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Anything can happen at any speed and it's never going to be good. True, higher speeds will be worse and a helmet is no guarantee you'll be safe.
Anyway, what you're going through, is why I stopped riding after 10 years. All I thought about was crashing. It wasn't fun anymore. It was too stressful. So I sold it and never rode again for 35 years.
Do I think about that stuff now? Yeah but I don't let it control me like before.
Ive been a funeral director for over 25 years and I have seen many people killed on bikes and it aint pretty but, you cant let fear control your thoughts. Use caution, be alert, dont drink and ride, dont do stupid stuff like passing on shoulders and lane splitting, and keep your bike maintained and you'll be fine.
Anything can happen at any speed and it's never going to be good. True, higher speeds will be worse and a helmet is no guarantee you'll be safe.
Anyway, what you're going through, is why I stopped riding after 10 years. All I thought about was crashing. It wasn't fun anymore. It was too stressful. So I sold it and never rode again for 35 years.
Do I think about that stuff now? Yeah but I don't let it control me like before.
I appreciate you being honest. I'm not proud of it but I tend to be a fairly reckless person as long as I can make myself believe I'm still in control (I can quit whenever I want)... There's just something about being in a position where I could be flung to my death at any moment without a whole lot I can do...
Also, I dont mean to be a thread jacker but seeing as how I'm the OP, tomorrow I'd like to shine the old black beauty and and biggest issue I have is not being able to polish the valve/rocker cover nor the rims very well. The aluminum has this very dull water-spotted look that will not come off with elbow grease, soap, mothers spay polish, etc. Does anybody have a quick/fairly simple way to get her shining again that doesn't involve hours and hours of polishing aluminum ?
If you've only been riding for a few months and feel comfortable under 70 or off the freeway... why not stay under 70 until you get more seat time?? I know it took me a while to feel really comfortable at faster speeds, and yes a windshield will help!!
Last edited by Rocker B; Dec 29, 2015 at 12:59 AM.
If you've only been riding for a few months and feel comfortable under 70 or off the freeway... why not stay under 70 until you get more seat time?? I know it took me a while to feel really comfortable at faster speeds.
While your advice totally makes sense and I appreciate it, it's not the speed that scares me. That's actually my favorite part. As one of my favorite quotes says: "Faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." It's the prolonged speed which allows me mind to wander and that's where the fear lies.
I hear ya, I dealt with some similar issues when I first went from dirt bikes to the street. Hopefully like me, your anxiety will decrease as your experience increases!!
Good luck!!!
I'd worry more about letting your mind wander and not keeping focused on your surroundings. If you haven't already done so I would enroll in a msf course
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