Scared to ride.....
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,476
Likes: 5
From: Republic of Texas
OP. Your decision. Harsh truth. Get over it or park the bike. Your skills aren't up to snuff. Laying the bike down is a rookie move. Take a class. Practice your skills. What if all situations. Motorcycle riding is attitude and skills. With the ability to predict the other persons stupid attempts at killing you. Without adding your own stupid mistakes to the equation.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
lover--Good post.
label--Red light camera systems provide income for the city/county/town... Period. Around here, they even time the yellow light shorter than other local signals, just to up their income.
label--Red light camera systems provide income for the city/county/town... Period. Around here, they even time the yellow light shorter than other local signals, just to up their income.
Stage III
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
common sense will prevail my brother
I have always thought that being more vigilant, and paying more attention to what everybody else is doing and try to look a couple of steps ahead, better to pay attention to what you can't control verses what you can control,however taking the motorcycle course again might not be such a bad idea. I hope you keep writing because it's a damn nice bike you got there.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Twin Cities
Almost everyone who rides encounters pretty scary situations from time to time. Try not to let it start messing with your head - use it instead as a learning experience. Then go out early on a weekend when there's not much traffic - you'll fall in love with riding all over and your confidence will be back on no time. If you do want to continue riding, the worst thing you can do is stay off the roads and fret about it. I've seen riders really psych themselves out by doing that. Good luck and I'm glad to hear you made it through in one piece.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 459
From: Here and now
OP. Your decision. Harsh truth. Get over it or park the bike. Your skills aren't up to snuff. Laying the bike down is a rookie move. Take a class. Practice your skills. What if all situations. Motorcycle riding is attitude and skills. With the ability to predict the other persons stupid attempts at killing you. Without adding your own stupid mistakes to the equation.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
"Laying down" is what happens once you lose control of your bike. This is often caused by locking up one or more wheels from panic braking, not by intelligent rider input.
I've been down at 55 mph.
I've been down at 55 mph.
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Joe Kucinski
Moderator
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 107,687
Likes: 20,116
From: Ft. Worth, TX
Laying a bike is down is the worst of an old wives tale. A bike will slide far longer than a bike using it's RUBBER to stop!!
Two things are obvious, you almost hit (or did) a truck that stopped in front of you. You need far better DEFENSIVE driving skills. You need to learn to have an escape path AT all times. Learn to brake, as a TRUCK should never outbrake a BIKE. You can't ride a bike like some folks DRIVE cars. Distance between vehicles and tailgating will never end well for a biker!
Aggressive riding with cars and trucks will also not end well for a BIKER!
Learn defensive driving or quit! You also need to THINK of when a bad situation can and might develop. Intersections and four lane traffic means pay attention to everyone around you.
Two things are obvious, you almost hit (or did) a truck that stopped in front of you. You need far better DEFENSIVE driving skills. You need to learn to have an escape path AT all times. Learn to brake, as a TRUCK should never outbrake a BIKE. You can't ride a bike like some folks DRIVE cars. Distance between vehicles and tailgating will never end well for a biker!
Aggressive riding with cars and trucks will also not end well for a BIKER!
Learn defensive driving or quit! You also need to THINK of when a bad situation can and might develop. Intersections and four lane traffic means pay attention to everyone around you.
Analyze what you did wrong and correct that behavior. Did you not scan and identify hazards quickly enough? Were you following too closely? Do you not ride like everyone is out to kill you?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
One of the most important riding/driving skills is proper following distance. Nothing in front of you stops suddenly if you are following the proper distance.
Even without ABS rubber and brakes (both applied) will stop a bike faster than paint and steel sliding on pavement.
Even without ABS rubber and brakes (both applied) will stop a bike faster than paint and steel sliding on pavement.