Crash and Burn
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Lansing, Kansas
34 years of riding. No crashes, one laydown due to stupidity. Used the front brake on gravel in my own driveway at <5 mph. Like someone mentioned earlier, I have been down a few times on dirt bikes and that hurts! I have been fortunate in the early years of riding, the latter years of riding I find myself being more cautious.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Irving (Dallas Area) Texas
Knock week
Been riding since 1972 and have never had a major crash or laydown.
Just wondering if there is anyone out there who has been riding for, say, ten years or more and hasn't had a major crash or lay down. One of my brothers keeps saying that it's inevitable. Lots of people say it's not if, but when, it will happen. I think it's got to be possible to go without crashing.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida, USA
Never "crashed." I have layed the bike down twice in parking lots. The first, the week after I bought it and I did the "rookie" grab the front brake trying to avoid a car backing out that "didn't see me." The second was last Labor Day. I was pulling into a overlook on the Blue Ridge where some other bikers were parked to take a shot of the bike against the mountain scenary. As I pulled in I realized it was all gravelled and rocky and probably hadn't been graded in quite awhile. As I stopped I went to put my foot down and realized I wasn't on level ground and my foot just slid out on the gravel and I gently layed her over as I stepped off. Neither one did any damage to anything other than my pride. Fortunately they were a little over three years apart. So, if I keep on that same schedule I'm due to perform the same feat in about 2014. ;-)
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
From: Bay Area, CA
I've had a couple of spills in some 20+ years of riding, but in hindsight, those were ultimately my own operator errors - traffic related or not.
I've had plenty of close calls that were not my fault, and those close calls are getting closer.
Cell phones, texting, road rage, lack of common courtesy and sense, TVs in cars, kids in cars, seniors driving longer than ever, unskilled immigrants behind the wheel, etc - the chances of getting tagged these days is a hell of a lot higher than just 2 years ago - never mind 20 years ago.
The risk curve is rising much faster than the years ridden curve, and I'm in the boat that says it's probably just a matter of time.
Comparing my last 20 years of riding experience to the next 20 frightening ones that I'm pretty sure lay ahead is like comparing apples to oranges.
Good luck all,
Murph
I've had plenty of close calls that were not my fault, and those close calls are getting closer.
Cell phones, texting, road rage, lack of common courtesy and sense, TVs in cars, kids in cars, seniors driving longer than ever, unskilled immigrants behind the wheel, etc - the chances of getting tagged these days is a hell of a lot higher than just 2 years ago - never mind 20 years ago.
The risk curve is rising much faster than the years ridden curve, and I'm in the boat that says it's probably just a matter of time.
Comparing my last 20 years of riding experience to the next 20 frightening ones that I'm pretty sure lay ahead is like comparing apples to oranges.
Good luck all,
Murph
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 511
Likes: 14
7th street bike, first Harley. Been riding off and on for 30 years. Had one or two bikes constant since 2002. I have never been down. Now dirt bikes are another story. If you don't go down every so often then you are not riding hard enough. Dirt biking I believe really helps develop your bike control skills. Now some jerk running a red-light will override all the above.
Jeff
Jeff
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Not only did you stop to look, but you also commented. Boy, now that was stupid, wasn't it? Wow, you really showed me, I guess.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 8
From: Detroit, the asshole of America
Yes and yes! I try to ride as defensively as I can, and I ride much more tamely than I did a couple years ago, but fate or luck plays as big of a role as any sometimes. I don't think it won't ever happen to me, I just try to be prepared for as many situations as possible.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 5
From: S.E. NC
Front brake in sand, yep. Front brake in wet grass, yep. Slow speed drops.
I've been riding off and on for 31 years. October 28th 2010, I killed a deer with my old Sportster. Ended up 131feet from point of impact. Spent a week in the hospital.
I've been riding off and on for 31 years. October 28th 2010, I killed a deer with my old Sportster. Ended up 131feet from point of impact. Spent a week in the hospital.