Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Crashed my bike

I posted this on the T-bird site. I should have kept my BA.com friends updated too. Sorry.

Oct. 24
"Coming home from the AR rally I wrecked my bird trying to avoid a Camaro. Remember my rant about the 24k service and the dealer keeping the bike for 3 1/2 weeks? Well they had it ready for me a 9am the day of the rally so i took my stuff to the shop and left from there. Coming back I laid the bike down. I spent 6 hours in the ER and have a broken left humerous near my collarbone. I have to get surgery this Wednesday to screw it back together. The bike was running but it is still in AR. Hoping to go get it tomorrow. The tank is smashed on one side headlight housing is crunched, shift lever bent. I hope they don't total it because I couldn't replace it with what they would give me. I'll probably not be able to ride for a couple of months. Yes it is a b!tch typing with my right hand since I am left handed."

Oct. 26th:
"My son and friend went to AR yesterday and retrieved my bike. It was about a 10 hour round trip drive. It's sitting in front of the dealer since they are closed 2 days. I hope it doesn't get stolen too. But who would want a wrecked bike"

Nov 2
"The shop turned the claim in to State Farm Friday, I missed their call but from my estimate using Bike Bandit since their prices are about what Triumph charges, it's going to be between $3500-4,000. The big thing was the tank that was smashed on one side. They go for $993 for a Pacific Blue/White and another $115 for the fittings. Then front fender, headlight, windshield, shift lever and left turn signal were trashed and left exhaust was scruffed up. If the ins. company totals it, I'm screwed. I won't be able to replace it for $5800 which is the trade in value and what State Farm usually gives you."

Nov.4th
"Looks like they are not going to total it. Damage is $3,777 including labor and tax. State Farm is sending a check to the dealer at my request so they can get going on it. It'll probably be ready just in time for the first snowfall."

I'm suppossed to be off work for a couple of more weeks. The pain has decreased a lot so I quit taking the pills. Post op appt. is Tuesday. I hate to spend my veteran's day doing that.

Sorry to hear that bud. But it is a good accident when you can still type about it. Good luck with the fix and the physical recovery.

Sorry to hear about the crash, thoughts and prayers with you. It will take time.

Sorry to hear about this, but glad you are recovering.

Sorry to hear about your accident but thankfully you are not too badly broken. Geez, that just sucks. Here's hoping for a swift and complete recovery from your injuries.

Well dang Paul, that just sucks... glad you're still around to tell the tale though.
Hoping you heal quickly brother..

You and your bird have all winter to get well. Good luck and follow your Doc's orders.

Damn, Paul. I hope it all heals up ok. Don't rush anything.

Thanks guys for the support and well wishes. I should be fine in a few weeks. I'm trying to suck everything I can out of State Farm. I'm not getting the small scratch on the left pipe fixed and that will take care of my deductible. A nice lady on the Tbird forum offered me a set of perfect stock pipes with the baffles out for just the cost of shipping. If I get the small dent in the fender fixed by a body shop instead of replacing it, That could get me a new front tire. Also I'm going to finally get rid of the small oval tank badges and get ones from a Thunderbird LT that look more like the ones on the America and more tradtional. Hopefully I will have something good come from all this.

Also lesson I learned: Get the best gear you can. I've been wearing the same helmet for 12 years. I'm going to get a new one and replace every 5 years and I'm going to try to get some lower body protection like the jeans with kevlar or chaps.

Jeez. Time for the AR rally boys to send you one of those patches. Thanks for the update Paul. Good to read that you are okay and well on the way back to good health.

btw, have you considered going 'Charlie' style: Band-aids for the smaller dents; zip ties for the loose bits; and wood for the missing bits?

Glad to hear you're ok Paul.

Glad to hear you're on the mend ( and the bike too).

I'm just glad you can tell the tale. Hope all else works out good for you. And that you mend in short order.

By the way the Arkansas rally was a great time. I will have to make it to the next one.

You'd better, Chad. I enjoyed meeting you. Just stick with me and let all the hot rodders "Go their own way".

Glad to hear you are on the mend, and that the bike will be too.

Saw the Orthopedic surgeon today. The bone is healing fine but 2 weeks of PT before he will release me to drive.

It sucks you crashed but it's great that you are healing. I'd bet you'll be ready before the weather is.

May of 2013 I wrecked my Thunderbird, driving to work.
I broke my collarbone. I had the option for surgery, but opted not to do it. I should have done it.
It healed, but it's freakish to look at..
Not that I am casually hanging out shirtless..
If I sleep on that side for too long, it will ache.

Nothing aches however, like seeing your bike, lying on its side.. leaking vitals onto the street...

Sorry, brau.. but glad you're on the mend

I'm glad to hear you are doing well Paul.

Donny brought my bike home yesterday. She's as good as new. I however, have at least 4-8 more weeks of physical therapy. Thanks for all the good thoughts.

Paul, I'm glad you got her straightened out again and the insurance didn't give you the shaft. Make sure you keep up with that PT and get yourself back to 100%. At least NOW you can definitely say that you've crashed a bike

Good news Paul. Maybe in 8 weeks you'll be doing a 'Fast Eddy' ride!

Paul, all due respect, but I hate "crashed my bike" stories. But glad to hear you'll be back on the

jh

I'm glad ya got ya bike back. Ya better mend by spring, as I hope to make a ride up that way if my schedule will allow.

Sorry to hear of the crash Paul, but it sounds as if you're comin' through all this very well and that it'll soon be another story to tell over a beer with your friends.

(...and a story with a happy ending)

Sorry to hear about this. Heal well and fast. Best wishes.

Any wreck story written in the first person is way better than one that has to be written by someone else. Bad, but better.

Dang, hadn't been on here in awhile, glad your alright Paul !

Wow.. just catching up on things. Glad you made it through to tell the tale!