"Laying a bike down."

I just had a simple question I was hoping to get a little input on.  I have never recked when i rode dirt bikes, which I rode for many years.  I know dirt and street are way different.  But I just got this bike and my dad told my mom that he thinks i will lay it down.  

I was just hoping to get some statistics on how many riders actually lay it down.  And I was wondering what are the major things to avoid to not lay a bike down.  I am not a crazy driver, and dont plan on being crazy on my bike (wheelies, etc.).  I plan on riding with some guys that have bikes also, and they are the same as me, not crazy.

What can i do to make sure i prove my dad wrong about this "Laying my bike down" issue?  I dont think it will be a huge problem.  But where are the major risks?  I dont plan on showing off, going massivly over the speed limit, or anything else. What should i avoid other than my own head and ego.

Thanks for the help, and thanks for helping me prove my dad wrong.    

one mistake i made was putting tire shine or tire foam on the tread of my tires, it makes them really slick, like putting oil on your tires i think.  then i rode like two blocks from my house and leaned over a little and lowsided, neways it was a costly and stupid mistake, also this happened when i had only had my bike for like 5 days  

Yeah bro I just brought home the bike one day and put it in my garage and was like "uhhhh dad I got a motorcycle" and him and my mom thought it was horrible but I took the MSF course and respect my bike and it shows them that your serious about safety and all that other boring stuff.If you ride safe and dont do stupid things like you mentioned then you should be fine.I like to always assume everyone on the road is a moron and going to do something stupid probably so that keeps me in check.The MSF course taught me tons.
Good luck
By the way dont ever put tire shine on a motorcycle LOL.
That really takes the cake on dumb things to do with your bike.  

Hah, thats funny.  Tire shine.  LOL.

And ya, i dont do stupid stuff and dont plan to start.  So i am good there.  I just need to watch out for the idiots on the road and use my bike what i got it for; Pleasure.  Not to show off and lay it down like my dad thinks.

Anyway, Thanks for the replies, and i will be taking the MSF course in a few weeks.  So then i will be good there and I just got to keep my head in check.

I apprectiate the replies guys.  Thanks.  

Wow! That is a tough one. Your dad is probably right. Most riders, given enough time, will have an accident. Is it a big deal? Well...yes and no. Keep in mind that most riders have their first accident in their second year of riding. I think that this is because your skills have gotten good enough to go faster but your awareness/experience doesn't match that extra speed. The best advice that I can offer is to have enough awareness to not put yourself in a situation where you will crash or be hit. Seem like common sense, I know, but it is actually a skill that can be developed. Check out David Hough’s ‘Proficient Motorcycling’ for specific examples and skills. Having these skills doesn’t mean that you won’t have an accident but it will increase the likelihood that when you do lay it down you will come out of it with minor bumps and bruises rather than a major injury or worse. The goal is to ride in places and in such a way as to minimize the variables outside your control.  

The majority of the time when a rider goes down is in a parking lot at about 3 MPH.  But I believe you are talking about going down at speed.  The major things to watch out for is gravel/dirt in the curves.  (Just when you need the traction the most, there it is...gravel in the corner).  Don't ride in the center of the driving lane, instead, drive in the tire tracks of passenger cars (If you follow too close behind a car and they "straddle" a road hazard like a muffler, lumber, road-kill, etc...you might find yourself running straight into it).  

You must really be carefull when riding when it begins to rain.  (I'm not kidding)When it first starts to rain, the water forces all the oil, tranny fluid and other sludge from the road surface.  It gets as slippery as ice out there during the initial part of a rain storm.  

And the last thing I have for you is to watch intersections at stop lights/sign.  There are so many cars out there that leak oil very badly.  If you come to a stop light that is red, when you put your brakes on or even putting your foot down once you have stopped, you will be surprised how easy it is to lose your balance.

Pay attention and take nothing for granted...ride safe.  

Hey Zanos. To address the problem of "laying it down" as you had originally asked about, you mostly want to develop your technique for the road bike. On dirt you're sticking your leg out and leaning the bike itself over, but on the road you obviously want to do the opposite. You want your bike to be more upright while you position your weight outside the bike's centerline. Practice keeping the contact patch between your tire and the road at it's max. Turning your streetbike is much different that your dirtbike. Low-siding occurs when your rear tire loses traction. Usually this happens when you hit gravel/sand in a corner, or you spin your tire on a corner exit. You won't have to worry about that with your SV. Modern streetbikes will lean over pretty far, but it's usually safest to position weight to the outside rather than tip your bike over and start griding stuff on the pavement   Now that you're on the street, I would highly recommend picking up a book, and a really great one is "Sport Riding Techniques" but Nick Ienatsch. Really invaluable source of info that you can easily apply to your every day riding. Ride safe!  

You're smart to ask about how to avoid bike accidents.  Most new riders don't, so all too many of them learn the hard way.  And you've received some excellent advice, like taking the MSF course and reading David Hough's and Nick Ienatsch's books.

But your dad is probably right.  There's an old saying that there are two kinds of motorcycle riders -- those who have crashed and those who will someday.  That's all he means.

But you can do a lot to minimize your chances of being in a wreck and the severity of an accident, injuries, etc.  Take the MSF, read the books (more than once, even), practice on your bike and ride mentally focused on safety and survival.

Your dad's choice of words, "laying it down", refers to the old attitude that a rider faced with an impending crash will choose to lock up the rear brake and literally get off the bike.  Maybe that was the only choice when motorcycles had poor brakes, but that's no longer the case.  All sportbikes can stop really well now, so "laying it down" is not a good strategy in most emergencies.  You're better off to use the brakes and if possible maneuver yourself out of harm's way.

You'll learn to stop and swerve in the MSF course, but you should practice those skills later, as long as you're still riding.  Practice stopping on every ride (after checking to make sure no one's behind you).  Practice stopping on warm, dry pavement, when it's cold, and even in the rain.  Check your tire pressures before every ride and learn by practice how well you can stop in all conditions.  Same with changing direction quickly (on warm tires on empty stretches of road or in parking lots).  Learn how to maneuver your bike well.

Knowing what you and your bike can do will help you to stay out of trouble on the street, because you'll be less liable to ride faster than your braking capability makes advisable and you'll be more likely to see dangers and escape paths as you ride.  Maybe you'll prove your dad wrong and not crash.

There's lots more, but take the MSF, read the books, and you will learn.  Have fun and stay safe.  

When I ride in traffic like a 4 lane. If I am forced to be beside a vehicle. I always position myself so I can see the persons face in their side mirror. Then, I am not in the blind spot. Anytime I see someone coming to a stop sign, or end of a drive way. I already assume they do not see me. So, I get ready to stop. Also, sitting at a red light look in your rear view. You never know what the person behind you may do. A lot of people's brains just dont compute single brake light. My friend was just pounded at a red light from behind. The Lady said she just didnt see him. Another friend had a guy change lanes on him. The guys he was with were not staggered in the formation. So, he was forced into the rider beside him who clipped the curb.
I put my foot in a pothole at a red light about ten years ago. The result was kinda ugly....It is amazing how big of a bike you can pick up when people are looking at you

I have been riding about 25 years, mostly all sportbikes. All of my friends I ride with have been down at least once.. Mostly due to someone elses error........I did say mostly.

I do hope you prove your dad wrong..........  

"I laid it down" is most often a way of claiming credit for something that was done accidentially. As a "skill" its unneccesary. It's not a shorter way to stop or a safer way to crash.  

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...i will be taking the MSF course in a few weeks.  So then i will be good there and I just got to keep my head in check.

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Correct.  Someone said to take the MSF course, and i was replying that i will be taking it.  So thats out of the way.  I will be taking the experienced rider at a later date, they like you to have a year+ on the road riding exp.  So i will prob do that next summer. Also i will be reading books and guides published.  

I was responding to the MSF course, stating that i am taking that.  

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The majority of the time when a rider goes down is in a parking lot at about 3 MPH.  But I believe you are talking about going down at speed.  The major things to watch out for is gravel/dirt in the curves.  (Just when you need the traction the most, there it is...gravel in the corner).  Don't ride in the center of the driving lane, instead, drive in the tire tracks of passenger cars (If you follow too close behind a car and they "straddle" a road hazard like a muffler, lumber, road-kill, etc...you might find yourself running straight into it).  

You must really be carefull when riding when it begins to rain.  (I'm not kidding)When it first starts to rain, the water forces all the oil, tranny fluid and other sludge from the road surface.  It gets as slippery as ice out there during the initial part of a rain storm.  

And the last thing I have for you is to watch intersections at stop lights/sign.  There are so many cars out there that leak oil very badly.  If you come to a stop light that is red, when you put your brakes on or even putting your foot down once you have stopped, you will be surprised how easy it is to lose your balance.

Pay attention and take nothing for granted...ride safe.

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Yo dude
There's a saying ive heard "There are two kinds of Bikers, those who have been in accidents and those who will be in an accident."  
Keep your EYES open for the morons in cars, trucks, and suvs, and you'll be fine.