the sports bar next door and getting the two for one pitchers. I always urged my pals and customers to schedule morning appointments, but never on Saturday. That way you'd have a shot at a reasonably sober mechanic who didn't have a nightmare hangover. The guy from Denver who said he rode better after drinking is hardly a minority. When I got my Harley in '95 I bought into the whole "culture" thing with the fingerless gloves and skid lid helmet. I even had a "DAMM" sticker on it; "Drunks Against Mad Mothers." It's embarassing to admit now, but I actually thought I rode better after a few drinks. Driving or riding under the influence is fun; just like sex and dancing are. But, with a few exceptions, dancing and screwing while screwed up don't put your or other's lives at risk. There is an entire economy built around operating motor vehicles under the influence. I never got a DUI, but I had a friend who did. I was with him when we went through a checkpoint. He was doing ok until the cop asked him to recite the alphabet backwards. He said "I couldn't do that even if I was sober." Oops. Between the bail, the lawyers, the various classes, fines, fees, and other nonsense, he figured the whole thing cost him about $10,000. It took almost a year before it was all said and done. I very rarely drink these days myself, but all those attorneys and cops and judges making a living off DUI, the MADD ladies who have found their calling in life, the companies who build the breath testers and the companies who sell the urine cleansing tea...nobody really wants to see drinking and driving go away. __________________ The Internet doesn't make you stupid, it just makes your stupidity more accessible to others.

04-02-2009, 09:42 AM	#4
seruzawa Balrog of Morgoth Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 13,537	I'm just glad to have this earth-shattering new data. __________________ Indeed, some of us will always be sympathetic to Mrs. Palin if for nothing else than her enemies. The bile she extracts from her critics is almost like a dye marker, illuminating deep pockets of asininity that heretofore were either unnoticed or underappreciated.

04-02-2009, 09:49 AM	#5
mscuddy MODERATOR X Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Next to my still checkin the temp. Posts: 4,565	Feh, I can't get out of bed without a few shots of Jack and a norco or two. What happened to "Liquid Courage, the drink of Champions"? Seemed to make my CR500 go over the whoops a lot faster... __________________ On Any Sunday, like the tail of a kite, Flying and dancing in the wind. I'd like to break the string and drift out of sight I may not pass this way again.. I'm Flyin'

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04-02-2009, 09:52 AM	#6
pplassm Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,005	Let's lower the legal limit to 0.0. That way, everybody is a DUI! __________________ How about a nice steak dinner?

04-02-2009, 10:44 AM	#7
longride Super Duper Mod Man Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Anywhere they let me Posts: 9,649	"...nobody really wants to see drinking and driving go away." Dude, if everyone quit smoking, drinking and doing illegal drugs, the government would go bankrupt! __________________ I'm a knucklehead

04-02-2009, 11:26 AM	#9
tripleripple Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Lightly Fortified Compound (apartment): Chicago, IL Posts: 339	Drinking and riding...I did it once. In the rain. That was enough for me. Frankly, I'd be more worried about wadding up my bike than hurting myself. Drunks bounce like rubber chickens.