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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: charlotte, n.c.
Posts: 2,885
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Regaining Riding Ability?
I need help from some of you guys , that may know what I'am going through. In the last year I've had two accidents in which I've gone down hard . Both bikes were totaled, my S and RS. The Arai helments did there job. I've been riding for years and I knew I needed to get right back on a bike. I bought the ugly 1200 ST that I hear some of you guys talk about. My last accident was in June when I was hit by a Ford Exploxer. Thank God for those ugly cylinder heads that have saved me a leg on two seperate occasions. Now , the question I have is, after taking a trip to the
west coast and back, putting 18500 miles on the bike since July ,new ohlins and numerous days and miles of curvy riding roads. Why is my confidence level so damn low? And since I refuse to give up riding is there anything I can due to regain the level of riding I had before the two accidents? Any help would be welcomed. Maybe at 54 I just got all the wind knocked out of my sail? Thanks PS its not the ugly bike, although that has crossed my mind. Its the same on the Ducati, by that I mean my mind set. 
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dee jones |
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11-01-2005, 06:23 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Ridgefield, WA
Posts: 1,593
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Its a nice looking bike when you sit on it, but looking from the front, just not my fancy.. (Just teasing you, had to)
Not sure what to say about the riding thing, having never gone down. With a few close calls, I have found I regain it by riding with a fast rider, someone that I know Me and My bike are able to keep up with normally. Wish you luck. And damn, quite the milage for 3 months!! Matt
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RIP Jeff Williams; RIP Brad Zimmerman 1989 K100RS - White/Blue, Remus; 1999 R1100S - Mandarin Orange, Remus, Ohlins; 2007 G650XCountry - Black/Silver, iStorm Luggage - Wilbers 75mm Lowered shock for the wife!; 2003 BCR #57 - Jeff's bike ; 2009 G477X - Akrapovic, WP Trax, SpeedBrain Goodies 2000 ///M5 - Custom Black & Blue, Dinan goodies |
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11-01-2005, 06:41 AM
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Dismembered
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Highland Lakes, NJ
Posts: 2,139
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It's hard to imagine putting 18K on a bike & having low confidence, but maybe you ought to try a track day. Good Luck !
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farkled '04 R1100S SOLD! 2012 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak (#072) "It is difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day from lack of what is found there" WC Williams |
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11-01-2005, 06:47 AM
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Edministrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SF east bay
Posts: 24,829
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I don't know what the answer is. I'm still spooked by gravel and fear of gravel after washing out the front end of a Monster in it at 50 mph. For me, I need to borrow Brad's Husky when he gets it and get some dirt on street time. I don't know how to overcome fear of collision. Hope you sort it out!
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Good post? Leave a tip! O - $1 O - $2 O - $3 |
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11-01-2005, 07:02 AM
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...elica rossa...
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…had 2 accidents, years, and years ago (the last time in 1984), but I never regained all the confidence…
…it is not your own driving skills what’s the problem, but you NEVER trust the "other guy" on the road for the full 100% again… …and maybe it is better that way ; this never-trust-the-other thing…
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Have a nice day ! Ron. R1200S + R1200RT |
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11-01-2005, 07:03 AM
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Hey ya'll watch this
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: RI
Posts: 749
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Try doing the basic MSF course, followed by the advanced course. Maybe they can show you something to help your riding. If you have the means, I recommend the Penguin's course at Louden, NH. Some other ideas are to find an empty parking lot and practice slow turns and emergency stops.
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11-01-2005, 07:12 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Martinez, CA
Posts: 356
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Sounds like your stressed about other people's bad driving and its making you feel uneasy about riding?
I guess when people are younger its easier to dismiss an accident and just carry on like you did before, I had a bad car accident about 6 years ago when a large volvo turbo station wagon slammed into the drivers side of the car, he was speeding, he left 35 foot skid marks and then pushed my car about 12 feet along. I spent the night in hospital under observation, but the next day I was flying along near the same road at 90mph or so. Fast forward 6 years to now, I don't think I would just brush off the accident as easily, I would perhaps have doubts about what I was doing or how confident I was that some fool wouldn't hit me again. I don't really know the answer to your problem, perhaps take some time out?
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11-01-2005, 07:28 AM
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Underwater basketweaver
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seal Beach, CA
Posts: 6,193
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Confidence and such are all in your mind. Training yourself to control the bike with higher and higher levels of performance only comes with trained discipline. I'd say that you can only do this in a controlled environment. The ability to challenge the same exact turns over and over again eliminates 'most' external variables and puts you in the center. You challenge yourself and your own abilities. And as GotRoad mentioned, a track day is pretty much the only way to do this.
Riding xxx number of miles on public roads only offers up a glimpse of your potential yet opens the possibility to an unending wide variety of unknowns. These unknowns always scare me and if they don't reign me in, I can find myself in a very nasty situtation.
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'05 R12GS '08 HP2 Sport '16 GT4 |
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11-01-2005, 07:35 AM
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Uh....who me?
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 8,813
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I had a pretty bad one about 4 years ago and still haven't recovered completely....mind-wise. Several trackdays and lots of time on the road have brought back my confidence, but one thing that I still carry with me is the moment before the hit (car turned in front of me). So....what could be described as timidity I prefer to think of as evolved intelligence. Where once I never deeply considered the totally unexpected....now I do. If it slows me down some on the road....that's great. I intend on riding until I can't so maybe this is actually a good thing. I don't get the bad boy respect I had in years past, but that's an evolution issue too.
My advice....trackdays and patience with yourself.
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Bob Hancock '20 KTM1290 SuperAdventure S, 2006 KTM 660RFR Dakar, 1966 Honda 305 Scrambler, 2019 Camaro 2SS 1LE, 2020 Chevy Trail Boss "There are times when good words are to be left unsaid out of esteem for silence." St. Benedict |
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11-01-2005, 08:53 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Kenmore, WA
Posts: 4,381
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When you or some one close to you has a n accident, it increases your knowledge base. The problem is how do you lose or override that knowledge.
18 months ago a relative had a very devastating accident. It made the possibility of an acciddent and the damage from it very real for me. We cannot control all the factors in our riding. Therefore an accident can happen to anyone, regardless of skill level, at almost anytime. In the first 6 months after the accident I felt very little joy in riding. The next 6 months, during winter, I was just commuting and there is not a lot to enjoy anyway. As summer came around this year it felt more normal and the enjoyment returned. So after 18 months(15,000 miles) the joy is back but I still don't push as hard and I have not reach the same level of denial that I had before. I never had a problem with confidence. I know what I can do. I know what the bike can do. It is all about knowing the very real damage a bad accident can do. Time is probable the best healer but I am still stuck with my knowledge. I am still more cautious and maybe that is not a bad thing. Best of luck to you, RB |
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11-01-2005, 09:26 AM
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Barback King
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Now it's Nevada
Posts: 12,032
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PCT
Post Collision Trauma...
You're still having fun but your out of control, your saving it but then you realize your going down... Worse scenario is the traffic accident, you hit or have been hit by another vehicle... Quote:
I always recall the actual impact, the cartoonish squawk, stars and fireworks, suddenly your fat on your back, then the realization that your really hurt this time, and there's no fixin' it...worse feeling is when the breath is knocked outta you, a moment of paralyzation...or worse yet, you wake up on the gerny and can't breath because you've fractured ribs...but you have survived. It's that remembering the impact that's slowed me down. The big slowdown didn't happen for a good 20 years until just recently when I did get off again and get hurt...I think it comes down to the recovery time. At 54 one heals much slower than at 34. I rode this weekend on the same roads I always do...I tried to be quick, but I just didn't care to push it...makes me wonder too what's happening...time for a cruiser? I guess getting into "the zone" might be coming less frequently in the near future. Maybe I'll sell the S and get a Miata... 
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R11S CNC BARBACKS |
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11-01-2005, 09:42 AM
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Barback King
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Now it's Nevada
Posts: 12,032
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PCT
Post Collision Trauma...
You're still having fun but your out of control, your saving it but then you realize your going down... Worse scenario is the traffic accident, you hit or have been hit by another vehicle... Quote:
I always recall the actual impact, the cartoonish squawk, stars and fireworks, suddenly your fat on your back, then the realization that your really hurt this time, and there's no fixin' it...worse feeling is when the breath is knocked outta you, a moment of paralyzation...or worse yet, you wake up on the gerny and can't breath because you've fractured ribs...but you have survived. It's that remembering the impact that's slowed me down. The big slowdown didn't happen for a good 20 years until just recently when I did get off again and get hurt...I think it comes down to the recovery time. At 54 one heals much slower than at 34. I rode this weekend on the same roads I always do...I tried to be quick, but I just didn't care to push it...makes me wonder too what's happening...time for a cruiser? I guess getting into "the zone" might be coming less frequently in the near future. Maybe I'll sell the S and get a Miata...
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R11S CNC BARBACKS |
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11-01-2005, 09:42 AM
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Barback King
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Now it's Nevada
Posts: 12,032
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PCT
Post Collision Trauma...
You're still having fun but your out of control, your saving it but then you realize your going down... Worse scenario is the traffic accident, you hit or have been hit by another vehicle... Quote:
I always recall the actual impact, the cartoonish squawk, stars and fireworks, suddenly your fat on your back, then the realization that your really hurt this time, and there's no fixin' it...worse feeling is when the breath is knocked outta you, a moment of paralyzation...or worse yet, you wake up on the gerny and can't breath because you've fractured ribs...but you have survived. It's that remembering the impact that's slowed me down. The big slowdown didn't happen for a good 20 years until just recently when I did get off again and get hurt...I think it comes down to the recovery time. At 54 one heals much slower than at 34. I rode this weekend on the same roads I always do...I tried to be quick, but I just didn't care to push it...makes me wonder too what's happening...time for a cruiser? I guess getting into "the zone" might be coming less frequently in the near future. Maybe I'll sell the S and get a Miata...
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R11S CNC BARBACKS |
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11-01-2005, 09:42 AM
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Barback King
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Now it's Nevada
Posts: 12,032
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PITS
Sounds like the PITS...Post Impact Trauma Syndrome...
You're still having fun but your out of control, your saving it but then you realize your going down... Worse scenario is the traffic accident, you hit or have been hit by another vehicle... Quote:
I always recall the actual impact, the cartoonish squawk, stars and fireworks, suddenly your fat on your back, then the realization that your really hurt this time, and there's no fixin' it...worse feeling is when the breath is knocked outta you, a moment of paralyzation...or worse yet, you wake up on the gerny and can't breath because you've fractured ribs...but you have survived. It's that remembering the impact that's slowed me down. The big slowdown didn't happen for a good 20 years until just recently when I did get off again and get hurt...I think it comes down to the recovery time. At 54 one heals much slower than at 34. I rode this weekend on the same roads I always do...I tried to be quick, but I just didn't care to push it...makes me wonder too what's happening...time for a cruiser? I guess getting into "the zone" might be coming less frequently in the near future. Maybe I'll sell the S and get a Miata...
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R11S CNC BARBACKS |
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11-01-2005, 09:43 AM
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Barback King
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Now it's Nevada
Posts: 12,032
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Man, I am sorry about the multuiple posts...something is real slow with the server today...weird.
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R11S CNC BARBACKS |
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11-01-2005, 09:44 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: charlotte, n.c.
Posts: 2,885
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See , thats exactly how my riding feels real slow and wierd.
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dee jones |
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11-01-2005, 11:07 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NWNJ
Posts: 6,202
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Dee
It ain't easy, it is scary because it is real. Nearly five years ago I was in a head on with a Ford Expedition and I was in the family Saturn. My neck hyper-flexed at C5. My spinal cord was bruised, it swelled and paralyzed me from C5 down. Total quadriplegia. The swelling went down and some function returned quickly, but most did not. The past five years have been one long recovery. So now I'm riding again with a partially modified bike. But my confidence is not what it used to be. So i practice and practice and practice and ride and ride and ride. It's gotten to the point where I believe my perceived lack of confidence is actually a hyper awareness of my vulnerability. You did 18K? Dude , you are BACK! Stay aware, stay frosty, don't take chances, do what you know you can do. be well bro. TScalora@optonline.net ( anytime )
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big blue tricycle stare down the darkness and watch it fade |
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11-01-2005, 11:26 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Westlake Village, CA
Posts: 2,818
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Dee-
I wouldn't push it or even worry about it. Your experience is telling you something, and just go with it. It sounds like your accidents were from being hit, not errors on your part. Obviously, try to stay out of at-risk situations. If that means you slow down at intersections, make eye contact, check your mirrors constantly, etc., that is just being smart, not "losing it."
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2010 MG Griso 8V 2000 R1100S (retired) |
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11-01-2005, 12:48 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: charlotte, n.c.
Posts: 2,885
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Guys, I left out one big part that has really been bothering me. On our trip out west after tearing it up in Northern CA. Humbolt county, you know hyw 101, 3 ,36 299, Lost coast ,Petrolia, Orleans, Happy Camp, Shasta County some of my old stopping grounds. We headed back. Things were looking pretty dam good. I was on my third rear tire and 2nd front in 10,000 mi. We left my old skydiving buddies house in Missoula and were about 10 miles out of Helena MT. When I spotted a arm, that turned out to be a shot gun hanging out of a on coming vehicle, like a 65 Pontiac. By the time I realized it was a gun the Son of a ***** shot at me. That got my attention. Thought I was having the big one, A damn reverse Easy Rider. I'd been packing, but had put my 380 in my girls saddlebag that morning , she thought it was to my best interest not to chase them down. And I have to agree but at the time I wasn't thinking that way. Its a damn shame when you go out west to a place you really love and are trying to get relieve from the hecktic city life
and have some ass hole take a shot at you that you've never even seen. or spoken too. Anyway I guess its time to just get over it and take some of the advice thats been given here, just start living again and not riding with fear. I'll just keep RIDING. THANKS DEE i
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dee jones |
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11-01-2005, 02:51 PM
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Barback King
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Now it's Nevada
Posts: 12,032
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shheesh! yeah Dee dude, you left that part out...
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R11S CNC BARBACKS |
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11-01-2005, 02:56 PM
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2006 BMW R1200S
2011 BMW R 1200 RT
