First bad wreck-need advice.

[ozzieboy]

OK. I read pretty much all of that link. Didn't really feel fair of me to comment without trying to learn as much as I could about your situation and you know what? You sound like a reasonably level headed kid. You have, I think, a speed addiction (no not the drug) and you know it. That's why you were worrying that you're going to crash.

If you're "used to" the sound of your footpegs scraping the ground then this just confirms what I'm thinking.

You are consistently going too fast. Too fast around corners and too fast, most likely, in a straight line.

OK you bought a bike that is not the "ideal" learner bike but even so you CAN learn on one of these without terrifying yourself. You need to use self control though.

You don't have to ride that fast. That is your choice. Peer group pressure? It sound like any peers you rode with may have actually helped the other way.
On this bike I have never dragged a peg and don't think the road is the place to do it. On the road conditions change all the time so you never really "know" the road you are riding.

I have to say I'm VERY impressed with your honesty and putting the information out there for others to learn from, so don't take this the wrong way....I'm not "giving you a serve".

I also would hate to see you give up riding completely (I love riding my bike) but maybe your choice to stay off one for a while could be a good thing.

Maybe one day down the track you can get yourself another bike to learn on, and if you do, then I for one would hope that you'll exercise a little more restraint and perhaps head out with some older, more experienced riders so that if you slot in behind them then you can learn to ride smoother and more controlled, if you know what I mean.

You've taken people responses on the chin with a great level of maturity for which I think you should be applauded. They were there to help and you've taken them that way.

Either way, whatever you decide to do I sincerely hope it goes well for you:thumbup:.
Cheers
Mike

 

[Dunno]

Sound advice ozzieboy :thumbup:

Jessie. I learned to ride a certain way, so did my brothers & my old man thought it was best & it worked for us. I will suggest it to you cos I think you will learn some life saving skills.

Buy a dirt bike. I know you said you dont like em but take a a chance.

Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Mick Doohan, Wayne Gardner, Nicky Hayden & Casey Stoner to name a few, all learned their craft on the dirt.

Buy a real hairy bastard. It has to be a 2 stroke. 250, 360 or even a 500 will change your mind.

Buy all the protective gear you can get your hands on & kit up. Then find either a wide open space or a flat track :thumbup:

You wanna go fast? Pull the throttle back to the stop & dump the clutch :rockon: Do this for 12 months & then look at buying another road bike.

By then you should have

-come off the dirt bike in every way known to man & invented a few new ones.
-earned a few good scars (chics dig scars)
-figured out a way to get into painful & expensive situations (these usually include too much throttle, too agressive braking or combining the 2 in a corner)
-figured out a way to avoid the above mentioned situations because they are painful & cost too much.

AND found out that trackdays are the best fun you can have with your clothes on.

Dude I am 100% serious.

Work out how to handle a bike with a power source like a light switch on a losse & slipery surface.
Learn to slide a bike with your feet on the pegs.
Get used to the bike sliding underneath you.

Learn your craft & when you convert these skills to the road you will be a better rider.
You will no longer panic in situations that once could have killed you.

I ride bikes because they are fun, cos I get to ride with my mates & most of all because I like to go fast.
Sounds to me like you are in the same boat, but if you continue down the path that you are on you will die.

You need to start from scratch mate.

Good luck with it & trust me on the dirt bike

It must be a 2 stroker.

 

[BioBear1]

Dunno's advice is super sound. It is the way I learned and the way my two boy's and my girl are learning. My oldest is just graduating to my FZ-6 this spring at 19 and having done dirt for almost 3 years. Not because I do not have confidence in them, but because I have no confidence in the other wacko's on the roadways.

I have one additional piece of advice..

Take a cool out period and wait a while before you get back on a bike. You will approach it with more logic and less emotion; including the fear of flying off your bike again.

After reading that whole of your other post, I think you have learned that speed and power can be a bad thing when the experience doesn't match up. Remember bikes like the FZ-6 have half again as much power and half the weight of those big cruisers (or putters as my older friends call them). Slow down and give yourself time to absorb what you have learned before making a decision either way.

Enjoy the day and be well,
Mike

 

[sideshow_downs]

I read they whole thread you linked to. It seems like you know where you went wrong in all of the occasions you posted about. I am young myself (21) and i have the want for speed but i know too many people that have hurt themselves badly that i dont push the limits on the street. I also started on a 500 that is way more tame than the FZ so i got my bearings on that and learning all the essentials of riding on a forgiving bike before i even sat on a FZ.

I think where i am going with this is to take a break from riding think about what is important to you. Riding is such a great experence i would hate to see you walk away from it. If you do decide to continue to ride i recomend a used 500 because they are way more forgiving that the FZ and they are still enough that you wont get bored right away with them.

 

[pooty]

all good sound advice. keep us informed

 

[Kilbane83]

Glad you're ok, friend of my family's got put in the hospital by a real similair situation less than a few blocks from his house. Guy pulled out of his drive way right in front of him didn't have time to react at all. Flipped over the hood and broke his back. Scary stuff man. But, the moral of this story is:
A) He was going 40 in a 20
B) He did not have a proper back protector. That flimsy pos that comes in jackets is useless.
C) He wasn't riding his motorcycle, he was thinking about what he was going to do when he got home. You're not home until the kick stand is down.

I've visited him, he just had his second surgery he still can't feel his legs. The docs are hoping it's just swelling, and are pretty positive about the outlook. He's in good spirits, and has admitted he screwed up. His ninja is totalled. The front end snapped at the headstock.

Basically, this is the reality of motorcycling. If you've done all you can to be as safe as you can outwardly, IE totally geared up you still have the inward stuff to deal with. That can get you killed just the same as not wearing a helmet. Personally I'm 25, and of course I am addicted to speed to. Who buys a sportbike and doesn't want to open it up? I rode dirt bikes for over 10years before I got on the street. Even so I've had my run ins with the ground a few times myself learning in the first 5k miles. Nothing too serious, just the normal sand/gravel or wet concrete in a turn kind of stuff. The one time I got in a tangle with another vehicle there was nothing I could do to avoid it. He was totally at fault, and fled the scene.

This is what I do pretty much every day, I'm not recommending it, but it works for me. Every morning I stop in an empty parking lot that used to be a k-mart that's about 5 miles from my house on the way to work and school. I do a few low speed figure 8's drag the pegs a bit. Then I whack her open for a couple wheelies and practicing high speed emergency stops. Then I head to work in a good mood doing reasonable speeds. This appeases the speed demons for the day, keeps me out of trouble with the law, and hones my skills.

I'd give it a few weeks and if you're still ready to give up riding, then you probably should. It's been my experience that if crashing like this is a reality check, you are not ready to ride.

G'luck on whatever you decide man.