Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge The Bad News, The Good News, The Cool News Long

Hi All,

I ride 50 miles each way to and from work. Between the enjoyment I get from my 2004 America, and the high price of gas, I tend to ride the bike more than I drive the car.

On June 8, I was riding to work and I was on the entrance ramp from one highway to another. When I glanced in my rear view mirror, I saw a kid in a Mitsubishi Eclipse right on my butt. As I was exiting the curve from the ramp to the new highway, I knew it was safe to accelerate to get away from the kid.

That's the last thing I remember until I found myself sliding across the highway. I am not sure if the kid hit me, if I broke tracton on my back tire, or if somehow, I just lost balance.

Luckily I wasn't hit as I picked myself up off the road, found the bike (a ways away from where I finished sliding) and got me and the bike over to the shoulder.

A couple of people finally stopped, and a nice tow truck driver stayed there until my wife came to take me to the hospital. He also arranged for a bike tow company to get my bike to the shop.

I ended up with quite a bit of road rash (helmet, dress shirt, blue jeans, boots.) I also sprained my right shoulder. The bike ended up with $3900 of damage, all of it on the right side, none of it structual. Progressive was really good to deal with, no hassles at all.

The bike and I are healed up now, but I have had a couple of problems with the bike since I got it from the shop. The kickstand switch quit working reliably, and my side lights (on the light bar) blow a 5A fuse when operated. This fuse also operates the speedo light as well as my taillight.

When my wife picked me up after the accident, she asked if I was going to quit riding. I told her "no way." She is convinced the bike needs to go after the accident, and understands I am not going to quit riding. She figures the bike will be trouble now..."nothing's ever the same after an accident."

Here's the cool part. Looks like I will be trading my black 2004 America with 8000 miles for a silver 2006 America. Just trying to get accepable terms from the bank. The loan is approved, but rates have gone up so much in the past 13 months that I am having a bit of trouble swallowing the new rate.

I'm checking the credit union tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed.

Nels
Orlando, FL

The accident sucks. Fresh asphault can get slippery when it is hot out. Very glad to hear that you were not damaged as much as it could have been.

That is great that you are going to be able to get a new bike and get back out on the road.

Soren

Did the punk stop when you crashed?

Soren,

While I was waiting for my wife to pick me up, I walked the area where I took my spill, and for the life of me, can't figure out what went wrong. It was old asphalt (actually looks more like concrete.)

I've replayed the accident over and over (at least the parts I remember) and I am still not exactly sure what went wrong. I'd really like to be able to learn more than I have.

What I have learned is this: Always, always wear a helmet. Other than that, I try to wear my leather jacket most of the time, even in 100 degree heat. I always wear it now on the way home (after midnight, it's much cooler.)

I have to figure, unless I was hit by the Mitsubishi, I was at fault. I wish I knew what went wrong, so I don't do it again.

Nels

Friar John,

No one stopped until a few minutes after the accident. If I ever find that kid.......

Nels

Nels
I know what you mean about "can't figure out what went wrong" I don't remember hardly anything about my crash. I guess it's your minds way of saving you the trouble. The leader of my RAT group took some pictures (sick bastard) and have some idea of what and where but still no why.
I've got $1800 worth of parts in the back of the garage and the bike tore down and on blocks. I'm blaming the hot weather for putting off the rebuild... or something else perhaps.
ModelMaker

Good choice Brummie.

If I were buying one now (in the absence of blue) I'd get that colour scheme.
Classy looking mix.

Unless of course they start doing tangerine and white .........

Nels,

Sorry to hear about your "unscheduled trip". Good to hear that your injuries were relatively minor.("low-siding", and that sounds like what you experienced, is ALWAYS preferable to "high-siding" and going over the bars).

And GOOD for YOU. Ya gotta get RIGHT BACK on that pony and RIDE, or there will always be a bad taste in your mouth about this exhilaratig sport.

Cheers,
Dwight
(and Progressive Insurance was right there for me when I found myself in the same situation as yours a few years back, too)

I just settle a claim with progressive on my little lowside. I have sold progressive for while, but never had my own claim. It was painless, the only thing that backed it up was progressive waiting for the quote back from the dealer. I have heard complaints about the auto side of the company, but nothing but good from the cycle side.

Sorry abou the accident, Nels. I am glad you are okay and back on the saddle again.

Sorry to hear about your get-off, but glad to hear you're okay and Progressive was easy to deal with. I have the same insurance company, and it's nice to know chances are they'll be there.

Hey Ed/ModelMaker,

I don't remember reading about your accident. Hope you're okay and get the bike back together soon. IIRC, you've been on the forum a long time, something like 4 years? There's not too many of the old guard left. Sometimes I wonder what happened to those that aren't around anymore, like Renegade who always had strong opinions and kept us up to date on what Abate was doing.

I know Evansville isn't a small town, but do you ever see Robert? Just wondering how he's doing.

Hi All,

I'm getting my new bike on Wednesday morning...they have to move a bunch of stuff from the old bike...AI removal kit, windshield, sissy bar, etc etc....

I'm getting excited!!

Nels

Dereck,
I don't know if I ever posted all the gory details. Was out with the Rat group on the spring campout and was riding a guy back to Richland Center, Wi and came over a hill with a hard left plus a merging road. I kinda remember starting a low side slide and don't know if I brought it back up or what but the right peg planted (broke in two) and did an old mechanical bull flip. I landed 16 paces out into a corn feild. I think I was out during the low side cause I don't remember anything until I came to later and asked what them guys was doin in the feild. Got my first ambulance ride I don't remeber much of that, went out again till I was in the ER. Didn't break anything but sure beat the hell out of my body. There was no damage to my boots or jeans so I went straight up and straight down. Still have a little dizzyness and my side and hip (landing zone) are still tender.
I know wearing saftey gear is a personal choice, But I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have survived without em. Full face Nolan hat, Rocket armoured summer jacket, gloves, boots they did their job.
I think I'm gonna take fri off and my grandson and I will get started on it.
Oh, by the way it's Evansdale IA not Evansville IN and I wonder about Robert also. Wish he would stop in once and awhile. I landed here in Sept. of '02, still check almost daily, but don't always post.
I'm ok, the bike will be ok, just need to get back at it.
Take care.
ModelMaker

I have to disagree about progressive... when I was rear ended several months back the lady that hit me also had progressive, I definetly felt the agent was only representing her...lowballing me on everything... missed wages, out of pocket expenses, doctor bills... It took them a week before they quoted my bike... all's fine now but it was a real pain dealing with them

The many sides of Renegade! A retrospective of one of the prolific past posters on this site.

“Ya I am an old grouchy bastard and if you don’t like it and want to fight stick your head up your as$ and fight for air. Geez I feel better getting that off my chest for now. I’ll be back!”

“I wave to kids and old ladies get me to stop so they can cross the road. I guess that’s my redeeming quality. But let it fly man ....repeat after me...... I will unscrew your head and sh|t down your neck. Then give em the one finger salute @1@”

“They got the Snap on calendar changed to some bull sh|t tool add thing,NO BABES..... (The moral majority is nether) I hate this kind of thing we ride free and live in the wind for a reason, FREEDOM of rights for all. I didn’t put my a$s on the line in 1968 so I could come home to this kind of thing”

“My a$s deserves better treatment”

“If any of you find this is incorrect politically kiss my butt smile and wave. “

“To much sex is bad for the back make her get on top” Ryan, are you reading this!?

“I was loaded down ....must have been close to eleven hundred pounds with full leathers cameras a sink and a couple of cats.”

“Not a post in this section I guess you guys are so good you don’t need this section.”

“Unlike wives and girl friends that run off old biker bro’s are always a part of you even if you have traded a punch or two.”

“Ya you are OK sweet cheeks I hope you stick around most chicks cant hang with this bunch. “

“the truth is my brothers Semper Fi”

And finally, in remembrance

“Roll back the gas and ride Buck”

And wasn't it Renegade who would chew your arse for posting in the wrong section?
ModelMaker

Hahaha...yep, that's Renegade! Thanks for digging those up Moe. He really used to rip into people who posted in the wrong section. And back then we only had 3 or 4 different forums. I'll always be indebted to him. He traded me a pillion paid and all he wanted back was a long sleeve Triumph t-shirt.

We could use an old guy thread....just pull gems like those from the old board. Heck, I don't think I've been around that long, having a Speedmaster and not joining till May of 2003.

Sorry to hear about you going down ModelMaker. I must need new glasses, could've sworn your location said Evansville. Didn't we have somebody around in the old days that also lived in Evansville? Or maybe my memory is going with my eyesight.