Please, friends, read this, it can save your life...

[johnnymotocros]

I recently hit the asfalt to avoid hiting a car that illegaly blocked my path.
Luckily, or maybe from experience, I pulled my butt from getting killed.
Yesterday, I started riding again, to work, on the same route 10 days ago I hit the tard and got all hurt.
Fellows, I found many dangerous conditions on this road, like Murphy`s Law states, it was just matter of time. But the important point is that I never even though or noticed those conditions. Now I do, because I am so afraid of falling ( and still hurting and scratched ), that I look at every corner, exit, car, curve, hole, .....dammed, I am paranoid.
Fellows, I got complacent with myself, and almost got killed. I remember I used to carry a small shoe or a small toy from one of my boys, attached to the handlebar next to the speedo, to keep me from going fast where not supposed to.
This is my 7-8 "bad" accident, and every time, if I am honest to myself, I was complacent, I was either going to fast on the wrong road, or looking at something that was not the road.
Fellows, re-think your ride, we must keep in mind our bikes and our abilities limitations, but also count on the fact, like Murphy says, that some other factor can show up; A dog, a dumb or sleepy driver, a driver looking at his cell phone while driving, a fallen tree, oil or dirt on the road, a bird, etc, etc.
My helmet saved my face again, my experience saved my butt again, but still I could done better and rethink my ride every second, and it can be done without being paranoid, I will install another shoe on my handlebar, to keep me from getting complacent again.
I am not a wimp, I never get scared when I fall, and I don`t get mad anymore, I even helped the guy who made me fall to stay calm and to help me reach help and pull me out of the middle of the road, I am grateful I am here to stay living, so I want to share this " State of Mind " and perhaps prevent you from getting complacent.
Thanks for reading my words guys. Drive safely, stay living !!!!!

[Ben710]

Yeah it´s true. I often find myself going too fast. Not risky in my own sense, but it might still be too quick for surprising things like deers appearing on the road.

I think it´s 50% yourself and 50% the hand of God that guides you. Call it fate, call it luck, call it God, pick what you prefer. Nevertheless, don´t forget to enjoy yourself!

[veerossi46]

Sorry to hear about your accident, but glad that you can write about it.

When I ride, I these are some of the things that are in my head at all times:

1. I'm invisible
2. I think everyone is trying to hit me.
3. The street is not a racetrack
4. Don't ride beyond my "comfort zone"

This is aside from being aware of my surroundings and alertness blah blah.
It's no guarantee that I will be safe, but it helps.

While you carry something to remind you of your kids, in my teenage years, I used to velcro a D battery to my upper triple clamp to launch at cars would intentionally try to harm me.

[Seven9Six]

I've been riding for 47 straight years and i've raced ametuer roadracing....and i still ride like an asshole.....and never have gotten into 7 wrecks. I've been in two "bad wrecks"...and only one that put me in the Hospital.

I dunno but if you have to tie a shoe on the handlebar and have had "8 bad wrecks" ...it's time to quit. You can't ride paranoid.

[johnnymotocros]

Seven9six,

Here is a recount of my "bad" accidents:

1- Mini bike 3.5hp, age 5, a metal clothes-line almost cut my neck in half.
2- Suzuki 100 scrambler, age 13, crashed alone in the woods, almost died from broken ancle and bleeding.
3- Suzuki 100, age 14, crashed down a hill, hit a Yamaha 360, broken bones.
4- Suzuki 100, age 14, hit a car straight ahead off a corner, my fault.
5- Yamaha Tri-Z 250, age 23, crashed on a sand dune, almost broke my neck.
6- Suzuki GS-700ES, age 31, crashed to avoid hiting a horse on road.
7- Ducati 900SS, age 41, crashed to avoid hiting car that got on my way.
8- Hyper, age 49, crashed to avoid hiting a car, badly bruised and scratched.
* plus dozens of small crashes and accidents.

Not bad for my age and 45 years of riding. I agree with you, I also advise all riders to quit, I have lost some friends even after trying to make them quit riding fast, but you know it`s impossible to quit once you are adicted. Thanks for the advise, perhaps when we meet in Heaven ( or hell ), we will go racing there too.

[stryder]

Everytime we throw a leg over, we take a chance. I've been down 3 times. When shit happens, it happens very fast. Dress for the crash. That you feel a little hypervigilant after a bad crash is normal, if not good. Be weary. The speed and smoothness will return over time. Ride like you are invisible is what I was told, ie like other motorists can't see you, so you have to ride defensively many times, no biggie. Wear a white helmet, and raise your headlamp up a couple of degrees.

[johnnymotocros]

Thanks Stryder !!!
I have riden bikes, all kinds, almost daily for over 40 years, and its like the ocean tides, its just a cycle.
....I ride, I forget, I get complacent, I fall, I heal, I get up, I ride, I am paranoic, I ride like and old lady for a while, I ride, I forget, I get complacent............. and here is this story so we can all break the loop, and remember to never get complacent.

[canned_ice]

Thanks so much for that! I am starting to ride daily now and sometimes I find myself thinking about other things as I am so comfortable riding on my route. It is a much needed reminder to always be watching out for the unexpected!

Glad you are alright! Lots of hugs!

[ohayo]

the moment we decided to enroll for the two wheelers license, we have already decided to lay our life onto the table for anyone one to take. Every rides out is an appointment fixed with the lords (be it heaven or hell).

We can ride sanely and carefully but we cant stop others from not doing so. I just leave to fate. If one day the scales decided to tip towards the lords(again heaven or hell), lets all ride together there. For eternity! For all you know, we can even do more gravity defying and stylo mylo moves with out indestructible body!

[Bly]

If bikes weren't dangerous they would be no fun, would they?