Are you guys superstitious when it comes to riding?

[causeofkaos]

So heres the deal, I have been in 2 motorcycle wrecks. Both could have ended very, very badly. Like not sitting here typing this badly, quick thinking and a fraction of a second this way or that way is why im still here.

The first was not my fault, old man made a left turn from on coming traffic right in front of me i had nowhere to go except up and over the roof of his Ford taurus, jumped off the bike right before impact, still bunced off the top of the passenger side, sailed about 20 feet before touchdown. Did not break anything, lots of scars on my arm, very little road rash (considering the lack of gear ) seperated rib and a bruised kidney. Totalled my Suzuki.
The second was my fault came into a decreasing radius right hander hot lost it a little, panicked, and did everything wrong after that. Broken collar bone was the extent of body damage because i was wearing full gear (lesson learned from first wreck). some cosmetic damage to the M1100. Had the pick up truck going the opposite direction been driving 56mph instead of 55mph im sure we would have met as i went through his lane into the berm which kept me from going down the drop off on the other side of the berm.

Heres where it gets funny.
Wreck #1 Aug 9, 2008
Wreck #2 Aug 1, 2009

The wife says one more wreck and im done riding street. With our third child due in november i kind of agree with her.

Here's the question. Do i ride in August or sit the entire month out?
Im not superstitious but i dont want to tempt the unknown.
I havent ridden in two weeks because we bought a new house and with all the moving and painting and such, been too busy to ride and thats how im justifying that situation.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Blackout]

I am not superstitious about anything except for August 31st. Seems like bad shit happens around me on that particular day of the year. I will usually forego mountain rides on that date. Your results may vary.

[uclabiker06]

Yeah I've been down twice and if I go down again i'll probably stop riding.  But all that stuff is kind of BS.  Just be safe and thats it.  Some never learn, some do.

[Grampa]

there is a EBN in August ya know.

[MadDuck]

I'd sit out at least the first couple weeks of August. Ya never know.

[causeofkaos]

I am not superstitious about anything except for August 31st.

LOL my wedding anniversary is Aug 31. got married 8-31-01

Some never learn, some do.

Oh i learned boy did i learn.

there is a EBN in August ya know.

I know, I know. See just bought a new house excuise in first post.

[He Man]

I dont like superstitions. My 1 piece leather suit is always on the floor. From me rolling on hte floor of a grass field taking a nap mid day to just being on the track and not having anywhere to put it. suck it superstitions. Hope youdont get a 3rd get off!

and if your in a seasonal place, its likley that your crash is in august due to the riding scheudle. so its not to far fetched. mine are ALWAYS in sept or october. ive had 4 of htem already. they were just get-offs not full on crashes... well 2 of them were. :p

[NorDog]

Here's a story...

I was briefly married as teenager; married on 8 April 1978.

My brother was killed on 8 April 1980.

In the Navy I reported aboard a ship from Hell on 8 April 1982.

The ship pulled into Jacksonville, FL for emergency repairs (we were based in Little Creek, VA) and put me out on the pier with a transfer, and only 12 hours notice, on 8 April 1983.

A few years after leaving the Navy I was unemployed and unable to find work for a number or years.  I finally just went to college for a number of years, followed by more time unemployed trying to find work.  Finally got my first real job on 8 April 2002.

Upon reflection I realized that I had been unemployed (without a real, non-temp, full time job) for 8 years, 8 months, and 8 days.

What does it all mean?

Absolutely nothing.

[pennyrobber]

My anniversary is August 1st. I did it that way so I could remember it easily.

I would only be worried if you had just rode under a ladder before the wrecks.

[somegirl]

The first was not my fault, old man made a left turn from on coming traffic right in front of me i had nowhere to go except up and over the roof of his Ford taurus, jumped off the bike right before impact, still bunced off the top of the passenger side, sailed about 20 feet before touchdown. Did not break anything, lots of scars on my arm, very little road rash (considering the lack of gear ) seperated rib and a bruised kidney. Totalled my Suzuki.

While the first might have been mostly the old man's fault, it doesn't mean that it was unavoidable on your part.  What could you have done differently?  Made yourself more visible?  Looked farther ahead to anticipate potential stupid moves from unaware drivers?  Practiced your emergency braking beforehand?

With the second one, perhaps you had enough time to get over the first crash mentally and started to get a bit overconfident?

Try to learn something from your previous mistakes, rather than just blaming bad luck and the stars lining up the wrong way.  Oh, and if something inside is telling you not to ride right now, listen to it, you're probably right - you may just not be in the right mindset for riding safe.

[NoisyDante]

I'm superstitious only in that I do everything the same when I get ready to ride.  I always put my right boot on first, right glove, right ear plug, right arm in the sleeve, cell phone in the same right pocket, etc.  But that's just really a method to make sure I haven't missed something important.

I'm a very non-superstitious person in general, I'll never 'knock on wood', throw salt over a shoulder, all that crap.  Having a routine you're comfortable and familiar with regarding the bike though does make me feel more collected.

Oh yea, and my last day at my current job is Friday the 13th.

[Goat_Herder]

Heres where it gets funny.
Wreck #1 Aug 9, 2008
Wreck #2 Aug 1, 2009

I think it's just a coincident, like a lot of things in life that just happens to land on the same date/place.  My buddy same was born on 7/17/1977.  His address was 7707.  Everything coincidentally came with a 7.  After that, he just looked for more 7s in his life and it's a self-fulfilling prophecy where everythign revolves around that numbers. 

My point is...  don't look too much into it.  But if it puts you or your wife at ease, take it easy in August and be a little more careful/aware of your surrounding, which is a good habit to have anyway. 

[NorDog]

Heres where it gets funny.
Wreck #1 Aug 9, 2008
Wreck #2 Aug 1, 2009

Not sure what the significance would be of having two wreck 357 days apart.

[M1100]

No.  Just do what you want and be prepared as best you can, and be prepared to die every day. 

[causeofkaos]

Thanks for all the great feedback so far  , i agree with all of the replys just needed some input from like minded riders.