how many of you guys have had a close call and stop riding? i was on rt 454 and lakeland on long island the other day and someone blew a light , at 60 mph and i was around the same we nearly met he was southbound i was east bound and we missed by 4 feet.i have not touched my roadglide since and after 2 major motorcycle accidents in my riding i think i am thru.i liked the site for the info and will come by from time to time to read posts.

 

Wow, glad a crash was avoided. I too have crashed, broke my back, was laid up for months. I found getting going again on a bike was very slow. I enjoy riding very much and I am glad I continued. I find myself extremely, maybe overcautious at times. That's a good thing. Too bad you feel you have to give it up. I would retire and move out of NY....only kiddin.

Best of luck with whatever you decide and Merry Christmas.

 

I had two major bike accidents in my life. One back in '82 when I hit adeer. This one broke lots of bones but didn't deter me then in '83 I T-boned a kid who was playing kissy-face with his girlfriend instead of watching where he was driving. After I healed up from this crash I gave up riding until 2002. I guess I just missed riding so much I went out and bought a Harley but with this bike I installed lots of very, very bright lights both front and back plus some very loud air horns. This combination, plus being a very defensive driver, has so far kept me out of trouble.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Very sorry to hear of your near miss. I have just over 97,000 miles on 2 wheels in the last 13 years and yes I have had my share of close calls. I have been very lucky that I have never been hurt while avoiding an idiot in a cage. Let me ask you this. If you would have been in your car and had the same thing happen, would you have never driven a car again? I work in maintenance in a plastics factory & my job somtimes calles for me to do things that if I do not take the right precautions I could be seriously injured or worse. Should I quit and find a desk job somewhere to keep from getting into that sort of situation? We take chances every time we get out of bed in the morning. That is and always be part of life. What you decide is up to you but I would not be able to give up riding because of somthing like that. If so I would never know the joys next years rides might bring. If the man upstaires wants me enough to take me while I am riding than that will be. I don`t feel my not riding will make a difference.

Just my opinion!

Ride safe,

Mike

 

Joe whatever you do I think one of the most important things that we do is to follow our instincts, if your gut says park it, park it. Maybe in a few days your gut'll say hey Joe let's take a ride. Maybe it won't too. Good luck Joe and Merry Christmas

 

Joe, I agree with stafford, follow your gut feelings, most of the time that is the right way to go, give it some time and then do what you think is right. I had a major wreck on my bike a long time back. Well, after always wanting to ride again, i took the plunge, I'm VERY cautious and observent of my surroundings, go day by day, Have a Very Merry Christmas,

 

Well said Streetglide.

Joe I live on Long Island and know all about Vet's Hwy and I alsohave had some close calls throughout the years. Ended up in the woods one time. It shakes you up a little but just makes you more cautious. Long Island is not the best place in the world to ride motorcycles but if you have the fever nothing will stop you. If your gut tells you to stop and you can do it, then good for you. I've been riding for 35 years now and my favorite rides are off of the Island now. Taking the ferry across to CT. and then upstate NY are my favorites. Maybe you just need some time off. Good luck and be safe.

Hey Joe, by the way after looking atyour picture againI see you do window tinting and your bike looks familiar. Do you work on Rt. 112?

 

I hit a tree dead on 3 bikes back, pretty badly injured, but I got back on about a year later. Time made me forget about the injuries, and remember the fun riding is all about.

Joe

 

I've been down hard twice. One was my fault and the other was the stupid women driving the 77 Chevy Step side that backed off of me and then drove off (but I'm not bitter). I actually rode the bike home both times. Good thing I had my old 59 pan while the other two bikes were in the shop getting repaired. Only you can decide if you want to ride again. My Harley is such a big part of my life that I can't even imagine not riding.

 

Go with your gut. Maybe you could consider finding a local bike safety course teacher in a few months, and get a private evaluation of your riding/the roads you have there/motor cop skills and such and see if that could be a route to reentering biking.

Hang around!!