# Motorcyle question...wipe out or break your leg? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 11, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyle-question-wipe-out-or-break-your-leg/542724 "2010-06-11T00:43:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyle-question-wipe-out-or-break-your-leg/542724/21 "2010-06-13T02:13:38Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > If you’re taking sufficient precautions and wearing proper armor, wiping out should be safer. It’ll almost certainly cost far less in pain and money to repair a downed bike than a leg. > > If you’re _not_ wearing proper gear…I dunno. Better your leg than your head, but how likely are you going to be able to control yourself in that situation anyway? Alright, I thought about the question. I agree with the above. I’ve wiped out wearing proper gear (lost the back wheel on some gravel at 15 mph), and I was completely fine. So, I’d take a spill in proper gear over a guaranteed crushed leg. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyle-question-wipe-out-or-break-your-leg/542724/22 "2010-06-13T02:31:45Z")
> [@silk1976](#): > > But the main crux of the question is in the title of the thread itself - given a situation, any situation - which is more preferred, wiping out on the bike, or breaking a leg? My nephew (who has given up motorcycles) has done both. He will tell you that neither is preferable, only different types of hospitalization. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcyle-question-wipe-out-or-break-your-leg/542724.md?page=1)