There is an old saying, that there are two kinds of bikers, the ones who have been down and the ones who are going down. However, from time to time, one gathers that there are some who have never crashed, and aren't afraid to tell everyone about it. I think my MSF instructors were part of this group. I think one of them dropped his bike once but didn't crash it. The other seems very risk averse. Maybe I'm mistaken?

Maybe I'm a stupid, risky klutz for crashing twice within two months and 1000+ miles of getting my license. Maybe the exceptions to the rule are talented or are very anal about technique. Maybe some of them don't ride much or only ride in ideal conditions. Perhaps they only tour the superslab and never actually ride anywhere they can actually crash. Maybe they don't use their bike like a car and commute to work like I do. Maybe I'm just average.

Opinions? Experiences? Number and type of crashes, different bikes, different gear, conditions, miles, injuries, etc.

Is it really possible to ride many miles in various conditions and not be some crazy $$$$$$$$$$$$$ gear wearing/swearing, technocratic/technophilic, Harley hating, crotch rocket riding safety/technique Nazi (you know the stereotype) without wrecking a million times and becoming a cripple? Can we just keep it simple?
Does everything have to be so complicated these days?  

(One of my instructors has/had a Harley, so this is just a stereotype of some of those Internet trolls. And, yeah, I beat up on the Harley people too sometimes, but that doesn't say I wouldn't own one, at least a cheap old Sportster .)

How many times have you crashed? Beginner vs now?

Feel free to tell your story.

I never put notches on my forks to keep track, so I dunno how many crashes I've had
I sure had more when I was new at it, especially when I had delusions of being a pro dirt bike racer
Luckily dirt is forgiving so I'm still in one piece
I've also had any number of lowsides and a few highsides
Nowadays I ride a lot more conservatively (read: I'm afraid of falling over so I don't push it)
I wear a helmet, usually FF or modular, a leather jacket and gloves, and jeans, though I am considering motorcycling jeans or even riding pants
Be safe, have fun, don't over think it

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drop
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fall
To drop or fall, to descend freely by the force of gravity.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crash
To crash: to hit something hard enough to cause serious damage or destruction.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biker
Biker:  a person who rides a motorcycle
- OR : a person who rides a bicycle

I started on pedal bicycles at about 30 months of age.  I did low-side before six years of age.  Older, faster, low teenage, I have done a high-side, over the handlebars.  I had a car stop across the sidewalk and I crashed hard enough to damage the car.  The gentleman said something that I don't remember but I do remember limping away telling him "my dad is a cop, follow me home."  He didn't.

At age 16 I got to drive, at 18 I got my first motorcycle when no one could say no.

As the MSF instructors, I have gently laid bikes less than 10 times in 50 years; my total "road rash" about a nickle size.  I have never crash on the streets.  Dirt is different -- dropping in the dirt is a part of the fun.  I figure about a drop a week in the dirt.  Once broke a collarbone.

I ride for transportation.  I mostly ride two-wheeler because I *HATE* being in a cage.  I don't speed.  I don't wear gear.  I have done 15K+ miles on the scoot, 30K+ miles on the Savage -- low miles because worked and shop mostly within 4 miles.

I am not particularly worried about crashing, given that my last possibly my fault crash was in '65, and nothing but minor bumps since.  And mostly rear ended when at a stop with no place to go.  And a bike can get away from a hazard, if you are looking.

But while I enjoy riding, I do not ride for fun.  I never ride just for riding.

I was considering a "crash" either a collision, or, more commonly, losing control and dropping the bike while moving at speed (e.g. highside, lowside). A "drop" would be the bike tipping over when stopped or nearly stopped.

I call it a get-off, basically,... if I'm able to ride away...
Bumps bruises, scrapes, and minor bike damage, but it still runs...

Crashes involve towing, sometimes police reports, ambulances, etc...

That's just how I judge it...

My t-bone,.. in 08'...

Ouch! How did you get outta there?

Wrecked my 650Special after 20k miles in 1981. Found a stopped car in my lane after coming over a hilltop. Too much front brake with a passenger, we slid for 3-4 miles (or hours, I can't recall), then quit riding till the kids were out of the house.

Got a sportbike almost 30 years later and wear full leather (on my Savage, too). Dropped it (not the Savage) once at no mph while doing the figure-8 in the MSF course, but haven't wrecked it for almost 70K miles. Its just starting to get broke in good.  

Oooorah, oldindian.