To bin or not to bin?

[chubby]

You don't have to bin to learn those lessons. Close calls are a wake up call. Some recognize this and modify their behaviour without binning. Other's go "woohoo, gotta tell the lads on KB" and go on to encounter one close call too many - and bin!

and we learn from each other. Sure newbies are more likely to bin and in binning (I'll assume no-one intends to bin) they feel more comfortable in the company of other riders, as they have their own 'war' stories, remember they want to be accepted as riders. IMHO thats not all they do. By writing their experiances they remind the older bikers of the need to concentrate but also by sharing their experiances with other newbies they may also identify more of the circumstances that they can encounter. There is a lot of experience for a newbie to get. In the early stages most of it washes over them. This is part of their learning and reminding....

To all the nay sayers, I agree that too much, 'I binned it last night' does make it seem more acceptable (just like too many I got caught DIC makes it somehow more socially acceptable), when binning is bad. Something went wrong and you have to take some blame for it.

To me binning isn't inevitable, but the more and longer we ride the more chance we will get caught out. Remember Binning bad, riding good.

(eh gods, I must be getting old I sound so serious)

[The Stranger:Me]

You don't have to bin to learn those lessons. Close calls are a wake up call. Some recognize this and modify their behaviour without binning. Other's go "woohoo, gotta tell the lads on KB" and go on to encounter one close call too many - and bin!

Note that there is a third category where the first close call results in a bin without any warning. However I expect this is less common.

You are quite correct, you needn't experience something to learn it.
It is almost always preferable to learn from someone elses mistakes (hence my latter comments in that post) however, it really is not a strong trait in humans in most of lifes endeavours. Also, it is often difficult when starting to even know what you need to know, let alone learn it.

I don't recall seeing any posts which I would class as bragging about a bin as you alude to. Some may well be light hearted, though that may simply be the nature of the person. Please feel free to correct me here and post links to some examples.

But you did ask if binning or dropping their ride is inevitable. To those who have said no, how many have never binned or dropped a bike? I assume when you say drop that includes such silly behaviour as forgetting to put your stand (or feet, in one case I am aware of) down or pushing it out of the garage etc. Sure it is theoretically possible, just no one has ever done it if they have been riding for any length of time.

[Ixion]

I think a distinction needs to be made between a 'bin', a crash, and a 'drop' - missed footing manoevring out of the shed, slippery servo floor, side stand sinking into soft surface, etc.

The latter is often annoying and may involve some damage (possibly even minor injury if one tries to catch a falling bike). But it's of so great a difference to a proper crash that the difference becomes qualitative.

A motorcycle is inherently unstable at rest. So I would have to agree that sooner or later it will fall over. Perhaps even when the rider is nowhere near it. I've come back to parked bikes and found them on the ground.

But I don't agree that a crash is unavoidable. And it is crashes that concern the authorities , ACC etc. And Mums. Which is probably as good a distinguisher as any. if you told your old Mum (who hates you riding one of those dangerous things) that your bike fell off the stand and dented something, she would sympathsise, but nmot worry. Tell her you crashed on your bike and she'll be horrified.

I think it is mischievious to confound the two. It serves to inculate the false argument that 'crashing is inevitable, nothing to worry about, everybody does it".

[FJRider]

You don't have to bin to learn those lessons. Close calls are a wake up call. Some recognize this and modify their behaviour without binning. Other's go "woohoo, gotta tell the lads on KB" and go on to encounter one close call too many - and bin!

Note that there is a third category where the first close call results in a bin without any warning. However I expect this is less common.

The only problem with close calls is, the rider concerned, pats themself on the back for being clever/skilled enough to AVOID a bin. And most likely boasts about it. Experienced skilled riders see problems(or possible problems) unfolding in front of them, and take action(s) to REDUCE the risk(worst case) or remove the risk.
After a close call by an experienced rider, he/she would be able to tell you what they did WRONG to cause the incident.
Sometimes you need ALL your motorcycling experience, right THEN. ALL of it for about 1/10'th of a second. Just for a white knuckle award.