Do All Motorcycle Riders Crash?

When it comes to riding motorcycles, the saying goes "There are those that have been down, and there are those that will go down" Meaning it will happen to us all at some point, but is that true?
Thanks to David for his question and support! Join my Patreon and ask me questions I may answer them in a video like this!

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[USAltefore]

"Never really living" is a fear that I've felt more strongly the older I've become. Getting on two wheels is something I'm working to achieve. A bike is outside my budget for the moment, but I can still get a licence this summer if everything goes to plan.

[NearFuture]

Been riding since I was 14.
My experience:

When I was 18 I got my CBT did 3, 500 miles on it. Totally fine motorbike & learned the basics. I dropped the bike 2times.. trying to U-turn & trying to stop / start on a steep hill with gravel.

20yr old. 6months left on CBT - first almost serious incident. (My biggest learning mistake / scenario.) I was riding 60mph around a blind bend. There was a cyclists with their kid.

The kid was in the middle of the road! I had to swerve & went much further out then I expected. Luckily there was no oncoming cars.

Since then:

I had my MT-07 when I was 21. Full A2 license. I did drop it a few times mostly just kickstand not being down all the way. Or it goes half way & flicks back up.

Never dropped it doing u turns or anything like that. Defensive riding is what all you need to stay safe. Don’t copy these idiots with camera’s & you’ll be fine.

23; Full A license 24, 000 miles under my belt. Now upgraded to my lovely 1290R KTM. Very fun bike - yet need a stable head & mind set. Like most things, motorbikes aren’t all that dangerous other drivers are.

Now, 31, 000 roughly. Back account crashed (bike mods then more bike mods) I’ve still not crashed yet (touch wood) I have stopped a lot of close calls. Just by paying attention, staying back & watching shit unfold. Looking at the common pattern’s i’d like to call it. Just car drivers are impatient. Not that they can’t see us they’re just impatient don’t follow others. Ride your own ride & stay back. A few mins sat in traffic is much better then 6-8month recovery. Due to a car driver changing their mind last minute we never trust any signals here.

Anyway, that’s my experience over the 6-7 years riding. Overall great experience & I hope anyone reading also will enjoy riding or is enjoying it! Best thing I ever did.


Extra bits:

Went out on my MT-07 snow fall pretty hard. I had a fun / dumb idea. Don’t recommend.. just typical road 5s.. snow was prob 1-2 inches not very deep on avg. anyways, I was in the hills enjoying my time in the snow. Doing about 15-20mph. All going swell, until I went onto the middle of the lane & my front wheel went sideways & almost flicked me off! I had to quickly turn my bars & shift my weight to offset the lean. It was the feeling of like falling to far back on your chair 🤣 I remember saying “well, was that close dumb ass!”

Definitely wouldn’t take my 1290r out in the snow. Wouldn’t even get enough traction to move it 2meters without back tyre going sideways. Don’t ask me how I know.

I also dropped my 1290r once. Not sure how tbh.. kick stand down.. bars turned to the left. Hopped off & the bike falls over onto the right. Was to late when I noticed. I still scratch my head over it 🤣 swear a ghost or something. Kicked it cause never have I ever. Had it go the opposite way while the bars are turned left until it happened 😆🥺

[rath]

Fun fact, when I dropped my bike all the fear was gone. I was like good, this is over with. Before then I was deathly scared of scratching my pristine V-strom. As soon as it was on the ground, I thought fine, nothing I can do about it now. Lots I _could_ have done _before_, so let's make sure it doesn't happen again. Honestly I think it made me a better rider.

[Bugside]

We're balancing on two wheels, unless you're the most methodical, most patient, most careful, you'll at least drop it once

[lysandersear]

As someone who's struggled with their mental health a lot before, I can say he's telling the truth that riding does help. It's helped me with my mental health massively. Ride safe spicy, it was great to meet you

[mkdy]

I've taken up motorbiking at the aged of 60, albeit on a small cc bike. I had many a furrowed brow and tuts when I told the family of my intentions! However, the risk Vs reward ratio for me has been immensely in favour of starting to ride. I totally concur with with your comments on the benefits of riding being great for ones sense of well being and mental health etc. It's like nothing else, so for anybody thinking about riding I'd say go for it, embrace the challenges and the risk ! It is fantastic! Super vid BTW!! Ride safe!!

[jesmor]

I’ve been riding for about six years and started on a Tomos moped, moved to a Honda Grom, then a zero DS, had a Yamaha Tenere 700 for a bit, and now a Zero SR/F. Riding on two wheels can bring me a smile nothing else can so I’ve tried hard to figure out how I can ride as safe as possible. Fortunately, my only wipeout has been when I was on the Grom entering a gas station, and the lip of the curb was so steep that my tiny wheels couldn’t take it at low speed and I flew off the bike at about 3 miles an hour.

Every time I’ve purchased a new bike, I’ve promised myself no matter how long the ride is or where I’m going, I will wear my helmet. I’ve been acquiring safety gear that’s comfortable so I’m willing to wear it every ride. It’s cool to ride with your gear, that way you can increase your chance of riding tomorrow.

I ride very defensively, but dress like I could crash at any time. Ride safe out there!

[rustymustard]

The part most riders who are afraid to drop a bike they don't even own yet damage is their factory OEM ego.

[Dan-]

In 50 years of riding I’m luckily to only had one bad accident, 1999 a young man in a pickup ran a stop sign 🛑 and hit me 🤨. But when it comes to dropping a bike, its always been in the rain and either at an oil/Diesel covered intersection when stopping, or the same conditions at a filling station, and always at night ! Sucks, but that’s why I always fit either “crash bars” or “spools” as the first accessory to any new bike 😉.

[MadNath]

7 years no claims no crashes no scrapes no drops. 😊 ride 5 days a week. I have crashed a lot when i was 15 on dirt bikes a mopeds in a field.

[jacobhenderson]

After riding bikes for 8 years over 3 different licenses (A1, A2, A) I can say I’m comfortably unscathed. I’ve had 2 lowsides, this was due to black ice. One on my 125, years ago and one last year on my 750. They have been lesssons to learn from but I have never been hurt from them. Bruised hip but still riding. It’s never put me off. The most annoying thing about it is the repairs I have to make on the bike!
I’m not a conservative rider and when I ride… I ride. I have a supermoto after all.
I’ve had my fair share of scares (ie, other drivers and silly mistakes) but I still love riding and I always will. I wouldn’t let dropping the bike ever put you off getting a bike. I drop the bike all the time putting it in the garage!!

The better you are at riding the better you’ll be a mitigating an “ooops”

[johnrattigan]

I skidded on my mod 1 training session, needed hand surgery but was back on and eventually passed my tests. I've dropped my learner bike and vfr 800 umpteen times normally in the garage or drive when moving it.

[NRD]

Riding legally on the road since 2014. I've had one crash that was not my fault. Sometimes you can do everything right and still lose.

[johnchipperfield]

I've dropped my bike once, and I've been rear ended, luckily no damage to my bike, I love riding my bike, it's the feeling of total freedom.

[joshuarose]

I got told if you have not bin down you will be going down at some point

[midlifemoments]

dropped two, High-sided ones, all my fault.
shoelace, in one case resulted in a drop and trying to get my bike in my garden up steps in the other.
High-sided, pulling away too fast out from a junction. I didn't see the gravel, but the back wheel did.
it happens.
The best thing to do is take your time with anything you do.
Oh, wear proper gear 😂

[rickconstant]

As a teenager in the seventies, I had a few minor spills, due to lack of experience/skill, and some bad luck (black ice). Since 1975, I have had 3 more crashes, one due to diesel fuel spillage on a low speed bend, one collision with a car which was on my side of the road on a blind bend, and one where an oncoming car turned into the side of me at low speed at a crossroads. None were technically my fault, but I have learned from each, and tried to avoid getting into the same situations again, although there will always be some risks you cannot foresee.

[jetsathanas]

Been riding for about 9 months now, passed my test two weeks ago(commute every day by bike but still feel like a novice) Mostly been riding scrambler type bikes(dirt bike not triumph hipster mobile), dropped and crashed loads of times but all on soft ground or slow and off road.. not had any incidents on the road.

Key thing I think with dirt bike/scrambler is you look for your fun off road rather than leaning the bike more or accelerating harder on the road

You were a big catalyst to me getting my license sorted too! I've wanted to ride bikes for years and spent time on YouTube day dreaming. Like you say, if anyone is thinking of learning to ride.. just do it. I've never been happier!

[adrianwhitfield]

Only dropped once, on the way to my MOD2 exam stopped off camber on some wet, icy leaves and my foot slid out. Bike was fine and the laughing embarrassment got rid of all my nerves.

[Psy-Prime]

I’ve had a few gentle spills. First was my NSR125 hitting freshly wetted diesel on a roundabout at low speed with a motorcycle police officer right behind me - red faced for sure, but got away with a bruise and brand new cruise control on my slightly warped throttle.
Second was dropping my FZR250 RR (Exup) within 60 seconds of delivery because I didn’t kick the side stand out enough. That was the worst! Bit of paint fixed that though.
Third was another slow low-side on a tight bend that happened to have a ton of dry mud all over. Same FZR, and not even a bruise that time.
Most crashes are minor bumps that you just have to walk off and learn from.