If your gonna ride, your gonna fall down!

[Loyalizer]

I never think I'm going down. Yes I think I'm invincible. In fact I feel like Superman when I ride, I'm flying. Having said that, I have been down here in California on the 210 FWY. I feel more alive now then ever, and I never think I can't learn more.

Oh, and I can stop bullets

[Desmo Demon]

When I was just limping along on my Harley, never pushing any limits, I went seven years without even the slightest drop. There were plenty of times on gravel, dirt, wet roads, and just cr@ppy conditions when I *could* have dropped it, but fate allowed me to keep the bike upright (a bike's natural resting position is on its side).

I bought my first sportbike, a Ducati SS750, and it wasn't long before I smacked into the side of a mountain, breaking my right femur in three places. It's just the nature of the beast if you ride aggressively at all. The simple fact that you are leaning more opens you up to a world of hurt if you come upon dirt, gravel, grass, limbs, or other obstacle in the road and you are not lucky to avoid dropping the bike. I've crashed once since the leg-breaking episode (on the track). I'd guess I've put in over 80k miles of street riding since breaking my femur without an accident on the street, but every day I go out, I know that day *can* be the day, but I don't dwell on it.

BTW, my wife's left leg is paralyzed from a girl on the wrong side of the road in a blind curve, so crashing may not have anything at all to do with you, your bike, or your riding skills. The more miles you ride, the more opportunities you have of having an accident.

[Vindingo]

I have been down 3 times, and I still ride like an asshole.  It is fun.  Before my last speeding ticket I tried to ring her out and hit 100 every day on my commute.  Now I dont go much over 75 on the freeway for financial reasons    [moto]

The bike has been knocked over, parked on the street 4 times.  It is obviously safter to be riding it.   

If I am blessed enough to make it to the point where I may have children, I will probably slow down and get myself some chicken strips.    

[Cucciolo]

these posts are making me nervous... Makes me think of riding as playing the Russian Roulette... Someone will start a thread with videos on motorcycle accidents and then I will really be paranoid every time I ride...   

[Manny]

these posts are making me nervous... Makes me think of riding as playing the Russian Roulette... Someone will start a thread with videos on motorcycle accidents and then I will really be paranoid every time I ride...   

Paranoid is pretty good way to leave the garage each day. It just might save your ass.

But don't let it get you down or keep you from riding. Hell, I went 10 years until I had a minor crash (minor because I walked away without injury, my bike doesn't think it's minor  ).

Someone a while ago on TOB had stenciled on the back on their helmet, "Every man dies, not every man truly lives." I live by that...

[stopintime]

........................

The bike has been knocked over, parked on the street 4 times.  It is obviously safter to be riding it.   

.........................

You care more about your bike than yourself  True biker spirit 

[Loyalizer]

"Every man dies, not every man truly lives." I live by that...

I like that. Braveheart I think. My adopted motto is:

"A LIFE LIVED IN FEAR, IS A LIFE HALF LIVED..."

[raulduke]

I thought it wouldn't happen to me...then it did.

I'm ok, bikes close to dead but being rebuilt at cagers expense.

[mbalmer]

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 ( ).

I appreciate this comment. I have fairly wide chicken strips and I have felt bad about it when someone makes a comment. I know I shouldn't, but I do. However, I am not going to push it any more than I'm comfortable. I have been riding less than a year and intend to do a novice track day at some point to gain more confidence in cornering. Until then I ride for fun and transportation. I avoid most group rides because I am not fast and don't lean to the edge. 

[MonsterLove]

I voted "no". I don't like to think about it, so I don't. I drive defensively and I avoid driving like a maniac, to make it less likely I'll go down. I think about it when my husby rides, because I'm a natural worrier, but if I'm riding I put it out of my mind. I can't have fun if I'm thinking about crashing all the time, right?

Celeste

[fwtcc]

I have wrecked.  I don't go out thinking I will, in fact, the thought never crosses my mind; but I fully accepted the inevitability that I was going down sooner or later.  I am fully aware that there are a lot of idiots out there and to keep your eyes out for them as best as possible.  I do not think that my own riding skills will ever cause me to wreck.  I ride within my limits and only go hard on the roads I know and can see the traffic.

Most of us drive cars, most of us have wrecked them.  Its not unreasonable to think you'll wreck a car, why is it unreasonable to assume you'll wreck the bike.  I can understand the mentality if you're only track riding.

[KTMCHEESE]

I got broadsided by bambi while going 70 mph. Didn't even know it until until I stopped sliding 150ft and saw the little bastard laying on the side of the road, it's intestines ripped open from my radiator. I didn't expect that to happen when I went out for a ride that Sunday morning.

[Adam in TX]

I don't think it's so much the mindset that "I'm going to ride like a jackass because I know I'm going to crash either way."

The expression that there are two kinds of riders, to me, is meant more to make sure that you realize that what you're doing is an inherently dangerous activity. It's foolish to think that you're invincible, or that you're never going to crash. You're much better off accepting that what you do is dangerous, and then preparing properly for a crash that may or may never happen. Learn to ride properly, wear the right gear, etc.

[trenner]

Several people (IZ, krolik, others) have touched on the "be of two minds" approach that I take, and that I'd recommend:

I gear up as if I'm certain to crash.

I ride as if everyone else is just looking to knock me off by making unannounced turns, stopping suddenly, or merging without looking.

But when I'm in the twisties or otherwise challenged, I expect to be confident in my bike and my abilities, and banish all hints of worry or indecision.

So, I acknowledge the danger, plan and act defensively, AND believe that I'm invincible.

The trick is applying the right mindset at the right times.  Thinking that you're invincible during gear selection is stupid with a capital H.  Being timid and worrying that you'll crash in the middle of a challenging road is similarly dumb.  It's a sports Zen thing: be in the moment, banish worry, act decisively, and you'll perform best.

[trenner]

Plus,

Boobies.