A would-be biker scared of getting hurt
Discussion
I've a separate thread running in the finance forum re. potentially spending my savings on a Caterham for weekend and holiday use...
Ultimately though I'd love a bike. As a kid on camping holidays around Europe I used to guys rock up with the BMW tourers or Gold Wings and the like, carrying a tent and panniers full of gear - and thought it was brilliant and something I'd always love to do. My dad's had bikes on and off for years which also sparked the interest.
I'm 34 and have never had a bike before. Despite having zero no claims or experience, insuring an FJR1300 or VFR800 is under £800.
What really puts me off, and at the risk of sounding a bit wet, is the thought of getting seriously hurt and losing the use of limbs etc. Or worse.
How do you guys get past this?
I could bury myself in statistics about how the risk would be much lower for me because I'd only be doing a few thousand miles. And that I'm not a risk taking lunatic. But still, I can't convince myself..
Ultimately though I'd love a bike. As a kid on camping holidays around Europe I used to guys rock up with the BMW tourers or Gold Wings and the like, carrying a tent and panniers full of gear - and thought it was brilliant and something I'd always love to do. My dad's had bikes on and off for years which also sparked the interest.
I'm 34 and have never had a bike before. Despite having zero no claims or experience, insuring an FJR1300 or VFR800 is under £800.
What really puts me off, and at the risk of sounding a bit wet, is the thought of getting seriously hurt and losing the use of limbs etc. Or worse.
How do you guys get past this?
I could bury myself in statistics about how the risk would be much lower for me because I'd only be doing a few thousand miles. And that I'm not a risk taking lunatic. But still, I can't convince myself..
There's a risk to everything in life, but most things you can mitigate.
For bikes, get a decent instructor, know your limits, take all the training opportunities you can (Bikesafe, IAM, RoSPA, etc), always ride as though everyone is trying to kill you. In addition, don't skimp on quality protective gear. You can't completely dial out the risk, but if it's something you want to do, crack on.
Edited to say: I was late to the party at 38, but it's been great so far.
Also, I thought northerners were meant to be hard as nails?
For bikes, get a decent instructor, know your limits, take all the training opportunities you can (Bikesafe, IAM, RoSPA, etc), always ride as though everyone is trying to kill you. In addition, don't skimp on quality protective gear. You can't completely dial out the risk, but if it's something you want to do, crack on.
Edited to say: I was late to the party at 38, but it's been great so far.
Also, I thought northerners were meant to be hard as nails?
thenortherner said:
Mark8815 said:
I play rugby, which is dangerous.... I box, which is dangerous.... I ride and race which is dangerous....
But I’m happy, and that’s why I do it
It makes sense.But I’m happy, and that’s why I do it
But I'm not sure how I'd deal with a self-inflicted injury.
Slowly slowly catchy monkey. You take your time. Pick up new skills & get better. 6th sense becomes honed. Ride within yourself & NEVER push your luck. Don’t ride like an idiot. Take extra tution after you pass your test. There are dangers out there and the consequences on a bike a much worse than an airbag going off in your face or swapping paint. Bugger it up on a right hander & if you are lucky the farmer has left the gate open, on a left hander you can be over the line & fingers crossed there’s not a Scania heading your way....it’s easy to do but equally easy “not” to do with the right amount of skill, confidence & training. Part of the appeal with bikes is the perceived/real risk....you can make your own luck to some extent but there are semi blind, distracted f
kwits out there & these must be avoided or at least spotted from afar. Good luck, enjoy. Do it.
kwits out there & these must be avoided or at least spotted from afar. Good luck, enjoy. Do it. We're definitely 'order up north. Maybe with the exception of me.
Just read the Dibble thread and that's exactly what puts me off!
Other than the obvious pain and injury, thoughts of 'how would I pay the mortgage if that happened to me' etc kick in?
I must be getting old before my time.
Just read the Dibble thread and that's exactly what puts me off!
Other than the obvious pain and injury, thoughts of 'how would I pay the mortgage if that happened to me' etc kick in?
I must be getting old before my time.
andySC said:
Slowly slowly catchy monkey. You take your time. Pick up new skills & get better. 6th sense becomes honed. Ride within yourself & NEVER push your luck. Don’t ride like an idiot. Take extra tution after you pass your test. There are dangers out there and the consequences on a bike a much worse than an airbag going off in your face or swapping paint. Bugger it up on a right hander & if you are lucky the farmer has left the gate open, on a left hander you can be over the line & fingers crossed there’s not a Scania heading your way....it’s easy to do but equally easy “not” to do with the right amount of skill, confidence & training. Part of the appeal with bikes is the perceived/real risk....you can make your own luck to some extent but there are semi blind, distracted fkwits out there & these must be avoided or at least spotted from afar. Good luck, enjoy. Do it.
Cheers. I'm a bit confused over the whole direct access thing and need to read a bit more about it. By the looks of it I'd have to take the test on the VFR, for example, but wouldn't be allowed to ride it pre-test unless accompanied?kwits out there & these must be avoided or at least spotted from afar. Good luck, enjoy. Do it. Without knowing the happiness and almost unparalleled fun a bike can bring it's tricky to justify. Once you've done it for a while and experienced not just the thrill but the challenge and the laughing-in-your-helmet moments, as well as the freedom you get touring on a bike, then you'll understand why so many take the risks.
I’m about as Southern as you can get, right on the coast, can see the IOW and I was a late starter, 40 when I did DA. In the first 2 years I had 2 small low speed offs due to my own incompetence, no one else involved and one massive incident at a track day at Cadwell, broken bones and bike written off, (again my own fault, being billy big bks). The latter was 8 years ago and despite saying to the missus I’m done with bikes, as soon as I was out of plaster I got an R1. You can’t mitigate all the risks in life not just bikes but my question for you is (and I dont mean for this to sound rude, if it does) are you just keen on the thought of bikes rather than actually doing it? Why not do your CBT (bikes are provided) and take it from there, it will give you an idea
ks). The latter was 8 years ago and despite saying to the missus I’m done with bikes, as soon as I was out of plaster I got an R1. You can’t mitigate all the risks in life not just bikes but my question for you is (and I dont mean for this to sound rude, if it does) are you just keen on the thought of bikes rather than actually doing it? Why not do your CBT (bikes are provided) and take it from there, it will give you an ideaStone Cold said:
I’m about as Southern as you can get, right on the coast, can see the IOW and I was a late starter, 40 when I did DA. In the first 2 years I had 2 small low speed offs due to my own incompetence, no one else involved and one massive incident at a track day at Cadwell, broken bones and bike written off, (again my own fault, being billy big bks). The latter was 8 years ago and despite saying to the missus I’m done with bikes, as soon as I was out of plaster I got an R1. You can’t mitigate all the risks in life not just bikes but my question for you is (and I dont mean for this to sound rude, if it does) are you just keen on the thought of bikes rather than actually doing it? Why not do your CBT (bikes are provided) and take it from there, it will give you an idea
Don't worry, it didn't come over as rude.ks). The latter was 8 years ago and despite saying to the missus I’m done with bikes, as soon as I was out of plaster I got an R1. You can’t mitigate all the risks in life not just bikes but my question for you is (and I dont mean for this to sound rude, if it does) are you just keen on the thought of bikes rather than actually doing it? Why not do your CBT (bikes are provided) and take it from there, it will give you an ideaIt's hard for me to explain. I've had hot hatches for years and having just started a job which involves a 100 mile round trip daily, I ended up with a diesel MINI and some cash in the bank from the car I sold.
No problem, I thought. I can still enjoy driving. Except for I can't. I'm kidding myself. Each time I see or hear something nice pass me it excites me.
I've always been keen on bikes from being a kid. My dad used to take me out on his Virago(!) and later his BMW R80RT. I loved it. I can still smell the bike now.
I remember seeing the touring guys boarding the ferry at Dover. And more roll up at campsites with a 1 man tent. All the while thinking it's fantastic.
The only real reason which stops me in my tracks each time is the morbid thought of injury and the pragmatic question of who'd pay my mortgage (I live alone) if I were off work with an injury for 6 months.
thenortherner said:
Stone Cold said:
I’m about as Southern as you can get, right on the coast, can see the IOW and I was a late starter, 40 when I did DA. In the first 2 years I had 2 small low speed offs due to my own incompetence, no one else involved and one massive incident at a track day at Cadwell, broken bones and bike written off, (again my own fault, being billy big bks). The latter was 8 years ago and despite saying to the missus I’m done with bikes, as soon as I was out of plaster I got an R1. You can’t mitigate all the risks in life not just bikes but my question for you is (and I dont mean for this to sound rude, if it does) are you just keen on the thought of bikes rather than actually doing it? Why not do your CBT (bikes are provided) and take it from there, it will give you an idea
Don't worry, it didn't come over as rude.ks). The latter was 8 years ago and despite saying to the missus I’m done with bikes, as soon as I was out of plaster I got an R1. You can’t mitigate all the risks in life not just bikes but my question for you is (and I dont mean for this to sound rude, if it does) are you just keen on the thought of bikes rather than actually doing it? Why not do your CBT (bikes are provided) and take it from there, it will give you an ideaIt's hard for me to explain. I've had hot hatches for years and having just started a job which involves a 100 mile round trip daily, I ended up with a diesel MINI and some cash in the bank from the car I sold.
No problem, I thought. I can still enjoy driving. Except for I can't. I'm kidding myself. Each time I see or hear something nice pass me it excites me.
I've always been keen on bikes from being a kid. My dad used to take me out on his Virago(!) and later his BMW R80RT. I loved it. I can still smell the bike now.
I remember seeing the touring guys boarding the ferry at Dover. And more roll up at campsites with a 1 man tent. All the while thinking it's fantastic.
The only real reason which stops me in my tracks each time is the morbid thought of injury and the pragmatic question of who'd pay my mortgage (I live alone) if I were off work with an injury for 6 months.
you can insure against loss of income and it seems you have a sensible view to bikes so your self preservation instincts will stop you riding like a tit (mostly!) we all ride a bit like a tit sometimes so it’s just everyone else which to a large extent you can’t control, I would do your CBT and see how you go as that’s not expensive and will give you an idea, just dont do it on a moped, you need to change gear etcI think a fear of getting hurt is perfectly sensible and makes someone a better road biker. The truth is you aren't much safer in a car in many circumstances, it's just you are much more insulated from the sensation of speed and movement.
You can have plenty of fun road riding it's just best to choose discretion over valour if things don't feel safe. I had a moment the other day like that, there was straw blowing all over the road from the harvest and dried mud from tractor wheels. I didn't see any tractors on the road but I didn't fancy rounding a corner and running into one on the road or pulling out off a field gate.
You can have plenty of fun road riding it's just best to choose discretion over valour if things don't feel safe. I had a moment the other day like that, there was straw blowing all over the road from the harvest and dried mud from tractor wheels. I didn't see any tractors on the road but I didn't fancy rounding a corner and running into one on the road or pulling out off a field gate.
thenortherner said:
Don't worry, it didn't come over as rude.
It's hard for me to explain. I've had hot hatches for years and having just started a job which involves a 100 mile round trip daily, I ended up with a diesel MINI and some cash in the bank from the car I sold.
No problem, I thought. I can still enjoy driving. Except for I can't. I'm kidding myself. Each time I see or hear something nice pass me it excites me.
I've always been keen on bikes from being a kid. My dad used to take me out on his Virago(!) and later his BMW R80RT. I loved it. I can still smell the bike now.
I remember seeing the touring guys boarding the ferry at Dover. And more roll up at campsites with a 1 man tent. All the while thinking it's fantastic.
The only real reason which stops me in my tracks each time is the morbid thought of injury and the pragmatic question of who'd pay my mortgage (I live alone) if I were off work with an injury for 6 months.
You can get insurance that covers a certain amount of wages for injuries. Lifts a weight off your mind as your worry doesn't sound so much about getting hurt but being able to make the day to day payments needed if you were unable to work.It's hard for me to explain. I've had hot hatches for years and having just started a job which involves a 100 mile round trip daily, I ended up with a diesel MINI and some cash in the bank from the car I sold.
No problem, I thought. I can still enjoy driving. Except for I can't. I'm kidding myself. Each time I see or hear something nice pass me it excites me.
I've always been keen on bikes from being a kid. My dad used to take me out on his Virago(!) and later his BMW R80RT. I loved it. I can still smell the bike now.
I remember seeing the touring guys boarding the ferry at Dover. And more roll up at campsites with a 1 man tent. All the while thinking it's fantastic.
The only real reason which stops me in my tracks each time is the morbid thought of injury and the pragmatic question of who'd pay my mortgage (I live alone) if I were off work with an injury for 6 months.
To see if bikes are dangerous first you have to ride them on the road and make up your own mind, for me the freedom and being in the elements is amazing, Going abroad on a bike trip is the icing on the cake, why don’t you try ron Haslems day for new riders, completely safe and no cars are involved !
Its not an easy decision and one I struggled with. Alas many things in life come with a risk. Just living comes with a risk. None of us knows for sure what tomorrow will bring. Biking carries extra risks, but the stats are affected by those who appear to believe they are immortal.
I didn't buy a bike in my late 30s - partly due to the fear. When a mate a work turned up on his lovely new bike, I saw I could actually have this things that I desired SO much.
I sold my caterham 7 to pay for the bike - possibly the best decision I've ever made in my life - 15 years and 100sk miles on and I LOVE MY BIKE. As a committed car nut, I rarely use a car now unless I have passengers.
When I got the bike I was worried about the safety, so I did some training, well quite a lot really:
Bike Safe
Survival Skills
Rapid training
Bike Safe again
IAM
2x off road courses
2x track courses.
more IAM
I learnt something from all of them.
I now observe for the IAM, but I am still learning. One of my IAM group is ex traffic police. He is kind enough to continue to guide and advise me.
Ride sensibly and get training. Think about every near miss and what you could do better.
The risks are there, but get training, ride sensibly and they are not so huge.
Intellectually I know I may pay a price for my hobby that I love. Do any of us really understand it could be "me" next in that accident? I don't know. I know people who have paid the ultimate price. But then a friend died suddenly on Sunday afternoon out of the blue of a rare heart condition - he was 32. His wildest hobby was being a keen gardener and playing cricket.
I never look to persuade anybody to ride a bike. Its given me so much joy, but its a personal choice.
I didn't buy a bike in my late 30s - partly due to the fear. When a mate a work turned up on his lovely new bike, I saw I could actually have this things that I desired SO much.
I sold my caterham 7 to pay for the bike - possibly the best decision I've ever made in my life - 15 years and 100sk miles on and I LOVE MY BIKE. As a committed car nut, I rarely use a car now unless I have passengers.
When I got the bike I was worried about the safety, so I did some training, well quite a lot really:
Bike Safe
Survival Skills
Rapid training
Bike Safe again
IAM
2x off road courses
2x track courses.
more IAM
I learnt something from all of them.
I now observe for the IAM, but I am still learning. One of my IAM group is ex traffic police. He is kind enough to continue to guide and advise me.
Ride sensibly and get training. Think about every near miss and what you could do better.
The risks are there, but get training, ride sensibly and they are not so huge.
Intellectually I know I may pay a price for my hobby that I love. Do any of us really understand it could be "me" next in that accident? I don't know. I know people who have paid the ultimate price. But then a friend died suddenly on Sunday afternoon out of the blue of a rare heart condition - he was 32. His wildest hobby was being a keen gardener and playing cricket.
I never look to persuade anybody to ride a bike. Its given me so much joy, but its a personal choice.
thenortherner said:
The only real reason which stops me in my tracks each time is the morbid thought of injury and the pragmatic question of who'd pay my mortgage (I live alone) if I were off work with an injury for 6 months.
Riding a motorbike is not for everyone and you're not alone in your thoughts. Shame because when you start riding believe me you will start a journey in what I can only describe as a parallel life. Those that ride will know exactly what I mean. You will meet new people, go to new places and even old places will be different on two wheels. The only down side is most of your waking hours will be consumed by motorbikes and thoughts of motorbikes and your wallet will be drained!swerni said:
I'll cycle about 5000 miles this year.
I recon I'm far safer with far more protection on the motorbike.
Wish I hadn't waited so long to get a bike.
PS I had a Caterham built for me 24 years ago.
It was fun, but became a bit of a pain, much less useable than a bike and far more money.
Funnily enough after riding a bike for 30 odd years Ive just sold imy last one and bought a Westfield. I recon I'm far safer with far more protection on the motorbike.
Wish I hadn't waited so long to get a bike.
PS I had a Caterham built for me 24 years ago.
It was fun, but became a bit of a pain, much less useable than a bike and far more money.
Much more useable than a bike and a lot less money than a Caterham (not sure how anyone could say a bike is more useable than an open top car with luggage space and no need for leathers or a lid except if you're commuting)
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