Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Finally Laid Elvira Down

Daydreaming, not paying attention got into some gravel in a curve on a back country road and couldn't save it. I was able to keep it upright long enough to get to the grass shoulder and for a brief second there I thought I might be able to save it. No such luck, front end washed out down we went on her left side.

Her injuries: scratched front fender, slight scratch and ding in the tank, bent shifter, bent shift linkage, bent handlebars (or risers), bent or damaged heat shield on the left pipe, bent left rear turn signal stem.

Me: scratches on right upper arm and elbow (weird considering I had on a leather jacket and we went down on the left side). Also right collarbone bone a little tender, but I can move my arm???

Pulled all the grass and dirt off her, bent the shifter, linkage and signal stem back the best I could and rode her home. I am debating telling the wife... haven't decided yet.

Embarassed beyond words...

Sorry to hear this Don, though glad to hear you're doin' okay.

I guess it's time to call that insurance agent of yours.

(...oh, and ya might as well tell the wife...they have a way of findin' this sorta stuff out eventually, ya know)

Can't hide it. Shouldn't try. I'm sorry.

Sorry to hear the news. Glad you sound like you came out without serious injury, you'll heal, the bike needs to be fixed. Time to upgrade some options? I've got a stock shifter bar thingy sitting around somewhere.

Bummer, glad you're still kickin. Tell her, when she does find out she'll be mad you didn't.


mike

Thank you for the kind words and advice. I went ahead and told her. She wasn't happy but I figured I might as well get it out of the way.

No insurance agent Dwight, I'll just fix her. I polished out most of the scratches in the front fender and tank, can still see the very minor ding but it's diminished. Got the rear stem bent back into position but will need to find a new shifter and linkage and still need to figure out the handlebars/risers.

I still just can't believe I did it. Talk about a bonehead thing to do to lose focus like that... stupid, stupid, stupid.

It is a great accident because you can talk about it. There are worse things than dinging your bike. Good luck with repairs. Sorry to hear of the mishap.

You weren't hurt badly, and the bike can be repaired.
The hardest part is out of the way (telling your wife).
There are two kinds of bikers:
Those that have gone down, and those that will go down.
Now, you have joined group A.
Don't beat yourself up over this, it happened.
Learn from it!
Uncle Charlie

Glad it was so minor and you are able to get it all fixed up without worry over insurance. Embarrassment will fade away to something you can joke about soon enough. Hope you get out of the dog house soon.

Always a bummer. But better than hitting something! I had a contest with a deer years ago. (I won, he died) Got home with a ride from a passing stranger. It wasn't until the middle of the next morning that my "bruised collar bone" turned out to be broken. Back to the ER, and wore an "under the arms" brace 24 hours a day for the next six weeks. In July. But that IS really weird that you would have scratches on your other arm with your gear on!

Oh, man. I'm really sorry. Glad you're okay - and it sounds like Elvira will recover. Where were you?

West of Warrenton on Leeds Manor Road. Got into the gravel where Wheatley School Road intersects Leeds Manor (right in the middle of the curve).

nothing to be embarresed about!! we learn sometimes from our mistakes so live and learn. we have all done dumb stuff and some have lived to tell the tale and some havnt. glad your not in the latter column!! i have had 2 broken collar bones broken shin bone and broken tailbone all from bikes but i have always tried not to make those same mistakes again. yep live and learn thats what i say. i am sure you wont make that mistake again. i was at a friends house not long ago and another friend stopped by and had to show us his new pistol, he has just recently gotten into the gun thing (thinks the world is gonna be in caos soon) and picked up a sweet 911 springfield armory 9mm. nice piece. but he let go with a round inside my friends house (couldnt hear for 2 days hahahaha) 2 things, he wasnt pointing at anybody (first rule) so no one was hurt, and he learned a valuable lesson (all guns are loaded) should he give up shooting?? NO!! live and learn. accidents happen and if we can walk away from them then hopefully there was a lesson learned and we lived to ride another day.

Yeah,that guy SHOULD absolutly give up shooting! No body that stupid should own firearms.

Two negligent discharges here, in 40 some years, each one a learning experience and no damage or injuries, following 'control your muzzle rule'. Very humbling.

I know leeds manor....glad you're okay. I'll keep it in mind when I'm down that way! :-0

Elvira Downe was it?

I have never fired a shot I didn't aim and intend on firing. Anyone who does should sell their guns and not handle them baring a mechanical failure of the firearm. As stated above every gun should be treated as it's loaded and never pointed anywhere you don't intend to shoot especially at any living thing you don't intend to kill. I was taught as a young child how to handle guns.

Don,

Sorry to hear about the low side on Leeds Manor Road. Get well soon!

P.S.: Y'all have some nice roads in Virginia. I've ridden many times on similar roads in Virginia. Amazing that a road so rural can ride through areas so metropolitan. Then BAMN! Right after you cross the intersection, rural is predominant once again. Riding from Woodbridge to Dulles is one such area.

Jim, that is wild. You can even see gravel and dust in the road in this shot! I wiped out near where that split trunk tree is on the right should just past the intersection (or the bike did). I got thrown out into the road.

6 years and 52,000 miles....not even a close call,(except for the Turkey buzzard in North Alabama) and Frog has never been dropped...I think I just jinxxed myself

Dam Don. Don’t be down, happens to the best of us. At least you’re OK with no real serious damage to the scooter….

Gene

You drive a car enough you are likley gonna get into a fender bender, you ride a bike enough you are likley gonna put her down or something else stupid, I am glad you are ok and for what its worth it could be the only one you ever experience and if so.....it was a good one :-)

Don, glad you weren't hurt. Gravel can get anyone, it's pretty tricky stuff.

Gravel, wet leaves, anything metal like manhole covers and steel grate bridges, road paint, tar sealing strips among other stuff is all slippery especially in the rain.