[Scratch]

Well, healing up nicely I think. Hard to believe I only slid for over 50 yards! Funny thing is, I was in the market for a back protector and couldn't decide on which one before this fateful day, and still can't.

For those who think you don't need it, ya do, leather jacket got eaten up. Pieces of black leather were imbedded in my skin for several months thereafter. Bathing was interesting.

Anyone got any back protector suggestions, I searched, but still at square one.

http://www.fototime.com/0F25A58B44297A2/standard.jpg

[sheepofblue]

What kind of jacket did you own before the accident? What do you own now? Thanks

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

What kind of jacket did you own before the accident? What do you own now? Thanks

Before: Flimsy Alpinestars Dyno, maybe a size too big since it rode up a bit on my back, was sliding feet first, started to slide @ roughly 120mph. Helmet(arai), gloves(olympia), sidi boots, jeans... all TOAST..


Now: Going with a Dainese TH1, superior armor IMO. Have a friend that owns one and it saved his a$$ twice. It has slightly more back protection and ALOT more armor in the elbows and shoulders.

[sheepofblue]

at 120 and that is all that you got

I am sure there is better gear but the word flimsy didn't come to mind.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

at 120 and that is all that you got

I am sure there is better gear but the word flimsy didn't come to mind.

Take a older model alpinestars dyno and lay it out next to a dainese th1 for comparison. I think you'll find the word flimsy an adequate description.

Thanks for laughing at my accident, you're a swell guy.

Oh and that's not "all I got".

[Red Rider]

Originally Posted by Scratch

Take a older model alpinestars dyno and lay it out next to a dainese th1 for comparison. I think you'll find the word flimsy an adequate description.

Thanks for laughing at my accident, you're a swell guy.

Oh and that's not "all I got".

You have to forgive Sheep...he's still working on his social skills.

120 mph slide? It looks like you were pretty lucky...

[ND4SPD]

I have an Alpinestars Tech back protector and love it. Haven't crash tested it, but it looks like it would be pretty durable.

[RPinOZ]

I have a Dainese Backspace 2 which hasn't been tested.
A friend has tested his and bought another if that says anything.
I wear mine under Tigerangel leathers and it can get a bit hot and stick to my back on warm days.

[CBRVFR]

I get it..."Scratch".

I have a Bohn Pro Racer. (They sold it to me even though I'm not even an amateur racer. You've got to wonder about a company with such low standards.) But it seems as if it would prevent an occurrance such as yours, at minimum.

It wasn't very comfortable at first, so I had to just keep wearing it regardless. Now that it's broken in and I've become accustomed to it, I wouldn't consider riding without it.

I guess that's the key. which one would you wear all the time? I've never heard that one design is far superior to the others... but the one that's in the closet isn't going to be of much help.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by Red Rider

120 mph slide? It looks like you were pretty lucky...

Yes I was,the paramedics agree on that one also. Pretty much a straight slide, textbook if there is such a thing. Just thank God that there were no cars/trucks/farm equipment coming in either direction. Also thankful that I didn't hit any fences or other large/stationary objects. It was hard to think of myself as lucky once the pain kicked in. A nice older gentleman in a pick up stopped to check on me, said he saw it from the top of the next hill. I was in a bit of shock and just kept asking him if there was blood pooring out of me anywhere. I tried to play it cool but it I must admit I was afraid, wasn't sure how badly I messed myself up.

For those that are wondering;

It wasn't a highside or a lowside, guess it was a backside? I was going over a series of hills we refer to as "whoop-dee-doo's" on one of my favorite roads (used to be anyway). I had just gotten out of traffic and was excited to finally see some empty roadway. I got a little ham-fisted and came into them a little faster then I normally do. Still not sure what happened exactly. Sometimes we'd hit those hills and get both wheels off the ground no problem. This time the front caught too much air and the bike just flipped straight back, womp. I just remember seeing blue sky and then sliding for what seemed like eternity. I thought I came to a stop and decided to sit up, that's when I realized I was still sliding, and because of my decision to sit up instead of just sliding I began tumbling. When I finally stopped I thought it was a bad dream, looked around for my bike and couldn't see it. Then the pain kicked in, and then the p/u driver stopped to check on me. I wish I got his name, he kept me calm and I was really glad he was there. I didn't want to go to the emergency room, stubborn I guess but the old man left me no choice, he was on the phone while I was protesting and looking for my gear and bike.

But it taught me something valuable, and I guess I'm grateful for that.

Lessons learned are:

#1. No such thing as too much gear. Get it all, back protectors, leather pants or reinforced riding pants, kevlar, whatever. No helmet and I'd be dead. If I had a back protector that day things would have been alot easier on me but I'd still be fairly messed up.

#2. Don't do more than one mod at once, especially when we're talking power and/or putting that power to the ground. The week prior to my "ride" I went up a few teeth on the rear sprocket, mainly to compensate for some of the mid-range I lost by installing an Akrapovic full system on my R1 that same week. With not-alot of saddle time to get used to the new feel of the bike I left myself open for a hurtin'.

#3. Never get complacent(sp?). No matter how well you think you know the road, track, curve, your bike, yourself..whatever.. never take it for granted. The day you do is the day you'll regret. The more familiar the road, the more likely you'll try to outdo yourself on it and end up like I did.

#4. I have no business riding like that anywhere except for a track. Not sure how successful I'll be at following this rule since I do love where I ride, there are just so many variables that cannot be controlled. One car on that road @ that time coming in either direction and there's a good chance I wouldn't be typing this. One deer (already had an incident w/ one of them on my '94 900rr) and you're done. Rabbits, squirrels, anything, all falls under the same category.

#5. Delotid(sp?) is a much better pain killer then demhorral(sp?). Make sure you maintain a good relationship with the nurse (make him/her laugh) and they'll ask if you need more every 10 minutes

I know this wasn't the end all-be all of all crashes. I've seen much worse, heard about some bad ones too. Know a guy in a wheelchair because he was feeling confident one day. Buried my cousin because a bus is much larger than a bike. But then we all have our horror stories to tell, and there's always someone with a horror story to tell you whenever they hear that you ride them "crotch rockets"<--a term I despise.

Most of all the feeling that stuck out in my mind that day was when I called my wife and told her what happened. Sort of confirming her worst nightmare (next to me dying/being paralyzed of course). The sound in her voice was what really got to me. All I kept thinking was how would she survive if I wouldn't be there to take care of her like I have been for the last seven years? That scared me more than anything boy I'll tell ya.
Which brings me to my next point:

#6. If you support someone that you love make sure you have the decency to get a good life insurance policy to protect them in case our sport decides to claim us on any given day.

Kind of sorry I posted this, bringing back some bad memories and not just of my crash. Oh well what can you do? Just say **** it and be glad you can ride another day, with a few more lessons under your belt, as painful as they can be(and not just physically).

Gotta get to a track, just gotta do it. Things won't last long the way they're going now. I wish I could just give it up but I can't, and as crazy as it sounds, my wife actually understands the passion involved and regretfully doesn't want me to give it up. But she does want me to get that insurance policy

It was stupid, alot of the things we do are stupid when we get out there. Adrenaline takes over and we're helpless in our addiction. I'm just glad I didn't hurt anyone else, don't think I could have lived with that.

Sorry for the long post. I shouldn't come anywhere near a keyboard when I've been drinking. Nothing like sharing your deepest fears & regrets with strangers on the web. I'll probably get ridiculed to hell but I guess it really doesn't matter.

You all be cool, even you trackday heroes. We share a bond and I would never, ever, ever want any of you to get hurt. Even if I dislike you for whatever reason. And I would never laugh at anyone that gets hurt, yes, even if I think you're a dick I would never laugh at your pain. But that's just me.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by RPinOZ

I have a Dainese Backspace 2 which hasn't been tested.
A friend has tested his and bought another if that says anything.
I wear mine under Tigerangel leathers and it can get a bit hot and stick to my back on warm days.

Bro that says alot. I have nothing against A*'s, they do make fine gear (better than most out there). But from what I've seen Dainese just makes some of the best stuff around. I guess it all boils down to personal preference and what you're comfortable with and actually going to wear.

Just like CBRVFR said, it ain't gonna do you no good hanging up in your closet!

[RPinOZ]

Originally Posted by scratch

Yes I was,the paramedics agree on that one also. Pretty much a straight slide, textbook if there is such a thing. Just thank God that there were no cars/trucks/farm equipment coming in either direction.

Sincere thanks for that Scratch.
It was well written and put into words many of my feelings on the subject of this crazy, strange, glorious addiction we share. There is much wisdom in your words.

Oh yeah to fireblades.org

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

I guess that's the key. which one would you wear all the time? I've never heard that one design is far superior to the others... but the one that's in the closet isn't going to be of much help.

That's definately the key. It's kind of like when I first started wearing helmets as I came out of my squid days and into real riding. Couldn't stand it at first and now feel naked w/o it. Same should go for all the rest of the gear out there. IMO you should feel naked w/o it, cause you are...

Another fact to remember (and it's said on this forum often) is that something definately is better than nothing. If you can't decide on which brand of a particular piece of gear to get (such as my case now w/ BP's), just get something. If it's un-comfortable then get something else later but meanwhile deal with it and just wear the damn thing. My next ride I'm going to look like a power ranger and I'll catch some heat, but I don't care. I'd rather come home to a nice meal and watch a flick with my better half then look "cool". Alot of you already know this, I guess I'm just a late bloomer or something.

[Joel]

Good words, Scratch. Glad you're healing up.
Oh, and I wear a Bohn, every ride.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by RPinOZ

Sincere thanks for that Scratch.
It was well written and put into words many of my feelings on the subject of this crazy, strange, glorious addiction we share. There is much wisdom in your words.

Oh yeah to fireblades.org

Thanks man that means alot, was all teary eyed writing it. I know some other fellas from down under and man you guys are passionate about bikes! I guess that's why I like you guys so much. The land of OZ is a place I'd really like to visit some day

Oh I'm not wise by any means, I'm just a bike addict like yourself. Learning lessons the hard way since I was born. My 3rd bike accident (only 3 worth mentioning, this one included) and I'm getting back on the horse, love for the sport or stupidity? You decide.. My health insurance company loves me

[Chain]

There was some good discussion here which resulted in my purchase of a Teknic unit from New Enough.

Man alive, I'd have to agree, looks like you came out pretty well off for that sort of speed and that long a slide.

Scary stuff. I hate road rash. I have to get a 1-pc. Aerostich soon!

[Zeeman]

didn't know about the original incident, but good to hear you are coming together.

Just on back protectors, wore mine for the first time at the track yesterday - and noticed the top of it kept digging intot he back of my neck if I lifted my body - do they make different sized back protectors? I have no idea since I didn't actually ask - or look, when I bought it, just kinda assumed it was a "one size fits all" type deal. I know they sell full and 3/4 types, but do they come in a Large/medium/small type arrangement?

for the record - the one I got is an Rjays - probably not the best, but will do until I get the $$$ together for a top one.

Z...

[johnnycrash]

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

at 120 and that is all that you got

I am sure there is better gear but the word flimsy didn't come to mind.

I'd say if it still looks that bad after 4 months of healing that it was indeed a bad deal.

[jakes134]

Wow dude, I feel just like you do (14th week on crutches, 6 or 8 to go) and don't think I could have put it more succinctly (sp?)......

I don't want to start another track v. street thing but just remember that all the same rules apply....if you snooze you lose.

Good luck, heal up, stay safe.....

[sheepofblue]

I didn't mean to offend Scratch. Rather, to lay it down at 120 and get out with your hide intact is a good thing. Granted there might be better gear but yours did do a good job. Imagine if you have been a squid in sneakers and a t-shirt Also I am amazed that your jeans were suffient to any degree (years ago I had an episode and mine were not)

Hope you are healed and still spoiling the wife.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by jakes134

Wow dude, I feel just like you do (14th week on crutches, 6 or 8 to go) and don't think I could have put it more succinctly (sp?)......

I don't want to start another track v. street thing but just remember that all the same rules apply....if you snooze you lose.

Good luck, heal up, stay safe.....

Ouch man that's rough, at least I got out w/ no broken bones. That totally sucks bro I hope you heal up quick too, sounds like you got it much worse than I did. Hell my incident was/is nothing compared to what can happen.

"you snooze you loose" is right, never know when that dog's gonna bite.

[HondaGalToo]

Wow, thanks for sharing. Sounds like you were damned lucky. Also sounds like you've learned your lesson about speeding on the street. We've all been there. I used to wick it up too much in the past and I just got lucky. Definitely get into track days...start with our fireblades event at Grattan! Since I've been doing track days for the past several years, I find I have no desire to speed on the street. I'm more cautious than ever, it seems. Too many variables. I get it out of my system at the track and am more content to ride at "The Pace" on the street.

I have a Knox Pro Racer back protector. It looks like the one CBRVFR has. I like it because it's not a hard shell, but has raised areas that will compress if impacted. I also like it because it seemed to be scooped a bit lower in the neck area, so I have no issues with it hitting my neck. I got the small.
On the street, my Aerostich has a built-in back protector. It's kinda cheesy, so I really need to start wearing the Knox on the street. Check out stuff by Knox, they've come out with some new stuff and I trust their quality. The other mentioned ones are good, too.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

I didn't mean to offend Scratch. Rather, to lay it down at 120 and get out with your hide intact is a good thing. Granted there might be better gear but yours did do a good job. Imagine if you have been a squid in sneakers and a t-shirt