How many riders have never been down

[Ham]

Yea right. Try saying that to a 'downed biker' in his wheel chair. One day lady luck is going to close her legs on you ol' son.

Skyryder

was talking about the dirtbike bit... coming off on the road is nowhere near as fun

[Ixion]

I don't think you can count dirtbike or track. The dynamic is different. Crashing goes with the territiry. And I wouldn't count the under 5kph "slipped while putting it on the stand" stuff

[beyond]

Old fella hesitated then pulled out in front of me, slowed down enough not to hurt my self except for a few grazes, but the bike was a gonna. He drove me home back to Auckland, the slowest trip in my life, but we had a good natter about Lancaster Bombers...he flew them in the second world war!!

Lets hope the XJ900 fairs better, but hey, shit happens...

Hey, the old geezer wasn't Ian Burgess by any chance?
Old fella used to be at my work and felw Lancasters. Done heaps of sorties and survived to tell. Used to call him Wing co.

[Jantar]

When I was riding on the dirt track,on a practice day I would ride to crash - faster and faster and faster until I went down,then I'd get back on and push until I crashed again.At least 3 crashes a session,more often at least half a doz,I reckoned if I didn't dump it I wasn't pushing hard enough.Race day I seldom crashed,more often winning with half a lap handicap.I know how to push past the limit..

That's the way I was taught to ride MX as well. I can't say it never hurt, but only once was there any injury requiring treatment. Bloody Gary Goodfellow T-boned me and I ended up with two broken ribs.

[Skyryder]

I don't think you can count dirtbike or track. The dynamic is different. Crashing goes with the territiry. And I wouldn't count the under 5kph "slipped while putting it on the stand" stuff

I'm with you on this one Ix. Dirt and track riders just come off. A 'down' is roadside.

Skyryder

[Rashika]

never...


well, never actually *fallen* *off* *a* *bike* in motion

Did hit a car once tho, at least my knee and the bike did, at about 50kms AT least, managed to just grab everything and hold on, bike stayed upright as did I, and rode across the road. I wasn't letting that baby go... believe me! Guess thats what happens when cars pull out from side street eh? At least he stopped and helped me pull the gear lever out...it was now U shaped rather than L...and he DID have to climb out his pillion door cos he couldn't open the drivers door...HA that'll learn him eh?


...meanwhile after having written that first bit (about not falling off) I am now hanging into the wooden door for security sake, and I shall have a piece of wood permanently attached to my hands when i ride for the forseeable future...just in case

[jafa]

Not exactly a 'down' but definitely a lesson learned:

The day after I passed my test in the UK on a Honda CG125 (many years ago - before any 'graduated licencing' crap) I hired a GPZ500 and took my mate to Wales. I was sitting on the bike while he was taking photos of some fucken sheep or something. I looked behind me and leaned a little further than I should. I'm a big chap and naively thought a 170kg motorbike was a Mickey Mouse toy... shit, I was wrong! The bastard thing pulled me down to the ground in SLOW MOTION! All I could think of while laying the bike on its side was losing my 700 quid (NZ$2,000+) insurance excess. I stuck my leg under the fairing to avoid scratching it and *happily* endured the pain. I shouted to my mate to help me lift the fucker up again (I honestly thought I wouldn't need any help!). What a plonker! Speed: 0km/h. Embarassment factor: 100%. Lesson learned: give the bike the RESPECT it deserves.

I have never dropped one since. And long may it stay that way!