Would I Be Too Afraid to Ride Again After a Motorcycle Crash?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 มิ.ย. 2024
- As an older rider, I've overcome many fears about motorcycle riding through years of experience. But one that I struggle with all the time is this: Would I be too afraid to ever ride again after a crash? Join me as I work through this in real-time, and take part in the conversation by leaving a comment.
Riding my new 2024 Triumph Scrambler 900 up on the backroads north of the Oregon/Washington border near the Columbia River Gorge.
Filmed on my 2024 Triumph Scrambler 900.
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Tech Notes (current as of June 2024):
I shoot these videos mainly on DJI equipment:
• DJI Osmo Action 4 cameras
• DJI Osmo Pocket 3
• DJI Mic 2 (used with Pocket 3 and in-helmet with Action 4)
• Sony ZV-1
• Fuji X100f for stills
All video is edited in Davinci Resolve Studio on a Mac Book Pro
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Great topic. One fear I have is that I will be injured in a crash and confirm the negative perception that many family members have.
That's a really good point. I hadn't thought of things that way...
The choice is STILL YOURS! If you love it hold on to it! Do your due diligence.
Keep your bike in good condition.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Watch out for pedestrians on the road.
Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.
Anticipate the actions of other drivers.
Use turn signals to alert other drivers of your movement.
Check your blind spots before changing lanes or making turns.
And my favorite,
REMEMBER. . .
EVERY INTERSECTION IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ACCIDENT!
I had an injury crash (broken wrist) on my first motorcycle in 1974. That kept me off riding for 24 years! In the interim I took up cycling. Over the years I've unfortunately experienced 3 crashes resulting in injuries ranging from road rash, concussions and broken ribs. Most recently I crashed in 2020 and woke up to discover EMT putting me on a stretcher and an ambulance ride to the ER. I always got back on my bike within a few days and at 72 I'm still an avid cyclist. I started back on motorcycles in 1998 and haven't looked back. In retrospect my first crash was entirely my fault. I didn't know how to ride. Even though I've never taken any riding class I've developed my defensive and awareness skills to the point that now I ride around 10,000 miles a year in confidence. I plan on riding into my 80's. If I do in a motorcycle crash at 82 years old, it beats dying in a nursing home.
One way i deal with that fear is also cataloging the contributing factors and realizing that most of them are in my control.
Sure, I'm not in control of drivers that don't see me, or freak accidents.
But i am in control of:
Speed
Alcohol
Wearing great gear
Training
Road skills and strategies
Riding unfamiliar bikes
My ego
Riding to the conditions
Scanning the road ahead
Lane position
Cornering
Bike maintenance
I focus on what i can control and stay ready and aware of the things i cannot, and then i choose to enjoy my ride
Take care everyone
Congrats on your decision!
I crashed and broke both my wrists on my motorcycle about 7 years ago. Dr. Told me I could not work with my hands the same way and I did have to decide whether or not to get back on the bike.
One day I said to myself: today is the motorcycle, what else will it be tomorrow? Am I going to stop doing things I love because of an incident? No, you get back on the horse.
Took by bike piece by piece and put it back together. That was part of the PT my hands needed and really that my soul needed too.
Btw, I continued working with my hands.
Pd. I live in Seattle and ride a Triumph too. Let me know if you wanna ride some day.
I crashed several times, every time I got back on, every time I repaired my bike. I am riding for more than fifty years and I am not stopping yet. I now own 8 bikes down from 10, maybe 9 tomorrow or 7, who knows. I have no reason to stop, still love it.
May God keep you upright on your bike and both of you safe 🙌🏾
Our bikes and generally our vehicles/modes of transport have a lot of sentiment to us and a deeper significance to man in general, And is indeed not a new concept- as there is nothing new under the sun.
11:41 And he said: “Embark therein! In the name of God be her passage and her anchorage.1 My Lord is forgiving and merciful.”
وَقَالَ ٱرْكَبُوا۟ فِيهَا بِسْمِ ٱللَّـهِ مَجْر۪ىٰهَا وَمُرْسَىٰهَآ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
لِتَسْتَوُۥا۟ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِۦ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا ٱسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُۥ مُقْرِنِينَ
43:13 That you might settle yourselves upon their backs; then remember the favour of your Lord when you have settled yourselves thereon, and say: “Glory1 be to Him who made this subject for us when we were not equal to it!
Fear is good. It's our defence mechanism to ensure we ride safely
I've crashed twice in my life. Hit gravel in a curve one time and went down pretty hard. A group of Harley dudes saw it and pulled in behind me as I was getting up and brushing myself off. They picked my bike up for me and said, "Keep 'er sunny side up brother" and rode off. I got on the bike and rode it home 50 miles with bent bars and headlight and turn signals hanging by the wiring. The only thing I could think of all the way back is how long will it take me to get my bike fixed. I guess I just love motorcycling!
Just took my bike license and purchased a Scrambler. I`ve been driving for 20 years this year (I'm 39) and I'm starting to ride small distances to lose my fear and get the grip and the feels of a motorbike. The fear is bigger than I thought, though - and so is the joy. It seems I become more alive when I'm riding.
Like most of the folks who commented, I have been down, injured, and eventually returned to the sport we love. Around age 65 I started having fears/anxieties when crossing bridges and going through tunnels. Also I am much more cautious when entering curves and intersections. I chalked it up to getting older, slowing reflexes, and all that blah, blah crap.
Luckily I now realize I am not in a hurry, I don’t have to keep up with anybody else and that I ride for me on my terms.
Your narrative is right on the money and I identify with a lot of your experiences. Keep up the good work. And thank you.
We all know, fears come from the unknown. While knowing that, we still have our personal fears and as you pointed out, we are human. The beauty of being human is when we talk out loud or talk to someone about what our fears are and we listen to our self's, we normally come up with the answers. Then our fears go away. When I was young and learning how to ride a bicycle, I fell a lot and had some pretty bad crashes. My dad told me to get back on the horse that bucked me off. I am glad I listened to him and because of that I loved my bike. Now I ride a motorcycle and it is my prozac. It is a catalyst for my life and I believe it is for many other people that ride motorcycles. Thank you for sharing and go moto-camping. Ride safely.
Thank you for this.
I think the one common denominator in many of our YT vids is training and practice because those are the things you can control and we all know that when something happens your mind and body will react without too much thinking. Like when you missed the deer. Then ride and enjoy, and keep learning and practicing. I’m 70 now and I’ve been riding since I was about 14. I had several accidents and in all of them I’ve thought about what happened and focused on keeping those situations from recurring. Believe in yourself and don’t worry about what might happen. There are many things around most of us that are dangerous and we have to constantly be situationally aware of everything around us and immerse ourselves in whatever makes us happy.
I can totally relate to your fear and that's because in May of 2020 I crashed my bike on top of me while doing parking lot practice. Boot was caught so I could not get out of the way and the bike fell on my leg and long story short, I broke my right tibia in two places and it was a spiral fracture so I now have an 8 inch piece of metal and many metal screws in my leg. I was down from May to late September. Yes, I did get back on the bike, I grew up on a farm and I know what its like to be bucked of a horse and then get right back up on it. So... it was a month after physiotherapy and I got back up on the bike...very very carefully. And I took it very easy for the rest of the 2022 season. Any way I still ride, even very long distances, but I guess being more aware and knowledgable, I am definitely a lot more careful... Ride safe everyone 🙂
That's great. Thanks for your story!
The old Norse believed that you could not change your path or your destiny. It was a mindset that allowed them to not sweat about what may happen. I think about how much we worry about "what may happen" and realize it usually doesn't. Don't sweat the what ifs.
No offence, but what a load of crap and a mindset like that will get you in trouble.
It’s strange, but I’ve never experienced that particular fear. I crashed a couple of time in my teens and tore holes in the knees of my jeans, long before it was fashionable to have torn jeans. Skinned my knees too, but they healed ok. So nothing serious and it never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t get back on my motorbike. Twenty years ago, I took advanced training and that helped enormously with my frustration that I wasn’t naturally good at riding a bike. I wasn’t dangerous; I just wasn’t any good at it.
Many years ago, a famous motorsport commentator in the uk, who had a collection of motorbikes that he loved, described the day that he looked at his collection and realised that he would never ride them again. Old age had overtaken him. That became my great fear for the future. That day I realise I won’t ride my motorcycle again - I dread it.
Today, I’m in my mid seventies and just recovering from the second bout of covid in 18 months. The first bout left me feeling low for a long time, and I’m worried I might not pick myself up from this episode. But sitting here, it’s 9 a.m., and I’ve made myself a promise to go outside, take the covers off my motorbike (a BMW R1200S), and check it over to make sure it’s ready for its next ride - with me onboard.
I've never had a close call with a deer in 30 years of riding.... thankfully. I have had many cars leap out in front of me though.
Thank you for your posting. Very inspiring and food for thought too. I really do enjoy your postings.
Like yourself, I often think about “what would happen if - and how would I deal with the situation”. Every returned journey I truly thank my lucky stars for being guided home safely. 😊😊
Stay safe out there everyone… 😊😊
Man, you've got some nice roads out there! Great content brother. I've actually been meaning to make a video about the time I got hit during Covid. It was during the height of the pandemic, the roads were basically empty and people were driving like Fury Road, I was going through an intersection when an oncoming car decided to turn left, no signal, didn't slow down, and plowed right into me. Long story short, I kept remembering that saying "fall off horse seven times, get back on eight" and as soon as I was healed I was back on a motorcycle.
Also funny story, I recently dropped my bike also haha. I was doing some burnouts in some gravel and I lost my balance, also broke the tip of my brake lever!
HA! Did you have any other damage? Aside from a scratched exhaust pipe cover, I had nothing! I couldn't believe it.
@@BugMotoChannel Just a few scratches on the foot pegs is all! I figure it was bound to happen one day or another and the scratches just give it a little character haha
Competence and confidence in your abilities will keep you upright! I hit a deer at 55mph in Sturgis. Hit it dead center with blood down one side, shitsky down the other. The State Patrol asked me in surprise, how’d you keep from going down? I said I had too much invested in chrome on the bike to drop it! The deer was sandwiched between the headlight, running lights, windshield and the front fender on my Road King. Took off some lights, chrome, fender, windshield, hosed it down and rode it home to Denver at the end of the week. That shook me to my core, but I still ride, at least until I lose confidence in my abilities! Stay confident and practice full on braking and dodge maneuvers. Don’t look at what you might hit, but look around it. Just go for it! Safe rides!
I crashed on the freeway 2 years ago at age 69. Got distracted for a second. Got slowed to 40 mph before impact. Full gear.... Bruised groin and ego. Got another bike within 2 weeks and still having fun. These things can happen to anyone. Its just how a person responds afterwards. If your scared or terrified about riding again I would suggest you dont or wait a while. Im so glad I wasnt seriously injured and able to ride again. Nobody in my family suggested I stop riding. They know better. I do avoid freeways more often and got a smaller bike. Just my experience. Good video
I’ve been riding for about four years now, still fairly a newbie.
Actually wrecked pretty bad in the first six months of riding, but I just got banged up and damaged my bike pretty bad.
Yeah, it scared me, but not my new-founded passion for riding.
So I repaired my bike and got back to riding,
I don’t regret coming into hot on the turn, in fact, I’m glad it happened.
I learned what I did wrong and I learned how aggressive I can be when I want to ride.
It builds character to go through a tactical error.
Btw, just absolutely love your new scrambler. Ride it. Enjoy it. Be concerned but don’t get overwhelmed with what ifs.
Peace brother.
Thanks! Yeah, I love it too. Like, way too much probably. :)
My only fear watching your extraordinary videos is guessing if the library music it’s going to be acceptable or a complete nightmare. Yup. You guess it. Said that, scratches are beautiful. Means lived motorcycles, not just immaculate exhibition beauties , like a girl with a bad tattoo that burps louder than you but kisses like no other. I loooooove your content. Give me more! 👍👍👍
Generally I find the first thing to do after picking yourself up is to quickly understand What just happend.
If there was some way I could have avoided the Situation & What would have been the Alternative Outcome.
Recognise & Ride Within You Own Limits & you'll mostly be fine ! 😊
Great video Bug.
I was in a significant motorcycle crash( on a road course) I was told by another rider, fix it and get back to riding. It was very good advice.
My first crash on two wheels was at age 2,5 in 1974. My father taught me to ride, he walked along supporting my pedalling by holding the saddle. I was busy so I didn't took notice when he let go. I remember looking over my shoulder, losing balance and falling because he shouted "You ride solo!". He rushed to help, put me back on the saddle pushing me and made me pedal again. After that I crashed almost every day, was sort of part my jobdescription as a kid.
Fast forward to 2003. I just made my license for a motorcycle, my first bike was a Yamaha XV 1000 (aka TR-1). My still today good friend made join him on a trip to the austrian alps (Tirol) just 2 weeks after passing the exam. After a long but reeal awseome day, I didn't notice that I was fatigued. On the way back to the hotel, I made a mistke (took a corner way to far on the inside rather than perparing it from the outside), and this mistake accumulated to a point where I ran out of road. The frontweel slipped away, i did a somesault and ended like a helpless ladybug on my back. I checked for serious pain or damage, luckily I was fine.
Eventually my friend returned to the scene after (felt) ages. He checked on me, helped me back on my feet. We checked the bike, it sled head on into a tree stump that lay at the side of the road. No way to ride it home. He forced me on the backseat and the very next day he forced me riding his bike to get spare parts. I was soo scared to crash his bike too. If I would, we'd be stuck in the alps.
I told him about my fear. He seriously yelled at me to get the f*k on his bike to get the parts, because if I didn't we'd stuck there anyways. Besides, he'd be the "mechanic" not me. So I had to, I had no choice.
What have those two stories in common? There was someone who did not allow my fear to take grip. Both yelled louder and more convincing that my fear could in that second (beause it was still "small"). Both men made sure, that I got back onto the saddle. To this day, I am grateful for this.
I think that if you crash and you are lucky enough to be able to get onto the bike almost immeadiatly, you rrreeaaly should. Do not hesistate, do not think. If there is no friend to do the yelling, yell to yourself. It is the kid inside that's scared, not the adult. Buy you inner kid an ice cone later, but get him onto the bike immeadiatly. Otherwise, the fear might take grip.
If one has bad luck and hurt oneself seriously - the older one gets, the more difficult it may be, because the physical healing takes longer as it used to. That's a differrent ball game. I think, one should use intense selftalk and visualisation techniques to get onto the bike. Start over just like you did when you where a learning rider. Work yoursef back on the bike (becaus it IS work). If the love and passion is just big enough, chances are quite good that fear will be outnumbered by your love, passion and - foremost - determination to ride again.
Have I crashed since then? No, but just a couple of weeks I had a pretty close call. We were in the austrian alps again. Today, I ride a 1994 Suzuki VX800. There was a handfull of sand waiting for me in a hairpin serpentina which I have overseen. It nastily sat in my breaking point. My bike shook, I slammed my right foot on the ground while pulling the clutch and let go of the throttle. My bike did the rest to save us. Such a great gal ;)
My foot hurt and I was in a shock. I thought of stopping, but - hey - we are taling about narrow and steep roads in the alps. No Chance of pulling over for a couple of miles. So once again: no choice but serious selfcare and selftalk to keep going all the way back to the hotel.
So, bottom line: my Guess is that in any case you should never feel too confident in your riding skills. Chances are that you miss something in your attenion or on the road. If you do, you make mistakes that might end you up like a ladybug on your back or slamming your foot on the Ground. That's how I think on can prepare. And if you crash, it's a Question of if your love and Passion is strong enought to support your hard selfcare work to get back on.
As we say in Germany: "Bleib oben!" (Stay on top, don't crash)
On a beautiful October morning in 1982 I was knocked off my '82 Yahama 750 out into a freshly plowed field in West Texas. The telephone company van had stopped and I relaxed, you know the feeling. Then here it came, just like I wasn't there! Later I was told I landed 150 ft from the impact. I remember flipping head, feet, head, feet until I stopped.
After three days in intensive care I was moved to a room. Over the next fifteen days I lost count of the well-wishers who commented, after an accident like that I'd probably never ride again."
I loved riding. I'd started on a 60cc Yamaha at 16 and already had half a dozen motorcycles before the 750.
I began to wonder, should I , could I. I was finally released and sent home with a cast from hip to foot after a total hospital stay of 18 days. My first day home, after my wife went to work, I went out into the garage and looked at her 650 Yamaha. I raised the door rolled it out, laid my cast over the tank, started it up and drove around the block! Well, I know someone reading this is saying, "how stupid," and you may be right, but I'm still riding!
Last summer my wife and I did 5596 miles in 39 days and 7 states from Texas to Wyoming on our '02 Goldwing that has 200,000 miles on it and "We Ain't Done!"
flic.kr/s/aHBqjB5fbT
The best thing about riding Is being in the present, not worried about what could happen or what has happened.
I’ve been riding since ‘71. Been down lightly 3 times. Nothing major except separated shoulder on the second time. But following the event, I always tried to think about what contributed to the incident. If you look at what you could have done or where you might have spaced your self then it’s easy to see how you could change a practice that may avoid that situation in the future. Remember you can’t fix the stupidity of others but you can anticipate it and take control of your actions to avoid it. If you think about it most incidents occur whit bad results when you didn’t anticipate them. You got into it before you had time to avoid it. So ride a little slower, anticipate the failure of others to see you and always expect the possible worst outcome if an incident were to happen. Take a little responsibility for the naivety of others as self protection for yourself. Keep on, keepin on! 😍🤟
2017 riding over the lawn at work fell over. Leaves, acorns recently watered the BMW FELL ON my Right foot. $78000 later, with BC/BS and AFLAC My mind said NO. IT took 2 years to get mentally over my fear and hesitation. Don't let fear beat you. In the new testament it says do not be afraid about 500 times
I haven't crashed on 2 wheels since it was a 21 speed in college. I had a car crash 15 years ago, and it was hard to get back in and drive, even a car. Not sure about a motorcycle. But I'd try, I may fail... It wouldn't be the first time. 😂
Well, sadly, I've already had to work through this. The experience will be different for everyone but let me share $10 worth of free advice...there is simply nothing to be gained by focusing on "what if". The reality of such an event will never match any preconceived notion or fear you may have. You don't know what you don't know.
I rode for 39 years without a scratch, all kinds of bikes and all kinds of places...what happened to me was, for all practical purposes, unavoidable. A careless, aggressive and very reckless driver was the bullet that had my name on it. Broken leg, ankle, back (not paralyzed thank God), rib, foot, cuts....the whole nine yards. But you know what, those problems heal. It was the days, weeks and months after the crash that changed riding for me.
Initially, laying in the ICU after a ride in a helicopter, I wasn't even thinking of motorcycles, riding or really anything except my family. Later, as is the norm, I swore off of riding...and that lasted about 2 weeks. Then the "I can't let this stop me" mentality set in....and so on. This persisted for months as my body healed. In the end, insurance replaced the bike and the real challenges began. Can I do this? Will riding ever be the same? Is this fair to my family or am I being selfish? Everyone has to work through this in their own way and at their own pace. There's no shame in hanging up your spurs and swearing off riding. Equally there's nothing wrong with getting back on the horse and putting the past behind you. It's a deeply personal decision.
Eventually, I climbed back on and slowly began riding again, but not without some bumps in the road. Hideous loops of anxiety were in play, especially at first. Crippling anxiety. The initial rides were anything but the fun and enjoyable experiences I once took for granted. As time went on the unreasonable fears abated and the joy slowly returned. But I'll be the first to admit, it's not the same. That's not to say it's bad either, just different. Again, I thank God every day for all that I have. And in many ways this has made riding, and life in general even better because now I know, not think or imagine, but know how precious it all really is.
Thank you for sharing this. This is exactly the kind of story I was hoping to hear. Any situation in life that challenges your very existence is sure to change your attitude about life as a whole. I have some experience with this - not motorcycle-related - but reading your words, I can see now how my experience changed me, and how, instead of just giving up on things, I doubled down. I'll remember that now.
I took up motorcycling in my early 40's. Because I had a young family, there were a number of voices trying to talk me out of it. I went ahead, but promised myself that if I had a crash (and survived it), I would quit and accept it was a mistake. Well, 12 years later, I did have a crash. I sustained a couple of minor injuries, and a lot of damage to my bike. But I got straight back on my bike and rode the 60 miles back to my home, went ahead and got my bike repaired, and carried on riding. That was 15 years and four bikes ago. I guess my point is that you don't know for sure how you will respond until it actually happens.
I appreciate the subject. I have crashed three times on the racetrack. Two low sides, one high side all at over 105 MPH. The high side was the worst. 140 MPH, airlifted to a trauma center. Knocked out my front teeth. You wear your broken lever end around your neck. I refused to fix my teeth as a reminder of my mistake until my dentist insisted. Never gave not riding a second thought back then. Stopped riding for a decade, then bought my Multistrada. On my first trip I tipped over three times in less than a mile. Never had a bike with luggage and never ridden with luggage. Was concerned that if I tipped over and no one would help me, could I lift the bike by myself? So I bought an Eastmont bike jack to carry.
I do think about how I’d now react if I crashed. I try my best to not think about it and live by a Japanese saying since I’m a Japanese American. “Fall down seven, get up eight.” I wear a hat with that written in Kanji to remind myself to be brave and endure. Am I embarrassed about any of my crashes or tip-overs? Nope. Do I worry? Sometimes yes.
Three times in less than a mile! That's gotta be some sort of record. :)
I love that saying, "Fall down seven, get up eight." Great words.
This is therapy
I have some kind of nylons and screws in my right arm in order to make it work, injuries in the neck and back, and of course I fear a crash and that my arm won't work again but the bike is so good for me, so I just try to minimize the risk and be glad to get home every time. The risk is there always, but the fear... just sometimes.
Lol! This one made me laugh! I agree completely with your fears and trepidations Bug but I also completely agree with your conclusion.
With my last bike I ended up on my fourth clutch lever and like you, I put them in my pocket after each incident, red faced with embarrassment at my own stupidity but I never thought about turning them into a necklace. Genius idea.
But yes, just get on and ride again. I've fallen off loads of times over the years and have the scars to prove it but I'm less inclined to do so these days and ride accordingly. However just last weekend I screwed up while turning around in a narrow country road with a weird camber and my brand new Honda NC750X began to topple over to the right as I attempted the last point of the turn. But instead of just giving up and jumping clear, accepting the inevitable clang of a broken handlebar lever, I managed to lower it gently to the ground, legs trembling and muscles shaking, so that it ended up without a mark on it. Phew! No new clutch or brake lever this time!
As I strained to return the bike to an upright position, a car came briskly around the corner and caught me in the act. I'm so glad he managed to stop in time!
The point is, if you worry about riding every time you go out, or carry lots of safety aids and dress in hi-viz clothing, like BMW riders seem to do (joke!) then you'll end up so timid you'll feel afraid of doing anything.
This stuff is character building and it has positive effects in many other areas of your life. Getting on a motorcycle is a risk - but just go and do it anyway.
Dust yourself and get back in the saddle in.
Bug, I just try to be safe as best I can. ATGATT I've been riding since 1985. I've had a few accidents. Most have happened in the last ten years. Neither one was my fault (CT seems to have cornered the market on bad drivers). The first one happened on my 2009 Triumph Tiger 1050. I was stopped at a light, in the right lane of two, with no one in the left lane, but cars in front and in back of me in both lanes. A young driver in one of the oncoming two lanes, seeing the gap in traffic, gunned her car to go in a business driveway. Cutting through two lanes of traffic, just as the light changed, and we started moving. The result was a totaled motorcycle, a broken left shoulder, broken left hip, cracked pelvis, a few surgeries, a month in rehab, PT and a lost riding season. I replaced that motorcycle with a 2004 BMW R1150R, the next year. I rode that a few years, along with a 2009 Triumph Speed Triple. The next accident happened when a bicyclist took a left out of a side street, right in front of the BMW. I hit his back tire (That's how close he was), and went down. The cyclist wasn't hurt, but I slid the motorcycle. I ended up with a broken left wrist and six compound broken ribs, more PT and another lost season. Now I'm riding a 1979 Kawasaki KZ400b, a Vespa ET4, a 2023 Vespa GTS 300, a 2010 Triumph Speed Triple, and I still have the BMW. I turned 70 years old this year, and I don't know how many more years I can ride, but I enjoy it so much. I just might not rip around back roads with the guys like I used to. Enjoy your ride, and don't stress about what might happen. Be safe and enjoy the ride!
It's not the finances, or the fear, that scares the crap out of me... it's the entire loss of my life, or losing the use of multiple limbs, or living in a wheelchair, or losing my sight, or having a traumatic brain injury that leaves my mother to look after me. I wasn't given the most capable body physically, I have a bad right ankle that causes me pain rather constantly, and I can't seem to eat anything without bloating. But at least I am able-bodied. Having some kind of serious physical or mental injury could be catastrophic to my future, or my family's future. And losing my life altogether would crush my mother and my girlfriend and my brothers and sisters. It's why I don't ride anymore. Because I've seen too many instances of death on motorcycles caused by the strangest of occurrences. It doesn't take much on a bike to cause something like this, even with good gear on. It's just not worth it for me. I had one crash, and I walked away from it. But the next one maybe I don't. So I stopped. Not immediately after. I got back on when my bike was fixed, but a few years later. Something suddenly took the desire away. And I can live with that. Yes, I miss the pleasures, but living able-bodied is also a pleasure. Living itself is a pleasure. And I don't have to live at max volume to enjoy living. I can enjoy just living.
I totally respect that. I'm at the point where, while I know I COULD live without riding, it would hurt me too much mentally. But things change over time...
Love your content and vibe ❤
Thank you so much!
Good stuff. Very Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. 👍
The rumble at 7:19 sounds great!
Kind of 15 year ago, I had a accident and I´ve lot my bike (HD883) back there ... I stayed maybe 1 month thiking about it and jumped back to a BMW GS800 and from there, to a GS1200 ..... After this last one, I stayed 12 years from biking .... not because I was afraid of them, but for personal and financial reasons ... I recently (6 months ago) bought a T120 and all I think now is " damn, I´ve lost 12 years of bike riding" (laughs) ... Biking calms me, stops me thinking about mundane problems and it´s a miracle for taking the stress out of my mind and body ... So, I intend to never walk away from bikes as long as I´m healthy enough for riding them ... cheers.
I went down October of 2022. I ride occasionally but nothing like before. Still haven’t fully recovered mentally. Sad because i love motorcycling.
I went down a couple times early in my career, early '60s. Does it bother me that I could go down again? A little. But I worry more that I wouldn't be able to get up again to enjoy riding. Then again worry never solved anything.
This is where I'm at with biking. There's no fun in it anymore and I'm selling up after 40 years of riding.
A few days ago a friend of mine was in an accident on his bike. He was rear-ended by a fellow biker. He received minor injuries and possibly the bike will be totaled. It could’ve been much worse.
That got me to thinking heavily on this exact issue since her told me about it: if it happened to me, would I get back on and ride?
We know the risk. That might be part of the reason we ride. But if the risk comes down upon me, what would I do “after the crash”?
Excellent timing of sharing this message. Thank you.
Thanks for watching.
Loved your video. Definitely makes you think about what if I was in a crash…what would I do after I’ve healed.
Well, I’m living that right now after a year of recovery. I had a Triumph XC 800, Beta 300, Vespa and a fat tire bike.
Jan 8,2023 I was coming home after an e- bike ride and was two streets away from my house in a residential area and a pick up truck ran a stop sign doing about 35 and hit me throwing me about 40 feet, I ended up with a shattered tibia, broken pelvis, three broken ribs and a concussion. I woke up in the trauma unit and had already had three operations. I had an excellent trauma Doctor who put me back together.
It’s been a year of PT going from I wheelchair, then a walker and now I’m walking well and I’ve started riding a new fat tire E bike as of a week ago.
I’m grateful to be alive and I take one day at a time.
My plan is to start riding the Vespa, and see how that goes. Not sure if I will get back on the motorcycle , as I still have some fears around that.
I Am 69 and I have been riding since I was a teenager so it’s really hard to think about giving up riding totally.
My wife was a huge help in my recovery and my champion in helping me get through this difficult time. She’s not real keen on me getting back on a motorcycle.
This whole experience has made me grateful for each day and for the many blessings I have. Ride Safe!
Probably a fear that gets mostly road bike riders, I'm glad I had 45+ years riding farm bikes and dirt bikes before I ever bought a bike for the road, falling off is just something that happens on a regular basis offroad, you expect it and it doesn't bother you when it happens, you get used to bent stuff , broken stuff, including collarbones in my case, so it's not something I give any thought to even on road.
Tinnitus forced me to stop riding. Even with years of custom earplugs, at 64 I just couldn't see me enabling future hearing loss. Ride on.
Greg - I have tinnitus as well. The combination of custom earplugs and a Goldwing seems to work for me.
I stopped counting after 15 on-pavement crashes. Retired club racer; lifelong canyon carver; long distance commuter; dirt / trials rider as well. Retired only two helmets due to impact. In other cases, the helmet did not hit appreciably or at all. Almost all of those crashes happened 20+ years ago. Walked away in all cases. I've hurt myself worse on bicycles than motorcycles.
Fear is life-sapping bullshit. Don't be a soy boy; full speed ahead. If you happen to check out before you're drooling and soiling a diaper, consider that a win.
This video resonates so much for me. 9 months ago we lost our 17yr old son on his motorbike to a drunk driver and then 4 weeks ago I crashed on my triumph tiger on a gravel patch. My broken bones mend. But in my mind I would like to maybe ride again. But will I be able to get past it psychologically. I don't know.
I am 76 and a disabled vet with PTSD. I haven't riden in about 15y. So. While i was considering purchasing another bike i fell While trying to move a tree out of my driveway. One year after surgery they did another surgery to remove the screws from my right hip. So about two months later i purchased a bike. STAND BY!! My experience had been on crushers ect., but i decided i do something different. I purchased a 2022 Suzuki HAYABUSA!! Yes oh Shit. I was get ready by buy riding and preparing mentally to ride that missile. But while unhitching my trailer i had been working on. I FELL AND BROKE MY RIGHT HIP. I just couldn't believe it. What are the odds. So know that bike sits on the trailer staring at me. My wife is constantly warning me Not to get on that bike or your going to kill yourself. 🙄 I want to ride that dam thing but seem to be losing my nerve. I have Never riden a sport bike which doesn't help my confidence. I am a little intimidated but determined. I live in north Ga and want to ride the western Nc mountains real bad. Wish me LUCK!!
I dropped my bike twice in two days right after leaving the dealer. I have the broken parts displayed as a reminder.
#1. Are those the stock handlebars or aftermarket, they seem to have more of a sweep, they seem taller and closer to the rider. #2. Here I am breaking my head trying to figure out who you sounds like, there is another TH-camr that has a similar voice and narrates just like you do. Last but not least I try not to think of the worst, just enjoy it while you still can!
I've had two accidents, neither my fault legally. But I've come to understand outside a one-of-a-billion chance, we/I are/am at fault. We need to obey the laws and never expect them to. Ride as if THEY want to kill you. I always hyper-attract attention to myself (Bike). I weave, play with the headlight if I feel it's necessary, and give them a thank you wave as I pass for not killing me. How did I get over it? The first I was a passenger on the bike I wanted to buy and I was going to have that bike regardless. The second, a lady ran a redlight, I saw her coming and with a young entitled mind I refused to budge. Guess who lost? The first, I never let on to my parents, got a loan and bought the bike. The second, I parked the bike, went to class (college) couldn't play football but I could damn sure ride a bike. Never let bs steal your love.
Loved your video. Definitely makes you think about what if I was in a crash…
Well, I’m living that right now after a year of recovery. I had a Triumph XC 800, Beta 300, Vespa and a fat tire bike.
Jan 8,2023 I was coming home after an e- bike ride and was two streets away from my house in a residential area and a pick up truck ran a stop sign doing about 35 and hit me throwing me about 40 feet, I ended up with a shattered tibia, broken pelvis, three broken ribs and a concussion. I woke up in the trauma unit and had already had three operations. I had an excellent trauma Doctor who put me back together.
It’s been a year of PT going from I wheelchair, then a walker and now I’m walking well and I’ve started riding a new fat tire E bike as of a week ago.
I’m grateful to be alive and I take one day at a time.
My plan is to start riding the Vespa, and see how that goes. Not sure if I will get back on the motorcycle , as I still have some fears around that.
I Am 69 and I have been riding since I was a teenager so it’s really hard to think about giving up riding totally.
My wife was a huge help in my recovery and my champion in helping me get through this difficult time. She’s not real keen on me getting back on a motorcycle.
This whole experience has made me grateful for each day and for the many blessings I have. Ride Safe!
Yikes. Glad you made it through that...
I find it interesting that you're gonna give the Vespa a go and not the motorcycle for now... I feel 'safer' on my Vespa as well, but in reality, they probably carry about the same risk, no? Perhaps the Vespa isn't as fast... I dunno. Thoughts?
@@BugMotoChannel the problem for me is the seat height on the Beta 300 is 35 inches. With the pelvic injury, it’s hard for me to get my leg over it. The Vespa is much easier as it is a through. I’m actually thinking about the Triumph 900 scrambler possibly because it’s got a lower seat height and easier to swing my leg over.
I came off a couple of times in London (no deer). I live in rural France now (plenty of deer). My fear is of crashing my Triumph Speedmaster or breaking down on some little country lane (or even just getting a puncture) and having to call my French Triumph dealer or my French insurance company's emergency helpline (There is no Automobile Association here). Will they speak English? Why should they speak English? Can I speak enough French? Probably not. Why not? (I'm learning. I'm trying). I have a panic sheet in my panniers with all the numbers and a script. Will there be a mobile phone signal? For me the only real attraction of a BMW is that little red emergency button. More bikes should have them.
I am signed up to train to go back motorbiking. I am 61. I do not remember this level of danger and I’m getting spooked. Could it be the case that the accident rates are a lot higher in the United States than in Europe? No offence intended!
Just self skidded 5 hours ago, only damage is one broken brake lever
What in the world is self-skidded?
@@BIBuildy That means skid with no collision
@@thomastan4577 Ah, ok, never heard that one, thanks!
saved the deer?
Fear (and worry) are based in lack of faith. After seeing a motorcycle accident that a little boy (~10) shouldn't have seen, I didn't ride until learning at 72. Thinking of all the situations during which God had protected me and remembering Jesus urging Peter to get out of the boat and walk on the water, I realized that lacking faith was like a slap in the face of God. I made up a short prayer which I say before EACH ride, then thank God profusely upon HIS returning me safely and unhurt. I ride in F A I T H ... When God decides to 'recall' me, I hope that HE does so in some other way. 😋
Im afraid of jaming a broken shard of a femur up into my pelvis...thats motorcycling though folks..get over it and rid. its that simple.
2 Lane roads are the worst if someone hits you from behind your going off the road or into incoming traffic. Probably why you're afraid constantly
The only cautious people are people that are over 40 😅 were all afraid to get hurt
Bound to happen usually but i know a few who rode for many years without a crash