Have you ever considered packing it in

bikesnbones · Post by **bikesnbones** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 5:45 pm

Just wondering if anyone has come very close to hanging up the helmet for good, and what prompted it.
Crash ?
Someone you know crashing ?
Something else ?
I'm not talking about being phycially prevented from riding.
I'm mean something negative getting inside your head, that made you seriously question if it's worth it,
Did you stop riding as a result, and if so, what bought you back.

KenG · Post by **KenG** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 5:49 pm

lost a cousin and seen 3 put permanently in a wheelchair in a year, moved me down from a 186mph blackbird that i USED to it's limits at every occasion, to a 1150rt.
have to get home to the family after all.

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 5:50 pm

6 years ago tomorrow my brother got killed when a taxi pulled out on him. It didn't even cross my mind to stop riding, although it did reinforce a long held prejudice about the driving skills of taxi drivers.

Mister C (Marsh) · Post by **Mister C (Marsh)** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:19 pm

My last three bikes have all been my last... and now ive got my best bike so glad I failed at stopping.Reason as follows, time not much free time to play and do get very fed up with people trying to kill me!

But my biggest put off is my walk to work 2 miles each way and the amount of idiots I see each and every day (various routes) its really is frightening to think im on the road with these tossers.

Thoughts with you for tomorrow Steve

Regards Marsh

Al · Post by Al » Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:46 pm

Cannot wait for your future comments on this one.

Al.

Twinspark · Post by **Twinspark** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 6:52 pm

Yes. But then I realised it was a combination of buying the wrong bikes and a completely fücked heart.

Now fixed... I have the right bikes (11S, Duke 750SS and Pan 1300) and a fixed heart (2 stents and lots of tablets!).

bikesnbones · Post by **bikesnbones** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:08 pm

I only ask because I just heard that my best friend of the last 25 years, just had a big off and hit a lampost after losing grip on a corner.
It looks like the dreaded diesel.
He's in intensive care with serious head injures.
They had to put him in a coma.
I've seen more than my fair share of the inside of an A&E ove the last 30 odd years, but never once, until now, has it ever crossed my my mind to stop riding.
It's hit me so hard because I know how good a rider he is.
I mean he's is the ultimate captain sensible.
Never takes risks.
Anyway, I'm going up to Bristol to see him tomorrow.

Herb · Post by **Herb** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:22 pm

At the risk of being derided as a hobbyist again, rather than a died in the wool biker, I have considered giving up, purely because of time.

I am spread pretty thin at the moment, and as I don't commute (I walk downstairs to my study) I have to make a special effort to use the m'bike.

When I do have time, between work the family and swimming pools up and down the country the m'bike has to compete for my attention with my bicycles and my cross country trainers. More often than not, the bicycle wins.

The only reason I don't give up is because when I do find the time I enjoy it, especially my week away every year. It's paid for, I don't need the money and it costs me very little over the year. I also like taking it apart and putting it back together again.

I hope your mate gets better!

GRAgusta · Post by **GRAgusta** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:18 pm

Partner pressure

Fiance1 was injured in a bike crash before we met, once we married with children etc etc coming ... no room for the bike so the Z550F went and wasn't replaced.

6 years later

Once Mrs A1 left the building, the Ducati 750SS replaced her

The real Mrs A loved being on the bike as a young prospective, and bikes have always been part of what we do.

So I understand that life's pressures and demands can overtake the perceived importance of bikes. But also have experienced how great it can be when your passion for bikes can take a significant position in family life, up there with the children and the home.

cornishflat · Post by **cornishflat** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:48 pm

Personally nothings made me want to hang .em yet. I have lost friends in all sorts of ways some to cancer at a much too early age, so I can,t see others misfortunes affecting me, but, and there is always one who knows down the line. At times when this sort of topic crops up I recall a great friend who died aged 21 going home from a late shift in his car. He,d always had bikes but his girlfriend who he just bought a house with nagged him to "get a car". Incidentally he was hit by an oncoming car on the wrong side of the road.
I could see myself having a lesser bike if that's the right word, just to slow down and take it all in. There is so much traffic and a large percentage of them prats I find myself more concerned with junctions etc than in the past.
But as long as theres a bend in that road i,m gonna try to get round it ....usually as fast as I can.

conkerman · Post by **conkerman** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 6:47 am

I have drifted in and out of bikes a couple of times to the point of having no bike.

My garage just isn't right without a motorbike(s) in it.

Corvus · Post by **Corvus** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 7:10 am

Yes. Once. It didn't last.

Cornishflat said: "But as long as theres a bend in that road i,m gonna try to get round it ....usually as fast as I can. "

Once a scratcher, always a scratcher. Keep coming back with flies in your teeth. That's the main thing.

Bikerhoss · Post by **Bikerhoss** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:30 am

Simple answer: Nope.

I did examine the way I ride after a fairly serious off that left me in A&E and with a permanent slightly wonky foot (good kit definitely saved my bacon) and got myself some IAM training, but never wanted to give up. As an aside, the IAM training, perversly I suppose, ended up making me faster in bends and in dodgy weather

but more importantly much more aware of where to slow down and be safer all round.

Forced 14 month(ish) gap a few years later because of spinal surgery, But it was the thought of getting back on the bike that made me work harder through physio etc.

Even losing two friends in quick succession (both through non fault accidents) didn't make me consider giving up.
Reminds you of your vulnerability though, but I think if you really love it, nothing will put you off what you want to do

Stevie · Post by **Stevie** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:44 am

I've just sold my R12S and moved to Houston, and frankly, I doubt that I will buy a bike here. In general, the standard of the roads is appalling, and the standards of driving bordering on 3rd world. To get any kind of decent riding would involve a long ride out to the Texas hill country and you can forget commuting.
The only light on the horizon is that I am supposed to be moving on to France in a couple of years, so if the flames still burns, I'll be back on bike then.

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 11:23 am

RIP Lyndon ....

Never live in peace or RIP Carol O'Keefe

Thanks Marsh appreciated