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Seems Smash had a run-in with some cages...... All you can do is prepare for the wreck.....
Yep folks, after 150k+ miles riding motorcycles since 2003 it happened to me this afternoon at 4pm.
First off: I AM OK. Really. The gear did it's job. The helmet took a blow, as did my jacket and my pants are pretty much toast. I can't tell you how much my gear saved me from excruciating pain and a one way ticket to the ER. Not one INCH of my skin touched pavement.
Finished up an afternoon ride with my friend Ditch, he went straight at the light to head home, I went right on highway 93 to go home. Crested the 60mph 3 lane road (1 lane my direction, 2 the other way) following 2 other cars and found stopped traffic ahead. 1st car stopped barely in time. 2nd car stopped within 2 inches of the 1st car (the skid marks left are amazing). Me? Well, I could either go into 60mph oncoming traffic to the left, or a tree on the right. I chose the bumper of a silver Suzuki Grand Vitara. Lets just say I got really intimate with his spare tire carrier....
The bike? It was rocketed across traffic and came to rest on the hill on the other side of the road. Thank GOD it didn't hit anyone. It's salvageable, albeit as a street fighter. It is not leaking any fluid. Fairings are toast, I can't find any problems with the frame. I am hoping the forks are straight but will check those out very closely. Gauges are ok, I think. My headlight, front fairing and bulbs completely exploded, I remember being happy I had my visor down as the shards tried to attack my face.
Time did not slow down for me. It was VERY fast. My friend Todd said, "you must not have crashed right," (LOL) as most wreck stories I've heard folks say time slows down.
The driver of the Suzuki I hit was fine, although I damaged his spare tire cover, his bumper and made such a dent in his rear cargo door he couldn't open it. He was understanding, kind and sincerely concerned for my well being. Several times he said, "I don't know what else you could have done" and asked me atleast 4 times "are you sure you're ok?"
I remember every millisecond. I remember making a decision to hit the bumper. I remember sliding on my back along the double yellow center line and rolling away from oncoming traffic as soon as I could. I remember once I got out of oncoming traffic doing a quick check of all my limbs, back and lungs. I remember as soon as I knew I was ok, I made sure the scene was safe. I remember a lot of things. My prior emergency and outdoor medical training paid off.
Yes, I was checked out by paramedics and deemed fine to go home. I have no soreness in my head, neck or shoulders. Am sore on my lower back and arse where I hit the pavement, left ankle and knee swollen but load bearing on my left side (hit the handlebars? not sure). I'm expecting a lot of soreness in the morning.
In 7 days Karla and I are supposed to leave for a HUGE gathering of friends in North Carolina. Not sure about this. I have generous offers from Ditch and Swivel to use their Honda Sabre 1100s, a bike I used to own. There are a lot of things to consider here. I promise to make the best decision possible.
Spent the evening with Karla, Outlaw and Cricket who graciously picked up the tab for dinner and beverages at our favorite New Mexico cuisine joint. Thank you.
A HUGE thank you to Ditch for checking his phone and coming to give me company along the side of the road. To Outlaw and Cricket for driving an hour with their truck to pick up the bike. To Karla, for NOT panicking and showing me every ounce of love I needed. And absolutely a huge thank you to the state patrol officer, 2 firefighters and 2 paramedics who promptly arrived on scene to make sure I was ok. My hats off to those guys.
Back at home, cleaned up the accident site as best I could before my friends arrived.
Radiator, not leaking
Shifter
Now this picture is rather spectacular. I made this dent. Really. My body made this huge dent in the tank. That was NOT there before. Outlaw put it perfectly, "dude, you've got balls of steel!!"
Ditch and Outlaw helping unloading all the pieces....
with a group of cages....
Yep folks, after 150k+ miles riding motorcycles since 2003 it happened to me this afternoon at 4pm.
First off: I AM OK. Really. The gear did it's job. The helmet took a blow, as did my jacket and my pants are pretty much toast. I can't tell you how much my gear saved me from excruciating pain and a one way ticket to the ER. Not one INCH of my skin touched pavement.
Finished up an afternoon ride with my friend Ditch, he went straight at the light to head home, I went right on highway 93 to go home. Crested the 60mph 3 lane road (1 lane my direction, 2 the other way) following 2 other cars and found stopped traffic ahead. 1st car stopped barely in time. 2nd car stopped within 2 inches of the 1st car (the skid marks left are amazing). Me? Well, I could either go into 60mph oncoming traffic to the left, or a tree on the right. I chose the bumper of a silver Suzuki Grand Vitara. Lets just say I got really intimate with his spare tire carrier....
The bike? It was rocketed across traffic and came to rest on the hill on the other side of the road. Thank GOD it didn't hit anyone. It's salvageable, albeit as a street fighter. It is not leaking any fluid. Fairings are toast, I can't find any problems with the frame. I am hoping the forks are straight but will check those out very closely. Gauges are ok, I think. My headlight, front fairing and bulbs completely exploded, I remember being happy I had my visor down as the shards tried to attack my face.
Time did not slow down for me. It was VERY fast. My friend Todd said, "you must not have crashed right," (LOL) as most wreck stories I've heard folks say time slows down.
The driver of the Suzuki I hit was fine, although I damaged his spare tire cover, his bumper and made such a dent in his rear cargo door he couldn't open it. He was understanding, kind and sincerely concerned for my well being. Several times he said, "I don't know what else you could have done" and asked me atleast 4 times "are you sure you're ok?"
I remember every millisecond. I remember making a decision to hit the bumper. I remember sliding on my back along the double yellow center line and rolling away from oncoming traffic as soon as I could. I remember once I got out of oncoming traffic doing a quick check of all my limbs, back and lungs. I remember as soon as I knew I was ok, I made sure the scene was safe. I remember a lot of things. My prior emergency and outdoor medical training paid off.
Yes, I was checked out by paramedics and deemed fine to go home. I have no soreness in my head, neck or shoulders. Am sore on my lower back and arse where I hit the pavement, left ankle and knee swollen but load bearing on my left side (hit the handlebars? not sure). I'm expecting a lot of soreness in the morning.
In 7 days Karla and I are supposed to leave for a HUGE gathering of friends in North Carolina. Not sure about this. I have generous offers from Ditch and Swivel to use their Honda Sabre 1100s, a bike I used to own. There are a lot of things to consider here. I promise to make the best decision possible.
Spent the evening with Karla, Outlaw and Cricket who graciously picked up the tab for dinner and beverages at our favorite New Mexico cuisine joint. Thank you.
A HUGE thank you to Ditch for checking his phone and coming to give me company along the side of the road. To Outlaw and Cricket for driving an hour with their truck to pick up the bike. To Karla, for NOT panicking and showing me every ounce of love I needed. And absolutely a huge thank you to the state patrol officer, 2 firefighters and 2 paramedics who promptly arrived on scene to make sure I was ok. My hats off to those guys.
Back at home, cleaned up the accident site as best I could before my friends arrived.
Radiator, not leaking
Shifter
Now this picture is rather spectacular. I made this dent. Really. My body made this huge dent in the tank. That was NOT there before. Outlaw put it perfectly, "dude, you've got balls of steel!!"
Ditch and Outlaw helping unloading all the pieces....
with a group of cages....
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