I guess it was my turn . . .

[blue giant]

Re: Blind corners

Originally posted by planedick
Just be sure when going around a blind corner, always assume there is a refrigerator just out of sight in your lane..... or as in one case, a porta-john....

Might there be a good story about said refrigerator you would be interested in sharing?

[olebiker]

Re: Re: Blind corners

Originally posted by blue giant


Might there be a good story about said refrigerator you would be interested in sharing?

I wanna hear about the shet house. Glad you are ok. It always hurts to fall off. But sometimes worse than others. If you can ride away you are doin good.

[thewiz]

".....(though I must admit that I've dropped it... while standing still )."

BTDT too. Even bought the tee shirt. lol Glad your OK and the damage is limited.

Once upon a long time ago while riding my first XS11, I had been drinking at a local watering hole in east Colorado Spgs. After closing the bar, I hopped on the bike to ride the 15 miles up HWY 24 to Manitou Springs where I was living at the time. Road was almost deserted as I pulled up to a stop light at the edge of town.

I guess I just forgot to put my feet down or something ... of course I tipped right over and, as I lay there under the bike in the early morning hours trying to make sense of it all, I could see and hear a couple of cowboys approaching the intersection in a pick up truck. One was saying to the other, "Damn man, did you see that?, that guy just fell right the hell over." They were laughin' their asses off (they had been out drinking too of course) as they stopped and picked the bike up off me ... one handed me a chunk of a tail light lens .... and I rode off ... damage mostly confined to my pride ....was probably the best entertainment them cowboys had that night though ....

[Paintman]

KIller Crapper

2 yrs ago we had a Harley rider get killed when a Porta-Joihn fell off truck now thats a Sh*&ty to go. 44 yo harley rider gets flushed on Interstate not a good epitath.

John

[olebiker]

Re: KIller Crapper

Originally posted by Paintman
2 yrs ago we had a Harley rider get killed when a Porta-Joihn fell off truck now thats a Sh*&ty to go. 44 yo harley rider gets flushed on Interstate not a good epitath.

John

Now that is an awful way to go. When they say this shet is gonna hurt they are not kidding.

[Pat Kelly]

If he was a real Harley enthusiest then the "Chit hit the Fan"
(sorry, couldn't resist)
My condolences to his family

[motoman]

talk bout going down......

July 19 driver pulled out in front of me on a 4-lane(50mph posted), was going approx. 45-48mph. When driver spotted me, stopped right in driving lane(T-bone in the making). Riding the ST at the time. hard on the front brake, added a bit of rear brake, seeing fender and front tire closing fast. Last second, let of brakes and swerved.........didn't work, lowsided. Part I don't remember as I apparently was knocked out as head hit pavement was witness behind said I flipped thru air twice, hit pavement sliding. Remember hearing bike sliding and looking to see where it was at. It was sliding ahead of me some 75yards away best I can remember. Officer came to emergency room and I ask him how bad had I hit the car. Told me I missed car and my short skid mark of 31ft was dead in line of front fender and tire of vehicle, and 10mph faster he would not have talking to me. Very fortunate, and maybe 40+ yrs. riding street and motocross(which I still occassionally do) that it was just instinct that saved contact with vehicle. Have wrecked many a time racing motocross with all the gear on and never been hurt...............first time on pavement and it is not forgiving, trust me. Riding both the ST and the Venturer create a false sense of security because of there size as full dressed sport touring bikes, but pavement doesn't care. Was also riding without helmet, long sleeve shirt with sleeves rolled up and riding gloves. Would rather have broken bones than 3rd degree road rash, trust me! It's taken all these years and this to realize it's not if you go down............just when! The Honda has bent bars and just cosmetic damage, but still at a couple grand for tupperware may or may not be considered totaled. Rode it yesterday and it rides and handles perfectly, so structurely it is sound. Myself, serious road rash, dislocated shoulder, stitches in scalp and still have sore hips, shoulders and hands. Wife and I did a 500 mile ride on the Venturer1100 last weekend, and that's bout all I'm good for at the time. At 56, don't care to repeat that again, and it was in town, two miles from home...........hmmmmm, where have I heard that before. Now where helmets and have ordered a couple nice armoured touring jackcts for the both of us.

[motoman]

Was a hard lesson learned and I think I've been given another chance to get it right.................least wear extra protection.........rather be a little hot than the alternative! Seems around any town you come across, most are doing everything but attentive to there driving..............it just gets worse and worse. As far as riding on the street, the highways are the far less hazard..............still a hazard and risk but far less. Guess that's the price we pay for being able to see and smell what others in cages are missing. As you all have figured out, I have pretty much been a no fear, try most anthing once kinda guy................this incident has taken some of that away..............took a week and a half to wanna get back on, almost lost the interest all together, but satisfied that I will keep on riding.........just have a bit different perspective now, and not quite the risk taker that I was. Still like lots of power being a gear head, never cared for alot of speed, just hard acceleration and knowing it's there........that I don't think will ever leave, just more cautious with age. Kinda like the saying,"there is alot of old pilots, not a lot of old bold pilots". Not too often that your given a second chance having a bike accident involving another vehicle or stationary object...............glad to still be a part of this site!

[madmax-im]

motoman... Sorry to hear this...Glad you are relatively okay....I wont lecture you on ATGATT.I trust you have learned albeit the hard way.ThankGod you'll live to ride another day.I have been riding 32 years on street m/c's and have never been down...yet...I am ATGATT because I know from bicycle accidents all abt road rash...so I could only imagine how bad it would be on a m/c Does this mean I'll never go down?Hopefully but realistcally I keep looking for it to happen.I am not naieve in thinking it wont...I take it one ride at a time....I always try to expect the worst and prepare for it and hope for the best...a reflection of my life overall.Glad the Yamaha is still intact...alot harder to replace especially one as beautiful as yours. ST's on the other hand can still be had in good numbers...

[xsilerating]

A tough lesson to learn and, a hard way to learn it. It's at least comforting to know that you came out of it without major injury to yourself (and hopefully your bike).

I'll try not to preach but, it always amazes me the number of people out there who still ride without at least, wearing a helmet... people who think that it won't happen to them or, their head is harder than a cement or asphalt road.

Hopefully... just hopefully, some of you other 'riders' out there will learn from motoman's misfortune and, close call (though, somehow I doubt it). Yes, road rash hurts but, at least it will heal. A severe head injury won't!

Motoman, you could have very easily not been around to tell your story. Thankfully you are and, thankfully you got back into the saddle as quickly as you did. And, thankfully you've seen the light... and not the one beckoning you on your final journey...

Welcome back!

[motoman]

madmax, your response is well taken..............specially preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. I don't see that as a negative, just reality. Always did that in competing, whether it was motocross, ski racing, building highly competative muscle cars of the day, and even some trials competition, all of which I did at a winning level more often than not. Touring or street riding, I never gave it much thought, as it is not a compeitive sort of activity. After July 19th that has pretty much changed. The awareness level of how exposed we really are to the dangers and just how quick your day of enjoying the thing we love doing can go south has definitely changed my perspective to be included in the everyday just riding. My hopes in reporting of my accident here is to just raise the awareness level to others that they may ride in a safe fashion, always "covering" the brakes at all times when in traffic and such. On a humorous note, the ST being known as the best "do it all well" bike also slides very far and well too, 325ft@45mph. The other party being ticketed for the incident, I may be able to keep and repare the cosmetic damage on the ST, and possibly look for a great buy on the much larger more visible Wing, even the 1500 would be give the wife and I more room and comfort two-up for long touring. Thanks again for bringing those thoughts to my attention. More awareness from others input is always a good thing.

[tarzan]

Glad you guys didnt get seriously injured.About 5 years ago on my first SG I made it my turn.I was drinking with buddys in my garage.I had just cleaned the bike up for winter storage and decided to to" take 'er out for one last spin" before I put it away.Well to make a long story short I was lighting the tires up going around corners being an idiot.I came around a right hand corner and got on it and it just slid right out from under me.I ended up with some road rash and scraped the sidecover and kerker exhaust.People started coming out of their houses to see of I was ok.I couldnt get that thing up fast enough off the pavement and get out of there.Before someone called the police.I was very lucky.Someone had to be looking out for me that day.I deserved a much worse outcome.I quit drinking about 6 months later.So that shouldnt be problem anymore.The irorny is even now riding sober I have a lot more respect for bikes now.

[madmax-im]

Motoman...you state that getting a larger bike ...like a Gold Wing would make you more visible...not necessarily...Bright colored riding apparral will help as will LED running lights or adding reflective materials..or even adding a headlamp modulator.My riding gear is freaking bright..I have 2 Olympia jackets one mesh and one winter...they are both in Hi-Viz Lime /Yellow...the reactions I get are just what I want...ppl see this coming down the road(most ppl) I wear afull face flip Nolan N102 helmet also in Yellow but not as bright as the jackets...still there are no guarantees that you'll be seen by everyone...but it will definitely improve the odds...just my .02 cents...

[motoman]

Yes madmax.......all those things are definitely a help. Was just thinking the Wing being of a wider stance as is the Venturer1100 would be somewhat more noticeable, the ST's sleeker and narrow stance I'm sure not quite as noticeable. Don't ride at nite, but touring you sometimes get caught after dark and the Wings tend to be lit up more, specially in the rear. Just thinking of some other options, and still hate to give up the "do it all well" capabilities , power, handling, smoothness, etc. of the ST.

[Paintman]

Ouch

Hey Moto Glad you are ok seems like alot of Folks have been going down or having near misses.Getting a larger bike that you can lite up like a christmas tree cant hurt . I always think that everyone driving is either drunk or blind. and no matter how careful we are we can only control so much.---

Stay safe and heal fast.


John