They say it's not IF you'll lay your bike down...

nadams

... but WHEN.

Well, folks, today was my day. One things for sure, I'm glad I got that first time out of the way! Now I can ride the rest of my life without doing it again.

A little bit of a lot of the story:

Say what you will about riding motorcycles, just don't say it here... I know it's not as safe as hopping in the truck. It's a risk I choose to take, because I love riding. This is not the time or place to debate it's impact on healthcare or any other BS.

Today, my love of riding came back to bite me. Totally my fault, but I swung into some empty parking spaces to go around a garbage truck that had waved me on. However, this time of year, empty parking spaces are full of gravel. And, unlike most roads in the area, this one had recently been repaved, so the blacktop was nice and smooth. Two very bad things.

Just got over into the parking spot and the bike slid out. As soon as the back started to go, the front followed. Bike was fine... might have bent the rear brake pedal a little, but that's happened before (don't ask).

I hefted it up (thank God for 400cc bikes!), gave it a once-over (didn't even give myself a once-over), made sure it wasn't leaking any vital fluids (again, didn't give myself that courtesy), got back on and motored on down the road to work. Wanted to leave before anyone other than the garbage truck guys witnessed my folly.

As I was finishing my ride to work, things started to hurt. First, my wrist stung whenever I tried to twist the throttle or extend my fingers to the brake.... hmm, not good. Then I started feeling a warm stinging in my knee that I new was a patch of rash. I didn't look at any of it until I got the bike to work, shut it off, and checked it over again. Then I took stock of my injuries.

The wrist was the smallest bit of rash, but the worst looking thanks to the gravel that was still hanging on. I picked out a few big pieces and moved on to my knee.... where I found a baseball-sized patch of rash at the top of my shin (right below the kneecap), and a smaller patch above, kind of on the front of my knee. My khakis (business casual workwear) had not torn there, so these were just rash, no dirt or stones hanging out.

The pants tore on the side, where I'm guessing the brake pedal caught them on its way by. I had no injuries to my arms at all, including elbows and shoulders, even though I did run one across the ground. The armored jacket did its job, and came out without a scratch. I checked the armor and it's fine, too. Also looked over the helmet and see no scratches, plus I don't remember it hitting the ground.

Honestly, it was a very low speed crash. Once on my side, I stopped almost immediately (I looked at the marks as I drove by, safely in my cage (truck), later). It would've been way worse if I'd been at speed. The way my glove tore almost immediately (it was in the stretchy cuff of the glove, so there's not much there), I'm sure I would've taken it right to the bone before I stopped if I had been doing 30 or 40.

I don't think the leg injuries would've been prevented regardless of the situation. Pants were still intact, so even proper riding pants wouldn't have helped the brush burn in this situation.

Anyway, long winded, I know... but that's my story for today. I doubt I'll forget it any time soon...

dkg999

Glad you are OK. The protective gear works. They always make fun of me for wearing Joe Rocket and TourMaster gear while riding a Harley, but I've crashed hard before and they haven't.

There are two types of motorcycle riders, those that have crashed, and those that are waiting to crash.

There are old riders and there are bold riders, but there are no old and bold riders.

exalted512

I've been down twice. Once at about 25, one at about 10. Barely hurt either time. Had I been wearing gloves the first time, I would have had pretty much nothing wrong...the gloves were on order as it was when I was just starting out...stupid move now that I look at it...but "i was only doing a quick errand"...

Both times I was way more concerned with the bike than I was me...i remember sliding down the road thinking "damn, my bike!" lol.

Now that I got those over, I got a new one...hopefully no more of those!

DKG, props to you for wearing gear on a harley. Seems like most of the crowd thinks that chaps and a vest are good enough for riding gear and us 'crotch rocket riders' are the crazy ones....fact of the matter is, i can swerve, accelerate, and brake better than any cruiser out there...and im the crazy one. I'm the organ donor and theyre the ones wearing a bandanna instead of a helmet (sorry for the rant, pet peeve of mine).
-Cody

BTW, my boss witnessed a semi-bad motorcycle wreck where a guy was clipped riding down the street from an idiot coming out of a parking lot. Parts of the kids bone were showing on his elbow but my boss said he kept asking if his bike was ok...lol.

dkg999

Cody - I've had all kinds of bikes including the first Honda VFR's and Ducati sport bikes, as we now call them. I wrapped the chain up in the rear wheel on a 1975 Kawasaki 900 just as the needle crossed 130 mph coming out of a corner, walked away because I was in full leathers and a helmet. Didn't walk very far, but walked away none the less. My pet peeve is very close to yours ....... HD and other cruiser riders that think a t-shirt, jeans, and sandals are OK riding gear.

Demiurge

Sorry for the threadjack. Glad you came out OK here!

dkg999 wrote: »

Glad you are OK. The protective gear works. They always make fun of me for wearing Joe Rocket and TourMaster gear while riding a Harley, but I've crashed hard before and they haven't.

There are two types of motorcycle riders, those that have crashed, and those that are waiting to crash.

There are old riders and there are bold riders, but there are no old and bold riders.

My uncle hit two deer at one time on his Harley several years ago without a helmet and lived to tell the tale. He's in his 60s now and still doesn't ride with a helmet. Old and Bold, I guess.

Folks can and will call him stupid, but he doesn't care and has his reasons for ridin' free. I think he should have that right, just as we should be able to drive a car without a seatbelt if we so choose.

I'm not saying we should take a bunch of unnecessary risks, but the inescapable truth is that we're all going to die at some point. Helmets are still controversial in the biker community for more reasons than just personal freedom.

(I wear one)

BuckeyeTim

Glad to hear you are ok!

Although, I disagree with the thinking that it is inevitable that everyone will lay down their bike at some point.

I am also one of those that does not wear a helmet and only wears a tank-top and shorts when nice enough. Been doing it that way for over 25 yrs. On occasion I will wear a helmet at night, but only because of the bugs in the face.

nadams

going to the hospital this morning. rash on my wrist hurts like hell, can't do anything with my right hand (pity!). Hope it's not infected... can't risk it, so I'm getting it looked at.

Fireman32

I hope everything is ok. Hopefully you didnt break anything.

superjunior

glad your ok. I gave up on street bikes before I paid "my dues". now I just take my chances off road

nikolas812

Glad your OK

Gear up!;)




Nik

bobman1235

I've only wiped out once (so far) - an old woman blatantly blew a red light ("I thought it had turned green") as I was coming into an intersection, and I locked up the brakes and just nicked the back of her car. Pure adrenaline helped me get the bike upright and chase her down, as she had NO IDEA she had just a) blown a red light and b) almost killed someone. I felt bad screaming at her (she was probably 75 years old and very apologetic) but I can only imagine the wake of carnage she left behind her everywhere she went. Probably roads filled with corpses from that daft ****.


Worst accident I ever saw I was on my bike on the highway and two squids on crotch rockets blew by me like I was standing still. We were coming up on the entrance to the "new" tunnel on the Expressway in Boston, and it was a sunny day, so you really couldn't see into the tunnel at all (bright outside + dark inside = bad). So while there was no traffic outside the tunnel, at the entrance there was pretty much stopped traffic, and one of the guys on a crotch rocket realized this too late. I was maybe fifty yards behind him when I saw him jam his brakes, endo, and face plant right into and through the back windshield of an SUV. I'd be shocked if he survived.

Sherardp

I've gone down hard twice, the first time totaling a Yammie R1 I just bought two weeks prior. Glad your well and most importantly alive bro. The road rash is a pain. My second accident I was only wearing a long sleeve tshirt on my R1. I hi-sided and ended up with road rash all over my back bro, now that's the worst. The arms were bad enough but the back was the worst I ever felt. Most important thing is if you choose to ride again, don't let it make you afraid bro. Get out there and do it. In a time frame of 4 yrs I've had 6 bikes cause I'm seriously addicted to the power of a crotch rocket.

Rest easy and come back stronger bro.

cnh

Noah,

It's not even 'spring' out where you live and you're riding your bike ALREADY! Good to hear you made it out OK. But I'd have some of those injuries x-rayed just in case. Frankly I never pictured you as a 'bike' guy (a Wild Hog)?

Best wishes for a quick recovery!

cnh

HB27

Glad you've survived so far. "IF you don't limp...you're a wimp".
I've been down twice hard. Helmet saved my bacon on both occasions. Once it was part of the reason I went down. It's a wash with me on helmets and depends on where and when I ride that I'll wear one.
I DO ALWAYS wear boots, chaps, and good leather. I've got enough grit and gravel AND scars.
And I do limp. I ride a HD and built it to run with the crotch rockets. I'll be 61 this coming July.
Bold??? I don't think so. I'm wiser from experience but I still love to ride hard when the situation calls for it. LOL!
Harry

billbillw

I'm pretty lucky. I've been riding since about 1990 and so far, have not laid a motorcycle down. I more than make up for it with plenty of bicycle crashes (usually trying to click out of my clipless pedals).

That's one reason why I've been contemplating a 'retirement' from riding street bikes. Quit while you are ahead sorta.

Anyway, glad to hear you were not seriously hurt, but I would not ride around thinking that this won't happen to you again. It could happen again next week, or maybe not for 5 years.

I think the only reason I've been lucky is the fact that I've not ridden that many miles in all these years. I went from 96-08 without riding at all, then probably only put 1000 miles on since 08, then sold my bike last fall.

The fact is, the more you ride, the sooner (and more often) that the statistics will catch up to you.

bobman1235

billbillw wrote: »

I more than make up for it with plenty of bicycle crashes (usually trying to click out of my clipless pedals).

Something that will NEVER cease to make me laugh is watching someone unable to unclip their clipless pedals and falling over from a standstill. I've done it enough times I feel I've earned the right to laugh

billbillw

bobman1235 wrote: »

Something that will NEVER cease to make me laugh is watching someone unable to unclip their clipless pedals and falling over from a standstill. I've done it enough times I feel I've earned the right to laugh

I just did it about 3 weeks ago and the scab on my knee finally fell off yesterday! My fault totally. I put some new (used) SPD pedals on my Miyata road bike and didn't take the time to adjust the tension. Went for a quick ride and when I came to a stop, I had one foot out, but couldn't get the other to come loose. My balance just tipped the wrong way and down I went. My wife and both kids watching. Somehow, I managed to keep from cursing.

ViperZ

Glad you're ok. I went on my first ride ever yesterday (riding around the neighbourhood... for 2 hours...) and it was tons of fun.

In Ontario you must wear helmet, and I am glad that rule is in place. To top it all, being new to biking, I got the jacket, gloves and boots. :cool:

billbillw

ViperZ wrote: »

Glad you're ok. I went on my first ride ever yesterday (riding around the neighbourhood... for 2 hours...) and it was tons of fun.

In Ontario you must wear helmet, and I am glad that rule is in place. To top it all, being new to biking, I got the jacket, gloves and boots. :cool:

I'd strongly recommend getting some good riding pants too! Something with knee armor and hip pads, plus kevlar or something to keep you from getting road rash.

steveinaz

Been there and done that. Forgot the stand, before I knew it, my center of gravity was broke--down she went.

I was so pissed at myself, I left in laying there for a couple days. That was many years ago, and it's never happened again (nor will it).

nadams

The rash on my wrist is definately infected. Haven't gotten to get it checked out yet, but have an appt at 3 today with my dr. Last night, started to notice red streaks running down my arm away from the injury and said "okay, it's time to go to the doctor now"

Hillbilly61

I went down at 30 mph once about 30 years ago. Pants and jacket ruined, but they did their job by leaving me with a little road rash abrasion. I wasn't wearing a full face helmet (not available then) and sport a 3 inch long scar on the bottom side of my chin as a result. 'still remember the full body impact onto the road at that speed. It HURT!

exalted512

I havent forgot the kick stand before, knock on wood, but I have let go of the clutch when i thought it was in neutral. Bike lurched forward and burnt the crap out of me on the exhaust.
-Cody

AudioGenics

glad you're OK....
maybe there was a "Bike" component made by Toyota...:eek:

bobman1235

exalted512 wrote: »

I havent forgot the kick stand before, knock on wood, but I have let go of the clutch when i thought it was in neutral. Bike lurched forward and burnt the crap out of me on the exhaust.
-Cody

Hate when that happens. I also used to have an old bike that wasn't smart enough to shut off if you put it in gear with the kickstand down. That's disorienting.

nadams

jvc wrote: »

glad you're OK....
maybe there was a "Bike" component made by Toyota...:eek:

Nope, it shut off when I let go of the throttle