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All the way down!

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  • All the way down!

    Went for a ride on my 1098 on Sunday, through an epic piece of mountain road. I rode hard through a good portion of it, until I came to a downhill stretch which which I am not real familiar. I slowed to about 45-50 through this section. As I neared the second corner (a blind corner), a car came around the corner wide and over the center line. While not entirely in my lane, I swung wide to allow room. The Ducati is fabulous at these kind of lane changes, and I pulled a pretty impressive lean angle to make it happen. I was braking as well, and all was going according to plan until I hit the gravel on the edge of the road. This being a mountain road, the bike and I slid off the road in an epic low side, and then went flipping off the edge of a 30' embankment into a creek bottom. I hit a steel T-post on the way down, but nothing else. The way the road is laid out, I doubt the car saw it happen, so I don't really blame them much for not stopping. The lane cross on the other hand...

    Fortunately for me, I was wearing gear--full face, Joe Rocket jacket, leather gloves, boots, and double knee carpenter pants. My head never hit, but the jacket is really torn up and even melted in quite a few places. The carpenter pants blew a knee, so I got some rash on that leg. Except for the bruises and stiffness from flattening the fencepost, I feel pretty good.

    Some awesome guys who were dirtbiking the area stopped, pushed my bike out of the bottom, and then loaded both of us in their truck and took me home. Can't thank them enough!

    The bike is naturally pretty scarred up. All the plastic is broken, but the frame, forks, wheels and other expensive parts survived untouched. I'm hoping insurance elects to repair it, so that I can still ride this summer. It is going to a Duc specialist on Friday to determine the final results. Hope for the best!

    Some pics of the carnage!



    you can't see the entire track in this pic, but the bike and I ended by the log in the bottom


    My Riggs double knee carpenter pants


    poor pic of my jacket


    Hope for the best from the insurance quote on Friday! I wanna get this thing back on the road!!
    Healthy is merely the slowest rate at which you can die

    Some people will tell you that slow is good - and it may be, on some days - but I am here to tell you that fast is better. I’ve always believed this, in spite of the trouble it’s caused me. Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba….Hunter S. Thompson

  • #2
    Damn man. Bad crash but looks like you came out of it pretty well.
    Nate

    78 XS11 "Matilda" 2H7 000364

    2001 Raptor ACCT, T.C. Fuse Box, TC Bros Forward Controls
    Kuryakyn Iso Grips/Throttleboss/Bar End Mirror, Custom Covered Seat
    Shinko 712s, HID Headlight, RC Performance Exhaust
    Bikemaster Daytona Handlebars, Galfer SS Brake Lines
    Barnett HD Clutch Springs, T.C. Spin On Filter Adapter
    K+N Air Filter

    88 Voyager XII
    81 XJ650 Maxim

    Comment


    • #3
      Wow! Glad yer still pickin' daisies, not pushin' 'em.

      Comment


      • #4
        Glad your here posting your story! Hope you can get the duc fixed!

        But really, you just went home?! Went over a 30' embankment A-side you didn't get checked out?!
        Nathan
        KD9ARL

        μολὼν λαβέ

        1978 XS1100E
        K&N Filter
        #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
        OEM Exhaust
        ATK Fork Brace
        LED Dash lights
        Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

        Green Monster Coils
        SS Brake Lines
        Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

        In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

        Theodore Roosevelt

        Comment


        • #5
          Glad you are ok. Guess you won't be out in shorts and a t-shirt soon. Be careful!
          79 XS11 Special (Lazarus)
          80 XS850 Special (Old Faithful)
          80 XS11 Standard sorta stock (Beatrice)
          79 DT 100

          Comment


          • #6
            Fortunate while being UNfortunate

            To say you're forntunate while being UNfortunate is an understatment in this incident. GLAD to hear you were able to walk away (like the old saying goes "any accident you can walk away from is a good accident, if there is such a thing"!!!) I hope if you're having any lingering residual pains, you might think of going and getting checked-out by the medics (depending if your body was involved and I think from what I read it was when U say U hit the metal pole)
            As far as the bike goes, it might be worse than meets the eye when you're talking 'bout the body panel mounting frames. At least you're taking it to a Duc specialist who will be able to tell if those sub-frames have been damaged. Thank your lucky stars those dirt bike riders just happen to be close when the whole thing went down and they were able to get you packed-up and deliver you home...And just know you did what had to be done at a split second and you were actually wearing ATGATT (all the gear at the time) when the deed happened... Best advice to anyone wanting to do some fast manuvering on a mountain road with lots of nice curves....
            Take it easy and keep a close eye on those sore places,
            Glad you're around to talk about it...
            TV
            Last edited by tv5150; 07-11-2012, 11:22 AM.
            Current Rides:
            02 GL1800 Wing
            79 XS1100SF Sold 10-15-12
            81 XS1100H Venturer Sold 10-27-12

            Comment


            • #7
              I am just damn glad you are around to tell the story. Might have been a different outcome if you were on an old ill handling XS that had not been thoroughly gone thru. Luckily you had the state of the art type bike and loads of experience that may have helped a "wee" bit.
              Thank god for the gear and the dirt bikers and anything else you can think of. Hope you heal well and the bike is not written off but you would probably just modify the broken parts and make a new one anyways .
              2-79 XS1100 SF
              2-78 XS1100 E Best bike Ever
              80 XS 1100 SG Big bore kit but not fully running yet.
              Couple of more parts bikes of which 2 more will live!

              Comment


              • #8
                Ehhhhh.....that grass looks pretty soft.

                Gotta watch out for those Montana drivers, especially the farmers.

                Glad your ok man
                Greg

                Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

                ― Albert Einstein

                80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

                The list changes.

                Comment


                • #9
                  That's quite a story. Glad you survived, and I hope your bike does.
                  1980 XS 11 Special: The King of Kong, 9th wonder of the world. Pacifico fairing, chopped shield, Yamaha hard bags, Diamond seat, T-Kat fork brace, XJ top end, YICS Eliminator, '80 carbs from Spyder Cycle Works, K&N Air filter, Fuse block, stainless steel valves & reg/rect from Oregon MC Parts. Raptor CCT, XJ air shocks, 850 FD, Sportster mufflers, Standard handle bar, Tusk Bar Risers, SS braided brake lines. Cat Eye speedometer. HID projector beam headlight, LED running lights.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I really appreciate all the well wishes, guys! All in all I am very lucky with how things turned out, particularly when I look back at what all could have happened!

                    I am really hoping that insurance will pay to rebuild this bike to its original (or better) glory, since it is truly an epic machine--perhaps my favorite bike ever. And i am also going to start riding in full race leather from now on. I'm a believer in how the gear works to be sure!

                    Nate, I didn't really feel bad enough to warrant checking out. I figured they would poke, prod, and tell me to take an ibuprofin and take it easy for a bit--which is kind of what I've been doing anyway. I am progressing nicely, and should be near new here in another week or so, I figure. The bike won't be for a bit, so till then I'm rocking the Softail and the VTR. It hurts to get them out of the garage, but once I'm in motion I've been good--I've ridden all week to work with no serious ill effect. Got a 200 mile poker run this weekend that I'm eyeing as well, but we'll see...gotta take advantage of the nice weather!

                    Again guys, I really appeciate all the well wishes. I'll keep you posted on the bike!
                    Healthy is merely the slowest rate at which you can die

                    Some people will tell you that slow is good - and it may be, on some days - but I am here to tell you that fast is better. I’ve always believed this, in spite of the trouble it’s caused me. Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba….Hunter S. Thompson

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      You are a machine!
                      Nathan
                      KD9ARL

                      μολὼν λαβέ

                      1978 XS1100E
                      K&N Filter
                      #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
                      OEM Exhaust
                      ATK Fork Brace
                      LED Dash lights
                      Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

                      Green Monster Coils
                      SS Brake Lines
                      Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

                      In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

                      Theodore Roosevelt

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Well, the Duc is done. The quote came in at $26,000 damage, so it was totaled. The up side is that my insurance has been great, and I am bike shopping again! Looking for a track only Ducati, and ordered an HD sportster 48. The sporty showed up today, and once I'm done building on it, it should be a great street brawler. Here's a pic of it on the rack getting a wash after delivery. Stoked about this bike, it's part of the "Skin for Bikes" program, the more you give, the more you get!! Just kidding, of course...

                        The Forty-Eight:
                        Healthy is merely the slowest rate at which you can die

                        Some people will tell you that slow is good - and it may be, on some days - but I am here to tell you that fast is better. I’ve always believed this, in spite of the trouble it’s caused me. Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba….Hunter S. Thompson

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Now that is a Harley I could like and I'm sure I'll like it more when you're done with it. As it sits, it looks a little like the copper chopper.
                          79 XS11 Special (Lazarus)
                          80 XS850 Special (Old Faithful)
                          80 XS11 Standard sorta stock (Beatrice)
                          79 DT 100

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            You certainly are persistent!

                            Sorry to hear about the duc. Good luck finding a new one, and hope you are feeling better.
                            Nathan
                            KD9ARL

                            μολὼν λαβέ

                            1978 XS1100E
                            K&N Filter
                            #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
                            OEM Exhaust
                            ATK Fork Brace
                            LED Dash lights
                            Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters

                            Green Monster Coils
                            SS Brake Lines
                            Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

                            In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

                            Theodore Roosevelt

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              HD sportster 48.

                              Thats what a Motorcycle should look like.

                              HD sportster 48.

                              the only thing I would change is to put some All Terrain Semi-Knobby tires on it to run on the dirt roads in the woods.

                              And a Rifle Scabbard

                              and a Stainless Steel rack over the rear fender to haul Deer and and Beer and Gear

                              How much does one of those scooters cost?

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