Ugggggggh. Now what?

Zinn209 · September 10th, 2013, 01:17 AM

So... I've fallen a couple times this summer, both gravel incidents and the last one left me with some serious road rash and my baby is in need of a couple hundred bucks in repairs. I don't know whether I should give up riding altogether or fix 'er up and keep going. This is my first year of riding and I can't believe I've already laid it down twice. I loooooooove riding and don't want to stop but I feel like this might be a sign that I should move on to the safer 4-wheeled alternative? Advice??

Kokosun · September 10th, 2013, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinn209

So... I've fallen a couple times this summer, both gravel incidents and the last one left me with some serious road rash and my baby is in need of a couple hundred bucks in repairs. I don't know whether I should give up riding altogether or fix 'er up and keep going. This is my first year of riding and I can't believe I've already laid it down twice. I loooooooove riding and don't want to stop but I feel like this might be a sign that I should move on to the safer 4-wheeled alternative? Advice??

Do you understand (clearly) what you did wrong both times you crashed? If not, hmm! It might be a good idea to get more riding instruction. If you know what you did wrong great! Take that experience and build it into your everyday riding. But, it might still be a good idea to get some more riding instruction.

Zinn209 · September 10th, 2013, 01:29 AM

Yup, I do know what happened both times and I took a course right from the start. Just not sure if I should bother continuing to ride or call it a phase and move on.

Kokosun · September 10th, 2013, 01:32 AM

well, my vote would be to keep riding. I came to riding late in life (in my thirties). In some respects, that was good because I was (perhaps) a little more sensible. But, in other respects it was bad because I missed out on YEARS of riding.

I love riding a bike. Really love it. Couldn't imagine not doing it.

Do you love riding your bike? If so, you've got to keep on riding.

But ... it might still be a good idea to get more instruction. Find a good instructor and do a few hours of 1-on-1. When I moved from the USA to the UK, I had to re-take my test. It was a PITA. Been riding for more than a decade, but had to start from zero. But, I was surprised how much I learned from the instructors.

csmith12 · September 10th, 2013, 05:19 AM

Welcome Emily!

As with any activity that requires focus, skills, timing and a certain regard for not wanting to get hurt, mistakes are to be human. I say fix it up and ride on.

As others have said, you can never go wrong with further training. Get on a dirt bike, gear up and own the gravel. Sure it's loose, sure it slides around a bit, and for sure it triggers some fears but it can be tamed and mentally conquered. Once you get the hang of the skills, the fears turn to into fun & smiles and that is when you have beaten gravel and similar loose surfaces.

What is it about gravel that makes you feel this way?

Motofool · September 10th, 2013, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinn209

.........I loooooooove riding and don't want to stop but I feel like this might be a sign that I should move on to the safer 4-wheeled alternative? Advice??

Welcome to our site, Emily !!!

If you have to ask, you love riding, but not enough.

Just in case you decide you are really passionate about this, please visit our Riding Skills section: you don't need to crash to learn to ride or to ride well.

Alex · September 10th, 2013, 06:56 AM

How did the serious road rash occur; are you comfortable with the amount and type of protective gear you're using on the motorcycle?

crazymadbastard · September 10th, 2013, 07:29 AM

Why ride on gravel? Is it in unknown roads? Are you turning too tight to the curb or too much speed into the turns?
We tend to have some sand gather in the the streets around here but mainly on side roads that I would avoid after snow or in the spring.
Figure it out and keep riding.

Panda · September 10th, 2013, 07:39 AM

Figure out why you crashed. Determine if you can learn from it and avoid crashes like that in the future.

After you are further along in the healing process. Try to make an objective self assessment about your skill level and your appetite for risk. Then figure out what to do.

Riding isn't for everyone. That being said if you are going to have doubts it's pretty common to have them after a drop.

Take some time, reflect, and then figure it out.

Good luck.

MR2Aaron · September 10th, 2013, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

How did the serious road rash occur; are you comfortable with the amount and type of protective gear you're using on the motorcycle?

This. I had a similar experience (documented in a thread on here somewhere) where I crashed at low speed after the front tire washed out on a patch of gravel.

I was wearing a full textile suit and CE-rated race boots, and my pride and confidence were injured far worse than my body, or even the bike. I actually rode the bike the 15 miles home after that incident.

As others have suggested, my advice is to figure out what you're doing wrong that gets you into these crashes, and work to correct that habit. My guess is that it may have to do with a failure to scan the road far enough ahead, so you're having to react to surface hazards at the last second. For what it's worth, you should be doing that when driving a car too. In auto racing schools, this is one of the first things they teach you. Unfortunately, the MSF course sort of glosses over it, as they're not usually equipped to teach this habit very well in a parking lot.

Also, welcome aboard.

CC Cowboy · September 10th, 2013, 09:10 AM

Crash bars! Stop crashing parties at bars. I mean get crash bars like stunters use. Wear crash proof gear. Never give up.

RedPepper64 · September 10th, 2013, 09:28 AM

Never ever ever give up on something you love. Very few ever start riding and don't crash. I have yet to crash at any speed ( knock on wood), I dropped my first bike three times in the first six months. For stupid reasons, too. Stand up, shake it off, and apply what you learned.
I strongly second the opinion of getting on a dirt bike to learn and get some additional instruction. I had about 6k miles under my belt on the bike when I took an instructional day at the local track. The ability to apply the information was exponentially increased in comparison to when one is just starting off. I'm contemplating taking the same class again next year just to learn even more.

Bottom line, if you enjoy riding don't give up. Rash on the bike is character and a story of learning experiences.

EternalNewb · September 10th, 2013, 10:24 AM

Hi Emily,

I've had a couple drops, but my first crash was a fast one at the track. I think the important thing is to figure out how much you love riding, and if it's really worth it to you. If you decide to keep going with it, I agree with many of the opinions previously stated: seek education and keep practicing. After my track crash (after which I kept riding, in spite of a broken wrist

), I learned a lot about responding to the unexpected/things outside of my control. That alone recently saved my butt over the weekend, when riding ACH, even at an easy pace. I still consider myself a total neophyte, but as long as you takes steps to learn from each experience and wear appropriate/adequate protective gear, I wouldn't worry too much about a couple of crashes.

Granted, this is me speaking without knowing the details of the aforementioned crashes.

TLDR: If you love riding enough, seek education and learn from mistakes. Also, wear adequate protective gear.

csmith12 · September 10th, 2013, 11:28 AM

Thumb up for using neophyte in a post. lol

fry1024 · September 10th, 2013, 12:28 PM

If you wanna ride, keep at it. Learn from your mistakes and try again.

Gurk · September 10th, 2013, 01:47 PM

If you really love it, you can't give up. It's not really an option.
We can't answer whether you love it enough or not for you.

Sirref · September 10th, 2013, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kokosun

Do you understand (clearly) what you did wrong both times you crashed? If not, hmm! It might be a good idea to get more riding instruction. If you know what you did wrong great! Take that experience and build it into your everyday riding. But, it might still be a good idea to get some more riding instruction.

riding instruction is always worth it, I'm always looking for more.

rasta · September 10th, 2013, 03:12 PM

Keep riding. Why?

This...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinn209

I loooooooove riding and don't want to stop

BUT, there are some things to address; which have already been mentioned by others. First thing's first, do you have gear? How often do you wear it? The answer should be "always", especially if you are worried about falling again.

Seems that n00bs like us tend to crash in the same ways, and they're usually avoidable. So, it's also important to understand what caused your crashes. Also, read a lot (if not ALL) of the threads in this section of the forum. It'll help you learn from others' mistakes, and will give you some hints on how to avoid them.

Can you tell us what happened in your crashes? There are a lot of really experienced riders on the forum that will give you some ideas on what to work to prevent them in the future.

GearMonkey · September 11th, 2013, 09:33 PM

Hey Emily! and

You're not alone in crashing.
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=25913

Like others have said, if you're not already wearing gear, get some and WEAR it, the best leather jacket saves no skin hanging in the closet. Also, learn from your mistakes but even better is learn from all of ours and others. There's a treasure trove of information on this site, and the members will answer any questions you have, and mostly go more in depth on the topic than you can imagine.

I think if you really love it, the best course is to learn as much as you can so you can safely enjoy it for years to come. Good luck

September 10th, 2013, 01:17 AM	#1
Zinn209 ninjette.org newbie Name: Emily Location: Victoria Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki Ninja 250r Posts: 2	Ugggggggh. Now what? So... I've fallen a couple times this summer, both gravel incidents and the last one left me with some serious road rash and my baby is in need of a couple hundred bucks in repairs. I don't know whether I should give up riding altogether or fix 'er up and keep going. This is my first year of riding and I can't believe I've already laid it down twice. I loooooooove riding and don't want to stop but I feel like this might be a sign that I should move on to the safer 4-wheeled alternative? Advice??

September 10th, 2013, 05:19 AM	#5
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Welcome Emily! As with any activity that requires focus, skills, timing and a certain regard for not wanting to get hurt, mistakes are to be human. I say fix it up and ride on. As others have said, you can never go wrong with further training. Get on a dirt bike, gear up and own the gravel. Sure it's loose, sure it slides around a bit, and for sure it triggers some fears but it can be tamed and mentally conquered. Once you get the hang of the skills, the fears turn to into fun & smiles and that is when you have beaten gravel and similar loose surfaces. What is it about gravel that makes you feel this way? __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

September 10th, 2013, 06:56 AM	#7
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	How did the serious road rash occur; are you comfortable with the amount and type of protective gear you're using on the motorcycle? __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

September 10th, 2013, 07:29 AM	#8
crazymadbastard I'm crazy,your excuse is? Name: Winston Location: Connecticut Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): 250 2007 ninja Posts: A lot.	Why ride on gravel? Is it in unknown roads? Are you turning too tight to the curb or too much speed into the turns? We tend to have some sand gather in the the streets around here but mainly on side roads that I would avoid after snow or in the spring. Figure it out and keep riding. __________________________________________________ My Cafe Racer Build My intro post

September 10th, 2013, 07:39 AM	#9
Panda not an actual panda Name: dan Location: philadelphia Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250, 2009 CBR600RR (Sold) Posts: A lot.	Figure out why you crashed. Determine if you can learn from it and avoid crashes like that in the future. After you are further along in the healing process. Try to make an objective self assessment about your skill level and your appetite for risk. Then figure out what to do. Riding isn't for everyone. That being said if you are going to have doubts it's pretty common to have them after a drop. Take some time, reflect, and then figure it out. Good luck.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

September 10th, 2013, 01:29 AM	#3
Zinn209 ninjette.org newbie Name: Emily Location: Victoria Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki Ninja 250r Posts: 2	Yup, I do know what happened both times and I took a course right from the start. Just not sure if I should bother continuing to ride or call it a phase and move on.

September 10th, 2013, 01:32 AM	#4
Kokosun Are you sure about that? Name: That's "Sir" to you! Location: Chorleywood (Nr. London) Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R-F16, Versys KLE650 CAF Posts: 418	well, my vote would be to keep riding. I came to riding late in life (in my thirties). In some respects, that was good because I was (perhaps) a little more sensible. But, in other respects it was bad because I missed out on YEARS of riding. I love riding a bike. Really love it. Couldn't imagine not doing it. Do you love riding your bike? If so, you've got to keep on riding. But ... it might still be a good idea to get more instruction. Find a good instructor and do a few hours of 1-on-1. When I moved from the USA to the UK, I had to re-take my test. It was a PITA. Been riding for more than a decade, but had to start from zero. But, I was surprised how much I learned from the instructors.

September 10th, 2013, 09:10 AM	#11
CC Cowboy ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Whodat Location: Ware Is.,MA Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14	Crash bars! Stop crashing parties at bars. I mean get crash bars like stunters use. Wear crash proof gear. Never give up. __________________________________________________ If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough!

September 10th, 2013, 09:28 AM	#12
RedPepper64 Kawi Girl Name: Heather Location: Washington Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): '10 Ninja 250R Green SE, '13 Ninja 636 Pearl White Posts: 245	Never ever ever give up on something you love. Very few ever start riding and don't crash. I have yet to crash at any speed ( knock on wood), I dropped my first bike three times in the first six months. For stupid reasons, too. Stand up, shake it off, and apply what you learned. I strongly second the opinion of getting on a dirt bike to learn and get some additional instruction. I had about 6k miles under my belt on the bike when I took an instructional day at the local track. The ability to apply the information was exponentially increased in comparison to when one is just starting off. I'm contemplating taking the same class again next year just to learn even more. Bottom line, if you enjoy riding don't give up. Rash on the bike is character and a story of learning experiences. __________________________________________________ Perspective: Everything looks better from the inside of a motorcycle helmet

September 10th, 2013, 10:24 AM	#13
EternalNewb ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: S Location: CA/MA, usually Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250R, 2007 Ninja 650R, 2001 F650 Dakar Posts: A lot.	Hi Emily, I've had a couple drops, but my first crash was a fast one at the track. I think the important thing is to figure out how much you love riding, and if it's really worth it to you. If you decide to keep going with it, I agree with many of the opinions previously stated: seek education and keep practicing. After my track crash (after which I kept riding, in spite of a broken wrist ), I learned a lot about responding to the unexpected/things outside of my control. That alone recently saved my butt over the weekend, when riding ACH, even at an easy pace. I still consider myself a total neophyte, but as long as you takes steps to learn from each experience and wear appropriate/adequate protective gear, I wouldn't worry too much about a couple of crashes. Granted, this is me speaking without knowing the details of the aforementioned crashes. TLDR: If you love riding enough, seek education and learn from mistakes. Also, wear adequate protective gear.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

September 10th, 2013, 11:28 AM	#14
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Thumb up for using neophyte in a post. lol __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

September 10th, 2013, 12:28 PM	#15
fry1024 ninjette.org guru Name: Jason Location: WV Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 650R & 2007 Buell Blast Posts: 323	If you wanna ride, keep at it. Learn from your mistakes and try again.

September 10th, 2013, 01:47 PM	#16
Gurk Done here. Name: - Location: Track Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): - Posts: A lot.	If you really love it, you can't give up. It's not really an option. We can't answer whether you love it enough or not for you.

September 11th, 2013, 09:33 PM	#19
GearMonkey ninjette.org guru Name: Scott Location: Atlanta Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 363	Hey Emily! and You're not alone in crashing. http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=25913 Like others have said, if you're not already wearing gear, get some and WEAR it, the best leather jacket saves no skin hanging in the closet. Also, learn from your mistakes but even better is learn from all of ours and others. There's a treasure trove of information on this site, and the members will answer any questions you have, and mostly go more in depth on the topic than you can imagine. I think if you really love it, the best course is to learn as much as you can so you can safely enjoy it for years to come. Good luck