Topic: "Those Who Have Fallen, And Those Who Will Fall"

[JWilde]

Im taking the MSF course this weekend to reduce insurance etc etc.

The instructor told us the gnarly story of how he was riding along, minding his own business, and a guy behind him, driving a car while texting, hit him and sped off. His entire left leg was shattered and he spent $400,000 in medical bills.

On the flipside, I have a friend who has been riding for years and has had NO contact, bike drops or crashes whatsoever.

So tell me, what is your experience? Have you fallen? Minor? Serious?

Do you wear proper gear (I have a friend who has a 70's CB 550 and he wear tank tops (or vests if you are in the UK) when he rides; saving grace is he does wear a helmet.

So tell me....

[MoMo]

In close to 50 years I've had only one fall in the street and that was me going too fast around a corner on an old R5 Yammie.  No damage to either me or the bike.  Would not ride without a helmet or jacket,  usually wear  gloves and sometimes leather pants, especially when it is in the low 30's.  Be safe...Larry

[rickmoore24]

I see a lot of folks, regardless of the type of bike they ride, not using gloves at all and shoes that would come of if you went down. I've been riding scooters and dirt bikes since I was a kid and got my M1 in 1997, also took the MC safety course and I always recommend folks take it too. I normally wear all the proper protective gear, especially for longer rides but I've been known to scoot around town in jeans and a t-shirt (boots/gloves and helmet too) when it's hot out. I've been down once, pretty hard on the 101 freeway in Calabasas going down the grade back to Ventura after having a great run through Topanga Canyon and jumping back onto the 101 via Mulholand Dr. to get home. A car decided to make for an exit across 4 lanes, clips my front tire crossing the #2 lane where I'm at, I tried to save it, nope not gonna happen. LOL the car didn't stick around either. I walked away with some rash on my legs when my jeans disintegrated and was sore for the next few weeks but otherwise unscathed. My poor CBR F3 however was toast. Insurance took her away. A sad, sad day.....

[jonda500]

1st bike (Yamaha L2G100) dropped it going round a corner first time in the rain - skinned knee/elbow
2nd bike (Honda CB400-4) tankslapper and dropped it 2k's from home returning from a 6 hour ride - no injuries
2nd bike again - car turned in front of me - slammed into the side, summersaulted over the boot and landed on my feet!
friends modified GSX1100 race bike - tankslapper at high speed - loads of gravel rash
? bike (Honda CB450) bottomed out muffler round a corner racing a friend - no injuries
? bike (Yamaha RZ250R) braked too heavily entering a sharp corner - some bruises to body and pride
No further incidents for over twenty years now.
John
ps My father has had one only apart from parking incidents - hit an oil slick going through a roundabout - broken ankle
 

[Davez134]

I've been hit twice. Once while sitting at a red light. Few broken bones. I never ride without boots, gloves, long pants and some form of jacket. It's hard sometimes here in Las Vegas when it's 110 outside, but i just don't feel right without. Plus, as a firefighter/paramedic, I've seen what not wearing proper gear looks like many times.

[seanbarney41]

I have high sided, low sided, mid sided? you name it, but it was always my own fault as I was pushing limits and I learned how to hopefully not make that mistake again.  I have always been fortunate to not interfere with any large unmoveable objects and rode home on my own to lick wounds and repair damage.  Gear?...the more the merrier.  I learned how to fall/crash/slide at an early age from riding skateboards...you generally fall off a skateboard about five times an hour if you are doing it right so you get lots of practice at staying relaxed.

[PeWe]

If it's too hot for protective biker clothes as boots, pants, jacket, gloves and a helmet... take the car.. Riding without it is not tough, just stupid.
Thats my thoughts about it
Living in a tropical climate should not be an excuse, it must be cooler alternatives.

[OneWheelDrive]

I've been riding about a decade, always full face helmet, gloves, boots, jacket, and jeans. Never felt the tarmac fortunately but did drop a cb500 in the back of my pickup about a month ago and smashed my hand saving it.

[FunJimmy]

I have high sided, low sided, mid sided? you name it, but it was always my own fault as I was pushing limits and I learned how to hopefully not make that mistake again.  I have always been fortunate to not interfere with any large unmoveable objects and rode home on my own to lick wounds and repair damage.  Gear?...the more the merrier.  I learned how to fall/crash/slide at an early age from riding skateboards...you generally fall off a skateboard about five times an hour if you are doing it right so you get lots of practice at staying relaxed.

I like Sean's response. Sounds familular. I don't skate but I do mountain bike so a roll here and a roll there isn't uncommon. That being said, I've had a few tumbles falling off motorcycles. The worst left me with a pelvis broken in three places and a fractured scull. The others whern't as serious. All of them where rider error. Not something to be proud of but something that's in MY control. Can't imagine how I'd feel if I was rear ended at a light or broad sided. It must feel different when it's out of your control.

Like your title. I've always said.....there are two kinds of riders. Those who have crashed and those who will.

[Bailgang]

I've dropped both my 750 and GL1100 once so far, both times with my wife riding with me and both times coming to a complete stop. The 750 incident happened in a parking lot that had a slight incline to it so when I put my feet down the pavement under my left foot wasn't where I expected it to be and down we went. The GL incident happened at an intersection where I was getting ready to pull out but saw a truck at the last second and hit the brakes and didn't get my feet down quick enough. Both happened with plenty of witnesses observing so even though both bikes suffered no damage and neither my wife or I were hurt my ego did get bruised. I even have proof of the GL drop because I had a video cam on at the time but don't even think of asking me to post it, it ain't gonna happen. It was embarrassing enough.

[754]

 First time I went down hard, I was hit by my buddies bike, i crushed a lot of the bones in foot, and few stayed out,plus I broke my thumb and cut the tendons in my elbow..
 Net time I partially amputated my foot, my boot was up by my knee, and I dislocated my shoulder..luckily the firepit I landed in was out.
and I was not on my bike, but walking on a road when it happened..

 The last 33 years were easier on me but I ride less and perhaps more defensively..dont wear all the gear but helmet and boots and gloves are a must..

[Woodsman]

You can't believe "it's not going to happen to me". The first street bike I bought, back in the '70's, my Father, who was not happy about it, gave me a blank cheque and said "I want you to buy the best helmet you can, they can fix broken bones but you can't fix smashed brains". I always gear up, rather be sweaty then bloody.

[Scott S]

 All of my "drops" have been zero speed incidences so far (knock on wood), except one. Parking lot and garage mishaps where I just gently sat the bike on the ground.

 The ONE time I went down at speed was on a test run of a hopped up CL70. I was wearing shorts, T-shirt and flip flops. I went down 20 feet from the end of my driveway when that tiny little bike popped a wheelie and threw my ass off of it. I still have scars on my knees and shoulder. I was doing maybe 10-15 MPH.

 On the street I ALWAYS wear a full face helmet and gloves. Riding jacket: 99% of the time (I have been guilty of taking it off on 100 degree days). Over the ankle boots: 85% of the time (guilty of wearing tennis shoes before....but just think of your ankle grinding on the asphalt.. {shiver}  ).
 I recently purchased some riding pants, jeans and overpants and now I'm starting to feel weird when I ride in just jeans vs. armored.

[MRieck]

I've slid down the road and watched my bike pass me.

[bwaller]

Hey we're on two wheels, they fall over on their own, #$%*'s gonna happen when we ride them.  Be smart minimize the risk.

I saw pictures recently of a young girl with serious hide missing. I'd rather people be smart about protecting themselves before our governments start legislating it.

I read with interest lately an ongoing heated discussion about vintage road racing and safety including lever guards, shark fins, modern leathers etc. Some (few) feel modern protection doesn't belong in vintage racing....... there are crazies everywhere.   

I've slid down the road and watched my bike pass me.

Me too. Far better to see it pass than to wonder if it's still coming. 

[Bodi]

In 48 years riding there have been incidents, only one broken bone (collarbone, healed with a lump and bend in it for life).
All my fault. Barring exceptional circumstances, crashes are all the fault of the rider in my opinion.
- Honda C100 Cub, friend's machine, my first time on any motorcycle - froze and tried to ride up a tree, walking speed. No damage except to pride.
- Same, except mine now - too many to count. Unlicensed (too young) so all offroad. Usually I wore a borrowed helmet but not always! Lots of torn clothes and sraped skin.
- Same, except on the road. A few falls from stupidity or inexperience. Learned to look where I wanted to go and avoid sandy corners in spring.
- CB77 - More learning. Oiled street (by the city! Why??) slicker than ice - went down stopped when my foot slipped out after a scary slide to stop in traffic, could barely stand on the slippery surface; too fast around a country road reducing radius right hander, lucky no cars coming as I tracked across the oncoming lane and onto the shoulder then on into a fence-free field and down; More miraculous saves that I can count.
- CB400F - following to close and way too fast. Giant pothole (between car in front's wheels) tossed me waaaay up off the bike. Pretty sweet few seconds of flying like superman, unsweet landing. Cracked collarbone snapped trying to pick the bike up. Bent brake pedal, snapped brake lever, bent bars, bruised ego; forgot earlier lesson about sand/spring, low side on first spring ride after rebuilding the engine. The impact knocked the starter gear loose inside the motor because I forgot to put the lock bolt in... at least that didn't happed a hundred miles from home.

[72 yellow]

Twice.  Both times not moving.  1st. time the side stand on my CB450 went through a soft spot in a blacktop parking lot as I was getting off.  Put the shifter through the alternator cover.  Was able to ride it home.  Just a small bruise. After 44 years 2nd. time 4 days ago.  Getting the CB750 off the work stand.  Sitting on the bike and we both toppled over to the left.  Slid off the seat and ended up trapped between the bike and my 77 Monte Carlo.  I was lucky as I stayed on my feet.  Bike at a near 90* angle to the floor still on the stand.  Wife was in the garage and we both managed to get the bike upright and off the stand.  A trip to the urgent care where our daughter works for x-rays on my elbow and my left leg.  Lucky nothing broken but badly bruised.  If the car wasn't there  it might have been much worse for both me and the bike.  Only damage was a broken lower switch housing and a broken mirror on the car.  All that because I had a couple of hours to spare and wanted to hurry up and go for a ride for the first time since last fall on the CB.

[jcooper]

I have been riding since I was 19 and last summer my number was finally up! I commute most days durning the summer and a stupid guy in an a big black SUV with smoked windows decided to change lanes. I never ride in blind spots and this time I was just passing his blind spot to get in front of him when he punched me into the next lane. Ended up sitting on the sidewalk with my poor biked sliding down the street!
So finally at 52 I can say.....yes....I have been down. It's funny people ask if I going to slow down and I tell them no, but where it's really hit me is when I'm in the car......I'm now freaked out of changing lanes for fear of hitting a bike!
All I have to say is wear all your gear, all the time! One day you may need it!

[flatlander]

about 15 years ago i got broadsided by a van at an intersection, within town. the guy was going way too fast, didn't pay attention and i did/could not get away fast enough. that was bad: 24hrs in a coma, basal skull fracture, broken shoulder and jaw. took about 2 years and several stays in hospital to fully mend and build up motion and strength again.

apart from this, i haven't had anything major. some narrowly saved situations but nothing that ended up with damage. and i learned my lesson, i keep thinking "what if" and ride even more defensively ever since that accident.

i always wear full protective clothing: boots, pants, jacket, gloves, helmet.
only one exception: when i putter around town at the same speeds as i would with the moped, i sometimes skip the boots and protective pants. but even then always long jeans and jacket. these occasions are rare, though as i try to avoid (mis)using the bike this way.

[grcamna2]

I went down a couple times below 20mph w/ just a scratch on me and the bike so not bad.I'm developing better 'Radar' on the street and using Both my mirrors a Lot;keep a 360 degree view around you and mark-out a 'safety boundary' around you and your bike when you ride  & keep open to Any 'red flag' that starts to go off that will notify you of anything that tries to get near your 'safety boundary'. I own this video series "Street Smarts" that has helped me quite a bit over the years. Dirt ride a bunch and it will let you know what your bike will do when you start to lose traction on either wheel,plus it's Fun 

[andy750]

I crashed twice in the first year of getting a bike: both my fault. First time going too fast in the rain and locked up both wheels coming to a stoplight - hit a car. Minimal damage to me none to the car. Rode home. Second time I was out in the country at night and took a corner too fast, hit the grass at the edge of the road and the rear wheel flipped out and I bounced down the road on my head(helmet on of course). Minimal damage to me and bike had a broken mirror. Rode home.

For the next 25 years, 200,000 miles, nothing. Wear full gear all the time. Went through a period in my 20`s of t-shirt and jeans in the summer but no more. 

[grcamna2]

In close to 50 years I've had only one fall in the street and that was me going too fast around a corner on an old R5 Yammie.  No damage to either me or the bike.  Would not ride without a helmet or jacket,  usually wear  gloves and sometimes leather pants, especially when it is in the low 30's.  Be safe...Larry

I think the signature under Larry's avatar says it all "Ride like you're invisible"  Thanks for that Larry 

[Woodsman]

 "Larry's avatar says it all "Ride like you're invisible"  Thanks for that Larry"

Just texted Larry's wisdom to my newbie rider son. Can I hear an amen for brother Larry!

[Farley121]

  ABout 20 years ago while younger and dumber-er, I low sided a friends suped up FJ1200.  Strange part was, I had been going 240-250kph but dumped it at 65kph!

  Ithink the combination of a smooth, fully faired bike, and lots of speed made me feel like I was dragging my arse when I hit the corner, Ithought I was doing half that.

  I was was wearing my usual, helmet, jeans, leather jacket, and gloves.  I tore the knees out of my jeans, palms out of my cheap welders gloves, and ground the paint off the side of my helmet.  I will never wear a open face helmet because of it, I would have ground my jaw off.

  The result, a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder.  When the doc says do physio, do it.  I'm still paying for it now.

[eigenvector]

In all the years I've been riding I've never dropped it at speed.  Have dumped it in the street pulling out into traffic - felt like a total idiot, but no injuries or damage to the bike.  MY first hard lesson in not committing to a turn until you're sure you won't have to stop suddenly in the middle of it.

I've been injured quite badly working on bikes, never riding them.