re: Any of You Fellers Ride a Motorcycle?

Been riding for about 6-7 years, and didn't start until I was in my 30's. The #1 piece of advice is get professional training and practice all the time.

Many folks will say they've been riding for 20 years. In reality they have 1 year experience 20 times. I took the MSF Advanced Rider Course a year after I took their basic course, and I was the only one of 12 that had ridden for less than 5 years. I was also the only one that could emergency brake and do the figure 8's. Avoidance of issues is the key, but you won't be able to avoid them all, and that's when the training (or lack of) will show up.

A close #2 is wear fricking gear. I could be wrong but that guy that died coming to a stop and blew a tire probably wasn't wearing a dot/snell-certified full face helmet. Or maybe not even wearing one at all? Gear would have saved the pillion the road rash at least.

I've been down once about a month after I started riding, lowsided around 25 mph. Had a quarter-sized bit of road rash on my knee (jeans = no protection) and a bruised foot. Had boots, gloves, armored jacket and helmet. Jacket was scuffed, but the armor and the leather made the whole thing pretty painless.

Be sure to read the Hurt Report. You are statistically much more likely to have an accident in your first 6 months. Even the first few months you get a new bike, regardless of riding experience.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurt_Report

Oh, and here's my girl: