Hmmmmm......CIAO

[wkid_one]

As someone who is in the position where I am nigh on the point where another road bike is plausible - I am fast reconsidering this decision.

Lately - I have taken the leisure of reading - but not posting on the forum. I notice a vast increase in the number of near misses, hits and crashes in the last 2 weeks or so (and going back further)

Now whilst I can put some of this down to summer-itus (the brain fade caused by one sunny day among weeks of rain) - it is concerning none the less.

I am now seeing riders who are somewhat saner/safer/cautious than myself binning - and I beginning to wonder about the prudency of my buying another road bike and testing the surgeons work on my ankle and shoulder reconstructions so soon.

Take Zed for example - who only a mere 7 months ago was chargrinning me for the very thing he did this weekend (practising and preaching come to mind). And he has the HOLIEST of pillion passengers

I think I am going to quit while I am ahead (and still have one) and not tempt luck in to proving me right. Whilst I enjoy pushing my limits, not knowing when to stop and the high price you pay isn't worth it.

Loved it too death while I did it - time to go an experience/enjoy new things (and knowing me - no less stupid!)

Thanks everyone (esp those who have binned) in helping me make the decision - hope the wounds heal and the bikes get repaired.

(for those who wish to email me as pm has been stopped - wkid_one@xtra.co.nz)

Wkid has left the building ie - won't be reading replies~~~~

[StoneChucker]

It's official, he's gone completely crazy. Look at it another way, there is a slight surge of near misses and bins at the moment, but when you get your bike, it'll have passed, making it on average, safer for you to be out!

And, more importantly, isn't the point of life to enjoy yourself? Hell, I was so bored until I got my bike, ever since then I've been having a great time, and meeting new people

I can't wait to get back on my bike, even though I know the risks, and the consequences. I feel the risk is worth it, as they say "it is better to have loved and lost(a bike for eg), than to never have loved at all (still a bike for eg )

[badlieutenant]

Dont be too hasty. I was sorta thinking the same thing but more along the lines of "do I want a nice newer, faster bike". The answer is no. Those guys have admitted themselves that alot of the bins happened because they rode beyond thier abilities. So it would seem that it comes down to self control. Have you got it? and do you know how good a rider you really are ? do you really want to find out on public roads ? Im not gona bullshit you and pretend to be some angel biker that does the speed limit all the time. But alot of the time I do just enjoy crusing on my own on an empty bit of road. If I was to consider a bike (new), for me at least, it would have to be something either cruisy or a motard (good enough for rossi, good enough for me) but either way the bike I choose is going to help determine the type of riding I want to do.
What kind of riding do you enjoy ? If you see yourself as a mad racer and thats the kind of bike you want maybe its a good idea.
Youll never elliminate all risk from your life.
But if you minimize it too much are you still alive ?

[Motu]

Here today,gone tomorrow,he walked the walk and talked the talk - but he wasn't into bikes for the long haul,that was obvious from the start...impressive post count though eh?

[spudchucka]

He'll be back! Once you have the bike bug you can never get it out of your blood.

[bluninja]

Well don't be suprised to see him pop up in Kiwi Jetski

[scumdog]

I suppose he might be lured back if there was a lot of posts on :"How I went around the block and arrived back without binning/dropping my bike or getting tickets" but then I for one accept that is the norm and guess that this forum is full of people with similar thoughts hence no postings on that!!!!

Each to his own but remember "Ships are safe in the harbour - but that is not what ships are for".

[ching_ching]

Woos!

[Dodgyiti]

I agree with the scary nature of everyone having a bloody bin lately.
It's not smart, it's not cool, and it's not good press either.
And when I squeeze the rego for 2 bikes from the dust and moths in my wallet, I blame you lot who bin, for the whopping ACC levie that I have to pay just to be on the road

New bikes are beyond not just the riders ability, but the road and conditions as well. I think you have more fun pushing an older bike to it's [safe] limits, than nailing a new whizzy bike to way beyond your own personal limits.

Falling off hurts

[Hooks]

25 years on bikes ... only 2 bins .... I'm not a nana but I'm not a nutter either ... I pick my moments to go hard and I always treat every cage driver as if they were out to get me !! I love riding bikes and although I was off one for a while (14 years) I have never ever considered giving it away completely ... So I reckon Wikid you need to take your time and keep monitoring the site and turning up to shit and see what happens ... .... there's not that many of us that we can afford to lose even one !! ....
What I'm trying to say is ..... get your hand out of your pants and back on the bars that's where they're meant to be boy !!!

[magnum]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooo :eyepoke:

[Motu]

I agree with the scary nature of everyone having a bloody bin lately.

New bikes are beyond not just the riders ability, but the road and conditions as well. I think you have more fun pushing an older bike to it's [safe] limits, than nailing a new whizzy bike to way beyond your own personal limits.

Falling off hurts

Hmmmm,I think so - you don't see many with reports of them binning an older bike,but then not as many here ride older bikes.I think a modern bike lulls a rider into a false sence of security,or skill level - they just can't reach the limit of these bikes and so have no idea where it is...until they do of course,then we hear about it.On an older bike the limit is found earlier,you know where it is and how fast you can go at all times.I ride with tyres most would consider unsafe for the road,but I know what's happening with my tyres,the limits within easy reach for me.

[jrandom]

Bah.

wkid's got bored and gone off to play with some other toy.

He never had much to say about bikes anyway, except when he was blowing raspberries at the racers who got annoyed with his Riding God stylings.

He wasn't Motorcycle People, really.

:spudwave:

[vifferman]

I can understand completely Wkid's decision. I nearly made the same decision last year, when I trashed my VFR, and have reconsidered my decision several times lately (like just this Saturday, with my latest indescretion taxing me $300).

If I had chucked it in last year, I wouldn't have been on this forum, wouldn't have met some very nice people, and most importantly, wouldn't have enjoyed sharing my passion/obsession with my wife. And our latest trip together was very good for both of us, not just for the fantastic ride we had from Mangawhai to Waipu, as the surprise visit with her relatives was also excellent. All in all, this weekend was one of the best we've had, so while I'm am still constantly re-evaluating my biker status, I don't regret my decision to stick with biking.

Don't be too harsh with Wkid; it does appear that he's been more talk than action in the 6 months I've been on here, but don't undervalue the importance of considering you health. I've been very lucky to escape significant injury in the last 30 years, but it sounds like he hasn't been so fortunate.

[jrandom]

Don't be too harsh with Wkid; it does appear that he's been more talk than action in the 6 months I've been on here, but don't undervalue the importance of considering you health.

He was more talk than action before you were on here, too. It was *worse* when he had a bike.

I've been very lucky to escape significant injury in the last 30 years, but it sounds like he hasn't been so fortunate.

Nah, he just rode like a prat from all accounts. Funnily enough his most recent bin was (he said) at lowish speed. In which case, it was no more than karmic balance in action.