If your gonna ride, your gonna fall down!

[EjGlows]

You might as well call me Murphy...the law was written for people like me.  I said, "yes" because no matter how prepared you are for things to happen, and how cautious you are, shit      simply      happens. 

It just happens to happen to me a bit more often.  I'm ok with that. 

I've been hit by cars 3 times on a bicycle (when I used to race/train) resulting in reconstructive surgery, had a bout of bacterial meningitis living abroad, been in a foreign country during a major natural disaster, and have had 3 shoulder surgeries for playing a "safe" team sport.

And...I wouldn't change a damn thing.  I'll gear up and continue on down the road, ride within my limits and talents, and when shit happens...hope to slide into something soft.  Like fluffy pillows....or kittens...

e

[factorPlayer]

I look at in a relatively simple way. 

If you ride/act like a fool, you'll go down sooner.  If you ride smart, improve your skills, maintain your bike, pick the best times for riding, etc, you'll go down later.  (or more accurately, decrease your chances of going down sooner). 

If you can push 'later' into a point past your natural lifespan, you've won.  I don't need to ride forever, just 40-50 years. 

[sbrguy]

I look at in a relatively simple way. 

If you ride/act like a fool, you'll go down sooner.  If you ride smart, improve your skills, maintain your bike, pick the best times for riding, etc, you'll go down later.  (or more accurately, decrease your chances of going down sooner). 

If you can push 'later' into a point past your natural lifespan, you've won.  I don't need to ride forever, just 40-50 years. 

exactly, try tp push the "later" to after your lifespan.

afterall not everyone that rides a bicycle "has to" get hit by a car to "prove that they rode a bicycle or were serious about it"
not everyone that uses chef's knives for cooking and such "have to cut off a finger or hand by accident".

you could go on and on.

[yukio]

i figured between crazy cagers,weather, bad road conditions....that it was only a matter of time.
after three years of riding...i hit a massive oil spill driving up my street and low sided at fairly slow seed (30mph).
though i'm sad i scared my perfect record...and my 999 needs some work...i'm glad to have a slight idea of
what its like to go down. kind of like "ok got that out of the way".

[psycledelic]

i honestly think this is the dumbest question there is on the board.  sorry i'm going to vent here bc i think this question is sort of lame.

Sorry to push your buttons man.  I have just noticed this comment quite a few times and was curious if many people thought this way or if (for some) it was just a "cool thing to say". 

if you have to ask if moto riding is dangerous enough to fall, you shouldn't be on a motorcycle at all.

I don't disagree.   Not the question I was asking.

yes motocycling is dangerous.

Thx for the heads up.  I will keep that in mind.

[herm]

does my get off on a soft dirt shoulder at 5 mph, 18 years ago count?

[Duck-Stew]

You're worried about your Chicken Strips?!?  Why?  Do you feel like less of a rider because you can't lean the bike far enough over to wear your tires to the edge?!?  Are you qualifying against Rossi or something?

If you're leaning the bike to the edge of the tire and you need more lean...  you may not have it.

The negative stigma associated with chicken strips is bullshit.  Ride your bike like you want and let the wear indication of the tires to those who are concerned with it ( ).

Oh, and BTW...  My '08 Harley has no more chicken strips on the front tire (100/90/19) but I'm riding my bike like I want.

And another BTW...  a HUGE +1 to all the gear comments.

[ODrides]

does my get off on a soft dirt shoulder at 5 mph, 18 years ago count?

I hope so!  Except unfortunately there's no "only once" rule.  I dropped mine after slipping on some loose gravel while attempting a U-turn on the street at the end of my driveway.  Does it count if the bike hits the deck, but I don't?  My bike has fallen down several other times... one kickstand-not-fully-down incident, 3 parking lot pushovers.  It seems to quite enjoy the supine position.

[HeyThatsMyBike]

I dropped mine after slipping on some loose gravel while attempting a U-turn on the street at the end of my driveway. 

Did this today!!!    Except I was just trying the U turn and stalled!  I wonder if I would have still done it if I didn't read this thread yesterday  . I just got the bike last week but the humiliation is worse than the feeling of hurting my new bike! Pisses me off! Oh well!  Fall... Get up and try again. Have to use this anger to practice and get better! 

[Manny]

Been riding motos since '98 and had lots of close calls, but no downs. Until last week. Luckily I was wearing gear and was able to walk away. Actually, I pushed my bike away... 

Yep, if you ride long enough you'll go down. For some people, that "long enough" is 5 minutes while for some it's 20 years.

[Cucciolo]

Been riding motos since '98 and had lots of close calls, but no downs. Until last week. Luckily I was wearing gear and was able to walk away. Actually, I pushed my bike away... 

Yep, if you ride long enough you'll go down. For some people, that "long enough" is 5 minutes while for some it's 20 years.

What gear were you wearing and how did you fall? I'm planning on never falling .. is that ok with you guys?

[Manny]

What gear were you wearing and how did you fall? I'm planning on never falling .. is that ok with you guys?

Sidi vertebra boots - scratched
Alpinestars jacket - no marks
Alpinestars gloves - no marks
Scorpion helmet - no marks
Carharrt jeans - not real gear, but still no marks

Was going probably 15-25 mph on a medium sized city street (looking around for a place to exit and turn around). Had a car cut me off and clipped my front wheel. Pulled the front end out from under me and I hit the deck before I knew I was being hit. It was that fast.  Then I was sliding down the street. Got up, looked for cars that were going to hit me, turned off the bike, picked it up, and pushed it to an alley. 

+1 on planning to never hit the deck. Stay alert and make good choices. 

[Cucciolo]

Sidi vertebra boots - scratched
Alpinestars jacket - no marks
Alpinestars gloves - no marks
Scorpion helmet - no marks
Carharrt jeans - not real gear, but still no marks

Was going probably 15-25 mph on a medium sized city street (looking around for a place to exit and turn around). Had a car cut me off and clipped my front wheel. Pulled the front end out from under me and I hit the deck before I knew I was being hit. It was that fast.  Then I was sliding down the street. Got up, looked for cars that were going to hit me, turned off the bike, picked it up, and pushed it to an alley. 

+1 on planning to never hit the deck. Stay alert and make good choices. 

Sorry to hear that!! Since you are alright..  Hope your bike didn't get too much damage..
You were sliding on the street and your jeans nor jacket got any scratches? Maybe you were sort of sliding on your boots and barely hitting the pavement? Anyway.. you were fortunate... Now that the summer is here... I am always debating whether or not to use a jacket.. it is just too hot for that here in TN.. Good luck with the repairs if any! 

[Manny]

Sorry to hear that!! Since you are alright..  Hope your bike didn't get too much damage..
You were sliding on the street and your jeans nor jacket got any scratches? Maybe you were sort of sliding on your boots and barely hitting the pavement? Anyway.. you were fortunate... Now that the summer is here... I am always debating whether or not to use a jacket.. it is just too hot for that here in TN.. Good luck with the repairs if any! 

If the jeans got rashed any, it just blended in with the rest of it. They are kinda beat up and old, but double-fronts and strong.

I don't know why the jacket doesn't show any marks. I remember hitting down on my elbow and rolling to my back. Then I tried to look to see if there was a car behind me that was gonna crush me but couldn't because I was still sliding. Low speed but still slid a bit, so I can't explain why the boots are the only thing that got rashed. I won't go without a jacket ever again. If I wasn't wearing a good sized piece of cow-hide I'd be one hurtin' unit about now.

[slyfox]

I DO NOT ride with this mindset, "Sooner or later, I am gonna go down?" but ride with this in mind ....... "Today might be the day I drop my bike...... Let's NOT make it happen."

So, ... ride to your own ability & limit & always be aware of the situation that you're in. ....

Don't worry, ..... you'll survive