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Hmm, I might have something so say on this subject...
I can say that before the crash I was feeling pretty confident about things, and rode pretty "confident." As for starting to ride, I think it is fine as long as you go in with your eyes wide open. I've often heard people say that riding in LA (or an urban area) is nuts, but frankly I don't think there is much of a difference. WHen you're on 2 wheels, you're exposed no matter what the circumstances. The only thing that changes are the dangers.
I can say without hesitation: all gear all the time. And good gear, not cheap crap. That includes every bit of your body. If you aren't willing to wear everything, then you shouldn't get on the bike. And if you do, realize that you may have to live with the consequences.
Even with full gear, you still might go down. You can stack the odds in your favor, but the reality is that ***** happens. People can turn left in front of you (the most common serious accident). Animals or debris can show up in front of you (some avoidable, some not). And road conditions can catch you out if you're not 100% on your game.
Everything has some element of danger. Motorcycling is pretty high on the list. But only the individual can determine if the reward is worth the risk. Plenty of people ride for years with no accidents. Plenty of people get seriously hurt or killed too. The problem is that when something goes wrong, you are totally exposed and at the mercy of everyone and everything around you. Leather is great, but it will lose to the bumper of another car.
I still love 2 wheeled vehicles, but I probably won't get on a motorcycle again. And if I do (some years in the future), it will be at a superbike school, and then probably ride only under very controlled conditions. My "high risk" activity will be with my track car, on the track. In that case. I stack the deck in my favor (most of my mod money spent on safety, running at a track with rescue personnel, etc).
I still get a wistful feeling when I hear a twin rumble by. But I also get a sick feeling in my stomach when I see the rider, as nearly 95% of them are lacking some bit of gear.
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