Hi All,

Its been a good 18 months since i logged on here. I had a major accident in July of 2014 where a carload of 18 year old girls decided to turn across my lane on a fine saturday afternoon and put me into a world of pain. Major injuries included a broken pelvis, shattered right elbow and some internal damage. Took me about a year to walk resonably pain free and im just getting back into some light jogging in the last few months.

On top of that the Fat Boy Lo i had purchased 3 weeks before got written off before it had even cracked 1000k's.

Anyway I was wondering if other people who had major accidents got back on the bike. Im only 29 and i love riding but this has put the fear of god in me about getting back in the saddle. Thinking about going through the hundereds of hours of physio and surgery recovery again is not something i really want to deal with, but i dont like the idea that other road users get to deter me from riding again. I had gone over around 35000k's over two HD's and my learner bike without incident prior to the accident.

I guess what im asking is some advice from anyone who has gone through a major spill and how you went about getting back into it.

Thanks.

Havent been in the same spot as you mate but good luck with that decision. Must be a bloody hard one to make. Hopefully someone elses fuckup doesn't put you off.

I cant call it a major accident,
when a car failed to give way to me, I T-Boned it between the front wheel and drivers door, I stayed upright and only muscle soreness from 60k's

I still balk at cars coming out from the left.
To keep riding I have to put it away, you may have to also, sorry to sound harsh BUT.....

I've been through it. Maybe not as bad , but I did spend around 6 months with my leg in an external cage ( Ex-fix is the term they use).
Most people were talking to me as though it was a forgone conclusion that I wouldn't ride again, and I usually agreed with them.
I couldn't ride or drive for about 9 months.
The worst thing is loosing your independence, as you would know.

When it was time to be able to ride, I just got on the bike and took a very easy short ride. I had no doubts, and wasn't freaked out.
What helped was I already had a 2nd bike sitting there, as the first was a write off.
If I had to buy another bike, I'm not sure how much longer it would have taken, but I think I would have still ridden.... but who knows !
I also live in the country, so less traffic makes it easier.

I don't ride anywhere near as much as I did, and still prefer to avoid heavy traffic.
A few years after that accident I hit a kangaroo and re-broke my wrist ! ...that didn't help things much, but I got back on again !!
I do still ride crazy fast when the conditions allow it, and still really enjoy riding.

Anyway I'm rambling on, so to finish off, I think you'll know it within yourself If you want to ride again.
Don't feel that there is any pressure to ride straight away.
It might even take a few years or much longer to get back into riding.

Cheers

thanks for the replys. Sounds like the best idea is to go for a short ride and see how I go.

This whole thing came about when i 'stumbled' back on the HD page and saw the 2016 forty eight. looks shit hot. I think ill borrow a mates bike before i go too silly and buy a new bike haha.

Those of you that know me well, will know I am not bullshitting, but here goes.

In 1988, I had a near fatal (2 x outer body experiences) that had me 9 months in Hospital, 2 months in a coma, 4 months before I could walk, and 3 months rehab (Military Hospital)

All the usual breaks, (12 breaks in right leg, fractured skull, pelvis, right wrist, right & left ankles, boken ribs, exploded right testical, severed old fella, broken left arm, and compressed spine) I needed a replacement right knee in the end after 5 reconstruction failed. I was back in the saddle within 2 months of being released from hospital, and even had my walking stick ocky strapped tp the rear rack.

I still feel the affects of the injuries, but there is no way I am going to stop doing what I love because of someone elses stupidity.

All the best mate.

Been through it 34 years ago, had 15 breaks including a fracture in my lower back and still walk with a bad limp, which I don't mind because originally I was told I wouldn't even walk again. I was back onto a bike as soon as I could walk with 2 walking sticks, which was 9 months later. I figured I had to get it over with or I’d never ride again and bikes are my love, I had bikes before I even had a car. Since then I’ve had quite a few bikes and only one drop where a car came out on my left and I laid it straight down into the side of it. Luckily only bad bruising that time, if I had gone straight into it and over the top anything could have happened. I am quite leery of cars these days and never let my concentration wane. I also tend to keep over to the left of the lane on single lane highways to give me a bit of space between me and cars coming towards me. In multi lane traffic I keep a good gap between me and the car next to me and never sit in a cars blind spot. I will move up or back so I am seen. Even though they can hear you most of the gumbies have no clue where you actually are. Loud pipes save lives but only to a certain point. I still get nervous when cars come up to a roundabout or intersection. You will never lose that fear, ever! Try and keep your fitness up because trust me, in later years you are going to be in a world of pain because of all the old injuries. You just have to remember that it could happen to anyone and riding defensively rather than aggressively lowers the risk factor. Good luck, you should be OK. Once the initial nervousness goes you'll start enjoying your riding again, it just takes a while.

Gee Sida, Not good to read this. But hey, You are still around to talk about it.
I am 53 now, and when I was 20/21 yo I was coming out of Fairfield st onto Woodville rd in Sydneys west'. I snuk up between two lanes of traffic to be the first off the mark. Normall I would have gone straight across into an alley to home, But had not been on my bike for a few weeks so decided to turn right. Well this prob saved me. Because as I turned right to head South on Woodville rd, a Semi Trailer ran a red light and clipped the left end of my h/bars and pulled my bike under the front of the Prime Mover jamming my bike between the Bullbar & front axle, and my legs went under the side of truck causing the Drive wheels to run over my legs and the Tri axle of the trailer skinned past my helmet. This was a 4pm on a Friday arvo. I was surposed to be best man at a mates wedding the next day. I spent the next 3 months in a wheel chair, Had friction burns to both knee and ankle areas where the heat from the hot tyres peeled the skin away, Luckily no broken bones. The Doctors reckoned this was because I used to go to the Gym a couple times a week & this helped with stronger bones. The xrays show the two wheel marks from where the truck drove over my legs.
I still get concerned to this day and don't ride as hard as I used to, Especially when hooning into corners. But hey I am still here to tell the story. So yeh prob not as bad an accident as some, But something to tell the Grand Kids as they say.

after a truck hit me and crushed my foot and broke my leg i had 9 months off riding and actually tried "quitting" riding

i couldn't do it. i had to ride again.

note i am now shit scared of trucks and go no where near them

I think methuselah hit the nail on the head when he said you never lose the fear. With the fear your senses will be at 110% and this will make you ride defensively and watch everything. I bought my first Harley 5 months ago after not riding any bikes for 20 odd years and my confidence level was in the minus. Maybe at 56 years old, seeing what I seen throughout life has made me watch everything when driving or riding. Took me a while to gain confidence but I'm still cautious when I go riding. Good luck.

Soft...

Thanks again for the responses all. I guess i will just jump on and see how i go.

bloody hell hilly...you have had a rough time of it. Good on you for doing what you love.

I think we all feel for you and the Turmoil your going thru Sida. I havent had a big one, just 2 small ones I remember many years ago. Slid out in a sandy patch of an intersection ending up under the bumper of a car on the other side and just lost a bunch of skin. Ugly but was still walkin. The other was a bit more eventful as a 16 year old on a dirt bike flyin thru my small town, Officer Rob Herron gave chase. All good until he ran me over goin thru a field. Ended up under his car, Bike wrecked and Miraculously I only had muscle damage in my leg. It was uncomfortable for a couple months but got better. Sort of a funny story; my nephews all like to bring up when I get on them about being screwups. Anyway; to all you guys who have done it hard and got back on; Good on ya. And Good On You to man. I hope you do get on your mates bike and get the new one you want. You deserve it after goin thru all that.

I've got numerous injuries but still ride both my bikes.The bloke on the left here keeps me going cause he can't.
When I get off, I can barely walk into the house but it goes after 30 mins to an hour.
Your gonna die anyway mate, so it doesnt really matter, just keep Trucking and enjoy what you have.