I saw a fellow biker die today.

[Illuzion]

I was riding about like I normally do after college and I saw a nice bike about 2 cars in front of me... We was on a busy and fast road near Dartford. I didn't see what happened next, it was so fast but apparently a car hit him and he bounced off and then a massive lorry ran over him which I saw with my own two eyes.

He died. It was quite horrific.

Obviously, word got around and after a sad depressed crying journey home with my visor fully open going fast as I possibly could on my NRG, my Mum asked me what was wrong. I told her what I just told you, she said "You're not riding again.". Now, if my son had just been through what I just been through, I'd have to agree with her but I wasn't disagreeing at that time because I just felt so down because he was riding sensibly from what I could see. I love biking, I'm on Men & Motors channel 24/7 whilst always on bike forums and looking at pictures of bikes, surely I can't give all this up? Anyway, I explained this to my Mum and now it's just "Be sensible and careful" whilst she was sobbing.

It just really shows what risks you take when riding a bike... I mean, it could have happened in a car too but I doubt he would of died from that... I actually saw him after the lorry had been over him, it wasn't a pleasant site. I can still hear the bones snapping, I just can't get the thoughts, sounds and pictures out of my head.

I'd like to know your views on this, how exactly should I overcome it? I feel scared to look at my bike now... Even if I take the most care ever it's still possible I could die too. It's weird but I'm not to bothered about myself but what it'd do to my family. Argh, I just feel like doing something but I don't know what.

Help.

EDIT: I feel the need to post some more; I didn't know the guy but I've seen him before, he always nodded at me.

[McJamweasel]

You can die in a car. You can die crossing the road. you can die falling down the stairs inyour own house. You can die chocking on a pea.

Keep the bike, ride it safe and you'll be cool. If something does happen at least you're doing something you enjoy.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[Illuzion]

[mr jamez]

If you were driving a car at the time and you saw it happen, then it would probably have had the same effect. You have to decide yourself if you think that the positive side of biking outweighs the dangers it brings. I would just say learn from it and carry on riding.

[Minky_monkey]

I can't even imagine what you've been through today. Talking about things helps, it's certainly no good bottling them up.

I really don't know what to say. Appreciate everyday as it comes, good and bad, because you never know when shit like this could happen.

[getcarter4dyn...]

There is nothing that can be said that'll make it easier. And most likely it will be with you for a very long time but the incident will fade with time. This i assure you.

Just take it easy on your bike for a while and take it for short trips until ur confidence returns but dont rush things. Listen to your mum be a 'sensible and careful' driver as mum always knows best.

Have a nice one. Just take ur time!

[Ade067]

That is a terrible story and I'm sorry for you that you had to witness it,to be honest I dont know how I would feel if I was in you're position...but I have to agree with McJamweasel,people can die by falling down the stairs but that wouldn't stop you going up or down stairs would it?

It is truly tragic and saddening what happened to that other biker and now you've seen for yourself just how dangerous the roads can be but dont just give up riding you're bike because of it,learn from it and be more aware of what can happen and like you're Mum told you...be sensible and be careful,that is damn good advice.

[TheShaggyDA]

Book yourself on an advanced riding course. Your mum could do with the reassurance that you are safe and sensible, and it'll give you the knowledge and skill to put the odds more in your favour.
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[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[loply]

I agree on the advanced riding course.

A car very nearly killed a stee, g and alex a few months ago. If they were riding there that wouldnt have happened.

So it swings both ways really. If the guy on the bike was in a car, maybe he would kill a pedestrian - You just cant tell.

Bikes are approximately 4-5 times more dangerous than cars, which still works out pretty safe, and if you make yourself one of the safer motorcyclists out there then youre even safer.

[AGE996]

Bloody hell mate
Don't even want to imagine it.
I do feel safer on the bike than i do in our car
my advice is to just get out there and enjoy it and just tell your mum you will be as carefull as you can.
My mum could not even watch me when i did school boy motocross

[instigator]

thats horrible to hear Illuzion, something which I hope I dont ever get to see....

Take a break from riding for a week or two, give your self some time to think things through, you never know how much instances like this will affect you until you see it. Your own sense of self preservation will rocket up and your thoughts on your family and their feelings towards you riding will become more obvious to you.

I'm not gonna try and rpetend to understand what you feel but can only imagine its bad.

[Stu_666]

That's awful. My sister used to live near there (Greenhithe) and you get some right nutters on the roads around there.

If I was in your position, I would probably be inclined to take a bit of time away from the bike to get your head sorted. Make sure that your 100% focused and all that before you get back on again. I know when my dad died it does really f*ck you up. Although you did'nt really know the bloke, its a hard thing when someone dies in front of you, especially like that.

I would'nt say completely get rid of the bike though. As people said above, there's risks in anything, you just have to try and limit them.

[billy whizz]

When i was about nineteen my best mate Steve died in my arms after he lowsided on a bend at Devils Dyke and was hit by a car coming the other way. He and I both loved bikes and we spent most of our time riding, if i had given up riding because of this incident i feel that i would have been betraying his memory. He would not have wanted me to do this, as a race marshall i have seen some deaths and some quite horrific injuries but these riders too are doing something they feel passionate about. I think that if you could somehow talk to these riders living and dead none would want you to give up something that they themselves held so dear. Ask yourself one question if something happened to you would you want it to stop them riding? What you saw is so sad and must be very hard to deal with but i'm afraid accidents like these are an unfortunate part of motorcycling today. Dont give up riding because of this, just make sure it doesn't happen to you. The advanced test is a good way to avoid this happening, stay safe.
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Here comes the summer!

[jamie192]

I certainly dont know whats going thought your mind, as i doubt many if any one else on this forum can. Its good that you can talk about it and not keep it to yourself. You can be the most sensible rider in the world and still be killed on a motorbike or in a car. The roads are a dangerous place, my mum always says to me just rember when on a motor veichal your on a weapon use it like you would a knife.
I dont think you should stop riding, any one can die at any moment. My friend rides motorbikes like a complete nut hes crashed 2 times this time was more worse but hes still going, hes still here, hes always said to me he wants to go out with a bang instead of being old, but hes stopped for a while thinking of his kids.
I think i would be a put off by seeing that but i dont think you should stop riding because of it. You have to treat every other road user as a threat a potential danger and try your best to make up for there mistakes, i guess the guy you saw, the situation was out of his hands. I hope your ok and you get over this awful incident. Good luck with riding again and you should take your mothers advice.
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Ride Fast, Brake hard, don't fall off!

[The Tot]

It's a tragedy when someone just becomes another statistic. I've seen it when a rider and pillion slid under a dump truck and never emerged out of the other side - that was before i was biking, but still.

Even the best get untimely called - you can apply the situation to Senna - we all know that he "wasn't ready to die yet", but fate just called im.

My mum would be concerned for my well being if i told her about this accident and its worse seeing it with your own eyes. All i can say is that it's another warning to us bikers that the roads aren't as safe as it seems. Expect the unexpected and don't lull into a false sense of security. Put these thoughts to the back of your head and focus on the joys of riding rather than the tragic reality.
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Never argue with autism

[katana]

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. The first thing to say is condolences to the person and his family.

What you have seen is very traumatic and I would say that if it troubles you that you should see someone about it. Things like this cause post traumatic stress disorder.

Things happen and there is nothing you can do as a bystander. Even if you are in the accident. I would recomend the advanced driving course and hopefully you become an old biker. There are plenty of them around.

Please do not be put off riding by this. Motorcycling is a fellowship more than most things. We do it as a mode of transport and well as being fun and enjoyable.

Stay safe and never ride faster than your guardian angel

[yambabe]

Illuzion, after witnessing this you are probably still in shock. Seeing another person die, whatever the circumstances, is something that we are all conditioned to respond to with grief, horror and incomprehension. It brings home a sense of our own mortality.

If you need to talk about it, talk about it. If you need to keep it to yourself, do it that way. Do whatever you need to to help you come to terms with what you have seen. If you need to let off steam or re-live it by posting in here, we're ready to listen.

Don't even try to make a rational decision about your future riding bikes at the moment. Your head will not be functioning properly.

If you want to ride, ride. If you want to leave the bike for a bit, do that too. Talk to your mum, reassure her, and let her reassure you too.

Once you have started to come to terms with what you have seen, you will be able to get things in a clearer perspective and decide what you want to do.

In the meantime, be reassured that those of us who have been in a similar position know what you're going through now. You have my sympathy.

My condolences also to the family and friends of the guy who died.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Retro-Man]

I understand what you are going through having seen someone die myself in what can only be described as not a nice way.

I can only tell you from my experience that those feelings that will quite often make you physically sick or make you burst in to tears will fade after time,

What is left after these feelings have dissipated is a realisation of the value of your life and this will spur you on with your riding as you make a conscious decision that the joy of riding out weighs the risks, and like others have said, you could lock yourself in at home and still slip on the bathroom floor and die...

remember you only get one chance at life and it is better to live it short having met some of your aspirations than to live long and be sitting in a care home in 70 years regretting never having done anything
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[Dom]

I really can't imagine what you're feeling right now, but like everyone says I don't think you should give up riding. Take a break for a while by all means, but don't give up one of the best things in your life.

Sorry you had to see that happen, and condolences to the rider and his family.

[veeeffarr]

Having never seen anyone die in front of me before, I can't even begin to empathise with you. Regarding the biking, I agree with what everyone else who has said give it a few weeks and then try and sort out how you feel, you just need some time to deal with this.

Wish you all the best and condolances to the family of the biker should they ever read this.

Toby

[Silver]

[Kickstart]

Hi

I agree with Babyyam. Take your time to allow yourself to get your head round it.

Talking may well help, but may not. That is an individual response.

I saw someone die some years ago. It probably took about 3 months to get over it. With me the main result was a large lack of motivation and a total lack of concentration.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[wantser]

Give yourself a bit of time...not too much or you will end up scared to get on your bike. Just take it easy.....lot of good advise on this page....just take it steady, at your own pace......but remember...a lot of horrible shit happens in this world......there is little that we can do to control it....all we can do is limit the risks. Keep riding......be safe.....limit those risks. Good luck mate

[tater]

What you have seen is a terrible accident, all i can really say is take your time to get over this incident. things like this affect people in different ways just make sure you think about what happened and don't be affraid to ask for professional help if you think it will help you.

There has already been some good advice and suggestions like advanced riding lessons, all i can say is like what babyyam said don't make a decision about your riding yet you will probably regret it later.

My condolences also to the guys family and friends, of the rider that died.

Keep your chin up mate , you will never forget it but you can eventually come to terms with the accident and move on.

[stinkwheel]

Remember, you are more likley to meet with a fatal accident riding a pushbike or sat in your house. These things do happen, it is kind of inevitable if you get out of bed in the morning, and you are probably taking a risk in staying there too.

It is a horrible thing to see someone killed. I have only seen it once and that was a guy being sconned by a double decker bus right outside my flat. I still crossed that road after seeing it.

Try to make something positive from the experience, either ways to avoid yourself being in that situation by more training, possibly even just by being more observant and occasionally waiting in line rather than diving for every gap. Or what about equiping yourself to help someone else after an accident? Doing some first aid training or something like that.

I had done some pretty hardcore first aid training with the TA before I saw that guy being hit by the bus. It changes the way you react to an incident. My first reaction was to tell one person to stop the traffic, another to phone for an ambulance then go over and see if there was anything I could do for the guy, despite being pretty sure he was dead. Having done something positive and to the best of your ability, you feel a lot better about the incident when you think back on it even if there was nothing you could do in the end.
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