Is It Worth It...

[brianmcewan.co.uk]

Recently I had found out that a mate of mine was killed on his GSX-R600 coming out of a corner went into a speed wobble and hit a brick wall. He was killed instantly. There have been 16 motorcycle deaths on Northern Ireland's roads this year and that one hit me really hard. It did slow me down but I had an accident 3 days later because of shit on a country road which I was lucky to walk away from. I went to my mates funeral, I seen how many people were devastated by his death. He was 30 and had a fiancee, and a baby. Muckle was his name, he was on the way to buy a Civic Type-R for his fiancee as he was selling the bike the week after but had the accident on the way there.

My dad has been on bike for 20 years and has had one accident. My parents are away on holiday at the moment, I sent my dad a text saying another biker had been killed a few days ago and he replied saying the need for speed just isn't worth it. It really made me think. I love riding a bike, I can't get rid of it because I have it on finance but if I wanted to I wouldn't. I just need to control myself, I ride fast but safe, but becauseI ride fast I ride dangerously.

I need to sort this out, I have been lucky too many times, next time I may not be so lucky.

I don't need a lecture I just need to fucking sort this out, I don't want to put my family through that.

Thanks.
____________________
Kawasaki Z1000 '05
Honda Fireblade 954 '03

[nick606]

buy a slower bike so theres more room for error it could turn out to be just as much fun

[brianmcewan.co.uk]

Sounds like shite, but it wouldn't make a difference. I just need to get my head round his death, it had really hit me hard.

I ride to my limits not the bikes limit. Mistakes happen. I need my confidence.
____________________
Kawasaki Z1000 '05
Honda Fireblade 954 '03

[nick606]

well stop trying to push your limits and work on getting your riding smoother as you do that you will notice you are going faster as well

sorry about your mate aswell

[ZRX61]

[ninja_o]

sorry about your mate.. I know how it feels .. I went throught something similar. When you lose someone you know this well and are close with them then it gets into your head.
The best thing to do is to keep yourself in check. Remind yourself that the win is not in getting killed but in living and there are folks who care about you and you need to be back with them. Thats where the joy is.
There are times I am rushing and it starts getting dangerous and I always check myself - telling myself that its even more tougher to control and get through the turn alive .. at the end of the day the winner is the one who walks away safe and sound and not the one who goes deep down.

I am not giving up riding ever!! and because someone is making a fatal mistake by choice is not going to make me make that same mistake again...

good luck and ride safe.

[DEN MONKEY]

Truely heart felt words if ever I heard them ZX.

Tis a shit thing Bazza and no one can make the decision for you.

Is handy though to be able to come here and share the experience with others who may have been in the same position before.

I know riding can be dangerous but if your friend died in a car accident would you be considering never drving a car again or getting your licence?

You've already acknowledged the aspect of riding that you have control over to make yourself a little safer when you go out there.

Anything else is pretty much out of your control.

That said do what you can to be as safe as you can and let the other stuff go, there's fuck all you can do about it anyway.

Good luck with what ever you choose to do
____________________
meh

[Torque05]

Bazza, when you ride a bike you have to accept the consequences. Sometimes there are minor ones but more offen than neccisary they are major.

Unfortunatly as with anything in life theres a risk of death. But isnt that why were all here? to die? Morbid i know but lets state the facts.

I think youre a brave man for still riding. Its a selfish thing to do on any level, to take your own life in your hands and have little (maybe) regard for what anyone else thinks.

Personnaly, im deeply sorry to hear about your loss, but your mate - he must have loved his riding and ofcourse accepted the risks that came with it. Its a shame they caught up with him in the end. If only for yourself, stay strong and if youre a lucky kind of bloke youll be on the good side of the God's and lady luck. Stay strong mate, and keep riding, thats my advice.
____________________
~Sahf East Winnah~

~Yamaha Vmax 1996~

[Skudd]

Over the many years I have been on a bike I have seen so many deaths and people ending up crippled. All loved their bikes, but most didn't take that extra split second to think about self preservation. I came off over a decade or so ago and could have ended up in a wooden box, nearly was in a wheelchair. whats the difference now? I know my limits and keep in them. I do push them from time to time but make sure it is in a safe enviroment before I do. So many people get carried away on their bikes and then get carried away in an ambulance. We all learn by mistakes, the key is to learn from others so you don't have to make your own.
Stay safe.
____________________
Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[Jlo31]

I am really sorry to hear about your mate.

My advice is to do an advanced motorbike course. This can't protect you from all circumstances but can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a statistic?

I did mine when I was 19 (and am 35 now) Although I had a long break without a bike and just come back to biking a year ago. The course still helped in my riding, and just to get a refresher I put myself on a BikeSafe course 2 weeks ago which was great.

I have a wife, a 3 year old boy and 6 year old daughter. I really don't want to leave them behind.

Good luck

Jlo

[brianmcewan.co.uk]

I've been wanting to post this thread for a few weeks now. I really appreciate the comments folks, and I had a bit of a nightmare last night too so it's time to relax a bit more with the old throttle hand

It's amazing what a bottle of Southern Comfort can do to you're head

Karma for everyone, including ZXR61, everyone has their own opinions mate. Don't think you understand where I am coming from though. People can ride fast without riding like a twat. I'm also considering a Bikesafe course in the near future as well and maybe a trackday.
____________________
Kawasaki Z1000 '05
Honda Fireblade 954 '03

[st3v3]

I find that if I'm taking unnecessary risks, and not getting as far as fast, then I'm riding like a tw4t, so I need to calm down and back off the speed, better late than never and I really wouldn't to put my friends/family through going out like that, considering I ride for the convenience and experience, it wouldn't be all too good to be a fool and have a nasty one now. Plus I wouldn't be able to save up and buy a bigger toy that I can a little fun with.

If you mean slow down by relax, I think your giving yourself the best advice. Ride safe
____________________
Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done