Alarm-a-Bin Laden

[HanaBelle]

ok, so jrandom falls off for the fourth "serious" time in two years, the resident angel has binned the VF twice in the same time (thats not counting the two times it got independently run over), and our FZR750 burned to a crisp while being chased by the cops (not with anyone we knew on it at the time, you understand), and Im thinking...this binning your bike thing is looking too inevitable...

So, does anyone ever actually NOT fall off their bike? I mean, not once, never, no matter how many "almosts" they have?

I think the chick on the 750 Shadow I met at the WIMA camp last year said she had never dropped it but thats not exactly a representative sample and I need more "No I have never fallen off in 32 years of riding" stories before my terror-by-association recedes.

Go on, thrill me with the alternative safety stories. Please.

HanaBelle

[dhunt]

ok, so jrandom falls off for the fourth "serious" time in two years, the resident angel has binned the VF twice in the same time (thats not counting the two times it got independently run over), and our FZR750 burned to a crisp while being chased by the cops (not with anyone we knew on it at the time, you understand), and Im thinking...this binning your bike thing is looking too inevitable...

So, does anyone ever actually NOT fall off their bike? I mean, not once, never, no matter how many "almosts" they have?

I think the chick on the 750 Shadow I met at the WIMA camp last year said she had never dropped it but thats not exactly a representative sample and I need more "No I have never fallen off in 32 years of riding" stories before my terror-by-association recedes.

Go on, thrill me with the alternative safety stories. Please.

HanaBelle

I think it's all to do with stats. The more you ride your bike and the harder you ride it the high your chance of binning it. It may not be your fault but it will happen.

[Bonez]

It may not be your fault but it will happen.

Hmmmm. Seems some folk have a habit of binning, others don't. It may have something to do with riding competance as well. Though some incedences such as cow dung on a right angle bend and such like are unavoidable.

[manuboy]

Yeah... sorry to say, i haven't binned the current transport, but i've come off every other machine i've owned (the fzr400 put me in the hospital 4 times).

Not proud of that. It's just that there are a range of factors, rider attitude, road conditions, bike setup (or lackof), other moving objects - i sorta think you'd be a fish-outta-water if you could ride your entire life without binning...

(tho i've never met a bmw rider who has binned - while riding a bmw - bmw's don't bin, they self correct and then tell the rider off)...

[vifferman]

It is possible to never crash; I know a guy who has ridden for over 30 years and never had a crash or a ticket. I think there are circumstances that make it more likely for both to happen, like riding in D'Auckland. I've owned 6 bikes, and 3 of those were never crashed. The latest was only crashed due to extreme stupidity and ham-fistedness, but I think commuting here has increased the danger factor. I nearly got squished by a bus on my very first day biking here. :spudwhat:

I commuted daily for 2 years in Christchurch without incident, and rode for a few years in Hamilton without any drama (apart from someone 'borrowing' my bike in the night ).
I've been riding for over 30 years, and sometimes I wonder if I've 'lost it' (if I ever actually had 'it'), especially after four crashes in a space of two years.

But to put it in perspective, I've never had a serious crash (all have been around town), and ALL apart from maybe one of them could have been avoided by action on my part, whether they were legally my fault or not. The one exception was lowsiding on a squashed soft-drink can, and maybe even that could have been avoided, had I scanned the road surface carefully.

Motorcycling is inherently more dangerous than other forms of transport, and minor incidents that would be nothing in a car - like skidding on a greasy surface - can be somewhat calamitous on a bike. A 'fender bender' in a car might cost a few shekels, but on a bike might cost you a leg.

But you knew all that. You have to keep aware of the risks, evaluate them, weigh them up, and keep your eyes open and wits about you.

[Paul in NZ]

Asking someone to say "I have never fallen off my bike" is akin to asking an actor about 'The Scottish Play'... You are just askin' for it.

However.... Most binning occurs because of too much aggression and too little road craft (yes yes I know sometimes shit happen and all car drivers are bastards out to get you). The fact remains, the road is not the track and there are a lot of uncontrolled conditions in road riding. Too many for you to manage so you need a safety margin.

I have not had a proper falling down for a very very long time (like 25 plus years) and I have zero plans for this to happen in the future. And before you ask, no I don't ride like your granny. It's all about managing risk!

Keep riding, yes it's risky but if you cultivate a doubt monkey to ride on your shoulder to remind you that you can't see around corners you will be fine!

Paul N

Oh! And if you do fall off? It does not usually hurt that much except in the wallet.

[Posh Tourer :P]

(tho i've never met a bmw rider who has binned - while riding a bmw - bmw's don't bin, they self correct and then tell the rider off)...

You'd better talk to a few more beemer riders...

Though perhaps its a kind of karmic thing - ride the right make and you get the rewards...

[manuboy]

(tho i've never met a bmw rider who has binned - while riding a bmw - bmw's don't bin, they self correct and then tell the rider off)...

You'd better talk to a few more beemer riders...

Though perhaps its a kind of karmic thing - ride the right make and you get the rewards...

point taken... wanna swap?

[manuboy]

It is possible to never crash; I know a guy who has ridden for over 30 years and never had a crash or a ticket.

Yup, if you have the proof, i can't really argue... (yet i will).

I still find it hard to believe. Most builders in 30 years will shoot themselves with a nailgun or something. Most hunters will break/sprain something. Most sportspoeple will succumb to a mjor injury, i could go on. Maybe the comparison is invalid, but all these people try to manage the risk to vaying degrees yet sooner or later ....

If after 25+ years you've managed through skill, luck and extraordinary karma to avoid even a minor spill you will also have won lotto...

[Motoracer]

Yup, if you have the proof, i can't really argue... (yet i will).

I still find it hard to believe. Most builders in 30 years will shoot themselves with a nailgun or something. Most hunters will break/sprain something. Most sportspoeple will succumb to a mjor injury, i could go on. Maybe the comparison is invalid, but all these people try to manage the risk to vaying degrees yet sooner or later ....

If after 25+ years you've managed through skill, luck and extraordinary karma to avoid even a minor spill you will also have won lotto...

If you belive what you were trying to say, why didn't you use "all" insted of "most" or do you agree that there can be exceptions?

[jrandom]

However.... Most binning occurs because of too much aggression and too little road craft

Indeed. Such were determining factors in my little incident of yester-morn.

Oh! And if you do fall off? It does not usually hurt that much except in the wallet.

Yeah. That too. It's really not that bad, most of the time. I was disturbed, in some ways, to find that my most recent adventure didn't really bother me that much, except for the actual pain. My bike isn't a shiny pride-and-joy-mobile, so... no worries.

Natcherly I would prefer *not* to bin. All things considered. Paul speaks truth.

[manuboy]

If you belive what you were trying to say, why didn't you use "all" insted of "most" or do you agree that there can be exceptions?

yeah ya got me ..... what i'm trying to say is that the percentage of exceptions is miniscule. "most" people have to form views from practical experience, and in my case i don't know anybody in those groups i mention that haven't had the odd ouch... but i guess it's "possible"

what i'm interested in now is that for this select group of very careful, lucky people, do they still bother with insurance? Apart from theft, it'd irk me paying insurance for 25 years and never needing it...

[HanaBelle]

Most binning occurs because of too much aggression and too little road craft...The fact remains, the road is not the track and there are a lot of uncontrolled conditions in road riding. Too many for you to manage so you need a safety margin.

It's all about managing risk!

Keep riding, yes it's risky but if you cultivate a doubt monkey to ride on your shoulder to remind you that you can't see around corners you will be fine!

Thanks, thats completely sane. I think I wont commute as much as I have been, partly due to the lulling effect of riding the same route with your head anywhere BUT on the road...and maybe quit whining about the 140 dollar postage cost on the Bohn armour I got quoted last night...

H

[jrandom]

... lulling effect of riding the same route with your head anywhere BUT on the road...

Well, trust me, when your head *is* on the road, it's not very lulling at all.

[Paul in NZ]

Just remember to ride your own ride.... If people just have to pass you, let them. The only time I've come close to getting into serious trouble is because i get a sudden rush of blood to the head (s) and think "OI, you can't do that, I'll bloody show you!"

Typical male competitive BS.....

I mean, whats the chance that rampant male hormones, a competitive streak and little common sense would get me into troble eh?

Ride safe....

Paul N