Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

2 years and about 7000miles on the street, and over a decade on dirtbikes.... I have fallen off a dirtbike once or twice (low speed in the mud), never dropped a street bike. I'm not trying to discredit anybody, people most definitely do fall off their bikes and crash as we've seen in this thread already, but to say that it's inevitable that you'll crash is silly. It's not some rite of passage, it doesn't mean you're a seasoned rider because you've crashed and it doesn't mean you're a wuss or some newbie if you haven't. I've pushed my bike several times to the point where the front tire has washed out (the old stock tires). Yeah, no doubt a crash could have happened, but I corrected the problem immediately and avoided such a disaster. After having it happen twice over a long weekend I replaced the tires... common sense right? After breaking in the new tires I went to an open area and got a feel for the traction limits of the new tires, and I won't push the bike past that limit.

I think the sign of a seasoned rider should be the things that they've avoided, not the things they've fallen prey to. We've all had close calls with vehicles and of course there are times when there's nothing you can do... but if you keep your wits about you and pay attention these hazards become noticeable while you still have time to react. The dreaded left turning (or right turning in the UK and AUS) cars are a good example. No one is going to blame you if someone whips out in front of you and you go flying over their hood, but as a motorcyclist this is textbook crash avoidance; you should see these kinds of things coming and know how to avoid a collision.

Take a turn too hard? Well you should have known your limits, crashing in a turn is no ones fault but your own and it does not make you some sort of road veteran for having 'pushed your bike to the edge'. Like I mentioned, I have had the front tire wash out and I understand how to correct such an issue because of the education I received. If you're on a twisty road with traffic you should stay as far inside of a corner as you can (in case opposing traffic cuts into your lane), if it's littered with gravel and debris you should cut your speed down and plan to deal with traction issues... simple stuff.

I guess what I'm getting at is that no, you are not destined to have a meeting with the pavement at some point. One argue that at some point you may become over-confident, lazy, distracted, or you may panic. And if that happens it can easily lead to a crash. But if you get on your bike with the right mindset every time you ride, you should enjoy many years of trouble free and crash free motorcycling. My father has been riding for over 40 years and has yet to crash a bike, and he rode 'back in the day' when there weren't nearly as many safety features/rules and educational information. If you consider it a matter of time before you crash, you need to rethink how you ride.

Well said, Chris - two thumbs up!

To be honest, I have no idea what the GSX650F's limits are (though I quite enjoy a ride through the twisties, there's still plenty of unused rubber on my PR3s), but what I've experienced so far is plenty enjoyable enough for me. It probably helps I have a wife and three kids to consider. And parents, a sister and so on...

Your right about pre-avoiding (if that's a word) situations, and agree shit can happen. A friend's son (22yo) was clowning around on a trampoline on Christmas Eve, landing awkwardly on his neck. He remains in hospital, still no feeling in hands or feet (couldn't move any limbs at all for a week). Guess the line between enjoyment and being in the poo can be pretty grey at times. Common sense is probably your best friend.

Cheers, Matt

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation use to put out that in the US statistically new bike riders will have an accident in their first year of riding. I was part of that statistic by taking a turn too fast, going off the road onto gravel and braking too hard....That was in 1976. Since then I've had more aircraft accidents than bike accidents. I do recommend the MSF safety course though, pretty good refresher on what to, and not to do while riding.

I'm a noob.. (10 000) on my 1st road bike... my GSX 650f started 4 yrs ago on trail bikes..wr250f.. and at 50 with all my friends starting the bike riding subject with "at your age blah blah injuries, mid life, slow healing etc" ... well I'm an expert at coming off in the bush or on MX tracks.. But nothing on road so far. I have friends who ride harder on public roads than I ever will who haven't had an accident yet,... they tell me watch out for roundabouts with invisible spilt diesel and that having an off isn't a given. Scared off coming off.. not really except the suzuki repair bill terrifies me..

Learned my lesson in 1991,was late for an appointment and following a slow moving suv at about 25-30mph.I was impatient,downshifted into 2nd gear and made a high-speed pass.Unfortunately at the last possible moment the suv made a left turn into a driveway with no signal! I impacted his left front wheel at about 60mph and me and the bike went over the hood,I actually saw the bike following me through the air! Now I have one kidney and a healthy awareness for how fast things can go wrong on the street.Now I have tens of thousands of safe miles and I have enjoyed every one of them!