Will You Crash Your Motorcycle?

[Waylander]

I dont really understand this thread, never met a older biker that has not met the gravel/dirt..

Well there are 4 of them thus far apparently. Unless someone is having delusions. I still don't understand your initial question Zed. Are you asking if we think we will have a wreck in the future or are you asking if we have wrecked in the past?

[John]

Not being rude but this is a real sill question to ask. Way to general.

[Zed]

I still don't understand your initial question Zed. Are you asking if we think we will have a wreck in the future or are you asking if we have wrecked in the past?

The title of the thread is "will you crash" meaning future tense and the 3rd paragraph questions the future too. However, the poll covers past crashes.

You're the 2nd peep to admit confusion here? I'm confused by your confusion!

[Zed]

Not being rude but this is a real sill question to ask. Way to general.

That's fine, if you have nothing constructive to add you need say no more, because if you do it will be considered trolling.

[Waylander]

The title of the thread is "will you crash" meaning future tense and the 3rd paragraph questions the future too. However, the poll covers past crashes.

You're the 2nd peep to admit confusion here? I'm confused by your confusion!

Ok so the poll was for past wrecks and the actually post bit covered both. Ok that makes sense now.

[MacD]

I think if I really believed that crashing was inevitable then I wouldn't keep riding, and I certainly wouldn't take my wife as a pillion. It is possible to ride for extended periods without crashing and it mostly comes down to keeping something in reserve when riding on the road. I had 3 crashes on the road in my first year riding but managed to learn enough to avoid any more in the next 20+ years. It was simply good luck that none of those crashes resulted in serious injury.

I also think that having some off-road riding experience is a great help in learning bike control.

So is crashing inevitable? No, but the reality is that most riders will crash sooner or later due to inexperience or overconfidence. Maybe some, but very few, crashes could be considered unavoidable?

[Ixion]

The title of the thread is "will you crash" meaning future tense and the 3rd paragraph questions the future too. However, the poll covers past crashes.

You're the 2nd peep to admit confusion here? I'm confused by your confusion!

I think Mr Zed is trying to use the results of the poll (of historical crash statistics) to forecast (very approximately) the probability of a hypothetical biker crashing in the future.

For instance if the poll showed dozens of riders who could say " I have been riding for years and years and never crashed" then the hypothetical biker could think "Well, if they've all gone for years and years and not crashed, I don't see why I should not do likewise. So, if I am careful and lucky I may expect to ride for years without a crash"

Whereas if no-one at all can say "I have never crashed" (except "new" riders, who have not had time), then the hypothetical biker must think "I am almost certain to crash. If no-one else has avoided it it is unlikely that I shall"

But I may be totally wrong [shrug]

[Zed]

So is crashing inevitable? No, but the reality is that most riders will crash sooner or later due to inexperience or overconfidence. Maybe some, but very few, crashes could be considered unavoidable?

Indeed! It's also all relative to how much riding you do, the conditions you ride in/don't ride in, whether you are riding alone or in a goup (where adrenaline is running high), and so many other variables that may or may not contribute to the circumstances resulting in an accident. Comes down to the choices we make a lot of times...you've made some sensible ones in the past 20 yrs MacD.

So are trackday bins inevitable I wonder??

[MacD]

I think Mr Zed is trying to use the results of the poll (of historical crash statistics) to forecast (very approximately) the probability of a hypothetical biker crashing in the future.

Perhaps the the question should be "were your past crashes avoidable?" I would have to say with the benefit of hindsight that all my road crashes were avoidable (ie. not inevitable). The question is how can riders gain experience without crashing, as crashing seems to be a very blunt learning tool?

[Waylander]

Perhaps the the question should be "were your past crashes avoidable?" I would have to say with the benefit of hindsight that all my road crashes were avoidable (ie. not inevitable). The question is how can riders gain experience without crashing, as crashing seems to be a very blunt learning tool?

Hopefully never too blunt or too sharp though.

[Ixion]

..
So are trackday bins inevitable I wonder??

Probably. The whole purpose of a track day is to allow people to find their limit (or their bikes).

And, you only really know you've reached the limit when you go a little over it.

" I can take this corner at 120 and it's all OK "; "130 OK "; "140 OK"; "Oh shit - well now I know the limit is 140"

But crashing on the track can't be compared to crashing on the public road, for all sorts of obvious reasons.

[Zed]

I think Mr Zed is trying to use the results of the poll (of historical crash statistics) to forecast (very approximately) the probability of a hypothetical biker crashing in the future.

But I may be totally wrong [shrug]

No, that's not the way I was thinking when I wrote that Ixion but it could just work?

I am keen on seeing how many experienced riders have never crashed and hearing their reasoning as to why not? Maybe I'll be able to glean some of their secrets to success! op:

[MacD]

Comes down to the choices we make a lot of times...you've made some sensible ones in the past 20 yrs MacD.

Heh, I've also made a lot of dumb decisions too, it's just that I had enough luck/experience/skill to get away with them for a while. This thread is making me nervous though, talk about tempting fate...

[Ixion]

..
I am keen on seeing how many experienced riders have never crashed and hearing their reasoning as to why not? Maybe I'll be able to glean some of their secrets to success! op:

Ride like a Nana!

Seriously

[Zed]

Ride like a Nana!

Seriously

Yes, that is one key, and there is a level of fun in doing that as I found out on the newbie ride yesterday. I'm more interested though in the keys to successful 'binlessness' in the higher levels of fun! :spudbn: