Just saw the thread about the age and experience of bike tech members and thought, I wonder how many times everyone has been down in the years they have been riding. I think these numbers will make some noobs think twice.

Personally, I have been riding street for a little over three years and have been down only once (lucky). I rear ended a suburban doing about 35-40mph, broke my shoulder, totalled my bike, but got off pretty easy compared to what could have happened if I didn't have a helmet on. It was totally my fault as I was still in my hard core squid days and just got a 1000 for the first time (thought I was superman I guess).

I have also been rear ended once at a stop light but the guy saw me at the last second and almost stopped in time. No injuries with that one.

So lets hear all those war stories...

 

Once. This past weekend. At a stoplight. Passenger on back. I stopped, put me feet down, and for whatever reason the bike decided it wasn't staying up straight. Started to lean, I grabbed the handlebar to catch it, but it was too late - thing tipped over to the left and broke the clutch lever in half.

 

never wrecked, never been down.. hope I have a long time before I have to say I did... but really its only a matter of time.. been riding for under a year.

 

ive layed it down once on the pavement. on dirt, shiiiit, i wreck at least twice every time i go out

 

Street = 1, Lowside
Track = 0
Dirt = Innumerable

 

Dropped the bike once. Didn't wreck it. I was going from a stop to pull out of a gas station and didn't notice I was on sand.back end kicked out and it tipped.

 

making a turn while it was raining, and back end came out, cant even notice damage, and all i had was a scratched up elbow

 

my first time with a passenger, my poor baby went down. she lead me to believe that she was an experienced passenger, she had her own helmet and everything. well when she first got on the bike at my house, i told her to throw her leg over first and then situate from there, for i don't quite flat foot the bike and i obviously don't have the strength (she was bigger than me). so we go to leave the meet spot, and she puts all of her weight on the left peg, thinking she was just gonna throw her leg over (when i already told her that i couldn't support that much weight on one side of the bike). i tried soo hard to save it, and for an instant, i almost thought i had. EVERYONE saw the whole thing. SO embarassing. learned my lesson though! now there's a weight limit for my backseat, and experienced bitches only!

 

Street = Goose egg
Dirt = lost count

 

I can think of four times on the street were I got banged up (broken bones, lacerations, etc.)

As for dirt.... I'm with Tyler.... every time I ride

And for what ever reason... bikes in my garage are exceptionally persuaded by the force of gravity.