pretty much everyone crashes at some point in time, just a matter of when and where. yes there are some that have never crashed, but realistically when owning your first street bike you will.

here's my experience:

grew up on dirtbikes, fourwheelers and etc. first streetbike '98 ZX-6R.......drove 12 hrs round trip to pick it up from Timbuktu, SC. Got it home and attempted to ride it from the trailor and into the garage. Dumped the clutch and dropped it against my CRX cracking the car's bodykit, it was beater trash anyway (under the hood is what counted). Vowed I wouldn't touch it again until after I took the MSF. A month later after I passed the MSF I started putting around the subdivision. Then I started riding too a nearby school parking lot and practicing slow maneuvers and was able to get it up to about 35mph to make some decent turns. About a week and a half later I started riding everywhere. Forgot to mention, I was always prepared for the crash. I was the only one who showed up for the MSF in full gear

After clocking about 8,000 city miles I met members of GSB which most are now on BSB and started hitting the Vortex. Hanging out with that crowd I decided I wanted to start some more enthusiastic riding in the mtns. First trip up: I was having a blast.....taking curves with guys that have track experience, dragging hard parts and thinking I was the shiat. Later on in the day I learned about body positioning and that dragging hard parts is a nono the hard way. Even though I had not one scratch on me, I totaled the bike. While on 60 dragging hard parts the front tire washed out and I let the bike go. Literally sat on the ground and slid on my ass, luckily when my boots hit the side of the road I was able to stand and run the rest of the momentum off. I watched and cringed as the bike continued to slide, get 'hip tossed' by a fallen log and stop just a few feet short of falling off a cliff.
Purchased for $2500 Cash Before:


Sold for $1,750 After:

Morale to the story: Start with a beater and progress. Even if you crash it will maintain the majority of its value. That's unless you are a rich boy who doesn't care or don't mind sky rocketing insurance increases from crashing a new bike. BTW: Two weeks later I bought a '03 ZX-9R, two years later '04 CBR 1000RR, most recently '05 GSX-R 1000, and ??? coming soon so stay tuned