Are you scared to ride? (sport bike)

yup! I used to ride a honda shadow 750, and had a few scares within a month of being on the bike.

lady tried to change lanes into me, so I pulled in the clutch and revved that bitch up (loud pipes save lives) she immediately cranked the wheel back and looked like she was about to start crying.

I think if I get a bike again I will definitely only ride when it's not crazy busy out, and leathers are a must!

 

I sold my bike and miss it. It was great to have and I want another. I was ran off the road twice in the 3 years I had it. However, it wouldn't stop me from getting another. Maybe it's ignorance but I like to think that my abilities are good enough to avoid most accidents, and once I think those abilities are diminished then I would consider hanging it up for good.

 

I have an 07 R6. only thing that really scares me is other drivers. the scariest moments by far have come from women on cells phones not looking before changing lanes. it was warm here the other day so i went out for a ride after skiing. being cut off twice in a 20 mile ride i guess that since it's winter it is ok to not use mirrors or look before changing lanes

 

There is definitely a difference about being scared to ride and being cautious and aware.

Scared makes you hesistant and not totally sure of your abilities and the abilities of your bike.

If your cautious and aware of the dangers then your confidence level will be high without being overconfident and you'll have a safer ride.

My last ride ended with a broken collarbone on the day I celebrated my first Father's day. After that I couldn't quit thinking about my wife and my daughter and I knew it wasn't safe for me to be on that bike anymore.

A terrible side note is I sold my bike not long after and a month later a received a notice in the mail that the bike had been impounded. The impounding yard had me still listed as the registered owner even though I reported the sale and they informed me that the bike was totaled in an accident. The person that bought the bike was T-boned by a woman in a pickup that ran a stop sign. He was alive but had a long road to recovery.

 

I don't ride a sportbike but I have a beasty 650 dual sport bike. Every spring when I get it on the road and open it up I get butterflies a little and feel the adrenaline goin. Before I re-geared it I got into it a little hard and my ass took a big bite out of the seat when the front wheel was climbing, and climbing, and climbing at 60mph. Be safe out there. I've been in a bike v car before and they aren't fun. I got lucky and was really paying attention.

 

in my opinion... if u ride the streets ur a excepting the possibility for very bad things to happen. best thing to do i think is to ride aggressively (sp?), within your limits of course. i know how to ride very well... but theres a time and a place to take your left hand off the bars and rest it on ur knee, traffic is not that place... but like i said be smart and keep ur eyes open!

 

I just started about 6 months ago riding and I love it... of course I don't have a REAL sport bike... I've had a Ninja 250 (put about 5000 miles on it) and now have a Ninja 650 (have about 700 miles on it already) which I guess is considered a sport touring bike (at least to everyone except the damn insurance company)

In my short time riding... I've had no real incidences (YET), but I mostly attribute it to three reason:

1. Started on the Ninja 250, which was very forgiviing
2. I am super cautious and really don't speed anywhere (the fastest I've gone on either bike is 85 mph) nor do I pop wheelies in traffic, or blast off from the light like an idiot.
3. Monterey, CA is VERY motorcycle friendly... motorcycles are everywhere (year round) due to being the home of Leguna Seca and the Grad Prix. It has taught a majority of car drivers here how to behave around us motorcycles..for the most part.

Monterey must be one of the most motorcycle friendly place in the country

I know at some point I will go down... and more than likely it will be the fault of other drivers but... there really is nothing to be afraid of... Just don't act stupid on a bike, always wear your gear, and be super cautious.

the worst I've had was a little sand on the road the other weekend and some dude in a Ferrari (in Santa Cruz) that wanted to race then cut me off when I wouldn't.

 

Like Lurkin I took a hiatus from motorcycling due to my career & family at the time.
It has taken over 15 yrs but started last Spring on a vintage Honda I paid $700 for to see how I would like it.
It was awesome
So my gift to myself for having my knee replaced was a brand new Yamaha FZ6r.
Many of my friend's who I ride sleds with motorcycle in the Summer so its been fun to still be able to hang out with them year round now.
Plus one of them is a Yamaha/Polaris Dealer who helps support our habit lol or we support him

This coming summer I signed up to do the women's track school down at NH Motor Speedway in Loudon NH to improve my skills at suggestion of one of the guys I ride with. I have to admit I'm alittle nervous about that.

 

I really want to get a bike to commute with, but I won't lie - I'm scared to. I drive 60 miles a day on the 101 freeway, the shit I see people do angers me. I'll either end up hurt, or in jail. Either way, is no good for me

 

not scared of the bike but just the other retards on the road.

 

My older brother died riding his bike in Vernon almost 6 years ago now. Never been on one, never will.

 

i'm also in the group of peeps who are more afraid of the people driving around me than i am of what i would do...i'm no maniac on the bike but i do love the mtn roads in colorado! except for the dirt that is found on the roads but you just have to pay attention and give yourself a little extra reaction time when cruising through the mtn roads..
whenever i commute to work on my bike, i make sure i leave for work early and if possible, head home early to miss the heaviest traffic times...
it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a refresher safety course or an advanced bike course if they are offered in your area...
that first good ride you'll be thankful you made the decision to get back on a bike though...be safe and enjoy the ride

 

A sport bike? Last time I had a bike with a "race bred engine" I couldn't keep it under 100 mph. And I'm not a speed guy. Drive any track vehicle on the road and it's only fun when you're crazy out of the safes zone. Same reason I got rid of my sports cars. if you hit 3rd gear under acceleration, you were in "jail time" land already. Buy something less sporty and ride the crap out of it. Nothing like wringing the hell out of a bike all day.

My wife's crf230m is a blast to drive. I grind the pegs on that all day... but it'll barely pull me up the hill. Just today I was out riding my bike, I hit throttle lock in probably 4 gears a few times and barely broke the speed limit. Much more fun than doing the ol 1st 2nd sixth all day or short shifting.

And as far as people driving around you. Don't let people be around you. I live on a crowded little island and never let people sneak up on me or drive or ride near me. Even in stop and go, I've always got some space. Most sport bike riders I see tend to tailgate and box themselves in, only looking for that opportunity to shift down.

 

sorry to hear that man

 

the idea of not having people around you, and giving yourself space is a good idea. there is the inevitable being cut off at lights and stuff, but finding the open space between traffic is a good way to keep safe.

I do want to get a bike, and I'm not so scared that I won't do it, just going to take some courses, and do my best to stay out of harms way.

 

Ya thanks man, I didn't really want to shit on the thread but I thought I would share. A month before my brother, a buddy of mine tboned a car on his crotch rocket. He didn't make it either.

 

sorry to hear.
ya a guy i went to school with got cut off and the car stopped to turn. he went over the car and is now paralized fro the waste down.

 

I did the street bike thing several years back. Now I got a Harley. I am a cautious driver and think the loud pipes help people next to you know you are in the blind spots. "Loud pipes save lives".

 

Ive got a bike(kawasaki vulcan), but hardly ride it. Its such a nerve wrecking thing around here to ride, with all the "fast and furious" idiots around here that do 100 mph everywhere and immature drivers. Theres been a few car doors I have dented due to someone not paying attention and cutting me off..We met at the stoplight and I'm glad I have padded knuckle guards on my gloves.