Is falling/crashing really this common?

[u/Careless-Comedian176]

I see so many threads about their first fall/crash and i'm really starting to wonder if I get a skewed perspective on how common this is? The attitude in these threads is also like they treat as you will crash serveral times before you get the hang of it. This feels weird to me and of course there's always a risk of an accident but I don't know anyone that has crashed, including my parents and their friends who have been riding for 35 years +.

I want to add that I live in Sweden and they have pretty advanced requirements before you get a license. I don't know if it's more uncommon than I think or if it's because other countries have lighter regulations and thus doesn't give you proper instructions on how to handle your bike in certain situations?

[u/i-e-b]

Standard internet selection bias. No-one is posting that they had no problems today.

[u/Careless-Comedian176 → u/i-e-b]

Well I mean of course it's gonna be biased, i'm more refering to the attitude that it's almost expected when you read the comments.

[u/Hofnars → u/Careless-Comedian176]

Most people I know that ride have had minor, non newsworthy 'drops', not crashes. More embarrassing than damaging. Kickstand kicks back, no ground under your foot on a hill, etc.

Not sure why people advertise the equivalent of a door ding you might get on a car as some big event when it involves a motorcycle.

You'll be fine with the training you, and everyone you share the road with in Sweden, has had.

[u/Substantial-Time-421 → u/Hofnars]

Because not everyone is smart enough to buy $300-$500 engine guards after spending $5-10k on a bike

[u/smoy75 → u/Hofnars]

To add to this, when I was learning on my own with no instruction I dropped my bike a few times doing U Turns at slow speed. That taught me a lot and I feel like it set me up to respect my bike. The other time I dropped my new bike was exactly what you described. I was parking, put my foot down with a slight decline and I slipped on gravel. I rolled and myself/my bike were fine. After those first instances never had a problem

[u/bradland → u/Careless-Comedian176]

There's a lot that gets mixed up in this question.

First, it's important not to confuse the statemen that "dropping your bike is inevitable" with "crashing is inevitable". Most drops are low-speed, and they're more common than you might think. People frequently warn new riders about this, because low-speed drops are very common for new riders. The dynamics of maneuvering a motorcycle are very different than a car. Many new riders turn the bars like a steering wheel, roll the bike, then grab a handful of front brake. Boop. Over goes the bike.

Then there are ATGATT conversations where people adopt a "when, not if" attitude towards crashes. Treating a crash as inevitable and scaring new riders into believing this is a rhetorical tool for driving safety adoption. Basically, riders over-state the risks of crashing in order to scare people into wearing safety gear. It's well intentioned, but not entirely based in fact.

[u/antilumin → u/Careless-Comedian176]

I think it's less of a "not if but when" sort of mindset, but more of a "IF it happens, get up and ride again; it happens to lots of people, don't worry too much."

So by all means take your time to learn good habits, but getting hung up on "oh no I dropped my bike" can be a huge mental roadblock for some people.

It's like being pessimistic in nature. If you're expecting that cup to be half full, you'll likely be prepared to refill it to full. I'm prepared to drop my bike, so I practice picking it up. I don't get worked up thinking I did something only "shitty riders or idiots" do.

[u/sokratesz → u/Careless-Comedian176]

Anyone who says that crashing is common or inevitable is a shitty rider, an idiot, or both.

[u/Spaceduck413 → u/sokratesz]

Street is not the only place to ride. If you ride offroad, crashing is going to happen eventually. If you ride MX/SX, crashing is going to happen eventually. If you ride track, crashing is going to happen eventually.

[u/sokratesz → u/Spaceduck413]

Yeah of course but were not talking about offroading or mx here.

I've gone down hundreds of times off-road. That's not the same as making rookie mistakes on the road.

[u/sokratesz → u/[deleted]]

Low speed drops aren't common in new riders who've taken a proper rider course.

Many new riders turn the bars like a steering wheel, roll the bike, then grab a handful of front brake. Boop. Over goes the bike. 

This is like, class one of our rider courses.

[u/bradland → u/sokratesz]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to reply to you. I don't disagree with what you said.

[u/sokratesz → u/bradland]

It happens!

[u/AdTop7432 → u/Careless-Comedian176]

It's only normal for people that live in countries where riding unlicensed isn't seen as extremely taboo, or where training is lacklustre.

Outside of an embarrassing drop in a carpark on loose gravel, or something silly at low speed, I wouldnt consider dropping your bike 'normal'.

It's a bit daft and is somewhat common, thats about it.

[u/Bizarro_Zod → u/Careless-Comedian176]

My instructors told me it’s not an “if” you crash, but “when” and that’s why you wear the gear. My old boss died because he was too macho to wear a helmet. My step dad was rear ended by a cop. I’ve been in a crash and came away without much more than a few bruises and a scratched up helm. I don’t know of anyone with more than a couple of years under their belt that hasn’t at least laid their bike down once.

No one is immune and no one is invincible. Ride responsibly.

[u/StankoMicin → u/Bizarro_Zod]

Your instructors are wrong then. Most people don't crash their bikes. Training and skill almost vastly reduces that likelihood

It's kind've like how most cops don't have to use their guns at all during their whole careers. They have them for if they do need them but they don't say shit like "it's not If but when"