After one year of riding...

[izzy_OCR]

I've been riding for two years now and haven't thought of quitting! Yes, it's dangers but anything can happen at any time. I was in 2 accidents in 2 weeks after a year of riding. But after my second one I started to think twice before I tried to rail every turn I could. All I have to say is ride smart and think about the birds and the bees and you should be fine

When you go to sleep you die, when you wake up you are reborn!!

 

[11B]

Have you ever thought about quitting?

I've been riding on and off since 1995 and in that time have been hit by 2 cars, one of which speedily jutted out in front of me (T-Bone!) when I had the right of way on a regular 4 lane road (No lights or stop signs for me) while he was at a stop sign, and the other was a hit and run - a camaro hit me from my rear left oblique after running a red light from a side street.

I took some time off after both those wrecks and was grateful I received zero injuries from either incident. Of course, I love to ride and accept the danger involved. I keep telling myself a person can only get hit so many times and that I have already met my life-long quota!

If I had the cash to hit the track every weekend I'm sure I could persuade myself to stay off the street but there is no way in hell I would ever quit.

 

[EastBayDave]

after 47 years of riding & too many altercations with hit&runners, I never once thought seriously about quitting. I sometimes regret the collisions w/cagers, especially when I daily go thru pain from those hit & run accidents. But I never seriously thought about quitting; I've just slowed down & not riding as frequently. When I do ride, it's thru town straight to the twisties.

Nowdays I don't ride nearly as much as I used to; but that's mostly due to mechanicals I can't afford to fix. So sometimes I go months between rides. SSI really sux. But I never will give up riding, never! I only hope I will pass peacefully in bed, not at the end of a traffic collision- my biggest fear nowdays.

 

[Thateguhate]

I've analyzed this in my head over and over the past year or so but am finally picking up my first bike tomorrow actually. I cant lie, the thought of not being here anymore due to an moto accident does bother me a bit, but at the sametime hasn't scared me enough to keep me from buying.

I met this all halfway really by convincing myself that It will not be my primary means of transportation, and more a weekend warrior, and maybe an occassional ride to work.

I may be a newbie... fresh out of the MSF class, but I have purchased all the proper gear necessary for streetriding that I think I would need, and @28 years old I really do believe I have matured enough to the point where I actually want to be around for whatever tomorrow holds.

 

[Sane_Man]

I've analyzed this in my head over and over the past year or so but am finally picking up my first bike tomorrow actually. I cant lie, the thought of not being here anymore due to an moto accident does bother me a bit, but at the sametime hasn't scared me enough to keep me from buying.

I met this all halfway really by convincing myself that It will not be my primary means of transportation, and more a weekend warrior, and maybe an occassional ride to work.

I may be a newbie... fresh out of the MSF class, but I have purchased all the proper gear necessary for streetriding that I think I would need, and @28 years old I really do believe I have matured enough to the point where I actually want to be around for whatever tomorrow holds.

Can't wait to see your new Busa. :thumbup

 

[DocWong]

The only time I thought of quitting was a very fleeting moment when I got stopped and was cited for 3 citations!

But seriously, I've been on rides where someone was seriously hurt. In the days when I rode recklessly on the streets, it was quite a wake-up call. Over the years, I purposefully throttled it way back on the streets. For street riding, I'll ride my touring bike or some old vintage bikes and you'll hardly ever see me on the hill with a sport bike.

I've taken quite a liking to dirt riding, dual sport riding, and track days. These are different venus where to one degree or another you can go much faster or be challenged in other ways.

When I started street riding, me and buddies would go faster and faster. We really wanted to see how fast we could go and soon realized that we were on the fast-track to disaster. Unfortunately I learned my lessons from being at the scene of some pretty bad accidents. Out of those experiences, came the Doc Wong Riding Clinics and it's now been 15 years since starting those clincs and a lot of safe street miles to boot.

I truly believe the risks of riding on the street can be manageable, given some good skills and an effective approach to street riding.

 

[UDRider]

I have been riding for year and a half. I use my motorcycle as a primary mode of transportation. All things considered I am pretty sure I'll be killed on my bike (bicycle) rather then on my motorcycle. I'll consider quitting riding my motorcycle right after I consider quitting riding my bike, and I don't see that happening any time soon.

 

[Banjoboy]

Can't wait to see your new turbo Busa. :thumbup

There, I dun fixed it for ya!

 

[jjslye]

One year, 13K miles, MSF, years & years of playing in the traffic on a bicycle (that really helped). I trained on the '91 Hawk and after 8K found a mildly dinged up naked SV650S...what a difference!
I've taken to it like a duck to water..and yeah it's very compelling to ride, addictive even. But damn I am wary of those fuggin cars! I really enjoy hyper-awareness mode, tracking multiple targets, evading the plentiful pavement flaws, and staying ahead of the "law of accidents". There have been a couplah close calls that really cause me to think...and write several pages of after-action report!
The relationship between rider and machine is a much closer to being cybernetic (in a way) that with say a car or a mower.... THAT is incredibly arousing. AS far being surrounded by cars I imagine I am a WW2 era fighter navigating through a pack of bombers. They are all trying to kill me and I can never be sure that I am completely safe. One thing that is sorely lacking is the offensive weaponry!
Quit? If I did, and it could happen....I would whine and whimper every time someone rode by....now THAT would suck.

 

[RRrider]

I rode in college (boston - not the place with the safest traffic). I quit, thinking that I would die on a bike because of someone elses mistake, not mine (e.g. they ran a blatantly red light). But I really missed it. Now I'm back on two wheels (and lovin' it!). Now I follow the philosophy (much referenced here at BARF) that if someone else CAN get me, then it was me who made the mistake in letting them get me (doesn't matter if they are following the rules or not). If one rides with a fighter pilot attitude, identifying and avoiding the bogies (or potential bogies) before they can get you, then I believe I'll live at least as long on a bike compared to how I used to drive my sports car (which was considerably less aware than I am now my sportsbike Any multi-ton vehicle on the road being driven in the clueless, unaware style all too common here in the bay area counts as an enemy/bogie in my book. Pay attention and don't let them get you.

interesting data point I read (Hough I think): they did a test wrt to drivers not seeing motorcycles. they ran 3 test cases:
1) guy in all black. - had many near hits (people didn't see him)
2) guy in HiVis (neon yellow aerostich) - had just as many near hits (people didn't see him)!
3) guy in what looked like Hiway Patrol police uniform - had a significant number less near hits (why did they see him more?)!

conclusion (mine): the human brain when driving filters for things that are "dangerous". Another car is "dangerous" (can hurt me even in my car). A motorcycle is simply not a threat. But a police officer is! This danger sensor is hardwired into our subconscious. Cars DO NOT SEE us! It doesn't matter what you wear (of course hivis helps at the boundary, but I'd argue not enough to matter). And some car drivers are psychotic and simply don't like us.

Bottomline: if you ride, expect cars to behave as if you just are not there (or worse) independent of the traffic laws!

But you have to have your mind in the game for this to be fun, else you're better off choosing a different game. For me, I love to ride, and am commuting regularly.

 

[jjslye]

better....

So you're saying it's like dating.

Yeah maybe the curiosity part...
Also better than just OK sex... That and its always good every time and you know what to expect...the more you do it the better you get. Has not gotten old either. Now how to incorporate it into....?:shocker

 

[optimusbhk]

No.

When I decided to ride (after many years of serious thought to riding), I decided that I will ride and I will do everything I can to continue riding... MSF class, head to toe gear (even on my cruiser) which makes me totally motogeeked out, mindset that I will learn everyday.

Nothing will stand in my way... not even by wife.

 

[mysaferide]

How funny It happens to a lot of people . Ride safe

Nope, and I have access to my (newly) wife's car, and my own SuperBeetle which has been parked for almost two years.

I ride or walk: everywhere and all the time. Seven years without a car; I'd rather ride the bus than drive a four-wheeler.

It really is a way of life.

 

[n8]

No.

When I decided to ride (after many years of serious thought to riding), I decided that I will ride and I will do everything I can to continue riding... MSF class, head to toe gear (even on my cruiser) which makes me totally motogeeked out, mindset that I will learn everyday.

Nothing will stand in my way... not even by wife.

put her behind you:thumbup

 

[crick]

i had a friend who got hit just crossing the street... she passed away.. very young. Another friend at 25 got hit with leukemia and testicular cancer. he passed away. Several others from car accidents, motorcycle... even a falling tree branch.

so no, i never thought about quitting because anything out there can get you...

been riding for 12 years now.

 

[alcoHK]

Ive been unable to ride for the past 2 and a half weeks do to any injury unrelated to riding. Im riding bart on my way to pick up my bike and have butterflies in my stomach from the excitement of being able to ride soon. I have taken this time to brush up on riding safely and i dont feel nor have i ever had the feeling that i would want to quit riding.

 

[DocWong]

Ive been unable to ride for the past 2 and a half weeks do to any injury unrelated to riding. Im riding bart on my way to pick up my bike and have butterflies in my stomach from the excitement of being able to ride soon. I have taken this time to bursh up on riding safetly and i dont feel nor have i ever had the feeling that i would want to quit riding.

Awesome, welcome back to riding! Many of my personal rides are now with my sweetie as she loves to ride when we get the time to do so. :thumbup

 

[mulcibre]

hmmm, what has kept me alive?

Do not fear Death, but remember that he always rides with you

 

[DocWong]

hmmm, what has kept me alive?

Do not fear Death, but remember that he always rides with you

Very good point! Constantly trying to avoid injury can be so mentally taxing that it can be counterproductive to safety.

But then again, being "fearless" has some bad drawbacks too.

So I think a combination of being a bit "fearless" and being a whole lot smart is a good idea.

 

[mulcibre]

Very good point! Constantly trying to avoid injury can be so mentally taxing that it can be counterproductive to safety.

But then again, being "fearless" has some bad drawbacks too.

So I think a combination of being a bit "fearless" and being a whole lot smart is a good idea.

Riding a motorcycle is a pretty good reminder of your mortality, I would say. But, we've gotta be objective about it, right? Lot's of things can kill you, the savvy person just knows how to minimize the odds while still having a good time.

I think you said that already though :ride