I quit when I realized that I cannot ride the motorcycle while tired and expect to be alert enough.
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Anyone else quit riding motorcycles?
- Thread starter Jefenator
- Start date
Thanks for the input, guys.
I did feel a bit of seller's remorse during the final "delivery" ride. I don't feel a big hole in my soul or anything at the moment, though.
I did feel a bit of seller's remorse during the final "delivery" ride. I don't feel a big hole in my soul or anything at the moment, though.
Wait until the weather gets nicer...
Reading all this makes me really appreciate the beautiful old Ducati and the reliable little Honda I have. Nothing lasts forever and I know one day I go for a ride will be the last day I ride....but with a little luck that day's a few away.
Someday I like to think I'll pick one up again just to get to and from the beach. But traffic here isn't a problem.
I own a motorcycle dealership for 4 years now. Official Honda dealer.
Plus a lot of second hand sales for every brand, and we do maintenance and repair for every Japanese brand and BMW.
We are the biggest motorcycle dealer in our area. (Except for a HD dealership nearby but that's a totally different customer base.)
In those 4 years, and at around 2000 customers, I'm glad to see we didn't had an accident come in with a fatality.
3 or 4 accidents with a somewhat serious injury, which were recovered from. (Broken leg, etc.)
A lot of accidents came in that were just fenderbenders, dropping the bike while standing still or doing a manouvre.
So from what I can see, motorcycle riding is fairly safe.
You just need to use your brains when you ride a bike... just as you need to use your brain when you drive a car or a truck.
If you are likely to crash with your motorcycle, you're also have a big chance you crash your car. Bad drivers everywhere.
Of course, if a crash isn't your fault in a car you are more protected. On a motorcycle you need to realize what you are doing, and learn to anticipate and drive defensive.
I've been driving about all my life, dirtbikes when I was young. Then 125cc roadbikes when I was 18 and real motorcycles when I was 21. (In Belgium you must be 21 to go for your license for motorcycles above 25kW, 18y-21y is under 25kW.)
I had my share of crashes on dirtbikes when I was younger.
And I had a high-speed trailriding accident (testing the new Honda Transalp off-road) last year where I luckily just broke my finger. (Totalled the bike though.)
Plus a lot of second hand sales for every brand, and we do maintenance and repair for every Japanese brand and BMW.
We are the biggest motorcycle dealer in our area. (Except for a HD dealership nearby but that's a totally different customer base.)
In those 4 years, and at around 2000 customers, I'm glad to see we didn't had an accident come in with a fatality.
3 or 4 accidents with a somewhat serious injury, which were recovered from. (Broken leg, etc.)
A lot of accidents came in that were just fenderbenders, dropping the bike while standing still or doing a manouvre.
So from what I can see, motorcycle riding is fairly safe.
You just need to use your brains when you ride a bike... just as you need to use your brain when you drive a car or a truck.
If you are likely to crash with your motorcycle, you're also have a big chance you crash your car. Bad drivers everywhere.
Of course, if a crash isn't your fault in a car you are more protected. On a motorcycle you need to realize what you are doing, and learn to anticipate and drive defensive.
I've been driving about all my life, dirtbikes when I was young. Then 125cc roadbikes when I was 18 and real motorcycles when I was 21. (In Belgium you must be 21 to go for your license for motorcycles above 25kW, 18y-21y is under 25kW.)
I had my share of crashes on dirtbikes when I was younger.
And I had a high-speed trailriding accident (testing the new Honda Transalp off-road) last year where I luckily just broke my finger. (Totalled the bike though.)René_Julien;8953616 said:
A day riding in Vancouver will change your mind.
In the last two years one person I know has been killed, one a broken femur and a third cut his fingers off and broke his shoulder. Talking on a cell phone while driving has just become illegal here and hopefully that helps the situation some. Europe in general seems to be safer for two wheels.
A day riding in Vancouver will change your mind.
In the last two years one person I know has been killed, one a broken femur and a third cut his fingers off and broke his shoulder. Talking on a cell phone while driving has just become illegal here and hopefully that helps the situation some. Europe in general seems to be safer for two wheels.
You are right that it depends on in which area you live.
And it must be very hard if someone you know, or close to you, has been killed.
But you sometimes have to be critical. Was the accident fatal because the person was driving a motorcycle, or was there going to be an accident anyway and there was by coincidence a motorcycle involved?
I had two friends who died in a car crash. And so far I have noone I know (friend or family) die on a motorcycle.
I live in a more countryside area of Belgium. No big cities nearby, not much traffic.
And my customer base consist mostly of touristic riders (Pan-Europeans, Goldwings, Varaderos, choppers). Not really a market here for sportbikes.
They are very hard to sell. I don't seem to have the public for sport bikes.
And since it is so hard for young people to own a motorcycle these days around here (driver's license is hard and expensive, cost of the motorcycle, really high insurrance for young people), my average customer is of middle age to retired people.
(My oldest customer is 86 and he bought a new Shadow 2 years ago.)
Maybe all this has to do why I as motorcycle dealer don't experience motorcycle riding as dangerous.
Of course that doesn't mean I go lightly over the safety aspects.
I encourage people to take extra training. I know good schools who specialize in advanced riding lessons.
I refuse to sell cruise control systems and place them, because I had many accidents come in due to a cruise control.
I encourage people to buy protective clothing. (Plus that brings in the bucks more than you make on a motorcycle sale
)And of course, being that we also are a garage I have zero tolerance for mistakes. Every motorcycle that is ready has to be triple-checked, brakes, tires, frame,...
It's good that I have good people to work with who realize what they are doing, and are responsible.
It's my dayjob.
And I must say I have quite enough experience in all aspects of motorcycle riding.
It's very stressful, but I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't have the passion for it.
I still have a non-running bike in the garage to sell later this year, but I haven't ridden in 4 years. No time with raising the family. No funds for it either, but the biggest reason I got out was seeing two friends have close calls, and losing another. I haven't completely sworn off bikes, but my next bike will have knobby tires and less traffic to deal with. I started out in the dirt and I'm itching to go back, but the lack of time and money keep that from happening. Kids are more important anyway and eventually, once we have some $$$, my son and I can ride together. 
For now we just have to pedal.
For now we just have to pedal.
Gave it up in the late 70's. Had one close friend killed and another lose a leg within a year. Enough for me.
I gave up motocross years ago after I cased it over a set of doubles on my CR250 during a semi and got busted up pretty good (broken wrist, shoulder, collarbone, and a concussion). Few years later I bought a ZX-7R that was a great toy. That lost it's sparkle after some drunk A-hole pulled out of a bar parking lot right in front of my brother, thus destroying his CBR900 and sending him to the hospital for a few days.
Long story short: I'm apparently a pansy.
Long story short: I'm apparently a pansy.
I rode year round for a few years, even during our 2-3 weeks of winter. I finally decided I had dodged too many drivers that didn't see, or ignored, bikes. Sometimes I miss riding, but I don't miss it enough to put up with the afore mentioned drivers.
i'm in the process of selling my bike now. i miss riding everyday... but being in a band means i ned a car.... and being in the uk means that i cant afford to run a car and a bike so the bike has to go as soon as i get out of university though i'm both buying a bike to ride and am going to start my own build. i'll build my dream bike.
as soon as i get out of university though i'm both buying a bike to ride and am going to start my own build. i'll build my dream bike.
Hiya,
I started riding in 1972, raced open class MX, speedway, ice and road racing from '77 till '92. (Yes, I have ridden stupid fast bikes like a Suzuki 500 Gamma and Yamaha TZ750) I've been run over by bikes, (including my own at least 3 times) stepped off going over 100mph a couple times, went over 10 and 15 foot dropoffs. My xray folder has been several inches thick since I was 15 years old. (knees, arms, fingers, toes, legs, collar bones and shoulders)
I have sworn off bikes so many times in the almost 40 years I have been riding but I still ride. Do I ride like I did when I was racing? Nope, can't ride like a wingnut on the street and live. (Still, most of my friends don't like to ride with me, I start off reasonable but after a few turns I start turning it up till I'm almost dragging a knee and I'm all alone in front)
I've sold the race bikes but I still keep a Buell XB, a 1200 Sporty and a Maico around to play. The Buell is about as quick as I want things to happen on the street, the Sporty is like a big tractor, it just chuggs along and well the 490 Maico is well a 490 Maico, if you know what they are, you understand.
I guess my point is at some point we all swear it off but if it's in your blood, you'll be back. (I sold the sporty and the maico at different points, ended up buying them back years later)
BTW, if the people with the old shovels want to sell, give me a shot, I'd love to have one to putt around with.
Tom
I started riding in 1972, raced open class MX, speedway, ice and road racing from '77 till '92. (Yes, I have ridden stupid fast bikes like a Suzuki 500 Gamma and Yamaha TZ750) I've been run over by bikes, (including my own at least 3 times) stepped off going over 100mph a couple times, went over 10 and 15 foot dropoffs. My xray folder has been several inches thick since I was 15 years old. (knees, arms, fingers, toes, legs, collar bones and shoulders)
I have sworn off bikes so many times in the almost 40 years I have been riding but I still ride. Do I ride like I did when I was racing? Nope, can't ride like a wingnut on the street and live. (Still, most of my friends don't like to ride with me, I start off reasonable but after a few turns I start turning it up till I'm almost dragging a knee and I'm all alone in front)
I've sold the race bikes but I still keep a Buell XB, a 1200 Sporty and a Maico around to play. The Buell is about as quick as I want things to happen on the street, the Sporty is like a big tractor, it just chuggs along and well the 490 Maico is well a 490 Maico, if you know what they are, you understand.
I guess my point is at some point we all swear it off but if it's in your blood, you'll be back. (I sold the sporty and the maico at different points, ended up buying them back years later)
BTW, if the people with the old shovels want to sell, give me a shot, I'd love to have one to putt around with.
Tom
Laid down my Kawasaki a long time ago, have two kids and am not really into it anymore. My guitar player wants to go riding across the USA, hope it all turns out ok. I guess I wouldn't mind trail riding again, but other than that, the thrill is gone.
a friend lost a leg (and has been closed to death) during one of our riding week end. It frozen me a bit but didn't stop me.
Then several months later, i had the biggest fear of all my life when a big truck didn't see me and nearly send me on security rail. I couldn't ride my bike safely after that; to stressfull. Stopped and show just gone on
Then several months later, i had the biggest fear of all my life when a big truck didn't see me and nearly send me on security rail. I couldn't ride my bike safely after that; to stressfull. Stopped and show just gone on
After spending 5 months in the hospital after T-boning a drunk who ran a stop sign, I ultimately gave up street riding. I rode dirt bikes for a few years after that, but finally quit. I had a compound fracture of the femur, internal injuries, a concussion, and abrasions, contusions and lacerations all over. A candy-striper who worked on me in the ER said I was the bloodiest person she had ever seen. I took four pints of blood during surgery.
I came to find out about a year ago that I suffered some brain damage that was undiscovered at the time of my hospitalization. The accident was about 40 years ago, and the damage to my body is starting to make itself known more every day.
I'm not going to say you shouldn't ride motorcycles. I loved it ... it's a lot like skiing without the lift lines. But I will say chances are about 90 percent you will suffer some sort of an injury sooner or later, and it could be a deadly injury. I was lucky not to die in that crash.
I came to find out about a year ago that I suffered some brain damage that was undiscovered at the time of my hospitalization. The accident was about 40 years ago, and the damage to my body is starting to make itself known more every day.
I'm not going to say you shouldn't ride motorcycles. I loved it ... it's a lot like skiing without the lift lines. But I will say chances are about 90 percent you will suffer some sort of an injury sooner or later, and it could be a deadly injury. I was lucky not to die in that crash.
Sorry that the MS has stopped you riding. My wife can no longer get on the back of my Ducati ST because she's now in the secondary progressive stage of the disease and doesn't have the strength in her legs or the balance to get on and off the bike; neither does she have the core stability or balance to be safe when she is on there. She misses it and I miss her being able to come along with me.
I still ride, although both of my Ducs need some TLC at the moment and having to be my wife's carer means I don't have the time to get into the garage so that's on hold for a bit.
I think things are changing though. I met up with my riding buddies over Easter. In the last 10 years we've ridden tens of thousands of miles together on road and track. We've never been idiots of the wheelie and stoppie kind on the road, but I will admit that most of those miles have been ridden with big numbers on the speedo and we all agreed that we've been more than fortunate pushing our luck for so long. We're all much calmer now, we're all 10 years older, one of the guys has had triple bypass surgery, one of the guys has T-cell lymphoma and told me on Good Friday that the doctors have only given him a couple more months to live - so we're all much more acutely aware of our mortality.
