Thinking of giving up biking...

[Skunk]

First bin after13 months riding, second bin 13 months later. Dreaded the third coming... it took seven more years for it to happen.

No idea when the next one will be but I'm here to LIVE my life, not pass through it.

[Daffyd]

Show me someone who claims not to have had a bin or, at least a close call, and I'll show you a liar. You can't factor the oz experience into the equation...that was an exceptional circumstance.
Stick with it. I had two bins on the way to my first rally, (at the tender age of 63), but reasoned that if I didn't carry on, I would never ride again.
You're young and resilient, you'll overcome your doubts. Give yourself a spell and then have another think.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

I just had my second crash, I shattered my collarbone (into 4 bits) while riding through the outback in Australia and had to be flown by Flying Doctor to the nearest hospital, etc etc, blah blah...

I have had two crashes on motorcycles now, a year apart. The first one was a beginner's crash that I will not repeat due to having more experience now. (Target fixation)
This most recent crash I don't remember, (concussion + amnesia) but I think it was probably due to hitting a patch of deep gravel or dust at 70 kph and being thrown off. (It was a gravel road)

I'm afraid that it's going to happen again. I will hop on my bike again in a few months and probably with a year or two I will have another crash, another month off work if I'm lucky. And hopefully no permanent damage.

I do everything I can to be safe, wear All The Gear All The Time, take a skills refresher course every year, read about and practice good riding techniques regularly.
But I still think I will fall off within a year or two and hurt myself again. Something will happen, a cage pulling out in front of me, a bit of dirt on a corner, a patch of oil...
It's not like I push the boundaries of what my motorcycles can do, it's just basic rider error on my part really. Maybe I just don't have the brains or reflexes or instincts to make a proper biker who doesn't fall off.

What you think? Is this just a normal part of being a motorcyclist or have I had a run of bad luck? What can I do to STOP FALLING THE FUCK OFF. Or should I just give up and avoid the pain of another off.

I really love biking and bikes, it is the wickedest feeling, but I think the price may be too high.
I love biking but only as much as icecream and chocolate. (but less than beer)... so it wouldn't kill me to give it up.
My Mum reckons I should keep riding, she knows how much I love it, but I'm not so sure.

One of the most important things you pick up from riding is like a sixth sense... sort like spidey senses... Once you get this sense which is as important and emergancy breaking, its emergancy advoidance... Your riding will be just as much fun and you don't need to be going at super sonic speeds either

You start to think ahead, you see that cage, then warning alarms fuck he hasn't seen me and is going to pull out in front of you, so you slow down and ready to stop... he pulls up, you continue forward at your spped giving him more room, just in case he does the stupid cage thing. You see that cool corner, then hear the warning bells, is there a sheep about to jump out, or a new grit patch, or a cage cutting the corner, you slow down to take the corner at "the pace" picking your correct line, giving you a better view around the corner, giving enough time to change you line if needed...

I just noticed you are in Dunedin, If you wish to go out for some rides (when you get better and get back in the saddle)... let us know... and maybe get a few pointers, tips following someone elses lines etc...

The main trick I be teaching Xaria is slow and mathodical movements, it makes smooth riding and less chance of making a mistake that the bike doesn't like and a bin, which over all will slowly build her confidence and then build in speed.

[Steam]

Yeah, good advice from everyone there. No need to make any hasty decisions just yet. Get better first.

[Bonez]

Thats the way.

Steam if it make you feel better this ol coot has had 3 offs in the last three months. OOPS!

[Mom]

That the way.

Steam if it make you feel better this ol coot has had 3 offs in the last three months. OOPS!

OOOOOOO bugger.........

[car]

I'd say, two bins over a year for a beginner, par for the course, not too bad really.

...

No reason to force it, though. Ride, don't ride, do whatever the spirit moves you to. You should be able to look inside your own mind and know what you want to do from day to day. Nobody will judge you either way.

I can't help but agree with everything in this response.

Every time I've had an accident I've gone through a similar down phase, asking myself what I could have done, what I can do differently to avoid it, have I hurt myself enough now to warrant just throwing in the towel.

Last time was the worst. I spent weeks figuratively picking at the scabs. I was all for selling the bike. My missus told me not to, and I'm so glad she did. I waited, and I came around again, and had fun with it.

Recent personal events see me giving up the sportsbikes for the foreseeable future, but I won't be giving up riding until I have to, should the day come.

My advice to Steam would be "wait until you're out of the funk." Now's not the time to be making rash decisions. Leave it 'til the painkillers have worn off and the pain's more of a memory than an every day reality, then weigh it up.

For what it's worth, reading about Steam's outback jaunt rekindled my missus' desire to learn, hence purchase of the DR200 in our garage, and rekindled my own desire to do one decent overland trip before I shuffle off. Inspirational stuff, and if it was easy, every sucker would be doing it.

[Conquiztador]

Give it up. It is not worth it.

I mean, what man in his right mind needs a adrenalin kick on regular basis?
And that leather jacket, it is not what the chicks see first, it is the man inside.
And to be able to say: "Yes, I can take you home. Hope you like BIG motorbikes" means nothing. If she really likes you she will come to the "Yes, I will take you home, do you know when the last bus goes?"

To be envied by the cagers on a hot day when they sit in the traffic, to meet up with other bikers, to ride a twisty road... All that is nothing.

Shit, you will always have the: "I used to have a motorbike just like yours..."

[Nasty]

Steam ... people have said it all here .. from mother knows best (and she does) to take time to heal .... I agree with them all ... take the time to get the body right ... and then the time to get the soul right ... you can ride again and you will have confidence to do it well .... ... just remember that it is also about believing in yourself to get back on the bike and make it happen ....

[dmouse]

ol so go take up knitting or something but dont trip over your wool while walking them dam needles can do some damage !!!

ive been riding 35yrs had a few minor bins when i was young never broke a bone or anything serious but i learnt and carried on and in the last three years i have here goes, cut my spleen in two broken ribs punctured lund damaged my liver damaged my bladder i have to pee through a tube now caught hepitius from theatre not contagious, suffer from PTSD and claustophobia i now cannot drive a car without throwing up !!! so all i have is my bike i got binned again not my fault in october and im itchin to get back in the saddle by the way i have not had a bin that was my fault since i was kid ok you give it up but i bet you as mucg as you want you will miss it mate, just put it in the shed till you get the nerve back as wot happens today and is sore is soon forgoten tommorow ride on ride free

[chanceyy]

after having two offs in two weeks both gravel related & the first again classic newbie mistake with target fixation, can honestly say the confidence took a battering .. & perhaps it was not a bad thing .. I am changing my riding style my thought processes and obviously still very cautious about riding in, through or over gravel

but will i give up bikes .. that thought had crossed my mind several times but the need to be on the bike far outweighs the thought of giving up at this time ..

and being older & starting riding .. yeah it hurts when ya crash for sure

[Skyryder]

Could be just a bad patch you are going through. Then again if you have doubts and have serious injury...............the spirit might not ever mend.

Your Mum sounds an OK lady.

Skyryder

[Big Dave]

Motorcycling is dangerous sh*t and can kill you every time you throw a leg over.

Do what your heart and head tells you and don't listen to anyone else.

[spookytooth]

Have to say i had been thinking along the same lines (quitting bikes)this week. So yesterday i went for a ride just to get my head clear.Decided nope noway maybe a new bike next year though

[turtleman]

Steam,

Had my first bin aged 18, hitting a dog on SH2 - a bit of skin lost, damaged pride and the dog went to doggie heaven.
2nd bin on a back country road about 18 months later, when a farmer pulled out of a driveway and left me nowhere to go - more lost skin, more damaged pride and some nasty bruising.
3rd bin about 3 years later in a suburban street by an oncoming car which turned across my path into a driveway - apparently he "didn't see me".
Smashed tibia and fibular, broken femur and a dislocated hip.

All 3 bikes were written-off (3rd one wasn't even mine !)

It took me 3 years to get the confidence to even ride a borrowed road bike after that, let alone buy one of my own.

I finally got back on my own set of wheels 2 weeks ago, after almost 15 years off the road. Bought a cruiser, went on a couple of rides and started commuting to work on it.

I'm glad I've done it as I've missed the bikes sooo much. Already met some great people because of it, and hope to meet many more.

You may not want to wait that long, or you may never ride again. It's never a closed issue. You have all the time you want, to make that decision. And it doesn't matter what that decision is - you can always change your mind later if you want to.