New to bikes, scared to learn - need some real input

[Solado]

Hi everyone, in a nutshell i have decided to do my CBT (UK) and pick up a 125cc.
To begin with i was very enthusiastic about learning to ride; its something that has always been in the back of my mind but never went through with. At 21 i am going to get it done.

Unfortunatly everyone is against the idea, family and friends. They throw statistics at me showing me bikers are '*insert generic statistic number*% more likly to crash', so basicly trying to say if i ride a motorbike im 100% sure to be killed, which in turn has put me right off the idea of learning. 

I think i need to hear from the experianced riders on there thoughts and feelings on the topic. In realistic terms how dangerous is it if i do wear high protective gear and drive safe ? How long have you been riding and how many accidents have you had ?

[kiske]

I think most will agree that you WILL drop the bike at some point. But, unless you are riding at high speed, you will most likely escape with a few bruises/scratches and a bit of injured pride. Motorcycling isn't as life threatening as people make it out to be, but you will certainly come off the bike sometimes, whether coming off is fatal or not is determined by how dangerously you were riding.

I've crashed twice in the past 8months. Once weaving through traffic at a stupid speed, for which I broke 2 fingers.

Second crash was a lowslide while racing in the mountains. A bit of road rash.


I know some people who haven't crashed ever, and they have been riding for years. My father has never crashed, and he rode in Thailand for 15 years, quite an achievement.

[[1up]]

Parents and family are the only ones who tell you not to do it out of love.
Everyone else is a fuck'n hater.

Is crashing on a motorcycle dangerous, sure it is.
Best way not to crash while learning, pay attention in your training class and don't buy a bike or ride a bike past your skill level.

To say youll die in a minor accident isn't true at all.
It all depends on what kind of accident your talking about, simple drops and rider falls aren't as dangerous as people make them out to be.
Most fatal motorcycle accidents involve 1 or both of 2 things, speed and alcohol.
Motorcycle vs other vehicle collisions however are extremely dangerous, obviously because its basically your body vs a 2000lb car.

Riding a motorcycle is an extremely freedom invoking form of transport, theres really nothing else like it.
That same giddy feeling you got when you were a little kid hopping on your bike to go somewhere is why i ride.

The only way to really comes to terms with the danger of it, is just to put it out of your mind and have fun.
Accidents happen and you can do quite a bit to avoid being part of one on a motorcycle.
How you ride a bike is the major factor in how dangerous the ride is going to be.
Don't let other peoples fear of riding dissuade you from pursuing your dream.
That's the worst mistake any human being can make.  

[RayMan]

Well it is certainly understandable that your family doesn't want you to ride, because it is a dangerous hobby/sport.

That being said, like 1up said there is a lot you can do to minimize the likelihood of an accident or the seriousness of injuries incurred. Riding to be seen, riding within your skill level, and riding in a manner that is befitting of your surroundings can all help avoid fatal accidents.

Don't listen to their statistics, most of them are probably wrong and even if they aren't I believe they are unrealistically high and driven up by squids who ride drunk, recklessly, and without safety gear.

All that being said, there is only so much you can do. You can be the most careful rider in the world and still have some cager unexpectedly whip out in front of you, and you do need to understand that in that event you are far more likely to be seriously injured or killed on a bike rather than in a car.

I would never let that dissuade me from riding, it is amazing. But you need to be aware of the risks and be able to accept them. Ride safe and wear your gear and you'll be on the right track.

[JollyRoger]

^ Agree with the above.

It is dangerous, yes. And there is a chance of being killed, but you can get killed crossing a road. You need to accept that and take steps to help reducing that chance, and that's all you can do.

My philosophy is that if things are gonna happen, they are gonna happen. You get much more enjoyment out of riding than other transport, and for me it is worthwhile the risk providing you are responsible.

Don't be scared, respect the bike and the danger, embrace the thrill and get going!

[h0ax]

lol I think I am the only person that when I told my mother I was getting a bike she just looked at me and said be careful dont kill yourself....that was pretty much it.  Now she always asks me if I have taken the bike out if its a nice day or if I am going out with the GF and riding, its kinda funny how interested she is in my hobby.

Although for people stating shit about deaths on motorcycles........you can die just stepping outside your house and a metor hits your head.  So really statistics are just that.......statistics.  If people would live by them no one would do a fucking thing because half the cars on the road wouldn't be purchased since they only rank in a 1-2 star saftey rating out of 5 which pretty much means your a clump of meat inside the car if your in an accident.  Or anything else that is stated in statistics, just be careful ride like everyone wants to kill you and other then that there isn't much else you can do other then be a good rider and get the experience you need to make correct decisions.

[Heartlesspinto]

lol I think I am the only person that when I told my mother I was getting a bike she just looked at me and said be careful dont kill yourself....

You're not the only one...pretty much what happened with me. My parents won't even lend me money for safety gear. My dad thinks that the helmet is for keeping bugs out of my teeth and doesn't understand what i mean when i say i need to get a size smaller. When i told him i need a jacket his reply was, "What? Are you pussying out on me already!?" He told me that a motorcycle is dangerous, and that if i wanted to be safe i should've saved up for a car. 

[leafsfan9917]

HP did you get a jacket yet? tell your dad that you would rather not take a trip to the hospital if you go down if you can avoid it and buy the fucking thing...

[Heartlesspinto]

HP did you get a jacket yet? tell your dad that you would rather not take a trip to the hospital if you go down if you can avoid it and buy the fucking thing...

He told me i can go to the county hospital because it's free.

Still didn't get one...waiting for my fucking check. Was supposed to receive my direct deposit today but didn't. Have to wait another 2 weeks. I have no money...i'm screwed. I don't have gas money, so i guess it doesn't matter if i don't have money for a jacket.

[leafsfan9917]

allright, you intend to buy one thats good enough. By the way is it true that there is like 40-something percent illiteracy in Illinois? or maybe Chicago... either way its a great reason for you to come up north of the border and visit me when I finally get a bike...

my opinion on the topic: Is it more dangerous than driving a car? yes, almost defiantly. And your family is not doing it to ruin something for you, they do it because they love you, but at the end of the day its up to you to decide if your willing to take on that added risk for a hobby and a more enjoyable means of transportation, keeping in mind there are ways of minimizing the risk.

[Solado]

I have been taking everything on board mentioned, i think im going to go through with it. I think it just takes some real input from people who do ride and have experiance, i have never had 'biker' friends or family, just something i know i have always wanted to atleast try. As a complete novice with no experiance around, the argument just seems to shift one sided.

Been pricing up some gear on amazon and insurance on some bikes (125)... here in the UK for a 1L small engine car, it can go up to £1,600 ! While on a bike its only £259, i knew it was cheaper but not that much cheaper 

Only thing i have to do now is figure out how im going to buy my first (half decent looking) bike and get it to my door

[Heartlesspinto]

I think it's more like 20% in illinois. Most of them older adults. Dude, i can't even afford a freaking jacket right now...you think i'm gonna have money to make a trip up to canada? Something will go wrong and i'll have to pay money to get back home.

Of course a motorcycle is dangerous, and your family has reason to worry. It is what it is, and there's probably no convincing them otherwise. They may come to terms with the fact that you're going to be riding, but they'll never like it.

[leafsfan9917]

if you break down you can ride either a caribou or a grizzly (or possibly a polar bear) the rest of the way... and if that ends badly we have universal healthcare insurance bitch. It wont be for like another six months anyway.

[Heartlesspinto]

Yeah i'll go to canada in january. Fuck that. January is winter break...my bike will be in pieces in the garage 

[CBR600RRebecca]

i think what they told us in the MSF class is that most new riders are likely to have a get off within the first year of riding.  but they said the class itself is the equivalent of 6 months of riding on the street so you have a 6 month advantage there.

you can never be too safe, and you can never have too much respect for the machine.  one of the best riders i know died wearing full leathers, and back and chest protector.  emt's said if he had crashed into the hospital he still wouldn't have made it.  another friend of mine died on the highway wearing no gear right before i got mine.  don't let the fear keep you from following a dream.

two pieces of advice:
1. go your own pace, period.  don't let anyone push you faster or harder than you are comfortable with.
2. watch the front wheels of cars, that will be your first indication of if they are going to enter your path, and has got me out of many jams