My hubby bought me my 2003 Savage a couple of weeks ago.  Although I am so thrilled and excited to have it, I am also scared and worried about the safety issues.

I have two small children (1 and 4) and love them so much.  I always worry . . what if.  It is so hard to love to ride so much but constantly think about having a wreck.  I am healthy now and have two healthy kids.  Why would I want to take a chance??

One minute I want to keep the bike and ride worry free.  The next minute I want to sell it and not take any chances on not being here for my kids.

With my last bike 15 years ago I always went back and forth too; finally heard to many horror stories and sold it.

I have really enjoyed riding it the last couple of weeks.  I am taking the MSF course next month before I ride out from my neighborhood.  There are several people in my church who ride (including three women) and we have a riding club.

I am just driving myself crazy!!  Anyone else ever feel wishy washy like me??

Alisa, remember one thing above all when you're riding:

It is up to YOU to avoid accidents.  With your life and safety squarely in your own hands, it makes getting trained and educated much easier because you're removing the responsibility from other drivers to keep you safe and you're taking 100% of the responsibility yourself.  You can't get better motivation than that!

Read everything you can get your hands on.  "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycling" and the two "Proficient Motorcycling" books by David Hough are bikers' bibles.  Absorb and inhale what is written on those pages.  Get and stay trained by thaking the MSF course as many times as you like!  Take the BRC every year if you want, and the ERC annually as a refresher.  Limit yourself to parking lots and practice endlessly until you feel better and better about your abilities.  Always stay humble on the saddle.

Do not ever let your guard down when you're on your bike, ride as if you were invisible, silent and as big as a car.  And always wear the very best safety gear.  

The accident rate for motorcyclists is only about 1.5% of all riders (as opposed to over 5% of car drivers!) so statistically your odds of getting in an acident are lower than if you were in a car.

I can understand your fear, and I would certainly support anyone who is afraid to ride out of concern for their family.  The choice is yours, obviously, but your odds of getting in a motorcycle accident decrease substantially when you take the above suggestions.

Ride safe always.  You are the most important person in the world to someone!

LOL Kropatchek

Laugh out loud  

I completely understand.  I have two boys, and I live near a big city, so the fear is there.  But, I do what I can to be extra careful.  I never go without a helmet, and a protective clothing.  And just because you have a wreck, doesn't mean you're dead or crippled.  I'm living proof.  I had a front brake lock up in the gravel and I wiped out and skinned and burned my arm, but it wasn't anything horrible.  I had a friend, (a Harley mechanic) hit a car turning in front of him, at 55mph, and all he did was dislocate a shoulder, and get a little road rash.  And the fool wasn't even wearing a helmet.  Just be careful, and enjoy riding with your friends.

AlisaB wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:

Last things first -- Don't, that's your husband's job.
you might check to see if he's taken out a very large life insurance policy on you.

A motorbike 15 years ago, puts you 30+.  I shall assume that 15 years ago you were young and inexperienced on the road.  It is a good thing to not ride when inexperienced.

As of now you have two possibilities:

1.  You have not had any accidents in the past 10 years, no close calls, the cops mostly ignore you.  You have learned defensive driving.

2.  You have had accidents/close calls and are on first name basis with the traffic cops.  You might reconsider the bike.

The MSF course is good -- even if you have driven accident free with Bell System bi-annual safety refresher courses for the past 30+ years.  (counting me there were three old PacBell Technicians in my MSF class.   (I don't think the instructor believed us when we said yes, we regularly drive 14+ seconds ahead -- Ma Bell calls it the Long View.)

With the small kids I'd be tempted to get a sidecar.
 My Uncle picked me up at Heathrow in '58 with a hack.

AlisaB wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:


I will admit that just like anything, I have good days and bad days.  Sometimes, I feel really "one" with the bike and will ride very well.  Other days, I don't feel "on top of my game" and feel sloppy.  On those days, I ride cautiously.  It is all about riding within your abilities and always riding defensively.

When you finish your MSF course, you'll have a better understanding of your bike and your abilities.  If you ride as they will teach you, and always wear good protective gear, you won't drive yourself crazy.

Everyone has made excellent comments.  I would add a couple.  Like someone said, consider that you are invisible, stay aware of your surroundings, avoid high traffic streets and riding in rush hour if possible.  

One very simple thing that can reduce your risk, position yourself in the lane where you are the most visible to other drivers.  For example, if you are riding down a street with a lot of side streets, ride as close to the center of the lane as possible.  Thattaway, cars on the side streets will be more apt to see you.  And, during daylight hours, ride with your high beam on.