Crashes, Falls and Drops

[Mom]

Everyone knows that you're considerably more vulnerable on two wheels than on four in a metal can. However some of the posts here make me think WTF are you doing on a motorbike? Yes I have dropped my bike - on more than one occasion - it's heavy and although I've stopped it going over a few times with immense concentration and willing my arms and legs to keep it upright, it's still made it to the ground a few times; yes I have had one serious crash (my mind distracted by the task at my destination rather than focussed on my ride). Boy was that a lesson in keeping my mind on what was happening around me when on the bike.

But I never go out with the mentality of expecting that at some stage I'll crash again - it's NOT inevitable - or that I am likely to drop my bike. As a learner/n00b I understand (and can still remember those days) that you may feel this way but generally these things happen when you're distracted. You need to continually develop your situational awareness, not get lackadaisical about what you are doing (because that WILL end up biting you in the arse), and preferably attend rider training sessions with a qualified instructor. Riding with a trusted and experienced fellow rider can also be of great benefit.

I could have written this post myself, the only difference is I have not crashed. Almost every bike I have ever owned has been on the ground though, blame the short legs syndrome. I have had my license since *cough* 1976, and apart from a few years when my babies were young and needed a mommy at home have ridden most of the years since. I never go out expecting to have a crash and ride appropriately to ensure I don't. The mind set that it WILL happen to you is something that is quite distressing. I learned to ride off road, and fell off many times fooling around on the dirt. When I started riding on the road ( for years a bike was my only transport) I had the mind set that I simply was not going to have a crash and thankfully I haven't.

To the OP, change your way of thinking and as many others have said, get yourself some training. I can thoroughly recommend Tricia 1000 from Roadcraft School of Motorcycling, she is fantastic and well worth every penny spent.

[Tigadee]

Juniper - What you can do is learn from others' and your own experiences. Single out those circumstances that led to each incident and burn it into your memory so that you recognise the same situation in the future before it occurs.

I've had too many drops and one crash, and every reason for them is now seared into my brain and I never ever want to go through them again... Poor throttle control while doing a U-turn, parking the wrong way on a slope, turning too slow or wrong direction on a slope, forgetting the side-stand, slipping on wet leaves, not recognising that a driver in front was stopped but not on brakes, etc.

All my fault from lack of experience or forethought. Learn to read the 'traffic language' (like body language) by looking at how a car is moving within its lane, or looking 12 seconds ahead to read the traffic conditions ahead (as well as spotting that traffic police camera van or squad car! ) and predicting how that will influence what's just in front of you...

Play the braking game. It will not only help you learn to minimise the use of your brakes, but also helps you learn to read the traffic, predict and avoid. Roadcraft Notthingham's got heaps of excellent safety tips, so run through them (not if you can, but you must and so should everyone).

Another important thing to remember is that it's better to avoid than to confront. Avoid an obstacle, avoid a dangerous situation, avoid that idiot who didn't indicate through the last turn, avoid that cyclist, etc.

If you've done your advance planning for every minute on the bike - looking for escape routes and spotting dodgy drivers - then swerving and avoiding a car 3 m in front of you that's suddenly braked is far more preferable than outright trying to brake and stop. Two brakes/tyres vs four is not much contest, and neither is car vs motorbike...

[Juniper]

Juniper - What you can do is learn from others' and your own experiences. Single out those circumstances that led to each incident and burn it into your memory so that you recognise the same situation in the future before it occurs.

I've had too many drops and one crash, and every reason for them is now seared into my brain and I never ever want to go through them again... Poor throttle control while doing a U-turn, parking the wrong way on a slope, turning too slow or wrong direction on a slope, forgetting the side-stand, slipping on wet leaves, not recognising that a driver in front was stopped but not on brakes, etc.

All my fault from lack of experience or forethought. Learn to read the 'traffic language' (like body language) by looking at how a car is moving within its lane, or looking 12 seconds ahead to read the traffic conditions ahead and predicting how that will influence what's just ahead of you (as well as spotting that traffic police camera van or squad car! )...

Play the braking game.[/URL] It will not only help you learn to minimise the use of your brakes, but also helps you learn to read the traffic, predict and avoid. ]Roadcraft Notthingham's[/URL] got heaps of excellent safety tips, so run through them (not if you can, but you must and so should everyone).

Another important thing to remember is that it's better to avoid than to confront. Avoid an obstacle, avoid a dangerous situation, avoid that idiot who didn't indicate through the last turn, avoid that cyclist, etc.

If you've done your advance planning for every minute on the bike - looking for escape routes and spotting dodgy drivers - then swerving and avoiding a car 3 m in front of you that's suddenly braked is far more preferable than outright trying to brake and stop. Two brakes/tyres vs four is not much contest, and neither is car vs motorbike...

Best supportive advice so far. Thank you!!

[bosslady]

Best supportive advice so far. Thank you!!

Actually all the advice in this thread has been very good, IMO.

[Katman]

Juniper - What you can do is learn from others' and your own experiences. Single out those circumstances that led to each incident and burn it into your memory so that you recognise the same situation in the future before it occurs.

And that can only be done by dispassionately examining what happened.

"What would you know? You weren't there" ain't going to teach us anything.

[Juniper]

Actually all the advice in this thread has been very good, IMO.

Eh, I have found a bit of it a tad ranty and judgemental. There have been a few that I have found useful and most importantly supportive. And makes common sense to me.

Not everybody is the same, understand and comprehend things in different ways. (Restraining from going into my theological rant on comprehending and understanding different ways of people believing in their Deity/s or lack there of)

[Tigadee]

And that can only be done by dispassionately examining what happened.
"What would you know? You weren't there" ain't going to teach us anything.

True, so the storyteller has to be receptive to examining all the factors, including his own level of "tard-ness" while riding, contributing to the incident. If he/she can only lay blame on others, then he/she's not the best role model to learn from!

[bosslady]

Eh, I have found a bit of it a tad ranty and judgemental. There have been a few that I have found useful and most importantly supportive. And makes common sense to me.

Not everybody is the same, understand and comprehend things in different ways. (Restraining from going into my theological rant on comprehending and understanding different ways of people believing in their Deity/s or lack there of)

You'll probably see what I mean eventually. Quite a few of the people that have posted in this thread in possibly not the "sweetest" way I've actually met personally and are super awesome people. It can be in the way other people deliver what they're saying and it usually helps if you've actually met them. It can be hard to read what people are saying just through words typed up on their computer or whatever and it's sometimes easy to get offended by it if you don't know them personally. I remember I got shitty at someone awhile ago who dared suggesting that a couple of instances of cars UNDERTAKING me (not on the motorway, just a normal road around my hood) could be my fault. Anyway, I actually listened to what they'd said and I regress, they were right, it was my fault for not positioning myself in my lane right and letting them think they could undertake me, I haven't had a problem since. I think most of the info in this thread has been useful/helpful (but as mentioned, possibly not delivered in a way that gels with you). The most unhelpful thing I've had is someone tell me that they hope a car cripples me, yea, that would be considered unsupportive I think...

[Tigadee]

You'll probably see what I mean eventually. Quite a few of the people that have posted in this thread in possibly not the "sweetest" way I've actually met personally and are super awesome people.

Sshhhhhhhh, think of their reputations!

[bosslady]

Sshhhhhhhh, think of their reputations!

Oh sorry I didn't mean you, you're a TOTAL Jerk trying to get me to lane split, like, what are you thinking?! :P

[Tigadee]

Oh sorry I didn't mean you, you're a TOTAL Jerk trying to get me to lane split, like, what are you thinking?!

Ahhhhhh! I didn't mean me!!

I don't have a reputation, that's why I'm usually unnoticed (read: un-targeted) here in KB. I'm like a salad, pleasant but bland and easily forgotten, as opposed to some who are meaty or hearty but way too unhealthy, or tart and acidic and burns the gut, or way too spicy to swallow initially...

[BigAl]

Quite a few of the people that have posted in this thread in possibly not the "sweetest" way I've actually met personally and are super awesome people.

at first I thought you were talking about Katman........

[Drew]

at first I thought you were talking about Katman........

Prolly is. He let her ride his Katana...But not the good one.

[bosslady]

at first I thought you were talking about Katman........

Yes he's someone I've met several times that I would put in the category of super awesome.

[Drew]

Yes he's someone I've met several times that I would put in the category of super awesome.

And a cunt.

Lest we forget.