Save your skin! Buy the gear!

If it weren't for good gear, I would have a lot less skin and a lot more casts and braces today. Alert riding and knowing the limits of your bike and your own skills are definitely the two most key factors in rider safety. But for most riders, a day will come where those are not enough to keep both wheels on the road. If and/or when that happens, you are going to want something durable and protective between you and the asphalt. This is where the motorcycling community splits in two.
On one side lies the DIY crowd, who disdain the very notion of shelling out extra bucks for expensive (over-priced in their mind) gear when cheaper solutions exist. Often seen riding in Home Depot work gloves, thick military jackets, and construction boots, they save tons of cash. Unfortunately, these items tend to lose their toughness when being drug across pavement an unreasonable speeds. No matter the cost savings, inadequate equipment is rarely helpful in a road crash.
Gear geeks don't save money, but do save skin and bones. Though motorcycle equipment is notoriously over-priced, it makes up for this in its ability to truly protect you when you fall. My wreck could have been much, much worse had I not been wearing leather, gloves, and heavy duty boots when I went down. My jeans simply did not stand up to the asphalt, and ended up extremely torn up and ripped apart. They offered me far less protection than all of my legitimate gear. My ankles in particular would have been rolled, twisted or even broken without proper boots to keep them safe.
Undoubtedly, though, it was wearing a helmet that accounts for my being able to write this today. Had it not been for my brain bucket, I would likely have been killed, brain damaged, or in serious amounts of pain, given the intense scratching and dents along its surface. Riders have a choice with equipment, and especially with helmets- but riders who crash out are unlikely to value their cheap substitutions as much when they prepare to get back on the cycle. And riders who crash without helmets rarely have the opportunity or desire to ride again.

Get a Group

Whether you ride on the dirt or road, no matter how hard you push yourself or your bike ,and regardless of your skills and abilities, it is always safer to riding in a group. Especially on long rides, or trips that could take you far from civilization and medical aid, having some buddies with out can be the factor that saves your neck in a serious emergency. I learned this personally when I crashed miles from anywhere that could help me with my injuries. Without the help of the the people with me, there was no way I could have escaped my wreck with as few injuries and complications as I did.
So where can one find riders with similar interests and riding abilities to one's self? First and foremost, Craigslist is an excellent source of information on the subject. Guaranteeing you get both timely and local information, Craigslist has become the standard starting point for all things motorcycle. Meet ups, events, competitions, rides, and swap meets are available to interested riders who visit the site. Every city and region is different, but many, including Northern Colorado and Fort Collins, enjoy an active and busy two-wheeled culture online through this tool.
If Craigslist doesn't answer your questions and connect you to your local riding community, there are a few sure-fire ways to find a group that suits your taste. Depending on the crowd you identify with, bars, coffee shops, and dealerships all tend to attract riders. Cruise around Thursday and Friday evenings and keep your eyes open for bikes- they've led me to more than a few fun evenings kicking tires, exploring new routes, and connecting to other enthusiasts in general.

Finding parts, finding help

Up until now, I haven't provided much other than my story. But from here on out, now that my background has been filled in, I'll be adding links and advice from my personal recovery and the quest to fix up the bike. Since I wasn't injured too severely, and the bike didn't take immense damage, I'm also focusing on the third issue that motorcycle crash victims must deal with- confidence. Getting back on the bike after a big wreck can be intimidating and nerve wracking, but with the right frame of mind and some time, those psychological barriers can be overcome.

First this week, some resources for finding parts and the expertise you need to install them yourself. I'll start with what may be the most essential page for any motorcyclist on the web: BikeBandit. In addition to their enormous catalog of aftermarket parts and accessories, BikeBandit also provides OEM parts straight from the manufacturers, and a full set of schematics for every model year of every model motorcycle since the 1970s. Nothing is more helpful than their diagrams and the very useful "zoom lens" feature that lets you quickly view the detail and the big picture of whatever you are working on. Great stuff!

Second, for injured riders who, unlike myself, were involved in a multi-vehicle accident, you MUST contact the AMA. The AMA is a rider advocacy group that sponsors racing and provides legal services to motorcyclists. Given the high number of injuries in motorcycle accidents, and the frequent use of the "invisible motorcycle" excuse, riders may find themselves in need of experienced representation. The AMA is the place to go.

Finally, finding the confidence and composure necessary to ride safely and comfortable can be tough. Many riders find help through professional riding schools, such as Freddie Spencer's. His Performance Riding School is renowned for improving skills, enforcing solid technique principles, and helping riders boost their confidence in their own abilities. Their focus in on the track, but is highly applicable to riding in the city and on the highway. I am enrolling in a spring session myself, and I hope that some time on a very fast machine where no one can give me speeding tickets will get me back on two wheels!