| Author | Message | ||
     Dino |
I haven’t exactly been driven to write about last weekend…but there may be a lesson or two worth sharing. After the close of a group ride out of Fresno (CA) BMW, as others headed back toward the valley, I headed east in the Sierra foothills to enjoy some great back roads on my way back to our place near Yosemite. Not more than a mile from the lunch spot, and just short of my turn off of a two-lane mountain highway, things went very wrong. As I entered a curve to the right, a string of cruiser riders passed heading down the hill and most waved. I waved briefly, but not briefly enough. At about the apex of the turn, a truck came into view, stopped in my lane. I suppose he was waiting for the downhill traffic to clear for left turn. Don’t know…to my knowledge he didn’t stick around. From what happened to me, and to the bike, it’s clear that it wasn’t a simple low-side from too much brake in a curve. Besides, I was just dinking along watching for my turn…not strafing apexes. Upon application of the front brake, I was flipped off the bike and sent somersaulting to the INSIDE of the turn. After considerable thought, it occurred to me that I must not have gotten my left hand back onto the grip before applying the brake. Momentum pushed me forward, pushing the right grip forward, cocking the wheel against the curve with the brake still on…the end…sort of a modified high-side. One witness said he looked up at the sound and wondered what the hell that was flipping high above the road, at speed, then realized it was an upside-down person…ummm, that would be me, unfortunately. LESSON 1: Be very aware of your surroundings should you remove your left hand from the grip, for any reason. I would suggest not doing it if there is any likelihood that something unexpected may occur that would require quick braking. Modern brakes are tremendously powerful with great initial bite (like those on the FZ1). Don’t get bit. I left the house that morning with temperatures hovering right around 32 deg F. As a result, I was fully decked out in moto-wear. Shoei full-face, Frank Thomas gloves and boots, First Gear jacket, TourMaster pants. The accident described occurred at a speed estimated at between 40 and 50 mph. Not one drop of blood was spilled. Not one skin cell gave up its life. Five days later, there is yet to be any sign of a bruise. On the other hand, a veritable truck trailer load of parts are on order to restore the FZ to life. I landed on the right side of my face and the top of my right shoulder. The shoulder and nearby ribs have more tears, cracks, strains, etc than you can shake a stick at…but not a mark on me. LESSON 2: Modern moto-wear can do wonders…if you wear it. Sure, you may die of a broken neck…but you’ll look spiffy at the viewing! That’s two Shoei RF-800 that have been sacrificed for the greater good. A close-out RF-900 is on order. Now, I'm gonna need some advice within the next week or so...how can I convince my wife that it's okay to pull my arm out of the sling in order to ride the FZ back to it's mountain home...without losing my excuse for not mowing the lawn? BTW - Lesson 3: Never, ever, cough violently if you have cracked ribs. (and the next person that puts a stethoscope on my chest and instructs me to take a deep breath had better have real quick reflexes) Dino | ||
| Al_lighton |
Dino, Sorry to hear about it. Thank goodness for good riding gear, sounds like you made out OK considering. Never really thought about it too much how bad things can get fast when only one hand is on the bar and any hard braking is required. Good lesson. It seems a disproportionate number of my wrecks and close calls have occurred while waving/viewing other motorcycists. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Hey Dino, I know exactly what you're talking about and although I was thrown off I did end up plowing up a local farmers field -- all due to my waving at a guy passing me. Since then I've just about quit waving and attempt to acknowledge the wave with a flash of the light or a head nod. Yea,they probably don't see the head nod, but it does a much better job of keeping me on the hardstuff. Greg | ||
| Ferris |
shit, Dino. i'll call you later, at something a little more appropriate than 3:40 a.m. FB | ||
| Spiderman |
Glad your OK!! Looks like I will now live in Infamy. LOL See wha an old lady an a Saturn can do  | ||
| Denisea |
Dino, Worse yet when it happens to a friend. Cracked ribs will mend and thank God that's all you cracked. Reminds me that no matter how good of a rider, how many odometers you have turned, the fact there are still conditions - and I'm being nice there - the asshole motherfucker sonofabitch, (okay will stop as this just pisses me off too much) did not even wait!?!!!!?? - that we all have to figure into the equation. Last week I was talking with an old friend about getting back some of my old leathers that had been loaned to his girlfriend (just chaps, jacket and short boots) that I wore when I first started riding - thinking how cool they were. Cool indeed. Reminded again of the advice from an old friend - Good gear, wear it. Hence, I'll be zipping the pants back to the jacket of my Stich, wearing my Helds and Shoei XSP the next time I head down the road. Thanks for the reminder, my friend. PS - Don't make FBaD come over there and give you something to ache about (cracked ribs to hell) - get yourself up here for some fun on the Bostrom Highway.  Denise | ||
| Daves |
Glad you are OK. Ride to the edge! Dave Iowa HD/Buell (Buell Cycle Center) | ||
| Nevco1 |
Dino...Sorry to learn of your "Whoops" but your report and lessons are a great read. Hope you and the bike get well soon. Oh yeah...Fantastic title for this thread. | ||
| Dino |
Thanks all. Ferris, I'll be out of town here in a few minutes...back Sunday. Bigdaddy. I also was thinking of nodding, rather than waving, from now on. They may notice it...the new RF-900 is metallic YELLOW. Denisea. As to gear...I always wear boots, helmet, gloves, jacket. I think that before it gets hot again i'll get hot weather pants to go with the mesh jacket. Now, can anyone come up with something I can tell my wife to convince her that I'm perfectly fit to ride...I just need a little help getting one of the other bikes off the center stand? Lesson 4: Always leave at least one bike on the side stand.  Dino | ||
| Blublak |
Dino.. P.T..  That's right.. tell her that you are required to do some Physical Therapy on those injured ribs and arm.. Nothing strenuous.. So all you need to do is some stretching and flexing.. Uh, like when you turn a motorcycle! (can't push the mower though, that could re-injure ribs or arm) Plus, you need to make sure you don't loose your edge... Tell her it's a known fact that if you don't start riding again as soon as possible it's twice as dangerous as your skills will atrophy.  Later, | ||
| Mbsween |
Dino, add sneezing to the list of things to avoid when ribs are tender..and friends telling bad jokes. Glad to hear your okay and healing. Good luck I think you've just convinced me to order the 'stitch Matt | ||
| Nevco1 |
Good luck with convincing the wife. The only way I pulled it off was to plead guilty to a brain fart and promise to never do it again as the lesson learned was too painful to forget. Now for the sad part. That physical pain is with me everyday for the rest of my life and has gotten worse since I moved to a cold damp climate. | ||
| Dino |
Blublak - Excellent...I'll have to print that out and memorize it so I can present it in a coherent, convincing manner. Mbsween - The list gets longer on a daily basis. Add having the dog(s) jump onto the bed and run across your chest. Having the wife drive you down a rutted dirt road in the SUV. (I could swear I detected an evil gleam.) Nevco1 - That particular shoulder was already f**ked up...I'm not sure it'll end up a whole lot worse than it was...assuming I stay out of my wife's SUV for awhile. Dino | ||
| Iamike |
Dino- Don't hiccup either, it really hurts. | ||
| Nevco1 |
Did anyone tell Dino about how great it is to be able to forecast the changing weather better than those that get paid dearly for it?  Can't wait til Spidey gets to be my age. Hope I am still around. Just want to kick back and tease the hell out of him!  | ||
| Jb2 |
Dino, I hate to hear the crash part but I gotta give you an "amen" on the gear! The ribs will be tender for six weeks, trust me. The bike will heal too. I watched an injured girl(very injured girl), being helped by her boyfriend, trying to don an Aerostitch. She eventually and painfully got it on and then he helped her on to the bike. She had tears at the corners of her eyes. You could feel the pain just watching her but she looked at the small crowd looking on and boldly said "It's okay. The pain goes away as soon as the bike starts." The only excuse you need to ride is that it is pure therapy! Ride Safe... soon, JB2 |
