Laid the Bandit down today :(

[Bumblebee]

How bunged up is it and how do you feel about that? I laid down my NH 750 the other day and it won't look perfect anymore, even after it's fixed. I have trouble with that, but I need to get over it.

Those are character marks. ...And a reminder to not put yourself in a position that could be considered stupid.

IMHO, riders who have taken a ride on the 4-grit beltsander tend to be better riders afterward than those who haven't been down.

bumblebee will tell you seeing he is a full time rv-er and me i drove big trucks for 25yrs. dooing whet that person did will get someone or themself hurt.

If a lane crosser comes around a blind corner and it's a motorhome or a semi-truck instead of a motorcycle, the crash dynamics change considerably. Six+ tons will stop a typical car in about 2 inches before it starts violently shoving things the other direction. People. Don't. Think. And that gets them, or some innocent bystander, killed.

i take my driving just as serious as my riding

+1

[Tryvelcro]

The bike's really not bad. A little road rash on some of the plastics, broken turn signal (still works, just broke the cover).

I take driving, and riding, very seriously as well.

I don't mind the visible stuff on the bike.  My Hawk was pre-dented/scratched, so that stuff doesn't really bother me.  I just want to get comfortable riding again, without freaking out.  I know it makes me a wuss, the freaking out part, but its true nonetheless.

[Bumblebee]

I just want to get comfortable riding again, without freaking out.  I know it makes me a wuss, the freaking out part, but its true nonetheless.

Let's see here: You got boxed into a corner by a murderous cage and had nowhere else to go, made a couple oopsies in a situation that you simply can train for and probably would have gone down anyway even if you knew what to do, fell down went boom, picked your butt off the ground, got back on the horse, rode home, started wrenching on motorcycles so you can get back out on the road again.

You'll be ok. You really will. I can say that because I went through almost the same exact sequence of events.


So apparently you're now a wuss and afraid of the ground, because before you fell off, you were too stupid to be a wuss and afraid of the ground? I don't see a problem here. I really don't. The Earth is an awfully big hard brutal thing to have slam into you.

First: Lose the wuss thought. That's self destructive and not good for your thought process.
Second: Don't second guess yourself with what if's and don't overthink things. Look at the sequence of events objectively. Learn from them. Apply what you learn to your riding style.
Third: Yes, it will take a while and miles to get the confidence back up. Yes, you'll question yourself for a while. Yes, any cager within a light year of you will scare you for a while. Yes, you'll question the tires ability to keep you from getting dumped for a while. Yes, you'll do time in the parking lots learning things you didn't know before in order to be safer. Yes, you'll have chicken stripes on the tires for a while. Yes, the crash will always be there telling you to be extra careful from now on. Yes, you'll get over it. Yes, the crash will make you a better rider in the long run...better than you ever could have been if you didn't go down.

Anyone who laughs at you for being chicken after a faceplant is pathetic, superficial and hasn't been down before. They know not of what they shoot their mouth off about. Spit on their shoes for that's all they're worthy of.

[Tryvelcro]

Funny thing about that, I was riding with a couple of guys that had a combined 50+ years of riding, and they told me nearly the exact same things.

I'll get over it, I know I will.  That hooker can't defeat me.  But I also know it's not going to be an instant thing, so I'm planning accordingly.  Baby steps, like when I first started riding - parking lots, neighborhoods, etc. :)

[Tryvelcro]

Took the Bandit out over the weekend.  Was going to take it to the school parking lot down the street, but they had the gates closed (when did they put those in??).  Rode around the neighborhoods for a little while.  It was smooth and felt ok, but I also know that it wasn't entirely comfortable.  Gonna try to find a different parking lot this weekend.  Thanks for the encouragement, folks.

[niteman]

Slow and steady wins the race

[ROJ]

Slow and steady wins the race

I agree, just take eveything slowly, and if you feel uncomfortable just pause and think everything over. But you've already done the hardest step, and that was getting back on the bandit.

[LOKi]

Have you gone back to where you crashed Tryvelcro? I would go right back and do the same stretch of road a few times. In the same corner look for the way out you should have taken and set up the same scenario in your head as you take the turn. Little slower at first then work up to the speed you used to take it.

Back in my skateboarding days this is how I would over come the fear of falling. If I got hurt doing a trick down some stairs or something it would weigh on my mind until I went back and stuck the trick I was trying down the same stairs. Then at least my confidence would be back to where it was. You still remember the pain of falling but that's just filed under don't make that mistake again.

[Tryvelcro]

Ok, it's totally weird that you posted that up today.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I haven't taken either of the bikes outside of the 'hood since I wrecked.  I only admit this to you guys because I think you all understand where I'm coming from, and won't think me a wussy.

But... I think I'm ready.  Weather is supposed to be reasonable this weekend (can't use that as an excuse now), and I've got the Hawk to at least stay running, so I think I'm going to try to take it out this weekend.  I'll be honest, it probably won't be where I wrecked (that's about 2.5 hours from here, so I won't be going there again just yet).

I've got to get back in the saddle & do it, or the fear will beat me.  I figure I'm working in small increments, even if it feels like I'm reverting back to when I first started.  First it was the alley, then the 'hood, now I'm going to expand to an actual ride into the countryside.

 Wish me luck.

[LOKi]

good luck 

[Bumblebee]

Wish me luck.

You don't need a luck wish. You fell off, got back on, rode home, started fixing things and haven't quit talking motorcycles since then. You not riding or being a wuss is like like expecting a dog to quit running just because he took a tumble while running wide open in deep grass.

It's been two months. You're ok. Just do it.

FWIW, you have my respect because of your attitude and behavior to the whole get off thing.

[Burgi]

You can do it. If you were going to quit you would have done it right away. You didn't so you make it back. 
When I first started riding I was scared to death, sure I would kill myself. I made myself ride everyday. I knew if I didn't it might slip away and fear would win.
Now I do that with any sort of riding I'm not comfortable with. I make myself do it until I am no longer uncomfortable.
Try setting yourself a schedule of riding and make yourself stick to it. Before you know it you will have conquered the inner demons. 

[Moedad]

FWIW, you have my respect because of your attitude and behavior to the whole get off thing.

 

[highwayjamin]

We dont know eachother,but Iam very pround of you!! A lot of people would have just called it quits,but your sticking with it,talking about your fears and concerns,I know that you will be just fine,get back on the bike,and get to it!!! take your time,ride at your pace,its just you, the bike and the open road out there.No one else.good luck and keep us all posted

[detdrbuzzard]

my niece was ready to go riding the day she came home from the hospital but her body wasn't healed enough. when we took that family ride it was about 55 miles and if she had any apprehensions about riding thay are all gone. don't dwell on what happened just get on your bike and enjoy riding like you were before it happened

[FAITHBIKER]

Glad to hear you're ok. Just look at it as a learning opportunity. It sounds like you are already. Don't let it get you down and ride safe!

[Tryvelcro]

Thanks, all, for the kind words.  Seriously, your support is awesome, and truth be told a printed copy of this thread is in my tank bag as a reminder.  :)

On the bad side, carbs are going to have to come off the bike, so the Hawk is currently unable to guide me through my rehabilitation.

But... side story here:

Last night I came home & 4 teenagers were in my carport - not sure what they were doing since they scrambled like cockroaches once they saw me.  I quickly discovered that my battery tender was unplugged, and they'd taken a couple little things that were on the bike seat while I moved my car.  Anyway, grabbed the helmet, hopped on the Bandit & took off after them.  I was so busy being pissed off & looking for the little sh!ts that I forgot to think about riding - I mean, I was totally comfortable, the thought never crossed my mind to doubt myself when I was riding around looking for them.

I think maybe my brain is getting in the way when I ride lately.  It never used to do that, but even on the ride where I wiped I was over thinking everything (lines, speed, etc.) before I ever went down, and much more so after I did.  Stupid, stupid brain clogging up my riding. :)

[Bumblebee]

You let your brain drive a motorcycle?!?!?! 
Don't be doing that nonsense. Your brain doesn't know how to ride a motorcycle, your body and instincts do.

Remember the Wu-hsin post a while back? Read that again.


Cockroaches, ugh. There's a reason I don't live in civilization anymore. You should have squidded them with your cage.

[Tryvelcro]

Remember the Wu-hsin post a while back? Read that again.

Umm... should I know what that is??

[niteman]

Umm... should I know what that is??

It was a great post written by our own resident ZEN MASTER...Bumblebee REally it was a great post about riding. Do a search for it, it was under Techniques and Experiences like this one I believe.

Last night I came home & 4 teenagers were in my carport -

---Cockroaches! Ugh! I have some of those next door to me, we call them sewer rats...make me nervous. The other night they were up 'till 2am making the dogs go nuts.

[LOKi]

Wu-hsin

http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,297.0/highlight,wu-hsin.html

[Custom82Hawk]

The other night they were up 'till 2am making the dogs go nuts.

Maybe next time you should let loose the hounds of war :D

[mwallette]

I only admit this to you guys because I think you all understand where I'm coming from, and won't think me a wussy.

Even before I read the story below of how you chased down the group of punks on your Bandit, I didn't think you were a wussy 

I'm still new to riding, so I won't claim to offer words of wisdom from my vast (not!) experience, but if I may offer some encouragement from my very, very limited experience, everyone who is saying to keep working on whatever makes you uncomfortable is exactly right.  Six days after I got my license, I was in a wreck on my bike, and that was a serious blow to my self-confidence.  But the self-confidence returned and brought a dose of experience and wisdom with it.  You'll get comfortable on your bikes again too, and probably quicker than you expect.  Just keep riding!

FWIW, I also scared myself in a turn a little while ago.  I tried to follow what they taught in the MSF course for turns -- outside, inside, outside, always looking at the far side of the turn -- and almost dropped my front wheel into a really big chuckhole.  Because I first had to go wider on the turn than I expected, I then had to cut sharper than expected to complete the turn in my lane.  I didn't make it, and ended up accidentally jumping a sidewalk.  Fortunately, the sidewalk was empty, but unfortunately, it was rush hour traffic, so there were lots of witnesses, and I felt like a complete [expletive deleted].    My solution?  Take that same turn every day until I figured out what I was doing wrong.  I did it better the next time (only ended up in the gutter -- not on the sidewalk) and the third time, and every time since, it's been perfect.

My hat's off to you for sticking with it and refusing to give in to fear.    You'll get comfortable on the Bandit again, and you'll be a better rider than you were before!   

[Tryvelcro]

Even before I read the story below of how you chased down the group of punks on your Bandit, I didn't think you were a wussy 

That may not have been the brightest thing I've ever done.... 

[Bumblebee]

That may not have been the brightest thing I've ever done.... 

Chasing punks without backup in the way of superior firepower probably wasn't very smart.
However it did show you that you can still ride properly.