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considering not riding?

1372 Views 24 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  bnutz24
Has anyone considered not riding as a result of Andy's accident? My wife knew I was upset by it and asked me if I was going to still ride. Actually, I've ridden to work every day this week so it was kind of a silly question. And I've had friends killed on bikes but they were drinking. I guess she thinks quitting riding would be an obvious choice since she just sold her street bike after a couple near misses. Andy's accident actually makes me want to ride more because an ACCIDENT can happen anytime. I want to enjoy myself before I "get hit by a bus". But I know people who sold their bikes because of someone elses accident. Just curious how you guys feel.


BTW if anyone is having problems with the acident or Andy's condition and needs someone to tell it to call my cell. (815)236-1627.
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bluebusa60544 said:
Has anyone considered not riding as a result of Andy's accident? My wife knew I was upset by it and asked me if I was going to still ride. Actually, I've ridden to work every day this week so it was kind of a silly question. And I've had friends killed on bikes but they were drinking. I guess she thinks quitting riding would be an obvious choice since she just sold her street bike after a couple near misses. Andy's accident actually makes me want to ride more because an ACCIDENT can happen anytime. I want to enjoy myself before I "get hit by a bus". But I know people who sold their bikes because of someone elses accident. Just curious how you guys feel.


BTW if anyone is having problems with the acident or Andy's condition and needs someone to tell it to call my cell. (815)236-1627.
I was telling someone at the bbq last night that I had never known anyone that had a serious accident on a bike until now. I've been riding for a long time and those things amazingly didn't happen. I have to admit some discouragement and I haven't really felt like riding much lately. I even took it real easy up at Jims this weekend riding in the back instead of near the front where I would usually follow Cherry and Rabbit. The thing I struggle with is I still love to ride. I know the dangers everytime I leave my driveway, but it still burns me up to see that happen to Andy. I'll even be man enough to admit to a few tears reading through some of the post on his accident. I don't think I'll stop riding but I'll tell you after that night I was close. You just need some time to let things sink in and put them in perspective. I seriously think even Andy will ride again if he is able, but if you decide not to that's ok. Sometimes we know the dangers of our actions but block them out until something bad happens and then have to re-visit our thoughts on the matter. But I think thats ok too. I won't rip on anyone that decides not to ride as a result of all this.
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G
Well as you all know I had just been involved in an accident.. Everyone tells me how lucky I was to get hit head on.. I joke and laugh that I was real lucky.. I lost out on a great bike.. But they are right material things can be replaced. Iam riding again .,... no thanks to the insurance company whom as of yet have paid me. but I am out and about.. Andy is a friend but think abou tit.. We ride cause we enjoy it.. well at least I do.. Mistakes and accidents do happen but they are just that.. Accidents.. I will always ride. It makes me feel good...

But thats my own opinion.
i also made a thread for guy kinda having a hard time right now

http://www.chicagolandsportbikes.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1885

just remember live life, be happy and dont regret anything that makes you happy what ever it might be.
Unfortunately, that is the nature of the beast. There is nothing wrong with putting things into perspective and choosing not to ride. Friends and Family are always reminding me of the dangers this hobby possesses. Every phone conversation with my father ends with "Be carefull with that motorcycle shit" (in and old man condescending voice)

I enjoy riding very much and I was telling vivid1 the other night that I think of riding as my therapy. I have spent many of nights gathering my thoughts on a long twisty road out in the country somewhere.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I would not think any less of anyone that re-evaluated there love for this sport. The moment this becomes more stress than fun it is time to move on.

my 2 cents. Be safe all and I will see you on the next ride!!!!!
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If I stopped doing everything I saw happen to someone in the 3 1/2 yyears I've been a paramedic...I would never leave my house! I will ride tommorrow, I will race in some coming weekend, I will drive on the freeway, I will drink a beer, I will mow my lawn, I will climb a ladder, I will use power tools, I will go out in 100 degree weather, I will operate my corded shaver in the shower...oh wait, no I WON"T do that.

I've seen bad tthings happen on everyone of those situations...but like gulpacoke said...accidents happen...:(
Cause me not to ride. NO

Rethink how I ride and what I do on a bike. YES.
Champ91 said:
Cause me not to ride. NO

Rethink how I ride and what I do on a bike. YES.
Exactly, I'm fallin less in love with the twisties now and thinkin more and nore about wheelies in industrial parks. These crashes in the twisties are just to risky, first M3 Racer and now Andy.
GsxrTony said:


Exactly, I'm fallin less in love with the twisties now and thinkin more and nore about wheelies in industrial parks. These crashes in the twisties are just to risky, first M3 Racer and now Andy.
Don't forget all the crash list that didn't have an encounter with a guardrail, guy wire, tree, cliff, rock, etc.!

Also, it's not the twisties that are risky, it's what you're doing on them.
BusaDave said:
Also, it's not the twisties that are risky, it's what you're doing on them.
I agree also note that a motorcycle is alot safer with 2 wheels on the ground then it is with one;)
I will not stop riding. I couldn't if I tried. It is definately therapy for me, and my way of stepping away from everyday headaches. If I didn't ride motorcycles, I'd go nutz. I've been riding motorcycles in some fashion since the third grade. I have had people I know die in accidents even before I started riding sportbikes. I still went out and bought one, and I will still continue to ride it after this accident.

If anything this makes you think more about the things you do on your bike. I know alot of times I get riding in a zone and I push further and further. It's these times (when we're on the street) that you need to realize, that it's not just you and the bike out there. There's cars, theres oil on the roads from cars, theres pedestrians, there's all sorts of shit that you have NO control over, even though you feel as though it's just you and that bike. We aren't invincible and we will break much easier than ANYTHING that we hit if we go down. This latest accident will make me reconsider situations that I'm uncomfortable with. If I don't feel good about something... I'll hang back and play catch up in the straights. If I know the roads, and I know the conditions are good, then I will be pushing with the rest of you psychos. :evil
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Re: Re: considering not riding?

Crazy said:
I was telling someone at the bbq last night that I had never known anyone that had a serious accident on a bike until now. I've been riding for a long time and those things amazingly didn't happen. I have to admit some discouragement and I haven't really felt like riding much lately.
same here actually...I've never known ANYONE to crash and be seriously hurt...I've heard stories but never knew the people. I've known Andy since last year and everytime I read about updates, I get all sad inside...I keep thinking is it worth riding to possibly....well you know. It's just somewhat disheartening. I haven't been riding much myself lately and when I do it's usually just on sundays for an all day thing on the highway.
BusaDave said:


Don't forget all the crash list that didn't have an encounter with a guardrail, guy wire, tree, cliff, rock, etc.!

Also, it's not the twisties that are risky, it's what you're doing on them.
Oh I know, Theres plenty of them that turn out just fine. All this shit is just gettin to me, thats all. I'll get over it, I was the same way when Ryan lost his leg.
GsxrTony said:


Oh I know, Theres plenty of them that turn out just fine. All this shit is just gettin to me, thats all. I'll get over it, I was the same way when Ryan lost his leg.
I wasn't meaning to point to crashes that turn out fine other than to say that each of these could have also been a problem too had the circumstances been slightly different.

The intent of the post was to suggest less crashes and more riding. Everyone SHOULD reevaluate their riding when these things happen. Learning from mistakes is how we survive!
BusaDave said:



The intent of the post was to suggest less crashes and more riding. Everyone SHOULD reevaluate their riding when these things happen. Learning from mistakes is how we survive!
I agree fully. The street definatly needs to be treated less like a race track out there. Even I started to feel invincable out there, but the truth is it is very dangerous to push the linits on public roads. Safe it for the track all. I think i am going to be hittin the drag strip a lot more and just cruisin on the roads. Someday if I can afford track days maybe I'll start hittin those too.
In 1992 a good friend of my boyfriend's at the time, was riding with some guys from Busse Woods on a Sunday afternoon on 355. He lost control right before the exit. He crashed in to the retaining wall at 70 MPH and the impact threw him over the exit ramp and into the grass. This was a guy we used to ride with all the time. I was on the back of my boyfriend's GSXR 1100 at the time. I still think about this accident. We spent so many hours that whole month at Loyola just looking at this guy lay there in a coma. The doctor's didn't think he was going to pull though. There was too much damage. They had to drill his head to relieve the pressure. Finally after a month he came out of it but he had brain damage. He spent another two months getting back his strength, learning how to walk again. I've seen his life before and seen his life after and I know it only takes a moment to change your life forever.
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Serious re-thinking in this household...:(
Been considering not street riding for the last year. Not due to crashes, but due to harrassment by the local PD, poor drivers and other crap. Just losing interest in riding. Hell was thinking of selling all the bikes and buying a car to race SCCA again. Alot depends on if I get a house with a big garage (prefer a second 2 1/2 car detached along with an attacheched garage).
No. Just got this bike and I plan on putting 50k+miles on it:)

I think I would go nuts not riding. At worst case I would get a dirt bike or a quad.
Jughead said:
At worst case I would get a dirt bike or a quad.
I can just see you now on your quad riding down the city streets with all your bling bling on, boom box strap to the back playing eminems greatest hits.
Guys i think we found are next ICY HOT STUNTA!!:jester :rofl :rofl :rofl
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