Your safety is, to a large extent, in your own hands. If you ride a bike like most people drive a car i.e. without looking more than two feet ahead whilst being half asleep then your chances of a long riding career are slim to none. Stay alert, ride defensively and you have a much better chance of staying out of trouble.
I'd love a bike but..
- Thread starter Tbid
- Start date
Your safety is, to a large extent, in your own hands. If you ride a bike like most people drive a car i.e. without looking more than two feet ahead whilst being half asleep then your chances of a long riding career are slim to none. Stay alert, ride defensively and you have a much better chance of staying out of trouble.
Even then, the car drivers are only looking 2 feet ahead (you said it yourself), so they will get you eventually, no matter how careful you are.
Soldato
- Joined
- 27 Dec 2009
- Posts
- 2,727
- Location
- Gillingham, Kent
Yes to all 3. Each one taught me things. Only serious ones are:
+ Had been riding for approx 4 months when I got dazzled by an oncoming car on an unlit national speed limit road and, when I could see again, realised I hadn't seen him earlier because he had come round a corner - that I then slid off on doing 60mph. Result: gravel rash and cuts, messed up fairing on the bike. Lessons learned: think constantly, read the road better, shell suits are not protective clothing!
+ At 19 a mate asked to sit on and start my bike to see how it felt compared to his 125. I said OK. He then took off down the road (without asking or a helmet). He ran it into a wall a couple of corners away. Result: Seriously messed up bike, and seriously messed up friend. He spent two weeks in hospital with head injuries and we both got official cautions from the police. Lesson learned: never allow anyone on your bike unless they know what they're doing and are legal, and always wear protection. Friend died 6 months later when a drunk driver pulled out in front of him, got out to see him in the road, then got back into his car and drove off. Got caught by police at his house as other witnesses had got his reg number.
+ At 25 was filtering through traffic in town when a car made a gap ahead and waved a car across just as I was coming through. Hit the brakes and T-boned the turning car at approx 5 mph. Result: twisted forks, broken right arm and dislocated hand requiring 3 days in hospital. Lesson learned: Look further ahead, anticipate areas you can't see due to traffic/gradient and expect everyone else to do stupid things and plan accordingly.
There have also been a few less serious but equally humiliating spills. Checking out the girls in McDonalds seeing me getting on my bike, then falling over as I'd forgotten to remove the disc lock. Riding from Canterbury to Oxford in one hit in the (light) snow, then gently falling over in my parent's driveway because my knee was too cold to unbend and let me put my foot down. Ending up with my leg trapped under the bike after stalling trying to make a tight turn in B&Q car park and needing a trolley collector to help lift the bike off me.
Overall though, I defintely know I made the right choice in taking up, and continuing biking. For every low point there are a thousand times when I am grinning or laughing. My bike still makes me feel special every time I see it, riding it still gives me a glow inside, opening the throttle still makes me laugh like Beavis and Butthead for a while after. I love getting looks and nods from other bikers, and even some car drivers (especially Astons and Lotus' for some reason). Last week I heard a shout of "MR MOTORBIKE!!" at a set of traffic lights, looked behind me and saw two kids leaning out of the car windows and waving like mad with big grins on their faces - while their dad in the driver's seat looked at me with a mixture of envy, jealousy, and resentment.
I won't deny that biking has some downsides. It's cold, it can be miserable (when you're soaking wet and 2 hours from home), and having to avoid the car swerving across the lanes because they didn't see you can be incredibly annoying. It will also, most probably, hurt at times. However, in my opinion and experience, if you have your head screwed on properly and are sensible then it's one of the best decisions you can ever make and I can and do encourage everyone to at least try it.
Last edited:
At first I was thinking "Yeah it sounds like it's too risky for me", but upon reading the entire post you have pushed me quite a lot further into going for it.
I give bikers the thumbs up when I see them in approval of their awesome machines, but I drive a Focus
Cheers
Sorry to dig up such an old thread but...Recently I rode pillion on my uncles R1200GS Adventure on a 30ish mile trip recently, it has put me off bikes a bit I think purely due to not being in control, he certainly rode fairly spiritedly (imo) and the only thing he said to me before we started off was 'When the bike leans, lean with it'
Soldato
- Joined
- 11 May 2007
- Posts
- 9,094
- Location
- Surrey
I'm a recent Dad, I'm not sure how I'd feel if my son wanted a bike (ok he's only 7 weeks at the moment, later in life). Your kids are the most precious beings in the world to you, though they are tougher than you'll ever care to realise, I'll put him through all his car stuff when he's old enough but he can pay his own way for a bike if he wants one.
PS His mum is very strong willed, almost stopped me riding when he was born, so he will probably never go near one.
PS His mum is very strong willed, almost stopped me riding when he was born, so he will probably never go near one.
I've seen the consequences of a bike accident with my dad. Unbelievable how much it can change someone's life and all the people's lives around them, yet I always find myself looking at nice bikes and have a massive urge to have one. I just couldn't put my gf/family through it all.
I guess, however my dad was riding along at 30mph with his lights on and somebody coming the opposite way decided to just turn right across his path. Dad said he never even had chance to brake it was that quick.
Ironic thing is he disliked riding on the road due to other drivers and bought his bike for offroad. He'd had his brand new bike for 2 days and was out on it to do the 200ish miles it needed for its first oil chance before he took it offroad.
Ironic thing is he disliked riding on the road due to other drivers and bought his bike for offroad. He'd had his brand new bike for 2 days and was out on it to do the 200ish miles it needed for its first oil chance before he took it offroad.
it is dangerous i agree,esp when your first starting out learning on a bike,ive been riding 15years now and i wouldnt want a car tbh
plus if you think what if this happens what if that happens all the time you wouldnt do anything in life
plus if you think what if this happens what if that happens all the time you wouldnt do anything in life