Is it really true that everybody crashes?

[Jantar]

A bike can stop in a very short space from 50 - I'd say about 5 metres.

Yes, a bike can stop in a very short space, but 5 meters from 50 is just a tad shorter than is possible. Perfect tyres on a perfect surface and 0.5 seconds reaction time and 0.8 G decelleration will give a total stopping distance of 23.5 m

IOW, allow a much greater stopping distance than what your instincts would suggest.

[Gremlin]

Yes, a bike can stop in a very short space, but 5 meters from 50 is just a tad shorter than is possible. Perfect tyres on a perfect surface and 0.5 seconds reaction time and 0.8 G decelleration will give a total stopping distance of 23.5 m

While it was a test, so reaction wouldn't be counted, I pulled my 7 up, from 70, in roughly 2.5 car lengths, at the BRONZ course. Surface also was more grippy. Shouldn't assume you can always do that tho.

As for crashing... I made it 3-4 months... then I found 2 ditches in 3 days. Both my fault, combination of lack of skills, and wrong reaction. I count it as a good thing, as I learnt some good lessons from them, that I needed to learn.

I would say its pretty inevitable... it sounds defeatist, but it also depends on how long rider has been riding, skills, and how they react to something. Learner instinct is to panic, and generally grab the brakes in a death grip... which is the worst thing you can do... (my bins kinda taught me that )

*touch wood* I haven't had another bin since, but a truck did try to turn me into road fodder at an intersection, luckily it was just a stationary drop, as I couldn't hold the bike against the trucks nudge

[fatnold]

27 years on a range of bikes from 70cc to 1 litre. 3 bins, all my fault, but plenty of near misses caused by others. It's not inevitable, but plan for it to be that way!

[Guitana]

if you dont crash you aint riding it hard enough!!!!!!!!

[LilSel]

I hadnt binned up till August last year... had been riding for 14 months... first bin=ditch, havent dropped or come off again since. Under the impression that its something that could n possibly will happen when still learning... Mine was due to inexperience, speed and lack of confidence.... I have however learnt from that n am a better rider now because of it.

[Big Dave]

There is a high probability that you will fall off a motorcycle eventually if you ride one long enough.

Physics, human error (not necessarily rider's) and gravity are immutable.

Sooner or later the numbers will conspire. Realise and manage the risk.

All newbies should have it pounded into them that this is dangerous, thrill seeking shit with a sliding scale of danger depending on how and what you ride.

You want to be safe and comfortable? - go to bed.

But be prepared for the worst every time you throw a leg over and dress for the crash - not the ride.

That doesn't mean full leathers every time you nip down to the shop either. But not Jandals by the same token.

[Pixie]

I think this is what is meant by many comments on this thread...

While every rider does what they can to be safe there are drivers out there who don't care, my wife was knocked off her bike 6 months ago by an unlicensed driver in an unregistered car turning right, who "didn't see" her, how a bright red bike with headlight on can be missed from 20 metres away is the question (thre driver did get convicted but the sentence was just a slap on the wrist)

Two ways this happens:
Motion camouflage
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_camouflage
http://www.fireblades.org/forums/gen...amouflage.html
And mindset,Which allows the failure to see anything you are not looking for.
e.g. if you are looking for a redhead in a crowd,you don't register anyone but redheads
-Some car drivers just don't look for bikes

[Holy Roller]

One of our Ulysses members has never come off and he still rides at 83.
It dosen't mean that one will fall off but go with the advise from Big Dave. It seems that the days one underdresses for the ride is when it was most needed to be fully kitted. Thats my experience.
If one dose not push the limits of their experience and capabilities then the likelyhood of coming to grief is less, Most people I know explore their limits on a daily basis.

A workmate a few weeks ago was passing a truck when the truck turned right into a driveway on the open road leaving nowhere to go. The result was 8 broken ribs a puntured lung, broken collar bone, and legs smashed that were only just saved. It will be long road to recovery. Many who have been riding for some time have similar stories to tell. I walked away from a head on yet my mate fell off on a gentle bend going slow and never made it to the hospital. I still ride and have and do push the limits at times, but that is my choice.
We each make the choice and many have chosen not to due to some reason or another

[Freebird]

Fell of dirt bikes plenty when I was in my teens but I've never had an off on the road. I've only had two road bikes first was a 1988 CBR1000 second 1999CBR1100XX. Over the past 15 years I've covered around 100,000kms on those two bike so I would say no it is not inevitable that anyone will crash but it's allways good to treat riding as if it were!

[Disco Dan]

I hope that the statement "Everyone crashes/bins it/offs" is proven wrong by your replies.

karma dude... shouldnt mess with it

[Bangbug]

Well I'd put it this way.
Have you ever seen Mr Rossi crash?
Is anyone as good as him?
I've binned it in a gay little avoidance crash in the wet. I doubt any racer has ever kept on skinnies his whole career. I don't wanna crash again, but with the state of retards on the road, i will. If i bin on a corner all by myself, i'll be pissed but happy i was pushin so hard. Assuming im still kickin

[Bangbug]

oh and........ if you don't fall off a dirt bike u suck. push push push till you do something which is too hard for you (at the time) and you bin it. learning hurts

[Freebird]

Well I'd put it this way.
Have you ever seen Mr Rossi crash?
Is anyone as good as him?
I've binned it in a gay little avoidance crash in the wet. I doubt any racer has ever kept on skinnies his whole career. I don't wanna crash again, but with the state of retards on the road, i will. If i bin on a corner all by myself, i'll be pissed but happy i was pushin so hard. Assuming im still kickin

Mr Rossi rides in comp's on closed tracks he can afford to crash, we my friend ride on the public roads (sorry you may ride on a track I don’t know) but there is a very big difference

[irishlad]

I've come off 3 times since November.
First- left light turning right in wrong gear. Revved too much as battey flat.
Second- first time in rain. I stopped bike kept going.
Third- Tonight.I snatched front brake. Bike went down to left. Smashed mirror. Grazed knee. Scared me shitless.
Tomorrow not sure if going to work on bike. Will take out in evening to fight my demons.

[BarBender]

I think its inevitable that we are going to "damage our bikes."

Its a matter of where we do it along the speed spectrum:
from standing still all the way through to 200+kph.