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Well , I've been told many times there's two type of motorcycle riders . Those that have gone down and those who are waiting . As of Saturday March 31st I've switched sides. After years of riding in down pouring rain ( just doesn't seem to describe it well enough ) hail and wind chills around zero I finally get out on a dry , sunny , little warmer roughly 35'F day and crash . Somehow I have to believe this was Rob's doing just to get even with me for breaking and not allowing the foot to heal . It was also perfect a time to crash the bike , after all with Rob's help I just completed the little things like installing additional lights , getting the oil changed and just getting the bike ready for a new season . I debated about mentioning this on the site but what the ****** , not only do you not here me coming ( same ole pipes ) but now there less gleam off of the shinny stuff to hit you between the eyes .

hey I had nothing to do with it...well except maybe picking that road...but it was a fine road...you forgot to mention the three broken/fractured ribs...

Well you sure got me wonderen! How bad? What happen? Are you okay? How is the bike???????

Dave

Yeah, you need to qualify 'are you OK' and 'what happened?'

These things happen mate, dont worry about it.

So long as you are OK. The bike can always be fixed. Ride a motorcycle long enough and eventually YOU WILL fall off.

Its just what happens. I think the statistics/odds are Every rider will fall off one time. So i guess i have taken the fall for a few others. I have kissed tar tarmac on three occasions. It happens.

all is well , couple few fractured ribs none of the free floating ones so could have been much worse . It pays to wear the right gear . The bike isn't as bad either , most of the damage is just scratches in the paint . Front fender took the brunt of the force . I ended up low siding the bike on a slow corner ( still have no clue how or why ) holding it up for a while thru the slide but when the big rock got closer made the desicion now would be a good time to get off so by the time the bike went down I don't think it was moving more than 25 or 30 MPH .

The impressive part is Lee is still committed to the Iron Butt to GA.

I have about 20 days left to complete the healing process . I find the little white pills help along with 2 or 3 glasses of very good scotch . The impressive thing was the remaining ride to our destination after the mishap and then the 1 1/2 hour ride home . Didn't really hurt until that evening when what felt like a horse jumped on my chest .

Lee,
I'm happy you're ok dude. I hope you heal quickly.

Dave,

Low speed (well low for the bike not so low if it's YOU flying thru the air)
25-30 MPH low sided going around a left hand corner...we think, perhaps as he was riding the ditch side of the stager,...that he may have found the only patch of sand OR that he hooked the road edge...

as we were on a sweet twisty with numerous blind corners, riding spaced out a bit, and Lee was "tailgunner" it took several min for the pack to realize he had dropped out...we regrouped and continued on to Kittery trading post in ME...rode home and later that night a perscription of Scotch was administered at my house...after several days of pain...and harrasment from two of those who were riding with him he finally went the the vet to be told he had fractured/broken three ribs

the damage to the bike is primaraly cosmetic...screen, fender, left front indicator, possibly a foot board needs to be straightened...have to call the Yammi stealer to see if we can find the correct paints to re shoot the two tone fender....(down to raw steel..but should be able to straighten it and re shoot it)...

as bike wrecks go not bad at all.......except the wrecking part...and the broken stuff...and the repairs....the tourmaster jacket...the ego...but ANY time you wreck then ride home...you know it could have been SOOOO much worse...

Good to hear that you are all in one piece. Take it easy so you heal up well.

SOren

i wrecked a 04 Daytona rounding a curve at nearly 45 mph. a deer jumped into the road toward the end of the curve, and i veared left in the right curve. it would not have been bad, but the right fork caught a rock or asphalt? and flipped - tearing the cockpit off and damaging both sides and tail. It's sorta weird the first time you ride after crashing, isn't it? Like it just feels weird? I don't know.

So, I feel your pain Lee. I suppose it's safe to say I "crossed-over" in late February.

Best thing about the whole situation? Insurance paid for the damage, and it gave me an excuse to finally switch to a cruiser, particularly a Speedmaster.

Thorn

I'm not trying to hijack -- Just so you know you're not alone - I laid mine down in the rain on a 90 degree corner in middle of my small hometown last December. Just my luck - there were a dozen people on the sidewalk who freaked out. I was going very slow, and found it a bit humorous, in that "I just tripped over my own feet" kind of way. I skied a lot as a kid, and have skidded and slid a number of times. Sliding down the asphalt is remarkably similar to falling while skiing. This makes the second time I've gone down off a bike. The first was 25 years ago, back in my 'invincible' years.

Five positive outcomes:

1 - I had my full face helmet on, and no one recognized me

2 - I learned what that rear tire can't do

3 - It made an impression on me that should last, for a while anyway

4 - Aside from a few scratches - there was almost no damage to the bike, my clothing, or me

5 - I got out of there just as a State Trooper was rounding the bend, and high tailed it home to put the bike out of site.
It's tradition in CT for the troopers to write tickets for almost every mishap like the above, with a charge known as "Speed Too Fast For Conditions."

Good to hear you are okay and that you'll still be coming to Georgia.

Tripped over my feet sounds like a nice way to put it . I had just about competed the turn when I hit a nothing to even notice pot hole and have no idea after that . I do remember my back tire becoming my side tire . I did have my 3/4 helmit (small scratches), my tour master jacket ( torn but still usable), brand new boots ( left one saved my foot ) REMINDER your not riding a dirt bike any more stop using your foot in a corner , and great leather gloves . I walked away ( okay not too far very shaken )with no visable damage other than the 4" oval black and blue on my hip . Everything worked the way it should have. So glad I didn't ride with the open toe sandles , cut off shorts and wife beater shirt . That would have been a big hurt just waiting to happen .

I have been looking forward to the Georgia trip from the day
Rob told me I was going .

Thanks for giving us the details Rob and Lee. Glad you are okay. I think it is a good idea for all of us to discuss accidents. It may help us avoid one ourselves. A while back I was coming into a steep sharp left hander. It had a steep super-elevation so the bike was over more than 45 degrees. I had been up since 3 AM and it was at 7PM. I came into this turn too hot as I have done many times before, but this time I was to close to the centerline and bounced my left boot off of the peg. I corrected and got it back under control but the back tire hit the freshly painted center line and slipped. Again I corrected, but was heading for a ditch and a bank. I got it stopped just as the front wheel hit the gravel and for some reason I dropped the bike on the right side and got my right foot pinned under the bike. Not much damage, but it sure made me more careful entering that turn.

Dave

Sorry to hear about your mishap, but I'm glad you weren't
hurt worse. The bike is easier to fix than you are.

See y'all in GA!
Uncle Charlie

Lee,

I'm glad your ok and the bike just has minor damage. You have three weeks to heal up for our ride.

John

Hi Lee, Really appreciate you're telling us about the mishap and better still you aren't too badly damaged yourself. I sometimes think about how I'd feel if I laid mine over and each time I do, I get the shivers so to speak.

I would really appreciate a photo just to see what I may expect one day but I think just healing up for this ride you guys are going on is probably more important. I wish I could go with you's but maybe in the future. Coming from Aus takes a fair bit of planning and being able to hook up with some fellas would be great too.

Anyway, get well soon matie and thanks again

staffo

I'd like to thank everyone for the well wishes and hope to meet as many of you as possible in Georgia . I've been looking forward to this trek for some time now . Does anyone have a thought as to which energy actually works ?

Almost had a mishap last summer.. was coming down from the MT Washington ride when the road just turned into moguls I was desprately searcing for a clean line & got bouced right out of the seat. Luckily these bikes are very fogiving and I managed to keep it upright & off the guard rail (I later down the road saw one that was not so lucky).
Let's just say I'm lucky I'm a clencher, and the ride was a little more mellow after that.

I almost dumped mine the day I was bringing it home. I was used to my chopper where I have to plan a block ahead if I want to stop. I grabbed the front break a little too hard comming up to a light and locked up the front wheel. It almost slid out from under me. If it wasn't for my experience it would have. The chopper I can squeeze that break as hard as I can and it still hardly slows the bike at all.

Ya know whats even funnier....thats the same front wheel I have on it! LOL

Good to hear your still in the saddle. funny thing about tripping over your own feet. to help your pride a little here's a good one.

I was riding with my buddy one day and we were goffing around at stop lights showing off doing take off burn outs(our bikes can burn out real easy). I did two real good ones super smokey and took off like a batoutahell! we came to the next light and was beginning the next rev up. As I popped the clutch I looked down to see athat I was on the high side of a rut in the road. the bike slipped and fell on its side pipes on my foot and buddy pointing and laughing. No damage to me or the bike, just my pride.