So I think I might hate dumb people too much to be able to ride again. Ever since being rear ended by a woman the fell asleep I keep thinking how much worse it easily could have been. If I got tossed at a different angle I could have been in oncomming traffic... Thinking about how much worse it could have been makes me feel a combination of anger and thankfulness.

I am angry because my body and my bike are injured. I am also angry because I feel like the purity and the love for riding is now tainted, this woman was stitting behind me at the red light for 2 minutes and then she accelerated into my back while the light was still red! I am the most paranoid rider out there, if nobody is behind me at the light I am always watching, with this I thought I was safe because she was there for 2 minutes, never did I think she'd just decide to drive into my back while the light was still red throwing me into an active intersection. NOTHING could prepare me for what she did... I mean WTF! Is it over? Can we just trust no one anymore? Like it's not bad enough to watch out for cars but now you've got people texting and messing with I-Pods while driving, parents with movies playing and crap, what happened to just "driving"?

I live in the city, the suburbs south of the city are the worst for bad drivers, I am damn good at avoiding the crazy cab drivers and the congestion in the city but the suburbs have morons blowing red lights and speeding all over the place, probably while sending text messages too. In the city there's too much traffic for anyone to do serious damage so I actually worry less. I have been good on the highway because I am super-defensive but since my accident I saw 2 incidents where cagers almost knocked bikers going 60mph on the highway, one time it was a girl in a SUV and it looked like she was texting. It's an epidemic with the gadgets in the cars, my level of paranoia is almost enough where I cannot imagine having fun out there.

Riding has been the best thing I ever did, I absolutely love being able to get away from the phone and computer and getting out and riding by myself, it's like meditation for me. I absolutely love my bike, probably the coolest thing I have ever owned, I *almost* like to just admire it more than I like riding it. Despite how much I like the bike and riding has really helped me find a good healthy hobby I just keep thinking how much worse it could have been. I want to have fun out there but I don't want to lose an arm or a leg, that aspect of it worries the crap out of me. I am moving away from the city, will I feel safer in the sticks??? I keep picturing screeching tires, a big SUV, and a world of hurt. I just keep thinking of how much worse it could have been and it makes me angry that people are so careless. I worked a 90 hour week and just wanted to relax and instead I ended up on my hands and knees in an intersection, just the thought of how unfair the whole thing played out has me seeing red and makes me very bitter.

It's good to vent man, but riding a motorcycle has risks and one has to accept those risks when getting on the bike.  It's that simple.  I feel bad for what happened to you, but the same thing could have happened if you had been driving and you probably would have walked away with a sore neck and a bent fender.

Life goes on man, no need to hold that stuff on your shoulders for the rest of your riding years.

I'm sorry for your troubles, I notice cagers doing the stupidest things. unreal.

preach on brother
i'm with you

i absolutely love the isolation and escape.... helmet on, world gone.  everything disappears except the sublime pleasure of dropping 2 gears and leaning over.  i literally spend my days counting down the hours till i get to ride home

then, you're at a light, watching a hummer approach in the rearview, doing the math, realizing that they weigh 10x what you do and praying that they notice you with the cheese burger, cell phone, and brat competing for attention.

The only thing we can hope for is for gas to go still higher, thus taking a fair number of these 2 per centers off the road.  I really wish all states would adopt the CA method of allowing bikes to lane share/lane split.  It's really safer for everyone concerned; especially us bikers.

Man what happened to you is not easy to take. There are no words that can explain how $#$@% up that is...You will recover, and perhaps you will get your bike repaired before summer ends, good luck to you. But you are right, it could have been so much worse.
Riding a bike is not a healthy hobby however, I live in San Francisco, and I had a tour bus trying to avoid traffic once that decided to exit the freeway at the last possible time. I was on its way. This was some time ago, there was not a helmet law in California than, however I had mine on. The thing is that I saw the bus coming at me and there was nothing I could do, it only took 3 to 4 seconds for it to hit me and send me flying. I was find thank God, I tell you My helmet destroyed, my jacket with only the silk lining left on the back, the bike, well, the bike was gone..!
I have always been very aware of everything that goes on around me when I ride, not in a paranoid way, I guess if shit happens, it will happen no matter what, hence your example.
You will find your way back to your bike and riding, you will know however by your own experience, that what we do is dangerous and it is not for every one. I never thought of it that way until 3 weeks ago I met this guy. My bike was parked and he was looking at it, savoring it, and I could see what was going on in his mind. I asked him, do you ride, he said, I did.. for a very long time, not any more.! He looked at me with a smile, and said, I survived.....! and he left. I saw the old timer walk away and I learned something very important right there.

Ride safe my friend, that is all we can do  ! 

Quote from: Juan on July 18, 2008, 11:39:52 AM
I never thought of it that way until 3 weeks ago I met this guy. My bike was parked and he was looking at it, savoring it, and I could see what was going on in his mind. I asked him, do you ride, he said, I did.. for a very long time, not any more.! He looked at me with a smile, and said, I survived.....! and he left. I saw the old timer walk away and I learned something very important right there.

So very true, but it is also so hard to stay away from the bike.  I took a 3 year leave, but still got suckered back in.  I had a couple of rough experiences last week or so and it made me remember that Damn, this is a high risk activity...still, it's hard to stay away.

Quote from: CDawg on July 18, 2008, 11:48:12 AM
I took a 3 year leave, but still got suckered back in.

ducatis and cigarettes... you might leave for a while, but you'll always come back....

or something like that... apologies to peter egan

Quote from: cmorgan47 on July 18, 2008, 11:52:22 AM
ducatis and cigarettes and midget foot fetish porn... you might leave for a while, but you'll always come back...

Quote from: cmorgan47 on July 18, 2008, 11:52:22 AM
ducatis and cigarettes... you might leave for a while, but you'll always come back....

or something like that... apologies to peter egan

Great quote...

Yeah I had a bad incident this morning. Moron with a 5th wheel trailer. Luckily I saw what was coming. Two turn lanes, me on the inside at a light. Now a normal (good) driver would have take the turn wide due to having a trailer, not this guy, he took both lanes and cut the corner. I was already reaching for the brakes when I saw the turn and had to come to a complete stop to avoid the curb and pole. What was more fortunate is that I had cagers behind me who were paying attention and slowed as well. Needless to say after the corner I had a choice finger for him. I hated doing that, but I wanted to let him know what he did.

I will be glad to get back to Europe where people understand and respect driving as a privilege not a right.

Quote from: Raux on July 18, 2008, 01:08:17 PM
I will be glad to get back to Europe where people understand and respect driving as a privilege not a right.

Now THAT is funny.  Not sure where in Europe you are from, but having spent some time in France recently, I know the drivers there are just as nuts

Germany and Northern Italy. And yes, France is crazy. But craziest place I've ever ridden... Athens, Greece. Lane etiquette is not their best skill.

Quote from: ducducgooseme on July 18, 2008, 01:15:54 PM
Now THAT is funny.  Not sure where in Europe you are from, but having spent some time in France recently, I know the drivers there are just as nuts

I drove in Italy for the first time in May.  They may be nuts, but they are superb drivers.  They respect the "drive on the right and pass on the left" and the average driver know how to handle their vehicle much better than the average American.

eesnas, I've considered this kind of situation before. I figure that if I ever get too scared to ride city street anymore I'll sell my bike, buy a track-specific bike and only do track days. On the track it's a controlled environment with ZERO chances to be rolled on top of by an SUV.

Have you considered staying in motorcycling by only riding on the track?