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Taking a bike to the track isn't being mean, it's like taking your dog to the park and letting them off the leash.

Fri, 07/06/2018 - 12:06pm GrahamS1 BY: GARY CORSAIR editor@grahamstar.com Three fatal motorcycle accidents in less than two weeks? What in the world is going on? Graham County Fire Chief Keith Eller, who’s responded to hundreds of wrecks in 29 years of answering emergency calls, has a theory. “For some reason we’re seeing more and more crotch rockets. For the last two or three years we saw more Harleys and big touring bikes, now these are coming back again,” Chief Eller said as he gestured to the Yamaha FZ-10 Chris Harris was riding when he hit a guardrail on the Cherohala Skyway. For those of you who prefer four wheels to two, a “crotch rocket” is “a specific type of motorcycle, typically distinguished by it’s aerodynamic ‘hunched-over’ seating position and high power-to-weight ratio. Often favoured by stunters, who choose the bikes because they are light and easy to perform tricks (such as wheelies and stoppies) on ... Also known as ‘sportbikes’” according to urbandictionary.com. No one witnessed Harris’ accident, and there’s no reason to believe he was doing tricks. He was, however, exceeding the 45-mile-per-hour speed limit on a machine rider magazine described as possessing “razor-sharp handling” and “raucous engine ... to sling it from corner to corner ... pushed to near redline it makes enormous power.” The NC Highway Patrol report estimates Harris was going 100 miles per hour into his final curve, 90 when he impacted the guardrail. By all accounts, Harris was a responsible, level-headed man. He certainly knew how to drive safely; he had a CDL license to prove it. So what happened? Adrenaline rush? Overconfidence? The desire to see what his machine could do? We may never know. We only know he was going dangerously fast. One of Harris’ friends messaged me to challenge the trooper’s estimate that Harris was going 100. “Maybe 70 at the most,” he said. To which I say, “Seventy entering a turn with a suggested posted speed of 25 is both foolish and irresponsible. As we waited for the hearse to arrive, Harris’ friend Billy Pierce told me, “If you’re trying to race the road, the road’s going to win every time. It will kill you. You’ve got to respect that kind of road.” Those of us who live here respect our roads. Too many visitors don’t. And their lack of respect endangers those of us who would never drive 70 in a 45 zone. Too many visiting riders seem to view our roads as their own personal proving grounds and/or drag strips. And the crotch rocket riders seem to be the worst offenders. Raise your hand if you’ve seen wheelies, speeding, tailgating, and passing on double yellow lines. Yeah, me too. Some of us stay off the Skyway and Dragon during peak riding season because we’re afraid we’ll encounter some daredevil seeing if they can touch the pavement with their hand or knee as they roar through a tight curve. Personally, I think crotch rockets should be outlawed on Graham County roads. Too drastic? Then let’s open a drag strip/obstacle course on private property, charge admission, and require riders to sign a waiver before they “sling it from corner to corner” and push the redline to their heart’s content. From where I’m sitting, these so-called supersports are more dangerous than alcohol. Did you know that crotch rocket riders are four times more likely to die in a crash than riders of other motorcycles? Did you know that crotch rocket riders account for more than 25 percent of rider deaths, even though crotch rockets make up less than 10 percent of all registered motorcycles? Those numbers come from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Insurance Information Institute. I, for one, expect the percent of fatalities to increase as crotch rockets get faster and faster, more and more videos of riders shredding pavement are posted on YouTube, and bloggers and writers will continue to romanticize “taming” and “slaying” our now famous roads. We can only pray that daredevil coming here to make an awesome GoPro video doesn’t veer into the path of one of our loved ones. We can only pray that our ambulance drivers never crash as they speed to a motorcycle accident, and that our Fire Rescue volunteers aren’t hit while directing traffic while our EMTs treat a stunt rider who lost control of his bike. The retort from the local buisness scene.... Tail of the Dragon Yesterday at 6:00 PM · Our local newspaper editor recently wrote a disparaging editorial regarding motorcyclist that visit our area. Tail of the Dragon is making an official response, and perhaps you can share your comments to the Editor Gary Corsair as well. His email address is editor@grahamstar.com you can also comment on their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thegrahamstarofficial/. Here is our response: Your disrespectful editorial towards our motorcycle visitors who come to ride our world famous roads prompts our response. It doesn’t matter if our guests are riding, driving, paddling, or hiking, a small error in judgment can have deadly consequences in our remote and rugged wilderness. Graham County draws adventure seekers to our class IV rapids on the Cheoah River, hikers and trout fishermen to rugged remote wilderness areas, mountain bikers on trails of Tsali, and road bikers to the Cherohala Skyway. A small mistake can be deadly in our remote area. We can all question why someone would take risks or have a lapse in judgment. But we should understand that our area will always draw this type of visitor. And they deserve our help when accidents occur and dignity when an unfortunate event happens. How about a little simple respect for those you disparage when their friends and loved one's are grieving? Your editorial of July 5 is a disgrace to our entire community. Mr. Corsair, if you are troubled by our adventure seekers perhaps you should retire to a newspaper in The Villages where life is soft and easy. You might have to report on a golf cart accident though. Oh, don't forget about the alligators.

Fixt

So you want a truck load or 8” ?

Soooo....you are giving away wood? And this is different from when? Oh wait I see it is hard wood.....from trees.

Vermin. Domestic felines are the spawn of the devil.

I haven't been around in awhile, or ridden much lately.. So, here we are. Selling my 1982 Suzuki GS 850 L, $,1600 22,500 miles Vance and Hines 4 into 1 header, carbs rejetted, New battery June 2018 Run, rides like it should. I have owned this motorcycle for the last 22 years and has been on many group rides from this forum. Located south of Cleveland, Ohio in Bedford

I misread the title as 'crotch crickets' before I clicked. Thought it was about crab lice. What a fucking double disappointment.

Guy loves talking about crotch

Crotch rockets are dangerous? The guy was on an fz10, and that is not a crotch rocket. It is a naked sport bike. The rider magazine description in that article makes me want to get one. Next, they will want to ban sport touring bikes that can ride Cherohalla Skyway at 70 to 100mph.

Boom! Mods, lock this thread. It's over.

Who needs firewood? I bought some land in South Zanesville and select cut logged a couple acres. Have plenty of tops to cut. Cherry, Oak, Hickory and Poplar. You cut, you haul and leave it as good or better than you found it and you can have as much as you want for free.

Uh, Not in a fucking box. People also don’t rub their feet in that box full of piss & shit and then walk around on the counters. Disgusting vermin.

Cats are disgusting assholes that shit and piss inside your house. Terrible creatures.

Congrats! I like other people's cats. Cats will never live in my house, ever.

This dude trying to abduct them from your sun patio to make kitten fried rice.. Sneaky muhfucka

Brothers. Ziggy and Myles. Yea, they dig the Catzebo big time and know how to let you know they think it's time to take them out there again.

Don’t worry about including me in the garage I wasn’t planning on it. The sun might help my spray paint dry HA! but I can chip in if I’m upsetting the balance for everyone else.

Bike loaded up and pretty much all set to leave in about an hour after I run to town for dinner with my daughter. Looking forward to beating on the bike tomorrow.

Going to see the Columbus Crew game tonight... My gf is a huge fan and apparently LA are their biggest rival. Never thought I'd go to a game Crew game, especially didn't ever expect traveling to LA for it 😂 At least it's only a 5hr drive

@RodehardNice meeting and hanging out with you. @DerekClouser You rode real good for your 1st I group session.I'll need a tow from you from now on.

Rode to work today. Nothing like the feeling of freshly bled brakes.

My female spawn bought her first car on her own last week and finally got to bring it home last night. She's super excited not to be driving a 21 yr old car anymore.lol. Proud of this kid she's been saving up for months and put about a third of the cost down. Decided to purchase an extended warranty and decided to keep the payment low and short term. So I guess she's living the American dream of being in debt. Guess you have to start building your credit history somehow and I'm glad she did it very smartly I guess she picked something up from me. But damn I feel old now. And it's kind of sad when your kid owns a car newer than anything you own...lol

More? I think I need more.

I bought ribs from dickeys and watched them cut them out of a plastic bag... Everything there is bagged... Fucking gross, that's not BBQ

I just got a wild idea. Sitting here pricing a fly and ride to Germany. Actually more affordable than I thought. Fly into Frankfurt, rent a bike and ride the Nurburgring.

I never wanted to make money off my friends and fellow riders. That was never the purpose of this site. Otherwise, I'd have ads everywhere.

Designed these for work. Got me thinking, what about some OhioRiders frames?