No matter how good you think you are ... you're not!

[mowgli]

Some of you will already know that about a month ago I binned. No witch hunt required. Completely my fault. It went down like this.

I was out riding with the Manawatu crowd scouting a route for the Rescue Chopper fundraiser ride. We left Palmy in good weather and headed out towards Fielding and Ashurst. Through the gorge, Balance bridge followed by a few twisties before lunch at Pahiatua. I'd done about 1000km on the VTR by this stage. Things were coming together nicely. Feeling stable through corners. Picking good lines. Even had a comment to that effect by a rider following. Anyway I was concentrating on my own riding and generally drifting back in the group. All good so far.

After a pie and a chinwag we all mounted our steeds and headed off. I didn't notice but there was a not-so-subtle change in my riding from this point. I set off with the leaders and stayed with them. Only a little faster with a little more passing, but most importantly, with the mindset of "keep up or be left behind". After twenty minutes of comfortable riding the following happened.

On a straight uphill that finished with a moderate right hander the rider in front of me overtook an SUV doing 60-70kph (witness statement). I waited, assessed there was space and also overtook. Had I not been "keeping up" I probably wouldn't have overtaken. As I pulled alongside I got the impression that the SUV was accelerating (I now doubt that he was). Anyway this distracted me such that I checked him out through the drivers window and looked for him in the mirror as I pulled in. When I looked back to the road I suddenly realised that I was poorly setup for the ensuing righthander. I was too far right in the lane and way too fast.

Out went the picks. Unfortunately, under heavy braking I wasn't prepared for how much effort would be required to counter-steer into the corner. By this time the bank was looming and I made my final error by looking at it. I estimate I left the road with 30-40kph, bike upright with brakes still applied. The rear kicked out a little as I crossed the damp road edge and gravel before glancing off the bank.

My left foot was twisted off the peg breaking both bones. I also hit the bank hard with my left shoulder causing bruising and cracking a few ribs. Somehow I managed to somersault off the bike to land on my arse on the edge of the road about 5m from where I left it. My bike carried on a short distance before stopping. It hurt - a lot. Spiral fracture to the tibia and a clean break to the fibula bought me a few nights in hospital while they fitted a shiny steel bar inside my leg. Hats off to the surgeon as today the physio said I'm at least a couple of week's recovery ahead of where he'd expect. Basically I can walk without discomfort or crutches! No other injuries. I was very lucky.

The bike damage was largely cosmetic but nevertheless expensive. Insurance has decided it is a total loss.

Gearwise I was pretty happy. Shoei Raid II protected my swede - has been replaced. Revit gloves, jacket and pants left me with zero abrasions. My Oxtar Explorer boots were designed for touring. Noting the twisting injury I will most likely replace these with a much stiffer racing or moto-x boot. Boot and pants had to be cut off so are replaced.

Lessons learnt. Well the first and probably most important is "wind your f$%^en head in". I'm a quick learner and went from noob to confident rider in a relatively short time. Sure my approach to riding was very introspective, almost clinical at times, but I let this go to my head. I was never as safe a rider as I thought I was. Fucking up has been a massive blow to my self esteem. I have learned the hard way of my fallibility. I will become a safer rider as a result now that I have a more realistic understanding of my shortcomings. In some sick, perverted way, it almost seems like binning was the best thing for me.

Second. Ride your own ride. I know this. I practise this. It guts me that I let my guard down.

Third. Scan ahead. Corner coming - better get set up. I completely failed to correctly prioritise between the distraction of the SUV and the upcoming corner. I regularly verbalise hazard detection, escape routes, etc. Why, oh why wasn't I doing it this time?

Fourth. I recently stepped up from a GT250R to the VTR1000. While I can easily imagine making these mistakes on a 250, a bigger bike is definitely less forgiving. Essentially you can get yourself into (some would argue out of) trouble quicker on a bigger bike. My peak speed during overtaking would have been less on the Hyo. I feel that the VTR definitely contributed the outcome but it was my head that was mostly to blame.

Fifth. Look where you want to go. I know this. Perhaps I need to go back to dirt riding for a bit of a refresher. I am convinced that had I not looked at the bank, but instead released the bakes and countersteered, I would not be writing this now. My end game sucked. Advanced riding courses here I come.

Finally, the worst thing by far out of all of this, is knowing how many people I've put out. Worse, the person put out the most is my wife who's had to take on the role of nurse and look after the kids. She's an angel whose piggy bank is overflowing with breakfast in bed credits. I wrote a letter to the SUV driver apologising for the fact that his family had to witness a motorcycle crash. Nothing will change the fact that I screwed up and affected a lot of people in a negative way. This sucks the most and remembering this will change me as a rider forever.

I'll ride again - but I won't be the same rider.

[Dakara]

Mate, after my accident I hear what your saying 100%

The guys I was riding with weren't going all that fast, but knew the road well and I had the same "Keep up or get left behind" mindset.

Fortunately (or unfortunately?) I was still on the Hyo.

Lessons learnt. Well the first and probably most important is "wind your f$%^en head in". I'm a quick learner and went from noob to confident rider in a relatively short time. Sure my approach to riding was very introspective, almost clinical at times, but I let this go to my head. I was never as safe a rider as I thought I was. Fucking up has been a massive blow to my self esteem. I have learned the hard way of my fallibility. I will become a safer rider as a result now that I have a more realistic understanding of my shortcomings. In some sick, perverted way, it almost seems like binning was the best thing for me.

+1, + 5 if i could!!! If you weren't all the way in bulls I'd say lets go riding and get our confidence back... but as you said, riding solo is generally safer as we can ride like nanna's with no (self percieved) pressure.

All the best with with recovery, and safe riding.
-Matt

[Mountlocal1]

Good to hear you are going to be ok. Everything happens for a reason and it sounds like you have learnt a valuable lesson..

Get plenty of rest.... You will need it with all those 6am starts getting breakfast for your wife....

[nico]

first of all hope you all good now second yes this is a good lesson learnt thats for sure a very sobering thaught that everyone can get something from to quote, ride your ride something we all need to take a chill pill sometimes.

[Devil]

Sounds like the perfect excuse to go to a lighter bike with better suspension, brakes and handling... say... a Triumph Speed Four

[jrandom]

Confession and self-abnegation is cathartic, isn't it?

Ego te absolvo.

[chanceyy]

Rob total respect that you have verbalised wot went wrong that day.

massive ups to you and anytime you wanna go riding your more than welcome to get in touch so we can organise something.

I hear wot your saying riding a bigger bike after a smaller one, I have way more respect for BB than I did for Betsy (the two smoker) and have also gotten pretty quickly over the "need" to keep up with anyone

consequently I am quite happy puddling around at the back somewhere or riding in smaller groups where speed or need to keep up is never an issue, or even riding on my own.

I hope that the other "detractors" on this site appreciate what you are saying rather than pointing their finger with the holier than thou attitude.

[DarkLord]

I know how it feels to come off man. You are absolutely right about riding your own ride. You've faced it with the right attitude. Glad you are still with us.

All you can do is learn from it and move on. I heard a quote the other day which I found to be very true (for myself and many others whom I know) - there are those that have come off and those that are going to come off.

You just gotta get back in the saddle dude, learn from the experience and keep going. I had the same thing when I binned my first Hyo - I was pretty arrogant and somehow thought I was invincible. Binning was the best thing for me too, as I have slowed down considerably since.

Hope your recovery goes really well.

JG84.

[riffer]

Glad you're on the mend.

but I'll disagree with you on one point - that you'll be a different rider.

You see, it doesn't last, this taking it easy thing.

You'll start with the best of intentions to be totally alert, and take it easy and be good and all that. But eventually (and this is different with everyone) you'll be back to your old habits.

The trick (and this is the bit I've never quite worked out) is to recognise when you've crossed that line into too casual. Because when you cross it, it'll get you again.

I've grown up heaps since I started riding. I get better all the time. But I also get complacent. And cocky. And eventually I pay for it.

Don't every forget that you have the potential in you to fuck it up completely, even if you don't want to.

And that will make you a better rider. More than that squirrelyness when you first get back on the bike.

Read Twist of the Wrist. It'll help.

[ManDownUnder]

It's a strange old world, but in some ways I find it very rewarding to attend the funerals of motorcylists.

Respect and support for those that enjoy two wheels, and their families. But also the none too subtle reminder of our vulnerability.

Any accident you walk away from is better than one you don't, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a good one.

[sinfull]

Ya should be a writer Rob !
Was an enlightening read mate, To be honest i have been feeling a bit gutted over your bin ! Them words i said regarding how mint yr bike was just prior, have rung over and over .
Had i not put the commentators curse on ya, would things have been different !
Had i Queried whether you, having only had the bike a month meant you were relative new to riding, would that have slowed me down and let the others go !
Believe me alot has gone through the mind since !
Though the front pace was not over the top, i't wasn't the place to learn catchup riding after the suv held us up !
It is a bloody shame man and though you have never blamed anyone and still don't.
I feel i should, for someone who should have perhaps seen the signs and not fallen into the trap of catchup with you following, which enevitably had you fall into the same trap, stick my hand up and take some of the blame for what happened !
Perhaps then, other old fools such as myself may learn from this and spend the time meeting new riders, asking relavent questions and not just throwing the helmet on and riding two minutes after meeting !

[mowgli]

Glad you're on the mend.
but I'll disagree with you on one point - that you'll be a different rider.
You see, it doesn't last, this taking it easy thing.

I never said was going to take it easy. The sorts of changes I expect are a greater awareness. Perhaps I'll develop a little ritual (left glove, right glove, or some such) to quietly reflect every time I get on the bike. I'm a pilot - checklists work.

Other changes: I've pretty much decided to ride a naked bike for a while. Smaller engine. Get the RRRS guys to come down and run a course locally and regularly. I'm also going to fit a camera to my bike. Sort of like "don't do anything you wouldn't want your mother to see". Will also be useful for critiquing my riding.

The trick (and this is the bit I've never quite worked out) is to recognise when you've crossed that line into too casual. Because when you cross it, it'll get you again.

Precisely. We're singing the same tune.

Read Twist of the Wrist. It'll help.

I will. Thanks.

[mowgli]

I feel i should, for someone who should have perhaps seen the signs and not fallen into the trap of catchup with you following, which enevitably had you fall into the same trap, stick my hand up and take some of the blame for what happened !

The bin was my fault alone. Sure things could have been different but there's no blame to be assigned. If you ask yourself "what could I've done differently", whenever something out of your control happens, you'll just beat up on yourself unnecessarily. I could have equally done a better job of introducing myself. We live, we learn.

[MSTRS:Me]

.... Ride your own ride. ....

Great write-up and analysis. This would be the #1 bit of advice to give or take. You find your limits in your own time...trying to exceed them will normally bite ya.
Bins may be big or little. If you learn something from a bin, then you will be better for it. Sorry you had to do the hurty-thing tho.

[vifferman]

Excellent piece of writing, Mr Mowgli.
Good too to see you have a sober and sensible reaction to what happened.