When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
My worst accident (Old lady, blue hair, big car, left turn) left me with 3 broken ribs, broken left wrist, and a bunch of road rash. Within the first month I was back in the saddle shifting with a cast that went up past my elbow. Painful all the way around, but I needed to get back on a bike as soon as possible. My friends bike that is, mine was a total loss.
Totalled my EG in Sept when someone turned infront of me at a light. Suffered a fractured L-1 and some road rash. Started riding again this spring. Little hesitant, lot more aware of all the idiots around me, but felt great getting back on. Ride almost daily now.
Take your time and get healed up. Do what you are supposed to do and when you and your body are ready then get a new ride (can we coax you towards a HD? ) and ride on.
Good luck!
Me? No major accidents. But my brother just broke his color bone in a MC accident. He's planning to get back on as quickly as he can. His bike needs some work, but he has two bikes so he can ride when he is ready.
If you fall off the horse, you must get back on. Seriously, only your health and desires can decide that. My second was all my fault, and to say that I had a little road rash is an understatement, (hit a curb in a flat corner on a sportbike at about 70+) but I had no broken bones. Was off the bike for four months for my hands to heal. When I was ready, mentally and physically, I got back on and so will you when you're ready. Don't rush, and be glad you're able to be on any forum to tell the story. Good luck.
I'm really sorry to hear about your accident. It is much worse than the worst one I had. I got rear ended by a drunk on a bike. I had just crossed a railroad track and was going about 15mph. He hit me going 60+ according to observers. All I ever saw coming was a flash of light in my right mirror and I was on the street. He totaled my Honda 900 custom with a Kawasaki Ninja 500. I spent a week in the hospital and My wife missed a couple of days of work from bruises. We were lucky, but that scumbag took something away from us. My wife would not ride for 14 years after that. I wanted to, but riding was a sort of intimate thing we had done since we were dating back in the 60's. So I waited. One spring morning in 1997 my wife said: Maybe we could get another bike. We bought one within the week and we have really enjoyed riding again.
Just be careful and wear the right gear if/when you decide to get back on. I took the MSF class when we started riding again, and it was worth it. You can always learn skills that can help keep you alive. May God bless you with a complete recovery.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Really sorry to hear about your accident---Dont let The Accident get you down on riding! I've unfortunetly been down 3 times, caused from BAD DRIVERS! I myself questioned over & over if it was my fault. At no avail , I found after many hours of debating it, Getting back in the saddle is the best medicine! I / WE hope you heal soon & ride agian!
RIDE HARD LIVE FREE,
TOOLBOX & TAFFY
Thanks for all your replies. It was nice to get some honest input. I know I'm going to ride again, It's hard to give up something you love doing. The accident wasn't my fault, so that makes me feel a lot better about it. When I do decide to to get back on the saddle I'm sure I'll be looking for some sort of HD. I can't see myself buying another sportbike. They are really fun to ride, but just impossible to ride slow, and most of them are pretty uncomfortable. For all you that have ridden sportbikes before, you can vouch for me.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.