You have dumped it, or you will

[scan]

I'm not interested in comfort if I make a mistake. Especially if it's a stupid one. Just because i have never dropped one doesn't mean I haven't come close. I will just never except the mentality that "it was going to happen anyway". The responsibility of riding a motorcycle is a serious one and can be costly in lives and repairs. Stay focused.

Fine. What I'm saying is totally stupid. Sorry for wasting your time Scott.

[Buelligan]

I did a quick emergency stop in the pouring rain, didn't notice the little bit of gravel. It's amazing how quickly you become horizontal!!!

Never say never

[mikaloyd]

When I was a wild eyed kid I didnt think I was trying hard enough if I didnt go skitterring off into the scenery and throwing sparks at least once or twice a month.

As dumb as all that crashing was I managed to survive it. I even gleaned a few kernals of wisdom about crashing. Crashing may not be inevitable, but it is certainly a probability to any dedicated motorcyclist who actually rides. Denying this is positive thinking I suppose, and if a person must consider an activity to be safe to participate then who am I to predict his future? Nobody.

I do feel that since a crash could possibly occur due to circumstances beyond ANY rider's control, it is a bad idea to carry the notion in your head that crashing is inconceivable. There is usually a bit of time when you ARE going to crash but still have some control over how and where you will crash. If you are busily denying the fact that you are about crash you will freeze and leave your fate to luck. Good or bad. If you concede a crash, even with only a second of time, you can do alot better at picking a soft spot without immovable objects sticking out of it to hurl your nbody at. This is quite important. You can also do a fair job of getting away from (and out from under) the bike.

[Sev]

I don't think that anyone is saying you are GOING to crash no matter what. I mean you could just never get on a bike again and then you could be sure that it would never happen (assuming you haven't dumped yet).

What we ARE trying to say, is that you need to be aware of the possibility that you COULD crash. Just be aware that you're not immortal Though Reach for the Sky is one of my favorite songs right now

[WyckedZX10R]

Gotta love people with the "no, not me...that only happens to those other guys" mentality. I've been riding a long LONG time (damn I'm old) and I've dumped a few times. The first time was a mixture of inexperience and sand in a parking lot. The second time, I was teaching a kid in my unit in the Army to ride and while turned to give him some pointers I rear ended a van...talk about a living lesson. And the third and hopefully final time I was hit head on by a guy who wasn't paying attention and swerved into my lane.

While there is the possibility that you could ride 100 miles a day every day of your life and never have to pick your mangled baby up off the pavement like a wounded lover it is highly unlikely.

You don't have to be afraid to ride...just know that the odds are good that one day you may go down. Leave out on each ride as if this is the one and dress accordingly.

And Sevulturus is right...the whole new Social D album rocks.

Regards...

Doc

[PhilD9er]

It's a defeatist/fatalist attitude that serves no useful purpose other that to salve the egos of crash victims. I grew up riding in the dirt, so I've had many motorcycle crashes. And I've dumped street bikes as well. Yes, I wear body armor and a full face helmet.

Look, if you want to be safe drive the 5-star minivan with side air bags. Don't step on the cracks in the pavement, as that may lead to bad luck. Throw salt over your shoulder, and be sure to get your 5 servings of vegetables and fruits every day. Floss your teeth and never lick your girlfriend's (kitty), as this may lead to mouth cancer.

If you want to be a motorcyclist, however, you are engaging in a dangerous activity that can lead to INSTANT DEATH. Your moment by moment coordination, attentiveness, bravura, haplessness -- not to mention changing traffic, weather and road conditions, may lead to an accident! Good god, a boulder might fall from the cliff above, crushing you and your bike.

You might even stop at a gas station, and have a stray static charge ignite the vapour and burn you to a crisp! Perhaps your rear tire will blow at 90 mph, sending you under the crushing wheels of a semi.

Buy the mini van, or just ride.

[WyckedZX10R]

It's a defeatist/fatalist attitude that serves no useful purpose other that to salve the egos of crash victims. I grew up riding in the dirt, so I've had many motorcycle crashes. And I've dumped street bikes as well. Yes, I wear body armor and a full face helmet.

Look, if you want to be safe drive the 5-star minivan with side air bags. Don't step on the cracks in the pavement, as that may lead to bad luck. Throw salt over your shoulder, and be sure to get your 5 servings of vegetables and fruits every day. Floss your teeth and never lick your girlfriend's (kitty), as this may lead to mouth cancer.

If you want to be a motorcyclist, however, you are engaging in a dangerous activity that can lead to INSTANT DEATH. Your moment by moment coordination, attentiveness, bravura, haplessness -- not to mention changing traffic, weather and road conditions, may lead to an accident! Good god, a boulder might fall from the cliff above, crushing you and your bike.

You might even stop at a gas station, and have a stray static charge ignite the vapour and burn you to a crisp! Perhaps your rear tire will blow at 90 mph, sending you under the crushing wheels of a semi.

Buy the mini van, or just ride.

Well put.

[scan]

Defeatist, fatalist? Nah, Realist. And I don’t think that is a bad thing. I’ll explain. (Of course)

You don't have to mope around and feel bad about the fact that you haven't dropped your bike. This is more of a general idea that you are not exempt from the act of making a mistake. Most people who are still learning make mistakes.

I also have never heard anyone crowing proudly that they dropped their bike, so there isn't some secret group of riders trying to make themselves feel better by telling everyone they are next. I know when I have expressed this notion it was because I was so sure I would never make the mistake.

Maybe it is a bad way to put a good idea. It seems to really work some people up to even mention that they are more likely to have a drop than not. Standing on the idea that they know all kind of people who never have dropped their bike doesn't mean the people they know would be willing to admit they dropped their bike.

And by the way, it seems we are not talking about high-side, low-side, or maybe even a moving crash. We are talking about a slow or no speed drop. Truthfully though I have heard the same expression about crashing and I hope it isn't true, or I'm due too.

But I never thought I would drop my bike until I did. Most guys I talk to who haven't dropped their bike feel the same way. I hope they are right and more power to them. I can say I have never met one rider that I discussed this with that did not drop their bike once. These are not my Dad, my brother, or even friends. Just guys I've talked to and they have all said at one time (or maybe more) they dropped their bike.

This isn't a case of running around and being scared to riding your bike. It isn't a case of giving up and claiming defeat to hurting your baby. It is just a matter of knowing a lot of guys have thought they were exempt from the drop and they were not. You don't need to feel stupid, you just need to learn the lesson you were given at that time.

I think this topic seems to hurt a lot of people's feeling and certainly seems to touch a sore spot. But it is great we can discuss it and let everyone see what we all think.

[cb360]

I think scan's take is valid. If there was some way to do a reliable survey I bet you 75% or more have dropped a bike at some time and that's the reason for the rather pessimistic expression. I never have dropped a bike. But I'm far from the most experienced hand around here. I almost have a couple of times though, and I can see how even the most careful rider around could get distracted and have it happen. Could be something slick you didn't see, a kickstand giving way, getting your pants caught on a peg, letting off the clutch while you're getting a false green neutral light, etc. Any number of things that none of us are immune to. I'm still one of the dropless and I'll work hard to remain so. But I'm not so haughty to as to maintain that it couldn't happen to me.

[Analog]

Please don't get mad at me, I know I'm a newbie, but this is my philosophy on it...

I don't think that Scott or anybody on this thread so far has came with the attitude of "it can never happen to me."-- I think all he's saying is that you don't have to ride around with the notion in your head that it's absotutely inevitable... Nobody plans on crashing, the best you can do is be prepared... but driving in fear is not a good idea, I think.

I just began my journey into motorcycling, and even though all through growing up, I always heard the gruesome stories and statistics on how unsafe riding is, still I knew one day I'd get a bike, accept the responsibility, and be as safe as I can.
I always wear my safety gear that i invested my money in, in case it ever goes bad for me.

Can I wreck or drop my bike due to my own mistakes, someone else's or basic bad luck? : Of Course.

Can I have a lifetime of riding without a accident? Yes. It's possible.

Chances are, you'll wreck at some point, in some way or another, and maybe even multiple times, but you don't have to go around riding with that in the back of your mind constantly. -- This mentality has nothing to do with thinking that you're "invincible".