How to achieve "I've been riding for XX (lots!) years - w/no crashes" bragging status

[Gary J]

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

 

[faz]

:laughing :laughing

(bastid, you got me on 3 or 4 of those points! :laughing... now I can't brag anymore.... thanks for ruining the only thing I had going for me! :cry)

 

[drizz]

11. Never turn.

12. Allow the assumption that high post count on BARF means high experience level to never be compromised...

Thanks Gary J :thumbup

 

[Machew]

I thought of this once too. I guess that people who have crashed a couple times know what not to do next time.... I hope

 

[Baptistro]

13. Stunting failures don't count.

 

[Gary J]

:laughing :laughing

(bastid, you got me on 3 or 4 of those points! :laughing... now I can't brag anymore.... thanks for ruining the only thing I had going for me! :cry)

I'll buy lunch for the first person that can prove that I missed them on ALL ten points, and also prove they have 30 (or even 20) years of motorcycling (and over 200,000 miles) without a single "crash" (bike/rider touches ground).

 

[Wrong Way]

You got mojo'd

 

[tzrider]

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. These 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 often 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.

Like you, my leathers have "fallen out of the trailer" a few times. Still, I rarely take someone's claim never to have crashed as an insult to my own riding record. I'm actually glad that there are a few who can step forward to debunk the idea that everyone has to road-test their leathers sooner or later.

Certainly there's a reason we have the saying, "there are two kinds of riders," but it's also useful to know that there are exceptions, as it helps to remind us that not crashing is achievable, if that happens to be a high personal priority.

It's probably not an unfair generalization to say that people who have hundreds of thousands of miles without crashing have different priorities and are doing different things than the rest of us. If they value not crashing more than steeper lean angles that's OK with me.

The healthy aspect of acknowledging that the odds say most of us will crash, is that we are more apt to put on our gear and take other measures to offset that reality. The downside to having too much pride in a no-crash record is that if you ever do crash, your record is permanently ruined. OTOH, every time I ride, I get to improve on something if my goals revolve around what I am doing, rather than on what I've never done.

 

[TLRoss]

I dropped my bike once in the parking lot. Does that qualify as a crash?

 

[Billery]

:laughing That's great!

 

[budbandit]

Well, shit. We were getting dangerously close to the Lunch Zone but you got me on 8 and 9 and a couple years....

It is interesting to see the difference in perspective that different groups have on crashes. I get the feeling that in racing it is pretty much part of the cost to play. For sport touring riders I get the feeling that it is far more the exception than the rule. I actually like hearing about very long intervals between crashes as I think that for many such a target or goal is at least as useful as nailing a certain laptime. But, when you are both poor and a sissy priorities change ;-)

I'll buy lunch for the first person that can prove that I missed them on ALL ten points, and also prove they have 30 (or even 20) years of motorcycling (and over 200,000 miles) without a single "crash" (bike/rider touches ground).

 

[deaconblues]

Gary:

If I start counting my 30-year period AFTER my 'lay it over after wild skid to a stop at a traffic light' episode (yes, dammit, MY FOOT SLIPPED!!!!), and somehow manage to stay crash free that whole time, does it count?

Because if I count from when I started riding, I've already blown it.... (

 

[rsrider]

There are old pilots and there are bold pilots. There are no old, bold pilots.

I've never crashed on the street, and I've been riding for over (well, a hell of a long time). Having said that, I put my car into the rough this weekend.

You can't be timid and ride a motorcycle, it just doesn't work. So you have to be somewhat aggressive, but not to the point of being dangerous, to yourself or others. You have to know when to ride agressively and when to hold your exhuberence in check. Like any skill, there is a fine line there. When you cross it under the right circumstanses, you will "meet the sausage creature", or you will get lucky and be able to admonish yourself and take measures to rectify the problem, or not.

A smart rider will take every opportunity given them to understand motorcycleing, whether it's through classes, track days, reading, watching video, or listening to a guru. Educating yourself about the sport will go a long way in keeping you from kissing asphalt (she's a harsh mistress). Pay attention, don't be stupid, and keep yourself, your gear, and your bike in top shape. That is all. (for now)

 

[SilverBird]

Well, shit. We were getting dangerously close to the Lunch Zone but you got me on 8 and 9 and a couple years....

It is interesting to see the difference in perspective that different groups have on crashes. I get the feeling that in racing it is pretty much part of the cost to play. For sport touring riders I get the feeling that it is far more the exception than the rule. I actually like hearing about very long intervals between crashes as I think that for many such a target or goal is at least as useful as nailing a certain laptime.

Ditto on that. My goal on the street is to balance staying crash-free and having fun. On day #3 of riding on the dirt I took a good one (and have been doing so on a regular basis), but that is part of pushing it in a more forgiving environment.

It's always a matter of standpoint. One can always argue that his crashes on the street are more acceptable coz he is pushing it, but usually the people I ride with find no pride in their 'metal parts' and maxxed out medical plans.

Last point, a no crash record is only as good as the acknowldgement of the many close calls you had. Luck has its play, be thankful not cocky.

Hugo

 

[Silent]

Alzheimer's is great, you never remember hitting the ground :teeth

 

[a1scoot]

You'll never know how fast you can ride if you never crash!
(even Rossi falls off once in a while)
Save your lunch money Gary....
a1scoot:thumbup

 

[gnahc79]

You'll never know how fast you can ride if you never crash!

For me it was how slow you could ride until you crashed :blush :teeth

 

[Melissa]

Not up to 20 or even 30 years yet but my formula is-

under ride yer moto.
do not go faster than the average Chihuahua can run.
contain no testosterone (or very little).
have nothing to prove as a rider.
practice humility often.

and repeat...........

 

[Wrong Way]

Like a couple people pointed out, why would you put 200,000 miles on a bike if you were not a little bit adventurous. Unless you lived somewhere like Thailand or something.

I would just be surprised that if someone made it a point to ride 6,700 miles a year, for 30 consecutive years, that they would be the type to not push it a little. Maybe like Deacon pointed out, he binned early on and has been able to tack on some time and miles accident free.

I too don't like to hear people preaching what they don't and can't back up. You hear it all the time, don't you?

"I have been (insert activity) for thirty years and you need to be doing XY and Z"

When they are really just talking out the side of their neck or being a parrot.

 

[ducmental]

A drunk Irishman once said: "There are two types of riders, those hat have gone down, and those that will go down."