An accident will happen?

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Eric C · #1 Unread post by **Eric C** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 7:53 am

Is it possible to not lay not your bike down or have an accident? Is there anyone on this forum that has been riding for awhile and not had an incident (knock on wood). I only ask because everyone I talk with about me getting a bike tell me that they were in an accident. Even the man at the MSF course (I have not taken the course yet) told me to get a used bike because most people will be in an accident when learning. I know people are trying to discourage you or let you know that it is dangerous. It is good being realistic but is it a fact that an accident will happen, you just basically are waiting for it?

nike_soccer · Sat Feb 11, 2006 7:58 am

of course it's possible. but not likely.

communism worked on paper too...

scan · #3 Unread post by **scan** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:53 am

I can't really say for sure, but I sure hope you can ride your whole life and not have an accident. I know we do have some people here who claim they have ridden their whole life accident free. The thing you always have to remember is that not every accident is avoidable, so even the safest rider can have his clock cleaned.

Pin_Cushion · Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:35 am

It is possible to avoid having an accident your entire life. It isn't terribly likely, but it is possible. However, since it is very likely that you will have some kind of accident then your goals are two-fold. Firstly, learn to avoid accidents by driving defensively, paying close attention to as much of the road as you can, etc. Secondly, attempt to raise the liklihood that you will survive an accident unscathed should you get in one by wearing protective gear, driving at a sane speed, learning proper braking techniques, keeping the tires and brakes on your bike at tip-top shape, etc.

J.R. Bob Dobbs · Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:54 am

I'm a newbie to biking. As an old man, (42) I am not the risk-taker I was a decade or two ago. If I was certain I'd have a crash, I would have *never* taken up motorcycling.

I started riding last July and have since logged about 6000 incident free miles....haven't come close to crashing or dropping, nor even gotten scared. (knock wood)

My first bike is a 1986 Rebel 250, I'd recommend a small used bike to learn with. I have recently bought a 1995 CB750 and expect to sell the Rebel for what I paid for it. In other words, a used starter bike should end up costing you nothing while you learn to ride.

Most importantly, riding a motorcycle has proven **much** more fun (and challenging) than I ever expected, it's almost an obsession for me. Go for it.

Sev · #6 Unread post by **Sev** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:05 am

J.R. Bob Dobbs wrote:I'm a newbie to biking. As an old man, (42) I am not the risk-taker I was a decade or two ago. If I was certain I'd have a crash, I would have *never* taken up motorcycling.

I started riding last July and have since logged about 6000 incident free miles....haven't come close to crashing or dropping, nor even gotten scared. (knock wood)

My first bike is a 1986 Rebel 250, I'd recommend a small used bike to learn with. I have recently bought a 1995 CB750 and expect to sell the Rebel for what I paid for it. In other words, a used starter bike should end up costing you nothing while you learn to ride.

Most importantly, riding a motorcycle has proven **much** more fun (and challenging) than I ever expected, it's almost an obsession for me. Go for it.

I love stories like this one.

Kal · #7 Unread post by **Kal** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 3:59 pm

I don't have it here at work but this month's Bike mag was the crash special.

How, when, wehere you are likely to crash...

And what you can do to avoid it. Anyway as part of that they interviewed a guy who has been riding 40 odd years and never had an 'incident'. The Journo riding with him said he basicly rode like a very fast copper...

DivideOverflow · Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:17 pm

I think as long as you make sure you are doing everything you are supposed to be doing, your chances to get in an accident are no worse than in a car. Remove yourself from being a risk by doing the proper training and learning, and practice. You don't want to have to worry about your technique when you have to worry about cagers.

Other than that, drive safe, be smart, stay aware. I've been riding for a little less than a year with no incidents yet.

mysta2 · #9 Unread post by **mysta2** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:26 pm

What kind of a question is that?! Of course it's possible... anything's possible. If everyone was crashing all the time, a lot less people would be riding.

I think you're probably misinterperating what you're being told... or the people around you are very pessimistic. The whole "your' first bike should be used" is focused less on the idea that you're going to rear end a parked car at 70mph, but rather that you're a lot more likely to tip the bike over at low speed or in a parking lot. I think I dropped my first bike 3 times (tipped it over after parking it once, once in a parking lot I'd set the idle too high and low sided it at about 5mph, and once while manuvering it in the garage) if that had been my brand new Ducati I'd've been screwed... but it was a 30 year old honda awaiting restoration, on which you can't tell one scrath from another.

polarelf2003 · Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:39 pm

There may be people out there who tell you that they've never laid it over in years and years of riding. There are also people out there who have won big on the lottery.

I've already lost the lottery twice, but only a couple of cheap tickets. Let's see what lady luck has in store for us tomorrow, eh?