Getting back on 2 wheels

[TimNorwich]

Evening BCF,

Cutting straight to the point,

Around a year ago I witnessed the death of my best friend after a motorcycle accident, he left a wife, 1 year old son and lots of friends and family behind.

I promptly sold my motorbike and said to myself I wouldn't get back on one.... But the bike bug is starting to hit me again.

My partner and family don't want me to get back on a bike but I feel like I want to. If only a little 125 for commuting, but I'm in 2 minds.

Has anybody else experienced this sort of thing, what advice have you?

Thank you

Tim
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[bEN_]

I'm in a similar situation to you with regards to whether or not i want to get back at it ( nearly died in an accident just over a year ago )

The main reason is purely down to the fact i got to see some of what my family, fiance and friends went through while i was in intensive care and they were just waiting ( around 8 days ) for me to wake up and then all the other emotional stuff after ( recovery etc )
and i completely understand it and as time went on and i was recovering, getting stronger etc the bug soon comes back

i'm still going to get my fix, but in another way, i'm going to sell my bike and start kart racing again which will more than suffice and it gives everyone peace of mind, and it won't feel like a compromise to me because i'll still be doing something i love.

can you find something else, just as good ( not golf ) that will keep everyone's mind at ease?
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2010 Ducati 848 Dark

Lamp Post Enthusiast

[pepperami]

Bikes/biking can get into your blood and you are hooked for life.

So what can you do if you are "hooked"
If you don't get a bike , it will be like an itch you cant scratch.
If you do get a bike , you will have your friends death niggling you?
Somewhere in the middle the is a solution?

I know of two people that were killed on bikes, sadly they were part of the reason they were killed , ie to fast for the roads they were on and not enough skill to get themselves out of trouble
Sad days indeed.
For me it was a wake up call and a stern lesson in the risks of exceeding your skills.

Maybe your friends death could do a little bit of good in that it will act as a warning to you if you decide to get another bike?
I love bikes and will always have them in my life as long as I am able.
But every now and then I don't go for the gap or roll off the throttle because I don't want to end up as a statistic.
"better late than never"
As for other road users? They`re all out to get you
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[JP7]

Why not do some further training? IAM or RoSPA or similar? It will help you get some of your confidence back, while teaching you some new skills and techniques to help reduce your chances of having a crash. You can't take away the SMIDSY element, but you can make yourself more able to anticipate it.

Hopefully showing you're serious about making yourself a safer rider will also help put your family's mind at ease.

[Walloper]

[metalangel]

A friend of mine, very avid biker was there when I had my bad off, and was all torn up about it because he'd invited me onto the rideout.

I was undeterred and as soon as I was fit enough, bought another bike, and went to Abergavenny one weekend where I knew I'd find him to show it to him. He was glad I was back in the saddle and asked if I wanted to come out the following weekend.

I said no, unfortunately, I was working.

That following weekend, I'm at work when I see a forum post saying he'd come off and been hit by a car, and died instantly.

He lived literally up the road from me. Over a hundred people came from all over the country for a service and wake that was a five minute trip for me. It's that which hit me extra hard: here was someone I'd pop round to see, suddenly not there.

I don't think he'd want me to give it up.

I say learn from what happened, think of how you can be safer, and enjoy yourself. Take it easy, arrive alive, save the Rossi impressions for the trackdays.
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Previous: 2002 Honda CB500 (sold), 2007 Suzuki SV650SK6 (crashed), 2005 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer (sold). Currently bikeless
"A faired bike will get you 10x more clunge than a unfaired one." -Marlboro Matt

[pja8]

This is a tricky one. My son rides a moped, I ride a bike. If anything happened to either of us I am sure the other would think twice about riding again.

To counter that thought, I get no other feeling (apart from being with the wife, she might read this ) as good as when I am on my bike hitting an open road. It gives me a lot of positive vibes that we all need to get through life.

So I think I would remind myself that accidents occur everywhere, all the time and can be most severe in there consequences but that does not mean that you the individual will suffer the same fate. It means more that it should remind you life is very precious and to make the moments count.

[MarkJ]

If I were in your situation I would buy a track bike that can't go on the road and a trailer/van, do some trackdays and see how they feel about it. Then gradually ween them into road bikes again

Judging by your name, Snetterton can't be far away either

[-Matt-]

[map]

My condolences for the loss of your friend.

If I were you I'd skip the 125.
The lower cc tricks you into thinking they're safer.
They are quite slow though and have limitations.

I'd go for something in the 400 to 650 range.
600cc and under will save you £21 road (vehicle) tax (£57 vs £78).

My reasoning behind this is the larger machine is more versatile, generally physically larger, so more comfort/luggage carrying for commute. I also find they're easier to actually ride.

When I took my DAS the move up from 125 to 500 was a revelation. I can understand why people are intimidated by larger cc. However, I found things so much easier.

For your commute have you considered one of the larger Burgman style scooters? Large carrying capacity, better weather protection than a bike and can still filter through the traffic. Only the smaller wheels may cause issues depending on the roads/route you use. People tour on those things so maybe not so much of an issue really.

I'd certainly sign up for some more training. Either a 1to1 session or see what IAM groups near you offer. These probably closed down though until next Easter. Also have a look at BikeSafe.

Best of luck
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[MarJay]

I know of at least two amazingly skilled stunt riders who took amazing risks on big bikes but then died on four stroke 125s. I hardly think a four stroke 125 is safer.

I'd say a mid capacity bike is going to be the best. Not super quick but big enough and fast enough to not get stuck in traffic. Something like a CB500 would be perfect IMO.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Walloper]

[P.]

I watched my friend get torn apart about 3 weeks after I did my CBT. He died instantly and I have crashed a few times, 1 life threatening. I still ride, because I want to. If you want to, do it.

[MarJay]

[garth]

When your times up, your time is up. Do what makes you happy.

I don't think about the risks of riding, it's something that is out of my control. I don't really do stupid things on the roads anymore, I save 'pushing it' for the track, away from the risks of traffic etc.

You could be killed at any time, don't sweat it.

[esullivan]

I, too, have had friends die on bikes. I have five children, a grandchild and frequently ride with my wife (the mother/grandmother of the aforementioned) as pillion. I don't think that makes my life any more valuable, but it does mean lots of people I care about will be hurt if I meet the Lorry Tyre of Destiny. There's no pussy-footing around it: motorbikes are dangerous, and we are choosing to do it when plenty of alternatives exist.

Still, everyone dies, but not everyone lives. I worry about my kids, who pursue even more dangerous activities such as rock climbing and scuba diving, but I don't expect anything less from them. Live life to the full.

I ride sensibly and try to get additional training as often as I'm able (bikesafe, private tuition, RoSPA). I manage the risk somewhat by doing this. But I'm not kidding myself. By any reason or logic, what we're doing is unnecessary.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[Walloper]

[esullivan]

[cbrtrxtdmvfrD...]

My sister is an undertaker and does occasionally mention to me what she finds at a road-side call out, not to necessarily scare me but just "job talk" - what did you do today? kind of thing - I have been a full time road motorcyclist since 1987 choosing not to have a car, i have tried driving a car and hated every minute of it. I consider myself to be getting on a bit age wise now to be topping Dartmoor on my 6am commute to work but there is no way i can stop myself, every aspect of motorcycling i enjoy from this to lazy summer days in France - There will come a day when i will genuinely be unable to safely ride a bike daily, that day will be a sad day but the day i choose to retire from work as the warmth of France will call me with a classic Triumph which i shall then be able to ride. - Incidentally my sister (the undertaker) gets very few calls to motorcyclists, more so to other road users so make of this what you will - when your times up as they say
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Right' O