Scared to ride.....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,095
Likes: 25
From: dutchess county,ny
Track for whats it worth , don't ever ride afraid or indecisive. In my experience that's when you are going to make the mistakes that are really going to cost you. When you take the risk of riding , you should also except the fact that sht can happen. Weigh the risk against the rewards you get from riding and if it don't add up in favor of riding , get rid of the bike. We all have those "ominous" days when things don't feel right , but when its a constant feeling , maybe you got to back off. Been down a few times , been lucky , no major injuries , but always got back on the "horse". Only you can decide whats right for you.
You think ABS brakes would have helped in your situation???????????
BTW, some said take a course. Depending on where you live, some experienced riders offer private courses. There have been students who left a review on Yelp. The review(s) were good. Riders who offer these courses provide a different format than what is offered at the MSF school, if they didn't they'd be out of business. Check Craigslist for a private course that will supplement the MSF course. Also, consider getting a copy of Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough and a DVD titled Ride Like a Pro to ramp up confidence.
BTW, some said take a course. Depending on where you live, some experienced riders offer private courses. There have been students who left a review on Yelp. The review(s) were good. Riders who offer these courses provide a different format than what is offered at the MSF school, if they didn't they'd be out of business. Check Craigslist for a private course that will supplement the MSF course. Also, consider getting a copy of Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough and a DVD titled Ride Like a Pro to ramp up confidence.
Thank everyone for the info, this is why I love this site to get great advice from alot of people that have been riding longer than I've probably been alive. I think I'm gonna park the bike for a while and give myself some time.
DRspencer they are khrome werks 12" apes on 1" risers, bought them from road6customs thinking they were made by them, come out to find they were just khrome werks bars, but very very good quality, I was pretty suprised.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 77
Likes: 1
From: N Ft. Myers, Fla
First, glad you are physically ok. I've never been in your shoes, but I think there is no safety course or anything else that's going to put you 'back' to before. Im not saying theyre a bad idea. just not a panacea. Once you realize that, you can now move on. Moving on for you may mean not riding. You said riding was fun, if it isn't fun anymore, don't do it.
My point is, maybe it's something you back burner for a while, or forever even. Everyone reacts differently to the same types of situations.
Find something you do like and do it. If you walk by your bike enough, maybe that desire to ride will come back.
Id much rather hear you are alive and happily taking a crocheting course, than find out you froze up at the next bad situation and you got hurt/killed/hurt or killed someone else.
Good luck in your choice.
My point is, maybe it's something you back burner for a while, or forever even. Everyone reacts differently to the same types of situations.
Find something you do like and do it. If you walk by your bike enough, maybe that desire to ride will come back.
Id much rather hear you are alive and happily taking a crocheting course, than find out you froze up at the next bad situation and you got hurt/killed/hurt or killed someone else.
Good luck in your choice.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,122
Likes: 51,431
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
You got 2 choices here and it's real simple , take a man pill get your confidence & skills up or live in fear and get rid of the bike . No other way to sugar coat it sorry , you may love riding but some people can never get past the what if factor and that'll get you faster than a red light runner , you become the problem you're afraid of .
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 14
From: Fla
Take a different stance on what happened...
It was a wake up call. You were being told that you need to pay attention to surrounding traffic much more. You've heard it before, I'm sure. Complacency will get you in trouble real quick. Take some time off, and get to understand what happened. As an invisible vehicle operator, we all need to know that only we can lessen the chances of disaster.
Don't let it eat you up. Take a break and study the situation. Learn from it. Take as much time as you need to get comfortable with what could have been done, if anything, to keep it from happening a second time. Then make the decision if you are done or not.
It was a wake up call. You were being told that you need to pay attention to surrounding traffic much more. You've heard it before, I'm sure. Complacency will get you in trouble real quick. Take some time off, and get to understand what happened. As an invisible vehicle operator, we all need to know that only we can lessen the chances of disaster.
Don't let it eat you up. Take a break and study the situation. Learn from it. Take as much time as you need to get comfortable with what could have been done, if anything, to keep it from happening a second time. Then make the decision if you are done or not.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 11,239
Likes: 2,288
From: Lake Seminole
Get your head back in the game first. Think about why you ride and it will come to you.
Only you can know when the time is right to ride again.
My father always told me " son when you think you have this motorcycle all figured out and you are not aware of the dangers anymore...that's when it is going to bite you on the ***".
I have lived by this.
Only you can know when the time is right to ride again.
My father always told me " son when you think you have this motorcycle all figured out and you are not aware of the dangers anymore...that's when it is going to bite you on the ***".
I have lived by this.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
Take the safety course, pay attention and quit following too close.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 330
Likes: 2
From:
Now, the other side is that you might slide under a moving vehicle and survive the initial lay down only to get run over.
Of course, following at a safe distance keeps the whole "stopped in front of me" problem in the first place.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,369
Likes: 472
From: CC TX
Lotta good suggestions from folks here. That said, riding for two years and you have graduated to a much heavier bike that is not known for it's handling capabilities (don't flame me for telling the truth, I didn't say Harley's were ill handling), you modified it with Ape's and you don't seem to have the passion for riding. In my 45 plus years of riding, I have been hit from behind, from the front, from the side, I have laid the bike down on the street, on the track and on the dirt. I do get scared during the incident, I have never been scared to get back on the bike and ride. While I don't know you personally, I know people who have said the same thing you are saying, not all but some would have been better off selling the bike and returning to the world of cages. they might still be among us if they had. Google bike crashes and you will see folks in the same position you found yourself in, ask yourself what would have changed the outcome.
I don't intend to hurt your feelings, my intention is save your life. If you truly want to ride, you will either listen or die.
Here is a suggestion and how you take it will tell what your motivation is: Purchase a small bike (preferably a dirt bike) and learn before you take on Urban riding and bike mods.
I don't intend to hurt your feelings, my intention is save your life. If you truly want to ride, you will either listen or die.
Here is a suggestion and how you take it will tell what your motivation is: Purchase a small bike (preferably a dirt bike) and learn before you take on Urban riding and bike mods.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 1
From: South Florida
Get your head back in the game first. Think about why you ride and it will come to you.
Only you can know when the time is right to ride again.
My father always told me " son when you think you have this motorcycle all figured out and you are not aware of the dangers anymore...that's when it is going to bite you on the ***".
I have lived by this.
Only you can know when the time is right to ride again.
My father always told me " son when you think you have this motorcycle all figured out and you are not aware of the dangers anymore...that's when it is going to bite you on the ***".
I have lived by this.
You got 2 choices here and it's real simple , take a man pill get your confidence & skills up or live in fear and get rid of the bike . No other way to sugar coat it sorry , you may love riding but some people can never get past the what if factor and that'll get you faster than a red light runner , you become the problem you're afraid of .
Gotta get your confidence back or it will never be the same. I went through this years ago from a few really close calls that I would not have walked away from. Started riding again with a small group of 3 other bikes and the confidence comes right back. You will also feel safer in numbers....and will be.
I had this same scenario happen to me this last weekend with my GF on the back. I'm in middle lane with nobody in front of me, car in left lane passes me and pulls into my lane 30' in front of me and 30'-40' prior to an intersection. As soon as he pulls in front of me, light turns yellow and the car panic stops! Some might say, those with poor reading comprehension skills, that I was following too close. I wasn't following anybody until he pulls in my lane a couple of car lengths ahead of me and decides to immediately stop. These moronic "Red Light Cameras" are causing more accidents than they are reducing by far. LEO told me he has seen at least twice the amount of collisions at intersections BECAUSE of these things! People don't want that ticket in the mail so they "lock 'em up" as soon as they see yellow.
What do you do in that situation? You do your very best.....that's all you can do. I immediately hit front and rear brakes and the bike immediately goes into ABS mode. Due to the fact that 4 wheels stop quicker that 2, ABS would not allow me to stop in time. I had to make a hard left manuever at the last second to avoid a bumper tatoo.
I did manage to stop the bike without hitting the car. I did manage to avoid the vehicle behind me that locked 'em up and went to the right lane (he clearly did not have ABS). But when finally stopped, the bike was leaning hard left and I had to drop the bike. Softly though with virtually no damage. Scared the crap out of me, but gave me a little more confidence on how the beast will react in that scenario.
Good luck!
Last edited by Roger That; Apr 19, 2013 at 10:21 AM.