Post Crash Weirdness

[chris k]

My wife has alot of fear over me getting my new bike. I understand, but I dont, if you know what I mean. She says that she accepts that Im getting a bike, but now that I put money down on an 07 Ultra she acting weird. I hope she'll be ok once she goes for a ride. Any thoughts or ESH?

[Doug]

I crashed two weeks ago, and am looking for another bike and fixing the busted one too. My wife says she's ok, but her eyes say something different. I bet my first ride is gonna be a real nail biter for her, and I don't really know what to say to her to try to "help" her....

[best]

Same here and each ride I come home without dents on me or the bike, she softens up a little more. For the first year after... I would call...every time I was going to be late at all on my return times. By trying to be aware of her feelings/emotions and ease them with a phone call helped her settle down a little. Able to put the bike back on the road this year...she has encouraged me to do so where two years ago she would have liked that I never rode again. No injuries to me when I needed lay down the bike in the rain so I never informed her of that time. Back in 02 I needed a ride home from the shop so she had to be told *LOL*

As for what laying the bike down has done to me...
I will ride a lot slower in the rain or not ride at all in the rain if I have a choice.
Both times it was rain and one of those times it was a combo of rain, highway, highway speed in the rain and cages that have no reason to be on the road with how they drive.
First one was... sorry buddy, I didn't see you.

[BillJ]

Motorcycling is one big way I fill my spiritual cup. It is both meditation and recreation for me. I suppose I'd "survive" if I couldn't ride again, but my life and my world would seem a little smaller, and less joyful, without the wind in my face and my knees in the breeze.

My wife knows this. She also knows that our lives were forever altered by my accident and resulting disabilities, and that riding is one of the few things left to me. Bless her heart, there's no way she'd ask me to give that up. It would be like asking me to give up AA, or my right arm. If I did, I just wouldn't be the guy she married anymore.

Granted, both our wives have reason to be concerned. Each of them came close to losing the man they love. How can we put their minds at ease?

In the experienced rider course I took a few years back, the instructor harped on "managed risk." It means that, while we recognize motorcycling is a hazardous pastime, we reduce the risk factors involved by being properly trained, prepared, dressed, and equipped; making sure our bikes are in safe operating condition; recognizing those conditions (wet roads, deer at night, bar-closing time, etcetera) that increase the possibility of an accident, and adjusting our behavior accordingly.

In other words, we do what we can do. After that, it's a God deal.

My brother is a mountaineer and kayaker. Every summer, he goes to Alaska and gets lost in the outback, alone for weeks at a time. Just recently, he started carrying a rescue beacon, that might help us find him if he gets into trouble. However, chances are that, given the distance, and the hazards he's likely to encounter, rescuers might not find him in time. He knows this, but he goes anyway.

Is he nuts? :andy: Might be, but he's doing what he needs to fill his cup, and if, God forbid, he doesn't make it back someday, at least he'll die doing something he loves.

If there's such a thing as a "good" death, in my book that would qualify.

Of course, if I die on my bike, I want it to be when I'm 105 years old, and outrunning the cops!

I joke, but I know it's a serious issue for you and your wife, Chris. I'll keep both of you in my prayers while you get it sorted.

[chris k]

Today Becky and I saw the bike and signed the papers, she was real brave and wrote the down payment check. 2007 deep cobalt pearl FLHTCU, detachable tour pack, race tuner,are already installed. V&H oval slip ons should be here Wednesday or Thursday. It gonna be a long week.

[BillJ]

Congrats, Chris!

Just remember: the rubber side goes on the road, and the shiny blue side goes in the wind. :andy:

[chris k]

Originally Posted by BillJ

Congrats, Chris!

Just remember: the rubber side goes on the road, and the shiny blue side goes in the wind. :andy:

Oh Yeah, thats right. I ll try to stay away from teenagers in little red cars too!

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by chris k

I ll try to stay away from teenagers in little red cars too!

Always!

[TonyB]

Man,
How did I miss this topic? Time for new glasses.
Chris,
My old lady has had a few “shake-ups” over the years. Some because I was a bonehead and some through no fault of my own. You are just going to have to roll easy on the throttle and wear your helmet for a while. She’ll settle out after a while. You just have to do like Bill J said and try to keep it rubber side down man. In my years of riding I have learned this; there are two kinds of bikers, those that have been down and those that will be down. That’s just an occupational hazard of being on a scoot I guess. I’ve been down a few times over the years. And while I was OOC (out of commission) all I could think of was fixing that scoot so I could get back out there.
I just had to reassure the old lady that I’m wasn’t going to pull any bonehead plays like I did when I was young or when I was full of booze. I don’t think she worries about me quite so much now that I ride sober. I know it was stupid to drink and ride, but I thought I was a bad a$$ biker with a big red S on my chest.
It’s only by the grace of our Lord that I’m still alive man, and that’s no bull.
Then there is always the possibility that someone else is going to have a bonehead play and you are going to fall victim to their stupidity. For that, there is really no reassurance. It happens. Just ride like you are invisible and trust in the Lord.

[The_Hammer]

Right on Chris, Congrats!

[Rarly Harley]

Way to go Chris. Congrats on the new ride. They sure are comfortable, those FLHTC's. I've learned to keep mine below 110 KPH when my wife rides with me. She really enjoys it. She gets nervous at anything above that. I'm also learning to think for a second before I twist the wick. I'm a believer that a timid rider gets hurt long before a more aggressive rider will. I think it is probably age that has given me that second to think, not common sense....LOL. At least I give myself a pause these days, before I crack through the hole, or pass a string and I've learned to slow right down on cold pavement, or in the rain. I ride today with the attitude that every cage out there is capable of killing me. I keep a close eye on intersections and idiots without turn signals and I stay sharp. I only let my guard down a bit on back country roads and open stretches of highway. I may have learned a little "prudence", as Bill W. described it. Bill said that prudence is a workable safe channel between the extremes of recklessness and fear......

[Sober_John]

Originally Posted by Rarly Harley

Way to go Chris. Congrats on the new ride. They sure are comfortable, those FLHTC's. I've learned to keep mine below 110 KPH when my wife rides with me.......

110 km/h (70 mph).
Is that right???

[Rarly Harley]

68.354 miles per hour, to be exact. Yup, that's all my lovely bride is comfortable with. By myself, my FLHTC loves to cruise at 85 MPH , but our highways are posted at 55 MPH. The OPP (Ontario Provincial Police), will look the other way up to about 65 MPH, but on come the cherries above that. The "prudence" I spoke of earlier, keeps me cruisin' at 70 to 75 MPH, with bursts up to 85 MPH. We can't use radar detectors up here, the OPP can tell if you have one and they will confiscate and fine big time....

[chris k]

This wasnt my first crash, just the first since I married Becky. I will be alot more careful in the city,if you Know what i mean.

[chris k]

Picked up the new bike about 6pm today, road about 70 miles with one of my Bros. I was a little leary of cars, imagine that. It sure did feel good to be back on my own 2 wheels.

[TonyB]

Good for you Chris!!
TB

[recoveringnky]

Originally Posted by chris k

Picked up the new bike about 6pm today, road about 70 miles with one of my Bros. I was a little leary of cars, imagine that. It sure did feel good to be back on my own 2 wheels.

Way to go Chris...get right back out there and enjoy the wind!! That "feeling" will go away once you start to trust again!!!

Ride safe,
Kym

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by chris k

I was a little leary of cars, imagine that.

It ain't paranoia if they really are out to get you! :andy:

Be safe, and enjoy the ride, Chris!

[Rarly Harley]

Originally Posted by chris k

Picked up the new bike about 6pm today, road about 70 miles with one of my Bros. I was a little leary of cars, imagine that. It sure did feel good to be back on my own 2 wheels.

Ain't nothin' like it. Yeeeeehaaaaw....Rubber side down...