If you're a regular poster around here and then all of a sudden you get busy and stop posting for awhile, it seems folks start automatically thinking the worst has happened to you. Is riding these things really that dangerous?

I 'spose some are more paranoid than others. From rumor mills and talking with others, it seems these particular animals are called, and I quote, "women".

Is riding these things really that dangerous?

* Last updated by: willidx4 on 6/24/2010 @ 3:42 PM *

it seems folks start automatically thinking the worst has happened to you

Na, I just think maybe they got bored. It happens 2 me.

No the bikes aren't dangerous but the people that ride them can be for sure. Sport bike guys love to use the streets as there personal race track thats when things go bad most of the time.

Sound familiar?? "bikes aren't dangerous but the people that ride them can be for sure." Even a 600 ---if it's taking 30' radius turns at 60 mph.

I have to admit, I have had a couple of what we might refer to as "close calls" lately. Was toying with a couple cages and planned to swing over a lane to invite one guy up next to me. YA--I glanced in my mirror and signalled but thank God I also looked. The other guy had crept right up next to me where I was about to pull in. I always turn my head to peek before lane chages and it saved my arse that time.

Came around beautiful left into right S-curve, onto the expressway ~9K rpm and nailed it wide open to redline through third gear into 4, over a little rise---------low and behold, we have a couple semis pulling off the (really narrow) shoulder and right into my lane--cages over in the next lane it's either lose about 90 mph in two and a half seconds or I'd be lane splitting...or kissing the back of that truck. I could tell by the way the driver hesitated to pull further onto the road that he knew I was coming at the last second but there wasn't much he could do to get his rig out of my little, tiny way. The 14's brakes are really amazing aren't they?? Saved my arse again.

One more----was doing my favorite highway out in the country. I usually just do the twisties and go home the same way I came. This day, I decided to make a big loop and take the mile - mile and a half straights to the next town and come back home another way. I am not familiar with the straights. They're a great place to do some high speed runs but I don't do that real often. I approached an intersection. I never knew I had a stop sign until I was 100 feet away which would have been okay if I was doing the posted speed. Once again, that 14 sure has some amazing brakes. I floated the back tire for every one of those 100 feet. There were cars there stopped at the intersection. They didn't take off for a few seconds. We all just sat there somewhat awestruck.

Is this sport really that dangerous?? Yes. Ironically, the better your riding skills get, the more dangerous it becomes. When you get to the point that you are developing speed techniques to avoid slower traffic--that's dangerous. I have heard many times that speed alone does not increase risk. I believe that, however the unexpected things like road debris and slow moving vehicles don't mix very well with speed at all.

We all have to have fun but the most important thing is to stay in one piece.

* Last updated by: Rook on 6/24/2010 @ 6:39 PM *

Been a hot day. I thnk I'll take a nice ride out in the cool night air before the sun goes down. Don't anyone worry about moi.

Is this sport really that dangerous?? Yes. Ironically, the better your riding skills get, the more dangerous it becomes.

I have to respectfully disagree. For me, as my riding skill slowly improves, it's true that I learn how to better utilize this technological rocket ship more, but I believe I also gain more of an appreciation for what possible side effects could occur by attempting to test her limits. I feel like I drive more fluidly than before, but still am able to corner into the apex as aggressively, but without getting close to the edge and feeling sheepish because I just tried to do something that would cause my wife to make that visit to the hospital or, worse yet, the cemetery.

Personally, the degree of danger never goes away in my mind because of these idiotic inattentive 4-wheeled death machines unintentionally trying to end my life on a constant basis. This is my mindset every time I get on the bike - "What situation might arise today that I have to dodge idiocy?". I overly anticipate and ASSUME they're going to pull out in front of me or move over into my lane or "not see me" each and every single day. When I was in the military, I was cockier and thought to myself, "You better make room or stay in your lane cuz I'm over here" and assume they always saw me. Got me in a wreck. Was an humbling experience. Traffic was only coming one way and the fscker didn't even bother to look my way so I laid it down and ran into the bottom of his van instead of T-boning him with the bike stood up. I suffered no injuries except bruises and, even though I was younger, I wasn't stupid enough to ride gear-less, thank God.

Some people have posted about serious health problems. There was an announcement of a death on the old forum, natural causes. I do not recall being informed of any member's motorcycle death but I do remember a guy who was injured severely in an accident on his 14. He had a thread going about his progress on the old forum just before it went down.

I think big life changes can cause people to stop posting. I was just worn out emotionally over some issues in my personal life and I stopped posting for a month. Who wrote a topic to ask about me///?\ It was good ol' Mass who also had some great arguments with me on line....2 or 3 times. LOL

Strange how frequent posters are remebered but life goes on when they quit. BnB. BadinBlack. That guy had a zillion posts and he really had some great info. I'm sure he just decided forum posting just didn't have a place in his life anymore. Lets face it, if you post every day or two for months, it becomes a part of your life. You're also a part of all the frequent readers' lives.

Rook on a serious note I noticed you had stop posting but I figured you had joined one of those gay Busa boards and found new buds. Not implying that you might be gay or any of that. You know those guys that always use emocations the other boards.

I admit to mostly lurking since this forum was created. I was one of the "ones" discussing a nasty accident that was bike related. It started when another rider had a close call with a cage. I have not posted much, because I was so far out in the sticks, it would have cost a fortune for net access. I am now back in the "world".

I have been riding on the street for 26 years, and anyone who says it not dangerous is a fool. Yes, rider skill and common since do come into play. But we cannot control what others do, period. We can anticipate, and react. Hopefully we do this successfully. I do think where you ride makes a big difference also. Some places people just are more aware, nicer etc. A town near me now seems to be full of the I'm in a car you'll move for me types.

Just my humble perspective,

Ron

...I figured you had joined one of those gay Busa boards and found new buds. Not implying that you might be gay or any of that. You know those guys that always use emocations the other boards.

Cars do cause problems but the story you guys are telling is only part of the issue. Riders do a lot of stupid shit or just lack even the most basic motorcycle skills.Look at this low speed crash if this guy took a three day basic motorcycle course this would have never happen and if he did take a class he should find another hobby.

Your text to link here...

Looks like he's taking the tightest line possible entering the curve and hasn't got the stones to hold it---then locks the rear wheel with brake which doesn't slow him down near enough anyway--then goes into a slide and over the rail. Regardless of his skill level, I have feeling that guy have avoided that one if he was familair with the road. I used to like to enter a corner on the inside like that guy tried to do. My technique is now to enter on the outside , cut to the inside and exit back out to the outside. Seems to work well for gathering speed andgetting through the corner quickest but it's not real effective if you don't know the road. That's when bad things happen and no technique is going to save you once you surpassed your skills or the bikes limitations.

Total Control is now taught by MSF here in Hagerstown MD. Code teaches the class. Even in the standard MSF Experienced Rider course, they teach apexing.

If more riders just allowed themselves to be humbled by some old scraggly MSF Experienced instructor one Saturday a year, fewer would do stupid stuff like described above.

And trust me, not one of you posting or lurking could avoid being humbled in MSF Experienced or Total Control class.

Willi!Glad to see yer still around Bro.EXCELLENT choice of vids there my man...just excellent.Both those(well,I watched the other ones as well as the first vid)...show what NOT to do,but it's easy to get caught up with the "scare" factor.TARGET FIXATION.If ya watch they're head positions during the "Friday scheduled Test"...they're lookin straight at where they want to escape from.They BOTH could have made those curves.Glad they weren't seriously damaged...maybe their pride just a tad...that won't kill ya.(or maybe it will??? )

...Oh yeah,back to the topic....is the sport dangerous.Well hell yeah!And the bikes we ride are dangerous.Way big HP and torque...built for speed.Great brakes...but only to a point.It's still only TWO WHEELS....not good for having to make snap direction changes at velocity.Lock one up...now you're ridin on ONE wheel.Basically.I KNOW my bike's dangerous.I've been bit already by my baby....no thanks....don't want THAT again.But isn't that a part of the whole motorcycling package?What fun would it be if the wheels were connected to the road by a track or something.Nah...I'd rather have the thrill of the "maybe" than the sure fire "it can't".Dangerous...hell yeah baby!

Adrenaline...the wonder drug!("do not activate without adult supervision")

...Speed....curve...look right in front of motorcycle....speed appears faster than what it is...panic....look where you're going to hit...apply brakes...lock wheels...bike straightens,you lock up from fear,no longer in control,motorcycle goes right where you stared at..you're upcoming rapidly approaching impact zone...forgetting ALL your motorcycling experience,you perform an excellent high side,complete with your now trashed once beautiful Ninja.Complete....you just ruined yer beautiful ride,and the rest of your weekend as well.

...Speed....curve....look ahead at the curving road,not in front of motorcycle..the farther out,the slower it will appear...which is good...SOME apprehension(fear).Stop that process IMMEDIATELY...FOCUS NOW,don't wait(all that "time in the world" just disappeared out the friggin window..like about 150 feet ago!)...apply LIGHT rear brake if possible,or none at all...and simultaneously...LEAN IN to the road curve.....forget about looking at the"possible" "impact zone"....STAY FOCUSED on the curve,and LIGHTLY readjust throttle if needed,AND your lean...push more,lean more.KNOW that your bike will want to stand up with any deceleration,which can effectively cancel out any lean and cause you to NOT be able to stay on your line.Trust your tires and your training(you ARE using your rides as part of your ongoing learning experience,yes?).Stay FOCUSED on the ROAD ahead.STOP looking at the shoulder..look at the center line if anything...ahead of your motorcycle.MAKE yourself do it(fear will get you killed...it is your MORTAL ENEMY...IT WILL TAKE CHARGE IF YOU LET IT).You WILL survive and ride for the rest of the day, a bit more experienced and confident in your bike and you.You Passed!!!(now you can get home safely and change your shorts...another GREAT DAY on yer AWESOME spaceship!....the world's FASTEST and most Powerful production motorcycle made! WoooHoooo.)And YOU own it!(maybe NEXT time,you'll be a tad more leery about hittin that twistie that you've never been on before

* Last updated by: blue07 on 6/26/2010 @ 4:31 PM *

!(maybe NEXT time,you'll be a tad more leery about hittin that twistie that you've never been on before

It is simply impossible to see all the way through most of the curves i ride. If I can see the end of the curve from the start, it wasn't much of a curve. I look where I want my bike to go but equally important, i know that curve because i have taken it so many times. However, we road riders never know what might be in the road ahead.

* Last updated by: Rook on 6/26/2010 @ 5:25 PM *

Someone agree that is steep right before that rail, you are driving out of a nasty turn as it is.

+1 You can see why he si riding the center line after coming out of that last corner.

Still, all goes back to "know the road." Either that or the law of averages is going to catch up with you pretty quickly.

Never, never go fast on a road you don't know. It is not a matter of if you will crash but only a matter of when. Track riding is great but fast street riding is a skill set of it's own, the two overlap but they are not the same. On the track you have to memorize braking markers, turn in points and corner apexes for a limited number of turns then goooooooo! You don't have to contend with gravel, sand, wet leaves, oil spills, drunk drivers and road raged cagers etc. etc. Most racers I've known don't even like road riding anymore. Good case in point, Rossi may be the fastest in the world on a short circuit but John McGuiness and others like him that race the Isle of Man TT and put it all on the line are my real heroes. Rossi says he'll never run the IOM, too dangerous.

I have to agree with Kruz and others about road racing. For me, it carries too much risk. I did it once before and found loose gravel on the road - too late - already committed in the turn. Looking through it for the next one and trying to set up, then no warning, bike simply low-sides in about a second. Yes, I was doing the speed limit, but it doesn't matter. I still believe if I had been going about 10 under the speed limit, I'd still have that Candy Lime Green gremlin. I STILL miss that bike. 8^( As said before, I believe it's a combination of rider skill, exercising good judgment, i.e. going slower than usual on unfamiliar roads, hazardous road conditions and cagers that all discourage me from trying to throw it into the corners more aggressively. If I've been down the same road in the same day, yeah, sure, I'll push it a bit more, but not track days push it. I'd very much like to get involved with that new MSF course. I just wish there was something closer - I'm in North Alabama. I was fortunate, as a govt. contractor, to be able to take the advanced MSF free of charge, but I'd very much like to setup a local rider course area where folks in my region can try things from the course. Perhaps a grill'n'practice event every so often or something. Hell, I'd even invite the Harleys!

Perhaps a grill'n'practice event every so often or something. Hell, I'd even invite the Harleys!

I'm picturing being stuck in a line of traffic behind a group of Harley riders on a warm Sunday afternoon. Better have a special class for the Harley riders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2jwBWYkpZk

Not to make light of the crash but I can't help but appreciate the irony of the guy yelling at another rider for going too fast around that corner after his partner just crashed .....Why? -- because he was going too fast! "Slow down ya F---in pr--k! ------How dare you properly execute that corner after my buddy just crashed and flew over the rail??"

ok seriously he probably should have slowed down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up2UvuRLdTE

Looks like this could very well be the same corner on Mulholand. Misses a downshift and gets on the brake. Everything would have been cool but that rider had his nerve rattled and lost it. No reason he could not have made that corner coasting. He would have taken it faster if he would have made the downshift as planned. Huh- sometimes relying on routine makes you blow it. Unpredictable things can happen and there is no precise plan to follow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESzMA-YlS6U&NR=1

I went down on fathers day due to my nitrous bottle bracket broke while riding on the street. Lucky that it was only at about 40mph. Got into back wheel and kinda catapulted bike. Ended up with broken foot and alot of roadrash.

I can honestly say that I feel like my life is in danger much more when riding a bicycle on the road. I took a bike ride this weekend just for some excercise, and the number of cars and trucks whizzing by on the little country highways at what seems like inches away from my elbows is deffinitely dangerous. I'll take the ZX in traffic anyday. People in cars are for the most part just assholes, to bikes and cycles.

* Last updated by: TaintedTattoo on 6/28/2010 @ 11:17 AM *

"I can honestly say that I feel like my life is in danger much more when riding a bicycle on the road. I took a bike ride this weekend just for some excercise, and the number of cars and trucks whizzing by on the little country highways at what seems like inches away from my elbows is deffinitely dangerous. I'll take the ZX in traffic anyday. People in cars are for the most part just assholes, to bikes and cycles."

Tainted I completely agree. I have given up riding my bicycle on the road because its just to dangerous.

* Last updated by: Fr8flyer on 6/28/2010 @ 2:33 PM *

I'm goin with Hub on this here one.Street riding is ALL instinctual IMO.Too many variables to allow getting "set" in one path.Familiarity is one thing...but it's ALWAYS a crap shoot.You just never know.And things can always change in a heartbeat on the street.I can ride fairly aggressively on most of the roads I tend to go on for faster riding.But case in point.

There's a stretch of road...50 something miles long.Deep curves,lots of wide open straights,mixed with some nice "s"'s Trees and lakes on both sides.I can get er up to triple digits no prob.It's that good of a road.Minimal traffic,few real blind spots.Banked curves mostly.Very nice.BUT.....from one season to the next,the surface changes,sometimes drastically.So if I try to go "as briskly" as I did earlier that year...it could be a disaster.With me as the star performer.No thanks.As much as I have ridden that one stretch,It's ALWAYS in some way different.Which is good...but also can be just the opposite IF I'm expecting the same "markers" and POINTS that I've previously used mentally to apply to the now.I've been surprised a few times from season to season...I'll just say that.The last time I blasted through there...all was cool...ya.... going with my previous experiences there.Come around a curve...ya...100+...WTF? Somethin in the road.Comin up FAST.Geez....friggin mountain sheep!BIG BASTARDS...and lookin pissed.Lined up crossin the road!Didn't even KNOW there were sheep right in this area.Had I not been payin enough attention when I was...the outcome may have been...well...let's just say...they'd be mountin my head on the wall!

Here,the roads freeze.So one year they might be smooth as glass in spots,the next year,stutter bumps in the fast curves.You never know.Kinda unnerving when ya hit a corner like ya always have,leaned in and blastin along...when yer front end starts doin the wiggly worm like...WTF?Geez....hold on bro....concentrate and SLOW DOWN!Okay..all good now.You made it.I don't like those experiences much any more.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 6/28/2010 @ 3:45 PM *