| Author | Message | ||
     Dynarider |
Is it just me or does there seem to be am unusually high number of crashes this year? Especially the last month & a half. Cant even recall all the folks who have went down. | ||
| Freyke |
Dynarider, More new bikes + more new riders = more crashes..... Knock on wood (my head)... kk//kef | ||
| Dynarider |
Every year we have folks buying new bikes & new riders coming into the fold. Just seems like this year I am reading about more crashes than ever. Are folks riding over their heads? Pushing the bikes too hard? | ||
| Crusty |
It might just be coincidence... | ||
| Yellow_xb9s |
Hey Dyna, I can only speak for myself... I was definitely riding over my head/skill level. I just count my lucky stars that I didn't seriously hurt or kill myself. I'm certain a more seasoned rider wouldn't have laid the bike down the way I did. | ||
| Dmuz |
But for the record... I've been riding since I was a kid. They say eventually EVERYONE has an accident. I don't know that I believe that, but certainly the streets are in poor repair where I've from, there's more traffic, the "cage" drivers have more distractions... hell, there's PLENTY of reasons for more accidents to include Freyke's observation that there are just more folks on bikes. Be safe, Damon | ||
| Gearhead |
I have to agree with the new bike more possibilities for crashes as I'm getting used to my 12R after 3 summers on my M2. Ten of us rode last Sunday to attend the Slimy Crud Run and on the way home the pace definately stepped up once we got into the twists in Northeast Iowa. It was great fun and it was the first time I was able to really open up the 12R (right at 1000 miles on it). When it stepped out just a little on one particularly fast sweeper it scared the #%@^ right out of me!! I was lucky we were all gapped fairly wide and that my brain engaged and I remembered what my track day instructors and riding friends had told me and I rode right out of it BUT it reminded me that I'm not the rider that Daves and some of the other guys are. Yeah, it pisses me off, but that's life, I can outrun ANY of them in a 5K (foot) road race though!!  Anyway, as I've posted before our egos are usually what gets us into trouble because we all really want to be the fast guy. Even my ego got in the way when we stopped and I told Daves and the guys the setting sun glare was why I backed off and I think they bought it. I was so excited to be riding with the FAST guys it was easy to get caught up and ride over my head. I'll get there but as Dave always says, "Do it at the track" Have fun, use your head so you'll be able to ride tomorrow!! | ||
| Easyflier |
Gearhead, I dropped off when we hit Iowa but it was a really good ride through Wisconsin. I had a couple instances of increased heartrate but for the most part I think we all did a good job of riding within our abilities and riding hard but safe. It was a super day and I look forward to getting to know you guys better in the future. Plan to see you at a track day or two next year. | ||
| Freyke |
FYI, I just got a new set of 207s put on my 9S... and the first corner I took nearly scared the pooh out of me... as the bike tended do just drop down in the corner... Hmmm... Kinda like when I first got it new.... I have gone through two rears previous to this change and I suspect the new front has signifigantly<sp?> affected the handling dynamics.... Case-in-point, had I not been semi-cautious with the new rubber and just went ape-sh*& with the new tires, I think I would've REALLY scared the POOH outta myself... Its almost like having a new bike.... get to know it.... kk//kef | ||
| Blublak |
Ok.. For those of you that didn't have one of those old, crusty biker types indoctrinate you .. here, once again are the "Three Wills of Motorcycling"... 1 - You Will Go Down. 2 - You Will Get Wet. 3 - You Will Need A Tow Truck. (you can also add a fourth.. 'You will get lost') This old biker told me that if I couldn't accept those.. All of them. Don't even swing a leg over the first time. What does that all mean? Take it as you will. I think that sometimes, our egos get ahead of us. Sometimes, we manage to keep them in check. Riding isn't a time or place to let that ego go.. buuuttt... Even I, (giving sage advice as I am) have let my ego take over that right wrist.. Damn, but.. I think the important part is to always get back control. Oh, and don't let the above statement fool you.. I've also gone down once due to no fault of my own. Construction sand in a corner.. Didn't see it, or realize it was there until about 1.7 seconds after I was in the turn. Yep, about 1.6 seconds too late.. Nothing overly serious, broke a shoulder... Did a good $1000 damage to the bike.. It happens.. I just hate to hear about anyone going down or getting hurt.. The only thing you can do is learn from your mistakes. I've seen people that have dropped their bike due to inattention, due to road conditions, weather, Just about everything.. So please be careful out there.. I'm hoping to get a chance to ride with you guys some day.. And it's always a better ride if our bikes aren't bent. Later, | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I know this has been around for almost a decade but it still rings true today.... The Pace I try to remind myself of this everytime I ride. I've found that I enjoy riding more when I get into "that zone". For me, "that zone" is when: I'm smooth through every corner I'm using trottle and shifting to control my speed I'm smiling the entire ride As for why there are more crashes.... I think the majority of the riders (myself included) are NOWHERE near as competent and skilled as our bikes. The new techology in all bikes has become almost "unfriendly" to the common street rider. Oh well, that's my $.02 worth edited by lake_bueller on October 13, 2003 | ||
| Dynarider |
I think the majority of the riders (myself included) are NOWHERE near as competent and skilled as our bikes. The new techology in all bikes has become almost "unfriendly" to the common street rider. Dennis, I posted this yesterday on atc, very similar to your thoughts. "none of us are really good enough to ride our bikes to its limits. A lot of crashes could be avoided if folks would trust the bike to make the turn. Instead folks freak out & target fixate on whats ahead & thens when the shit hits the fan. I agree with knowing your own personal limits & dont try & push them just to keep up with the guy in front of you. If you push it & go down, was it really worth it?" | ||
| Daves |
So, Gearhead, it wasn't the sun after all?  That sun was a distraction though. I can see, I can't see, half way thru a corner will get me to back off too! The ride did get a bit "spirited" when TJ was leading. Ride to the edge! Dave Iowa HD/Buell (Buell Cycle Center) | ||
| Usapitbullz |
Cool article Dennis!  L8R, JM | ||
| Darthane |
1 - You Will Go Down. 2 - You Will Get Wet. 3 - You Will Need A Tow Truck. (you can also add a fourth.. 'You will get lost') <~~Blublak 1) Been there 2) Done that 3) I AM the tow truck 4) There's no such thing as being lost on a motorcycle. It's just a longer ride. Bryan | ||
| Glitch |
4) There's no such thing as being lost on a motorcycle. It's just a longer ride. Well said! | ||
| Hippo888 |
Add me to the crash list, please. 45F degree weather. New rear tire. Not paying attention. Apply too much throttle during turn. Slide down road. Right leg trapped under bike. At least I was wearing full gear because of the cold. My ankle is swelling up nicely. Owww... Spiderman, I will be in for parts. Paul in MI edited by hippo888 on October 18, 2003 | ||
| Hippo888 |
Dang, limped back to the garage. Looking at the tires, the right side of both tires are covered with dry mud. I steered around a big mess of leaves at the intersection, but the small patch I ran over must have been soaking wet underneath. Dang. Wet leaves = road lube. I've never had a new tire step out like that before. Now I know most of the slipping was probably due to the leaves. Watch out for the fall leaves, Paul in MI | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Paul... I had a new tire step out on me a few years back. It was starting to spit a little rain right after I left the shop. I was making a left turn when the bike left me. Fortunately for me, it was a VERY low speed (leaving a stop light). Fortunately for my bike, I didn't have the saddlebags that day. I only needed to replace the shift lever and foot peg. | ||
| Moboy516 |
My street lube came in the form of cow manure. Took me down fast! |
