I’ve had my motorcycle for just over two years. I’ve put my heart and soul (and money) into that puppy this whole time. I brought it back from the brink of the junkyard and almost completely restored it to its original glory.
Two weeks ago I sold it.
Although I love riding, it’s just not worth it anymore. It was an ideal highway/mountain bike so I used my scooter around town and mostly drove my bike on the highways between cities and a few out of town areas where there were more roads than cars with little or no annoying taffic lights.
Not anymore. I’ve just had too many close calls from selfish, ignorant “me first” drivers not caring if their no-look, four-lane U-turns on open highways stopped traffic or not. I refuse to become a victim of these fools. Only to have them say “I’m sorry” after they send me spilling down the road from their selfish “driving” habits.
On the other hand, I admit that I was no angel on these roads. MCs are built for speed and I took advantage of that when it was possible. But after five years in this country, I finally realised it is a no-win situation. I have the kind of luck that will one day put me in the hospital or worse. And even worse than that is burdening friends and family with possible hosptial bills or getting the body home.
I can’t get the image out of my head of that popular expat/talkshow host who was driven off the road a few years ago and is now a near vegetable in a Taipei hospital. His once promising and lucrative career suddenly over and his family wondering how they’re gonna pay the bills.
I certainly don’t want to be Mr. Doom & Gloom here. If you’re a motorcycle rider for more than a couple years in Taiwan, then you’re probably careful when you have to be, carefree and a speedfreak when you can get away with it. I had two good years cruising all over this island on my trusted steed and don’t regret a minute of it.
But with Taiwan’s roads riddled with idiots who think it’s a much better idea to cut off a MC rider at full speed rather than let them pass safely, I would rather hang up the helmet than take my chances.