Glad you are ok! I spent many years on sport bikes and yes they can way fun...but now days I just feel safer in a car!

First, I'm really glad you're OK.

Consider this a wakup call to take a safety course. The cost is nominal vs. the consequences! I had my bike license befoe a car license and it's a miracle I survived the first years!

You're so vulnerable on a bike. Seeing all the people riding around in shorts, t's, etc is very sad.

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

Thanks Guys

Glad you are all right. It happens to everyone. I've been riding streetbikes for almost 13 years now and everyone goes down. What are you going to do with the bike?

I am not saying don't take a riding course but come on, sh$t happens and course or no course you can and will go down. There is nothing stopping anyone from practicing slow speed manuevers on your own. The biggest thing, I think most people don't do, is they don't learn their bike. What it can and cannot do, what it's and your own limitations are. Just like most people think bikes stop on a dime. SO not true.

The course is like $100 from your local community college. Heck my wife just took the course two weeks ago, and is now buggin the hell out of me to get the smaller bike we have fixed so she can ride. I keep coming up with excuses.

Sniper have you ever taken a class?? Kind of hard to judge something if you haven't gone through it. Try the advanced class if you feel you are an experienced rider. I know guys that have raced for years that could not
believe the mistakes that were pointed out to them. Thinking you know how to ride and knowing how to ride are 2 different things. Maturity and a good crash will wake you up, it did me.

Do you honestly think you can learn the same from teaching yourself in a parking lot??

Maturity? I guess 16 years accounts for nothing. :lol: You're assuming quite a bit aren't you?
I've taken classes on the track. And yes I do believe you can teach yourself how to ride. No matter how many classes you take, you may never know everything anyway. And as I mentioned my wife just took the class, and sat there and watched it. It's a very good class for low speed manuevers.

When I moved here to NC they did not transfer my M endorsement, so I had to retake the exam and road (parking lot) test. Out of the 12 or so riders there, I was the only to pass. Why? Because it was all low speed manuevers. And if you don't practice and know how to do them, you fail.

Have you taken a class to drive your car? If you have do you now know everything there is to know because of the class.

Look I am not trying to turn this into an argument, but this is indicitive of the society we live in. How in the world did we make it this far, before there was a safety class for every damn thing in life? Jeez, learn to ride, ride with other good riders and try to be responsible. If you want to take a class, great, if not IT"S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, folks. Sh$t happens, and hopefully it's not bad enough that you cannot recover from it.

First off - Glad to hear you're doing okay.

Looks like you made one of the most common rider mistakes.... going into a corner too hot, then getting a bit upright and grabbing a handful of front brake.
This may sound like hind-sight advice, but, if you're already into a corner hot, braking is going to do more damage than good. You're much better off riding it out. You'd be surprised how far you can put a bike over, especially on a 180/55 tire.

I've been riding for lots of years and I've never taken a bike course, so I can't speak to that. But, I have done track days, and over the years I've received some great coaching at the track. I'd suggest trying a few track days sessions. Start off with the beginner sessions.

Take care and ride safe.


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who was taking all the action shots while this is going on?

I had my camera in my jacket. I gave it to one of the girls I was riding with to take the pictures.
Jeff

that is funny, I would not have been thinking that at all!

Darren