| Author | Message | ||
     Db4570 |
Well, it happened. I lost control of my 2000 M2 and laid it down. I was pulling away from a red light, turning right at an intersection, when the rear tire started sliding to the outside of the turn. I thought for a moment that I had recovered, but at this point the front was weaving and I lost control. The last thing I remember was thinking, "Oh cr@p! I'm going down." Next thing I remember was I was picking up the bike and checking it for damage. A guy in a pickup had pulled up and was asking what he could do to help. (At the same time, some cool cat on a Harley was riding by, making a point to not help someone on a "sport bike", too ignorant to notice that it had a friggin' Harley engine!) The bike was in pretty good shape. Broken RH mirror, RH turn signal, squished K&N, broken rear brake lever, a scrape on the header, and a tiny scuff on the gas tank. At first it wouldn't start, until I noticed the kill switch was off. Then it started up and ran fine. I was in a little pain, but not too bad, so I finished my errand and then rode home. But it was a delayed-reaction pain thing. By the time I got home my back was completely locked up, shoulder damaged so I couldn't use my right arm, ribs bruised, neck sore. Most of this is healing up except my back, which is still a mess. I could trace some of my impact by looking at my helmet and leather: big skid mark on the right side of the helmet (glad I was wearing a full-face), scuff on the shoulder of my leather jacket, scuff on the knuckles of my glove. I am so glad I was wearing all this stuff. I was probably only going 10-15 mph, but I still got battered up pretty good. If I hadn't been wearing this basic safety gear, I would have been a real mess. I am trying to re-create in my head what happened, and think I have a general understanding of it. I have had a couple previous incidents that were similar. A couple times turning right at an intersection the back end started to slide out a bit. Another time, going faster on a longer right curve, the back end started to slide, and I almost lost it. This was within a few miles of getting new tires, so I chaulked it up to the residual mold lube on the tire. I also thought that I was getting on the gas too heavy in a turn, and was not used to the big low-end torque after riding Japanese bikes until I got this bike last fall. So I thought in this case I had just gassed it to much on a tight turn in first gear, and spun the tire, breaking it loose. I went back the next day and looked for marks, and just about where I would have been there was a small patch of loose gravel with a Buell-rear-tire size skid mark through it. I usually am alert for bad road conditions, but perhaps I missed this because it was dusk and I was at a busy intersection keeping my eye on traffic. For general safety and family reasons, I had been thinking hard about the inherent risk of motorcycling, especially on something as tempting as a Buell. I think this pushed my over the line, and I am going to replace the broken pieces and sell the bike. This makes me very sad. I've had some cool bikes over the years, but I really love this bike. I am glad I had this accident, because I am so beat up after this tiny little wipe-out that it illustrates what it could have been had it happened when I was riding aggressively. I'm going to miss this forum, and especially my Buell... David | ||
| Preybird1 |
Wow is all i can say!! Don't let that get you down. If you ride a motorcycle be ready to go down. I have crashed on and off road to many times and i won't stop doing it because i really love motorcycles. I hit a cat one summer, It ran out between 2 parked cars and directly into my front wheel of my haonda 250xl at like 20 mph and it got jammed into the spokes and then into the forks and i went right down. I was wearing a helmet, tanktop, shorts, closed toe sandals and some thin mechanics like gloves. My right hand got pinned under the handle bar and the bike dragged me on my knees for like 15 feet. I have had road rash before but this was terrible rash. I pulled the cat guts and stuff out of the front wheel and went home like 6 blocks and cleaned the rash my self. Then when the hospital was open for normal hours i went in for some more damage control and a lovely hour of icy cold burning flesh scrubbing. I still wont quit riding. i fear the day i cannot ride one any longer  | ||
| Sanders |
I enjoy motorcycling, but no motorcycle is worth your children growing up fatherless. It has been a year since I have ridden. I still have 2 motorcycles, my S3 and an old 84 HD FLHT. I have found I enjoy working on bikes more than riding. Whatever happens, good luck. | ||
| Kalali |
Glad you're relatively OK. Could have been much worse. I fully understand your feelings. Follow your intuition. I must confess as much as I love riding my bike, my heartbeat goes through the roof every single time I get on the bike. Fortunately I relax as soon as the bike gets on the road.... Whatever you decide we wish you all the best. | ||
| Buell_bert |
I would give yourself a while to cool down. I have dumped a few times over the years but that was was when I was a lot younger. A guy I know had his son get in a minor snowmobile accident and He sold the whole works (3-4 sleds) as a jerk knee solution. It was way less than a year and he regretted that decision. He had a vintage sled He had restored and even sold that. He wishes that a cooler head had prevailed. My Grandson (then 7) whacked a car and broke his leg but we just had to get him another bicycle. Well do what you must. Be it a car, boat, cycle, 4 wheeler, bicycle or just out for a walk, accidents (shit) happens. Good luck. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Take your time and make the call that seems best to you. Those of us that have been riding a long time won't judge anyone who feels it's time to stop. You can manage a lot of the risk, but not all of it, and it's a lot of work to stay on top of it all. When it stops being fun, you should stop doing it. | ||
| Buellistic |
It is like flying an airplane, IF YOU WALK AWAY, IT WAS A GOOD LANDING !!! "AND" there are people that should never get on a motorcycle as there are those that should never get in a car !!! Riding a motorcycle is like being a FIGHTER PILOT !!! | ||
| Oldog |
When it stops being fun, you should stop doing it. What Reep said, Glad you are not seriously injured, I would take my time with this...... good luck, and BTW you are always welcome here } | ||
| Rich |
It isn't easy, getting back on after a crash. Good luck, whatever you decide. | ||
| Rex |
I had a slow crash several years ago. Slow crash, but it did a lot of damage. Broken ankle, broken ribs, broken collar bone, collapsed lung, etc. In the Hospital in Reno for 8 days. Then 7 more days at home in Walnut Creek for the fluid build up in the lung cavity after the accident, and then three operations on my collar bone. This happened on a Blue Knight ride. I had to get back on the bike and do the ride the next year. That was quite the feat, doing the same ride I went down on. I had to do it to get past that accident part of my life. Made all of the difference in the world. Maybe, when you start feeling better, you can drive that same corner and make it thru without an accident. Makes a difference. | ||
| Scntekir |
You will grow to regret it. | ||
| Bgbrd |
A few years ago a friend of mine was in an accident when a garbage truck pulled across his lane and he hit it. Bike was totaled and his helmet saved his head but his leg was crushed. He spent a year in a wheelchair waiting to see if his bones would knit up thinking at that time he wouldn't ride again. He eventually lost his leg but shortly after that healed he got himself a sidecar rig and is still riding. After an accident it takes some time to make a decision about continuing to ride. Don't sell give it some time. | ||
| S1owner |
My advise is to follow your heart and do what you need to do. A few yrs back I had a snowmobile accident that some barb wire cut my googles off and tore my helmet off. I laid there for a long time not hurt mind you just contemplating why I was still alive. My sons were the first thought I had and I have not been on one since and it was all I used to care about. Bikes will always be there you and your kids will not. Good luck and glad you are OK. | ||
| Jhuppdog |
David, Just focus on healing at the moment. Once you have healed then make your decision. We can give you advice all day long but only you can decide what is best for you. | ||
| M2nc |
I'm glad you will be alright. I have a family and I do think about them every time a cager comes too close to me. I do not try to talk anyone into riding. People have to decide if they want to take the risk or not. For me, I love riding so I accept the risk. You need to heel up and then decide what you want to do. There is not wrong or right answer here, just what you are willing to accept to ride. | ||
| Serialk |
I wouldn't jump to conclusions of quitting riding. like seriously. Its saved me thousands of dollars on fuel and insurance! It also gives me an emotional boner... If not buell get a 250, a scooter, a blast? something that wont get you into trouble! These tubers are not beginner bikes and no offense, but to discover the inherent risk of motorcycling while on a buell...I think you need to address that issue way before riding a Tuber. Heal up man, learn from your mistakes and I hope you get back in the saddle. But seriously now about your injury. Stretch everyday twice a day. your ligaments and muscles are pissed off at you. hot showers,baths, etc. don't do any strainious lifting or hard activities for a while. but at the same time don't be sedentary. you will seize up. Most importantly. drink plenty of water.  | ||
| Dave_02_1200 |
All of the advice above is good advice - for the person who is offering it. Peer pressure, however subtle and however well meant, can be a dangerous thing. Take your time making your decision and then be comfortable knowing that you followed your own wisdom. I still ride but only when and where I am comfortable doing so. | ||
| Db4570 |
Thanks for all the helpful and kind words. I really appreciate the support. I agree that I should not make an emotional decision and quit biking because of one bad experience. Unfortunately, the opposite is the case here. The rational decision is to never ride again. The emotional decision is to keep riding because it satisfies an emotional need. I'm not rushing into anything. Mostly because my injured back is preventing me from even moving or working on the bike. Part of the reason I posted this here is because I'm still trying to figure out what the heck happened. Why did the rear end slide out? I think I would have noticed gravel in the intersection. Why has it slid out a few times in the past, usually at slow speed in 1st or 2nd gear, always when turning right? I've never had a bike that I had to be careful about how much gas to give it in a turn because it might spin the rear wheel. Is that a common concern with Buells? I've had hot bikes before, but nothing with this kind of low-end torque. Sanders above sums up where I am right now: "I enjoy motorcycling, but no motorcycle is worth your children growing up fatherless." Thanks again to everyone for your help, and I am interested in ideas on why this happened. David | ||
| Buellish |
David,you may not have been looking at the road surface carefully enough to see the gravel.There are generally a lot of different things to observe at an intersection.If you are like me,in addition to trying to keep my mind in the game of riding the bike,I constantly have a song running in my head or am thinking of the dozens of things that make up my life.You really have to be hyper alert when riding to avoid road and traffic dangers.It's an acquired skill you develop over time that's as important as the skills you use to control the bike. I have gone down on gravel on familiar roads and I used to consider myself a fairly observant rider.It proved to be a wake up call for me. I don't think you are spinning the rear wheel unless you have a monster motor in your M2.I'm far from an expert but I have ridden most of the different models that Buell produced after '95 and have also ridden a few different "Hot Rodded" Buells with big HP and torque numbers.In my experience stock and near stock Buells don't break the rear loose under normal throttle openings.Now if you are grabbing a big handful of throttle and dumping the clutch then yea,it will break the tire loose in a big way,but unless I'm missing something,that doesn't sound like what you were doing. I have had the transmission vent line one of my Buells spew oil on the rear of the bike wetting the rear tire and causing it to slip,but you didn't mention that as a possible issue. As far as breaking in new tires,mold release isn't,to my knowledge used anymore on motorcycle tires.Most installers still recommend being careful for the first 100 miles,and that's probably good advise. | ||
| Dreadnaught1 |
Get rid of the Dunlop tires, go to Pirelli Scorpion Syncs. You did not mention it but I bet they were Dun-Wops.. Horrible grip.. In my opinion Horrible tires. Cheap tires, that is why they put them on from the factory on so many bikes.. | ||
| Babired |
sounds like new tires with the wax on them, surface debris, and whack on the throttle in a curve led to your crash. If I took your crash into one of my classes and used it as a crash scenario thats what the students would report back to me. Be careful! Story for you I got a XB9SX in 2006 it was a 2005 I got it for $6,000 off the showroom floor and had the race kit installed. OMG that bike was so much fun, I'm doing things on it that I'm not supposed to! I'm a friken motorcycle instructor! That bike ran and I had to get rid of it. Very close to getting traffic tickets with it. So it went to a friend and I bought the ULY. | ||
| Preybird1 |
This is off another forum. Just read it and thought of this thread. Zx6jay Newbie Joined: Jun 2012 From: Tennessee Posts: 6 Anniversary Seven years ago today is when I went down. I'm not celebrating my crash just the fact I survived. I was leaving work and decided to take this road I always enjoy do to the steep incline an double apex curves, as I'm coming out of a curve doing 65ish a big dog ran out in front of me. With no where to go I hit the dog. Bike was a total loss, I had to have my L4 ,L5 fused,dislocated hip,alot of road rash,bruised sturnem, and a severe head ache. Nowadays I'm 29 yrs old about 95% recovered " back still gives me trouble". But I'm here an I'm still riding. Just wanted to share my story with you guys. Sent from my iPhone using MO Free Last edited by Zx6jay; 07-03-2012 at 04:32 PM. Zx6jay is offline Reply With Quote | ||
| Paint_shaker |
db4570, Sounds like this crash resulted from the gravel in the road. The other tire slipping issues you mention could be a result of any number of problems; new tires, worn tires, improper PSI, road debris, oil on the tire; timing of clutch feed/throttle opeing, etc. Only you can make the decision to ride again. Some people can crash hard and get back on the bike as soon as they are able. Some get back on, but never feel quite the same about riding. Some people will simply walk away (no shame in that). Some people were never meant to be on a motorcycle in the first place (again, no shame in that). Preybird, Wonder which brake he hit and if he was leaned over when he did it. I'd venture to say a LARGE population of the motorcycle world (particularly the harley crowd) is clueless about front brake usage. | ||
| Jolly |
I dumped a beautiful vf1000r and did more damage to the bike than the bike could have been purchased for brand new...beat myself up pretty badly as well. Broke all 5 meta tarcels in my left foot, three of them completely in half and seperated them. 4 steel pins later and quite some time in a cast I was "recovered" and my buddy needed his fzr1000 (pay attention to this part and see if you can spot the idiot) taken to the shop for new tires...since it had finally finished raining I figured I would do him the favor while he was at work and I was still recovering....pulled out of the apartment and tried to stand it up on one wheel....yes the same wheel that needed a new tire, and on the wet pavement...it got sideways on one wheel, barely got it under control and though I delivered the bike to the shop he had to pick it back up himself...gave riding up on the street right then and there for about 8 or 9 years till I finally grew up. foot still hurts, a lot and often, and that was 20 some years ago, pride still hurts from dumping that beautiful vf1000r, and I still pay attention to that lesson I learned at 20something....anyway, slowly got back into riding on the street and have a very nice collection now that I respect and enjoy. It took some time but I am glad I got back into it. over 40 now and a LOT smarter! | ||
| Jeff73mach1 |
I've been lucky to have avoided serious injury in the last twenty five years of riding. I got pretty beat up riding dirt bikes , wrenching knees and getting scrapped up and even cracking a few ribs. As a dad, I understand the need to be around for your kids. It is a balancing act for me. I don't ride as much as some folks do, but I still ride. Often it may just be a 30-35 minute cruise in the evening after the weather has cooled down and the traffic has eased up. I don't push hard very often and I don't ride with other riders that push me to go beyond my comfort zone. I've dragged my knee, rode my wheelies, done my stoppies all back when I was younger, now I might have the front wheel skimming the ground every once in a great while, but it is a rarity. If you choose to stop riding you have nothing from me but respect for a father giving up something for his kids. If you choose to keep riding you can change your style and make your rides safer. Good luck and I hope you heal up well and quickly. | ||
| Steveford |
Road debris will do it as will wet leaves, wet manhole covers, oil in the road or real new or real old tires. Any of that can throw you on your head in a heartbeat. Snow and ice, well, you've got to be really smooth but it can be done. I always hated cars. I got my license back in 1977 and have gone down a few times in around 410,000 miles of riding. It's a dangerous sport and is getting worse every year. Even so, I hope to be riding when I'm in my 90s. It sounds like you've got a tough decision to make but I'm sure it will be the right one for you. (Message edited by SteveFord on July 15, 2012) (Message edited by SteveFord on July 15, 2012) | ||
| Kublak |
Best wishes no matter what you decide Db4570, health and family are #1. I've been riding 13 years, Buells since '08, and am faced with a new twist on my mind. I have 16 and 13 year old daughters that enjoy riding my Uly with me, and both want to learn to ride. I worry, but accept it, when I ride alone. I'm terrified to have my girls out on the road, but all I can do is insist they take the PA state run safety school, and learn appropriately. I won't be able to stop them once they grow up. Hope your back heals and good luck no matter what you decide. |
