What scares you more, fall or a near miss?

[Gone in 60]

I had hauled the Bonnie down quite a bit when the car stopped about 50 feet in front of me. If the car had continued moving across my path, I would have cleared its back bumper. It was a good reality check to compare my parking lot panic stop practice to a real panic situation and to realize that it really doesn't have the greatest brakes, but it's something I can factor in for the future. I actually got a "Good Job" from the investigating officer when he saw that there weren't any skid marks on the street behind my bike and realized how little damage there was to either vehicle.

[clearviewx]

I had an instance that still scares me to this day. I was riding on unfamiliar backroads neighborhood when I went right thru a stop sign I did not see. Luckily there were no vehicles coming. It would of been my fault if someone had hit me. That instance is always in the back of my mind.

[Gone in 60]

Clearview, I've done the same thing. On my freeway exit to the office, while you're still moving pretty quickly, there is a stoplight that is just for an Ikea store on the left side of the road. It is rarely red for the cars exiting the highway, but I have seen accidents at that spot.

Still, just a few weeks ago, I sailed right through a red. Caught myself mid-intersection. Luckily, there were no cars turning across me.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Anyone fall asleep while riding only to wake up (and still riding) about a mile or less down the road?

[tod.branko_imp]

Anyone fall asleep while riding only to wake up (and still riding) about a mile or less down the road?

Did it actually happen to you?! I feel like it's one of those things where a person wakes up in the hospital or not at all. I did have my Mrs doze off in the pillion seat almost falling off the bike. That was scary gotta say

'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed

[GoldOxide_imp]

Anyone fall asleep while riding only to wake up (and still riding) about a mile or less down the road?

Did it actually happen to you?! I feel like it's one of those things where a person wakes up in the hospital or not at all. I did have my Mrs doze off in the pillion seat almost falling off the bike. That was scary gotta say

'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed

Back in the 90's on the ol' CB750 after midnight. Duration was about a kilometer of four lane road. Crossed the dividing center line, but fortunately no traffic around at all. That experience was instant spine-grabbing shocking. It never happened again.

[the Ferret]

I hit a left turner in 1969 on my 305 Scrambler. Happened so fast I didn't have time to be scared. Totaled my bike, broke my nose, right hand, right foot and 7 teeth. Afterwards I was scared to get back on a bike and told my mom I was thinking about not riding anymore. She reminded me how much I loved riding and how much I would miss if I didn't ride again. As soon as I was healed up I used the insurance check from the wreck to buy a new CB 350.

I have had several close calls over the years that have scared me, but as soon as one happens you have to put it out of your mind, or you will be afraid to ride.

[offroadfx4_imp]

I've always heard, close calls are like dodging bullets....an inch is as good as a mile.

I'm not sure if you have to be crazy or just have super mind control, but I agree you just have to block it out.

I've had a couple of car crashes where I was a worse driver afterwards for a while before I got my confidence back.

Being too careful and indecisive is almost worse than relaxing and letting your knowledge, skill and reactions take control.

As far as the fear, there was no time for fear....the crash reminded me of a gun going off...within an instant your world is suddenly changed forever.

[Tev62]

If I take the question right, "what scares you more, fall or a near miss" I have to say neither. I have never been scared to ride a motorcycle or scared of the consequences of riding one, otherwise I probably wouldn't.

I had a few accidents in my teens, one time I T-Boned a car that pulled out in front of me from a junction and I went over the bonnet quite spectacularly. I don't ever recall being scared at the time, just bemused and then a bit annoyed at the other driver. It was totally her fault and she was prosecuted for the accident but now as a mature driver it wouldn't happen again, I would of been more aware to the danger. But it happened too quickly to be scared.

So I wasn't scared then and I am not scared now because I have replaced my "I am invincible" teenage attitude with an mature head that takes my welfare and motorcycle safely seriously albeit a little subconsciously. A lot of that is down to responsibilities of course. When we are twenty we all know what we were thinking of, Beer, Woman & Motorbikes! Now it's "how am I going to get my kids through University", I've got to be around to enable that.

I would be willing to bet the majority of near misses and falls that occur to a motorcyclist are self inflicted and you have to wonder if many motorcyclists are scared about anything given that observation.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Over-thinking a bit - if after an incident I noticed a shattered and splintered femur ripped through my flesh spewing blood and bone mallow all over the greasy asphalt, I would probably be in shock and that would likely have a lasting affect on decisions going forward.

Another one that may come to mind (maybe too close to mind) is an emergency stop situation where a concrete rebar hanging off the back of a flatbed truck happens to puncture through the helmet. The emotional and physical trauma might be challenging to overcome and would indeed be scary.