My Crash Last Weekend

[exbellicus]

Well I was up in the Ozarks on my first long distance trip (my 80 GS450L) this past weekend, 33 miles into the pig trail took a spill onto the concrete. I took a turn too wide, rolled into the grass, lost traction, and the bike turned 90 degrees sending me back onto the road. Luckily I was wearing my helmet and full gear (minus riding pants). My wrists and arms are scraped up, good road rash on the knee were my jeans tore, and a nasty scrape on my L hip - didn't go in for stitches, its healing up nicely

Damage report

• 2 turn signals need replacing
• Headlight capsule broken
• 1 exhaust pipe torn up
• Front fender bent and one of the fork brackets that it attaches to broken off
• Speedometer shattered
• Speedo cable broken
• Pride

Here's some pics

I'll have to replace my jacket, gloves, and possibly helmet...I haven't decided yet.

 

[Darkstang]

Glad you are no worse for the wear? What kind of jacket were you wearing?

 

[jbs80106]

Man....

Man....

glad you're otherwise okay. As scary as crash posts and pics can be, they go so far in reinforcing to us all that it can happen any time. Gear can be uncomfortable, gear can be un-cool....but if it spares me road rash I'll take it any day.

Deep breath....you're okay....

 

[Big T]

I'm glad you're basically OK

You definately need a new helmet - that one did it's job

I'd think about a new jacket - one that didn't ride up like that

 

[Guest]

I have a middle console like that you can have for shipping. Also an RPM guage. I may even have a speedo.

 

[DanTheMan]

I've got some "L" fork lowers and a possibly a fender that might work for you. PM me, I'll try to get back with you tomorrow. Looks like your handlebars fared OK, I've got a set of L bars too. And what hurts the worst is the pride, I know.....

 

[exbellicus]

I actually have a spare set of forks, and my fender is most likely fixable. I appreciate the offer a ton Dan.

I also haven't quite figured out what the scoop on my front end is. The upper triple tree may be rotated or bent, I will try to take a straight on picture next time I'm out in the garage.

I was wearing a first gear jacket, I'm 6 5 and was wearing an XL. I think that's about as long as they come. My mistake was putting my arms out in front of me, so my jacket and sleeves came up.

 

[Guest]

Hahahahaha...........

Sorry . Your story brought back a few memories . I can picture it . Arms, legs , bike , all going in different directions . Funniest home video ? No bugger ever has a camera . It's only funny 'cause you didn't get hurt . And for that , I am glad .

It can all go bad pretty quickly , eh . Usually does . Hope it hasn't put you off riding (doesn't sound like it ). I find , you've got to get INTO your riding more than you do driving (cage) .'Cause it's more gooderer when you do it properly , but it's a right bitch when you don't . All part of the deal . A lesson learnt ?

It's fairly amazing on here some times . Straight up , well wishes (except from me - that's just my bent sense of humour though) , and then all the bits you could need , for bugger all . :clap::clap: Good place to be .

Cheers , Simon .

 

[tkent02]

Brake reservoir and mirrors both broke off?
How odd.

 

[exbellicus]

Brake reservoir and mirrors both broke off?
How odd.

Indeed...mirrors were bar ends. I recovered one, the other....who knows.

I forgot to mention about 5 feet further off the shoulder is a 15 foot drop off

 

[sackman]

Glad to here you survived your crash! My brother died of brain injuries in a bike crash back in the 60's cause he didn't wear a helmet. Helmets save lives! Good to see you wear one!!!!

 

[tomo]

Sorry to hear about that and damage to the bike, but glad you are ok and escaped serious injury. But that gravel rash still smarts a bit does`nt it !. Came off my CX500 "Betsy" a while back, my own fault, loose gravel on a tight bend. Ended up on my back in the middle of the road, bike 20 yards away on its side in a hedge, engine still running. I lay there thinking, have I broken any bones, putting off moving in case I had, but then realised where I was and that a car might come around the bend which made me jump up pronto !. Had some nice gravel rash on my left leg and arm, lost the sleeve of my new jacket, but was ok otherwise. Bike had broken brake lever and bent peg plus a few scuffs. Was scary at the time but have a laugh about it now. Anyway, hope you heal up quick and get the bike sorted ok.

 

[gs road racer]

Damage report

• 2 turn signals need replacing
• Headlight capsule broken
• 1 exhaust pipe torn up
• Front fender bent and one of the fork brackets that it attaches to broken off
• Speedometer shattered
• Speedo cable broken
• Pride

I'll have to replace my jacket, gloves, and possibly helmet...I haven't decided yet.

No deciding about helmet you crash it toss it....and the pride well it'll heel slowly... only two kinds of riders those who have and those who will crash.....falling over in the driveway counts eh!

 

[kirkn]

Glad you're OK and seemingly no worse for the wear.

Lotta comments re: getting the bike back together and of wearing the proper gear but I notice not a single comment about NOT doing it again or of LEARNING from it. I mean, the best protection against injury is to not get into the crash in the first place, and I'm not talking about sitting at home on the couch or living a risk-free life.

So, pride be damned (and I'm not trying to be harsh or a wise-guy) but how did it happen? What are you (and all of us) to take away from this? Going too fast? Not paying attention? A decreasing-radius turn that you couldn't make? And, was it a right-hander or a left-hander? "Took a turn too wide" - what does that mean? I mean, I know it means you ran off the road, but I can't learn too much from that. "Lost traction" - front end washed out? rear wheel started a skid? Hard on the brakes? Wet? Dry?

Give us the rundown on the actual crash. If I'm going to learn from this to wear all the gear, all the time, I'd also like to learn how to NOT need to put the gear to the test as well.

 

[mako19]

Sorry about the crash and the bike but atleast you are ok.

About the jacket.

Tourmaster makes tall sizes. I am 6-6 and have wide shoulders and there 3xl-tall fits very well. I have the intake 2 jacket that has two removable liners to adjust to the conditions. I have not "tested" the jacket like you but it seems well made and a good value also.

Good luck with the bike.

 

[exbellicus]

Give us the rundown on the actual crash. If I'm going to learn from this to wear all the gear, all the time, I'd also like to learn how to NOT need to put the gear to the test as well.

In my opinion - there will never be a point where you don't need to put on the gear. It doesn't matter if you are the most fantastic cyclist in the world, there are other people on the road who arent. As well, you never know whats aroound the next corner....gravel, logging truck, tire blowout, ect. If you are the kind of person that won't wear gear til you have no face, than I'm wasting my time


Here is the turn I went down on, zoom down to road view to see it.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=35.643068,-93.838225&geocode=FYz6HAIdWNZt-g%3B&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=18&dirflg=h&sll=35.642528,-93.837592&sspn=0.003265,0.006968&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=18

If I had pushed my counter-steer all the way through the turn, I would not have went down. Beginner's mistake.

My jacket is where I landed, this is after we pulled the bike up.

 

[kirkn]

No, no, no, you misunderstand me. I am an ATGATT preacher already! But, I want to learn more from your crash than JUST to be sure to wear my gear, which is what a lot of the comments seemed to be limited to.

I want to learn from your crash to be a better RIDER. Not so that I don't have to wear the gear (because I always will, no matter how 'good' I may think I am), but so that I don't make the same driver error, or whatever...

And, "beginner's mistake" - it still seems like you're trying to downplay it as no big deal.

So, I'm still not clear here - which way were you going? Right-hander or left-hander? Off the road to the inside or to the outside of the turn? So, you did something that sent you off the road and you lost traction. Front wheel lose traction? Rear wheel skid? Just generally went down from bumping along the shoulder at 35 mph?

Again, I'm not trying to be a wise-guy, and I'm probably being a little dense here from your pictures and all. Sorry 'bout that.


*EDIT* Ah, I think I see. I clicked on your link and got a view of the S-turn. Looks like you were making a left-hander and went wide and ran off the road, lost it, and wound up on the inside of the following right-hander? Looks like a little more to the right, and you'd have been down in a little gully there. Whew! Yeah, push the bar a little harder, lean a little harder, and maybe you wouldn't have gone off in the first place. Of course, once you're doin' your dirt-tracker imitation, all bets are off...

 

[cowboyup3371]

So I'm lost. If I understand your line correctly, did you start to cut back to the inside too soon? Please help teach me as well since I'll start riding here in the next month or so and don't want to screw it up that fast. I have a real nasty tight s-curve to go through entering the AF base and although it will be at slow speeds anyway, it's already stop and go traffic when I run through the gate. I'd like to know what kind of "beginner's mistake" you made so I know not to do it as well.

Thanks and I'm sorry you got hurt. Hope all heals fast