How long without an off?
 

Every day we sadly see new threads on here about riders being involved in all sorts off accidents. Having had quite a few offs in the last couple of years myself, I am slowly getting into the mindset that riding a motorcycle is inextricably connected to crashing and sooner or later all of us are due a more or less serious accident :( Having read quite a few threads that recently popped up on here I believe I am not the only one thinking this...
Yet I see a lot of people on here with + 20 years of riding experience who are still alive and not in a wheelchair. This and an article in the last month's Bike magazine gave me an idea:
Why not create a thread when people can actually write how long they have managed to ride without an accident or between accidents, be it in length of time or milleage?

I am hoping that seeing positive proof that you can ride without killing yourself/injuring in the process might be just what is needed to boost our spirit and help all of people with bad experiences regain their confidence..

What do you think dear Orgers?

Cheers
Martin

Re: How long without an off?
 

This thread is going to be Jinx city...:smt040

Edit: I've been clean for a couple of years. You cannot completely de-risk motorcycling but the way you ride, your attitude on the road and your behaviour seem to mean some people go years without a close shave, where as others spend most years complaining about how someone took them off. Or as someone once said "could have happened to anyone, but the simple fact is is does seem to keep happening to the same people".

I'm no angel and has 2 offs in one year a copuple of years back, learned from both though...

Jambo

Re: How long without an off?
 

Should be renamed to "The Kiss of Death Thread"

:smt040

I'm not tempting fate by answering but deffo going to be reading it :D


** EDIT **

Just beat me to it AND you used the same smiley.

Re: How long without an off?
 

well, I'll risk it - I've never had an off on the road! Plenty on the track though...

Re: How long without an off?
 

Uh.....I'm a new rider, I think I'm going to refrain from comment and just be a reader!!! ;-)

Re: How long without an off?
 

If you believe in those sort of things... :) I try to believe that although there is a certain element of faith, I consciously choose my path...
That's what I'm talking about :) How long have you been riding on the road for then?

Re: How long without an off?
 

riding 6 years, havent had an off for 3 :)

you do realise if this it to change i will hold you personally responsible... :)

Re: How long without an off?
 

Passed my test in 1999. Converted the bike into a trackbike in 2005. Bought a new road bike in early 2009. On the road ever since. Have had a Yam DT125 scramble bike since about 2005 but only really ride it in the winter and through fields and greenlane!
Must admit though - I don't do a huge amount of mileage as live right next to a train station and it's dead easy to get into London.

Re: How long without an off?
 

I think once you have been off a few times and survived (just), you start to re-assess things.

10 years ago my girlfriends dad was knocked off by someone straight lining a roundabout. It was his first accident in 50 years of riding... he's not fallen off again in the last 10 years either.

Not everyone falls off though.

Someone who bimbles about never breaking the speed limit and just touring may never fall off.

Someone who rides for the thrill of speed and going fast is likely to fall off eventually and it will probably hurt... a lot.

I put myself in the latter category, and becuase of that I may stop riding on the road as the enjoyment I get from road riding is becoming less as the roads get busier and more heavily policed.

I start a new job in August which might actually allow me to manage 2 or 3 trackdays a month in which case I think it would be a done deal.

I'll probably fall off a whole lot more too.

Re: How long without an off?
 

That's exactly the kind of positive story I was hoping to see :)

I am yet to do even a single track day but it is definitely on the cards as I think it is the safest way to learn the limits of the machine and even more importantly: your own... I believe it is common knowledge that the best (or maybe only) way to learn is by pushing your limits ever so slightly, all the time getting closer to the edge but preferably never falling of it ;)