Laid down my 954 yesterday.

Deadsmiley · 10-12-2008, 9:07 PM

I was in Franklin, KY yesterday and was turning trough the intersection to get onto interstate 65 south. I was going a little to hot, so I did the ultimate no-no and touched the front brake.

The next instant I am down and watching my bike slide through the intersection. I popped up off the ground and ran to the median, laid down on my back and got my wind back, stunned. Someone called 911 so the city police and an ambulance showed up about 5 minutes later. I declined the ambulance ride.

Luckily, the bike didn't hit the curb. It slide about 40-50 feet and got some rash on the tail/stator cover/left side pegs/mirror/turn signals/bar end. The peg/tail/stator cover/bar end already had rash when I bought it. I was very surprised to find that the tank had not been scratched. The frame slider took most of the damage and the plastics were saved!

Many people stopped to see if I was Ok, which was very cool. One guy helped me pick up my bike and push it out of the way,

The police were very courteous and professional. The waited for me to get my gear back on (helmet, gloves, armored jacket) and blocked traffic so I could make it the rest of the way through the intersection and onto the on-ramp.

The 50 mile ride home was uneventful except that I stopped to check on a couple of riders with a stalled bike. They had AAA coming and thanked me for stopping.

I landed hard on shoulder. The left hip is a little bruised and a bit sore, but otherwise its fine. I don't have trouble walking. The fall compressed my left side rib cage a bit so they are a little tender around the sternum. After I got home I drove my car of the emergency room because my shoulder was really bothering me and didn't feel right when I got up from the crash. X-rays showed no broken bones. I am wearing a rib belt and they put my arm in a sling. I really didn't think I needed these things but I consented and I must say that I am feeling better today. I was told that they could not tell if the soft tissues were displaced so I have to go see my regular doctor on Tuesday for an exam.

They gave me some good drugs!

Motrin, 600mg
Flexeril, 10mg (muscle relaxer)
Lortab, 500mg

My gear did it's job. I have a small (2") rash (more like a carpet burn) on my left forearm from the fall. I hate to think what it would have been like if I hadn't been wearing my jacket/helmet/gloves (shudder...)

Ride safe guys.

breimers · 10-12-2008, 9:33 PM

Glad to hear you were wearing your gear. Here is a story for you..........
A local kid here in iowa crashed his bike this past weekend. I went to see him. WOW this kid is screwed up. To start with No ridding gear only a helmet. He is a novice rider on a new 08 600 honda. The damage to him, Bone sticking out of his calf, busted all the bones across top of his foot. Shattered one ankle and road rash that would make you puke. He is going to be alright, however will probably take a year or so for him to be somewhat normal. This was caused by a wheelie at 65mph. Flipped it over

Deadsmiley · 10-12-2008, 9:37 PM

Thanks!

I don't have riding pants or proper boots yet, but they are coming.

I always wear what I have though. Even when it's hot. I have seen too many pics of road rash and it just doesn't make sense to not wear your gear. I feel naked without it.

LoopyLee · 10-13-2008, 4:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deadsmiley

I always wear what I have though. Even when it's hot. I have seen too many pics of road rash and it just doesn't make sense to not wear your gear. I feel naked without it.

I'm glad you were able to walk away from your accident relatively unscathed, I hope you recover quickly and the doc says you are ok on Tuesday.

For wearing the gear you have, no doubt it saved you from worse injuries..

MCR001 · 10-13-2008, 6:48 AM

shew.... U ok is important.

bettingpython · 10-14-2008, 9:36 AM

Rashing your ride up sucks but at least your around to tell about it. We have locally had a string of riders not so fortunate and they were in their gear.

1 man locally was found by another rider wedged under some Armco at the exit of a turn, he died of surgical complications when they fused some discs in his back, he picked up a post op infection that he couldn't fight off.

Another rider went in the ditch and had full gear on he spent 2 weeks in the ICU in the next state over with both lungs punctured and bruised, fortunately he came home just last week. If he hadn't been geared up he wouldn't have made it.

Weekend before last we had a young man went off the road in a turn had all his kit on and he did not survive the wreck.

Gear reduces your chances of dying but this is a dangerous pastime. Learn fronm the mistake you made the keyword on the street is went in too hot. Save that for the track always leave yourself a margin of error on the street.

Tracks have lots of nice wide open places to tumble and roll till you stop. Usually you'll wind up hitting something and stopping abruptly on public roads.

setanta · 10-14-2008, 10:19 AM

Good to hear your ok, did something similar at the end of July and I was wearing all the right gear which did save me from serious injury, especially serious back injury

kiai · 10-14-2008, 11:01 AM

glad you are ok gear is life saver my friend hit a pothole on the highway few weeks ago and ended up doing 360's I thought he was dead for a moment but he walked from such accident with nothing serious thanks to the gear he was wearing

so always wear your gear ppl it ain't safe out there

Deadsmiley · 10-14-2008, 4:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bettingpython

Rashing your ride up sucks but at least your around to tell about it. We have locally had a string of riders not so fortunate and they were in their gear.

1 man locally was found by another rider wedged under some Armco at the exit of a turn, he died of surgical complications when they fused some discs in his back, he picked up a post op infection that he couldn't fight off.

Another rider went in the ditch and had full gear on he spent 2 weeks in the ICU in the next state over with both lungs punctured and bruised, fortunately he came home just last week. If he hadn't been geared up he wouldn't have made it.

Weekend before last we had a young man went off the road in a turn had all his kit on and he did not survive the wreck.

Gear reduces your chances of dying but this is a dangerous pastime. Learn fronm the mistake you made the keyword on the street is went in too hot. Save that for the track always leave yourself a margin of error on the street.

Tracks have lots of nice wide open places to tumble and roll till you stop. Usually you'll wind up hitting something and stopping abruptly on public roads.

True enough!

Deadsmiley · 10-16-2008, 9:48 PM

I went to my regular doctor today. My ribs are feeling better and I took the rib belt off 2 days ago. Shoulder is not so good. It freakin' hurts. He advised me to wear my sling, which I had quit wearing on Monday.

Tomorrow I go to see an orthopedic specialist. My regular doc things it will heal Ok in time, but he doesn't want to miss anything. He's pretty thorough like that.

The new frame sliders came today as well. w00t!

setanta · 10-17-2008, 7:43 AM

Oh youll be sore for a while yet but I hope you heal well

Deadsmiley · 10-17-2008, 12:58 PM

I have a slightly separated shoulder. One of the bones that goes to the shoulder joint is slightly higher than it should be. It's not a dislocation from what they tell me (the shoulder joint is fine).

So, I have to wear my sling for a bit so that the weight of my arm doesn't irritate the injury. A week from Monday I go in for physical therapy. They will show me what to do and I can do the exercises at home. So it's not too bad!

Deadsmiley · 10-29-2008, 12:31 AM

Yesterday I went to for physical therapy. They were very happy with my progress. My strength is good, still some slight pain with motion. They gave me a big rubber band and some home exercises to do and I should be fine.

The jacket rash is all but healed.

Last weekend I rode with a friend for about 4 1/2 hours through some country roads. I was shy about the first few left turns but by the end of the day I was feeling pretty good. The shoulder is much better. Ribs still hurt a bit when I cough though. Overall, I feel pretty good!

This weekend I am going to Deals Gap with a group of people. This is my first time and I plan on taking it easy. The fast riders will just have to wait for me at the end.

LoopyLee · 10-29-2008, 5:05 AM

I'm glad you are on the mend Deadsmiley, do the physio and I'm sure you will be fine in no time

Also glad to see you getting back on the bike, sometimes it can take a while to get back to riding the way you used to. Just take your time and you will be fine.

Have fun through the Gap at the weekend

bettingpython · 10-29-2008, 9:31 AM

Though I have not been to the gap yes take it easy, especially on the weekends it's a favorite ticket hangout for state law enforcement I have friends who go, 1 giant speed trap from what I hear.

Be forewarned lots of sport car traffic get's over the double yellow and theres always people in tractor trailers RV's etc who do not heed the warnings and attempt to use that road and are across the centerlines.

And if they're really your mates they'll wait for the slow guy no problem

setanta · 10-29-2008, 9:51 AM

Good to hear your healing well, the feelings you got about the turns, yip remember that when I first got back on

Deadsmiley · 10-29-2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bettingpython

Though I have not been to the gap yes take it easy, especially on the weekends it's a favorite ticket hangout for state law enforcement I have friends who go, 1 giant speed trap from what I hear.

Be forewarned lots of sport car traffic get's over the double yellow and theres always people in tractor trailers RV's etc who do not heed the warnings and attempt to use that road and are across the centerlines.

And if they're really your mates they'll wait for the slow guy no problem

Thanks for the heads up.

It appears we will have a group of 6-10 going so I should have someone at my skill level.