Crashes

[wkid_one]

going down sux but you learn from mistakes and can move forward if you're serious & honest about your roadcraft. I

I made my biggest riding improvements after my second accident.....

Often an accident can be the only catalyst to a rider to improve their riding skills (sad I know - but true)......until we learn we aren't YDFC, often we live in the illusion we are.....

The common quote is

Anyone who doesnt make mistakes isnt trying hard enough. (Terry Hands)
or
The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything. (Sophia Loren)
or
People who make no mistakes lack boldness and the spirit of adventure. They are the brakes on the wheels of progress. (Dr Dale E Turner)

Or my favourite
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one (Elbert Hubbard)

I don't know why I put those in - but hopefully you get my point....falling off a bike is only a bad thing if you don't learn from it.......

[KATWYN]

I made my biggest riding improvements after my second accident.....

Often an accident can be the only catalyst to a rider to improve their riding skills (sad I know - but true)......until we learn we aren't YDFC, often we live in the illusion we are.....

The common quote is

Anyone who doesnt make mistakes isnt trying hard enough. (Terry Hands)
or
The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything. (Sophia Loren)
or
People who make no mistakes lack boldness and the spirit of adventure. They are the brakes on the wheels of progress. (Dr Dale E Turner)

Or my favourite
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one (Elbert Hubbard)

I don't know why I put those in - but hopefully you get my point....falling off a bike is only a bad thing if you don't learn from it.......

This is the point i'm trying to make. previous quote: I think people that
say dumb things about their accidents will never learn and give other motorcyclists a bad name. we pay horrendous ACC levies cos of this sort of person. Accidents happen thats why they are called accidents, but show offs are just a pain in the butt

[750Y]

hey Katwyn, I wasn't trying to put you down, sorry if you took it that way, maybe didn't choose my words that well's all. the only thing that hurts is you pointing out I have no bike.... ouch!

[Yamahamaman]

Also have to mention that when a 'Farmer' (dairy - whatever) falls off his farm (bike/quad) and gets run over by same - it all gets recorded as a motorcycle accident. Doctors don't care to be accurate so long as they get their fee. I know that Farmer's pay a ACC levy, however I doubt whether misfortunes regarding quad/bike events are ever debited against that particular ACC account.

[KATWYN]

hey Katwyn, I wasn't trying to put you down, sorry if you took it that way, maybe didn't choose my words that well's all. the only thing that hurts is you pointing out I have no bike.... ouch!

Oh I thought you had a bike! cos you mentioned "when you ride". So wasn't
trying to point that out that you didn't have one . I would hate to think cos I haven't had a crash..yet...touch wood etc, that im seen as a try hard cos of the bike I ride and how I ride it.

Yamahaman, as for quad bike in statistics yea that is true. I get a bit thing about show offs on road bikes and ACC levies etc.Cos I have encountered at least three (too many) on the road (in the last 2 years) on rides I personally have been on that ruin it for everyone else who is riding, they crash out on a nice group ride, cos they are pushing the limits and showing off to everyone. This puts a major damper on the day. This type of thing doesnt have to happen. (ie) passing you on blind corners, then later losing it; tail gating other bikers endangering them then losing it, and pulling out, not looking, doing head checks etc and nearly taking everyone else out

[Jackrat]

Jezz Katwyn,You have just pointed out most of the reasons I don't like to ride in groups.The tail gaters I hate with a passion.I never been able to work out why they don't just pass you.There is nothing more iritating than some clingon one a small bike trying to prove something to themselfs nobody else gives a shit about.They never seem to care that they are puting everyone else in danger.

[James Deuce]

This is the point i'm trying to make. previous quote: I think people that
say dumb things about their accidents will never learn and give other motorcyclists a bad name. we pay horrendous ACC levies cos of this sort of person. Accidents happen thats why they are called accidents, but show offs are just a pain in the butt

Sorry I can't accept that "accidents" happen on the road. Someone always creates a situation to cause the so called "accident". There are actually very few unavoidable accidents in life, and far too many stupid decisions or examples of stupid behaviour are labelled as "accidents" on the road. The word accident is a cop out for all involved and can be used as an excuse to not learn anything about yourself or using the road. Even mechanical failure can be put down to incompetence, either by a mechanic or the operator not servicing their vehicle enough.

Jim2

[KATWYN]

Sorry I can't accept that "accidents" happen on the road. Someone always creates a situation to cause the so called "accident". There are actually very few unavoidable accidents in life, and far too many stupid decisions or examples of stupid behaviour are labelled as "accidents" on the road. The word accident is a cop out for all involved and can be used as an excuse to not learn anything about yourself or using the road. Even mechanical failure can be put down to incompetence, either by a mechanic or the operator not servicing their vehicle enough.

Jim2

Its an interesting point. In the industrial workplace accidents arena, I learnt (OSH facts) that 95% of ACCIDENTS occur because of lack of managment of safety systems/ procedures/unsafe equipment /training & deliberate horsing around etc so therefore in theory (?) 95% of accidents can be avoided. However the other 5% is human error. Which I can imagine really is out of anyones control. Just a thought- this is where "no human is perfect" comes in I suppose

[750Y]

just wanted to clarify things a little regarding my history as I feel that I am sounding like 'Crash man joe' here.
I have owned 11 bikes in my life, 9 of which were road bikes.
my first road bike at age 7 i rode on the road & my grandfather would wheel it out to the footpath & lean it against the gutter so I could get on. I hardly ever crashed my dirtbikes because I was too small to pick them up.
My first road crash was in 1996 and have had a total 4 crashes on the road, 1 on the track. 2 involved some seriously poor car driving, 1 was at jogging pace hitting diesel in the rain while braking downhill and one involved loose road surface on the b-roads i frequent. I got up & walked away from them all, 3 i broke bones,2 i went to hospital for. no insurance claims ever.
they were all my fault, I accept that & I learned a lot. I haven't crashed on the road for almost 2 years. I am a lone rider with the exception of 1 KB ride with my lady on the back & several rides with a another cool kb-er who was learning at the time. I always try to practise good judgement and choose my times/places carefully, i never drink & ride, I drive my ute with consideration. I (used to) ride all weathers everyday not just a 'weekend rider' & average 20-25kms/year.
If that makes me one of those people who makes everyone else look bad & puts up the acc levies, then I'm sorry, but I never planned it that way.
I could buy a bike right now(and boy do i want to and it costs $20k) but am getting married in 6 weeks so it's my sacrifice. i sold my last bike 3 weeks ago.
that's all I feel i need to say.

[wkid_one]

Jezz Katwyn,You have just pointed out most of the reasons I don't like to ride in groups.The tail gaters I hate with a passion.I never been able to work out why they don't just pass you.There is nothing more iritating than some clingon one a small bike trying to prove something to themselfs nobody else gives a shit about.They never seem to care that they are puting everyone else in danger.

Shit Jack - can you PLEASE stop saying things I agree with.

When I ride in a group - I close my wing mirrors in to the fairing...I don't want to know who is behind me......it is distracting and can cause you to do stupid things in reaction to what you think they may do....

I prefer to stay at the front of the group or the very back. Not in the middle.

I will always ride at the back when riding with a new group because you don't know how idiotic they are.

[KATWYN]

just wanted to clarify things a little regarding my history as I feel that I am sounding like 'Crash man joe' here.
I have owned 11 bikes in my life, 9 of which were road bikes.
my first road bike at age 7 i rode on the road & my grandfather would wheel it out to the footpath & lean it against the gutter so I could get on. I hardly ever crashed my dirtbikes because I was too small to pick them up.
My first road crash was in 1996 and have had a total 4 crashes on the road, 1 on the track. 2 involved some seriously poor car driving, 1 was at jogging pace hitting diesel in the rain while braking downhill and one involved loose road surface on the b-roads i frequent. I got up & walked away from them all, 3 i broke bones,2 i went to hospital for. no insurance claims ever.
they were all my fault, I accept that & I learned a lot. I haven't crashed on the road for almost 2 years. I am a lone rider with the exception of 1 KB ride with my lady on the back & several rides with a another cool kb-er who was learning at the time. I always try to practise good judgement and choose my times/places carefully, i never drink & ride, I drive my ute with consideration. I (used to) ride all weathers everyday not just a 'weekend rider' & average 20-25kms/year.
If that makes me one of those people who makes everyone else look bad & puts up the acc levies, then I'm sorry, but I never planned it that way.
I could buy a bike right now(and boy do i want to and it costs $20k) but am getting married in 6 weeks so it's my sacrifice. i sold my last bike 3 weeks ago.
that's all I feel i need to say.

Its obvious by your post you arent one of the type i'm speaking of! congrats to you on getting married. shes a lucky girl to be marrying a man willing to
sacrifice the bike. All these posts of mine are just my opinion that I feel strongly about and it has felt real good to be able to share on this forum. the feedback is great!

[Motu]

Sacrificing his bike for a chick - what a wanker,setting yourself up for life there mate.

Jack and Wkid,I'm probably one of those pricks on group rides - I can't ride at their pace....on the twisty stuff they slow right down and I'm up everyone arse trying to get them out of the way,then on the straight stuff they fly past like I'm on a Vespa.I prefer not to ride with anyone,but If I have to stay way back,but I keep running over slow riders,then stop till they pass again.Just a waste of time.

[Jackrat]

I'm probably in a similar position to you myself Motu,I can't keep up on the straight bits but have no worries in the twistys.The guys I am talking about are those that when given the gap just sit there.Another one that really gets me are the guys that pass a car an then slow down leaving no room for those that may have followed them.
Maybe my wife is right an I'm just a grumpy bastard

[750Y]

Sacrificing his bike for a chick - what a wanker,setting yourself up for life there mate.

lol, I have been with my lovely lady 10 years and have 2 beautiful children. a bike is just rubber & steel. oh & i ain't your mate, lol 8-).
oh & thanks for the compliment about the mrs Katwyn, but i'm the lucky one.

[wkid_one]

Motu - I am like you.

I have ridden in plenty of groups like you mention. Apart from the odd big blow out, I refuse to travel at speeds over 130kph down straight (as I refuse to lose my license in a straight line)....I prefer to go hard in the windy stuff and let the idiots be mental down the straights (again, apart from the odd time when the throttle gets the better of me....)

Traditionally I have stayed at the back of groups for this very reason....