*ascend soapbox*
The one thing I hear people say to me when I put the jacket and crash hat on is "Be careful."
I always answer with "I am." I hear it from fellow riders, which is nice, and from strangers, friends, and family. I think my wife may be apprehensive about me riding a bike, as she saw a guy go headfirst from his MC into a large oak tree when she was in high school. Tree 1, dude 0. But she knows how much fun I'm having riding, and I know how empty her life would be without me. I've lost a couple of close friends to MC accidents, and they were good careful considerate riders. You just never know.
I understand the whole biker mentality. *bleep* the establishment, etc, yadda yadda yadda. The best you can do is ride very defensively, keep your bike in good condition, take your ego out of the equation, be considerate of your fellow motorists, and don't do stupid stuff no matter who's whispering in your ear that you're a wuss if you don't. Your life on this earth is worth so much. Don't throw it away.
*descend soapbox*
Luke M
Used to have a 1979 CB750L, sold it as a parts bike, now riding a slightly modified 1984 VT700C. Network/Field Engineer. Central OH, USA, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy, Universe.