Gary J
Well-known member
The topic of "crashing" is one that will forever be with us in the world of motorcycle forum discussions. I'm OK with that, as I realize that the laws of physics demand a 2-wheel vehicle to "fall over", unless acted upon by sufficient gyroscopic effects (or a good kickstand :laughing).
Despite this recognition, I'm a strong proponent to riders not taking the mindset that "crashing's OK", to the point that they begin to get lazy in the quest to develop every possible tool in their riding arsenal, and riding decision-making process, to prevent crashes from happening ...... street or track.
Having been on the underside of a motorcycle more than a few times over the last 20 years/300,000 miles of combined street riding and racetrack riding/racing, I'm no virgin. Still being healthy enough to continue these activities at a high level, I'm very grateful, and also not ashamed of my crash stats.
What prompted this thread was the posts that invariably appear (thankfully only from a few individuals) in any discussion on the topic of the inevitability of every rider evenutally crashing. Posts from these "perfect" riders, typically carry a boastful message along the lines of: "I've been riding for 30 years, and have never crashed". The projected message sometimes comes across in a "holier than thou" form, giving the impression of a rating system where any individual that has crashed, must therefore be a lesser skilled/experienced rider. In looking at things from a real world perspective, gotta call this BS.
Thinking about the recipe that would most likely have to be applied to the riding history of anyone honestly being able to proclaim a "30 years riding and never crashed once" record, I figured I'd put together a "how to" list that might be useful for newer riders to follow, if their goal is to someday achieve such immortal status in the motorcycle community. Here's my list. Feel free to add to it, if you have any secrets of your own.
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Things to do to achieve: "I've been riding for 30 years and never crashed" status on the forums:
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1. Apply "Selective Amnesia", where you don't remember (count) all those times the bike and you ended up on the ground (dirt or pavement), because you didn't get hurt, and damage to the bike was minor.
2. Skip large numbers of years, by not actually owning/riding a motorcycle, during the 30 year period.
3. Ride only a few hundred miles/year, during many of the years of the 30 year period, to keep the contiguous riding string in tact.
4. Never ride when weather and/or road conditions aren't absolutely "perfect".
5. Consistently resist temptation to recognize the potential to "have fun" (speed, cornering, jumping, etc.), when riding a motorcycle.
6. Absolutely avoid all forms of "recreational use" riding of your motorcycles.
7. Only ride on large super-slab freeways/highways (great for logging big mileage numbers for "no crash" bragging rights).
8. Never participate in any form of organized competition (dirt or pavement) on a motorcycle.
9. Never ride a motorcycle in the dirt.
10. Lie a lot and hide behind your avatar, as no one knows who you are in real life anyways (because no one ever sees you riding), so they can't dispute your "zero crash" record.
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Just a little Wednesday truth and humor ............. FWIW.
Gary J
Despite this recognition, I'm a strong proponent to riders not taking the mindset that "crashing's OK", to the point that they begin to get lazy in the quest to develop every possible tool in their riding arsenal, and riding decision-making process, to prevent crashes from happening ...... street or track.
Having been on the underside of a motorcycle more than a few times over the last 20 years/300,000 miles of combined street riding and racetrack riding/racing, I'm no virgin. Still being healthy enough to continue these activities at a high level, I'm very grateful, and also not ashamed of my crash stats.
What prompted this thread was the posts that invariably appear (thankfully only from a few individuals) in any discussion on the topic of the inevitability of every rider evenutally crashing. Posts from these "perfect" riders, typically carry a boastful message along the lines of: "I've been riding for 30 years, and have never crashed". The projected message sometimes comes across in a "holier than thou" form, giving the impression of a rating system where any individual that has crashed, must therefore be a lesser skilled/experienced rider. In looking at things from a real world perspective, gotta call this BS.
Thinking about the recipe that would most likely have to be applied to the riding history of anyone honestly being able to proclaim a "30 years riding and never crashed once" record, I figured I'd put together a "how to" list that might be useful for newer riders to follow, if their goal is to someday achieve such immortal status in the motorcycle community. Here's my list. Feel free to add to it, if you have any secrets of your own.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Things to do to achieve: "I've been riding for 30 years and never crashed" status on the forums:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Apply "Selective Amnesia", where you don't remember (count) all those times the bike and you ended up on the ground (dirt or pavement), because you didn't get hurt, and damage to the bike was minor.
2. Skip large numbers of years, by not actually owning/riding a motorcycle, during the 30 year period.
3. Ride only a few hundred miles/year, during many of the years of the 30 year period, to keep the contiguous riding string in tact.
4. Never ride when weather and/or road conditions aren't absolutely "perfect".
5. Consistently resist temptation to recognize the potential to "have fun" (speed, cornering, jumping, etc.), when riding a motorcycle.
6. Absolutely avoid all forms of "recreational use" riding of your motorcycles.
7. Only ride on large super-slab freeways/highways (great for logging big mileage numbers for "no crash" bragging rights).
8. Never participate in any form of organized competition (dirt or pavement) on a motorcycle.
9. Never ride a motorcycle in the dirt.
10. Lie a lot and hide behind your avatar, as no one knows who you are in real life anyways (because no one ever sees you riding), so they can't dispute your "zero crash" record.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just a little Wednesday truth and humor ............. FWIW.
Gary J
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