Take back the bike?
Discussion
Hey guys,
A few months ago I took my CBT and bought a lovely Suzuki Marauder GZ125, but my brother was involved in quite a bad accident on his own bike resulting in multiple pins sticking out of his leg and generally, he's going to be 'disabled' for quite some time.
I sold my bike a few weeks later, deciding there's nothing stopping me from LOSING my leg if similar things were to happen, which I can't afford given the line of work I wish to go into in later life.
Would you say these incidents of "car vs. bike" are fairly rare, or would you recommend I stay off the bike, as today's general motorist is an absolute idiot?
Injuries don't really hit home until they happen to you or someone you know/are related to; the guy on the desk next to me at work had the same thing happen to him, but he has since recovered, though it took a few years...
What do you think?
A few months ago I took my CBT and bought a lovely Suzuki Marauder GZ125, but my brother was involved in quite a bad accident on his own bike resulting in multiple pins sticking out of his leg and generally, he's going to be 'disabled' for quite some time.
I sold my bike a few weeks later, deciding there's nothing stopping me from LOSING my leg if similar things were to happen, which I can't afford given the line of work I wish to go into in later life.
Would you say these incidents of "car vs. bike" are fairly rare, or would you recommend I stay off the bike, as today's general motorist is an absolute idiot?
Injuries don't really hit home until they happen to you or someone you know/are related to; the guy on the desk next to me at work had the same thing happen to him, but he has since recovered, though it took a few years...
What do you think?
Edited by Heskey on Thursday 26th June 16:40
I'd say stick with it mate - you obviously enjoy it and has been said, there's risk in everything. You have to make your own decision of course, but I know that I love it. Of course, I'm a complete petrol head and adrenalin junkie, so it was inevitable really.
Balance the risk vs benefit - judge your actions and the possible consequences before you do something.
My attitude is "there's no point living if you can't feel alive" but I don't have a deathwish.
Balance the risk vs benefit - judge your actions and the possible consequences before you do something.
My attitude is "there's no point living if you can't feel alive" but I don't have a deathwish.
Stick with it.
Mate of mine is disabled for life for diving into a shallow sea. Another mate is dead because his 4x4 hit an oak tree on ice.
There is danger in everything you do, if you are sensible you will be fine.
My dad in 30 years riding his bike to and from work daily has only had one accident, and that was because the 91 cbr1000 fell on him in the stable
Go for it
Mate of mine is disabled for life for diving into a shallow sea. Another mate is dead because his 4x4 hit an oak tree on ice.
There is danger in everything you do, if you are sensible you will be fine.
My dad in 30 years riding his bike to and from work daily has only had one accident, and that was because the 91 cbr1000 fell on him in the stable
Go for it
Heskey said:
Hey guys,
A few months ago I took my CBT and bought a lovely Suzuki Marauder GZ125, but my brother was involved in quite a bad accident on his own bike resulting in multiple pins sticking out of his leg and generally, he's going to be 'disabled' for quite some time.
I sold my bike a few weeks later, deciding there's nothing stopping me from LOSING my leg if similar things were to happen, which I can't afford given the line of work I wish to go into in later life.
Would you say these incidents of "car vs. bike" are fairly rare, or would you recommend I stay off the bike, as today's general motorist is an absolute idiot?
Injuries don't really hit home until they happen to you or someone you know/are related to; the guy on the desk next to me at work had the same thing happen to him, but he has since recovered, though it took a few years...
What do you think?
Keep training. Bikesafe, IAM or Rospa. You will never stop all the risks but you can mitigate much of it through training, riding defensively and wearing the appropriate equipment (leathers). A few months ago I took my CBT and bought a lovely Suzuki Marauder GZ125, but my brother was involved in quite a bad accident on his own bike resulting in multiple pins sticking out of his leg and generally, he's going to be 'disabled' for quite some time.
I sold my bike a few weeks later, deciding there's nothing stopping me from LOSING my leg if similar things were to happen, which I can't afford given the line of work I wish to go into in later life.
Would you say these incidents of "car vs. bike" are fairly rare, or would you recommend I stay off the bike, as today's general motorist is an absolute idiot?
Injuries don't really hit home until they happen to you or someone you know/are related to; the guy on the desk next to me at work had the same thing happen to him, but he has since recovered, though it took a few years...
What do you think?
Edited by Heskey on Thursday 26th June 16:40
I have some sympathy and also gave up bikes when I started to worry about the dangers at night.
I started riding after about 5 years off, and have been back in the saddle for 6 years. I won't stop now.
Its a personal choice. I got advanced training and take care. In 25 years of cars and bikes I've yet to have an accident, but it still could happen to me. but it could happen crossing the road, or as a 31 year old mate in his arm chair after sunday lunch of a rare heart muscle disease.
On the one hand life is to be lived, but then its too precious to throw away. trying to solve that is madness.
I love my bike and statistically its safer than riding a horse for the same distance (admittedly not many do 5,000 miles a year on a horse..)
I started riding after about 5 years off, and have been back in the saddle for 6 years. I won't stop now.
Its a personal choice. I got advanced training and take care. In 25 years of cars and bikes I've yet to have an accident, but it still could happen to me. but it could happen crossing the road, or as a 31 year old mate in his arm chair after sunday lunch of a rare heart muscle disease.
On the one hand life is to be lived, but then its too precious to throw away. trying to solve that is madness.
I love my bike and statistically its safer than riding a horse for the same distance (admittedly not many do 5,000 miles a year on a horse..)
This isn't a dig at the OP, if anything happened to my brother I would be distraught.
But when people (mainly non bikers) find out I have a bike and start preaching on at me about how dangerous it is, I get so annoyed.
Example, our new dentist talking about his skiing kit not coordinating and embarrassing his kids, how its old and ratty. I started babbling about my kit all matching and I'm saving to replace with some great new stuff.
He then starts telling me about the people he knew/knows that have had bike accidents.
I nodded and smiled, while quietly seething.
Later I thought of what I should have said, Did he know his dental nurse had broken her back snowboarding??
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, Stick with it. We all take risks everyday, some bigger than other, we weigh up the risks and the pleasure we get from the activity and decide to do it or not.
Do some advanced training, Bikesafe, IAM etc, make yourself as safe as possible and always expected the stoopiest behaviour from everyone else.
Enjoy yourself
But when people (mainly non bikers) find out I have a bike and start preaching on at me about how dangerous it is, I get so annoyed.
Example, our new dentist talking about his skiing kit not coordinating and embarrassing his kids, how its old and ratty. I started babbling about my kit all matching and I'm saving to replace with some great new stuff.
He then starts telling me about the people he knew/knows that have had bike accidents.
I nodded and smiled, while quietly seething.
Later I thought of what I should have said, Did he know his dental nurse had broken her back snowboarding??
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, Stick with it. We all take risks everyday, some bigger than other, we weigh up the risks and the pleasure we get from the activity and decide to do it or not.
Do some advanced training, Bikesafe, IAM etc, make yourself as safe as possible and always expected the stoopiest behaviour from everyone else.
Enjoy yourself
Rach81 said:
This isn't a dig at the OP, if anything happened to my brother I would be distraught.
But when people (mainly non bikers) find out I have a bike and start preaching on at me about how dangerous it is, I get so annoyed.
Example, our new dentist talking about his skiing kit not coordinating and embarrassing his kids, how its old and ratty. I started babbling about my kit all matching and I'm saving to replace with some great new stuff.
He then starts telling me about the people he knew/knows that have had bike accidents.
I nodded and smiled, while quietly seething.
Later I thought of what I should have said, Did he know his dental nurse had broken her back snowboarding??
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, Stick with it. We all take risks everyday, some bigger than other, we weigh up the risks and the pleasure we get from the activity and decide to do it or not.
Do some advanced training, Bikesafe, IAM etc, make yourself as safe as possible and always expected the stoopiest behaviour from everyone else. Enjoy yourself
But when people (mainly non bikers) find out I have a bike and start preaching on at me about how dangerous it is, I get so annoyed.
Example, our new dentist talking about his skiing kit not coordinating and embarrassing his kids, how its old and ratty. I started babbling about my kit all matching and I'm saving to replace with some great new stuff.
He then starts telling me about the people he knew/knows that have had bike accidents.
I nodded and smiled, while quietly seething.
Later I thought of what I should have said, Did he know his dental nurse had broken her back snowboarding??
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, Stick with it. We all take risks everyday, some bigger than other, we weigh up the risks and the pleasure we get from the activity and decide to do it or not.
Do some advanced training, Bikesafe, IAM etc, make yourself as safe as possible and always expected the stoopiest behaviour from everyone else. Enjoy yourself
Wise words.I'd add one thing, if you do go back to biking OP, get a bigger bike asap. All too often 125's and smaller don't get much respect from other road users.
I was driving through Leeds yeaterday and I overtook a guy on a Chinese type 125 custom, with all the gear on. He though he was being safe by sticking to the inside lane minding his own business going at his own pace. I was just counting the seconds before he got side swiped! What was he doing wrong? He wasn't keeping up with the traffic, in rush hour on the urban section of the A58M. Cardinal mistake.
Edited by Tonto on Thursday 26th June 17:44
Edited by Tonto on Thursday 26th June 17:44
Tonto said:
I'd add one thing, if you do go back to biking OP, get a bigger bike asap. All too often 125's and smaller don't get much respect from other road users.
I was driving through Leeds yeaterday and I overtook a guy on a Chinese type 125 custom, with all the gear on. He though he was being safe by sticking to the inside lane minding his own business going at his own pace. I was just counting the seconds before he got side swiped! What was he doing wrong? He wasn't keeping up with the traffic, in rush hour on the urban section of the A58M. Cardinal mistake.
When I rode my bike I kept to the speed limits when possible; infact given the area I live in, the only place where my bike fails to make the speed limit is wide open country roads where I just pull slightly to the left and allow traffic to over-take me; though it annoys me when they just get up my arse and appear to be cursing me through my side-mirrors. Idiots.I was driving through Leeds yeaterday and I overtook a guy on a Chinese type 125 custom, with all the gear on. He though he was being safe by sticking to the inside lane minding his own business going at his own pace. I was just counting the seconds before he got side swiped! What was he doing wrong? He wasn't keeping up with the traffic, in rush hour on the urban section of the A58M. Cardinal mistake.
Edited by Tonto on Thursday 26th June 17:44
Edited by Tonto on Thursday 26th June 17:44
I can't get a bigger bike as I'm not 21 yet!
I'm heavily considering taking it back; because I actually sold it to my dad so it's no probs to get put back on the insurance and not 'own' it. But yes, I'm considering it as I have to rely on lifts from my parents to get to work in a morning, and spend an hour catching two busses, which I often have to run to catch in time, home. It's a bit annoying.
Heskey said:
I can't get a bigger bike as I'm not 21 yet!
yes you can, do your test & your allowed upto 33bhp. as you appear to like crusiers how about a 535 viagro? they are only about 45bhp standard so hardly notice the restrictors.ive done 50k in the last 18months since passing my test. if ive had a dozen incidents where cars just havent seen me then id be surprised. thats not including times when i felt i did something wrong btw - if i cant get it right i cant expect them too. with some more road experience you'll learn to tell who is going to ignore you before they do it. take the other day from work, car creeping out of a t-junction as i approached. i'd stopped with plently of room as i KNEW he was just going to go as soon as the car coming the other way passed & he didnt even look right before he was over the road - seemed surprised to see me shaking my head at him.
so yes the risks are there, but you can learn to avoid them. wont get me back in a car except when the weather is really crap (ie snow).
do you want to be a biker or a driver? answer that and you'll know.
ETA: if i'd managed to get a bike at 17 as i planned when mum sabotaged it with the gift of a car i doubt i'd have got around to my car licence for years. i've got a car at the mo, but its 170miles away & SORN. it can stay there till the frost comes too.
ETA: if i'd managed to get a bike at 17 as i planned when mum sabotaged it with the gift of a car i doubt i'd have got around to my car licence for years. i've got a car at the mo, but its 170miles away & SORN. it can stay there till the frost comes too.
Edited by Hooli on Thursday 26th June 23:42
Heskey said:
What do you think?
I think the best thing you can do is get advanced training. Most is far better than the car equivalent.Find your local IAM who do bikes. you will learn lots and lots. After 20 years with cars and 5 of bikes I certainly learnt loads. So no disrespect to your age, but there is no substitute for experience, but training will help.
The IAM is cheap, but if you have the dosh then rapid training are the dogs
Edited by balls-out on Friday 27th June 17:17
what do you want to do?
if you enjoy riding a bike then why not continue?
risk?
people get hurt or die all the time.
you think you cant get dead in a car?
a guy at work nice chap had bikes but gave them up because of the risk and because he was getting married.he's a non smoker he's not a fatty,not a heavy drinker,he's got a job he enjoys that pays him enough money to live his life with his new family doing his new low risk hobbies.
he's going to be dead in a few weeks due to a couple of brain tumours.
now im not saying you should say "f
k it"and live like there is no tomorrow.
all i'm saying is dont put off things you want to do till tomorrow because you may not have as many as you think.
but also dont fall for the old romantic ideal of the dead biker"he died doing what he loved"complete bks.
"the dead know only one thing,it's better to be alive"(full metal jacket)
so it comes down to if you are doing something that you enjoy then do what you can to minimise the risk.
do what you like.
if you enjoy riding a bike then why not continue?
risk?
people get hurt or die all the time.
you think you cant get dead in a car?
a guy at work nice chap had bikes but gave them up because of the risk and because he was getting married.he's a non smoker he's not a fatty,not a heavy drinker,he's got a job he enjoys that pays him enough money to live his life with his new family doing his new low risk hobbies.
he's going to be dead in a few weeks due to a couple of brain tumours.
now im not saying you should say "f
k it"and live like there is no tomorrow.all i'm saying is dont put off things you want to do till tomorrow because you may not have as many as you think.
but also dont fall for the old romantic ideal of the dead biker"he died doing what he loved"complete b
ks."the dead know only one thing,it's better to be alive"(full metal jacket)
so it comes down to if you are doing something that you enjoy then do what you can to minimise the risk.
do what you like.
I work on the basis that every driver is going to do something stupid and that everyone is going to die at sometime.
I minimise all the risk I can and I'm probably the most conservative rider you will ever come across. Things still happen, people still pull out and I make mistakes but so far, touch wood, I've been fine and I do about 25,000 miles a year on bikes.
You get run over by a bus tomorrow or be diagnosed with a terminal illness at any point. On that basis I just get on with living and don't really worry too much. If something nasty happens at some point I'll either have to deal with it, or I won't be here and its not a worry!
As an aside, my nearest near misses (there havent been too many) have been with dheads on bikes, not cars!!
I minimise all the risk I can and I'm probably the most conservative rider you will ever come across. Things still happen, people still pull out and I make mistakes but so far, touch wood, I've been fine and I do about 25,000 miles a year on bikes.
You get run over by a bus tomorrow or be diagnosed with a terminal illness at any point. On that basis I just get on with living and don't really worry too much. If something nasty happens at some point I'll either have to deal with it, or I won't be here and its not a worry!
As an aside, my nearest near misses (there havent been too many) have been with d
heads on bikes, not cars!!Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff