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when I was a teenager, my friend was killed while riding so mom made me quit.
bought a bike in my 20s and crushed my skull.
bought a bike in my late 30s, took a small spill and found out that with age, things HURT worse.
sold the bike.
i'm not going back. it's just not in the cards for me. i bought a big fat cruiser to scratch the itch, but no more dirt.
This is probably not a popular opinion but what about a supermoto, I love the ability to play as a kid on sidewalks up and down stairs , the urge to put the dirt wheels on has decreased but is still possible to do any sort of dirt riding you'd like...........
I went for a ride this spring and while riding, realized that it just felt easy, simple, like going through the motions. I wasn’t learning anything, wasn’t going faster, will never be as fast as I was. I looked at everything I’d done with racing and realized that I’ve done everything I dreamed of as a kid and more. Every box has been checked.
At that point I decided to try something with less risk and something where I could learn again. Sold the race quad, which luckily for me had seen a huge increase in value thanks to AMA production rules. Riding moto on 2 wheels was just frustrating, going through every corner feeling slow because I’m used to going so much faster on the quad. So I bought a mini supermoto to ride. It’s meant for go-kart tracks, but the paved parking lot at work is only a few pylons away from being a practice track on any given day.
Learning how to ride asphalt and drag a knee has been an absolute blast. I’ve fallen a few times, but it’s nowhere near the pain level that falling off a dirtbike comes with. The full leather suit helps a lot in that area.
The sun came up……….
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I used to work with groups and we would say when the helmet goes on you know you're gonna be in a dangerous situation. It helped with mental preparedness and order in the group.
Torn meniscus and no insurance while working 3 jobs on my feet influenced a change in my life that ironically brought me back to riding dirtbikes. I mostly do short trail laps at 75-90% speed working on technique and go to a track and longer trails a couple times a year. I love riding motorcycles but it's not my job and I have to treat it that way.
Going fast on a powerful motorcycle is like a drug addiction. It is so hard to quit. I love it and hate it. At 54 I am too beat up to moto anymore so I get my fix doing track days on a GSXR. When I got addicted to motocross at age 12 I don't think getting old and trying to break my addiction was on my mind. Looking back I would do it again. I'm like a freaking junkie. I'm sure alot of you can relate. Good luck Mr. Chance.
Well, tomorrow’s going to suck. First day back to work with very limited use of my right arm. I have no choice but, to tough it out while waiting on answers.
I’ve been sitting at home these last couple days. I binged watched 1883 and, just started 1923. Highly recommend watching them. I don’t usually watch TV.
I did manage to wash both bikes today though.
I can lift my right arm with the help of my left. Supported I don’t feel pain. The second the support isn’t there, the pain is immediate. My limitation is solely lifting my arm. I can push, pull and, even got my bikes on and, off the stands. I just can’t lift my arm out in front of me.
Anyways, I’ll be getting my follow up appointment squared away next week. I’ll know more then. Going to the hospital Sunday, was basically a patch job and, a pat on the ass before being sent home. I got scanned. No broken bones, my shoulder joint is in good shape. However, without an actual MRI, there’s no telling the extent of soft tissue damage.
I started riding when I was 9. Though I never raced, I grew up riding in the California desert. 5th gear was my happy place. After moving to the PNW it’s all been technical single track. I sold my CR 500 and, toned it down a bit to a CR 250. Single track is fun. Minus the trees, rocks, roots, clay that’s like ice when it rains, very limited visibility, I’ve made the best of it.
Now, it’s just a waiting game. I’m not sure what’s in store for me. I guess it all depends on the recovery time.
I’ve appreciated the insight from you guys. Thank you.
I can quit riding any time I want to. I should know because I've done it at least 25 times.
Your age of Y46 is not that old (I'm 56). You just never know when the bug gets you back. I've been feeling it lately. Most of us are lifers, though.
I quit after both hips and 1 knee was replaced. I terribly miss riding off-road and it’s been 5 years. If I knew I’d die in a few months I’d ride a dirt bike every day until I couldn’t.
Heal up, Chance.
I gave up riding, at first, because my kids were making it pretty far in the sport and the maintenance and travel was making me not even want to ride anymore. I was more dedicated to my sons. I took 5 years off. I came back because I had an extra bike in the shop and had the itch. About 4 rides out of retirement and I exploded my L4, damaged liver, and collapsed a lung. I wasn't being risky. It was nothing. A stupid little nothing with a huge impact. I put my family in a really tough spot with that crash. I needed 24 hour care from my wife for a month after my week stay in the trauma ICU. I'm self employed and couldn't lift anything over 8 pounds for 6 months, which meant no work. I'm about 10 months from the crash now and doing pretty good. I'm 47 years old. I can't be doing this shit anymore. 30 years racing and my worst crash happened at 46. I'm just happy to be walking. Sorry for rambling, but I really felt your post.
Don't give up its easy to wanna quit when your down. Fear is a big motivator but it can quickly spiral you down into a negative space.
I know where you're coming from I'm 3 months off my surgery. Completely tore my acl and the meniscus in my right knee. After surgery I was ready to quit.
Now that I'm on the mend and walking again. Can't wait to get back on the bike but that's still like 4 to 5 months away.
It wasn't a crash that caused it foot got stuck in a rut in a turn.
Well the smart money would tell me to quit. I do enjoy it though. However I need to get in better shape. I don't mind being slow at the track. I just like to do better than what I did last time. So as long as I'm improving myself, I'm happy. I do have a bucket list item that I want to go ride in Costa Rica one day. Well not one day of riding, one of those week trips and I want to be able to keep up with an intermediate group. The big elephant in the room is I'm on a specialized drug. Makes my blood slippery. Kind of like a blood thinner but not the same. So, if I fall and hit my head, that's bad, very bad. But it's pretty much the only thing I do with my son these days so, I'll keep riding and try not to take too many risks.
TM
Daniel Boone said he'd NEVER been lost...mighty turned around for a few weeks but never lost.
I won't say I've quit riding but unless/until I get my neck fixed...doc says a bad sneeze could be the end.
It isn’t fear that has me thinking. It’s the level of responsibility I’ll have once I start working for myself. The responsibility of being reliable to customers along with, the responsibility of providing for my wife and, I. My mind is not made up but, at the same time, I don’t want to be that guy going, hey sorry. I can’t install your water heater because, I speared a tree this weekend on my dirt bike.
I’ve never been afraid to get back on a bike.
Hell, after my little helicopter ride, I went and, bought a CR 500 after I recovered lol.
It just seems that the responsible side of me is showing it’s face more often than I’d like.
Though it may not seem like much, my wife having to tie my shoes, help me shave and, get ready for work this morning, gave me a feeling of helplessness. It’s the little things like that which stick with me. I’m just glad I don’t have to ask her to wipe my ass.
I went to work today and, barely managed to get through the day. There’s no such thing as light duty working construction. After a long, pain filled day, I came home, showered with some help, ate dinner and, now I’m watching a show between nods and, typing this on my phone. I hate pills. For now, my only relief is pain killers. I’ll be out of them tomorrow. I can’t wait for that prescription to be done while knowing the pain that’s going to come with that. I guess my point is, we all know our big boy toys have teeth and, it’s only a matter of time till we get bit regardless of how careful we try to be. The unfortunate side I’m seeing for the first time is, although we’re the ones dealing with injuries, our families and, loved ones also go through it with us.
Responsibility is what a man takes on above his own wants/needs.
When there are others involved, only an complete douche would judge you negatively for doing the right thing.
I made sure my wife is taken care of before I ever got on another motorcycle.
Don't know you, but reading your posts, you sound like a solid dude.
Hopefully you have the weekend off from work and can heal up some before Monday. Are you going to have a PT program, Chance?
I'd venture to say we've all been in your situation. "Am I financially secure enough to do this thing and if I can't provide...will my family be ok"?
I was far to stupid to ask those questions when I was younger. Thank God I never had seriously debilitating injuries. Nagging and persistent but I could hide it and keep the paychecks coming in.
I'd guess the majority here are the same.
It's life... live it or hate it.
Pit Row
I’m off for the weekend. Thankfully. Shit part of all this as I’m finding out is everyone needs a primary care physician. My wife spent four hours yesterday on the phone that ended in nothing but, frustration. She called, St Francis, Kaiser, Swedish and, two others. First thing asked was do you have a referral from a PCP. Uhhhh. He only goes to the emergency when he gets hurt. After explaining... So, this is a sports injury? How old is he again? And..... He doesn’t do it for a living? He just needs to wait and, let it heal.
Without a referral from a PCP, the soonest I can get my follow up appointment is October 19th.
What it comes down to is, sports injuries (as they’re calling it) without a referral, they could give two shits. They could get me right in with a referral from a PCP.
My advice to everyone reading this is, get a primary care provider and, get a primary care physician. I spoke to my HR lady and, explained my situation. She said, everyone is dealing with it. In fact, after speaking to her, a company wide email went out letting employees know how hard it is to get seen by a doctor without those.
So, it’s a wait and, see situation. I still can’t lift my arm in front of me without pain. If I move a certain way, it feels like rubber bands in my shoulder getting strummed. Sucks but, there isn’t much I can do atm. Even worse, I can’t go fishing so, my salmon season over 😭😭😭😭
You ain't shittin'. I only go to the doc for emergencies. My primary retired...and now I can't get nothing done.
Just got back from a Colorado mtn vaca. Caught some real nice rainbows but my brother snagged a beauty of a brown. First I had seen up close. All were delicious. Sucks about yer salmon bust.
It started off as a good year lol. I managed a 17 pound chinook last week. It’s fine though. I’ll be coming back next season with a vengeance. Hopefully you got a few pics to post in the fishing thread.
That's a fucking hog brother.
I can't figure out how to post pics any more. Oh well.
Click the picture icon
Choose file.
Select photo then, save. Submit.
You load one photo at a time.
I do it all from my iPhone so, it may or, may not be a little different for you.
Well shucks...it worked...just took a while to load. Big cat in that cabin we stayed in.
That’s awesome!! I really enjoy river views with hillsides in the background. I spread my grandfathers ashes here on one of my favorite rivers in 2011.
Ah yes.... the PCP gatekeepers of "healthcare"
Milk you your co-pay before sending you off to someone else.
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