Have you ever had a serious accident on your bike?
Discussion
Reading the other thread about giving up riding after having had an off and there and it got me thinking.
I’ve just passed my test and am really looking forward to picking my first bike up this week. I’ve had and still have some nice fast cars and to be honest my thrills with biking are more around travelling around and eventually touring etc as opposed to high speed. Of course I understand that there is always a degree of risk however since I past my test (and maybe because I’ve been looking at more bike related topics on line etc) I seem to see something daily about serious, life changing or fatal accidents - often apparently through no fault of the rider.
I plan on being as cautious as possible and once I’ve got some mileage under my belt, doing some advanced riding courses or bike safe etc. but the doubts as to whe the er I’ve massively underestimated the risk are now creeping into my mind.
So how many actually have personally had a big one or know somebody close who has and how many have enjoyed many miles of incident free riding?
(I did want to try this as a poll but the option no longer seems to be there?)
I’ve just passed my test and am really looking forward to picking my first bike up this week. I’ve had and still have some nice fast cars and to be honest my thrills with biking are more around travelling around and eventually touring etc as opposed to high speed. Of course I understand that there is always a degree of risk however since I past my test (and maybe because I’ve been looking at more bike related topics on line etc) I seem to see something daily about serious, life changing or fatal accidents - often apparently through no fault of the rider.
I plan on being as cautious as possible and once I’ve got some mileage under my belt, doing some advanced riding courses or bike safe etc. but the doubts as to whe the er I’ve massively underestimated the risk are now creeping into my mind.
So how many actually have personally had a big one or know somebody close who has and how many have enjoyed many miles of incident free riding?
(I did want to try this as a poll but the option no longer seems to be there?)
100% do your IAM or similar. I’m 5 years ish in and it has saved my bacon and improved my awareness.
No incidents yet but awareness, anticipation, everything has improved for me and I thought I knew it all after many years driving.
I did mine after passing about a month later, best to wait until your gear changes are not requiring any thought and all done by muscle memory etc.
There are some providers who do ROSPA and IAM with headsets instead of using your mirrors for directions. I feel that would give better learning experience.
People turning right into a lay-by they shouldn’t be (as you go for overtake) or slamming on unexpectedly remain the biggest risks I’ve experienced over 40k miles since passing.
No incidents yet but awareness, anticipation, everything has improved for me and I thought I knew it all after many years driving.
I did mine after passing about a month later, best to wait until your gear changes are not requiring any thought and all done by muscle memory etc.
There are some providers who do ROSPA and IAM with headsets instead of using your mirrors for directions. I feel that would give better learning experience.
People turning right into a lay-by they shouldn’t be (as you go for overtake) or slamming on unexpectedly remain the biggest risks I’ve experienced over 40k miles since passing.
Many bikers like to blame the other road users for bike accidents. However, the statistics show that many accidents only involve the rider with failure to negotiate a turn one of the top causes of accidents. I'm not saying there aren't a lot of SMIDSY accidents, only that they're not as prevalent as some may have you believe.
Definitely get IAM/RoSPA type advanced training. it is the best safety aid you will bever have.
As for accidents, Other than a few slow speed drops, I've only had one bigish one requiring ambulance, blue lights and the trauma team at the local A&E.and that was Bambi's fault.
Definitely get IAM/RoSPA type advanced training. it is the best safety aid you will bever have.
As for accidents, Other than a few slow speed drops, I've only had one bigish one requiring ambulance, blue lights and the trauma team at the local A&E.and that was Bambi's fault.
Really important to understand some of the causes of bike accidents, not the obvious ones where other people are to blame.
A few things to consciously recall when riding, in my opinion, include:
Understanding target fixation and how not to do it (crashes in corners)
Looking through the apex (not at a tree you might hit)
Looking at the gap not the object (as above, plus potholes, unexpected objects in the road)
Riding only to what you can see and nothing further. (Blind bends, vehicles stationary, turning right etc).
Understanding how your bike reacts if you use react to a bend by braking mid corner, which you should not do (bike running wide)
The effects of road surface, in particular, overhanging (bitumen), drain covers on corners etc.
Recognising the stopping distances of a bike compared to a car, when behind one.
These things won't guarantee keeping you alive. But not knowing them will almost certainly guarantee you being dead.
A few things to consciously recall when riding, in my opinion, include:
Understanding target fixation and how not to do it (crashes in corners)
Looking through the apex (not at a tree you might hit)
Looking at the gap not the object (as above, plus potholes, unexpected objects in the road)
Riding only to what you can see and nothing further. (Blind bends, vehicles stationary, turning right etc).
Understanding how your bike reacts if you use react to a bend by braking mid corner, which you should not do (bike running wide)
The effects of road surface, in particular, overhanging (bitumen), drain covers on corners etc.
Recognising the stopping distances of a bike compared to a car, when behind one.
These things won't guarantee keeping you alive. But not knowing them will almost certainly guarantee you being dead.
Edited by Mr Squarekins on Sunday 17th August 20:36
Just the one a few years back; just t the top of blackheath hill just before the lights, oncoming vehicle approximately 10m infront of me swung across to perform a 3 point u-turn, aboslutely no space to move or time to react so ended up smacking into the side just behind the passenger side door at about 20-25mph - very much a 'SMIDSY'. Apparently the chap cut down a wooden bollard in order to cut across some grass, join the carriage way and then swung into the U-turn - in his defence he stated that he had done it for years to cut 10-15mins off of his journey and had never had issues before. Needless to say, it was found to be fully his fault and thankfully I had plenty of people witness his full maneuver.
Bike was a complete write off as the front end was bent into an S shape from getting tangled in the A frame of the car and then the side was all smashed up from it flinging me and it into the side of the car. Injuries wise I had a bad concussion, wrist fracture, heavy brusing all down my side, and damaged nerves and ligaments in my leg which gave me 'drop foot' for about 6 months or so.
That however is one accident in 23 years of road riding and probably somewhere around 350-400K miles in total so I don't think I can complain too much. Over there years there have been a few (probably 7 or 8) close calls, I can only recall one that would have been my fault and that was completely down to a lapse in concentration and not riding to the road conditions and entering a tight corner too fast with ice on the ground leading to a bum tightening back end slip out, all the others have been either people running red lights, trying to change lanes without looking, or perform sketchy u-turns.
Bike was a complete write off as the front end was bent into an S shape from getting tangled in the A frame of the car and then the side was all smashed up from it flinging me and it into the side of the car. Injuries wise I had a bad concussion, wrist fracture, heavy brusing all down my side, and damaged nerves and ligaments in my leg which gave me 'drop foot' for about 6 months or so.
That however is one accident in 23 years of road riding and probably somewhere around 350-400K miles in total so I don't think I can complain too much. Over there years there have been a few (probably 7 or 8) close calls, I can only recall one that would have been my fault and that was completely down to a lapse in concentration and not riding to the road conditions and entering a tight corner too fast with ice on the ground leading to a bum tightening back end slip out, all the others have been either people running red lights, trying to change lanes without looking, or perform sketchy u-turns.
Yes, in the early 2000s a couple of years after I passed my test. Combination of the bike being a bit much for my abilities really (streetfightered gsxr1100 that just seemed to want to lift the front wheel at anything over half throttle with my light weight on it), going too fast for the rainy conditions and some cracks in the road being sealed by 4" or so width strips of tar - was like hitting ice. Highside, broken scapula, ribs, chipped and slightly exposed wrist bone, plus a fair few bruises and some skin peeled off my right knee (can still feel that lump). Only a few hours in Perth a and e though and managed work on the Monday.
Have had a few much more minor slides on gravel and diesel at roundabouts, but no injuries from those.
Have had a few much more minor slides on gravel and diesel at roundabouts, but no injuries from those.
Mr Squarekins said:
Really important to understand some of the causes of bike accidents, not the obvious ones where other people are to blame.
A few things to consciously recall when riding, in my opinion, include:
Understanding target fixation and how not to do it (crashes in corners)
Looking through the apex (not at a tree you might hit)
Looking at the gap not the object (as above, plus potholes, unexpected objects in the road)
Riding only to what you can see and nothing further. (Blind bends, vehicles stationary, turning right etc).
Understanding how your bike reacts if you use react to a bend by braking mid corner, which you should not do (bike running wide)
The effects of road surface, in particular, overhanging (bitumen), drain covers on corners etc.
Recognising the stopping distances of a bike compared to a car, when behind one.
These things won't guarantee keeping you alive. But not knowing them will almost certainly guarantee you being dead.
Lots of great advice here. I’d also add not putting the bike where a car driver won’t expect it (and if you’re filtering to do it noisily! A few things to consciously recall when riding, in my opinion, include:
Understanding target fixation and how not to do it (crashes in corners)
Looking through the apex (not at a tree you might hit)
Looking at the gap not the object (as above, plus potholes, unexpected objects in the road)
Riding only to what you can see and nothing further. (Blind bends, vehicles stationary, turning right etc).
Understanding how your bike reacts if you use react to a bend by braking mid corner, which you should not do (bike running wide)
The effects of road surface, in particular, overhanging (bitumen), drain covers on corners etc.
Recognising the stopping distances of a bike compared to a car, when behind one.
These things won't guarantee keeping you alive. But not knowing them will almost certainly guarantee you being dead.
Edited by Mr Squarekins on Sunday 17th August 20:36
)Chris
Two bad ones, one my fault completely, hit one of those old style concrete junction markers, broken right ankle, leg, wrist and enough bruises to last me a lifetime. Best thing was my right leg had just got back to full strength after breaking it badly playing rugby league for the firm I was an apprentice at.
Second one a burglar trying to get away from police in a stolen car, ended up with a plate in my right arm as a keepsake.
Life is a risk, if you never take a risk then life is boring.
Second one a burglar trying to get away from police in a stolen car, ended up with a plate in my right arm as a keepsake.
Life is a risk, if you never take a risk then life is boring.
I totalled a fairly new YZF750R in 1996. It was only a few months old & at the time I was beyond gutted.
Completely my fault, too much right wrist & not enough skill.
Miss judged a right hander on the A161 just the other side of Eastoft in Lincolnshire. Hard to remember exactly what happened but I suspect I panicked mid corner, rolled off the gas, bike stood up & I under steered into a pea field at around 100mph.
Bike destroyed & me rag dolled. I did manage to extract the bike from the field, start it & ride it home but it was buggered, bits falling off, bent forks, frame dinged & twisted so subsequently it was written off. I escaped with considerable bruising & a bollicking from the Mrs.
Completely my fault, too much right wrist & not enough skill.
Miss judged a right hander on the A161 just the other side of Eastoft in Lincolnshire. Hard to remember exactly what happened but I suspect I panicked mid corner, rolled off the gas, bike stood up & I under steered into a pea field at around 100mph.
Bike destroyed & me rag dolled. I did manage to extract the bike from the field, start it & ride it home but it was buggered, bits falling off, bent forks, frame dinged & twisted so subsequently it was written off. I escaped with considerable bruising & a bollicking from the Mrs.
Fortunately, i never did
Almost all of my friends have at some point though, but they do ride like Max Wrist
I was riding in convoy a long time ago, where my mate went into a damp corner way too fast. Inevitably he and the bike parted company and i got to watch in slow motion as he slid under a car coming the other way that drove straight over his head.
He came out of that unscathed, despite being pinned under the car by his helmet (which entirely saved his life).
I went and bought the same Shoei helmet the following week.
Almost all of my friends have at some point though, but they do ride like Max Wrist
I was riding in convoy a long time ago, where my mate went into a damp corner way too fast. Inevitably he and the bike parted company and i got to watch in slow motion as he slid under a car coming the other way that drove straight over his head.
He came out of that unscathed, despite being pinned under the car by his helmet (which entirely saved his life).
I went and bought the same Shoei helmet the following week.
2008on a 2003 SV650s. On a hot day with brand new fork internals. Braked for a LH bend and locked up on the rear. Grabbed more brake which stood the bike up. I swear to this day I had a choice of dry stone wall or tree and chose the latter. Straight into the tree snapping my left femur and breaking my wrist into many pieces. Spent a week in hospital as a result. So easy to do, so lucky that something wasn't coming the other way.
As morbid as that last part of the post is... It's real and happens.
I've had a very good friend (and I miss her) die in my hands a couple years ago from a freak accident. I've seen my best biker mate get flung in the air and some serious distance at IOM from a foreign rider being reckless. I stuck my finger in his leg to stop the blood pumping out (not sure why it was instinct) and he kept his leg after multiple surgeries and years later rides every weekend with me. He got paid out a lot of money for that.
Years of racing has seen multiple injuries and deaths which would cancel the day obviously. I've had my fair share and metal/scars to remind me.
If there's one thing I can take from all this and say to you or anyone else it's to get lots of seat time, do advanced courses, track days, acu, ride with others that are seasoned and experienced, wear decent bike kit, use intercoms when on group rides (it can help so much with everyone seeing different potential risks and saying on coms) and treat others drivers like they haven't seen you, don't like you or are just dumb.
The biggest thing is the bikes ability to get in or out of situations so quickly. They're fast... Much faster than most cars and some drivers simply cannot and will not ever comprehend this.
But after all of this, don't over think it. Go out, ride, love it and love life. Biking has helped me and others mentally in such a way that it's now part of my life.
Enjoy
I've had a very good friend (and I miss her) die in my hands a couple years ago from a freak accident. I've seen my best biker mate get flung in the air and some serious distance at IOM from a foreign rider being reckless. I stuck my finger in his leg to stop the blood pumping out (not sure why it was instinct) and he kept his leg after multiple surgeries and years later rides every weekend with me. He got paid out a lot of money for that.
Years of racing has seen multiple injuries and deaths which would cancel the day obviously. I've had my fair share and metal/scars to remind me.
If there's one thing I can take from all this and say to you or anyone else it's to get lots of seat time, do advanced courses, track days, acu, ride with others that are seasoned and experienced, wear decent bike kit, use intercoms when on group rides (it can help so much with everyone seeing different potential risks and saying on coms) and treat others drivers like they haven't seen you, don't like you or are just dumb.
The biggest thing is the bikes ability to get in or out of situations so quickly. They're fast... Much faster than most cars and some drivers simply cannot and will not ever comprehend this.
But after all of this, don't over think it. Go out, ride, love it and love life. Biking has helped me and others mentally in such a way that it's now part of my life.
Enjoy
I had a big crash about 20 years ago. big enough to totally lose the use of my left arm for about 4 years and it doesn't really work very well now.
I was back on bikes quite quickly and have never stopped riding though.
The OP mentioned about bike accidents not being the riders fault often. but I suspect an awful lot of the accidents where the driver of the car is culpable, could be avoided if the rider was taking more care and riding defensively.
certainly from my own experience I've had two accidents commuting into London in the last 3 years where cars have come out of side roads and were completely found to be at fault when I rode into the side of them. but I freely confess I could have avoided both if I hadn't been filtering and had been going slower and being more cautious.
also, don't be too confident about the proportion of motorcycle accidents caused by others. I think I read somewhere that the majority of motorcycle accidents are single vehicle single person accidents with motorbikes riding on quiet roads whilst alone. I guess this means that often motorcyclists are riding too fast into bends without a skill, ability and talent to know what to do when it suddenly dawns on them the bend tightens up more than they expected.
so, as others have said in this thread, you can mitigate an awful lot of the risks by being very cautious and riding within your own limitations as well as getting plenty of training.
I was back on bikes quite quickly and have never stopped riding though.
The OP mentioned about bike accidents not being the riders fault often. but I suspect an awful lot of the accidents where the driver of the car is culpable, could be avoided if the rider was taking more care and riding defensively.
certainly from my own experience I've had two accidents commuting into London in the last 3 years where cars have come out of side roads and were completely found to be at fault when I rode into the side of them. but I freely confess I could have avoided both if I hadn't been filtering and had been going slower and being more cautious.
also, don't be too confident about the proportion of motorcycle accidents caused by others. I think I read somewhere that the majority of motorcycle accidents are single vehicle single person accidents with motorbikes riding on quiet roads whilst alone. I guess this means that often motorcyclists are riding too fast into bends without a skill, ability and talent to know what to do when it suddenly dawns on them the bend tightens up more than they expected.
so, as others have said in this thread, you can mitigate an awful lot of the risks by being very cautious and riding within your own limitations as well as getting plenty of training.
I've had about 5 'offs' in total on the road, 4 of them when I was young on a knackered 125 riding in all conditions with terrible tyres.
Three were people that didn't see me, luckily only one hospitalised me with concussion and haven't broken any bones.
Had lots of very close calls, one which I probably would've died. I now assume nobody can see me and everyone's going to pull out on me and that's worked wonders.
Three were people that didn't see me, luckily only one hospitalised me with concussion and haven't broken any bones.
Had lots of very close calls, one which I probably would've died. I now assume nobody can see me and everyone's going to pull out on me and that's worked wonders.
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