| Author | Message | ||
     Corporatemonkey |
I'm am stealing Wifi from the hotel across the street, so I will make this short. Today was a craptastic day. Coming back to Kalispell, Mt (on US2) I encountered a really great twisty section of road. The road surface was not great, but still it was a fun ride. Except when I rounded a corner to find the road had turned to pure gravel. I shed as much speed as I could before I hit the gravel. The bike decided it was time to lay down. Off it went into a drainage ditch. I on the other hand was pitched 20 feet down the road. I am alright, except for a sore left knee, and shoulder. My super suit did an AMAZING job. Even though I slid, it only has a few scuff marks. Thankfully my helmet did not come into contact with the road. My gloves a toast, luckily I have another set with me. The bike is more interesting, after it came to rest upside down in a drainage ditch, I had to figure a way to get it out. It was nearly a 100 degrees out, and I was 87 miles from anything. Luckily after 15mins an RV when by and I was able to get them to stop. With the guys help. we were able to drag the bike out of the ditch. Damage was mostly cosmetic. I lost one turn signal. The bike has a good case of road rash, but nothing serious was damaged. I had to reattach my mirror, luckily I had tools with me. The bike started right up, and after a short cleanup, I road (sore mind you) back to the hotel, 137miles away. Tomorrow I am heading back to Seattle, I don't think I can do it in one day (537miles), as I did going. I am just too sore. The pictures that follow show the damage, and the ditch Click on them for a large size. What do you think I should do about the damage?           | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
Iam glad to hear you are nothing more than sore. Be grateful for your wise decision to wear pro-gear. Replace scuffed parts if you want, doesnt look like anything got hurt other than maybe your pride. | ||
| Tattoodnscrewd |
I feel for you man ! Gravel sucks !! Get ready, the next couple days are going to feel worse .. more soreness .. Glad you got lucky as I did and didn't suffer any serious damage .. to you or the bike (specifically you) ... Good luck on the ride to Seattle .. sounds like you and I will both be riding sore this week ! (But at least we are able to ride !!! ) | ||
| Prof_stack |
Tough break! Actually, I'm glad nothing broke in you!! All the gear, all the time. Bring the Buell to my place on Queen Anne. We can take things apart and go from there. Since my XB9S is very likely totaled there is LOTS of room in the garage. Plus, you can put some better oil in it here. And possibly try out the rebuilt Rich's Custom seat. Be careful on the ride, though. There might be more damage than what you can quickly see. Advil or Aleve might be good friends for you. Ride safe. | ||
| Slaughter |
You had some good luck and your question about the damage? DO NOT REPORT IT to your insurance company!!! If it's rideable, RIDE IT. You now have some credibility marks is all. | ||
| Tattoodnscrewd |
DO NOT REPORT IT to your insurance company!!! +1 I didn't report mine ... sheriff asked me if I wanted to .. NOPE ! (Someone called the police and said two guys just came out of the woods ... Duh - you didn't see/hear the crash ?!? or the bikes the two guys were pushing ?!?!) There are lots of good used parts floating around Badweb ... and in a situation like this people are more than happy to help out ... | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I am not going going to report it unless I discover any frame damage. The Professor is going to assist me with that. After the "spirited ride" back to the hotel*. I figure any serious damage would have shown itself. *Spirited ride involves chasing down a crazed local driving a Ford F350 diesel, pulling a car trailer (sans car) routinely out accelerating me. Think about that. He was able to pull away from me at triple digit speeds. What ever he had done to that diesel was amazing. Huge puffs of black smoke and he would be gone. This went on for 105 miles. Yes I like tempting fate... | ||
| Dbird29 |
Sorry you crashed but it looks like it is not too bad. Pretty good fuel economy to go 105 miles at triple digits! | ||
| Rainman |
I'd leave the marks unless something is seriously broke. They're yours, you earned them. They're kinda like scars and make for good stories around biker campfires (espresso machines at fancy coffee shops.) | ||
| Reepicheep |
Looks like the protective gear did a great job... all that would have helped is a primary cover slider, but I don't think primary covers are that expensive or hard to replace, so perhaps it's already it's own puck. Glad you are OK! Oh, and a clarification on your first post. Clearly you are using an unsecured WiFi service that you obviously believe to be freely available and provided locally and fully complying with everything you understand to be within their terms of service. | ||
| Buellerandy |
I wouldn't necessarily refer to those scuffs as "damage." Even the primary is still operable. These bikes are probably the most well designed instruments for crashing-survivability wise (IMO) +2 for not reporting - half the time, it costs less than the deductible to fix these bikes anyways (even after 5 barrel rolls on the track I was still under $500 dollars. Of course the big concern is that you were still ok. Awesome! | ||
| M2nc |
Glad you are okay. Trust me the Buells can bounce back from a ditch. After pitching the tank into a 150' ravine, I replaced mostly bolt on parts and can get to the bike to look perfect. The important part is that you were in gear. Buell parts are a lot easier to replace than Monkey parts. | ||
| Jimidan |
WOW! These things crash very well...glad you are OK! jimidan | ||
| Prof_stack |
Jamie (CorporateMonkey) just "Blue-Toothed" me here at home and asked me to post a concern he is having on his ride back towards Seattle. I'll attempt to quote him: "When I made a very quick stop from HIGH speed I felt a serious shudder in the front brake. From here (as I ride) the rotor looks straight. I wonder if it could be a problem with the steering head bearings, forks, or rotor. The bike is running fine other than that and using the front brake from normal speeds causes no shudder. Jamie asked me to post as he will likely be without Internet tonight but will have email access. I guess Blue-Tooths can do that. Anyhow, please offer suggestions if you can. Thanks! | ||
| Seattle_bueller |
Glad to hear you are not hurt and that you can still ride the bike. That would very bad getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken bike. As for parts, Seattle HD in Lynnwood is trying really hard to ramp up the Buell line. They hired on a parts guy specifically for Buells. They even have a few aftermarket parts like DarkHorseMoto sliders and a few things they bought from American Sport Bike. Anyhow they might have of replacement parts in stock instead of having to order them. Let me know if you and the Professor need any help with the repairs. | ||
| Reepicheep |
The shudder could be pad deposits on the rotor (from the stock pads). Get Al Lighton to fix you up with a different type and it will clear up in a few hundred miles. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I have an extra turn signal for you if you want it. IM me and I'll ship it out for nada. I got it for nothing, I'll give it away the same way. | ||
| Jimidan |
It doesn't take much of a lick on the rotor to knock it out a few thousands, and that is all that it takes to feel a shudder in the front brake. It will be OK the rest of the way home and even after, but he should check it with a gauge to see if it is out of spec soon. That is the most likely culprit, but not necessarily the only cause for what he is describing. If it is bad enough, it will also cause the brake pads to be pushed back into the caliper, thus causing the lever to have to be pumped a couple of times to bring it back up to the top. If it is not doing that, it isn't too bad. Don't worry, and be safe. | ||
| Prof_stack |
These bikes are probably the most well designed instruments for crashing-survivability wise (IMO) If you are referring to the rider, I'll agree with you, as long as proper gear is worn. But I've heard that the XB was designed to break away to absorb more of the impact of a crash. True? Worked for me. But when the XB frame gets damaged, things gets REALLY costly. My XB9S frame was damaged at the "fork stop tabs" and a new frame has been ordered (Why does it have to take two weeks to get the new frame moving?). So let's hope Jamie's CityX doesn't have "hidden" damage. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I got in late last night, 500+ miles in one day is bit far. Coming back through eastern washington I had a head wind so strong that the bike would top out only at 90. That really hurt the fuel economy, the fuel light was coming on ~95-100 miles. I want to publicly thank those who have, or offered to help. This is what a community is all about, and I glad I am part of this one. I am heading over to Prof's place today to disassemble to bike. I need to clean it throughly before I decide what needs to be fixed. I think the break issue is going to have be looked at by my Buell tech. I do not know really where to begin. Reep, I thought of deposits, but this happened right after the "incident" so it leads me to believe it is something else. I will post up better photos later today. | ||
| Buell_nm |
After putting mine into a ditch last year. (Came in to a corner too hot and hit some gravel.) I had the a shudder, it turned out to be a warped rotor. | ||
| Prof_stack |
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMIE! (CorporateMonkey - all of 29 today) Here he is before his XB9SX got cleaned:  After the Buell got cleaned:  (Message edited by prof_stack on July 27, 2007) | ||
| Prof_stack |
Jamie's Buell was not as bad off as I figured it would be given the nature of the accident into the gravel and off into the muck. Cleaned pretty well. The damage looks superficial except for the turn signals on the left that will be replaced. Left mirror probably will be replaced as well. Jamie now has street cred - right?  The dino oil was really black after 1500 miles. We changed it out with Amsoil v-twin 20W-50. New filter and the CityX is smiling again. Now he can let the pro's check for any brake or alignment issues. Our trick to keep the oil off the exhaust pipe and back tire:  Jamie, it was great to meet you and talk Buells, etc. Ride safe, my young friend! | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Once again I have to thank the Professor. Even for a teacher he is patient. The oil was surprisingly black for only 1500 miles. I guess high speed, and high temps will do that. I probably will replace a few parts, and I have a tentative appointment to have the front rotor looked at. I did post another thread with photos from the trip. I am going to try to keep that thread clean of the "incident" talk. It is just too angering. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Here are the photos before the Prof and I cleaned it     | ||
| Towjam |
Left mirror probably will be replaced as well. I have a mirror (still in the box) that I had previously purchased for my 12Ss. PM me if you want it. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
PM sent | ||
| Towjam |
You've got mail. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Tomjam, I haven't received any mail? | ||
| Prof_stack |
Jamie, did you get the suspension readjusted yet? We forgot to do that before you left. Also, did you get an appointment set with DHD? | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Not yet. I did get an appointment for the 21st. It of course is only tentative. I still haven't gotten around ordering parts, I will deal that when I get back. | ||
| Towjam |
Tomjam, I haven't received any mail? Sorry 'bout that. Let's try it again - you've got a PM. |
