I had a Honda Spirit before my 750 Vulcan.
I was easing along about 20 -25 MPH on a curvy two lane blacktop.
Suddenly someone came around the curve on my side of the road and I had no choice but to run off to the edge of the road. It was sandy. I slid and laid it down. My body slammed down on my left side and my helmeted head went ker-whap on the pavement. When I stopped I couldn't get the bike off of me because the shifter peddle had penetrated my left shoe between my foot and the shoe sole. The car that I encountered didn't stop. I finally managed to unpin myself and get the bike up. The left crash bar was bent around the engine but the bike was still rideable. I limped back home.
This was actually a minor incident compared to many, but my helmet was road scraped and I hate to think what my head would have been like without it.
I repaired the bike and sold it. I never felt completely safe and in control of that bike.
The Vulcan feels like it's a part of me, an extension of my body, and I feel very confident on it.
As careful as we can be, we can never predict what the other folks on the road might do to place us in danger.
WEAR A HELMET!!!!!!