After one year of riding...

[thumbus2003]

I think about it ever time I have a close call or a brain fart. But then every time that happens I just think don't be a show off always pay attention and enjoy the ride. So I'll never quit unless other wise.

Street riding.

 

[notme]

I've known many cats who have quit the road and only ride dirt now. So is that really quitting? Getting off the road? Maybe you just do trackdays? My brothers dive in and out....mostly out these days. But it is what it is. My wife's cousin rolls a wheelchair from a dirtbike accident. Heh...yeah you're all in or out.

Of course taking cagers out of the equasion instantly increases the safety margin on a motorcycle.

But it's not about being safe is it?

I'm not talking about not wearing gear or not using your head. however, you can use your head, have the best gear money can buy, logged more hours then Jesus (yeah he rode some sick shit) at the track and gone to so many American Supercamps that Dre knows you by name. You can still get broadsided by that drunkin phone talkin' cigarette smokin' cager who just ran the light.

If you're scared of what might happen to you on a motorcycle then you shouldn't ride anymore. The fear will distract you.

 

[VFRBenny]

I'm just reflecting on riding one year since i've started last year.
something happened and got me thinking if its really worth it...
I was posting on another forum cuz I'm getting a new car. And this guy was like, buy my blue s2000. Then he died this afternoon from a fatal crash. Its unknown who is at fault, the lady is like over 80 yrs old so i'm pretty sure its his fault.

Have you ever thought about quitting?

After 6 major wrecks in the last 30 years, I'm scared before every ride!

If I let fear run my life, I feel I wont have much of a life.

I just ride, hope for the best and enjoy life.arty

 

[corrupt]

I haven't considered giving up riding.

I'm really happy because I discovered that I don't have to speed excessively or do crazy shit to be happy riding.

That is really great. I can be happy being a dumb ass on a bike too, but not THAT much happier that I'd risk not ever riding again.

Also I know that I am very instinctual, and that is comforting. I have good discipline about always gleaning info from everything that I see that could affect me while riding and I adjust accordingly. I know that I am constantly trying to learn and grow. Everything just feels so great about it. Something really huge is going to have to happen for me to not want to ride any more. Probably death, crippling or some kind of immobilization.

Maybe though, I will become President of the US, and then, sure, I'll stop riding for 8 years... wow that'd be hard, now I can see going out Clinton style on some impeachment so I can ride me some motorcycle.

 

[bojangle]

I'm just reflecting on riding one year since i've started last year.
something happened and got me thinking if its really worth it...
I was posting on another forum cuz I'm getting a new car. And this guy was like, buy my blue s2000. Then he died this afternoon from a fatal crash. Its unknown who is at fault, the lady is like over 80 yrs old so i'm pretty sure its his fault.
Have you ever thought about quitting?

Really? Over 80-years-old and I would assume just the opposite.....that SHE was at fault. But does that really matter? Dead is still dead regardless of fault.

Just go with your gut. Sure, riding is dangerous. No one can make that kinda decision but you. Plenty of people quit riding and then some get back into it.

I've only been riding for 1-1/2 years and 10,000 miles or so. I have no plans of quitting, but I mostly ride for fun, not commuting. I had a minor get off after almost a year riding and a recently purchased bike. It caused me to reevaluate my skill level, focus on improving, and buying better gear.

Ride safe! :ride

 

[corrupt]

Just sell the RC51, and ride the R6 more. We all know you like the R6 more, don't let the RC51 and it's two hundred eleventy mph turn you in to a big pussymouth. You don't have to open that throttle so deep every time :ride

Heehee

Sorry, just threw some dumb humor in there, don't mean to offend.

 

[sixtytwo]

I went 9 months without a bike last year and I could not get that damn yearning out of my system... twist the throttle and fly.

Yeah, I was away from my bike for 8 weeks. The first time I twisted the throttle after that hiatus was pure bliss...

And yeah, I don't think I can ever even begin to think about quitting...

 

[Mike T]

jeebus Tony...thats a crazy story man

but as for riding...no...even if i recently got pulled over and all that fun stuff...still no...might be a lil harder to enjoy but hey..its a part of my life now...and the people that share the same bond..nothing but good :thumbup

 

[bpowa]

Whenever I hear about any motorcycle related fatality. I remind myself to.....

Buy more gear.
Buy better gear.
Try to be ATGATT.
Wear reflective clothing/strips
Take it easy on hwy 9.
Do more track days.
Not to ride on a particular day/road ... If I don't feel comfortable


I just can't quit riding.

gear is not going to save your life, with the exception of a good helmet..

Quitting crossed my mind but never about fear. Financially and comfort yes.


I hate to commute on a bike.. it takes the joy out of riding..

I will really reconsider when I have kids.. But I always tell my girl that I would love to ride with my kids (dirt at a young age) when I have one or two.
.

 

[Wack]

If you are having those thoughts it might not be a bad idea to get off the bike(s) for awhile. The days are getting shorter, it's colder and could be wet soon, there are better times to ride. After a short while you will sort it out and if it's worth it, get back on a bike. Riding can be expensive, it can cost lots of money, even your life. Before you get on a bike you better be sure the price is worth paying. If you are like most of us you won't make it past the first sunny day.

 

[ThumperX]

gear is not going to save your life, with the exception of a good helmet..

You are kidding aren't you? A good back protector can save you from a mortal spinal break, Hip protectors can save you from hip and pelvis injuries that are one of the major contributors to fatalities. Boots can save you from bleeding to death from a severed foot.....

Anyway Tony do what you need to do. I phase in and out from asphalt flashbacks to not even thinking about it.

 

[flying_hun]

Yeah.. all the time.. :|


I've accepted the risks involved... I pay my respects to the fallen and move on.

That's pretty much where I am.

 

[MissMoxy]

Had I thought about quitting after my accident ? ...For a split 1/100 of a second. Then my mom: rant :blah . I assured her, I will be ok.... I could never end on a bad note.

began riding this year in January.....suffered from a crash in late June that kept me off my motorcycle for a month and a couple weeks....all I could think about was:
-figure out what I did wrong by revisiting my crash sight,
-how to fix the bike,
-read more on motorcycling
-calculate when my cast would come off so I could get back on.

7 thousand miles later I'm still excited to hop on my bike. For me is the alertness I have to maintain every time I get on the bike that keeps me riding. Every day it's playing "what's-the-driver/road-going-to-do-today" game.

What I always rethink of is how motorcycling is to me: freedom, control, mind-clearing, element-experiencing, challenging, rewarding, and being enveloped in my own cocoon while moving with life ( sense of individuality while moving with "the masses") .:ride

 

[Spec-ECU]

I've seen you around town, and if i rode like you, i'd think about quitting.

:laughing :laughing :laughing

 

[Karbon]

2 wheel life has many speeds.

 

[moto-rama]

Why do they quit?

riders who quit.

First :They are usually riders with less than 5 years of riding experience.

They don't have confidence in their ability to stay free of injury.
They have "other things" in their their life.
They have a spouse or GF that wants them to quit.

Most of all, they do not really LOVE riding enough.

 

[MR662]

Im 32, been riding since I was 18. Dirt bikes, about 8 different streetbikes. Ive always had 1-2 bikes in my garage. Ive crashed a couple times in the hills riding fast, hitting gravel or damp spots. One day I crashed hard at Buttonwillow and though I didnt break anything, I tore some muscles so I had little strength in my shoulders. I finally said maybe its time to hang it up. One day Im going to crash and its not going to be good.

I needed speed still so I bought a new Viper. I even Supercharged it so that I could beat bikes on the freeway. Id race at track and do runs up hwy 9. I had the car for the last 2 1/2 years. Everyone loved the car and said I was a lucky guy. But in all the time of owning it, I always watched Moto racing religously and read al the mags I was still subscribed too. I was still secretly in love with Motorcycles. I had tied up over $30k in mods on my Viper,yet it still wasnt enough. All I could think of was riding and trackdays with my buddies.

So I recently sold a couple of my cars, made some changes and bought a new streetbike. I couldnt be happier. I missed it so much. I always said Id ride till I die. I guess thats still true, I just took a little break. Maybe you just need a break to see if its something you really love or not. Like others said, you never know when you will die or be seriously injured. So you can minimize risks, but you cant stop living. I wont skydive anymore, but I dont see motorcycle riding as a big risk. It can be very safe and fun if your careful. The track is where you go play. As of the last month of being back on a bike after 2 years, Ive already had a few close calls on freeway. But It is my fault splitting or changing lanes in heavy traffic. Cars dont see us. If you know this and ride like this, I could almost guarantee you'll never have accident. The more you ride, the more you become one with your bike. Ride with caution on the street, expect the unexpected. When you feel that need for speed, take it to the track and you will have a long, happy life of motorcycling.

 

[wackyiraqi]

If you quit riding, you're still going to die.

 

[bpowa]

You are kidding aren't you? A good back protector can save you from a mortal spinal break, Hip protectors can save you from hip and pelvis injuries that are one of the major contributors to fatalities. Boots can save you from bleeding to death from a severed foot.....

Anyway Tony do what you need to do. I phase in and out from asphalt flashbacks to not even thinking about it.

If something were to struck you hard enough, like a tree 30mph.. at the right spot youd probably die..

I ATGATT myself.. and been in a few crashes.. and yes the the back protector helped, but I cant imagine getting hit by a car would help.

 

[Xenophonii]

If you quit riding, you're still going to die.

:laughing:laughing

riders who quit.

First :They are usually riders with less than 5 years of riding experience.

They don't have confidence in their ability to stay free of injury.
They have "other things" in their their life.
They have a spouse or GF that wants them to quit.

Most of all, they do not really LOVE riding enough.

Sounds about right...

I'm really happy because I discovered that I don't have to speed excessively or do crazy shit to be happy riding.

Me too. I think that's one of those inevitable stages of riding if you stick with it long enough :teeth