Worrier or Confident ?

[shellshock]

After the death of a close biker friend, I have been thinking about death and biking, and wondered how you guys think before you ride ?

Are you supremely confident and think that death will never happen to you, its all the other arses out there that die ?

Do you worry on each and every ride that something might happen, to the point of being so paranoid that you hate the whole journey ?

Or are you just aware that it could happen, stay aware and enjoy the ride ?

I realise someone may call me morbid, or say I worry too much, but I'm just interested to find out peoples general thoughts .

I have many more theories on this, but I won't ellaborate because 1/ Its late and 2/ I'm semi pished.

[instigator]

I never worry yet I don't get over-confident in my abilities, which are quite minimal. However, I lose confidence in my bike front end and am jsut wondering whether theres something wrong with the bike (I'm pushing it beyond its use) or I'm not using it right

Either way, I'm not a worrier in life. In riding a bike and anything else. Quietly confident.

[Runaway987]

I havent had someone close to me die from a bike accident yet.

However i think my take on things would be the same.

Im here for a good life - not necessarily a long one

[Fruit'n'nut]

I don't worry about shuffling off this mortal coil 'cos I don't usually/often RLAC and I try to ride defensively - so I think I'm more likely to be killed through somebody else's actions than my own, when I'm on my bike.



I do worry about losing the front through coarse steering input though, having suffered a front-end inspired "off" last year
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Power Ranger

[Gazdaman]

If I die, I die. I will have been doing something I love.

I think I'm quite a competent rider, therefore the chances are fairly low.

I lost a friend today, just thinking of it makes you think that you can't put things off, you've got to do what makes you happy, live life to the full.

If I was worried about dieing on a bike I may aswell wrap myself in bubble wrap and lock myself in a basement.


Ride in a way and at a speed that makes you happy, if you die in the process, you die happy.

Gaz

[White Noise]

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

The thought didnt cross my mind until now!

Worrying in a way as I dont really have much self preservation, im wouldnt say I was a bad/dangerous rider and I dont want to get hurt, but that's my only problem. I worry about the pain, not much else. I just ride.

Looking back I had 2 little moments today that I barely think about, but ive learnt from them already.

1) wing-mirrors get left between the lanes (ie on white lines) when filtering along dual-carriageways/motorways, not sure how but they do. This gives you an unexpected bumpon little 125 tyres!

2) Fiat Brava's dont always go round corners in control, especially dangerous when your views partially obscured and about to pull out.

Both potentially very dangerous if you choose to view it that way, otherwise it's just another thing.

To sum that up, I dont. I'm too busy concentrating on what's around me now or what's about to happen
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[RickHolt]

I've always been option 3, until recently when my girlfriend and dad started really moaning at me and going on about the dangers etc. Then I became a option 2. After a few days of that, I realised I wasn't having fun, and I was riding alot more dangerously than before. So I told my gf and dad to lay off, or they'll kill me by moaning. Now I'm back to option 3 Best mood to be in really. Relaxed but alert, and riding at your own pace.

I have since then explained the problem in more detail to my girlfriend and parents so they don't feel bad if I have an accident.

[dotti]

I fit into the following category:

[Fire_Eyes]

Everytime I get on a bike I know how fast the bike goes and how easy it is to get killed on one. I respect bikes and always enjoy riding them. That's why everytime I get on a bike I try to be more alert and less of a Rossi, I focus alot and try to learn from every mistake. If you really like bikes, and also know the dangers of riding one then I think you can ride and enjoy it as long as you are focused and riding right. I'm not sayin don't go fast, I think we all go fast. I'm just saying there is a time and palce for everything.
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Kawasaki ZZR 400 | K5 GSX-R 600

[Weed]

I don't worry, I have the occasional hairy moment, as most drivers/riders do, but one thing that I do ALWAYS do, I say goodbye to my mum, and give her a hug. Just incase
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"Just Believe"

[Fellony]

I'm not overly confident, but i don't concern my self with what if's and the like. I'll ride conservatively, but sometimes do silly things and open it up. I am guilty of some really stupid things i've done to get the adrenaline rushing though. I'm my own worst danger.
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A2 License
'92 Honda CBR400RR NC29

[Craggles]

I worry more about trying to continually improve my riding, with the hope that I can avoid any accident.

I don't go zooming down lines of traffic, weaving in and out at 100mph. Thats one sure way to get yourself killed! Where I see a gap in traffic, I'll take it.

I don't get on my bike and think "I may not be coming back today". If I did that I'd have to think that when I walk down the road to the shops, or get in a mates car. I try and ride carefully and sensibly, but with the confidence needed to get from A to B, taking all the advantages using a bike gives me.

As someones signature here says "Its better to arrive 30 seconds late in this world, than 30 years early in the next"

Craig
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If this signature is blue, you're riding too fast

[Dom_]

I'm none of what you described, imo opinion anyway (You may think differently. )

I used to be well over confident, but i've calmed down a bit now. When going round corners i now think 'aww i could have gone 10mph faster round this' whereas before i used to think 'ooh shit, i'm not going to make this.'

[mr.z]

I worry more when i'm out in a car than on my bike...
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Jammy-G]

I don't care if I die really, I'd rather die than have horrible injuries and a mashed up bike (tpo cover).

Worrying takes all the fun out of riding.
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RooRoo: just like the time i stuck my finger up my arse with no lube at all and she didnt talk to me for hours

[feef]

having had a crash, (head on with a car, left hander, I ran wide and POO..) which resulted in a split pelvis, a seriously mangled wrist requiring bone grafts, reconstruction and pinning (and a plate in my pelvis that will allways be there) I think myself lucky.

Very close to riding the great track in the sky.

Lying in the hospital bed, after a 10hour op, I remember thinking it;s not worth it.


By the time I was able to walk weith the aid of a frame, I got to the Window and saw a metallic gold T reg fazer (custom paint job) and sometjhing inside went "ping" and I KNEW I had to ride again.

I ride knowing full well that accidents DO and WILL happen. I was very lucky to walk away (eventually) from my crash.

I don't spend all my time worrying about if/when I'll have a crash. but I DO make a definate effort to be extra aware of my own abilities/speed and of the others around me on the road.

It's all a risk assesement.

and for me, the risk it worth the enjoyment.

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

Having discussed this subject on another forum, having lost two friends on bikes in the space of eight weeks, I am quietly certain that sooner or later I will screw up and my bike will hurt me. Whether I do it now, or whether I overcook it on the new 250 I'm after is just down to chance I imagine.

Despite the loss of two close friends, I still ride quickly and I still take risks. I love riding and I don't want anything to "dilute" the experience.

I know one day or other I'm gonna screw up, I also know that when I die, it'll be in my leathers and lid.
People point out the "pointlessness" of dying on a bike, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It'd be embarrasing to die of anything else.

The "big one"'s no doubt somewhere in the pipeline, I know it's coming, but I don't think twice about getting on a bike because I wouldn't have it any other way.
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https://www.bikepics.com/members/nsrandy/96rs250/ My Bike!

"I'm either going to teach andy to get his knee down, or I'm going to get him killed. One of the two" - Teaman

[Keith]

[Jrod]

I know it's always a risk but when I get going I think about making the corners and not crashing. Dieing never comes into my head.

[steveh]

Personaly i think im a confident person, but i dont want to be to confident as i know what will happen to me, so i try ride relaxed but alert, i dont worry when im out on the road, only if its icy and i Have to ride as dads not in to give me a lift


Steve.
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Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[Akiraprise]

I'm neither confident nor scared of the roads, I know what I can do on a bike and i don't push my limits too far at once.

I'm extremely cautious on the roads, I'm very good to ride with, i know where drain covers are and i miss them, whenever i see a car near a entrance or headlights i slow down and keep my hands on the brakes incase.

I also notice which cars are about, ie piolice cars and allways know when theyre following me.

however i've fallen off 3 times

[Blink]

As Baz Luhrmann once said:

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as solving an algebra equation by chewing on bubble gum
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The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.

[Nighteyes]

[instigator]