Went down (again)...Im done.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
Likes: 34
From: USA
I understand how you feel. I had 3 wrecks back in 1974-76. The 3rd was a head on by a drunk who crossed the yellow line and hit me. I got really spooked (injured too) and sold my bike. I didn't ride again until 2005.
Don't let anyone give you any **** about what is in your heart and gut when it comes to riding. You have to be all there with it mentally and emotionally for it to be enjoyable.
Best of luck to you.
Don't let anyone give you any **** about what is in your heart and gut when it comes to riding. You have to be all there with it mentally and emotionally for it to be enjoyable.
Best of luck to you.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 7
From: Chicago Area
Hope the injuries were minimal and recovery is quick.
Too damn funny. May have to borrow this.
Too damn funny. May have to borrow this.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Katy, Texas
I have a suggestion if you want to try and further your skill and hopefully be able to get yourself out of trouble like that. Maybe before hanging up the helmet, you could try picking up a cheap, used dirt bike and spend some weekends thrashing it around the back country. Get that sucker sliding around and such and really learn how to work a situation in which the tires are not planted.
I grew up from 7 years old on dirt bikes, raced a little motocross and enduro, never was much good but that time in the saddle sharpend my skills on two wheels in unpredicitable situations. Hell, on the dirt, most of the time you are controlling chaos.
I have ridden out of three wrecks and it was pure instinct. I had a 700lb VStar sideways in gravel and somehow (no I really don't know how I did it) I pulled it out without going down. It was pure instinct from saddle time in the dirt. Sometimes I think about the folks on two wheels and wonder if they have had any time in the dirt. If they haven't, I feel for them because it is pricless experience for any rider.
I grew up from 7 years old on dirt bikes, raced a little motocross and enduro, never was much good but that time in the saddle sharpend my skills on two wheels in unpredicitable situations. Hell, on the dirt, most of the time you are controlling chaos.
I have ridden out of three wrecks and it was pure instinct. I had a 700lb VStar sideways in gravel and somehow (no I really don't know how I did it) I pulled it out without going down. It was pure instinct from saddle time in the dirt. Sometimes I think about the folks on two wheels and wonder if they have had any time in the dirt. If they haven't, I feel for them because it is pricless experience for any rider.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 606
Likes: 2
That is so true, also, you NEED to read the trail ahead when blasting down some rough dirt road at 70 mph, every rut, sandy spot, hole, root, rock, and you cant take your eye off the trail for a second.
Its a LOT of fun, much more fun then street riding because its so intense.
You learn automatic reactions, if you have to think about it, you crash.
It has saved me quite a few times on the street...
Its a LOT of fun, much more fun then street riding because its so intense.
You learn automatic reactions, if you have to think about it, you crash.
It has saved me quite a few times on the street...
I have a suggestion if you want to try and further your skill and hopefully be able to get yourself out of trouble like that. Maybe before hanging up the helmet, you could try picking up a cheap, used dirt bike and spend some weekends thrashing it around the back country. Get that sucker sliding around and such and really learn how to work a situation in which the tires are not planted.
I grew up from 7 years old on dirt bikes, raced a little motocross and enduro, never was much good but that time in the saddle sharpend my skills on two wheels in unpredicitable situations. Hell, on the dirt, most of the time you are controlling chaos.
I have ridden out of three wrecks and it was pure instinct. I had a 700lb VStar sideways in gravel and somehow (no I really don't know how I did it) I pulled it out without going down. It was pure instinct from saddle time in the dirt. Sometimes I think about the folks on two wheels and wonder if they have had any time in the dirt. If they haven't, I feel for them because it is pricless experience for any rider.
I grew up from 7 years old on dirt bikes, raced a little motocross and enduro, never was much good but that time in the saddle sharpend my skills on two wheels in unpredicitable situations. Hell, on the dirt, most of the time you are controlling chaos.
I have ridden out of three wrecks and it was pure instinct. I had a 700lb VStar sideways in gravel and somehow (no I really don't know how I did it) I pulled it out without going down. It was pure instinct from saddle time in the dirt. Sometimes I think about the folks on two wheels and wonder if they have had any time in the dirt. If they haven't, I feel for them because it is pricless experience for any rider.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,351
Likes: 648
From: Vegas, baby!
No doubt riding Is dangerous,,
Chuck,,The pot hole,,I gotta ask,,
was It Dark ?
could not see it on the approach because ??
Are you a skilled rider with lots of saddle time ??
Not meaning ta **** you off. BUT If yer kinda new to riding you
may just need some technical skills,,, a little training goes along way,,
maybe get ya a dirt bike ??
Dirt bikes really help with street skills,,,
I'm diggin here,,hate to see a rider give It up....
Chuck,,The pot hole,,I gotta ask,,
was It Dark ?
could not see it on the approach because ??
Are you a skilled rider with lots of saddle time ??
Not meaning ta **** you off. BUT If yer kinda new to riding you
may just need some technical skills,,, a little training goes along way,,
maybe get ya a dirt bike ??
Dirt bikes really help with street skills,,,
I'm diggin here,,hate to see a rider give It up....
His column was actually written because the magazine got a letter from a reader claiming they were "irresponsible" for showing a motorcycle rider wearing jeans. And has Mark wrote "But, really, sometimes a crash can't be avoided".
Anyone that doesn't understand this is just "whistling past the graveyard".
Ron
Last edited by rjg883c; Jan 7, 2011 at 11:55 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 606
Likes: 2
Generally speaking, in most places, the interstate hiways are quite safe for bikes.
Gentle turns, everyone going about the same speed and direction, limited access.
Its the secondary roads that are very risky, 4 lanes, people turning onto and off of it in every direction, etc.
Very heavy traffic situations are always much more risky, and I tend to avoid them.
Many bikers seem to think its their right to ride where and when they want, and it is, it is just much more risky to ride some roads in heavy traffic.
I never had an issue on the interstate, or back roads, but had people cut me off in other places.
Road hazards are everywhere, oil on the road, holes, junk, sand, stopped cars, ice, etc...
The only way to be safe is to see it and avoid it.
Gentle turns, everyone going about the same speed and direction, limited access.
Its the secondary roads that are very risky, 4 lanes, people turning onto and off of it in every direction, etc.
Very heavy traffic situations are always much more risky, and I tend to avoid them.
Many bikers seem to think its their right to ride where and when they want, and it is, it is just much more risky to ride some roads in heavy traffic.
I never had an issue on the interstate, or back roads, but had people cut me off in other places.
Road hazards are everywhere, oil on the road, holes, junk, sand, stopped cars, ice, etc...
The only way to be safe is to see it and avoid it.
I agree about "what you are passionate about", but when you have a family to consider and you then get a reality check by turning yourself into a human skeeball, it sort of puts things into perspective. That is why I don't do a lot of long interstate road trip riding anymore... too many idiots out there that don't respect bikers. Sometimes an accident will kill the desire to ride, sometimes it will make it stronger, and sometimes you won't stop but just adjust how you ride and where you ride.
Just glad you were not too seriously banged up, bro! Park the bike and keep it clean and maintained. Don't rush the decision, if you get called back to the two wheeled road then you will have a clean, well maintained bike to ride. If not you can always sell it down the road, after your head and not your emotions make the decisions for you. The lay down is still fresh, and will be for quite a while.
Just glad you were not too seriously banged up, bro! Park the bike and keep it clean and maintained. Don't rush the decision, if you get called back to the two wheeled road then you will have a clean, well maintained bike to ride. If not you can always sell it down the road, after your head and not your emotions make the decisions for you. The lay down is still fresh, and will be for quite a while.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 8
Generally speaking, in most places, the interstate hiways are quite safe for bikes.
Gentle turns, everyone going about the same speed and direction, limited access.
Its the secondary roads that are very risky, 4 lanes, people turning onto and off of it in every direction, etc.
Very heavy traffic situations are always much more risky, and I tend to avoid them.
Many bikers seem to think its their right to ride where and when they want, and it is, it is just much more risky to ride some roads in heavy traffic.
I never had an issue on the interstate, or back roads, but had people cut me off in other places.
Road hazards are everywhere, oil on the road, holes, junk, sand, stopped cars, ice, etc...
The only way to be safe is to see it and avoid it.
Gentle turns, everyone going about the same speed and direction, limited access.
Its the secondary roads that are very risky, 4 lanes, people turning onto and off of it in every direction, etc.
Very heavy traffic situations are always much more risky, and I tend to avoid them.
Many bikers seem to think its their right to ride where and when they want, and it is, it is just much more risky to ride some roads in heavy traffic.
I never had an issue on the interstate, or back roads, but had people cut me off in other places.
Road hazards are everywhere, oil on the road, holes, junk, sand, stopped cars, ice, etc...
The only way to be safe is to see it and avoid it.
Also, we have some very well travelled roads that we are familiar with, that offer some awesome scenery.
You are right on the interstates being straighter... matter of fact they were designed that way. Most people don't know, but the interstate systems were designed with two major features. There has to be some sort of a curve within every five miles so that the driver does not get hypnotized by the road, and every five miles also has to have at least a 1 mile straightaway so that an airplane can land on it in an emergency situation. Eisenhower created the interstate as an emergency road, primarily for wartime.