How many people have broken bones as a result of riding a motorbike? [Archive]

p.dath

21st July 2009, 16:21

So many riders seem to have had accidents and broken something. I was wondering, is it most riders or just the "lucky" few?

ps. Limited to people who have been riding 2 or more years, as new riders haven't had a chance to really hurt themselves yet.

Str8 Jacket

21st July 2009, 16:25

I broke my foot once when a car did a uturn on me. It was my own stupid fault though as I was filtering on the middle white line and the car would not have expected me theer! I re-broke that foot a few months later after I crashed at Ruapuna, cracked a rib too I think..

I know of a guy that got T-Boned by a car (cars fault) while riding at 70kph. He flew through the air and landed on his head 30 metres away. Walked out of hospital the next day with severe concussion and a few sprains. For the first time ever he was wearing full leathers that day when he was hit... The bike was so fucked that it had almost folded up. He was a lucky boy!

jim.cox

21st July 2009, 16:40

I've broken a few bones, but none due to biking

Mikkel

21st July 2009, 16:43

Haven't passed my 2 year day yet - it is getting close though.

Still, I've had four crashes (i.e. chances to really hurt myself) and sustained no injuries worth mentioning.

James Deuce

21st July 2009, 16:46

How on earth did you decide on two years?

hospitalfood

21st July 2009, 16:47

oooppsss, though it was about breaking other peoples bones.

has nothing to do with bikes, apart from the fact that bike riders are hard-arse tough guys as we all know, and break other peoples bones in our whiskey induced sleep.

Str8 Jacket

21st July 2009, 16:50

How on earth did you decide on two years?

Its the magic number. Duh!

fishb8nz

21st July 2009, 17:05

Over the handle bars and got a broken ankle (just the thinner bone). Very lucky not to have more severe injuries. Was wearing the full monty gear and that helped.

vifferman

21st July 2009, 17:09

I don't know.
I've never had plaster applied, but I have some Suspicious Pains.

slofox

21st July 2009, 17:13

Riding 42 years. Never broken a bone. Fallen off several times (that I remember)...oh that's not counting the night I was drunk of course....but still didn't break any bones even then...

Warr

21st July 2009, 17:16

Been riding 35 years never broke anything. Then 1 day I broke about 50 bones in less than a minute. Go figure :rolleyes:

That was the number my physio lady came up with after reading my hospital discharge papers.
Lots of those were in my hands & wrist :(

McDuck

21st July 2009, 17:22

I am not far off the two year mark..... No bones yet.

one fast tl1ooo

21st July 2009, 17:23

2 from riding on the road, and 10 on a motocross bike over the year,

denefoster

21st July 2009, 17:24

I don't know if mine counts. Got hit by a car at ~30km/h in full offroad kit. Nothing broken on the day, but my foot that got hit mysteriously broke about a week later after the girl stepped on it a few times :)

MaxB

21st July 2009, 17:26

Broken bone count is 22 so far.

Got 28 years no claims bonus FWIW. Numbers, eh?

BTW 19 of those breaking bones came from accidents where the other road user was prosecuted.

howdamnhard

21st July 2009, 17:26

Haven't broken any bones yet . Guess I've been lucky, that and having a healthy respect after two low speed bins when I just started learning to ride may have helped.

Owl

21st July 2009, 17:33

Yeah broken metatarsals and blew my heal off at the same time. Unusual injury being able to push ya heal up close to ya toes:sick:

Did a couple of ribs on my old RM250. Lay there for a bit after that one, as I had my helmet wedged in fencing wire.:baby:

YLWDUC

21st July 2009, 17:34

Pretty sure I broke a rib or two in a low side, plus had my wrist in plaster in case of a break.

Broke my collar bone on a bicycle though, that was way more painful. Always wear the gears eh!

gijoe1313

21st July 2009, 17:34

I think this poll needs to include broken bones due to owning a motorbike! :rofl: I'm sure there will be some stories out there about bikers breaking bits of their bodies doing things with bikes when they weren't riding them! :sweatdrop

oldrider

21st July 2009, 17:37

Been riding 55 years (on and off road) had my right ear cut off and stitched back on in the late 1950's!

Broke my shoulder (scapular) and rearranged a few ribs last year!

Had plenty of off's without consequence to me or pillion but some of the bikes have been unlucky!

RC1

21st July 2009, 17:53

broken knee cap, wrist,scafoid (sp)(base of thumb), ankle and a couple of ribs in 25yrs so count myself fairly lucky,

sunhuntin

21st July 2009, 18:10

no breaks here, but the one time ive been hit, i found myself wearing a cast due to a dusty xray lens. being stuck like that for no reason resulted in both knees being fucked beyond repair.

jrandom

21st July 2009, 18:29

So many riders seem to have had accidents and broken something.

Bins aren't accidents.

Apart from that one where a tree fell across the road in front of the cop bike.

Limited to people who have been riding 2 or more years, as new riders haven't had a chance to really hurt themselves yet.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA snort.

fridayflash

21st July 2009, 18:33

collar bones and ankles, one collar on the road, and re-break collar
and an ankle offroad

Conquiztador

21st July 2009, 18:36

Solo Speedway: Collarbone, ribs, finger, damaged spine.

Dirt bike: 7 ribs and punctured lunge.

Road: Damaged knee (not really broken).

rainman

21st July 2009, 18:49

I've ridden for a while, albeit with a big gap in the middle, and I've never broken a bone whether on a bike or off...

Molly

21st July 2009, 18:53

Road riding about 25 years. Knocked off in '07 by someone trying to escape police. He got 14 months in prison. I got a crushed lower left leg and a broken metatarsal (sp?) bone that popped out of the skin.

Two metal pins, lots of pain, seven weeks off work, smashed Harley, $4,000 in compo.

Wouldn't recommend it.

wysper

21st July 2009, 18:57

20+ years riding. No broken bones.

Although had a nice spiral break on my leg playing inline hockey! Two bones there! And now a leg full of titanium.

beyond

21st July 2009, 19:15

Motorbikes and broken bones....

Collarbone, wrist, two bones in my foot, finger, kneecap, ankle, ribs..... I think that's it and I really do believe I've had my share now :doctor:

DarkLord

21st July 2009, 19:19

Broken bone count is 22 so far.

Bloody hell.... :shit:

mossy1200

21st July 2009, 19:31

I broke a bone in top of my foot 10years ago.Hit a sheep and it rolled my foot under the peg.Lucky the headers of my motor guzzi took the main impact and i stayed upright.
I broke the bone that connects onto your thumb and pushed my thumb down my wrist until my wrist watch stopped it.Looked at my hand and though it was gone until i turned my hand over.Rear brake lever had fallen off xr600 and i used to ride brakes while changing gears in wheelie.Not there so i flipped it.Slid down the track superman style till thumb met rock.
they call that a bennetts fracture.That one hurt real good.

98tls

21st July 2009, 19:38

Broken arm,broken leg and a head full of stitches.:nono:

idleidolidyll

21st July 2009, 19:44

2 or more years???????

holy crap batman! I've been riding road bikes for more than 35 years and I've never broken a bone falling off one.

Not even during my road race years.

I've lost a bit of skin and ruined some clothing and safety gear though.

In fact, the only time I ever did break a bone involving a bike was motocrossing in Woodhill Forest about 30 years ago: ankle bones

Baldyman

21st July 2009, 19:49

Broken leg and collar bone in two seperate, stupid off-road crashes.

Collar bone still mending with a plate in now and after 3 months of no riding, I still have a few weeks to go.

Indiana_Jones

21st July 2009, 19:51

Never broken a bone in my life

-Indy

Hitcher

21st July 2009, 19:53

Clavicle. Bulls. Boxing Day 2006. Somehow I came become disconnected from my ST1300 and demonstrated that the Earth is more robust than certain parts of my anatomy, my Shift jacket and my Shoei XR1000.

Swoop

21st July 2009, 19:53

0 from riding.

YellowDog

21st July 2009, 19:55

Bins aren't accidents.

Apart from that one where a tree fell across the road in front of the cop bike.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA snort.
Hey JR,

If by saying 'Bins aren't accidents' you mean that they are actually rider mistakes or a failure to appropriately judge the conditions (and I include myself), then I do agree 100%.

I've not ever had a broken bone myself and I hope I never do.
(famous last words)

Pedrostt500

21st July 2009, 19:57

Cracked my Skull, its what happens when you try to remove concrete fence posts, when pissed as a newt, while trying to negotiate black ice while wearing no skid lid, I was about 26 yrs old at the time 10' tall bullet proof. I was less than 1km from home, the first person on the scene thought I was dead, when he got back with help, I was trying to figure out where the bikes handel bars were and why I couldn't get it started again.
Most of us who have had a good slide down the road, know the " so I'm bleeding broken a dozen bones, BUTLook at my poor Bike!.

Boob Johnson

21st July 2009, 20:03

I know of a guy that got T-Boned by a car (cars fault) while riding at 70kph. He flew through the air and landed on his head 30 metres away. Walked out of hospital the next day with severe concussion and a few sprains. For the first time ever he was wearing full leathers that day when he was hit... The bike was so fucked that it had almost folded up. He was a lucky boy!
Shit a brick I thought you were describing my accident for a mo there.

He walked out of hos the next day!!!

WTF!!!

I had that exact accident, T bone at same speed landing a similar distance from the car & got a dislocated thumb & a smashed hip (9 pins & a titanium plate for life). I was told I was lucky to get what I did let alone the above!

Sheesh!

Boob Johnson

21st July 2009, 20:07

Haven't passed my 2 year day yet - it is getting close though.

Still, I've had four crashes (i.e. chances to really hurt myself) and sustained no injuries worth mentioning.
Struth Mikkel! At least you're trying aye :clap:

Highlander

21st July 2009, 20:14

nothing yet - touch wood :slap:

jrandom

21st July 2009, 20:24

Hey JR,

If by saying 'Bins aren't accidents' you mean that they are actually rider mistakes or a failure to appropriately judge the conditions...

Precisely.

For what it's worth, my one bone-breaking bin (was just a smashed left thumb, highsided and landed on it) is nicely documented here with surgery photos from when they screwed it back together.

One thing I remember from that occasion is stopping at McDonald's for a couple of cheeseburgers on the way to the A&E. The middle bone of my thumb was in a dozen pieces and sort of hanging off the side of my hand, but the nausea from the pain couldn't compete against the fact that it was 9pm and I hadn't eaten since lunchtime.

Also, top tip: if you break bones and are still conscious and can get someone to drive you to a private A&E (White Cross, et al) instead of calling an ambulance, do it.

You'll get seen to far faster that way than you will if an ambulance takes you to a public hospital. Far faster. And if you then get transferred to a hospital, you'll get to go straight into treatment past all the poor bastards sitting in the waiting room cos you've already been triaged.

At least, that's how it worked for me. I'm sure there must've been someone in that waiting room at Middlemore with something worse than a smashed thumb.

:pinch:

Mully

21st July 2009, 20:29

Also, top tip: if you break bones and are still conscious and can get someone to drive you to a private A&E (White Cross, et al) instead of calling an ambulance, do it.

You'll get seen to far faster that way than you will if an ambulance takes you to a public hospital. Far faster. And if you then get transferred to a hospital, you'll get to go straight into treatment past all the poor bastards sitting in the waiting room cos you've already been triaged.

At least, that's how it worked for me. I'm sure there must've been someone in that waiting room at Middlemore with something worse than a smashed thumb.

Or be actively bleeding...

Or tell them you are having difficulty breathing (DAMHIK)

Goblin

21st July 2009, 20:30

Most of us who have had a good slide down the road, know the " so I'm bleeding broken a dozen bones, BUTLook at my poor Bike!.Hell yes!
But mine was only a fractured wrist after being hit head on. Out cold for 15 mins or so...woke up and tried to pick my bike up to carry on with my ride. Handle bar flopping around, oil and petrol all over the road...then the pain! My POOR bike!!

Only other bone broken was on the track. :(

Ocean1

21st July 2009, 20:42

Ribs, clavicle, patella, metatarsals, toes and fingers.

All off road.

All managed with cunningly premeditated malice aforethought.

Apparently.

mrchips

21st July 2009, 20:50

nothing broke, cracked a nut tho.... not pleasant

stig

21st July 2009, 21:14

no breaks here, but the one time ive been hit, i found myself wearing a cast due to a dusty xray lens. being stuck like that for no reason resulted in both knees being fucked beyond repair.

thats not cool, medical mishaps don't add to the experiance.

my last bin left me in the hands of 3rd world doctors, 3weeks later the nz jocks had to rebreak 5 of the breaks and shove a bunch of titanium in me.

other than that 1 bone on race track and one sideways knee off road.

nothing on road yet :banana:
its not a considered a rite of passage is it?

p.dath

21st July 2009, 21:20

Haven't passed my 2 year day yet - it is getting close though.

Still, I've had four crashes (i.e. chances to really hurt myself) and sustained no injuries worth mentioning.

Aha, perhaps you haven't had a chance to get over confident yet .... although four crashes already, hmm.

p.dath

21st July 2009, 21:22

How on earth did you decide on two years?

I think that is about how long it takes to get a full licence. At least, I think that is enough time to become a competent rider, and to rule out those people that are still learning to ride and taking it far more cautiously.

p.dath

21st July 2009, 21:23

I don't know.
I've never had plaster applied, but I have some Suspicious Pains.

Lots of breaks, like fingers, don't result in plaster.

p.dath

21st July 2009, 21:27

gatch

21st July 2009, 21:28

After a bunch of stacks and minor incidents not a broken bone to date.

Touching wood.... (gripping actually)

p.dath

21st July 2009, 21:28

...
holy crap batman! I've been riding road bikes for more than 35 years and I've never broken a bone falling off one.
...In fact, the only time I ever did break a bone involving a bike was motocrossing in Woodhill Forest about 30 years ago: ankle bones

So you have broken a bone riding a bike ...

p.dath

21st July 2009, 21:32

Hey JR,

If by saying 'Bins aren't accidents' you mean that they are actually rider mistakes or a failure to appropriately judge the conditions (and I include myself), then I do agree 100%.

I've not ever had a broken bone myself and I hope I never do.
(famous last words)

When I created the poll I was trying to ask about broken bones as a result of riding a bike. Saying accident seemed like a good way of describing a broken bone, since no one would surely do it on purpose.

p.dath

21st July 2009, 21:35

Those survey results are pretty amazing. Pretty much 50% of all experienced riders have managed to break at least one bone while riding a bike. Better keep that statistic from ACC or they'll be wanting us to stump up with the GDP of a small third world country.

James Deuce

21st July 2009, 21:37

James Deuce

21st July 2009, 21:37

Mumbles

21st July 2009, 21:42

Did i just jinx myself? ooohhh crap :baby:

p.dath

21st July 2009, 21:44

Did i just jinx myself? ooohhh crap :baby:

Maybe you should stay inside today for safety ...

Mumbles

21st July 2009, 21:47

Maybe you should stay inside today for safety ...

I'm not walking to work tomorrow .......

Maybe i can call in sick?

Mom

21st July 2009, 21:49

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Let me pass you a tissue...

Well now, who says you actually have to break a bone when you ride a bike?

I fell down a flight of stairs once and broke a toe! It hurt!

Once you get your full you are sweet as?

All good then.

Mikkel

21st July 2009, 21:55

I think that is about how long it takes to get a full licence. At least, I think that is enough time to become a competent rider, and to rule out those people that are still learning to ride and taking it far more cautiously.

Far out that is some funny shit. Have you considered getting a job doing stand-up at rallies?

If you are over 25 you can get your full license in exactly 9 months... all you have to do is suffer the pain of sitting through the mildly insulting defensive driving course together with the 16-18 year olds who are having their first go at the Class 1 full license.

Aha, perhaps you haven't had a chance to get over confident yet .... although four crashes already, hmm.

Au contraire... I managed to live through my over-confidence quite a few years before I even got into motorcycling.
And yes, I push the envelope - time and place always considered - and sometimes reality bites back. What would have been an unexpected skid in a car quite often turns into a crash on a motorcycle. That's just the way it is. Luckily I seem to bounce quite well so far...

monkeymcbean

21st July 2009, 22:09

DarkLord

21st July 2009, 22:10

Shit a brick I thought you were describing my accident for a mo there.

He walked out of hos the next day!!!

WTF!!!

I had that exact accident, T bone at same speed landing a similar distance from the car & got a dislocated thumb & a smashed hip (9 pins & a titanium plate for life). I was told I was lucky to get what I did let alone the above!

Sheesh!

Chrome looks heaps better bolted to your bike than your leg... :no:

Seriously dude that had to hurt something serious. Out of curiosity - can you feel the ends of those pins at all, poking into the soft tissue in your leg? Are you constantly aware that you have a metal plate and all those pins in there?

MaxB

21st July 2009, 22:17

Bloody hell.... :shit:

22 bones per kilometre travelled is still pretty good.

16 due to a snapped wrist that was kind of hanging a bit loose. Needed reconstruction. 3 broken toes, 2 broken arms and a cracked knee.

Compared to some on this list I think I have been quite lucky.

monkeymcbean

21st July 2009, 22:27

Keep the camp fire stoked.:yawn:

Madmax

21st July 2009, 22:38

53 so far
have a few plates and pins in for good (even bent a k rod)
having said that i t boned a car and walked away from it
with a couple of bumps
:doctor:

Boob Johnson

21st July 2009, 23:06

Seriously dude that had to hurt something serious. Out of curiosity - can you feel the ends of those pins at all, poking into the soft tissue in your leg? Are you constantly aware that you have a metal plate and all those pins in there?
It didn't hurt at the time, was rather numb, they gave me morph in the ambo, then I kinda came too & asked if they could give me some lol so yeah, pain kinda kicked in at that point, not a huge amount..........till I got to hospital & a dick head doctor insisted on ignoring me that I had no problem/pain in my back. He kept lifting me up to check which in turn produced MASSIVE amounts of pain from whence there was none prior. My dad was about to smash the doctor after the 3rd attempt :bash:

Yes I can feel the pin heads with my fingers if I prod around & yes I am aware of there presence on a daily basis. All she got was a $700 fine for careless use + ordered to pay me $1000 for emotional damage :scratch:

And that doesn't count that I can't ride for extended periods without discomfort, sit for anything over 30 minutes or that any kind of general use of my hips (ie: pretty much most things) doesn't make me acutely aware that I am full of titanium.

skidMark

21st July 2009, 23:12

New riders havn't had a chance to really hurt themselves yet?

My first and to date biggest crash was 2 months in...

t boned a car they were at fault and shattered my elbow... got a figure 8 of number 8 wire in there looks knarly on x-ray... hurts like a bitch though cant lay down on it and can't fully straighten arm...

other one was a lane splitting accident... car came across without indicating...blah blah... broken ankle 2 places.

DarkLord

21st July 2009, 23:12

And that doesn't count that I can't ride for extended periods without discomfort, sit for anything over 30 minutes or that any kind of general use of my hips (ie: pretty much most things) doesn't make me acutely aware that I am full of titanium.

So you couldn't do a big day trip on the bike or anything without being in pain afterwards? (well more than most people anyway)

That seriously blows, dude. Being aware of the results of someone else's stupidity every day for the rest of your life... that's a tough pill to swallow.

I should be more thankful that I didn't end up with broken bones and metal plates in my body when I had a crash last year.

Boob Johnson

21st July 2009, 23:16

So you couldn't do a big day trip on the bike or anything without being in pain afterwards? (well more than most people anyway)

That seriously blows, dude. Being aware of the results of someone else's stupidity every day for the rest of your life... that's a tough pill to swallow.

I should be more thankful that I didn't end up with broken bones and metal plates in my body when I had a crash last year.
Afterwards? No during. I can & do big day trips but as mentioned it is with severe discomfort, much more than most, during & afterwards. Mates I ride with regularly see me stretching out the left leg whilst on the go.

Tis a tough pill to swallow but could always be worse, im alive & still ride :sunny: