It is you! I had one that very nearly lost me a leg - or worse, as the police expected. I can say that it wasn't my fault. Even the police agree and the other driver was prosecuted. But..... There is an argument put forward by some, that any accident is your fault. Until I get compensation money, I am sticking to the line that it wasn't my fault! To hell with whatever the police and IAM training says! But (again)…. The driver went home and probably had a nice cup of tea to calm nerves. I had 10 hours of surgery and can't remember 3 months of my life! But (yet again) When the case is done and I am strong enough, back to biking with loads of trips being planned!
Your concern is perfectly reasonable Phil and it doesn't stop just when you have your own young kids, it continues when your kids have kids and suddenly you are a grand parents and the idea of not seeing them grow up can hit hard. I think during this lock down, many grandparents are missing that real world hugging their grand kids to tell them you love them. Motorcycling does raise our life risk a few points, but it also for many of us makes life worth living and if you can reduce that risk as much as you can then for most of us, we'll be okay, but it can make you appreciate things more
Yep. For me part of the attraction of riding a bike is not "in spite of" it being dangerous but "because it is" dangerous.
Andy, that’s truly horrific & thank God there are people like you that are able to do this, but with the greatest respect, why is this relevant to biking? Plenty of young mum’s have had that visit for their partners car accident or power tool incident or not coming back from a football match or getting drunk on holiday incident. We all know the risks involved in riding a powerful bike, you included, & we make a decision, particularly when questioned as the OP has been, as to whether it’s worth it.
its relevant to this thread..... if i was to share walking across a lawn to tell someone about their partners car collision in spain whilst using a power tool.....that wouldn't be relevant!
That is right. There is family pressure to just stop. Yes, I could live for years feasting on daytime TV but.... is it the life I want? Getting old and senile is no great shakes....
I shouldn’t laugh but... I don’t mean to diminish your point & I suspect you’ve had to deal with things that I can’t imagine so respect to you Andy
The second part to your post about making a decision and we all know the risk is a good point. What i find horrifying is for a vast majority of road users, the lack of knowledge skill and ability and in relevance to the thread when riding a 200 hp latest greatest bit of kit. It also never ceases to amaze me the attitude of a lot of bikers with regard to road training. riding on the road is far more dangerous and complex than the track! But, i for one will agree with a lot about the appeal of a bearded yellow vest wearing IAM bollox talking unqualified 'instructor'.... There should be a sexier option out there to improve peoples road skills ..
I agree with this comment.... ...it is why I sold the SS, because I still had the capacity to take my brain out and leave it on the kerbside before I set off for a ride. At 68 (years, not mph) I knew my reactions and riding ability were still OK, but in the event of an 'off', my physical condition is such that I would do so much damage to myself, I probably wouldn't survive.....partly compounded by the fact I am no longer able to have a general anesthetic. So I bought the Harley, which hopefully slowed me down significantly and developed an altered riding style. However, even getting ready to get out on it, I an sometimes quite nervous.......until I get going. But I am now thinking of selling it and getting a Jap stroker, (like a 250cc YDS7 to do up rather than ride).
I put it all in the shit happens sometimes category. It used to bother me, but it was fecking up my riding which made it all the more likely so I stopped fretting. I have no life insurance as such, but my house is paid for and I have enough stashed in pensions to plant me, and then let the rest of em not worry about money too much for a long time. It'd probably tip into a 6 figure sum I'd guess. (I am now thinking I might do a Lord Lucan and buy a V4 on the proceeds) The really great thing about being dead...is that you don't know or miss being alive, so no regrets. We are gonna die - everyone does. The trick is to balance enjoying life without taking the piss outta the reaper
Ime way more risk of injury off than on road!! The time I’ve done it I haven’t had many crashes, but it’s several a ride and some hurt aching bones a lot!
Thanks for all the views, I think that in reality I ride reasonably sensibly in terms of outright speed, the top speed has never bothered me or been the appeal and having done trackdays while it doesn't directly qualify me any better for the road I do feel like it's slowed me down a little because all of a sudden I'm very aware of how close all the bushes are, and that horse muck everywhere and the bush line rustling in the distance that could just be a badger or something about to run out. I was always aware, but much more so now. I think I had this perception that if something happened, the people that love me would have faith that I wasn't pulling 100mph wheelies or being needlessly aggressive, I'm honestly a very 'careful' character so I would hope that people around me would trust that I wasn't taking unnecessary risk. I'm aware of the difficult job the police etc do when it comes to loved ones, I'm posting this thread to exactly point out that what's shocked me is just how it affected my partner hearing a story about it and I do worry whether it's too selfish. On the flip side of this I can't give them up, in 2016 I sold my Panigale 899 and for the first time since I was 16 I didn't have a motorbike, I bought a MX5 brand new, and honestly I felt like my throat had been cut. My measure.. and please tell me if this is totally wrong, is that if I'm getting Adrenalin on the road, I know I'm pushing my luck, and that's when I reign it all in.
I dunno Phil, I mean you must get a “rush” from riding your bike otherwise what’s the point? So the question is when does that Adrenalin rush become dangerous? Only you can answer that. Ride safe & be careful all round, but if you’re not getting a buzz, might as well get the car out. Much more comfortable, no heavy clothing & I can listen to Bob Dylan & snack on a Twix while I’m doing it
Some say if you are on the road it’s your fault. Some say you should be able to act on time to avoid all incidents, as nothing is an accident and all is avoidable by you. Some are knobheads.
Ok personally a gentle ride on a trail or gravel track is plenty for me and the old thumper if I fall off yes probably going injure myself but come on I’m not heading into a dry stone wall at speed, I’m not getting a twat pull out in front of me, I’m not getting a cannabis affected driver drifting into me, I’m not getting pancaked by something, I’m not doing 90+ not finding unexpected road debris as I’m expecting it, I now what I think is less risk not saying it’s injury free but it’s low speed and low speed offs due to lack of ability are more damaging to pride than body, balls out enduro or motorcross totally different I imagine, I’m talking low speed plodding but mighty enjoyable and challenging and gain some skills
and some dont want to see the wood for the trees..... or as you would write it.... sam donut went to see the woods from the trays...
