| Author | Message | ||
     Chingo3000 |
They say it happens to everyone right? Well, it finally happened... Laid the bike down today about 35 miles away from the house. Approaching a 4 lane stop light (L turn only, R turn only and two straights). 1 car stopped in the R straight and I'm coming up behind him. Light changes green so I signaled, turned my head to look and proceed to change lanes. Nobody there (100% positive). I notice a red Focus in the L turn lane though. Lo and behold, we both apparently decided to change lanes at the same time. My left handle bar catches his mirror and him braking hard, ripping my handle bars hard left, front tire locked up putting me down. I left low sided at approx 5 - 10 mph. Luckily I didn't get hurt, well I got a bruise on my right leg nothing serious. Easily picked back up and pushed off to the gas station parking lot. After ensuring a concerned motorist that also stopped to check on me, I proceed to assess the damage. Broke right mirror off (not exactly sure how that happened?) left front signal housing cracked and bulb blown, bent clutch handle and worse part the shifter broke. Good thing it's a beautiful naked bike, I'd hate to have to replace fairings! Was able to bend the clutch handle back enough to use, no biggie. Lucky also only the toe tab is all that broke off the shifter. Still able to shift, woo-hoo I'm not stranded!!! I then wait for 20 minutes to see if the Focus comes back. Definately not... No police either. Not sure who would have been at fault so lucky again, no ticket, liscense points, or insurance involvement. Haven't priced the damage yet but surely way less than a $500 deductible. Good thing i wear all my proper gear. Accidents happen, gear up all the time! Already ordered shifter from americansportbike and the super glue is setting for the mirror and signal... hopefully it'll hold, funds are short, plus it adds character to her... battle scars. Will wait for the shifter before I ride again. I've heard nothing but good things on the badweb about americansportbike, so hopefully i'll be out there again within a week... | ||
| Sloppy |
Thanks for sharing the story and it is so important to invest in the right riding gear. I've been down a few times in my 20 years of riding experience and each time I never had a visit to the hospital because I invested the $700 in good quality gear and use it religiously. If you think riding gear is too expensive or not cool, just think what a trip to the hospital would feel like... | ||
| Iamarchangel |
I had about $1000 on and still ended up in emerg for an evening. You are correct though to wear all the gear. Nobody was pulling gravel out of me. No skin grafts. | ||
| Luxor |
Glad your not hurt. AGATT brother. Best of all you chances of going down again are statistically lower.  | ||
| Iman501 |
your damage is basically the same i had on my bike when i went down, i had a trashed blinker broken shifter lever and linkage snapped my clutch lever, and some scratches on my plastics, overall i think i spent like 120 at the harley stealership replaceing it all | ||
| 1_mike |
Ching - Your use of the word of "finally" is very odd...!? Mike | ||
| Obiewan |
Odd???? Not odd at all, he is spot on. If you own a bike, most people will tell you of a story, or they will tell you that it's just a matter of time. I've been riding since 1969, I don't count the wrecks on the dirt track, but the road wrecks are numbers. LOL. They hurt worse. | ||
| Froggy |
What is odd about finally? Ft_bstrd took a life insurance policy out on me (with him as the benefactor) due to my record. | ||
| Luxor |
Yep, not IF but WHEN. | ||
| J_copeland |
So,since I haven't been down in 30 years of street riding.I should expect to go down sometime.Oh,and it's good to hear your ok. | ||
| Obiewan |
No, J_copeland, it won't happen to you. That's impossible...... I will never happen, to you...... Don't worry about it.  | ||
| J_copeland |
LOL....Thank you for that !!! | ||
| Obiewan |
Don't take that wrong. I didn't mean it that way. Just because you haven't been down for 30 years, doesn't mean it can't happen. Be careful and keep riding safe! | ||
| J_copeland |
Yeah,I agree.I've had one close call years ago,it can happen to anyone at anytime. | ||
| Obiewan |
Cars just don't see the bikers. I hit a dog, was years ago, went down hard. Less than a half mile from the house. Made me think... | ||
| 1_mike |
I say "odd"...because I've got a little over 600,000 street miles since the summer of 85 on the So. Cal. freeways, city streets and various canyons in the area and have been down...twice. That includes a coupla track days at Willow Springs Raceway. So...yeah....at only 4,000 miles...the word "finally" IS odd...! Mike P.s. - most all of the above miles have been recorded (kept track of) per bike. I say most, because I currently have three bikes running and registered. (Message edited by 1_mike on September 13, 2010) | ||
| Reepicheep |
It would be "finally" if they were dirt bike miles.  When I take the KDX out, if I haven't fallen over a couple of times before lunch, then I'm just not trying (or I am chasing a kid around on an XR-50.. ) |
