What would make you give up bikes?

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Am interested in what would make people give up biking after learning that I am looking at a very long time or possibly never being able to be allowed on the roads. What would have to have to make you stop riding, use something like a car or the trains instead. I am not talking about stuff like injuries, but things happening that would be enough to make you not want to take the risk of riding on the roads as we are all aware that it is a more dangerous mode of transport than a car or using public transport.

Will put my own thoughts on this up in the morning and after giving it some thoughts, but would be interested to hear other peoples views. Would be something like being involved in a serious bike accident and escaping with injuries not enough to physically stop or come near to riding but to bring it home quite how vulnerable you are as a bike on the roads. Or having a friend involved in a serious bike crash and not being able to ride again, or without serious adaptations due to losing leg(s) or something similar.

Yur opinions on this subject then people? Thumbs Up

Neoluke · Banned Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Karma :

If I saw someone very close to me die or get seriously hurt whilst on a bike.
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Neoluke

dodsi · Dirty Carny Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Karma :

same, if one of my mates died through no fault of his own right in front of me i would definatly give up motorcycling!

WildGoose · White Van Man Joined: 20 Mar 2002 Karma :

probly as above, but it's hard to say, hopefully i'll never have to cross that bridge

i would like to say it would take a hell of a lot, as its about the only thing i do that combines real fun and real freedom Thumbs Up

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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

PsychoHippy · Jammy Git Joined: 01 Jul 2002 Karma :

Nothing, apart from my own death. Or MrsHippy asking me to. Or my wrists getting so bad my only option was to ride a BMW (shudders) Shocked

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I spend all my money on bikes and beer, the rest I simply waste!

tgabber · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

I think the only thing that might stop me short of a wooden box would be if I'd killed or seriously injured somebody else with my bike or come very close to doing that, which I sincerely hope never occurs.

Even then, I'm not sure. Shit happens.

On the other hand, if the weather continues the way it's going I might just quit out of frustration Sad

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"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

ZaphodBeeble · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Karma :

I feel similar to gabber. If I killed or injured someone badly I don't think I would like to risk that happening again. I would at least seriously question whether I have the ability that I believe I have.

Hmm...
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Current bike: VTR1000F Firestorm. Previous: Firestorm (written off) - XJ600 Divvy - NSR125 - DT125 and a load of offroaders.

AcIdBuRnZ · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Karma :

Winter. I'm thinking about selling the bike and buying a cheap car to run through the winter months. Might sound like I'm being soft here, but reason is I had access to a car last winter so on really bad days I could take the car - this winter it's bike all the way... which is why I'm thinking of swopping the bike until next summer.

Just a completely out-of-the-blue decision, but I value my life more than my riding.
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Past: Honda NSR125R >> Kawasaki ER-5a2 >> Kawasaki ZZR-600e1 >> Suzuki GSXR-750Y >> Honda VTR 1000 Firestorm
"Chickity China the Chinese Chicken..."

aqualung1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Karma :

have been there severall times, few crashes by me, my mate ending in intensive ( now blind) ,my brother lost a leg, friend died

somehow i still ride, if in blood you do, and no one in family did before me ( parents still hate it)
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"still no idea where poohsticks bridge is"
www.bosunsbikes.com

Git · Brolly Dolly Joined: 17 Dec 2003 Karma :

Driving almost 2ooomiles every week in four wheels has certainly stopped me getting on a bike this year, semi given up already Rolling Eyes

Spiral · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Karma :

I've been in a bad accident myself a good while ago and as i have said to people it can take time to get back on a bike, even though i was not harmed permantley i ended up in hospital for nearly a month with 2 broken ribs 4 fractures and more bruises than i could count.

I was more worried about something being wrong that would hurt me in later life though when i was in hospital recovering.

But i guess everyone has different views i couldn't see myself ever not into biking in some way or another though maybe if i was blind that would end it for me!
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map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

I'd like to think nothing would. I like to think I'll be one of those old gents tootling around on a BMW, even if it's just at weekends. If I end up in a wheelchair I've seen moped trikes that you can put put the chair in Shocked

Realistically at the moment the only think that'd stop me is financial. Not being able to afford a repair or a new/secondhand bike and keep it on the road.

Thumbs Up

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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? Very Happy

bikegirl · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 29 May 2004 Karma :

I almost gave up because of 3 major back ops in 2 years. I stopped for 2 years because of the pain. However when I got back on as a spur of the moment thing all the passion that goes with it flooded back. It's been my passion since I was 15 and now I think I'll stop again when I'm an OAP and I can't see/shake to much to hold the bike/keep messing the saddle.

It sucks that you might not be able to get back on the roads let alone a bike.
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www.bikegirl.co.uk

Jinx · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 10 Apr 2004 Karma :

My arthritis will I suspect require me to eventually give up (all though I am hoping I will at least be able to ride a trike once I can no longer ride a bike)

My mother gave up after haveing two extremely close calls - the first was hitting some ice in a carpark and she ended up with her legs under a car but fortunately the car stopped just in time, the second was only about a week later on a roundabout she hit deisel I think and came of and wen under a lorry - thank god she was travelling so fast, and the lorry not so fast, she went straight through and was missed by all wheels, but it really scared her. She is quite supersticious and she wouldnt risk the third accident which she believed would kill her so she stopped and has never ridden since.
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Sticks and stones may break my bones but leather and chains excite me! Twisted Evil

Minky_monkey · Traffic Copper Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Karma :

I went out to a guy yesterday who had a serious crash four years ago. He broke his arm in five places, smashed his jaw to pieces and suffered a certain amount of brain damage.

He received some money from the accident this year and has just gone and bought a brand new GSX-R6!

I don't know whether I could've done the same thing, I think I'd be having second thoughts about it.

Sadie · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Karma :

I don't think anything would stop me, and if my great aunt is anything to go by, I'll still be riding at 84!

Laughing

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With experience comes age.

Minky_monkey · Traffic Copper Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Karma :

We used to have an old lady living over the road, she must've been in her eighties. She used to ride an old Honda Melody! Cool

Sadie · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Karma :

My aunt sold her AJS the weekend before she died in 2001.

She learned to ride during the war, then married a Lithuanian aircraft engineer with a passion for trike building (don't forget that this was in the 1940s!).

They rode all over the world on trikes and when he died she went back to riding a solo for the next twenty years.

I still have her helmet.
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With experience comes age.

hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I just don't know. When it happens, I guess I'll know Sad

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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

JonB · Afraid of Mileage Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

GPS Speed control where satallites control how fast you go whenever you go through a 50MPH limit on a blatant 60 road. Evil or Very Mad

Or dying.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

dainesefreak · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Karma :

Difficult to say really as you can't predict the future, but at the moment the only thing I can see is my untimely demise. Wink

McJamweasel · BCF Junkie Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Karma :

I don't think I would stop due to a friend being hurt/killed in an accident. I know that if the situation was reversed then i wouldn't want anyone to stop because I'd been hurt.

I think it could only be due to injuries to myself. If the government gets too harsh on it then I'll stick to track riding instead.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Really can't say.

Can't say if I had a bad accident if it would stop me or not. Hopefully never find out. Confused

Can't say if a friend had a bad accident if it would stop me or not. None of the people I know have had *serious* bike accidents, just ones that have made me think twice about carrying things in a rucksack or about buying better boots or such. Have had friends hurt much more seriously or killed in car accidents and I still drive.

The Government thing? Naah, I'd just change my angle if the laws got too oppressive - more track riding, something slower for the road, emigrate...

Someone asking me to... no, don't think so.

Death. Reckon that'd do it. Laughing

JodieWodie · Reflective Banana Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

If my Fiance died in a bike accident, that would shake me seriously....
but I don't know if I would stop riding...
hmmm...

Can't think what else....
if the Government made it so expensive that it was the bike or food for my kid then...bye bye bike.
But I would be devastated.
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Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"

TheShaggyDA · Repost Police Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

I quit last time for purely financial reasons.

To make me quit again, I guess it would have to be having a serious accident, but not because I would want to quit (far from it) but for my wife's sake. I've got her "grudging acceptance" for getting back on the road.

I love biking, but I love my wife more.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]