After buying a 1200gsa for my adventure and hating it i took it back and got the 800 i originaly went to get. picked up my 800 last week and I love it. But riding home form work on it this Friday after a shit week at work all excited and enjoying the ride home stuffed it in to the back of a car that stopped as he did not want to pull out in front of an oncoming police car that i was looking over my shoulder at BANG hit the car that I thought had pulled out What a twat am I I have been riding for over 35 years and make a stupid and costly mistake and have a police witness it as well. I have re broken a metacarpal in my left hand and think the bike is a write off .

Hi mate,

Know how you feel, stacked my Xr250 after two weeks of riding into a one year trip around South America. Bike went for a cartwheel and I broke my shoulder and lost half of my stuff, wrote off my 350 quid Shoei etc. Can't even remember what happened! Travel insurance covered the costs of medical care but not the bike. I think the thing to remember is that you (presumably) were able to get up and walk away. Could have been way worse, etc. Will insurance pay for the bike?

Yes i got up and walked away and i am thankful for that but feel like such a twat for making such a schoolboy error

sorry to hear that mate.
I hope things will work out for ya

Tell you one thing.

You will be a better and safer rider for it....

These things keep you on your toes. You got comfortable and mother nature gave you a little reminder.

Be thankful

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

So true

Lots of riders wrongly believe that 35 years experience makes them infallible. They know it all, right? Wrong!
Doesn't work that way unfortunately. I've been riding since age 12 or so ... now 66. How long is that?

But on bad days I'm still a proper **** up. Happens to the best of us. What keeps my head on straight are two things:
Organized Track Days
Riding Off road

Although neither activities happen on a public roads ... BOTH have an amazing side affect of crossing over to road riding. Sadly, I haven't done a real track day in years. But I do still ride off road ... which really sharpens me right up when I get back on the road: Better bike control, better lines, quicker reactions, and MUCH better Brake and avoidance (rather than locking her up and sliding into that car in front of you)

Track days are even more amazing! After a track day (ride in Novice group if you've not done it) and getting some coaching I am totally beat, exhausted beyond belief. But the next day, back on the road I have such a sense of calm and total control. I ride smoother, see more and make better decisions.
I feel like I'm riding in slow motion. Everything is calm and easy.

Try one or both techniques if you get the chance. I did track days after a very bad accident over 10 years ago, did this on advice of a friend. I did not see the connection or realize just how effective it could be ... until I did it.

Amazing result, restored my confidence and got me away from being a "nervous Nelly" like I was after the accident. Nervous Nellies screw up, make mistakes and make poor decisions. Don't let that happen to you. Get on the track ... have fun! Learn the limits of your bike! You don't need a sports bike or racer, nearly any bike will do.

Sorry to hear your pain and expense.

So far my errors have't been punished by pain / expense, but serve as a reminder that I'm human and fallible.

Good point Mollydog.

I work in the motorcycle trade. So as you can imagine, I speak to A LOT of motorcyclists on a daily basis.

'Years riding' is always a top conversation around our tea van in the car park.

"I've been riding 10 years" , "I've been riding 25" , "I've been riding 50 years" etc etc.

I often wonder: 'How many miles or hours of riding do have accumulated in those years'

Most of these guys wheel their bikes out every second Sunday in the summer months. They aren't really very experienced. Their bikes have low mileage and their riding gear gets too small before it starts to look worn.

It's obvious that doing anything on a daily basis will make you better at it.. I ride almost EVERYDAY. I've been riding for 16 years and I can honestly say I've ridden more days than not. In the last two years I've had to ride bikes EVERY DAY for work. It's my job.

JEEEEEZ, It's my job to ride bikes with no brakes, cutting out engines slipping clutches etc as part of diagnosis.. So I don't even think about riding. It's just a natural thing to do every day. It's like my morning coffee or brushing my teeth. A daily routine.

BUT !!! I still have those retarded moments when I get complacent or drift off and get close to a dangerous situation. Luckily because I ride daily, I've been able to re-act quickly enough in the right way to avoid a miss-hap. I still get annoyed at myself. I should know better.


You need to be scared. You need to feel vulnerable. It keeps you alive. It's not being a pussy... It's being around for your next Birthday.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Great advice Ted. If all road users were 100% present and aware there would be very few accidents. Maybe they should be teaching basic mindfulness technique as part of CBT. Most of the time we are away with the fairies, worrying or thinking about things yet to be realised.

This is why I love riding, it is a very here now activity but as some of us know all too well, allowing yourself to gather wool, even if it is just for a moment to dither over something in your mirrors, can be critical.

What Mollydog speaks of after a day on the track sounds like what people say they feel like after they meditate i.e. full awareness and a sort of lucidity to everyday actions. I'm too restless to sit still but they say anything can be like meditation if done properly.

I can not remember the last time i did not have a bike to ride. Having sold most of my bike collection off for my trip. I have put my Harley and my Race bike into storage I could get the Harley out and get an MOT on it I suppose. Luckily I have fully comp ins and will get paid out eventually. Not sure what to do right now I was waiting for the log book to come through so I could book shipping of my bike to USA now I do not know if the bike is repairable or not, so even if the log book comes through i can't do anything till the insurance make a decision on my bike. I think as the top yoke snapped i think the frame may be damaged the bottom bearing is visible as the spindle is also bent. I can not tell for sure with out stripping the bike but can't do that till its been examined. The forks look straight but again can't tell without taking it apart. off to the fracture clinic tomorrow see what they going to do with my hand.

Do it on the Harley?

I have contemplated that but NO
its a tractor only suitable for podding about on in the sun don't think it will cope with the Magruder corridor

I have not heard / read truer words for a long time

I am a novice on 2 wheels but have a lot of experience on 4, and have been building and modifiying my toy(s) for some time so I understand them quite well.....

complaisance, stress and being tired are my down fall(s) never mind being distracted or trying to get there on time... we all do it.

Hopefully the testosterone poisoning will continue to lessen with age!

oops!
I did something similar a few years ago. Riding in Scotland on a glorious day and life felt great. Pulled up behind a car at a junction. Approaching was a very slow tractor & I was keen to go before it. The car nudged forward and I saw that as my cue to go too. Except she stopped again. Fortunately, no damage done to either myself, my bike nor the car.
Now I keep a good distance away & triple check they've moved!

Hope the hand mends well

__________________
Elaine

Striving to live the ordinary life in a non ordinary way