| Author | Message | ||
     Jstfkndi |
Coming home Thursday night and taking a turn I had takeen numerous times on bike and even not speeding. I leaned into the turn like always except this time the bike kept going lower, lower and lower and then low sided. I slid with the bike a short distance and then took to tumbling with the all too familiar sky, ground, sky view and remember at times my bike being in front of me and behind me, but it was all pretty blurry so to speak. After the mayhem subsided, i was thankfully able to get up and look for my shoe that was lost in the wreckage and a driver that was nice enough to call 911 for me kept traffic around the dangerous curve from causing anymore damage to themselves or myself. I was asked if I needed an ambulance and declined due to the fact that I knew nothing was broken (unfortunately not my first rodeo). I did incur some injuries, thankfully not life threatening, but I always try to wear full gear. Oh, boots are a staple purchase! Second time I've lost a shoe flipping around! As a passerby helped me push the bike to the side, as we got in front of the car that was blocking traffic, a truck came flying around the corner and almost slammed the back of the car! Long story short, cops show up and inform me that there are accidents in that turn almost every day and that even as they sit and monitor traffic, cars still fly and almost slam into them! I believe bike is totalled and took a few pics. Passenger pillion broke the frame when it slammed and witnesses say that the bike landed and flipped on top of me, although I don't remember that. As sad as it is, I already know my next model and just have to save some money. I need some stories from folks who have been down a few times because people keep telling me I'm crazy to keep riding and I am a seasoned rider and not completely sure what the hell happened still! That bike had been sure footed on turns much, much sharper and I was not riding it as agressively as I have before. ??? Thanks!      | ||
| Noone1569 |
Oh man that's a bummer. I'm glad to hear you are fine. Sure looks totalled with the frame damage. Same color as mine =(. There's always another bike out there as long as you are able to ride it! | ||
| Swordsman |
Did you ever figure out what caused you to lose traction in the first place? ~SM | ||
| Randomchaos |
I recently went down and totaled out the firebolt I had. I didn't get a chance to slide, mine was all rapid tumbling with the sky ground sky ground views. Went down at 45-50mph on a corner exit. Saw gravel at corner exit, panicked, stood bike up, ran off road lol. My thumb still wont bend all the way, and ankle is still sore, accident happened a little over 2 months ago. Within 2-3 weeks of the accident, I had a new bike  . I would go absolutely crazy if I wasn't on 2 wheels. What kinda injuries did you sustain? | ||
| 1_mike |
As to answering your call for people that have been down...here's one. As to getting back on the horse...that's something only you can work out. I've been hit by cars three times - 1. I was by myself in the #1 lane. The car in the lane next to me was just to my rear of center. That is, his front tire was about at my center. Just before dusk. Well he decided he wanted into my lane... I noticed the glisten from his front bumper change and swerved toward the center divider. My bike had a custom white and light blue paint job. Well...after he was done, it had a NASCAR "doughnut" just ahead of my leg. Banged up my knee a little, tore my pant leg open...BUT..for some reason I didn't go down. This was at about 60mph. **banged up knee, paint needed refinishing. 2. My fault as much as the cars... We were both where we shouldn't have been, going where we shouldn't have been. He just caught my muffler. We both kept on going..! **no personal damage 3. I'll shorten this up from what really happened..! On the freeway, going to work.. Friday morning, somewhat heavy traffic, splitting lanes..a guy decides to change lanes...without looking. Long story short..I flew about 15 yards (over the trunk of one car)... **5 broken ribs, knocked out for about 45 seconds, thrashed jacket (leather) and helmet. Didn't even scratch my gloves. Light scuffs on my Levis. Bike was fixable. 4. Freeway, on the way home from work, mechanical failure. tried to go left, bike went right, I did a somersault and landed on my feet. Didn't get hit by traffic. Got the bike up and left like nothing happened. **found later to have one broken rib, and scuffed jacket. Still driving back and forth to work on my motor cycle, 85+ miles a day, four different freeways, in So. Cal. As I said only you can make the decision to get back on a bike. Good you weren't hurt too bad. Give it a shot. You just might be ok with getting back on a bike. Though, do it yourself... Don't let others screw with your head. Mike (Message edited by 1_mike on October 12, 2009) (Message edited by 1_mike on October 12, 2009) | ||
| Jstfkndi |
As for what caused the slip, i still don't know. I have been by there a few times but because of the frequency of traffic, I am unable to stop and get a good look at the pavement. Could have been that the tires were cold, but still, this was no track day lean angle, so I am lead to believe there may have been oil spots or the like due to the accident activity in that turn. Even my bike leaked some gas after it all. I got some road rash on my right leg and knee and thumped my lower right back really good, but because if good gear and the amount of it, I escaped any really bad damage. I knew after my first accident (t-boned an old lady doing about 50 mph and flew over her car) that I was not done riding! I feel the same now, although I may want a more comfortable bike than the XBR. I have been with out a bike before and I can't stand it! I don't let people screw with my head about it, but I did start to wonder if I wasn't as good a rider as I thought. I have always been very careful and the first accident taught me a huge lesson about the way I was riding, but this one seemed to happen and there just wasn't any reason for it! I've had many a close call and all that I did avoid because I had good reaction time and the experience to know how to maneuver out of it. This just seemed like such a ridiculous way to total a bike, when the evidence just doesn't appear to be there for the cause. I hope I can find on oil spot! | ||
| Fast1075 |
I had a pair of alpinestars...but they were awful hot and sweaty...now I ride in my good ole OSHA approved heavy duty steel toed tall lace up work boots...if those get ripped off my leg, my foot will still be secure inside.... Talk about dumb...I used to ride dragbikes wearing Simpson drivers boots....they were about as protective as a set of suede moccasins. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
but I did start to wonder if I wasn't as good a rider as I thought. Most important lesson anyone of us will ever learn. None of us are as good a rider as we think we are. You're going your fastest the instant before you crash. That's why we are all behind Valentino Rossi. | ||
| Radioelasais |
I totalled my bike last year (a nice vintage yamaha) for some gravel on a turn ... I have been lucky or unlucky I don't know. I was going pretty slow but I lost two teeth and a broke my thumb: I had no gear and I was almost naked as I was coming back from the sea, my helmet was a modular and I flipped up the front visor... that could have saved my mouth from the injury. Or things might have been even worse. The bike feel down from the road in a 2meters slope and flipped a pair of times. Have I been lucky or unlucky? Get your gear on, all the time. Once you bite the dust you learn it the hard way. | ||
| Zane |
Totaled my Blast last December. I was on my way to work when I went down. Going the posted speed (35 mph) through a construction zone, everything was fine until came to a lane shift. Leaned a bit to go through the shift and hit some loose gravel. The situation went downhill from there. Trying to keep it up, I came off the smooth paved area into a rougher pavement area and hit a folding traffic barrier from Bob’s Barricades. I came off high side and the bike went down and slid for a while. So did I before going into a tumble. The bike was totaled, and I got banged up a little. I wasn’t wearing any glove and got lots of road rash on the back of my hands. Also tore the meniscus in my right knee. The jacket mostly protected me from the road rash, just got a patch the size of a 50 cent piece on my right elbow. The ER doctor told me my Shoei saved me from a major head injury. There was a big chuck out of it about where the outside of my right eyebrow is plus lots of scrapes from where I slid across the pavement. Will I ride a motorcycle again? I’m counting the minutes until I can afford one. Just trying to decide if I want to get an XB12XT or bite the bullet and get an Electra Glide Classic. I love the responsiveness of the sports bikes but truth is, I don’t ride hard at all. My riding style seems to point toward a gizzermobile. But I will get another motorcycle. That has never been a question. Biggest regret is that I didn’t get the bent up folding barricade for a trophy. That blinking light would have looked cool in my garage…lol (Message edited by zane on October 12, 2009) | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Had a little get off his past Thurs while practicing for a race. I was at Raod Atlanta, coming out of T-5 accellerating (90-100 mph). I hit a bump coming off the rumble strip out of T-5. This caused a violent tank slapper to occur which I was not able to recover from. The bike eventually highsided and spit me off. Broke the front fairing stay, shifter linkage and right foot peg. Bent the left handle bar. Bruised my left ankle and shaved 2/3rds of my right pinky finger nail off (no broken bones). Trashed helmet number one. Very next day I posted my fastest time at Road Atlanta during HWTSS. Sat during the LWTSB race a rider went down right in front of me. I lowsided trying to avoid him. Broke the shifter peg and bent the left handle bar (again). Jambed my right thumb and bruised my ribs up high (again, nothing broken). Trashed helmet number two. Given the chance, I still plan on racing next year!! | ||
| Ourdee |
I'm guessing it was anti freeze. I looped a Jeep once in my own. Glad to hear your among the living. And yep. I watch Rossi with my mouth open. | ||
| Americanmadexb |
That sucks! i also went down about a month ago from a kid pulling out in front of me. Glad your ok. any chance you can make those pics larger? | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
I had a pair of alpinestars...but they were awful hot and sweaty...now I ride in my good ole OSHA approved heavy duty steel toed tall lace up work boots...if those get ripped off my leg, my foot will still be secure inside.... I have a right foot today because I was wearing my Alpinestars when the SUV turned in front on me. Unless your OSHA approved work boots have features such as reinforced ankle/shin/calf protection, a heel cup, steel shank in the sole (to keep your toes from touching your heel when forcibly bent around the peg), and longitudinal/latitudinal ankle flex control (metatarsal control is highly recommended also)- then maybe you should consider putting up with sweaty, well-protected feet. Alpinstars makes cooler, perforated boots too. Work boots cannot be considered proper riding equipment- make the commitment to safety... you're worth it. | ||
| Jstfkndi |
Lots of good stories! Thanks guys! Americanmadexb, I can't make the pics larger or they won't load up. I can try with the thumbnail maker at home and see if it has a medium between the super large and super small. I think I may retire this jacket. It is still in pretty decent shape and has saved my skin twice! May get a new one and wear this on special occasions. What that means I don't know! Hahahaha! Helmet was actually not too dinged up from what I saw. Some rashing on the top right of the visor and a little behind it. I got road rash on my knees and calve, but jeans are fully intact!? Again, thanks for all the input and gear referrals! Guess I just have to swallow a cup of humility with this one. BTW, has anyone ever bought their bike back from the insurance company after? The frame may be screwed, but I think the motor and pipe and rear wheel are fine! (Message edited by jstfkndi on October 13, 2009) | ||
| Vecchio_lupo |
Thank God I totaled my 09 H-D XR1200, Middle lane of a six lane divided avenue, 30 mph in a drizzle, 90 year old (No sh*t) guy in a 1980 Olds Delta 88 turns left into the middle and right lanes at a 45 degree angle and just stops. I brake, I slide, I modulate and almost (Key word) get around him flat track style. Don't quite pull it off, touch the left corner of bumper and get high sided. Short flight,short skid, bike hard flopped and slid. Fractured right arm (ATGATT) and bike totaled. Took the settlement, purchased a 99 S3T with some smart mods, couldn't be happier. I wish I had considered Buell 20 years ago. My 10 year old S3 is 100lbs less and 10 horses more than the 09 XR.I can't wait to add a newer XB12 in the spring. ROCK ON ERIK | ||
| Swordsman |
"but I did start to wonder if I wasn't as good a rider as I thought. Most important lesson anyone of us will ever learn. None of us are as good a rider as we think we are." Ha, amen to that! "I suck" is pretty much my mantra... keeps me humble! ~SM | ||
| Gunut75 |
+1 SM | ||
| Fahren |
Coulda been from leaked fluids from all those other accidents the cop told you about: antifreeze, diesel fuel, oil, whatever. I've slipped before from a dead standstill: the classic, road-washing rain, busy DC area intersection at rush hour.... right out from under me. Zero speed. Fluids on roads suck. |
