advice pls

[Damon Z1000]

What da ya ride Vince, if it's a ten then I know a man who can help with the pain by providing a quick sale......only joking
Mate I think we've all been there and it's a hard decision to make and only you can make it mate.......I got back on after a big stack 7 years ago and I still fall off

[I-K]

A bit more information about your circumstances would come in handy.

The way a 19-year-old most effectively gets his non-riding family off his back differs from that someone in their 30's would go about it.

[gigksrc]

Hey Vince. Both my parents rode when they were your age and when I got a bike (as a loaner from a friend when I was 20ish) my boyfriend at the time wrote off both of his pride and joy bikes - a Norton and a Triumph which were both great bikes - got mangled himself - then crashed my bike - what did my parents do?
They said get back out there and ride. It took me more than 20 years to get a bike again (I didn't want to ride when my children were young in case I hurt myself and couldn't look after them). Now I'm having a great time. Just riding sooky.

[diesel]

A bit more information about your circumstances would come in handy.

The way a 19-year-old most effectively gets his non-riding family off his back differs from that someone in their 30's would go about it.

I'm 20yo, had my Ls and bike for just over a month.
I ride a ZXR250C, I like horseback riding and long walks along...... oh sorry
I love riding but i am worried. I can handle the consequences and i accept the risks, but my parents can't

and seeing ronster come off scared the shit outta me to be honest. For someone that gets a bike moving as well as he does to come off, it's pretty daunting.

[Ja-Mez]

vince our parents should meet they sound the same..
guess what after a while my old man finally asked me to take him for a spin on the back, i was ever so happy, now he wants to ride but says hes too old.. so one of his buddys went and bought a bike. my dads burning saying hed love to but he aint stupid, hes mates like id love to and im an old fool so why not!

love to ride
if my day shall come on two wheels should be my chosen way. hey why not die young.

PS when i started my dad even got statistics from the rta lolz

[ronster]

Hi mate,

I don't know what caused my moment last week, but I'm glad to accept rider error.

I've been riding fast since I was sixteen and occasionally I fall (or get thrown ) off.

What happens to me is a lesson for me, not you. From my recollection you rode both safely and within the limits of your experience last week and I will be happy to have a slower ride with you if it will help.

I've got mixed feelings about your situation. Your family is only worried about your safety. I also think that you shouldn't die wondering.

If and when you do come off there will be people around to help, as you were for me.

Think it over and make your own decision mate. Good luck

PC

[MickLC]

I'll add one of my stories here if that's OK. A mate of mine came off a few years back in the rain, doing about 30km/h, just managed to stop in the rain before hitting the car in front which had braked suddenly. He was on his brand new VTR as well. The problem was the guy behind him wasn't so attentive and hit him from behind, sending him over the handlebars head first into the boot of the car in front. Two crushed vertebrae and a nice piece of titanium later and he's back on the bike. Sounds pretty horrible though doesn't it?

The thing is while he was in hospital the guy in the bed across from him had pretty much exactly the same injury and was having the same operation to put the cool bit of titanium in. The difference was that the other guy was driving a car when his accident happened I bet he ended up back in a car too, without anyone asking him why he was going to drive again. I bet it didn't stop anyone else driving a car because of the accident their friend had either.

At the end of the day it's a decision you have to make for yourself and you have to be happy with it. Don't listen to the naysayers who don't understand why you are riding, they won't offer any useful advice. What they will do is transfer their own fears that have stopped them from getting on a bike themselves onto you. Be informed, get experience and skills anyway you can, and whatever you do don't be scared while you are riding. Cautious yes, scared no...it's meant to be fun

[Nanna10r]

Vince, the fact that you are asking the question says to me that maybe you shouldn't be riding. That may make my opinion a little unpopular & I'm sure you dont need another nay sayer, but theres No way any one was gonna tell me i couldn't / shouldn't ride a bike. Even after i had written 2 brand new bikes off (both my fault) before i was 19. Lost my P's both times n had to ride a push bike to work in winter, but i still wasn't gonna buy a cage. I had eye surgery at 20 n that certainly made riding easier but i still had more lessons to learn n crashes to perform. When i was 19 I took some advice n bought a moto Cross bike to fall off which i did plenty of n learned heaps. In the same way i'm about to set up the fzzr as a track bike n I reckon I'll fall off that too but again i hope to learn from my mistakes n make as few of them as possible n have as much fun as possible.
In some ways We Motorcyclists seem to like a bit of Masochism but that also bonds us together.
Take your time, gather all the info you can n be confident in your decision. Either way mate i'm sure we all just want you to be happy n enjoy what you choose.
Cheers Brett

[zbeast]

Vince, I was knocked off my bike 4 days after getting it and only a week after getting my L's. A woman decided she would cross 3 lanes to get an opening in the traffic but misjudged the gap and clipped my back tyre. She didn't even stop but 2 fellow bikers did and they helped me up and on my way again. That was over 5 years ago now and I have continued enjoying riding since.

A friend of mine told me before I got my licence that if you ever walk to your bike to go for a ride and it doesn't feel right, just walk away and choose another mode of transport. I've taken that advice a couple of times since I got my licence and have never regretted it. You need to be fully concentrated on riding and staying safe.

I am selling my bike now only because my circumstances have changed, I have a 6 month old daughter and was side swiped by a truck last year (fortunately I stayed up and the only damage were marks on my clothes). I guess it comes down to your situation and keeping those most important to you happy. If I didn't have my daughter I wouldn't be selling the bike and when she grows up I will get another road bike.

[Barrabob]

Vince if your not happy with it dont do it, everyone falls off and i have even seen pictures of valenteno crawling out of the sandpit.

when your out on ride days with the guys you dont have to spend the whole day at the pointy end just take it easy for a while and you will come good with a bit of confidance with your rideing and then you can push a bit as your skills develop.

I dont ride one as a full time vehicle i have a car as well and as brett says there are always trackdays but they dont really teach new riders collision avoidance.

The bottom line is we all fall off or get knocked off from time to time regardless of what we ride it comes with the territory.
but its the time we spend on them thats worth it.

[Cath]

Vince, your parents will probably always wish you didn't ride, no matter how convincing your arguments are. My dad is an amputee, and he reckons that 99% of amputees (under the age of 40) he sees when getting fitted for a new leg, are motorbike accidents. I can't argue with that. He will always look at it from that perspective.

What I *can* do, is realise that I'm an adult and responsible for my own choices. I have to figure out what is acceptable risk *for me*, as opposed to what others think is acceptable for me. Because in the end, the buck stops with me.

FWIW, I believe that nothing is sadder than a life unlived. I would rather risk having a shorter life than find out when I'm 80 that I have a bundle of regrets and "if only"'s under my belt. But, Vince, the buck stops with you. How do you weigh the equation? It is truly unimportant what either your family, friends or we think. It is important what you think.

And if you choose to ride and have trouble explaining it to others... I always tell naysayers: "Life is not a rehearsal", then refuse to let them debate my choice with me.

Safe roads, Vince, whatever your choice

[Smitty]

Thanks very much for the wisdom guys.

it is a part of me and i can't give it away.
i think i've just gotta come to terms with the fact that when shit goes down (and it probably will, every biker has a story about putting their baby down) its gonna hurt.
but i suppose wounds heal and life goes on.

i knew i wasn't alone in this area but its reassuring to have it confirmed.

cheers, vince

thats better

[dave#3]

I'd have to say don't give in mate, many a wise man has said 'a life half lived is no life at all'

A lot of people have given you some great advice, take it, make your decisions and live with them. I'm personally a fan of the 'fuck off I'm going riding' approach, but each to their own.

Oh yeah, when I stacked it was my fault, I broke my arm, etc - I got over it

[Rusty]

Coupla stories and a bit of a bio ...

When I was 17, a very good friend was rear-ended on his ZZR250 which resulted in a back injury. He hasn't been on a bike since, although he's drooled over my ZZR.

A friend came off doing 120 around a corner recommended at 40. He hit gravel on his Bandit 250, broke numerous bones and nearly lost his kneecap. 3 months later he still had little feeling in the calf muscle on that side due to nerve damage. He's recovered but hasn't been on a bike since. His brother used to ride a ZXR250, haven't heard from him in a while. Both crazy boys.

Another friend came off in an altercation with a car. Was in hospital for a couple of weeks, lost his spleen. Hasn't been on a bike since to my knowledge, although I haven't seen him in over 2 years.

The moral of these stories? Sometimes it's ok to say it's just not worth the risk. Maybe you're not meant to ride? Only you can answer that.

I started riding at 16 on an old Suzuki TS100. 2 stroke thumper. Would do all of 55 mph flat stick with a tailwind down on the lucerne paddock. Had a knobby on the back and a (well-worn) street tyre on the front. I swore blind I'd never ride on the road, 'cos offroad (even on a midget street bike) was enough fun. I was wrong.

The chap on the Bandit crashed about a year before I got my licence. I thought long and hard, looked at a few statistics, and figured the odds weren't as stacked against me as I'd thought. So, when it was time to renew my licence I did the few extra questions and got my learners.

When I finally got to ride on the road, I was as nervous as I'd ever been. Strung waaay tight, but managed to pass all the required tests until about 1/2 way through the final (3hr ride) test something made me loosen up. Until then I'd been getting through on determination and stubbornness. From that point on I've not been on a ride I haven't enjoyed.

About 2 months after I got my licence I still hadn't scraped together enough money to get a bike. Then the chap who lost his spleen crashed. Every one of my friends and family were telling me, "See? That's what road bikes do to you. They're too dangerous."

I began to think that way myself, scared myself again. Same situation as you, I think.

Then I got my first road bike given to me. Gave it back 3 months later when I got a different (bigger and older) bike which I rebuilt. I still have it, but it's needing a few bits. Riding was fun again, and all the nay-sayers in the world won't get me off bikes. I can't help it, and don't want to. My family still hates all things motorcycle and tries to rub in every bike accident that occurs around the joint. It makes absolutely no impression other than to make me even more aware of my surroundings because I know they can not understand why I ride. I'm not even sure I can explain it.

Should you quit? Don't ask me, I'm biased!

I will say, however, think long and hard about it. Only you can make that decision. If you decide to quit no-one will think the worse of you for it, and most will understand. If you decide to continue, goodonyermate!

And that last para is the only advice I can give.

[Neka79]

mate..i agree with jase, and i agree with Ponti....
wen a biker is questioned on his choice of lifestyle he simply replies "cos i like it, i wanna do it, and i dun giv a fark wot u say cos im GUNNA do it"..or sum such thing...and ne biker who questions himself wen ppl ask if he is sure, obviously isnt a true "green blooded" biker....
now..this is where it gets touchy..im not trying to offend u, BUT, if u really love sumthing, do u stop doin it cos sum1 else tells u to??..
do all u can to minimise risk, but remeber, there is no way of avoiding all risks in life,unless u wrap urself in cotton wool & sit on the lounge watching tv...but then ull prob die of obesity neway...the question is up to u...if u really wanna b a biker, ull use any excuse to get ur own way, thats wot i did 8 years ago-and now my family accept that its part of me...hell i just picked up my 3rd bike today-a bucket racer!!