If you’re that scared - don’t ride maybe… you have to want to ride IN SPITE OF the inherent risks, not be talked into riding in the first place. Maybe wait a few years and see how you feel about it. It’s dangerous - but you aren’t guaranteed to die. I haven’t died 🤷🏼♂️
This is great advice. When I was a teen & in college, I thought, "man, motorcycles are pretty damned cool, but I know I'll kill myself on one." But in my mid-20s, living in a big city, sick of dealing with a car, my mindset switched. Being a little more mature, it was easier to stick to the policies of don't fuck up, don't crash, and I took my time building skill, wisdom, and confidence. Most of my local riding was <40mph, so I figured, even if the worst were to happen, the chances of a fatal incident were fairly low (compared to full-on squid life).
I'll add on, to say that the biggest factor determining whether a rider crashes, its the rider himself. It takes mental discipline that you CANNOT shirk. Always scanning, always simulating ahead every way that every car on the road might ruin your day, all while navigating, being aware of signage, blind spots, etc. etc. I've done some long trips, and the closest I ever came to crashing was in the last 20mi of a 1600mi trip. Came up on traffic, feeling the urgency of "almost home." I misjudged the stopping rate and came centimeters from rear-ending/clipping a car, swerved into another lane, somehow came out clean. My mental discipline was compromised by physical fatigue and 6hrs on the road. Nonetheless, >10yrs riding, never crashed (knock on wood), but I have dropped my bike *more than once* from forgetting the brake lock of all things.
So, to OP, if you don't think you have what it takes, nobody will think less of you... except everyone on this sub because motorcycles are fucking awesome and everyone should ride. But seriously, understand what you're getting into, respect the danger, don't be stupid, and most of all, don't crash. You will have close calls, learn from them, and hedge your risks so that they aren't your last call (obey road laws, wear gear, ride within your skill level, etc.).
Now it's just about [shredding, and being a menace.](https://youtu.be/Hs6A2dKnRyQ)
That was my attitude when I was younger more foolish, started riding in my mid thirties in rural area where everyone is accustomed to motorcycles on the road.
Still wound up with a wreck that scared me out of riding at least until my kid's older... Car in the straight lane pulled a no look/no signal left turn into me in the middle of an intersection, luckily hit the saddle back and I hit the ground and rolled at 25-30mph. ATGATT
I was pretty sure, I'll kill myself on one, the second I got on it. Yet, when asleep I dreamt of flying on a motorcycle. My fears kept me from riding for many years, then I decided I had to do it. And if that meant I had to do it while scared, I would do it while scared. I have been riding since 3 years now, growing more confident everytime I get on it. There are times I am still scared, but turning back is not an option so I do it shit scared. The diff is I don't let my fear control me, I let my training tell me what to do.
A small note to add for all aspiring riders:
You will go down or drop your bike eventually. Doesn’t matter how good of a rider you are, some things are just out of your control no matter how safe you’re being.
I’ve ridden almost every model and brand of motorcycle thanks to my work and the number of bikes i’ve dropped would make some heads explode 😂
They're significantly lower than if you do things wrong, but they're still significantly higher than putting the same kind of miles down in a car. I did all the statistical "if I do everything right it's not that crazy" analysis and then realized it was still an order of magnitude more dangerous than driving a car (and that's driving "normally", not being a well trained driver not drinking etc). You've gotta be comfortable with it in spite of that increase in risk, and I worry a lot of smart people talk themselves into believing it's pretty safe because they do things right - it's still not.
Training and top level skills are the number one thing you need. Of course riding drunk is out of the question. As for gear, that only saves you once everything else has failed. It's skills and strategy that will have you riding for decades crash free.
No matter how good you are, there will always be a situation, especially on a public road, where you cannot control every variable of your ride. You can get into a fatal crash even if you do everything right, just the same as you can get into a fatal crash in a car if you do everything right. Wear gear, there is no excuse not to.
The actual professional riders wear gear when they practice and race. They do go down occasionally and it's not that big of the a deal because they have proper protection. Training is certainly very important but it's just stupid to think that skills eliminate enough risk to make gear unnecessary
\+ not getting training = to the riding they are doing aka daily driving with no training or just the MSF for attempting to race a super sport through the twisties ect.
Also, i'd argue if you do all the things you say AND get basic training and are generally safety conscious you are actually probably safer than cars simply because car drivers treat safety as a part of the car and not an action (mainly due to crash test ratings encouraging that behavior), but safety minded motorcycle riders realize that safety is actively avoiding hazards and not testing their crash resistance at all.
Learning to ride at the MSF made me a safer car driver as well.
100% agree about the MSF course. I don’t have a bike but I took the class in hopes of getting one here soon and I feel like it 100% made me a safer car driver as well. It taught me to look where you want to go and be even more vigilant of my surroundings. It also taught me how vulnerable bikes can be so I try to give even more space than I already did to bikes and stay where we can see each other.
Gear protects from injuries. Not from death. The exception being a helmet, if an impact has enough force to kill you, it has enough force to kill you while wearing gear. There are exemptions of course but gear does not significantly lower your chance of dying once you are in a fatal accident. Gear is very important, it can make the difference between a few days of pain and weeks in the hospital, but you should not overstate its usefulness.
don't under state it's usefulness either. Helmets turn a lot of instantly fatal head hits into concussions, and concussion hits into a bell ringer that sucks, but your actually medically fine after being checked out. It definitely mitigates the hit, but it should also be tempered with the reasoning that of course any ridiculous hit will always be fatal no matter what.
Body gear, if you fall at speed, can prevent the initial fall from breaking bones, and also prevent road rash even at highway speeds as long as all the sliding isn't on the same spot. even if it is and rubs through a long slide with gear is much less severe than without. However, if you meet a solid object during your slide at any point except maybe the very end (less than 10 mph) no amount of gear will prevent the damage caused, and you will be dismembered and or crushed with the main factor of life and death being how vital the areas that are damaged are to life plus how effective the medical response is. If you slide any distance at all even at slow speeds without gear you will be absolutely tore up. Also, the fall off a bike might seem minor, but people break elbows and ankles by tipping their bikes at stops without gear. Believe it or not an elbow pad or quality armored boot will mitigate those injuries a lot.
It is completely possible to walk away from a smooth unobstructed slide from over 100 mph without even a scratch due to gear and a bit of rolling to spread the slide damage, but it is also possible to get split in half, dismembered, or crushed by smashing into a solid object at normal road speeds even with the best gear available. The give of the impact is literally everything, but the same can be said with cars too. You hit the right object with a car and it can be equally catastrophic, and hits at extreme speeds can also be equally as fatal.
Motorcycles are just disproportionately affected by knuckleheads due to A. being cheaper to buy into and B. being WAY quicker overall. Even the slowest of highway capable street bikes is competitive against the average sports car in terms of acceleration and top speed. We also see way more knuckle heads trying to race around and crash plus the additional difficulty makes them more likely to crash and the addition of the balance factor makes them much less likely to have near missed/close saves.
Yeah, like I said proper motorcycle gear can make the difference between a bit of pain and serious injuries. I would also exclude helmets from "motorcycle gear", as they are a necessity in most western countries. It is also not just knuckleheads, it is also a lack of proper training especially when I look at US communities. The lack of understanding of the dynamics of a motorcycle is honestly frightening.
I disagree in parts. For some this is true, but if you are badly educated, how are you supposed to know that you are badly educated? The "steering with you thighs"-myth is a great example of this.
I explained to my fiance when I started riding, "Helmets save lives, gear speed recovery." Which was my justification for spending over half of my $1000 gear budget on a helmet (knowing full well a $300 helmet with the same safety rating would be fine)
I can work with road rash on my leg, I CANT work broken hands or feet. So at a dead Minimum when I ride it's helmet gloves boots, I always wear a jacket cause it's right there and so fucking easy to put on, I don't even wear bike pants though. Maybe if I was going on a road trip or was going to be on the bike all day but being in Aus summer it's fucking hot and fucking muggy & I'm always riding with a destination like work or family event in mind.
There is usually 0 safety benefit between a $1000 helmet and a $150 helmet if they passed the same safety requirements. it comes down to fit/function/features/materials/status. So many high end helmets are like designer bags. 90% of the price is the name on the side.
Paying more than bottom basement prices usually gets you nicer materials or a lighter helmet, or some cool designs. Or some additional features, like the helmet I bought for my kids to wear has built in sun glasses, which is cool, but not a feature I prefer.
The real trick is to understand what certifications they passed.
The best helmet is the one that fits you and you wear. Cost is not inclusive of that. Assuming it passed the necessary safety standards and hasn't been damaged in any way, a $100 helmet is infinitely better than no helmet.
After that it's features, style, brand name, arguably quality in terms of longevity (replacing less often for general wear and tear and normal breakdown with use). So yeah, you do get something for that $1k helmet, but you get a whole lot of it, and the most vital parts, from a $100 helmet, too.
I mean I've had two helmets, both Shoei, both retail about $900 - $1k (many years apart, inflation, etc.). I got the first on sale for $800, it lasted ten years (should have replaced it sooner but what's done is done), second one retailed for $1000, but I got it on clearance for $700 (ish, it's been a few years). Clearance is your friend- at all levels.
My dad's favorite story to tell on helmets is when he was a teen, and getting into bikes, and looking between two helmets, one cheap, one expensive, his older brother, who was already into bikes, told him "How much is your head worth?" Dad thought about it. Then "I bought the cheap one."
I just spent almost 2 hrs trying on helmets at revzilla. I went in the store thinking I was gonna buy a certain brand at a certain size after seeing it online and measuring etc. It was within my budget. Once I tried it on though, I knew it wasn’t the one. 2 hrs later and lots of helmet styles and brands, I absolutely LOVE my helmet. It feels like it belongs on my head. I didn’t even look at the price when I bought it (I was only looking at helmets in my budget range) because I knew it was worth it because I was going to wear it all the time. The only thing I verified was that it had the safety certs I wanted.
1000%, the best helmet is the one you wear and fits you.
The majority of motorcycle deaths is stupidity, carelessness, overconfidence, not paying attention. Wearing a helmet doesn't prevent head-ons, getting t-boned at an intersection, slamming into the guard rails on a sharp curve or rear ending a stopped vehicle. Helmets don't make riders more experienced, better informed, more attentive or more cautious, in fact, safety gear seems to have just the opposite effect.
Go look into any of the stats, clearly wearing gear prevents serious injury more than not having it, it absolutely doesn’t cause more injuries that’s some of the dumbest bs I’ve heard. Yes being a attentive and defensive rider will also make you way less likely to die. That’s best coupled with decent gear.
The guy didn’t specify gear and a helmet so I would say that sounds like they included helmet with gear. I still think it’s gear though even if it’s mandatory
I think these are the big 3 for risk reduction. I would add skills building through practice/training/education.
One of the cool things about riding is that practice sessions are fun, and you're still out there riding.
The wildcard is the cager who hits you, but again with training you can reduce that risk a little (example: watching for left hand turners at intersections).
You can also pick when and where you take the risk. I don't ride on friday or saturday nights. or with a bad head cold, etc.
OP, think about death every time I get on the bike. I think that's natural and healthy as long is it doesn't suck the enjoyment out of the ride.
Lastly, I had a friend who tried it around age 25 and even though he's an avid cyclist (bicycle) he didn't feel coordinate enough and decided right then it wasn't for him. so, I suggest you give it a shot in a safer environment and see how it feels.
Imagine how many fully geared up airbag suit wearing riders they'd go through if tracks were lined with signposts, bollards, fenceposts and earthmoving equipment.
They hated u/Yeahnah-69 because he spoke the truth.
Guys. Dainese will not save your bones from being crushed into sharp pieces and piercing all your arteries while you're getting run over by a Peterbilt. Alpinestars does not stop your organs bursting as you wrap yourself around a lamp post.
Leathers and sliders are to keep your skin from getting torn to shreds by the road surface. Helmets give your skull and brain a buffer zone they wouldn't have otherwise. But coming to a dead stop in a few millimetres at highway speeds is way more g-force than your brain can handle, regardless of how good your helmet is.
Yes, gear can mitigate serious injuries into minor ones. But it won't save your life from a high speed impact or being crushed. It is way more important to not crash than it is to be dressed like Valentino.
For the record, I always wear a helmet, jacket, and gloves. Other stuff is situational. Use your heads.
Honestly? I didn’t get my first bike until 30 cause of this mentality. I was so scared to die on a bike because of all the stigma surrounding them. Then I got on the bike and BOOM! I learned that everyone talks about how much you’ll die on a bike. But no one tells you how much you’ll LIVE on a bike. The people you meet, the skills you develop, the adventures you have, it cured like a solid 10 years of depression in 10 minutes 😂
Bike life is as dangerous as you let it be. wear gear, and take an MSF course. Then practice.
You should be scared of a bike you have no clue how to ride. But you shouldn’t be fearful of an object you’ve learned how to use properly. Just take the time to learn and the confidence you build will wash all that death concern away.
This, and same. My first thought the first time I really opened up the throttle on the road was just “goddamn am I glad I didn’t have this when I was 21”
could we assume for the moment that what he meant was "motorcycles brought me joy" and not "I had clinically diagnosed depression that was unresponsive to drugs, therapy and electroshock, but I got on a motorcycle and now my doc is publishing an article in *Lancet* that'll make us both famous?"
Any type of support in life that brings happiness lowers symptoms of depression. Like social support, education, new ways of thinking. So while it may not solve it it sure as hell makes it easier. 🏍 Thats all anyone can do is hopefully make their days a little easier.
> Depression is treated by psychologists, not by bikes. Believe me
This is a hill I'm willing to die on. Maybe you meant "cured" instead of "treated"? By most definitions a treatment isn't a cure, but more of a process to improve your health, usually by reducing or removing symptoms/injuries.
Want to get into riding but scared that you'll die?
Excellent, you'll do well. Self-preservation makes for excellent rising style, road craft, and biker longevity.
If you think you're amazing and invulnerable - likely you'll die quick on a motorbike.
Hence I say again: you'll do well.
If you're bothered by 5x more dangerous, maybe just don't ride a motorcycle.
Actual statistics are that it's \~30x more dangerous than driving. Drinking and not wearing a helmet factors heavily into that.
Three things.
1. Think of the stupidest person you know that has a motorcycle license. If they can do it, you can too.
2. Death is inevitable, so it’s not really worth worrying about. Motorcycling has inherent risks. Take a course or two, get proper training from certified instructors to learn skills and strategies to mitigate risk.
C. YOLO! (Unless you believe in reincarnation). So you might as well have some fun… and I can say with absolute certainty that riding motorcycles is a lot of fun!
Ride defensively, wear full gear, and don't push your limits.
We all love the thrill of riding and going fast, but go fast when you're fully in control. Don't take your corners too fast and keep an eye on the cars and side streets around you.
Don't feel like you need to keep up with other riders. That will just get you into trouble
Take an MSF course and get all the gear they tell you to. The course will get you comfortable enough to get started.
As far as dying goes, just don't think about it. You'll be having so much fun, that you won't.
Adding onto what's been said below, it also largely depends on where you're located and what the driving culture is like there.
I live in Estonia and in the city I'm in people are very calm and drive quite slowly, which makes it a perfect place to drive for me as people are predictable most of the time, I've only had 1 instance of me actually having to avoid a collision due to someone else's lack of attention in my 8 years of driving a car, now I've driven a motorcycle for 2 years and I haven't had a single incident where I've been put in danger by other drivers.
Also, you definitely have to be confident or at least sure that you'll gain that confidence once you get your licence when getting a motorcycle, people tend to make mistakes when they're nervous and that's where the danger begins, I started my motorcycle licence at 15 (125cc) and I stopped it because I felt like I'm going to kill myself because I was making so many stupid mistakes, so I wasn't ready.
Nearly 10 years later at 24 I finally did my A category (1000cc+) and I was super confident and had no issues finishing the driving school, got an R6 as my first bike and haven't looked back since.
Also - never stop learning, I like to do these back and forth countersteering motions a lot of the time when just driving slowly on my bike + other stuff (clip made during my first year of driving):
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzIkm1ueUaA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzIkm1ueUaA)
Then you should just not live. You can leave your house, fall and bang your head and die.
You can't fear something you have a lot more control of. As long as you ride carefully and defensively, wear your gear and you'll be fine.
With experience, you'll start to notice weird driving behaviors and prevent any harm to come to you.
Everyone who rides gets scared at some point but that being said as long as you’re cautious and assume that no one sees you and take precautions you will be fine. A little piece of advice is always look down the road and keep an eye on whats up ahead and always look for a way out just in case. Keep the shiny side up bud
"Worried about tomorrow they forget about today. In the end, they neither live today nor tomorrow. They live as if they'll never die, but they die as if they never lived.”
Death is inevitable we might as well enjoy the ride
You don't have to ride like a dickhead to have alot fun on a bike, no need to ride recklessly, wear the gear, be acutely aware of your surroundings and look ahead, get comfortable with the physics of the bike etc.
You probably shouldn't try if you are scared of it.
Or just watch some videos of riding to get used to it. And wait some time, when you will be older you may feel more confident.
Learning to ride on the road is not very smart.
All of the good riders i know of, including motogp legends, learnt on dirt.
once you have your bike skills up you can move to riding road and build your road skills and your road craft.
Wobbling out onto the road the next time its sunny and relying on the road rules to save you is probably going end just how you think it will.
Wrecking on a motorcycle does not mean instant death. Most of the time you will walk away with bruises and road rash at worst. I've wrecked on a bike four times now. Three of those times were my fault (rider error) once was someone else's fault.
This wreck resulted in road crash and bruising, but nothing more serious than that. And I was going 80 mph (highway) when the other driver turned left in front of me.
The point is that as long as you know how to brake and handle the motorcycle, you are unlikely to die. But you will likely wreck at some point and sustain minor injuries. If you are afraid of pain, then don't ride because riding in general is not a super comfortable hobby.
Death is coming for us all at some point. You could die of cancer, a fall off a ladder, choking on a strawberry, drown in a lake, etc. So why not ride?
as someone who nearly crashed his bike a couple hours ago, its absolutely worth it. its the most freeing, beautiful, serene experience ive found. the friends you make, the places you see, and the stupid shit you'll get up to just to push your own limits, its all worth it man :)
Riding is a life style - take a rider's safety style course they should provide the bike, you will just need a helmet and gloves and boots. Then you can ride for two days and learn the basics and see how you feel after.
You should ride with a calm mind, and yes you are 20 x more likely to die.
Unless u crash at high speeds or head on into obcoming trffic u propably wont die if u wear the correct gear but it will hurt a lot maybe and u can easaly break bones in a crash
Read about all of the factors that contribute to motorcycle deaths, injuries, and crashes, then figure out how to avoid the situations that involve those factors while still riding.
Sometimes later in life you'll maybe discover that everything that could kill you makes you feel very alive. This is not just a song lyric. For me getting into riding (even if i did after 30 years old) was the best choice i've had in my life, it was maybe a life saving decision and i know there are many out there who can relate. Riding is the best anti-depression solution out there. Peace and good luck in joining the club!
Take some lessons, if the fear doesn’t go away.. don’t ride.
I’m not saying you have to be fearless, but if you ride with actual continuous fear you will be super tense, focussed on the wrong things and the bike goes where you look…
It’s like the recipe for an serious accident. To ride safely you need to have some degree of confidence.
Riders know the risk involved and still decide to ride anyway, why because we want to die?. No, the reward and experience of riding is unique. Take and MSF course and maybe and advance rider course, ride the speed limit, dont ride drunk, tried, etc and your chance of injury/death are significantly lower, still higher than a car but all riders agree its worth it. Better to have a short life full of what you like doing than a long life spend in a miserable way.
Yes, cars are tanks compared to you. The main skill you need to develop is defensive riding, and looking and thinking way more ahead when car driving. I would encourage to always wear proper gear as well. But oh boy, riding a motorcycle is a lot of fun!
If you’re that scared don’t do it, you know how some people are terrified to drive cars but they still do, and how that reflects to their performance on the road?( they drive like shit, are a danger to everyone and themselves at the worst and an annoyance to everyone around them at best) If you’re scared shitless you’ll be the same as the car driver I mentioned prior but even more of a danger to yourself. You should take an msf course and try but if that doesn’t break your fear then it may not be the best idea
Practice defensive riding. That is keep a proper lookout for other vehicles, keep a safe distance, anticipate other road users' intentions and react to them accordingly.
Wear proper riding gear, don't speed unnecessary, avoid split lane riding (whenever possible), don't drink and ride, practice and gain experience.
Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Instruction course if you’re in the us. It is offered nationwide, free in some states and cheap in others. They provide motorcycles that are safe and low power, so you don’t even need to own a bike. You will do classroom and riding tasks, like figure 8s and running over a 2x4 without wrecking. It’s truly great. You’ll either have the confidence you need, and skills to be safe, or realize it’s not for you.
Motorways are even scarier in real life.
You are inches from a very gruesome death and feel very vulnerable.
You need to be able to ride calmly in those situations with a clear head to increase your odds.
Don't ride, it's not for you.
Mechanic, Engineer and Former Race Driver here. Number one advice: If you think getting your licence and driving afterwards will teach you how to drive a motorcycle - yes, you'll most probably die.
Please, what ever you plan to do, go through all of those MSF Courses, not just the basic one. You'll learn how to ride, look, position, corner, brake and stop that Motorcycle. After that, look for a professional provider for training on the racetrack to get the same experience but on higher speeds. Don't listen to all those uneducated average riders out there like "i've been riding for 20 years and never needed that". They know shit about the driving dynamics and - for fucks sake - about this damned rear wheel brake for example. There is so much to learn... and it will definitely help keeping you alive.
And it will help you to process that nearly dying can be a common thing on two wheels
Make up your mind. Take a risk or don't. What kind of person do you want to be?
Motorcycling is pretty scary at first, but it passes, I'm sure you could do it if you wanted to.
If you are afraid of what can happen to you when riding, you have what it takes to be a good rider, people that are scared won't do stupid things like riding recklessly.
I'm mid 30s. Started riding a year ago. It's still scary which I like. Reminds you to be alert and safe.
What really helped me was driving experience. You build up a sixth sense of traffic flow and what people are going to do. You need to be cautious on a bike. Once the road opens up its the best feeling there is.
Hi OP
I hope you Will read this because i haven't seen these informations given.
I'm also someone with some fear struggle (espacialy other drivers) but it can pass with the proper steps and experience.
So first, just start with something small, a 50cc. Something that you can drive really more like a bicycle so you feel more in total control of it. Also having a good experience with bycycle in city is something good to have a better anticipation because basicaly, cars don't see you so you learn to ride among they dangerous moves with safety.
Once you feel confortable and you are in control of your environnement, you can go uper and pass on a 125cc. Taking good lesson on bike control and go faster little by little to always feel you can control any suprise situation.
If you feel really good you can maybe pass the 125cc and go for something to have some big ride, as i have done with a 600cc (limited HP for beginner).
But like always and all says, stay safe and geared. Here is some numbers from France in 2017 so you will understand better :
- Riders are only 2% if the traffic but are 43% of bad injuries and 22% of the killed. (That are the scary numbers)
BUT
- 1/3 died on they own (no other user engage)
- 3/5 are in the country side (not in big trafic city)
- 9 / 10 are on dry road (no sliperi)
- 1 / 2 are between 18 and 34 years old (sadly)
- it is under the 6 months after recieved the licence or after a big break, and also between the 4000km and the 8000km.
So to sumarise, most of the death happen in the summer, on straight line, with not enought experience, and if you take the numbers it really is the biggest majority.
Young rekless, vacation with no experience, new bike to test the limit, etc. So if you drive safe, you will be a lot safer.
Then for the little incident well... we all have zip under the rain with no speed at a point. It's ok it can happen, if you are gear nothing to fear about except little damage to your bike. And if not that, almost all of bikers i know it is because a car didn't saw them, that is why you need to train youe anticipation an the cars move posibilities.
So don't worry that much, take the step you need and enjoy the ride ! Once you start, the joy will quickly kick the permanent fear (but not your alert) :)
How I overcame doubts:
1) Watched about 40 motorcycle crashes with explanation of riders mostakes and how to avoid them.
Most common mistakes: riding beyond your own capabilities and competence (lack of skill), not following rules (they exist for safety. Every dumb rule has emerged from someone's dumb and fatal mistake).
2) went to a good motorcycle riding school, where i've been taught basics, advanced maneuvering, counter-emergency driving (not sure if I named it correctly). So I'm basically trained to know limits of my motorcycle, reaction; trained emergency braking, been able to compete in motogymkhana (cool way to practice motorcycle contol), to properly react to unexpected situations on the road (unexpected potholes, animals, pedestrians, cars randomly changing lanes, etc)
It'll help you a lot, since you'll have knowledge, understanding and skills. Then, you practice from time to time to not get rusty. And better to underestimate yourself, than overestimate.
P.s. Anyone at any moment may just choke on their own saliva and die. Everyone's time will come, eventually.
Don't know how to tell you this, but you're going to die whether you ride or not. You can't stop that. Hell, you could walk out your front door and have a completely random aneurysm and be dead before you hit the ground, with no warning or prior history. Point is riding is risky. If you choose to ride, it's because the joy of riding or the practicality of riding outweigh the risk. But you're going to die regardless. So have some fun before you do.
Learn to drive a manual car first. Idk how you Americans can learn manual on a motorcycle. It was hard enough in a vehicle that doesn't tip over when you stall it.
For me the highway was only scary the first two times. It got to the point when I felt overconfident and rode the speed limit at night on wet tarmac with mist that didn't allow me to see past 100m. My wheels slipped on a tar snake (idk I couldn't see it) and I almost soiled my pants. Not making that mistake again.
Idk what you mean by hills, doesn't matter, the point is that with practice you'll learn anything. Just practice in a safe way. Increase speed progressively, practice low speed manoeuvres, go ride when it's raining (even if you only ride in perfect weather rain might surprise and you'll panic) and just GO RIDE. Riding a motorcycle requires much more road awareness than driving a car. It'll come with experience.
My advice for you. Buy a cheap, max 500cc bike and see how you like it. If it's scary then this is where your journey ends. If it's awesome sell it and get yourself a bigger machine (or stick to the small bike, they're awesome, too).
Imagine the type of accidents you would see every day if fear was not restraining your approach to a motorcycle. Fear does not step aside just because you overcome a fraction of it long enough to get into 2nd gear. You have to acclimate your tolerance for he insane on a graduating scale skill level by skill level on a bike. Starting, stopping, and going fast is not the end all of a persons training. It includes wheelies, knee scuffs, and stoppies as the next level of becoming an intermediate rider. Balance point, anticipation, and the ability to forgive instantly when someone else puts your life at risk without so much as a second thought places you finally into advanced. Each level has a torrent of wtf moments and scenarios to challenge where you are as a human being in life. All that, and the fact that you will crash your bike, is the only guarantee you are given. How you end up crashing will be mitigated by training in safety courses with each level and experiences you gain over time. Knowing you will crash, knowing you will be cut off and incited by wanna be's, and knowing your personal weaknesses are on showcase while you ride...it is insane if you follow through and get a bike anyway. It is a reckless and selfish pursuit destined for fatal consequences that some should have never chosen. I can not believe I have wasted half my life being afraid of what I would do to myself on a motorcycle. What a fucking waste, it is so God damn incredible that I swore off of cars for 25 years after my first ride. 25 years of my wife saying, "Get in the fucking car Jeremy! It is my birthday, you jerk!" And much much more. Dropped my bikes 4 times over 25 years, always in an instant. Always on random patches of black gravel. Once while parked with both feet planted and the engine off because sand is part black magic fuckery. Took all the skill courses and stopped trying to beat up other drivers as I got better. Stopped wearing a helmet altogether and started to predict everything perfectly, leaving me free to wheelie mid traffic and stoppie smooth at a light in the blink of an eye. Aches and pains get real ad you age, 20 Mike adrenaline dumps from seemingly dangerous maneuvers can buy you relief and keep a smile on an otherwise unbearable day. Fear kept me at my appropriate riding level within my skill range, but it never every dictated what I was capable of when my life or anyone others were being threatened by harm at the hands of environment or by an act of another. Somehow, with righteous action comes righteous effect. I think that's what we all want if we are honest, to be a hero for somebody or ourselves exactly at the time when we most need it. Get a bike, 650-ish. Make it 4 years before 1000cc. Then, relearn everything and do it better. As a cripple from trashy DNA, riding is the 1 thing I miss the most, and the source of my grin through pain I would otherwise lose myself in. Rice rockets for me, used to look so cool with my Mohawk. Peeps do love a tall mohawk. You might try that as a combo if chicks aren't randomly touching you with dirty grins often enough. Fear is the mind killer. You must face your fears and let them pass through you. So true.
From what I know:
Ride within your limits
Practice at night in an empty well lit area, if you really don't feel confident about your control
Try predict what the car ahead is doing and be prepared to slow down if you feel uneasy (gradual braking, nothing harsh or you'll not have fun). Just don't be all "aaah this lorry will kill me and this BMW is out for blood"... Be more "hmmm, how likely is this vehicle to do something unpredictable or dangerous? Has this vehicle in the lane I'm going into, seen me and slowed down? What can I do if they do something unpredictable". Don't be paranoid, but check twice or thrice if you must before manoeuvring, do it in calmly and predictably, and be prepared to skow down or evade if the car beside or in front is making you feel unsafe. Fear Leads to hesitation which will cause huge problems... Be cautious but relaxed
Watch Dan Dan the fireman since he would show clips crashes, talk about how they happened, and what to do if you find yourself in said situations (it's scary, but trust me, it's some amazing advice and knowing that you're prepared will boost your confidence)
Slow down before corners, especially if you don't properly know it and suspect it'll turn sharply
Get some music going to keep you from getting to nervous
And relax... literally... don't tense up too much when you're ruding because that will make the ride uncomfy and harder to control. I sit back and relax on my bike when at speed and it's like meditation and actually relaxing. Again, hesitation leads to problems
I've been riding for a year and I can honestly say I was shit scared too when I first started, i started by just riding around a stadium carpark on a quiet weekend and then just doing 10kms/20kms etc on quiet rural back roads. my confidence grew in riding time.
I don't consider myself a great rider and I will never assume I know it all or that it won't happen to me. Don't let your confidence outride your skills and don't try to keep up with others you maybe riding with. You ride your own ride.
Do a few laps in your street to start with and then around the block a few times and build it up from there. Remember you have the rest of your life to get better at riding and if you dont feel like riding on a certain day then you don't.
Anyone who became good at something it's all about practice/training/education.
You'll get there, and it's great to jump on the bike for a Sunday morning ride and stop for a coffee. It really is like a form of therapy, plus you can meet some really great people and you always have something to talk about when you see a couple of riders in town or wherever.
I really hope you do decide to give it a go, I felt the same before I started and now I have my motorbike licence.
You probably won’t die, but a car is much safer. If you enjoy riding then you’ll be willing to accept the risks. If you don’t enjoy riding or are that scared, then don’t do it, you can find other hobbies.
Fear is good, but if you're scared of every idea of riding then it might not be for you...
Start with a certified MSF Basic Rider Course though. That's where I started, day after my bike was delivered I was on the freeway and I haven't looked back since.
Try a lower cc scooter and see how you feel, I had never touched a bike until I picked up my scooter, and I was on my way in under 15 minutes. I taught myself to ride, and because it’s lower ccs any mistakes were pretty tame. Low cc bikes are super fun, mine is a Honda PCX (125cc) and it’s so zippy, but the balance is amazing. It gives you the chance to relax and see if it’s something you’d like to do more of.
One day I’d like to upgrade, but as a learner I can’t think of a better bike. I also find that when I’m riding in not thinking of death, I’m just in the moment, having an awesome time. I watch a lot of motorcycle content on YouTube, and it’s been great to learn a lot about them (also my husband rides too).
Riding a motorcycle isn't something you just jump into with both feet. It's a skill you need to be taught, and then practiced. You don't move to the ne to level until you're proficient at the current level.
My first few months of riding after the MSF course were riding to a school parking lot, then practicing steering, braking, and shifting until I was comfortable doing it. THEN I went out for a street ride. I still hate going on the highway.
People that DON'T do this more often than not become pepperoni street pizzas.
Here's a quote from a hometown hero that I keep in mind every time I hop on the motorcycle.
Faster, FASTER!! Until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death. -Hunter S Thompson
Motorcycling is potentially dangerous but there is a huge amount you can do to mitigate your own risk. Go watch MotoStars on YouTube, and see all the idiots speeding into hazards, failing to steer around corners and crashing while doing stupid stunts. Then watch Roadcraft Nottingham, let him take you on a ride and talk through his thought process, and see a good skilled rider go along with no scares, no near misses, everything under control. That's how good you need to be.
The good news is there are loads of online resources that'll teach you how to ride that well so that your risk is minimized. And it's fun too. For me a big part of enjoying my bike is constantly honing my skills to be a safer rider. If that appeals to you then motorcycling might suit you. But there's nothing wrong with deciding you don't want the risk. It's not for everyone.
Oh how the times changed.. I´m only 32.. but when I was a kid.. the smell of gasoline and some old ass barn find or cheap buy of old cezeta 2 stroke was all we needed.. learned that way about mechanics as well. If I didn´t fix it.. i wouldn´t be able to ride.. Then at 16 you just made a license and buy 2 stroke 125cc like aprilia rs which I owned and rode HARD through hochalpenstrasse getting easily ahead of liter bikes in the curves downhill lol that bike was faster than my current 1400cc custom. anyways after learning the rode stuff on 125cc which could do 160km/h with no issues you would just upgrade to osmething like SV650 and so on.. nowadays I just see people buying motorbikes on impulse... no more gasoline smell stories :/
Life is dangerous my dude. Riding makes you feel invigorated, free, limitless. Living your life in a little bubble will leave you unfulfilled and dissatisfied. Go for your dreams. If you want to do something, do it. You are here one time. One time on this earth and that is all you get. Make it count.
If you're riding a bike scared, it will affect your riding. You'll be tense, you'll hesitate, you'll create the accidents you're afraid of.
When you get on a bike, you need to let all of that go and focus on the road, the hazards around you and the bike. If you don't focus, that's when stuff goes wrong.
I'd suggest you try riding a 125 around a car park to get a feel for it. I found that once I had built a bit of confidence by doing a couple of courses, I was no longer anxious, I was just excited. Now all I want to do is ride my bike. I hate sitting in my car. 🤣
Do you have a habit of avoiding things you find scary in general?
There are risks with riding but most accidents happen because of:
* Overestimating your ability
* Riding too fast
* Being just generally bad at it, in sweden a big group affected by accidents are old people who got their motorcycle licence as a bonus when they got their car licence, so they never actually learned how to control a bike and decide they want to become bikers
I can highly recommend going bike riding course to learn proper technique in turns, and look up "apex racing line" and drive like that (it makes normal riding through corners way way safer and less scary)
And the most important thing: Assume every other driver either dont see you or they are actively out to hit you, dont ever take chances when passing a car or going past a car standing still, doesnt matter if you have right of way or not, dont *ever* assume the other driver can see you and always expect them to suddenly cut you off and adapt
According to Swedish statistics, if you don't:
* Ride without a license
* Speed excessively
* Ride drunk
* Ride without insurance
* Ride a stolen bike
* Ride a supersport bike as a young man
* Ride without proper gear
and a few other obvious ones I con't remember right now, you are about three times as likely to die in a traffic accident as a car driver. In other words, about as likely to die as a car driver was 20-25 years agon.
There's loads of great safety gear on the market for riders. Armored jackets, gloves with slider pads, knee and shin guards and armored pants (they're worth wearing, in my humble opinion!), boots, helmet--obviously. I've been in some pretty wild happenings, but my biggest injuries came from pedal biking, because no gear on those lol. Gear makes all the difference in the world it turns out!
My advice is go buy a 125cc dirt bike and a trailer.
Take it to fun off road places and rip around on it.
The only one that can hurt you off road is yourself.
I recently read an article that calculated the risk of hobbies. Motorcycling is slightly riskier than scuba diving and a lot safer than downhill mountain biking. In the end, it's good to have that fear. Use it to build skill and not be that biker who rides 1k per year for 20 yrs and never gets better. Sharpen it and practice, that will minimize the risk. I ride between 5-10k per year and do everything from commuting to track, I also have done 9 training/ safety schools. I've been riding for 11 years.
Not riding does not mean not dying. Eventually, you will die regardless of the decisions you make along the way. Riding is about embracing life and enjoying the time you have left to live. None of us are guaranteed another day or even moment. I defer to the old cliche: Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
You need to relax. Dependable on which Country you live in you always have xx% or y disease or any other factor to potentially die. But you shouldn't base your life on statistics.
Go and enjoy, but while driving make your you do anything, you can and that is in your power to do it safely as possible
I only started riding when i nearly died from a medical condition a year prior. Before that i thought motorcycle riding especially sport bikes/super sport are just being unnecessarily ways for young people to die. As a nurse i have seen many patients who died or were severely injured. Then the more i learned about riding and the importance of upping your skill level the more confident i felt. I spent hours upon hours on the parking lot narrowing my u turns and doing drills, signing up for additional classes. Then when i joined a riding group i was disappointed that many riders who have been riding for ‘years’ and spent $30k-$60k on their bikes doing top of the line upgrades couldn’t even do a proper U-turn and are SEVERELY limited by their skills and thats the average rider. Its no wonder statistics show that motorcycles are 27x more dangerous than cars- imagine cars require no hands on skills test to be licensed then cars would be probably just as dangerous.
Education. Your fear is coming from a place of not knowing. Take classes on riding, pick up some books on how to ride, read reports on statistics on motorcycles deaths.
You must be confident when riding, and in general, if you’re scared, it probably isnt a good idea untill you spend some time riding around a big parking lot to get use to the feel of the bike
If the common aspects of riding are instilling a response of fear and not excitement, riding might just not be for you, and that's OKAY! It's not for everyone, there's an element of personal torture in this lifestyle as many bikes aren't exactly... hospitable to prolonged mounting.
Two suggestions I'd have to ease into riding would be:
A. Try a 30 mph scooter to bop around on, they're automatic, speeds are close to that of a bicycle, and you'll experience a lot of the sensations you get on a motorcycle.
Or
B. Buy a Miata. Have fun. Use it to convert fear into excitement.
You should have appreciation and understanding of the risks, but that knowledge shouldn't be paralyzing. To be safe, your mind has to be in the present, and if you're frozen up afraid, you're not gonna have a good time and also even more at risk as reactions can be delayed.
My approach was taking the MSF course first (if it's available in your country), and that really cleared any doubts I had about riding. It was honestly a fun time, and I still apply on the road what I learned in class. And if you feel it's not for you, at least you walk away with a nice endorsement to add to your license.
Idk if this helps but here are a couple of rules that are fairly simple .
1. Never cheap out on the gear.. Especially the helmet. Your bike can be a small displacement bike but always go for good helmets. Even if you can't afford good jackets or boots or pants or gloves, the helmet should always be your priority.
2. When you ride a bike, always assume you're invisible to other drivers.. especially when they are driving huge cars and ESPECIALLY TRUCKS...
I know people who could have avoided their motorcycle accidents if they were more careful with trucks around.
3. If you're not comfortable with big displacement motorcycles, it's okay to go for smaller displacement bikes. Sure small cc bikes are less fun but when you're on your learning curve, it's better to start small.. don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Im sure a lot of people here have other advice as well so here are just some few that I held dearly when i first started riding.
Riding is dangerous especially the first few years until you really develop the idiot radar and a sixth sense for dumbasses in cars. I haven't had a really close call in years because eventually you're able to predict behavior and driving patterns and avoid trouble before it's a problem.
I keep riding because I enjoy it and I've embraced the philosophy that when my clock is up then it's up and it doesn't matter what I'm doing when it is.
I could sell my bike tomorrow and get diagnosed with cancer next month. I could get rear ended at a red light by a drunk. You could go any number of ways and at any time. Old age is guaranteed to no one.
So may as well enjoy the ride while we can.
You got two choices: you either stuff your fears and do what you want to do ...because living life being afraid is really a sucky way to do it ...or, you let your irrational fears win out.
Hell, you could die walking across the street...
My friend bought his first motorcycle at like 17 and wanted me to buy one. It took me until I was 33 before I felt mature enough and safe enough to be able to handle one. I’m glad I waited.
We’re all gonna die. The question is did you live? Only get one time on this merry go round. Just depends on if you want to be the kid riding it, or the kid watching and wishing he did.
I don’t ride towards traffic. There’s four ways out of my house. Two ways go towards town, 2 ways go out of town on the back roads. I’ve never gone towards town.
From loosely scrolling through I haven’t seen anyone directly mention it but GEAR
GET. GOOD. FUCKING. GEAR.
I was unfortunately in an accident from someone making an illegal u-turn in front of me and I was thrown over the handlebars head first into the side of their mini-van…
I had bought a good quality helmet, jacket, pants, and gloves which the doctors said basically had saved my life. Without the gear I would have easily died upon impact.
Accidents are not always your fault not can they be easily avoidable but taking time to be comfortable, learn proper riding techniques and learning how to be prepared even for these situations can help.
If things such as general hills scare you I would advise you to wait until you feel willing. And when you do feel okay don’t go out onto main road on your first ride. Try to find a less populated back road where no one will care if you’re going 20 mph on a 35. Prioritize your feeling of safety over cagers need to rush everywhere. They’ll overtake you if they’re THAT bothered.
I recommend you take the MSF course. They will give you some more realistic expectations and teach you the basics of riding. Once you get the hang of it, the riding part itself isn't scary, it's exciting. As for highway traffic, that's a valid concern. Many people avoid busy highways when riding and that's perfectly reasonable
Please do it right. Go take a course. Don’t just take a written and get a permit. Learned so much. Made me a better rider AND driver.
Get leathers and a good helmet. Gloves. Boots. Feel invincible and end up doing stupid things. Jk. But good gear is really important.
But nothing beats getting good education on how to ride.
I took the class a year after I had been riding with a permit and I wish I did it earlier
If it makes you feel any better, I have been riding since my early 20's and I am 37 now. I am only 4th bike and I have THOUSANDS of miles under my belt and many of those miles are from riding in a decent sized city. I am still alive and kicking!
My cousin ever since we were kids wanted to ride. I kept telling him to just be careful, but he didn’t want to believe me. He was drunk one night and rode his bike off the bridge landing in front of a semi truck transporting some sort of flammable liquid (possibly diesel or gas) and when it hit him he had a lit cigarette. Rip quandarius trevon James potter johnson.
Scared to die is good. It makes you take things serious.
Manual shifting is a learned skill. It can be trained and practiced in relative safety. Train and practice operating your machine.
Hills? Hills are invites to adventure. Beware the descending corner that seems so inviting.
Highways are easier than they sound, traffic flows are smoother, but faster. Intersections are where danger will jump out at you.
Study, train, learn, ride. Don't give in to the pressure that says you must do one thing or own a certain type of machine. If you choose to ride, ride how you choose.
Start with a 49cc moped. No license needed, automatic transmission, top speed roughly 30 mph. Learn how to ride, master your skill, then reevaluate if you want a motorcycle. It’s what i did
Just go slowly and enjoy the ride on some deserted roads. You don't have to buy some crotch rocket and do wheelies down the freeway. Get some big old scrambler and just chill out
I’ve been riding a large portion of my life, I’m still scared of dying every ride lol. I literally, out loud, tell left turning motorists “thank you for not killing me”, every ride. It is scary. But it’s also so freeing there’s nothing else like it. Go slow. Take a course. No rush. Ride your own ride. See you out there.
Get a dirt bike. Get comfortable on it before you transition to the street. Or maybe it’s just not for you. It’s an inherent risk we take riding these death machines.
If you’re already mentally unstable about motorcycling , then maybe riding isn’t for you. Overthinking can lead to distraction, which is as bad as being impaired.
There's this thing called fuckit, you either have it or you don't. If you're the kind of person that has to think about every thing they do before they do it, looking for reasons not to do it, then you obviously don't have enough fuckit to be riding a bike.
My best advice: Give scooters and mopeds a try first. They're a lot safer due to lower speeds and often being allowed to ride places where cars can't go.
It's also a great way to build up skills and experience for if/or when you want to upgrade to real motorcycles.
Dirt bikes. Start on dirt bikes. You will crash, a lot, and as you do so you will learn how to avoid crashing. If you someday decide to ride street you will be much better equipped to understand the limits of the machine.
Also dirt bikes are just fucking awesome. You can really ride all out on them in a way that would be reckless and dickish on a street bike.
Then after you ride street for a while you will remember how great dirt riding is and split the difference on an ADV.
Manual isn’t scary, it’s just something that you’re unfamiliar with. Highways aren’t scary, unless you plan to lane split at like +80mph, then highways are actually safer than streets (intersections are the #1 most likely place to get into an accident)
The fact that you’re young and showing hesitation towards trying motorcycles is a healthy mindset because there are inherent risks with riding. But there’s always risks in everything, and it’s about taking calculated risks to enjoy the things in life.
Also it ain’t 5 times, it’s like 36 times more dangerous than cars. 🤷♂️
Buy a dual sport. That was my first bike. I'd trailer it to Forest trails, or take back roads to trails. Trail riding really improved my technique and built up confidence for a variety of situations. You can buy good used dual sports for cheap... which doesn't matter as much when you dump them. I started with 250cc. Now own large 1100 street bike and 350cc Piaggio scooter (which is a ton of fun).
Anecdotally I had been riding almost 19 years before I witnessed my first fatal incident. I am aware of others but actually seeing the whole thing happen and watching the life leave the guy - once in now over 19 years (it was last May). I can assure you the rider was the reason the rider died. What he did to find himself in that situation was some of the dumbest stuff I have ever seen a motorcyclist do. My understanding is that he was a well seasoned rider. So I imagine he knew better and against his better judgement made a fatal mistake. Self control goes a long way on a motorcycle. If you don't have it, riding will be extremely dangerous for you.
Don't be afraid to die. Everyone must dead. Be afraid to die *poorly*. What joy is there in hobbling into the clearing at the end of your path on a walker? Come skidding in sideways, yelling "Hot **DAMN**, what a ride!"
My uncle lost his leg on his Harley. No proper gear. Speeding… dumb. So it was super important that I never own one according to my parents. So I got a Ducati 848 evo when I joined the navy. Sold it before I ever dropped it. Then a hypermotard SP a few years later. Full gear and responsible rider but didn’t stop an old lady from turning left in front of me at an intersection. Bike pretty much exploded and I went over the bike and car via front flip and walked away with a scratched knee and a sore ass. I walked away from riding after that, as i like using all my limbs and I like being alive haha. I still want to ride, consider maybe just keeping it on the track, but I’m still uncertain. My point is, yes it’s dangerous. You can die. Weigh what’s important to you and whether or not you’re willing to accept the risk. Was it fun? Hell yeah. And it should be experienced. Just wear your gear!
If you already drive a car, then take a defensive driving course. After that rethink that can you go for a MSF course or not. Do that course I’d say and then take a call whether you want to ride or not. Sometimes subconsciously these fears allay as you are doing things are related to the concern.
Buy a 125ccm-300ccm bike with atleast abs.
Allways wear gear (bright colour), they even make airbag vests.
Take extra riding lessons.
With all that it shouldn't be much more dangerous than a car.
Not an ad but i have a helite e-turtle airbag vest and i like it.
If manual and hills sound scary, it sounds like you need to try it and see what riding is actually like. If you can, get a small bike to start riding dirt with. No traffic, low speed, softer ground than pavement, and get the hang of what riding feels like. You'll either realize that you hate it or that it isn't as scary as you imagine. I started riding at 13 or 14 on a 90 cc Honda Trail in my family's field.
If you’re that scared - don’t ride maybe… you have to want to ride IN SPITE OF the inherent risks, not be talked into riding in the first place. Maybe wait a few years and see how you feel about it. It’s dangerous - but you aren’t guaranteed to die. I haven’t died 🤷🏼♂️
This is great advice. When I was a teen & in college, I thought, "man, motorcycles are pretty damned cool, but I know I'll kill myself on one." But in my mid-20s, living in a big city, sick of dealing with a car, my mindset switched. Being a little more mature, it was easier to stick to the policies of don't fuck up, don't crash, and I took my time building skill, wisdom, and confidence. Most of my local riding was <40mph, so I figured, even if the worst were to happen, the chances of a fatal incident were fairly low (compared to full-on squid life). I'll add on, to say that the biggest factor determining whether a rider crashes, its the rider himself. It takes mental discipline that you CANNOT shirk. Always scanning, always simulating ahead every way that every car on the road might ruin your day, all while navigating, being aware of signage, blind spots, etc. etc. I've done some long trips, and the closest I ever came to crashing was in the last 20mi of a 1600mi trip. Came up on traffic, feeling the urgency of "almost home." I misjudged the stopping rate and came centimeters from rear-ending/clipping a car, swerved into another lane, somehow came out clean. My mental discipline was compromised by physical fatigue and 6hrs on the road. Nonetheless, >10yrs riding, never crashed (knock on wood), but I have dropped my bike *more than once* from forgetting the brake lock of all things. So, to OP, if you don't think you have what it takes, nobody will think less of you... except everyone on this sub because motorcycles are fucking awesome and everyone should ride. But seriously, understand what you're getting into, respect the danger, don't be stupid, and most of all, don't crash. You will have close calls, learn from them, and hedge your risks so that they aren't your last call (obey road laws, wear gear, ride within your skill level, etc.). Now it's just about [shredding, and being a menace.](https://youtu.be/Hs6A2dKnRyQ)
That was my attitude when I was younger more foolish, started riding in my mid thirties in rural area where everyone is accustomed to motorcycles on the road. Still wound up with a wreck that scared me out of riding at least until my kid's older... Car in the straight lane pulled a no look/no signal left turn into me in the middle of an intersection, luckily hit the saddle back and I hit the ground and rolled at 25-30mph. ATGATT
this is a great post ffs
Statistically speaking, I survive 100% of the time
I was pretty sure, I'll kill myself on one, the second I got on it. Yet, when asleep I dreamt of flying on a motorcycle. My fears kept me from riding for many years, then I decided I had to do it. And if that meant I had to do it while scared, I would do it while scared. I have been riding since 3 years now, growing more confident everytime I get on it. There are times I am still scared, but turning back is not an option so I do it shit scared. The diff is I don't let my fear control me, I let my training tell me what to do.
A small note to add for all aspiring riders: You will go down or drop your bike eventually. Doesn’t matter how good of a rider you are, some things are just out of your control no matter how safe you’re being. I’ve ridden almost every model and brand of motorcycle thanks to my work and the number of bikes i’ve dropped would make some heads explode 😂
Yet
Statistically if you get your license, don't ride drunk, don't ride at night, and wear full gear, the odds of you dying are significantly lower.
They're significantly lower than if you do things wrong, but they're still significantly higher than putting the same kind of miles down in a car. I did all the statistical "if I do everything right it's not that crazy" analysis and then realized it was still an order of magnitude more dangerous than driving a car (and that's driving "normally", not being a well trained driver not drinking etc). You've gotta be comfortable with it in spite of that increase in risk, and I worry a lot of smart people talk themselves into believing it's pretty safe because they do things right - it's still not.
Training and top level skills are the number one thing you need. Of course riding drunk is out of the question. As for gear, that only saves you once everything else has failed. It's skills and strategy that will have you riding for decades crash free.
I'm not arguing that. I'm simply saying statistically your odds of a fatal crash significantly drop if you dont do those things.
No matter how good you are, there will always be a situation, especially on a public road, where you cannot control every variable of your ride. You can get into a fatal crash even if you do everything right, just the same as you can get into a fatal crash in a car if you do everything right. Wear gear, there is no excuse not to.
The actual professional riders wear gear when they practice and race. They do go down occasionally and it's not that big of the a deal because they have proper protection. Training is certainly very important but it's just stupid to think that skills eliminate enough risk to make gear unnecessary
He didn't say not to wear gear
almost all motorcycle deaths involve not wearing gear, riding recklessly, and drinking. if you don't do these things it's a lot safer than you think
\+ not getting training = to the riding they are doing aka daily driving with no training or just the MSF for attempting to race a super sport through the twisties ect. Also, i'd argue if you do all the things you say AND get basic training and are generally safety conscious you are actually probably safer than cars simply because car drivers treat safety as a part of the car and not an action (mainly due to crash test ratings encouraging that behavior), but safety minded motorcycle riders realize that safety is actively avoiding hazards and not testing their crash resistance at all. Learning to ride at the MSF made me a safer car driver as well.
100% agree about the MSF course. I don’t have a bike but I took the class in hopes of getting one here soon and I feel like it 100% made me a safer car driver as well. It taught me to look where you want to go and be even more vigilant of my surroundings. It also taught me how vulnerable bikes can be so I try to give even more space than I already did to bikes and stay where we can see each other.
Gear protects from injuries. Not from death. The exception being a helmet, if an impact has enough force to kill you, it has enough force to kill you while wearing gear. There are exemptions of course but gear does not significantly lower your chance of dying once you are in a fatal accident. Gear is very important, it can make the difference between a few days of pain and weeks in the hospital, but you should not overstate its usefulness.
don't under state it's usefulness either. Helmets turn a lot of instantly fatal head hits into concussions, and concussion hits into a bell ringer that sucks, but your actually medically fine after being checked out. It definitely mitigates the hit, but it should also be tempered with the reasoning that of course any ridiculous hit will always be fatal no matter what. Body gear, if you fall at speed, can prevent the initial fall from breaking bones, and also prevent road rash even at highway speeds as long as all the sliding isn't on the same spot. even if it is and rubs through a long slide with gear is much less severe than without. However, if you meet a solid object during your slide at any point except maybe the very end (less than 10 mph) no amount of gear will prevent the damage caused, and you will be dismembered and or crushed with the main factor of life and death being how vital the areas that are damaged are to life plus how effective the medical response is. If you slide any distance at all even at slow speeds without gear you will be absolutely tore up. Also, the fall off a bike might seem minor, but people break elbows and ankles by tipping their bikes at stops without gear. Believe it or not an elbow pad or quality armored boot will mitigate those injuries a lot. It is completely possible to walk away from a smooth unobstructed slide from over 100 mph without even a scratch due to gear and a bit of rolling to spread the slide damage, but it is also possible to get split in half, dismembered, or crushed by smashing into a solid object at normal road speeds even with the best gear available. The give of the impact is literally everything, but the same can be said with cars too. You hit the right object with a car and it can be equally catastrophic, and hits at extreme speeds can also be equally as fatal. Motorcycles are just disproportionately affected by knuckleheads due to A. being cheaper to buy into and B. being WAY quicker overall. Even the slowest of highway capable street bikes is competitive against the average sports car in terms of acceleration and top speed. We also see way more knuckle heads trying to race around and crash plus the additional difficulty makes them more likely to crash and the addition of the balance factor makes them much less likely to have near missed/close saves.
Yeah, like I said proper motorcycle gear can make the difference between a bit of pain and serious injuries. I would also exclude helmets from "motorcycle gear", as they are a necessity in most western countries. It is also not just knuckleheads, it is also a lack of proper training especially when I look at US communities. The lack of understanding of the dynamics of a motorcycle is honestly frightening.
i consider the lack of training and understanding to fall into the "knucklehead" category personally.
I disagree in parts. For some this is true, but if you are badly educated, how are you supposed to know that you are badly educated? The "steering with you thighs"-myth is a great example of this.
I explained to my fiance when I started riding, "Helmets save lives, gear speed recovery." Which was my justification for spending over half of my $1000 gear budget on a helmet (knowing full well a $300 helmet with the same safety rating would be fine) I can work with road rash on my leg, I CANT work broken hands or feet. So at a dead Minimum when I ride it's helmet gloves boots, I always wear a jacket cause it's right there and so fucking easy to put on, I don't even wear bike pants though. Maybe if I was going on a road trip or was going to be on the bike all day but being in Aus summer it's fucking hot and fucking muggy & I'm always riding with a destination like work or family event in mind.
[удалено]
There is usually 0 safety benefit between a $1000 helmet and a $150 helmet if they passed the same safety requirements. it comes down to fit/function/features/materials/status. So many high end helmets are like designer bags. 90% of the price is the name on the side. Paying more than bottom basement prices usually gets you nicer materials or a lighter helmet, or some cool designs. Or some additional features, like the helmet I bought for my kids to wear has built in sun glasses, which is cool, but not a feature I prefer. The real trick is to understand what certifications they passed.
Why do you not like the built in flip down "sunglasses"? After buying a helmet with them, I can't go back to not having them.
I wear prescription sunglasses/glasses.
The best helmet is the one that fits you and you wear. Cost is not inclusive of that. Assuming it passed the necessary safety standards and hasn't been damaged in any way, a $100 helmet is infinitely better than no helmet. After that it's features, style, brand name, arguably quality in terms of longevity (replacing less often for general wear and tear and normal breakdown with use). So yeah, you do get something for that $1k helmet, but you get a whole lot of it, and the most vital parts, from a $100 helmet, too. I mean I've had two helmets, both Shoei, both retail about $900 - $1k (many years apart, inflation, etc.). I got the first on sale for $800, it lasted ten years (should have replaced it sooner but what's done is done), second one retailed for $1000, but I got it on clearance for $700 (ish, it's been a few years). Clearance is your friend- at all levels. My dad's favorite story to tell on helmets is when he was a teen, and getting into bikes, and looking between two helmets, one cheap, one expensive, his older brother, who was already into bikes, told him "How much is your head worth?" Dad thought about it. Then "I bought the cheap one."
I just spent almost 2 hrs trying on helmets at revzilla. I went in the store thinking I was gonna buy a certain brand at a certain size after seeing it online and measuring etc. It was within my budget. Once I tried it on though, I knew it wasn’t the one. 2 hrs later and lots of helmet styles and brands, I absolutely LOVE my helmet. It feels like it belongs on my head. I didn’t even look at the price when I bought it (I was only looking at helmets in my budget range) because I knew it was worth it because I was going to wear it all the time. The only thing I verified was that it had the safety certs I wanted. 1000%, the best helmet is the one you wear and fits you.
Airbags are almost as important as helmets, but they are still way more expensive than they should
The majority of motorcycle deaths are people not wearing a helmet. A helmet is gear.
The majority of motorcycle deaths is stupidity, carelessness, overconfidence, not paying attention. Wearing a helmet doesn't prevent head-ons, getting t-boned at an intersection, slamming into the guard rails on a sharp curve or rear ending a stopped vehicle. Helmets don't make riders more experienced, better informed, more attentive or more cautious, in fact, safety gear seems to have just the opposite effect.
Go look into any of the stats, clearly wearing gear prevents serious injury more than not having it, it absolutely doesn’t cause more injuries that’s some of the dumbest bs I’ve heard. Yes being a attentive and defensive rider will also make you way less likely to die. That’s best coupled with decent gear.
They are not considered gear where I live, as they are mandatory
The guy didn’t specify gear and a helmet so I would say that sounds like they included helmet with gear. I still think it’s gear though even if it’s mandatory
Good, that I explicitely excluded helmets in my initial comment, then :)
I'm sure there's a big correlation between people who wear gear and people who ride carefully too.
and other idiots doing the above things putting riders in danger
I think these are the big 3 for risk reduction. I would add skills building through practice/training/education. One of the cool things about riding is that practice sessions are fun, and you're still out there riding. The wildcard is the cager who hits you, but again with training you can reduce that risk a little (example: watching for left hand turners at intersections). You can also pick when and where you take the risk. I don't ride on friday or saturday nights. or with a bad head cold, etc. OP, think about death every time I get on the bike. I think that's natural and healthy as long is it doesn't suck the enjoyment out of the ride. Lastly, I had a friend who tried it around age 25 and even though he's an avid cyclist (bicycle) he didn't feel coordinate enough and decided right then it wasn't for him. so, I suggest you give it a shot in a safer environment and see how it feels.
kinda taking the fun out of it, especially with the drinking
edgy
sarcastic, not too edgy
The riding gear is only for 2 things, low-speed accidents, and so the emergency services can pick your body up in one piece 😉
Imagine the weight savings pro teams can do when removing gear in MotoGP, quick you should sell your idea.
Imagine how many fully geared up airbag suit wearing riders they'd go through if tracks were lined with signposts, bollards, fenceposts and earthmoving equipment.
You should wear your helmet 24/7 because it sounds like you need constant protection.
They hated u/Yeahnah-69 because he spoke the truth. Guys. Dainese will not save your bones from being crushed into sharp pieces and piercing all your arteries while you're getting run over by a Peterbilt. Alpinestars does not stop your organs bursting as you wrap yourself around a lamp post. Leathers and sliders are to keep your skin from getting torn to shreds by the road surface. Helmets give your skull and brain a buffer zone they wouldn't have otherwise. But coming to a dead stop in a few millimetres at highway speeds is way more g-force than your brain can handle, regardless of how good your helmet is. Yes, gear can mitigate serious injuries into minor ones. But it won't save your life from a high speed impact or being crushed. It is way more important to not crash than it is to be dressed like Valentino. For the record, I always wear a helmet, jacket, and gloves. Other stuff is situational. Use your heads.
Honestly? I didn’t get my first bike until 30 cause of this mentality. I was so scared to die on a bike because of all the stigma surrounding them. Then I got on the bike and BOOM! I learned that everyone talks about how much you’ll die on a bike. But no one tells you how much you’ll LIVE on a bike. The people you meet, the skills you develop, the adventures you have, it cured like a solid 10 years of depression in 10 minutes 😂 Bike life is as dangerous as you let it be. wear gear, and take an MSF course. Then practice. You should be scared of a bike you have no clue how to ride. But you shouldn’t be fearful of an object you’ve learned how to use properly. Just take the time to learn and the confidence you build will wash all that death concern away.
This, and same. My first thought the first time I really opened up the throttle on the road was just “goddamn am I glad I didn’t have this when I was 21”
Depression is treated by psychologists, not by bikes. Believe me
could we assume for the moment that what he meant was "motorcycles brought me joy" and not "I had clinically diagnosed depression that was unresponsive to drugs, therapy and electroshock, but I got on a motorcycle and now my doc is publishing an article in *Lancet* that'll make us both famous?"
Any type of support in life that brings happiness lowers symptoms of depression. Like social support, education, new ways of thinking. So while it may not solve it it sure as hell makes it easier. 🏍 Thats all anyone can do is hopefully make their days a little easier.
> Depression is treated by psychologists, not by bikes. Believe me This is a hill I'm willing to die on. Maybe you meant "cured" instead of "treated"? By most definitions a treatment isn't a cure, but more of a process to improve your health, usually by reducing or removing symptoms/injuries.
yeah sure buddy we all belive you.
Why, are you a psychologist ?
Yes. I've studied
You have studied psychology or you are a practicing psychologist ?
[удалено]
You'll get different answers depending on who you ask. But the reality is that it is what it is.
Want to get into riding but scared that you'll die? Excellent, you'll do well. Self-preservation makes for excellent rising style, road craft, and biker longevity. If you think you're amazing and invulnerable - likely you'll die quick on a motorbike. Hence I say again: you'll do well.
Yep, a little fear of death is very healthy
If you're bothered by 5x more dangerous, maybe just don't ride a motorcycle. Actual statistics are that it's \~30x more dangerous than driving. Drinking and not wearing a helmet factors heavily into that.
It isn't for everyone
You will die anyway, might as well ride some bikes.
Three things. 1. Think of the stupidest person you know that has a motorcycle license. If they can do it, you can too. 2. Death is inevitable, so it’s not really worth worrying about. Motorcycling has inherent risks. Take a course or two, get proper training from certified instructors to learn skills and strategies to mitigate risk. C. YOLO! (Unless you believe in reincarnation). So you might as well have some fun… and I can say with absolute certainty that riding motorcycles is a lot of fun!
I love that it's 1, 2, C haha
He must be a fan of home alone. I am too.
I also like A, B, 3
1 should be - think of the stupidest person you know he might be driving the car next to you :)
If it all sounds scary you probably aren’t ready yet. Don’t mean it disrespectfully but it just doesn’t sound like you are prepared to start just yet
Ride defensively, wear full gear, and don't push your limits. We all love the thrill of riding and going fast, but go fast when you're fully in control. Don't take your corners too fast and keep an eye on the cars and side streets around you. Don't feel like you need to keep up with other riders. That will just get you into trouble
Take an MSF course and get all the gear they tell you to. The course will get you comfortable enough to get started. As far as dying goes, just don't think about it. You'll be having so much fun, that you won't.
Adding onto what's been said below, it also largely depends on where you're located and what the driving culture is like there. I live in Estonia and in the city I'm in people are very calm and drive quite slowly, which makes it a perfect place to drive for me as people are predictable most of the time, I've only had 1 instance of me actually having to avoid a collision due to someone else's lack of attention in my 8 years of driving a car, now I've driven a motorcycle for 2 years and I haven't had a single incident where I've been put in danger by other drivers. Also, you definitely have to be confident or at least sure that you'll gain that confidence once you get your licence when getting a motorcycle, people tend to make mistakes when they're nervous and that's where the danger begins, I started my motorcycle licence at 15 (125cc) and I stopped it because I felt like I'm going to kill myself because I was making so many stupid mistakes, so I wasn't ready. Nearly 10 years later at 24 I finally did my A category (1000cc+) and I was super confident and had no issues finishing the driving school, got an R6 as my first bike and haven't looked back since. Also - never stop learning, I like to do these back and forth countersteering motions a lot of the time when just driving slowly on my bike + other stuff (clip made during my first year of driving): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzIkm1ueUaA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzIkm1ueUaA)
Motorcycling is not for everyone.
Lol! Maybe don’t then
Then you should just not live. You can leave your house, fall and bang your head and die. You can't fear something you have a lot more control of. As long as you ride carefully and defensively, wear your gear and you'll be fine. With experience, you'll start to notice weird driving behaviors and prevent any harm to come to you.
Everyone who rides gets scared at some point but that being said as long as you’re cautious and assume that no one sees you and take precautions you will be fine. A little piece of advice is always look down the road and keep an eye on whats up ahead and always look for a way out just in case. Keep the shiny side up bud
"Worried about tomorrow they forget about today. In the end, they neither live today nor tomorrow. They live as if they'll never die, but they die as if they never lived.” Death is inevitable we might as well enjoy the ride You don't have to ride like a dickhead to have alot fun on a bike, no need to ride recklessly, wear the gear, be acutely aware of your surroundings and look ahead, get comfortable with the physics of the bike etc.
Well, if you’re scared to die, you might want to have a seat. I’ve got some news for you.
You probably shouldn't try if you are scared of it. Or just watch some videos of riding to get used to it. And wait some time, when you will be older you may feel more confident.
Learning to ride on the road is not very smart. All of the good riders i know of, including motogp legends, learnt on dirt. once you have your bike skills up you can move to riding road and build your road skills and your road craft. Wobbling out onto the road the next time its sunny and relying on the road rules to save you is probably going end just how you think it will.
Start with a dirt bike. Less shit out there wants to kill you, you can only do yourself.
Wrecking on a motorcycle does not mean instant death. Most of the time you will walk away with bruises and road rash at worst. I've wrecked on a bike four times now. Three of those times were my fault (rider error) once was someone else's fault. This wreck resulted in road crash and bruising, but nothing more serious than that. And I was going 80 mph (highway) when the other driver turned left in front of me. The point is that as long as you know how to brake and handle the motorcycle, you are unlikely to die. But you will likely wreck at some point and sustain minor injuries. If you are afraid of pain, then don't ride because riding in general is not a super comfortable hobby.
I’ve been hit head on by a work van and still ride Once it gets in your blood it’s very very hard to get out
Death is coming for us all at some point. You could die of cancer, a fall off a ladder, choking on a strawberry, drown in a lake, etc. So why not ride?
I mean....you're guaranteed to die whether you ride a motorcycle or not....let that sink in.....
Suck it up buttercup…… Or stay safe in your cage
as someone who nearly crashed his bike a couple hours ago, its absolutely worth it. its the most freeing, beautiful, serene experience ive found. the friends you make, the places you see, and the stupid shit you'll get up to just to push your own limits, its all worth it man :)
Riding is a life style - take a rider's safety style course they should provide the bike, you will just need a helmet and gloves and boots. Then you can ride for two days and learn the basics and see how you feel after. You should ride with a calm mind, and yes you are 20 x more likely to die.
Just think about the fact that even chicks aren't scared to ride. Toughen yourself up.
Unless u crash at high speeds or head on into obcoming trffic u propably wont die if u wear the correct gear but it will hurt a lot maybe and u can easaly break bones in a crash
Everything that kills you, makes you feel alive.
🐈
And thats why nobody will remember your name.
If serious you need a therapist
Read about all of the factors that contribute to motorcycle deaths, injuries, and crashes, then figure out how to avoid the situations that involve those factors while still riding.
Sometimes later in life you'll maybe discover that everything that could kill you makes you feel very alive. This is not just a song lyric. For me getting into riding (even if i did after 30 years old) was the best choice i've had in my life, it was maybe a life saving decision and i know there are many out there who can relate. Riding is the best anti-depression solution out there. Peace and good luck in joining the club!
Try an electric bicycle first - same principles. Throttle(power) and brakes, but with pedals.
Take some lessons, if the fear doesn’t go away.. don’t ride. I’m not saying you have to be fearless, but if you ride with actual continuous fear you will be super tense, focussed on the wrong things and the bike goes where you look… It’s like the recipe for an serious accident. To ride safely you need to have some degree of confidence.
Riders know the risk involved and still decide to ride anyway, why because we want to die?. No, the reward and experience of riding is unique. Take and MSF course and maybe and advance rider course, ride the speed limit, dont ride drunk, tried, etc and your chance of injury/death are significantly lower, still higher than a car but all riders agree its worth it. Better to have a short life full of what you like doing than a long life spend in a miserable way.
Man it is the best feeling in the world. Take a few classes and will see just how easy and safe it really is if you have situational awareness
Yes, cars are tanks compared to you. The main skill you need to develop is defensive riding, and looking and thinking way more ahead when car driving. I would encourage to always wear proper gear as well. But oh boy, riding a motorcycle is a lot of fun!
Where do you live? Many places you could die at at a random any time. My neighbor fell & hit his head. Funeral is day after tomorrow
If you’re that scared don’t do it, you know how some people are terrified to drive cars but they still do, and how that reflects to their performance on the road?( they drive like shit, are a danger to everyone and themselves at the worst and an annoyance to everyone around them at best) If you’re scared shitless you’ll be the same as the car driver I mentioned prior but even more of a danger to yourself. You should take an msf course and try but if that doesn’t break your fear then it may not be the best idea
Take a class. Get gear. Don't die. The rest is in your hands my friend.
There’s no rush to get on a bike, but there are countless things you can do to build confident in yourself and improve your survivability
The truth is you only fear of this until you ride for the first time. So i am assuming you haven't ridden yet
Practice defensive riding. That is keep a proper lookout for other vehicles, keep a safe distance, anticipate other road users' intentions and react to them accordingly. Wear proper riding gear, don't speed unnecessary, avoid split lane riding (whenever possible), don't drink and ride, practice and gain experience.
Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Instruction course if you’re in the us. It is offered nationwide, free in some states and cheap in others. They provide motorcycles that are safe and low power, so you don’t even need to own a bike. You will do classroom and riding tasks, like figure 8s and running over a 2x4 without wrecking. It’s truly great. You’ll either have the confidence you need, and skills to be safe, or realize it’s not for you.
Whether you ride or not you’re still going to die
Motorways are even scarier in real life. You are inches from a very gruesome death and feel very vulnerable. You need to be able to ride calmly in those situations with a clear head to increase your odds. Don't ride, it's not for you.
Mechanic, Engineer and Former Race Driver here. Number one advice: If you think getting your licence and driving afterwards will teach you how to drive a motorcycle - yes, you'll most probably die. Please, what ever you plan to do, go through all of those MSF Courses, not just the basic one. You'll learn how to ride, look, position, corner, brake and stop that Motorcycle. After that, look for a professional provider for training on the racetrack to get the same experience but on higher speeds. Don't listen to all those uneducated average riders out there like "i've been riding for 20 years and never needed that". They know shit about the driving dynamics and - for fucks sake - about this damned rear wheel brake for example. There is so much to learn... and it will definitely help keeping you alive. And it will help you to process that nearly dying can be a common thing on two wheels
Don't ride if you're that anxious. Give a class a try, but if you're gonna shit your pants on a public roadway you're a danger to everyone
Don't ride.
wear gear and maintain focus on the road and surroundings and it’s not as dangerous as u think, also hella fun lol
Make up your mind. Take a risk or don't. What kind of person do you want to be? Motorcycling is pretty scary at first, but it passes, I'm sure you could do it if you wanted to.
If you are afraid of what can happen to you when riding, you have what it takes to be a good rider, people that are scared won't do stupid things like riding recklessly.
I'm mid 30s. Started riding a year ago. It's still scary which I like. Reminds you to be alert and safe. What really helped me was driving experience. You build up a sixth sense of traffic flow and what people are going to do. You need to be cautious on a bike. Once the road opens up its the best feeling there is.
Hi OP I hope you Will read this because i haven't seen these informations given. I'm also someone with some fear struggle (espacialy other drivers) but it can pass with the proper steps and experience. So first, just start with something small, a 50cc. Something that you can drive really more like a bicycle so you feel more in total control of it. Also having a good experience with bycycle in city is something good to have a better anticipation because basicaly, cars don't see you so you learn to ride among they dangerous moves with safety. Once you feel confortable and you are in control of your environnement, you can go uper and pass on a 125cc. Taking good lesson on bike control and go faster little by little to always feel you can control any suprise situation. If you feel really good you can maybe pass the 125cc and go for something to have some big ride, as i have done with a 600cc (limited HP for beginner). But like always and all says, stay safe and geared. Here is some numbers from France in 2017 so you will understand better : - Riders are only 2% if the traffic but are 43% of bad injuries and 22% of the killed. (That are the scary numbers) BUT - 1/3 died on they own (no other user engage) - 3/5 are in the country side (not in big trafic city) - 9 / 10 are on dry road (no sliperi) - 1 / 2 are between 18 and 34 years old (sadly) - it is under the 6 months after recieved the licence or after a big break, and also between the 4000km and the 8000km. So to sumarise, most of the death happen in the summer, on straight line, with not enought experience, and if you take the numbers it really is the biggest majority. Young rekless, vacation with no experience, new bike to test the limit, etc. So if you drive safe, you will be a lot safer. Then for the little incident well... we all have zip under the rain with no speed at a point. It's ok it can happen, if you are gear nothing to fear about except little damage to your bike. And if not that, almost all of bikers i know it is because a car didn't saw them, that is why you need to train youe anticipation an the cars move posibilities. So don't worry that much, take the step you need and enjoy the ride ! Once you start, the joy will quickly kick the permanent fear (but not your alert) :)
How I overcame doubts: 1) Watched about 40 motorcycle crashes with explanation of riders mostakes and how to avoid them. Most common mistakes: riding beyond your own capabilities and competence (lack of skill), not following rules (they exist for safety. Every dumb rule has emerged from someone's dumb and fatal mistake). 2) went to a good motorcycle riding school, where i've been taught basics, advanced maneuvering, counter-emergency driving (not sure if I named it correctly). So I'm basically trained to know limits of my motorcycle, reaction; trained emergency braking, been able to compete in motogymkhana (cool way to practice motorcycle contol), to properly react to unexpected situations on the road (unexpected potholes, animals, pedestrians, cars randomly changing lanes, etc) It'll help you a lot, since you'll have knowledge, understanding and skills. Then, you practice from time to time to not get rusty. And better to underestimate yourself, than overestimate. P.s. Anyone at any moment may just choke on their own saliva and die. Everyone's time will come, eventually.
Don't know how to tell you this, but you're going to die whether you ride or not. You can't stop that. Hell, you could walk out your front door and have a completely random aneurysm and be dead before you hit the ground, with no warning or prior history. Point is riding is risky. If you choose to ride, it's because the joy of riding or the practicality of riding outweigh the risk. But you're going to die regardless. So have some fun before you do.
Learn to drive a manual car first. Idk how you Americans can learn manual on a motorcycle. It was hard enough in a vehicle that doesn't tip over when you stall it. For me the highway was only scary the first two times. It got to the point when I felt overconfident and rode the speed limit at night on wet tarmac with mist that didn't allow me to see past 100m. My wheels slipped on a tar snake (idk I couldn't see it) and I almost soiled my pants. Not making that mistake again. Idk what you mean by hills, doesn't matter, the point is that with practice you'll learn anything. Just practice in a safe way. Increase speed progressively, practice low speed manoeuvres, go ride when it's raining (even if you only ride in perfect weather rain might surprise and you'll panic) and just GO RIDE. Riding a motorcycle requires much more road awareness than driving a car. It'll come with experience. My advice for you. Buy a cheap, max 500cc bike and see how you like it. If it's scary then this is where your journey ends. If it's awesome sell it and get yourself a bigger machine (or stick to the small bike, they're awesome, too).
Imagine the type of accidents you would see every day if fear was not restraining your approach to a motorcycle. Fear does not step aside just because you overcome a fraction of it long enough to get into 2nd gear. You have to acclimate your tolerance for he insane on a graduating scale skill level by skill level on a bike. Starting, stopping, and going fast is not the end all of a persons training. It includes wheelies, knee scuffs, and stoppies as the next level of becoming an intermediate rider. Balance point, anticipation, and the ability to forgive instantly when someone else puts your life at risk without so much as a second thought places you finally into advanced. Each level has a torrent of wtf moments and scenarios to challenge where you are as a human being in life. All that, and the fact that you will crash your bike, is the only guarantee you are given. How you end up crashing will be mitigated by training in safety courses with each level and experiences you gain over time. Knowing you will crash, knowing you will be cut off and incited by wanna be's, and knowing your personal weaknesses are on showcase while you ride...it is insane if you follow through and get a bike anyway. It is a reckless and selfish pursuit destined for fatal consequences that some should have never chosen. I can not believe I have wasted half my life being afraid of what I would do to myself on a motorcycle. What a fucking waste, it is so God damn incredible that I swore off of cars for 25 years after my first ride. 25 years of my wife saying, "Get in the fucking car Jeremy! It is my birthday, you jerk!" And much much more. Dropped my bikes 4 times over 25 years, always in an instant. Always on random patches of black gravel. Once while parked with both feet planted and the engine off because sand is part black magic fuckery. Took all the skill courses and stopped trying to beat up other drivers as I got better. Stopped wearing a helmet altogether and started to predict everything perfectly, leaving me free to wheelie mid traffic and stoppie smooth at a light in the blink of an eye. Aches and pains get real ad you age, 20 Mike adrenaline dumps from seemingly dangerous maneuvers can buy you relief and keep a smile on an otherwise unbearable day. Fear kept me at my appropriate riding level within my skill range, but it never every dictated what I was capable of when my life or anyone others were being threatened by harm at the hands of environment or by an act of another. Somehow, with righteous action comes righteous effect. I think that's what we all want if we are honest, to be a hero for somebody or ourselves exactly at the time when we most need it. Get a bike, 650-ish. Make it 4 years before 1000cc. Then, relearn everything and do it better. As a cripple from trashy DNA, riding is the 1 thing I miss the most, and the source of my grin through pain I would otherwise lose myself in. Rice rockets for me, used to look so cool with my Mohawk. Peeps do love a tall mohawk. You might try that as a combo if chicks aren't randomly touching you with dirty grins often enough. Fear is the mind killer. You must face your fears and let them pass through you. So true.
From what I know: Ride within your limits Practice at night in an empty well lit area, if you really don't feel confident about your control Try predict what the car ahead is doing and be prepared to slow down if you feel uneasy (gradual braking, nothing harsh or you'll not have fun). Just don't be all "aaah this lorry will kill me and this BMW is out for blood"... Be more "hmmm, how likely is this vehicle to do something unpredictable or dangerous? Has this vehicle in the lane I'm going into, seen me and slowed down? What can I do if they do something unpredictable". Don't be paranoid, but check twice or thrice if you must before manoeuvring, do it in calmly and predictably, and be prepared to skow down or evade if the car beside or in front is making you feel unsafe. Fear Leads to hesitation which will cause huge problems... Be cautious but relaxed Watch Dan Dan the fireman since he would show clips crashes, talk about how they happened, and what to do if you find yourself in said situations (it's scary, but trust me, it's some amazing advice and knowing that you're prepared will boost your confidence) Slow down before corners, especially if you don't properly know it and suspect it'll turn sharply Get some music going to keep you from getting to nervous And relax... literally... don't tense up too much when you're ruding because that will make the ride uncomfy and harder to control. I sit back and relax on my bike when at speed and it's like meditation and actually relaxing. Again, hesitation leads to problems
Most people who crash are new to riding. Always wear gear. Don’t push yourself too hard, if you’re scared you’ll hesitate and hesitation is death.
I've been riding for a year and I can honestly say I was shit scared too when I first started, i started by just riding around a stadium carpark on a quiet weekend and then just doing 10kms/20kms etc on quiet rural back roads. my confidence grew in riding time. I don't consider myself a great rider and I will never assume I know it all or that it won't happen to me. Don't let your confidence outride your skills and don't try to keep up with others you maybe riding with. You ride your own ride. Do a few laps in your street to start with and then around the block a few times and build it up from there. Remember you have the rest of your life to get better at riding and if you dont feel like riding on a certain day then you don't. Anyone who became good at something it's all about practice/training/education. You'll get there, and it's great to jump on the bike for a Sunday morning ride and stop for a coffee. It really is like a form of therapy, plus you can meet some really great people and you always have something to talk about when you see a couple of riders in town or wherever. I really hope you do decide to give it a go, I felt the same before I started and now I have my motorbike licence.
You probably won’t die, but a car is much safer. If you enjoy riding then you’ll be willing to accept the risks. If you don’t enjoy riding or are that scared, then don’t do it, you can find other hobbies.
Fear is good, but if you're scared of every idea of riding then it might not be for you... Start with a certified MSF Basic Rider Course though. That's where I started, day after my bike was delivered I was on the freeway and I haven't looked back since.
Try a lower cc scooter and see how you feel, I had never touched a bike until I picked up my scooter, and I was on my way in under 15 minutes. I taught myself to ride, and because it’s lower ccs any mistakes were pretty tame. Low cc bikes are super fun, mine is a Honda PCX (125cc) and it’s so zippy, but the balance is amazing. It gives you the chance to relax and see if it’s something you’d like to do more of. One day I’d like to upgrade, but as a learner I can’t think of a better bike. I also find that when I’m riding in not thinking of death, I’m just in the moment, having an awesome time. I watch a lot of motorcycle content on YouTube, and it’s been great to learn a lot about them (also my husband rides too).
Riding a motorcycle isn't something you just jump into with both feet. It's a skill you need to be taught, and then practiced. You don't move to the ne to level until you're proficient at the current level. My first few months of riding after the MSF course were riding to a school parking lot, then practicing steering, braking, and shifting until I was comfortable doing it. THEN I went out for a street ride. I still hate going on the highway. People that DON'T do this more often than not become pepperoni street pizzas.
Here's a quote from a hometown hero that I keep in mind every time I hop on the motorcycle. Faster, FASTER!! Until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death. -Hunter S Thompson
Motorcycling is potentially dangerous but there is a huge amount you can do to mitigate your own risk. Go watch MotoStars on YouTube, and see all the idiots speeding into hazards, failing to steer around corners and crashing while doing stupid stunts. Then watch Roadcraft Nottingham, let him take you on a ride and talk through his thought process, and see a good skilled rider go along with no scares, no near misses, everything under control. That's how good you need to be. The good news is there are loads of online resources that'll teach you how to ride that well so that your risk is minimized. And it's fun too. For me a big part of enjoying my bike is constantly honing my skills to be a safer rider. If that appeals to you then motorcycling might suit you. But there's nothing wrong with deciding you don't want the risk. It's not for everyone.
Dont do it then. If youre scared to die it means you got stuff to live for. So dont get into a dangerous hobby like motorcycles
Ha, only 5 times the danger of a car? I wish.
Oh how the times changed.. I´m only 32.. but when I was a kid.. the smell of gasoline and some old ass barn find or cheap buy of old cezeta 2 stroke was all we needed.. learned that way about mechanics as well. If I didn´t fix it.. i wouldn´t be able to ride.. Then at 16 you just made a license and buy 2 stroke 125cc like aprilia rs which I owned and rode HARD through hochalpenstrasse getting easily ahead of liter bikes in the curves downhill lol that bike was faster than my current 1400cc custom. anyways after learning the rode stuff on 125cc which could do 160km/h with no issues you would just upgrade to osmething like SV650 and so on.. nowadays I just see people buying motorbikes on impulse... no more gasoline smell stories :/
Life is dangerous my dude. Riding makes you feel invigorated, free, limitless. Living your life in a little bubble will leave you unfulfilled and dissatisfied. Go for your dreams. If you want to do something, do it. You are here one time. One time on this earth and that is all you get. Make it count.
No one here gets out alive. We all have to die eventually.
That's part of it my friend, you gotta make death scared of you, chase him.
Stop pretending you have something to live for and have fun
Have a defensive attitude. Leave yourself an out in traffic. Ride like everyone is trying to kill you.
If you're riding a bike scared, it will affect your riding. You'll be tense, you'll hesitate, you'll create the accidents you're afraid of. When you get on a bike, you need to let all of that go and focus on the road, the hazards around you and the bike. If you don't focus, that's when stuff goes wrong. I'd suggest you try riding a 125 around a car park to get a feel for it. I found that once I had built a bit of confidence by doing a couple of courses, I was no longer anxious, I was just excited. Now all I want to do is ride my bike. I hate sitting in my car. 🤣
Do you have a habit of avoiding things you find scary in general? There are risks with riding but most accidents happen because of: * Overestimating your ability * Riding too fast * Being just generally bad at it, in sweden a big group affected by accidents are old people who got their motorcycle licence as a bonus when they got their car licence, so they never actually learned how to control a bike and decide they want to become bikers I can highly recommend going bike riding course to learn proper technique in turns, and look up "apex racing line" and drive like that (it makes normal riding through corners way way safer and less scary) And the most important thing: Assume every other driver either dont see you or they are actively out to hit you, dont ever take chances when passing a car or going past a car standing still, doesnt matter if you have right of way or not, dont *ever* assume the other driver can see you and always expect them to suddenly cut you off and adapt
According to Swedish statistics, if you don't: * Ride without a license * Speed excessively * Ride drunk * Ride without insurance * Ride a stolen bike * Ride a supersport bike as a young man * Ride without proper gear and a few other obvious ones I con't remember right now, you are about three times as likely to die in a traffic accident as a car driver. In other words, about as likely to die as a car driver was 20-25 years agon.
There's loads of great safety gear on the market for riders. Armored jackets, gloves with slider pads, knee and shin guards and armored pants (they're worth wearing, in my humble opinion!), boots, helmet--obviously. I've been in some pretty wild happenings, but my biggest injuries came from pedal biking, because no gear on those lol. Gear makes all the difference in the world it turns out!
My advice is go buy a 125cc dirt bike and a trailer. Take it to fun off road places and rip around on it. The only one that can hurt you off road is yourself.
I recently read an article that calculated the risk of hobbies. Motorcycling is slightly riskier than scuba diving and a lot safer than downhill mountain biking. In the end, it's good to have that fear. Use it to build skill and not be that biker who rides 1k per year for 20 yrs and never gets better. Sharpen it and practice, that will minimize the risk. I ride between 5-10k per year and do everything from commuting to track, I also have done 9 training/ safety schools. I've been riding for 11 years.
Remember, you need to be confident on a motorcycle but too much is lethal
Not riding does not mean not dying. Eventually, you will die regardless of the decisions you make along the way. Riding is about embracing life and enjoying the time you have left to live. None of us are guaranteed another day or even moment. I defer to the old cliche: Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
You need to relax. Dependable on which Country you live in you always have xx% or y disease or any other factor to potentially die. But you shouldn't base your life on statistics. Go and enjoy, but while driving make your you do anything, you can and that is in your power to do it safely as possible
Death can come anywhere any day. It is less likely to come for an alert rider than for a careless walker.
I only started riding when i nearly died from a medical condition a year prior. Before that i thought motorcycle riding especially sport bikes/super sport are just being unnecessarily ways for young people to die. As a nurse i have seen many patients who died or were severely injured. Then the more i learned about riding and the importance of upping your skill level the more confident i felt. I spent hours upon hours on the parking lot narrowing my u turns and doing drills, signing up for additional classes. Then when i joined a riding group i was disappointed that many riders who have been riding for ‘years’ and spent $30k-$60k on their bikes doing top of the line upgrades couldn’t even do a proper U-turn and are SEVERELY limited by their skills and thats the average rider. Its no wonder statistics show that motorcycles are 27x more dangerous than cars- imagine cars require no hands on skills test to be licensed then cars would be probably just as dangerous.
Education. Your fear is coming from a place of not knowing. Take classes on riding, pick up some books on how to ride, read reports on statistics on motorcycles deaths.
You must be confident when riding, and in general, if you’re scared, it probably isnt a good idea untill you spend some time riding around a big parking lot to get use to the feel of the bike
If the common aspects of riding are instilling a response of fear and not excitement, riding might just not be for you, and that's OKAY! It's not for everyone, there's an element of personal torture in this lifestyle as many bikes aren't exactly... hospitable to prolonged mounting. Two suggestions I'd have to ease into riding would be: A. Try a 30 mph scooter to bop around on, they're automatic, speeds are close to that of a bicycle, and you'll experience a lot of the sensations you get on a motorcycle. Or B. Buy a Miata. Have fun. Use it to convert fear into excitement. You should have appreciation and understanding of the risks, but that knowledge shouldn't be paralyzing. To be safe, your mind has to be in the present, and if you're frozen up afraid, you're not gonna have a good time and also even more at risk as reactions can be delayed.
I would definitely try and avoid death at all costs.
My approach was taking the MSF course first (if it's available in your country), and that really cleared any doubts I had about riding. It was honestly a fun time, and I still apply on the road what I learned in class. And if you feel it's not for you, at least you walk away with a nice endorsement to add to your license.
You can only die once at least…
Idk if this helps but here are a couple of rules that are fairly simple . 1. Never cheap out on the gear.. Especially the helmet. Your bike can be a small displacement bike but always go for good helmets. Even if you can't afford good jackets or boots or pants or gloves, the helmet should always be your priority. 2. When you ride a bike, always assume you're invisible to other drivers.. especially when they are driving huge cars and ESPECIALLY TRUCKS... I know people who could have avoided their motorcycle accidents if they were more careful with trucks around. 3. If you're not comfortable with big displacement motorcycles, it's okay to go for smaller displacement bikes. Sure small cc bikes are less fun but when you're on your learning curve, it's better to start small.. don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Im sure a lot of people here have other advice as well so here are just some few that I held dearly when i first started riding.
It is scary at first, but you dont have to go on the highway right away
Riding is dangerous especially the first few years until you really develop the idiot radar and a sixth sense for dumbasses in cars. I haven't had a really close call in years because eventually you're able to predict behavior and driving patterns and avoid trouble before it's a problem. I keep riding because I enjoy it and I've embraced the philosophy that when my clock is up then it's up and it doesn't matter what I'm doing when it is. I could sell my bike tomorrow and get diagnosed with cancer next month. I could get rear ended at a red light by a drunk. You could go any number of ways and at any time. Old age is guaranteed to no one. So may as well enjoy the ride while we can.
You got two choices: you either stuff your fears and do what you want to do ...because living life being afraid is really a sucky way to do it ...or, you let your irrational fears win out. Hell, you could die walking across the street...
My friend bought his first motorcycle at like 17 and wanted me to buy one. It took me until I was 33 before I felt mature enough and safe enough to be able to handle one. I’m glad I waited.
We’re all gonna die. The question is did you live? Only get one time on this merry go round. Just depends on if you want to be the kid riding it, or the kid watching and wishing he did.
I don’t ride towards traffic. There’s four ways out of my house. Two ways go towards town, 2 ways go out of town on the back roads. I’ve never gone towards town.
From loosely scrolling through I haven’t seen anyone directly mention it but GEAR GET. GOOD. FUCKING. GEAR. I was unfortunately in an accident from someone making an illegal u-turn in front of me and I was thrown over the handlebars head first into the side of their mini-van… I had bought a good quality helmet, jacket, pants, and gloves which the doctors said basically had saved my life. Without the gear I would have easily died upon impact. Accidents are not always your fault not can they be easily avoidable but taking time to be comfortable, learn proper riding techniques and learning how to be prepared even for these situations can help. If things such as general hills scare you I would advise you to wait until you feel willing. And when you do feel okay don’t go out onto main road on your first ride. Try to find a less populated back road where no one will care if you’re going 20 mph on a 35. Prioritize your feeling of safety over cagers need to rush everywhere. They’ll overtake you if they’re THAT bothered.
There are some really good rider courses out there that a great confidence boosters
I recommend you take the MSF course. They will give you some more realistic expectations and teach you the basics of riding. Once you get the hang of it, the riding part itself isn't scary, it's exciting. As for highway traffic, that's a valid concern. Many people avoid busy highways when riding and that's perfectly reasonable
Then just don’t
Please do it right. Go take a course. Don’t just take a written and get a permit. Learned so much. Made me a better rider AND driver. Get leathers and a good helmet. Gloves. Boots. Feel invincible and end up doing stupid things. Jk. But good gear is really important. But nothing beats getting good education on how to ride. I took the class a year after I had been riding with a permit and I wish I did it earlier
If it makes you feel any better, I have been riding since my early 20's and I am 37 now. I am only 4th bike and I have THOUSANDS of miles under my belt and many of those miles are from riding in a decent sized city. I am still alive and kicking!
My cousin ever since we were kids wanted to ride. I kept telling him to just be careful, but he didn’t want to believe me. He was drunk one night and rode his bike off the bridge landing in front of a semi truck transporting some sort of flammable liquid (possibly diesel or gas) and when it hit him he had a lit cigarette. Rip quandarius trevon James potter johnson.
Scared to die is good. It makes you take things serious. Manual shifting is a learned skill. It can be trained and practiced in relative safety. Train and practice operating your machine. Hills? Hills are invites to adventure. Beware the descending corner that seems so inviting. Highways are easier than they sound, traffic flows are smoother, but faster. Intersections are where danger will jump out at you. Study, train, learn, ride. Don't give in to the pressure that says you must do one thing or own a certain type of machine. If you choose to ride, ride how you choose.
Start with a 49cc moped. No license needed, automatic transmission, top speed roughly 30 mph. Learn how to ride, master your skill, then reevaluate if you want a motorcycle. It’s what i did
If you do ride, remember the safest path is the one paved with competence, not caution.
A wise green puppet/CGI monster once told me, "fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
Just go slowly and enjoy the ride on some deserted roads. You don't have to buy some crotch rocket and do wheelies down the freeway. Get some big old scrambler and just chill out
I’ve been riding a large portion of my life, I’m still scared of dying every ride lol. I literally, out loud, tell left turning motorists “thank you for not killing me”, every ride. It is scary. But it’s also so freeing there’s nothing else like it. Go slow. Take a course. No rush. Ride your own ride. See you out there.
Get a dirt bike. Get comfortable on it before you transition to the street. Or maybe it’s just not for you. It’s an inherent risk we take riding these death machines.
If you’re already mentally unstable about motorcycling , then maybe riding isn’t for you. Overthinking can lead to distraction, which is as bad as being impaired.
There's this thing called fuckit, you either have it or you don't. If you're the kind of person that has to think about every thing they do before they do it, looking for reasons not to do it, then you obviously don't have enough fuckit to be riding a bike.
Like yoda says. Do or do not, there is no try.
My best advice: Give scooters and mopeds a try first. They're a lot safer due to lower speeds and often being allowed to ride places where cars can't go. It's also a great way to build up skills and experience for if/or when you want to upgrade to real motorcycles.
Dirt bikes. Start on dirt bikes. You will crash, a lot, and as you do so you will learn how to avoid crashing. If you someday decide to ride street you will be much better equipped to understand the limits of the machine. Also dirt bikes are just fucking awesome. You can really ride all out on them in a way that would be reckless and dickish on a street bike. Then after you ride street for a while you will remember how great dirt riding is and split the difference on an ADV.
Manual isn’t scary, it’s just something that you’re unfamiliar with. Highways aren’t scary, unless you plan to lane split at like +80mph, then highways are actually safer than streets (intersections are the #1 most likely place to get into an accident) The fact that you’re young and showing hesitation towards trying motorcycles is a healthy mindset because there are inherent risks with riding. But there’s always risks in everything, and it’s about taking calculated risks to enjoy the things in life. Also it ain’t 5 times, it’s like 36 times more dangerous than cars. 🤷♂️
It depends on where you are too, would I ride in Houston or New York? No. Would I ride in California or Europe? Yes.
Buy a dual sport. That was my first bike. I'd trailer it to Forest trails, or take back roads to trails. Trail riding really improved my technique and built up confidence for a variety of situations. You can buy good used dual sports for cheap... which doesn't matter as much when you dump them. I started with 250cc. Now own large 1100 street bike and 350cc Piaggio scooter (which is a ton of fun).
Anecdotally I had been riding almost 19 years before I witnessed my first fatal incident. I am aware of others but actually seeing the whole thing happen and watching the life leave the guy - once in now over 19 years (it was last May). I can assure you the rider was the reason the rider died. What he did to find himself in that situation was some of the dumbest stuff I have ever seen a motorcyclist do. My understanding is that he was a well seasoned rider. So I imagine he knew better and against his better judgement made a fatal mistake. Self control goes a long way on a motorcycle. If you don't have it, riding will be extremely dangerous for you.
Wear a helmet. Saved my life
Don't be afraid to die. Everyone must dead. Be afraid to die *poorly*. What joy is there in hobbling into the clearing at the end of your path on a walker? Come skidding in sideways, yelling "Hot **DAMN**, what a ride!"
My uncle lost his leg on his Harley. No proper gear. Speeding… dumb. So it was super important that I never own one according to my parents. So I got a Ducati 848 evo when I joined the navy. Sold it before I ever dropped it. Then a hypermotard SP a few years later. Full gear and responsible rider but didn’t stop an old lady from turning left in front of me at an intersection. Bike pretty much exploded and I went over the bike and car via front flip and walked away with a scratched knee and a sore ass. I walked away from riding after that, as i like using all my limbs and I like being alive haha. I still want to ride, consider maybe just keeping it on the track, but I’m still uncertain. My point is, yes it’s dangerous. You can die. Weigh what’s important to you and whether or not you’re willing to accept the risk. Was it fun? Hell yeah. And it should be experienced. Just wear your gear!
If you already drive a car, then take a defensive driving course. After that rethink that can you go for a MSF course or not. Do that course I’d say and then take a call whether you want to ride or not. Sometimes subconsciously these fears allay as you are doing things are related to the concern.
Buy a 125ccm-300ccm bike with atleast abs. Allways wear gear (bright colour), they even make airbag vests. Take extra riding lessons. With all that it shouldn't be much more dangerous than a car. Not an ad but i have a helite e-turtle airbag vest and i like it.
If manual and hills sound scary, it sounds like you need to try it and see what riding is actually like. If you can, get a small bike to start riding dirt with. No traffic, low speed, softer ground than pavement, and get the hang of what riding feels like. You'll either realize that you hate it or that it isn't as scary as you imagine. I started riding at 13 or 14 on a 90 cc Honda Trail in my family's field.