All of the nice bike and favorite thing some said about your bike talk reminded me of this.
So last weekend I am coming home from a long day of riding in beautiful Southern Ohio and stop at a gas station to take a piss.  I pull in and see three dudes off their bikes standing around and talking.  They yell at me "Hey Ducati" and wave me over.  I bullshit with them for about 10 minutes each of us talking about our bikes.  They had an SV, a Victory Cruiser, and some Rice Rocket.  Anyways the whole time these guys are standing there talking about the 250 miles they did that day, the weather and leaves, and bs'ing about our bikes they all have beers in their hands.  I also noticed that these were probably the last three out of a whole 24 pack. 
It just floored me that these nice, seemingly intelligent (they all had full leathers and helmets) dudes had been drinking all day.  I couldn't imagine riding after one beer but obviously these guys at had at least 8 a piece and probably more since they had mentioned stoping numerous times. 

Why on earth would someone choose to drink and ride?  I made sure I left way before them so I wasn't riding anywhere near where they would be.

We have a lounge at our office. It's not unusual for a few people to hangout after work on a Friday night. I'll be honest, I've driven my car home from work after having a beer or two ... never more. Most people can relate.

One such Friday I enjoyed one ... ONE beer at the bar before I remembered I had my Monster that day. I geared-up and headed home not thinking that the beer mattered. IT DID. I'm not a total light-weight, but I could feel a subtle but noticeable difference in my balance, focus, and vision. Nothing dramatic, but enough that I didn't feel as safe as I usually do on the bike.

I pulled over and walked around a store for an hour before continuing home.

New policy: Riding = Zero drinking.

1 beer/hour for me WITH food and a max of three.   

I completely agree with you. I cannot imagine riding my bike after having anything to drink. That is a personal decision related to the amount of extra risk I am willing to assume while operating a motorcycle. Occasionally, I will meet some friends for drinks, have one, wait an hour or so and then drive my cage home, but never the bike.

Some people choose to ride without helmets, some people feel like they can knock back a few and still be safe. I can't speak to their abilities, but shame on anyone who operates any kind of motor vehicle while intoxicated, distracted, angry, whatever, and causes an accident that effects the life of someone else. Ride your bike into the ditch and injure yourself, but remember that even that might effect your family.

I mean, I rode home behind a driver last night who had a hard time keeping it between the lines and nearly ran a red light ahead of me. I pull past her and look over to see her talking on her phone. I wanted to tell her what I thought about her recklessness, but doubt that she would have understood what I was trying to tell her. People's lack of attention to the impact of their responsibilities is a pet peeve of mine though...

Quote from: yotogi on November 07, 2008, 10:55:32 AM
I completely agree with you. I cannot imagine riding my bike after having anything to drink. That is a personal decision related to the amount of extra risk I am willing to assume while operating a motorcycle. Occasionally, I will meet some friends for drinks, have one, wait an hour or so and then drive my cage home, but never the bike.

Some people choose to ride without helmets, some people feel like they can knock back a few and still be safe. I can't speak to their abilities, but shame on anyone who operates any kind of motor vehicle while intoxicated, distracted, angry, whatever, and causes an accident that effects the life of someone else. Ride your bike into the ditch and injure yourself, but remember that even that might effect your family.

I mean, I rode home behind a driver last night who had a hard time keeping it between the lines and nearly ran a red light ahead of me. I pull past her and look over to see her talking on her phone. I wanted to tell her what I thought about her recklessness, but doubt that she would have understood what I was trying to tell her. People's lack of attention to the impact of their responsibilities is a pet peeve of mine though...

Um, I'm speechless. 

Quote from: yotogi on November 07, 2008, 10:55:32 AM
<snip>...and then drive my cage home, but never the bike.

Quote from: Valor on November 07, 2008, 10:05:47 AM
<snip> IT DID. I'm not a total light-weight, but I could feel a subtle but noticeable difference in my balance, focus, and vision. 
New policy: Riding = Zero drinking.

Is this because you feel you can control your car better than your bike or cause you are safer from injury in it than on the bike?

I figure, if I can't ride I can't drive and vice versa.  Just curious as to your reasoning.   Does Driving = Zero Drinking?  How can f'd up (to whatever degree that means) on your bike not = f'd up in your car?

Full disclosure: When I first started riding I had a zero drinking policy because i was still learning how to ride.  Now that it's as second nature as driving I don't mind having a couple of drinks - just the same limits I impose on myself when driving.

As far as the scene the original poster witnessed....

Not clear if that 24 pack was consumed in the whole day, that reduces the impact quite a bit.
If that was only what was consumed at the last stop, well, that's a lot different.

Some folks can do it, not me.
If I drank 8 beers, one after the other, I couldn't walk, let alone ride.

Quote from: DCXCV on November 07, 2008, 11:19:05 AM

Is this because you feel you can control your car better than your bike or cause you are safer from injury in it than on the bike?

I figure, if I can't ride I can't drive and vice versa.  Just curious as to your reasoning.   Does Driving = Zero Drinking?  How can f'd up (to whatever degree that means) on your bike not = f'd up in your car?

Full disclosure: When I first started riding I had a zero drinking policy because i was still learning how to ride.  Now that it's as second nature as driving I don't mind having a couple of drinks - just the same limits I impose on myself when driving.

I can see your point on this but I will go to happy hour after work and have maybe 3 beers but I would never do this if I was on my bike.  I just feel like there is about 10x more going on when your on a bike as opposed to the cage.  

Probably a derby... but still a great article...

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/riding_drunk/index.html

Quote from: Speeddog on November 07, 2008, 11:43:12 AM
As far as the scene the original poster witnessed....

Not clear if that 24 pack was consumed in the whole day, that reduces the impact quite a bit.
If that was only what was consumed at the last stop, well, that's a lot different.

Some folks can do it, not me.
If I drank 8 beers, one after the other, I couldn't walk, let alone ride.

I'm pretty sure that those three had put that 24 pack away in one day.  They also were at a festival and were drinking there.  One even mentioned not being able to remember how many they had.

Oddly enough, it's not uncommon to pull up to the overlook at Deal's Gap and see folks (usually Goldwing or Harley baggers/dressers or any other dressers) pulling a beer or three out of their bags ~

JM

Well,,,, I agree don't drink and drive,,,BUT

Years past when I drove Formula Fords I worked all day and evening on my car for an event at Moroso Park near West Palm.
We had beers and day,, all evening,,, got a late start on our 6 hour drive to West Palm.
Drank all the way to West Palm in the van and as the sun was rising Saturday morning stopped for a 12 pack..
You have to keep the head going or else you drop...

Before the noon hour I had put in several practices and won the pole during qualifying..

There were guys there speaking french with semi's full of spares and clean fancy driver's suits.
I had an old van, open trailer,  playing Black Sabbath music , an old car, no spares, and a dirty / greasy driver's suit...

Got the pole and oh heck another 12 pack...

Things I (we) did ....

I love getting trashed and riding.
It makes it easier to go fast enough to where the striped lines become solid...

1 drink per hour and no more drinks than I have wheels is my general policy....

this of course differes if I am going to be somewhere for the day or a long time though...but generally speaking anyway

This isn't shocking news or anything new. You should see some of the ice houses in my area. They are packed with bikes and of course everyone (bikers) drinks.