In hindsight, how could you have avoided your first crash?

[CO_Tim]

Just about to buy my first bike (used, of course). Took the MSF course, feel confident enough to ride in non-urban areas. Buying good safety gear, and would really like to avoid using it. So I'd like to hear from all you experienced riders about your first (or other) crash. What could you have done ahead of time to prevent it (or at least make it less painful/expensive)? I'm a firm believer that hard work is rewarded with good luck, and I like to learn my lessons the easy way, so tell me what to work on. Example - practice stuff in empty parking lots? practice on dirt/gravel roads? Avoiding night riding for a while? Gently push my braking/cornering limits on empty roads? etc.

[bok]

practice is great as long as you practice things correctly and get some kind of feedback and if you dont give up on it because it is boring.

my first crash actually happened at the basic riders course because i was being an idiot and when presented with a danger (small orange pylon) i panicked and did a swerve and hard brake at the same time instead of doing one or the other, or just running over the stupid pylon (which happened anyway due to target fixation).

[DirtyD86]

i was in over my head in a turn, i had no experience with leans or anything else for that matter, so PLOMP! i go into a curb at 55 mph. destroyed the bike, my jacket and helmet, my hip and the palms of my hands. luckily i was only riding a 1900 dollar bike but it was more than enough to ruin my weekend

[Sev]

Out riding to late when it was to cold. Ran into some ice.

So I'd vote it was my own damn stupidity... and not reacting correctly to a rear wheel slide.

[Mintbread]

"gravel/sand/oil on road" shouldn't be an option as that is just a cop out for people too embarrassed to put "own stupidity".

My first crash was a simple lowside. I was attempting to extract too much lean from my little RZ500 and next thing I know I am sliding down the road on my arse.
A good lesson learned early on.

[VermilionX]

yeah, i know what i could have done.

i should have pushed the bars more when i ran to the edge of a decreasing radius turn.

[younggun]

the only accident I have had so far was on a dirtbike (knock on wood) and it was out of my own stupidity, trying to pass a friend on a dirt road slipping on the gravel and bailing

[black mariah]

the only accident I have had so far was on a dirtbike (knock on wood) and it was out of my own stupidity, trying to pass a friend on a dirt road slipping on the gravel and bailing

OMGCOPOUTROFL!!

[High_Side]

If I am ever 5 years old again I will respectfully decline my olders sisters offer to put me on that CT 70 and start me off up the drive way. Somehow I got it turned around at the end and headed back in to the yard, before it struck me. I could barely reach the footpegs; how the hell do I stop? Dads then almost new '74 Caprice Classic will do. He never knew where that dent in the chrome came from......
Who am I kidding? Of course I would do it again!

[xsyamahadg]

My first crash was because of someone elses's stupidity. I was going thru a highly congested area and a woman made a left turn in front of me. Just before I hit the front of her car, I could see she had her eyes locked on the parking lot she was about to enter. She never saw me until after I hit her. I was 15 at the time, but given the same circumstances today, I would have anticipated her left turn. Now when I see a car with a turn signal activated, I assume they will turn in front of me and I take defensive measures. XS