| Author | Message | ||
     Firebolt1203 |
I wrecked my red XB12R about 2 weeks ago, just thought I'd come here to vent a bit because I think its totaled. It also put me in the hospital for a week. I broke my femur, shattered my knee cap, and broke my ankle. I'm not sure if I'll get another bike, I'm just here looking for some words of encouragement to help me make a decision. | ||
| Hogs |
•••• Firebolt1203 Sorry to hear that Pal....What kind of words you mean,... like riding a horse and if ya fall off get back on.:-)) man sorry to hear about that again , Could have always been WORSE though.. RIGHT..! | ||
| Imonabuss |
OK, here's a long-winded answer. First, you'll have to make the decision whether to ride again or not. Motorcycling is definitely more risky than driving a car, and I'll bet most here have had some injuries, some worse than yours, many less. I've personally had a lot, but I still ride. But I also don't think less of people who choose not to. The good news is that I have had a lot less as I became more experienced. You definitely have to evaluate what you did and learn from it. You MUST ride with respect for your situation, and with distrust of everything not under your control...other vehicles, birds, potholes, sand on the road. You also must always ride with concentration and always with spare time and distance around you. When I tell people this, some say that it sounds like no fun, that they want to relax and sight-see when they ride. I can't imagine relaxing under those conditions! For me it is the ultimate form of relaxation to have a zen-like focus on the ride. But that's just me. | ||
| Firebolt1203 |
It could definitely have been worse. Thank god I was wearing my riding gear. Just wish I had some better boots on. Maybe I can call Dianese or Alpinestars and get them to invent Femur armor, lol. My femur should never break again though, it has a steel rod inside it now. And all praise be to SHOEI RF1000s! | ||
| Buelliedan  |
I will second the praise to Shoei, although in my case it was an RF800 but it provided the same results(I'm still here!)  | ||
| Geoffg  |
Sorry to hear about the accident, and the injuries. Getting back on...well, that's a personal decision. No reason not to take some time off if you feel you need it--me, I took almost 20 years off after my highway accident. Weird, I had had many wipeouts (I was a "squid" back in my teens/early 20s), but this one was most definitely MY fault (I rearended a car), and that did things to me psychologically--kinda popped my "It'll never happen to me" bubble. In retrospect, I kinda wished I'd got back into riding again sooner, but then again, I did a lot of other fun and adventurous things, and truth be told, I'm glad that I got through the rest of my "crazy years" in one piece. | ||
| Metalstorm  |
Hey it's all a learning process right? You didn't give any details as to the how or why you wrecked so I'm not going to make assumptions or guesses. Things happen. You can learn from these experiences and bring your skills to a higher level or decide you'd rather not take anouther risk. I will certainly respect any decision you make but if you love riding a bike don't let this incident roadblock you. You might suffer a little "road shyness" for a while but it will pass. Take some time and think it over. What you feel next week may be totally different than what you feel today. | ||
| Daves  |
I am glad you are ok. Take some time, reflect and then decide what you want to do. Dave | ||
| Wyckedflesh  |
Bolt1203 as a fellow rider with a rod from knee to hip in my femur I can assure that riding is well worth the pain. It has been more theraputic for me then anything else in this world. You learn to deal witht he pain and learn to get along with your limits. The best advice I can give you is to compare the amount of smiles the ride has given you VS the amount of frowns you yourself have experienced since the accident. Do as the therapist says, do your exercises religiously and you will be back in no time at all. Glad to hear you are here to tell the tale and hope to hear more tales from the road soon. Mikel/Wycked | ||
| Buellisti |
I've been there. Two pins in the right wrist, the three pieces of a shattered left patella wired together, and a rod and three screws in the left leg. I was hauling butt on a narrow mountain road when I was nailed from behind by a hit and run driver. Went 70 to zero in just a few feet. Mountain sides have a way of doing that. That was 17 years ago and it was a solid year before I decided to ride again. I'm more cautious nowadays and exercise a modicum of discretion, but still ride. Heal up and think about what you enjoy in life and what is important to you. Good Luck. | ||
| Cyko_bob  |
Firebolt...sounds like we all feel your pain, especially those of us who have felt cold steel or asphalt up close and personally. Personally...my story, I t-boned a '55 Chevy back in '61 when it turned left in front of me, and I went through his windshield...fractured skull and many stitches. Like nowadays, it was not cool to wear a helmet back then either, although we accept it more with sportbikes. I have now been riding for over 45 years, and I am glad I did not quit riding...am proud to have ridden so long and enjoyed so many friends and miles...not to mention the parties. I am now older, but enjoy the rush of the twisties or going at least double the speed limit, but I am more cautious, think about where I am and what I am doing...the road, what might be around the corner, etc. I only push it when I feel like it safe...most of the time. I try not to ride beyond my abilities. It is easy for us to outride our capabilities on the bikes available now days...especially our favorite ride...that little Buell. As everyone has said, you must make the final decision if it is worth it. Staying in the motorcycle arena was worth it to me, and I will be a biker until the day I die or I cannot physically get on one again. I tried sky diving...was not worth it to me, but biking was.  I hope you stay with us and our favorite sport, but we all support you no matter what your decision...God bless and heal quickly....Cyko Bob | ||
| Reepicheep  |
I imagine there is going to be a ton of work and pain to get though this. You are welcome to hang out here regardless of what you decide in terms of riding again. Don't hesitate to keep inviting us in, we want to support you as much as we can. The people around you learn from you in a couple ways. The first is what happens to you, sometimes it is your fault, sometimes it is somebody elses. The second (and most important) is what you do in reaction to those things that happen to you, which is where you are now. Fight relentlessly, call for help when you need it, be powerful, dangerous, and good. | ||
| Ravensmith22 |
I'm glad that you're ok. I understand the pain you feel. Last May, I was hit from behind on the freeway by a hit-and -run driver. Broke my left tibia and fibula, dislocated my right knee, broke my right pelvis, both collar bones, my right radius and ulna, and part of my L2 vertebra. Just had my last surgery, and I can't wait to get back on a bike. I guess my outlook is like this: I love riding, and I'm not going to let the bastich who hit me take that away from me. Then again, I'm Irish, and we're known for being more stubborn than smart. Take some time, think about it, and know that you have friends and supporters no matter what you decide. Lou | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I highsided my wife's KZ440 about 3 years ago. It was a slow speed tumble and all I did was bang up my shoulder a bit. We only had that bike and my dual sport back then. We weren't what you would call hard core riders - mostly nice day riders. I put the bike away for over a year and didn't ride again. The negative thoughts of what could have happened kept me from getting back on. Then last year my buddy asked me if I wanted to try out his VFR. My love for riding was instantly rekindled. I did some soul searching, and a few months later got my Concours, a Blast for my wife, now I got my XB, and an S3T on the way for my wife. We dove back in head first and have not looked back and now I can't even ever dream of giving up riding. My point is think about it, look at why you rode in the first place, see how you can minimize risk (training or gear etc), and whatever you decide know you'll have made the right decision for you. Good luck. | ||
| Tatsu |
XO: FireBolt won't engage. I think that flat spin spooked him.. CO: Get him up flying again. It's all up to you, but I think your infected! The mere fact that you came and asked others what they thought, tells me that you will be up and riding again and soon. Semper Fi | ||
| Cataract2 |
I feel you pain man. I went over the handle bars of my FZR back in March last year. Got a broke wrist and elbow from that one. Also injured my back a bit. I was out of work on medical leave for 3 months. The doctor released me back to the world on June and I was riding the next day after he released me. Just give yourself some time to heal and decide what to do from there. My take, fix or buy a new bike and get back into riding. Take it slow, but don't give up on it. | ||
| Ingemar |
Glad to hear you're oke. Just take it easy. You may not feel like anything right now but the bug will sure rear its head soon. | ||
| Slaughter  |
I always wondered what my attitude would be after my first crash - in my case, I forced myself to get back on the pony and ride. I had to rig up a throttle rocker (we had a BRAG ride scheduled 10 days after I broke my hand so I had to be creative) I found myself for the first time, having a built-in excuse to take it easy and decided to lead the "slow" group through the hills and really REALLY enjoyed the joy of the ride in the mountains for the first time in quite a while. It's a different ride when you're deliberately slacking off, taking it easy and just getting into the groove again. Yes - give it some time but if you're already asking yourself if you should get back on, you probably should and will. If you are comfortable with your basic riding skills, and think you might want to get back on and ride - just do it at the first chance you can. Just my $0.02 - worth half what you paid for it. All the best and there's no right answer. I've known many folks who got out of motorcycles after accidents, marriages (maybe accidents causing marriages - another whole topic!!  ) - who later got back in - sometimes decades later. | ||
| Surveyor  |
Firebolt1203, glad to hear you came through relatively OK. I had a big one (on the track not the road)myself not long ago but was lucky and ended up with bruises but the mental injuries were surprising and they surfaced quite a bit later. You're young and you'll heal (quicker than me anyway) and when you get to my age your scars will give you credibility so don't give up just yet, give yourself time to recover. think of it this way....you've survived and are now statistically much less likely to be involved in an accident than most other people on the road. | ||
| Sarodude |
I had my first crash (albeit small) last week in Downtown LA. Nothing unusual. Dude cuts me off while I'm in the middle of a lane change. What at the time seemed like a MINOR application of front brake resulted in me asking the question, "So, how come my front tire is making that sound?" 15 or 20 mph, a minor cuss word, and onward to my humble abode with a bent handlebar. Cold tires? The magical, mysterious spot of oil? Alien waste dropped from a UFO? Doesn't much matter after you're listening to the sounds of sliding. It was dark & I didn't wanna hold up traffic.... 55 or 60 thousand miles and FINALLY I went down. I was happy to get it over with. Mine was really minor, but I did hop right back on after a brief check (of the bike and myself) and got home. All this stuff is personal. We all perceive things differently and prepare for various eventualities differently. Although I'm not happy to have gone down, I'm happy with the way my head handled it. Heal the body. Come to terms with the mind. Do what feels right! -Saro | ||
| Firebolt1203 |
The wounds are getting better, I just got a new cast and had the staples taken out. I don't know when I'll be walking. You have to walk before you run, and I better be able to run before I ride. So I've got a lot of time to think about it. I still haven't heard from the Insurance company yet, no word whether the bike is totaled or not. Thanks for the encouraging words, I'm taking them all to heart. | ||
| CJXB  |
Glad to hear your okay, take some time to heal and get better before deciding anything !! Get well quick and take care !! CJ  | ||
| Slaughter |
Firebolt - it's good to hear you have a good head on your shoulders - so here goes another suggestion (assuming you're going to ride again) - you can get a smoking salvage deal from your insurance company if they do decide to total the bike. I know a few people that got their track bikes by buying their bikes as salvage from their own insurance company. | ||
| Crazyhorse  |
Firebolt1203 For what it's worth don't let any one talk you into somthing that you really don't want to do . for you are the one that has to live with your decision, I will allways have some mode of transport with two wheels. In Sept. I got back on the bike after two years and 11 sergerys for some very broken wrists and arms. now back on my S3 and it is the best therapy I could think of . Take care and heal the body and the mind. Wayne. | ||
| Slaughter |
Crazyhorse is absolutely correct. I broke my collarbone on my RD400 in 1977 - my fiancee (soon to be wife/ex-wife) talked me out of riding. I didn't miss it all too much for a couple years. I didn't own a motorcycle for almost 25 years before getting back into it 3 years ago. Ya might say I gave it more than a generation to get back on again. | ||
| Buell2001b  |
well im glad you are ok. i was in an accident , fortunatelly i was wearing all my gear. I hit the gravel. i think i pulled my handsting cause it hurt and bearly move my hand. My attitude was " i cant let this get me down " i got on the bike. i went o a motel got some ice. iced my arm and leg, next morning i was sore but i rode back home. in the morning when i hit this thick fog i a rode thru it and as the sun rised. it made it all worth why i love riding. it took like 6 months for the pain to completely go away. i know this is nothing compared to what a lot of you guys been thru, but its my 2 cents. | ||
| Henrik  |
Firebolt; glad you're still around to tell the story. As for deciding what to do next, only you can decide. Whatever you decide, make sure your heart is in it. Henrik | ||
| Glitch  |
As for deciding what to do next, only you can decide. And there's no time limit. Take your time, you'll know when you know, and even then you may change your mind. Take care of yourself! | ||
| Djkaplan  |
It takes a while, but one day you'll reflect on what you were able to keep rather than on what you lost the day of the accident. Lots of riders have gone over the edge and were never able to return. You came back. | ||
| Chaser |
Heal quickly. Glad your still here. My advice consentrate on getting better. Dont shortcut yourself on the rehab and physical recovery. Riding will still be their and if the bikes totaled you get to get a new baby (Car, Boat, Jetski, or anouther bike)your choice. IF you have a chance please post your story on other boards in the newbie sections on how your gear saved you. |
