"There are only two kinds of motorcyc riders"

[redclfco]

The guy who stopped at the accident with me who is driving an old Ford Escort says to me this morning as we wait for the LEO to show up at the accident…

"There are only two kinds of motorcycle riders those that have had an accident, and those that have yet to crash" In another time, I would have taken that thermos/coffee cup in his hands and shoved it where the sun does not shine. But I am no longer that type of guy.
We both came on to the Elko, MN exit ramp to discover a guy with one side of his pant leg covered in blood, struggling to get out from under his bike where he and his pan head went down in the corner gravel as you turn left off the exit ramp.

Considering he had no helmet, no gear, he was lucky he only ripped up his leg and palm as he went down. Some other motorists had already called 911 by the time I arrived. I stayed with him till everyone arrived, and along with me one guy decided to stay for the fun, I will call him “The Cage Escort Fat Driver Guy” The cage/escort fat guy with a thermos size cup of coffe was using a comparison to me (full ATGATT) and the knucklehead riding the Pan Head Harley, and he wanted to engage me using the line that every motorcyclist will end up like Mr. Bloody Harley guy sometime in their life. He got a "no comment, fat guy" look from me.

I chose not to comment because with age, one learns restraint, the cage/thermos guy made it back to his car and left without an expanded orifice in his never regions, and I walked away wishing that "Joe Public" had another perception of the motorcyclist. I just kept my mouth shut, and let him think what he wanted; now was not the time to spout off what I thought of his assumptive statement. It is not true that everyone, in their motorcycling career has to go down in a blaze of glory. I hate that phrase, and think it is extremely derogatory towards motorcyclists in general. You too will crash and burn was what he really meant with his statement. I disagree.

#1 I ride that road, and turn at that corner twice a day, every day and go through that same patch of gravel. I never have fallen, because I watch what-the-heck I'm doing, and unlike my bloodied comrade setting on the curb with the bloody leg, I have adequate tread on my tires to be turning; he was down to the threads on both front and rear. He told me he lived in New Prague a few miles from where he went down. He knew the road well with this corner being a few miles from his house.

#2 Yes I have dropped a bike or two in my youth, but I do not prescribe that every motorcyclist must drop their ride like my bloody friend on the curb, which is what Mr. Escort Thermos guy was referring. Mr. Bloody was riding a bike which was not safe, and only ended up riding away in the white ambulance because of his lack of gear. Take the same rider in ATGATT, the ATGATT guy would have walked away with his pride injured, but no blood; I mean the guy just slid out; the difference was the gear! When I started riding, ATGATT was an old army jacket, Levis and an open face helmet and logging gloves. New riders have the technology and affordable textile jackets with armor to make the old tried and true safety factor obsolete. With MSF courses and other safety training, there is no excuse for foolish behavior. You don’t have to ever go down; simply not true, IMHO of course!

While waiting for my turn with Mr. LEO, I was looking at the bike, and from what I could see, the bike had many other war wounds in the chrome, sort of revealing the riding habit of the owner, assuming he was the long term owner. You think you would learn after the first couple of times dropping a bike.

So I don't agree that everybody riding has to go down in a blaze of blood, in fact I will go out on a limb here by saying there are some who will never have to go down...ever... if they ride like their supposed to ride...what do you all think?

 

[Voni]

So I don't agree that everybody riding has to go down in a blaze of blood, in fact I will go out on a limb here by saying there are some who will never have to go down...ever... if they ride like their supposed to ride...what do you all think?

I'm with you. When confronted with the scariest of situtations I want no fiber of my being believing that I'm going down.

I want every atom of my being to be looking for a way out.

Voni
sMiling

 

[lilredroadster]

Sooner or later ......

Back in 2004, I was riding on a surburban road at 10am on a Sunday morning.
I was 3rd in a line(staggered) of bikes followed by about 7 cars. Out of a side street a woman just came out and slammed into me. I was wearing all the gear and still had 7 broken ribs and my collar bone broken in 2 places. Apparently I had flown through the air "with the graetest of ease" for 15 feet, landing on my chest.
The woman who hit me must have had impared vision, her head was up her butt, or maybe she was on a cell phone. I don't know, I was unconsious, but not a drop of blood spilled.
My k75rt was totalled and I spent 4 days in the hospital.
Three weeks later with my insurance settlement check I went to my dealer and bought my new r1150r. the next week I went on a 2000 mile round trip to New Orleans( Pre Katrina).
Since I did have a major accident, does this mean I am safe from another??

 

[sjbmw]

I came upon a scene (that was not so bloody or tragic) but the incident involved a guy on a bicycle.

He was dressed like a Tour De France rider, his only real protection was a helmet, with no facial protection.

Other people showed up, and one of the clowns thought my motorcycle was somehow involved in his accident. (it was gravel combined with skinny racing tires)

Not one person there even considered how indifferent to danger this bicycle rider was.

 

[HODAG]

I will go out on a limb here by saying there are some who will never have to go down...ever... if they ride like their supposed to ride...what do you all think?

to many other external variables such as mechinical failure, other drivers, deer, road conditions etc.

a more seasoned rider may have a better chance to avoid external variables, but still has a chance to crash

also you mentioned other scraped chrome on a pan head indicating past failures, thats a bike that is 50+ years old,maybe its just getting ridden

 

[Visian]

I chose not to comment because with age, one learns restraint...

are you SURE about this dale?

well, to your question, i am a big believer in positive expectations, so i firmly believe that i won't fall down (again), but rarely ride unprepared for the unexpected.

it's been a very long time since i've taken a major fall, but it did happen to me recently, completely out of the blue. i was riding along on Al Jesse's HP2, following Al on his R12GS, out in the middle of the Arizona desert. Hard pack road with minor marbley gravel, we weren't going fast... i was totally within my comfort zone when.... WHAM! i was down hard. i mean it was instantaneous. totally did not see this coming, which has never happened to me before. the last thing i remember seeing is a vertical horizon.

got knocked out for a few seconds, pretty banged up, destroyed an Arai XD3, and anihlated one of the valve covers on Al's bike, along with the windscreen.

still no idea how this happened, the only thing i can think is that the front wheel hit a rounded rock in the road and slid out.

long story short, i was riding like i was supposed to ride, so i believe it can happen to anyone and it just might at some point.

ian

 

[E_Page]

One could say the same for cage drivers, "there are two kinds of drivers, those who have been in an accident, and those who will be."

It's a stupid saying. But then whenever I hear "There are two kinds of...." I know that invariably, whatever follows is going to complete a stupid statement.

 

[hoffmanswen]

Mr Cage/Escort/Thermos guy might have ridden a motorcycle once, but maybe not for long.

many other external variables such as mechanical failure, other drivers, deer, road conditions etc.

Even the best riders on the best machines with all the gear can meet a tragic end due to outside factors. So it goes.

In my other life, I'm a bicyclist and often dress "Like a Tour de France rider," not because it's fashionable (yeech), but because it's the gear that is suitable to that activity. I can't imagine bicycling for any distance in a Roadcrafter, nor can I imagine riding a motorcycle in a tank top and flip-flops.

To me, many activities are a matter of risk assessment and management. By wearing the right gear, not riding in an impaired condition, staying fit, taking training, and maintaining our machines, we can increase our margins to failure; but cannot guarantee our safety.

I guess it's possible to ride for many years and not have a significant accident, but I think it would take equal parts luck and preparation.

 

[rob nye]

A rider who views another riders crash from a lofty perch is soon to find himself in the same situation.

Or... my personal belief...

The moment I think I'm a great rider will be followed by a crash.

 

[geisterfahrer]

There are 10 kinds of people: those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Seriously, though, I've heard that statement made about motorcyclists so much it makes me ill . There are unavoidable situations that can happen to anyone in any kind of vehicle, but to say that all motorcyclists will sooner or later drop their bike is just stooopid.

 

[Bud]

Well, that is about as true as the e-mail I received yesterday claiming the FCC was banning the mention of the word "God" on the airways!

 

[braddog]

I don't think it's inevitable...

I think there are those out there that will ride many miles for many years and never go down. But on a motorcycle, there are so many factors that could lead to a crash. In fact, I know a guy who rides daily, has been riding for 35+ years, and has never gone down. But even he's smart enough to know that it could happen to him, any time, any place.

My last episode was in 2007. It was totally my fault. I'll spare the details so to avoid the verbal punishment. But I learned a lot from it, and I'm a better rider because of it.

Saying something like the fat Escort guy did is just plain rude and quite ignorant.

 

[Bud]

A rider who views another riders crash from a lofty perch is soon to find himself in the same situation.

Or... my personal belief...

The moment I think I'm a great rider will be followed by a crash.

 

[MOTOR31]

I was told one time that once you feel you are truly the master of the machine, it or the environment you are operating it in will do something you have never heard of and spank you.

One should never let their ego convince them that they are capable of handling every possible contingency because they are so "skilled". There are things that happen to the the best riders just like the average riders, that are totally out of the riders control. You are not alone on the roads and they are not your personal playground.

BTW there is a 3rd kind of rider, those that will crash again.

 

[redclfco]

I, of all people do not even proclaim to live an accident free life. I have lived and crashed doing things stupid, and thanks to sheer luck have experienced only minor injuries. I'm not casting the first stone here, because my house is glass as well as being transparent. I can only conclude that luck be with me because in my life, I have driven like a possessed and foolish man. But no more.

It wasn't until the last 10 years have I started riding in a manor that would lessen the potential to crash with injury, and with gear that would lessen the extent of injury, or at least, keep my body lookin nice in the open casket!

Obviously the environment can take any of us down at any time, and no one is immune to this throw of the dice.

My point in this thread needs to be restated that I still believe that with experience riding with other safe riders and a bike that's tuned and has tread, with the user wearing the proper gear, NO Booze when riding, it is entirely possible (the glass is full versus the inevitable half empty) that you can ride a bike your entire life without going down in bloody glory like the guy in my first post. If you do slide into second base, you can walk away with ATGATT.

I have never taken this 05 GS down except once in the garage when popping it off the center stand. I broke a mirror. My previous Bimmer only tipped over slooow motion on several moments caused by the enviornment and other drivers. The yamahas, hondas before that had way more war wounds than mine, and mostly from being a fool, drinking and riding too fast for conditions.

But tonight on the way home I could get nailed like Steve's friend without warning and nailed from behind. But I am sure going to keep my attitude that I am not going to go down easy, or allow myself to think that one of these days, my number is up. No way.

I believe I am going to roll all the way home today.

 

[rocketman]

Are you sure he didn't purposely "lay it down" to Avoid hitting the gravel?? I know that is what I would have done.....


























RM

 

[Rapid_Roy]

Are you sure he didn't purposely "lay it down" to Avoid hitting the gravel?? I know that is what I would have done.....


























RM

Homey don't think so!

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13785429&postcount=85



RM

 

[rob nye]

I, of all people do not even proclaim to live an accident free life. I have lived and crashed doing things stupid, and thanks to sheer luck have experienced only minor injuries. I'm not casting the first stone here, because my house is glass as well as being transparent. I can only conclude that luck be with me because in my life, I have driven like a possessed and foolish man. But no more.

It wasn't until the last 10 years have I started riding in a manor that would lessen the potential to crash with injury, and with gear that would lessen the extent of injury, or at least, keep my body lookin nice in the open casket!

Obviously the environment can take any of us down at any time, and no one is immune to this throw of the dice.

My point in this thread needs to be restated that I still believe that with experience riding with other safe riders and a bike that's tuned and has tread, with the user wearing the proper gear, NO Booze when riding, it is entirely possible (the glass is full versus the inevitable half empty) that you can ride a bike your entire life without going down in bloody glory like the guy in my first post. If you do slide into second base, you can walk away with ATGATT.

I have never taken this 05 GS down except once in the garage when popping it off the center stand. I broke a mirror. My previous Bimmer only tipped over slooow motion on several moments caused by the enviornment and other drivers. The yamahas, hondas before that had way more war wounds than mine, and mostly from being a fool, drinking and riding too fast for conditions.

But tonight on the way home I could get nailed like Steve's friend without warning and nailed from behind. But I am sure going to keep my attitude that I am not going to go down easy, or allow myself to think that one of these days, my number is up. No way.

I believe I am going to roll all the way home today.

 

[cookie]

I met my wife almost thirty years ago. I was riding a 1980 Yamaha 1100 XS Special. She saw me on that thing and sealed the deal, we were married four years later.
We have been down twice now and thankfully we weren't hurt too bad. Yes we still ride and I am very careful especially when two up. I hope I never go down again but I love the freedom and I will continue to enjoy it.

 

[RSPENNACHIO]

I know this discussion is about some dude going down and all but on my last multi-day ride we got caught on a dirt road. It was the GPS's fault (not the person who selected small roads as the priority). Anyway, 100 feet in we turned around preferring pavement. After recalculating, pavement would add 70 miles to the destination or... dirt roads for 8 miles. We opted for 8 miles of dirt (not oiled, loose, large jagged stuff that you kind of floated on). At first I rode in 1st gear as slow as possible. That was hard. Then I discovered a 2nd gear idle. A bit faster but way better control and more relaxing. At the end of the 8 miles I was very, very happy! Pavement at last! Later that day while rounding some twisties I hit a small patch of gravel. Both tires slid a little bit but after all of that loose road gravel no problem. I remained calm and smooth and rode though. The day before I may have panicked.

I believe there are two kinds of motorcycle riders, those who try really hard to avoid a crash and those who don't think about it enough.

For those who are from the first group take some time to practice your slow game. We all know how to ride fast but can you do a figure 8 turn while keeping both tires within the boundaries of four parking spaces?

Can you ride through gravel without hitting the panic button?
Riding over obstacles that are perpendicular is not real hard but what about diagonal rail road tracks or double diagonals? If you say that you never see them maybe you belong in the second group

Preparation precedes performance!