Who else has given up two wheels?

[97WHITEVENOM]

I bought a motorcycle when I moved to Hawaii for school in 2001... I put 35,000 miles on that bike in the 5 years I was there as it was my only mode of transportation. I had one serious close call during that time.
When I moved back to Long Island, NY I bought a 2007 ZX6R about a year later to ride on the streets. Met my wife, me and my buddy and her would take some nice scenic drives... put about 2,000 miles on it that year. The next year I did my first track day. That year I did about 50/50 track vs street miles. The next year I converted it to a track only bike and my wife bought me a Harley for a wedding gift. Me and her put about 2000 miles on that in thing the 3 years we owned it. During that same time I put about 15,000 track miles on the ZX6R. Raced some CCS, and did some track day coaching. Hauling the bike around the east coast and getting off Long Island became too much of a kill joy so the bike sat. Me and my wife realized we were going to have a baby so I sold the Harley. About a year after my son was born I finally dug the ZX6R out and sold that too. As of right now I have no desire to have a street or a track bike, and dont know if I ever will. For right now I miss the people at the track more than I miss the riding. Oddly enough my wife keeps bringing up the fact that when we retire and move out of NY will will buy another street bike for cruising.

Also, FWIW I have never seen a bike sliding on its side stop faster than a bike on two wheels. I am glad you got out relatively OK!

 

[04SVT_COBRA]

Next Tuesday I get to sign a piece of paper that will forbid me from riding for the next three years. Expect a new thread and a good story to go along with that.

 

[Never_Enough]

I've thought about getting a bike for years, but too many idiots on the road + I am bad enough on 4 = I'll stay on 4.

 

[Mpoitrast87]

Want to ride so bad. But, hear all the horror stories and people my age getting killed. Not worth it to me.

 

[MarcSpaz]

I started riding off-road when I was a kid. Yamaha mini bike at 5 yo. Stepped up to a Honda 125 enduro when I was 10. At 15, I got my restricted motorcycle operators license. Rode damn near ever day of my life until I was 38.

When I was a kid, I got into a really bad accident. It was totally my fault and it was a single vehicle accident. Was unconscious for 3 days... lots of broken bones. Damn near rubbed my nose and upper lip off my face. I healed up and got back on a new bike and didn't miss a beat.

But, the year I turned 38, I had a bad incident that I could have died in... or gone to jail for. I was rolling down the street in the left lane, going to turn as I approached a red light. There was a lady in a custom van in the right lane, and she started coming over on me. I look over to my right and she is right next to me, makes eye-contact with and very angrily screams some stupid racist shit at me and ran me into the ditch.

Thankfully, with decades of off-road experience, I was able to keep the bike up. I pulled out of the ditch and pulled along side her back driver's wheel, pulled my knife and popped her back tire. Rolled forward and popped her front tire, then stuck my knife in her face and told her if I ever saw her again, her tires were going to be the least of her problems. She ran the light with 2 flats, almost cause a huge crash as she blasted through a very busy intersection.

That day, I said to myself... WTF am I doing? This lady is just one in a long line of people who almost killed me... on purpose... because they just don't care if "white biker trash" lives or dies. And... you sure as shit know I could have gone to jail for the tires and threats. That was it... less than a week later, my Softail Night Train was gone.

I'm 45 and haven't been on a bike sense. Not worth dying or going to jail.

 

[nxhappy]

one could also say some riders are ****ing idiots. Like riding in a T-shirt and flip flops. Happens more than you'd think.

 

[MarcSpaz]

Those guys are stupid... just asking for an injury.

 

[Zemedici]

ATGATT....

 

[MarcSpaz]

Yup. People thought I was nuts when it was 95 degrees and I was wearing chaps, boots, jacket and gloves. Some lessons you only need to learn once.

I do still have my HD riding jacket. 4 vents and a zip-out lining. And made of real leather, it is heavy AF. LOL

 

[Machdup1]

I rode from the time I was 16 into my late 40's, then I gave up riding. I really enjoy riding, it requires concentration and skill and is a nice way to get away from normal life, but I had several friend have bad accidents over the years, which led me to give it up.

One (best friend) was coked up and ran his bike into a wall at triple digits speeds killing him. Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

One was a passenger on a bike that rear ended an F150 at 150mph (causing the truck to flip end over end and causing drain bamage to my friend). The driver of the bike was showing off and it cost him his life.

The other one got run over by a catering truck (he lost the use of a foot) riding to work. He was doing nothing wrong.

The last one sealed the deal for me and I sold my GSX-R, as I am old and have realized that I am no longer bullet proof

With all that said, I would never judge anyone who makes a different decision than me.

If you want to ride, great. If you want to ride without gear, that is your decision. Some folks want to live and die on their terms, I can respect that as it is an example of the freedom that made this country great.

The only thing I ask is that you do not allow a beautiful women to be on the back of your bike in a bikini and flip flops. Road rash looks horrible and I enjoy watching beautiful women in skimpy clothes.

I had another friend in an accident that should have killed him. When the Katana first came out he bought one. He rode it like a demon possessed. One day he was hauling ass in a 45 and went through an intersection. There was LEO in the intersection and he figured it was time to run. He down shifted, hit it and was hauling ass while looking behind him for the cop. When he looked up, there was a car with the brakes locked up in front of him. He hit the car, his feet came off the pegs causing him to be upside down and backwards as he flew over the car. The lucky dumbass landed and only sprained a wrist. The funny part is that the LEO was never chasing him and had turned the other way.......

 

[blk02edge]

I just got my license last year, bought a bike, rode it maybe a few days and sold it. I actually found it boring, meaning why temp fate. I'll keep my two wheels in the dirt (yz250)

 

[Smooth]

I have ridden bikes for over 40 years. The last time I rode on the street I was hit by a deer. That was 14 years ago. I still ride a CR250R around the homestead though.

 

[phillycobra99]

I was hit by a driver on a cell phone in '09 on my Honda CBR F4i, and broke my right foot. I gave it up until March of '17 when I bought my Harley. I realized how much I missed it and love it, that I can't see myself giving it up.

 

[Zemedici]

Yup. People thought I was nuts when it was 95 degrees and I was wearing chaps, boots, jacket and gloves. Some lessons you only need to learn once.

I do still have my HD riding jacket. 4 vents and a zip-out lining. And made of real leather, it is heavy AF. LOL

Exact same way I am - I would sweat all day to avoid potentially having road rash, it looks like a horrible experience. No thank you

 

[suicidekings]

This. Riding on the street has been dangerous since it started. But now, with all the distracted drivers, it's a suicide mission. Plus, once you go to track days, street riding is soooo boring.

The final dagger for me was when my daughter was born. I feel like it's pretty irresponsible as a parent to do something so dangerous when you have a child to take care of.

I agree with you, street riding isn't as fun after you have been to the track.

I've never been down before on a bike and glad you made it out of your accident with only couple busted ribs and some rash. Sounded like that situation could've been lots worse.

I've had R1's throughout my life. Then got into Harley cruiser scene for a couple of years, I wasn't a fan. So I've been without a bike for about 5yrs or so.

Went to Italy last August as I usually do every year. My cousin had a Ducati 959 and I would drool every time I saw it.
So essentially I bought my dream bike 2 months ago ..

2015 Ducati 1299 w/ full race Akrapovic Titanium Exhaust w/ Loaded Ducati Corsa Race Map.. Needless to say I can't wait for the spring!!!

View attachment 1457107 View attachment 1457108 View attachment 1457109

Thanks, and nice Duc. I was test riding 959's myself however when I decided it would double as a track bike I couldn't bring myself to spend that coin.

FL is scary because we still have older drivers who spent many years not being around motorcycles. On top of all the people who text and do not watch the road, I could not ride without being stressed.

Hell people go for miles at night here without any lights on.

Good luck but as my sticker says, "Motorcycles watch out for me." J/K




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Yup, Arizona has those snowbirds too. Its horrible.

Damn, sorry to hear about your accident man.

I first lerned to ride 10 years ago when I lived in Tucson. Bought two Harleys when I was there. Loved it. Moved to California and it became my only form of transportation for over a year...**** that noise man. The joy of riding is depleted real quick when its not purely for fun.

I bought one other Harley in that time period, but in late 2014 traded it in on a brand new 2014 Mustang GT and with it my entrance to this amazing world of Ford Performance. Eventally led to my beloved Shelby.

I had to buy a motorcycle (2004 Yamaha FZ1) to commute to work at the end of 2016. I lived 35 miles away from work before I was able to escape California for Arizona. I rode my bike literally a handful of times in Phoenix after I moved before I parked it. Been almost 6 months, but shes getting ready to have a for sale sign put on it. Truth be told, Id enjoy riding it for 10-15 minutes before I got bored and wanted to be in my Shelby. But that's not the main reason. Its being on the road with literally the worst drivers in the world.

I absolutely refuse to ride in AZ now unless its the middle of the night. The drivers here in AZ (Phoenix at least) are HORENDOUS. I rode for almost 10 years in California and while I had close calls a few times, nothing compares to the incompetence of AZ drivers. You made the right call here.

Thanks man, you are right AZ seems to be filled with people who just dont pay attention.

I have an incident then take short breaks. Never quit for good. Yet. The day is coming. Seems like every summer I have a close call. One of these times my ticket will come due. I'd rather not experience that.

Two summers ago I had a lady pass me on the median on the highway. She was in a Suburban. Concrete barrier to her left, me to her right, and semi to my right. Basically I was the meat in bad physics sandwich. The lady was a complete psychopath. As this is happening she is yelling and flipping me off. I literally have no idea what set her off. I followed her (from a safe distance) for as long as I could. At the time my blood was boiling and was waiting for her to pull over. I'd probably be in jail today if I caught her.

I have been on and off with bikes for a while too but this was the end of it for me. Even though it wasn't bad it just brought things into perspective for me.

I bought a motorcycle when I moved to Hawaii for school in 2001... I put 35,000 miles on that bike in the 5 years I was there as it was my only mode of transportation. I had one serious close call during that time.
When I moved back to Long Island, NY I bought a 2007 ZX6R about a year later to ride on the streets. Met my wife, me and my buddy and her would take some nice scenic drives... put about 2,000 miles on it that year. The next year I did my first track day. That year I did about 50/50 track vs street miles. The next year I converted it to a track only bike and my wife bought me a Harley for a wedding gift. Me and her put about 2000 miles on that in thing the 3 years we owned it. During that same time I put about 15,000 track miles on the ZX6R. Raced some CCS, and did some track day coaching. Hauling the bike around the east coast and getting off Long Island became too much of a kill joy so the bike sat. Me and my wife realized we were going to have a baby so I sold the Harley. About a year after my son was born I finally dug the ZX6R out and sold that too. As of right now I have no desire to have a street or a track bike, and dont know if I ever will. For right now I miss the people at the track more than I miss the riding. Oddly enough my wife keeps bringing up the fact that when we retire and move out of NY will will buy another street bike for cruising.

Also, FWIW I have never seen a bike sliding on its side stop faster than a bike on two wheels. I am glad you got out relatively OK!

Same here, did track days, Yamaha Champion Riding School, raced etc. Also Im well aware laying it down won't stop it faster, that wasn't the intent. I felt my options were run into him or slide and try to avoid hitting the car with my body. Fortunately for me he did end up moving but I had no way of telling if he would end up doing that or not. The biggest thing that made me feel like he was going to just stop was the fact that he jumped on his brakes as soon as he saw me quickly approaching.

Looking back you play it over in your head so many times. I had room on the left, I could have swerved, I could have stayed on the brakes, I could have bunny hopped over him. In hindsight did I make the right move? Like I said no because he did move out of the way at the last possible second. But if he wouldn't have moved and stayed on his brakes, and I didn't lay it down. I would have hit him hard enough to either launch me over the car or through the rear window. So I can live with laying it down. I can live with screwing up the bike a little bit.

Good news is the bike had frame sliders so only the mirror, bar end, and tail piece were messed up. The bike is already sold with both street and track plastics. Also I am breaking even on the bike too since I picked it up for such a good deal.

 

[DHG1078]

One of these days I'll buy a street bike. Something relatively sporty. I'll probably spend more time on the track than the street though.

 

[VegasMichael]

When I was around 20 my mother was director of nursing at a long term care facility in suburban Philadelphia. One day I went to her workplace and she was showing me around and telling me about patients and Jesus Christ I swear half of them were there due to motorcycle accidents. Anyhow, that scared me straight and I never rode a motorcycle. I would like to try riding one on a closed track though.

 

[_Snake_]

Next Tuesday I get to sign a piece of paper that will forbid me from riding for the next three years. Expect a new thread and a good story to go along with that.

Legal trouble? Pro athlete?

 

[suicidekings]

When I was around 20 my mother was director of nursing at a long term care facility in suburban Philadelphia. One day I went to her workplace and she was showing me around and telling me about patients and Jesus Christ I swear half of them were there due to motorcycle accidents. Anyhow, that scared me straight and I never rode a motorcycle. I would like to try riding one on a closed track though.

Track riding is truly the best. Medical attention is right there if ever needed. You have corner workers that are watching out for you and anything else on the track.

Legal trouble? Pro athlete?

Im curious as well!

 

[coremaster21]

I grew up riding dirt bikes, four wheelers, you name it. I miss riding so much, granted I am still pretty young (22) but I would love to get
on a street bike soon. When I was younger (13) I used to race pocket bikes down the 8th mile. I had a x-18 that was bored out, exhaust, air
filter, changed the sprockets, pretty much anything you could do to them, I had a sponsorship and everything, man I miss those days. I used to ride it up and down my
cul-de-sac until the cops came, it was fun. Here is a picture.

And even on that I have been in an accident so I can only imagine how dangerous it gets.


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