Did your accident change you and how so?

[dharnie]

Did it change your enjoyment level?

Took the insurance money and bought another bike immediately. Took it for a ride with my leg still in a cast. Had to do it. Even dropped the new bike at the first stop sign. People helped me pick it up off the road and rode it home all excited with a grin from ear to ear. I HAD to do it!

Later when I got the cast off, I felt like everyone was out to get me. Then later I realized that they are! Just have to be very defensive and live with the people in the cages who are inferior drivers because they are tuning the radio, adjusting the heater A/C, TEXTING and scratching their balls or p*****!!

Did you learn something from it that would prevent the same exact accident from happening again?

Yeah NEVER trust anyone in a cage! Especially when they might pull out in front of you even after they stop and you think that they relinquished to your right of way!

What are you more cautious about now?

110% Defensive. I find when I ride my cruiser like a car I get lazy. When I ride my sport bike like a sport bike I am at the peak of my awareness and enjoy riding so much better - always on an adrenaline rush! That's when I am solo. 2 up I don't ride the pockets - I "behave" myself cause if I don't I get whacked on my helmet by my loving passenger!

Any other words of wisdom?

After the last major crash, wife got me the DVD "Ride Like a Pro", and a few riding training books which I digested over the many weeks of my recovering. Then I practiced a lot and still do follow what I learned.

Lastly, I'm also curious how many accidents you've had if you're willing to share.

I am 67 yeras young and been riding about 50 of those years. Don't do wheelies any more. Don't need to show off. Had several minor bone breakers and one biggy! Hope not to have any more. They take all the fun out of riding!

My advice: NO alcohol or other outside stimulants - legal or not (adrenaline is enough); ride solo as much as you can; 2 up only for low speed short trips; don't ride in packs; ride the middle lane avoiding ingress & egress of traffic; don't drive with traffic but drive through and around the cagers - stay away from them they are the 'enemy'; use your rear view mirrors constantly; avoid tailgaters; dress for the crash and not for the ride; constantly be aware of every thing around you 360 degrees and 110% attention. Make up your mind BEFORE you saddle up, DON'T get pissed off at all the cagers! They will ruin your ride. Just know that you are the superior driver and avoid their mistakes and drive around them! Otherwise walk, use a cage or stay home.

[93gc40]

Did it change your enjoyment level? Maybe right after, but that goes away after a few miles.
Did you learn something from it that would prevent the same exact accident from happening again? Sometimes yes, sometime no. This is completely depenedant on the circumstances of the incident.

What are you more cautious about now? The Shadows braking ability.

Any other words of wisdom? Keep the Rubber Side, DOWN.

Lastly, I'm also curious how many accidents you've had if you're willing to share. On track, somewhere around 15 times, that I can count. On the road 4 times. Not counting falling over while drunk.
2 on the Shadow since 2001. First, was ran off the road by car on-comming car, in my lane on twisty mountain road. That was in 03 and still have Rash scars from Right ankle to right shoulder. Then in 08, I side swipped a car passing it, I did not go DOWN. Wrapped brake pedal around the foot peg, with 6" long tear in side of car and severly burned and sprained ankle and foot and sprained wrist. Foot was knocked off the peg and smashed between exhaust and car. Rode home after the first, bike covered with blood by the time I got home. The second had to trailer home, due, to wrist and ankle pain.

ONLY, you can decide if it is right for you to get back on the bike or give it up. Me I am more affraid in a car than on a bike. If you do decide to keep the bike and don't learn anything from this crash. Resulting in you having the same thing happen again. At this point I would re0think the bike and Driving at all for that matter.

[Goat Regime]

Did it change your enjoyment level?
Slightly at first, but hence been overcome.

Did you learn something from it that would prevent the same exact accident from happening again?
Unfortunately not so much as, I was already being as cautious as I could in the area in which I took the fall.

What are you more cautious about now?
In certain circumstances yes, although I'd say more mindful than cautious. I have more or less resumed my regular riding behaviour.

Any other words of wisdom?
Always be mindful of kitty litter! Never stop riding.

Lastly, I'm also curious how many accidents you've had if you're willing to share.
Just the one.

Thankfully my low side was pretty minimal and, the bike took the worst of it. I'm still a bit mindful in some corners as to whether or not there may be patches of sand lurking but overall, it's been overcome.
If any thing, it's just another experience to add to the whole of riding. I've been striving to actually change things up a bit, and switch from cruiser to supersport (as I'm sure I've mentioned several times by now).

[Ozme52]

Lastly, I'm also curious how many accidents you've had if you're willing to share.

None in 40+ years. Plenty of close calls of every nature, from traffic to livestock to wildlife, to weather. A couple of flat tires at high speed too, one with a passenger.

I'm a firm believer in running all the things that "could go wrong right now" as I drive down the road. Always had a hole to escape into, always expected the bike to slide out on a wet turn, always expected the cross traffic to run the stop sign... I've even contemplated having oncoming traffic jump the K-rails on inner city interstateds...

So when I've see it, I've already decided what to do about it. Everything and more (except a car jumping the K-rail... but I know what I'd do if I ever see it. And if I ever do, I'll let you know how successful it was, unless of course, it wasn't. But I won't have been surprised.)

That's been my philosophy and it works.

[rb608]

Originally Posted by canonelan2

Maybe you've read what happened to me yesterday and I'm curious how you felt about motorcycles after an accident you had.

My first accident was arguably my worst from a pain & blood standpoint. Slid out on a country road; lots of scrapes & road rash. Ouch.

I gotta say, it had no effect on me as far as wanting to ride. Nor did any of the accidents that followed. I guess it made me more watchful of similar circumstances, but at my age, I think that's just experience. Loved to ride then, love to ride now.

[RDBMX]

Did it change your enjoyment level?
Yes, actually I am less afraid of falling off now.

Did you learn something from it that would prevent the same exact accident from happening again?
Yes.

What are you more cautious about now?
Focus and avoid target fixation. Or at least fixate on where you want to go, not where you don't. Also be very careful braking on gravel.

Any other words of wisdom?
Wear the gear.

Lastly, I'm also curious how many accidents you've had if you're willing to share.
Two, and both were on gravel roads. Gravel is not very forgiving to even momentary inattention or incorrect technique. Neither accident was very serious, thanks to luck the first time and proper gear the second.

[MikeB]

Ozme52 said:

That's been my philosophy and it works.

Qualification: it has worked until now. I'll spare you the details, but my one and only accident came after 30+ years of cautious riding and I was doing everything right when it happened...but when it came it was totally unavoidable.

The only way to be certain that you won't have an accident is to leave the bike in the garage.

BTW, where are you located in Norcal?

[bldrums]

The enjoyment level will be even better ( 2 more healing weeks ) I can hardly wait to ride again.

Be ready for that suprise that you can't see around the bend.

The road was a comfortable 45 for miles of controlled curves. I suddenly came up on a blind hairpin curve to the right , paniced, froze as I skidded straight into the ditch. I really doubt I could have made it at that speed but I'll never know.

One accident since I started in Jan, 7500 miles ago.

[mblosch]

Originally Posted by Ozme52

Lastly, I'm also curious how many accidents you've had if you're willing to share.

None in 40+ years. Plenty of close calls of every nature, from traffic to livestock to wildlife, to weather. A couple of flat tires at high speed too, one with a passenger.

I'm a firm believer in running all the things that "could go wrong right now" as I drive down the road. Always had a hole to escape into, always expected the bike to slide out on a wet turn, always expected the cross traffic to run the stop sign... I've even contemplated having oncoming traffic jump the K-rails on inner city interstateds...

So when I've see it, I've already decided what to do about it. Everything and more (except a car jumping the K-rail... but I know what I'd do if I ever see it. And if I ever do, I'll let you know how successful it was, unless of course, it wasn't. But I won't have been surprised.)

That's been my philosophy and it works.

In doing so, you lose the enjoyment out of riding. I can say that I go out and ride and don't think of what can happen, I never place myself in an accident in my head. I go out, I ride, I have a great time.

I know my skills, I know my bikes limits. That is all you need. Stop over thinking and start enjoying the ride.

[Bumpass]

4years ago I hit a deer doing 60 mph. It was 11:30 pm and on a country back road. The deer just dropped 4 ft. In front of me. All I could do is hold on tight. I went down on my left side, flipped over after hitting the road on my knees, and slid down the road on my back. Thank God for my thick leather jacket ! My ankle swelled up from the bike falling on it and had road rash on my knees. For 2 weeks I was sore all over. Did $300 damage to the bike with me doing the labor. I was scared to death the first time I road at night again ! I got right back riding but I never ride back country roads at night. I feel I was lucky it wasn't worse !