Hanging up the helmet

[hbliam]

Tell ya what, take a look at this:



That's just about the view I had when I noticed a make the beast with two backsing SUV in my lane.  I was on the inside of the turn already because I had been dodging cars that were cutting corners all day.  I was maybe doing 5 over at the fastest, and had already slowed to make it through the turn.  How much slower should I have gone? How much more "defensively" could I have ridden?

I'll admit that my get-off at DiTR '09 was entirely my fault.  The one before, my fault too for riding down a road I didn't know that well late at night.  This one? THERE WAS AN SUV IN MY LANE IN A BLIND CORNER.  Again, PLEASE, tell me how to defend against that one.  After '09 I've slowed down. I've seldom gone more than 5 over since then, and I've never pushed as hard as I used to.

Everyone else, thanks for the "well wishing."  I'm not gonna drop off the face of the earth, I've got a classic bike that I need to restore for the next 20 years or so  

Sorry. Wasn't meant to come off the way you took it. Of course sometimes there is nothing you can do but apparently the other two times there were. So if you have only had one "real" accident and you have learned from the other get offs, why quit? As someone said earlier, the odds are with you.

[avizpls]

track days are safer. Youve got the bike all ready. The bike isnt the problem. Public roadways are!

[hbliam]

Ahh yes, the Magical MSF course that teaches you how to look into the future. Do they also teach you Self-of-Entitlement and Rampant Condescension? I've ridden with Punx, he is beyond anything the MSF Brc or Erc or Arc  can teach.

I'd ridden street for 22 years (and dirt for 32) in Southern California and I learned stuff in each MSF class when I took them (10 years ago). Any training is good training. Even when the rider "is beyond," whatever the class may teach. There is such a thing as "perishable skills." If the skills aren't practiced regularly, your ability to use them when needed diminishes. So emergency braking and collision avoidance are good things to practice when coming up to a stoplight with no one behind you or at the end of a dead end road.

As far as looking into future? Every rider should be doing that. I expect that no one sees me even when I look them in the eye, there is a vehicle coming at me around every blind corner, the cars I'm splitting don't know I'm there, and every car in the left turn bay is going to turn in front of me.

Sometimes nothing a moto can do? Absolutely.

[bikepilot]

I'd say switch to track or off road. If you hang it up you'll just be rustier and with slower reflexes when you try it again and traffic will probably be worse.  Spend a decade on tracks of various descriptions and then hit the road again with that huge bucket of skill.

I've had cages in my lane many times and have avoided them all without incident so far.  Not saying its always possible, but looking ahead as much as conditions allow, trying not to out-ride your line of sight and being able and ready to take dramatic evasive action always helps and will keep you out of trouble in almost all situations. 

[Punx Clever]

I'd say switch to track or off road. If you hang it up you'll just be rustier and with slower reflexes when you try it again and traffic will probably be worse.  Spend a decade on tracks of various descriptions and then hit the road again with that huge bucket of skill.

Believe you me, when the kid is old enough for dirt bikes (assuming he/she wants to) we will be buying dirt bikes.

I've had cages in my lane many times and have avoided them all without incident so far.  Not saying its always possible, but looking ahead as much as conditions allow, trying not to out-ride your line of sight and being able and ready to take dramatic evasive action always helps and will keep you out of trouble in almost all situations. 

I spent most of yesterday dodging people cutting corners (blind and otherwise).  This particular corner had being blind, narrow, tight, extremely rough/uneven, and half filled with BMW.  Just turned out that particular combination happened to be too much.  Probably could have done something different to have made it out fine... but that's not what happened.

Sorry. Wasn't meant to come off the way you took it. Of course sometimes there is nothing you can do but apparently the other two times there were. So if you have only had one "real" accident and you have learned from the other get offs, why quit? As someone said earlier, the odds are with you.

Yeah. I'm terribly sorry I took it as someone talking before thinking, or thinking they knew everything that went on when they clearly had no make the beast with two backsing clue.  BTW, I have taken MSF courses.  One a year in fact.  Was due for a class/trackday in November.

Why quit streetbikes? Because two more feet towards the front of the car and my kid could have been born with out a father.  I don't want to risk that.  It's not worth it to me.  I used to ride stupid, and it bit me in the ass.  I changed that, was fine for two years, then other people bit me in the ass.  I can't control them, and the stakes are too high.  I'll pick the monster back up when the kids are off on their own in the world.

[AJ]

Totally respect your decision Punx 

Again, I'm really glad you're ok.

[psycledelic]

1st - Glad you are OK!

2nd - Nothing wrong with your decision.  I takes a heck of a person, and a good husband and father, to give up something that he loves to put his family first. 

I think that Brian made a very good suggestion:

Good luck with your decision. Don't get rid of your gear. You might change your mind down the road.

 

Having three children (ages: 6,4,1.5), my house is pure chaos.  My bikes are a huge sanity break.  If you keep your stuff, you will have the option. 

 I would also suggest giving it a couple of weeks and see if your views are the same.  And, if you haven't done so, talk to your wife about it. 

Good luck with the new baby!

[Howie]

Good rider or bad, your fault or not, if you decide to hang up the helmet it is time to follow that decision.  At least for the time being.  The decision can be reversed.  Track days only is a good option, and seems to be gaining popularity here in the NYC Metro area.

 

[pitbull]

I think it's a very responsible decision you're making for you family...........good on ya!


We all know that regardless of how safe or skillful a rider you are, you're inherently more vulnerable on a motorcycle. We all manage that risk the best we can and when you get to the point that the risk doesn't feel worth the reward anymore, it's absolutely the time to take a break or hang 'em up.

[corey]

good luck man. dont know if anyone else has said it, but i hope you hang around the forum from time to time!

[lawbreaker]

Having three children (ages: 6,4,1.5), my house is pure chaos.  My bikes are a huge sanity break. 

TRUTH


I have 4 terrors and feel the same. Then a gain I don't have a car so not riding is not an option.

Live by your own rules... and best of luck with your decision

[fastwin]

I'm liking the track day only option. About as safe as you can get and you pretty much are in total control. Ride fast, ride slow, no idiots in cars, no cops/tickets, no gravel in turns, immediate EMS help (usually). What's not to like? But I do encourage you to take time off. Go ahead. Say "that's it, I am done with this". Then wait a few weeks or months and reflect.

Talking to my wife is not an option hopefully it is with yours. I am assuming that this is really your idea and she's not "forcing" it on you. Look up "force" in the dictionary and there's a pic of my wife. Fortunately for me she has never found a way past my "I've been riding longer than you've been alive" defense. Always nice to have a younger wife... you can always whip out that old age and treachery routine. Nice...

Still, good luck to you and please hang around. Even if you don't ride again this board will help you de-tox and keep your sanity.

[arai_speed]

If I told the wife I was hanging up the helmet she would probably take me out to a steak house for dinner! Like others I would suggest you take some time off first.  Even if you told the wife you want to give up you just may change your mind. You may not and either option is all good.

Honestly, the track option is pure PITA.  I did that for a couple of years and it gets old quick to load up all your shit up the night before, get up at the crack of dawn, drive for a couple of hours to listen to the same pep talk at 8am just to go back to the pits and wait  around for you turn to go up.  It's the "hurry up and wait" game.  Not to mention the cost! Entries to the track (around $10) + cost of the track day ($250 to $120 depending on the track) + tires! Plus lodging at some rat hole hotel in some god forsaken place (Parumh NV anyone?). F-that!  Nothing beats opening the garage door and being on the road in 2 minutes.

Good luck man!

[DrDesmo]

Do they also teach you Self-of-Entitlement and Rampant Condescension?

I don't think so - but perhaps you and Lu could offer a 200-level course?  I can drop by as a guest speaker.

 

*kidding, kidding!

Cheers,
Adam

[ducducgooseme]

I don't think so - but perhaps you and Lu could offer a 200-level course?  I can drop by as a guest speaker.

 

*kidding, kidding!

Cheers,
Adam