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Reason to wear Full-Face Helmet:


Reason to wear Jacket & Gloves:


Hope I didn't gross anyone out.
My Tale of Stupidity:

Monday this week I ride to work, wearing jacket, gloves, & helmet.
I had to park on an incline, so I shut it off with the
handlebar switch to leave it in gear.
I forgot to turn the key off and drained my battery.
My buddy and I bump-started it and I went about a quarter
of a mile down the road and back to make sure it wouldn't stall.
At this point I'm just wearing jeans, t-shirt and sunglasses.
My buddy says, "Go take a ride, charge the battery."
I say, "Let me get my helmet & wallet first."

I get on the highway (I-95) and go about 10 minutes down the road to I-595 where I want to turn around and head back.
The I-595 off ramp is about 3 miles long.
After about 2 miles the are two cars, one in the left lane
with four-way flashers on, and one beside it stopped dead in the road.
I hit the brakes, the front wheel locked up, and the bike
went down on its right side and slid, no flipping.
I was doing about 60 when I hit the deck.
I hit on my right side first and, thankfully, did not slide.
As best as I can recall, I flipped over seven times.
I kept seeing ground, sky, ground, sky.
When I finally came to a stop, I did the world's fastest
get-off-the-road stumble/run.
Then, with the help of the guy in the car behind me,
picked up the bike.

My injuries are bruises on my right thigh and big toe,
and road rash on both palms, right fingertips,
both forearms, left abs, and chest. I have on a lovely gauze
and tape bra, sure to be the newest fad. I also have two scraped knees.
They gave me a CAT scan and I have no internal injuries.

The only thing wrong with the bike is two broken turn signals,
scraped front brake lever, scraped front & rear footpegs and brake pedal, and broken throttle cable.
I was even able to ride it home yesterday from the tow yard.

If I had been wearing the jacket and gloves that I wore to work that morning,
all I would have would be the bruises and the scraped knees.
As you can see from the pic, I hit face-first, without the
full-face helmet I'd be dead.

Me, Mr. "Operation: Sav-A-Newbie" making a stupid, rookie mistake.
Wear your gear, Moto Locos, I want you to live forever.

Brian

dang. get well soon Brian!

I like the blue painters tape -THAT is a fashion statement!

Here's to healing quickly!

ouch ,thats not a good look for you mate,manzeer/bro and cutoff pjs . glad your ok ,get well soon .

I hate it when that happens. Glad you're basically ok and the bike will recover quickly!

Wow! Fall off at 60+ is a major miracle you are not broken. I assume that was a blind curve where you couldn't see the cars, major peg scrapper there. You are more aggressive then this old guy.

Get well soon.

With hands swollen in pain, Brian here takes the time to type his tale of the consequences of neglecting to wear protective hand and upper body gear!

I'd say that alone deserves one o' these ---->

(Get well soon dude...and thanks for the reminder here!!!)

Sorry Brian. I'm glad you are relatively okay and can ride another day.

Brian,glad that your going to be ok.Hopefully a Steeler victory on Sunday will help to ease your pain

I'm glad you're okay but I don't understand. You didn't see the car stopped dead in the road with it's flashers on? Was it a twisty, curvy off-ramp and you couldn't see the car?

I think I might be glad that the company firewall is blocking the photos. I'm eating lunch.

I'm glad you will be OK too but, around here off ramp speed limits are normally 25 to 35 mph why were you going 60?

FJ,
You're not missing anything - the pics are just Brian bandaged and bruised up- not roadrash or blood and guts visible.

I don't understand how it happened either, buy he is here to tell the tale....

I've always been a jeans and t-shirt guy but for some reason this winter I've been eyeballing a mesh jacket and a full helmet. Can't explain why the sudden change of heart, maybe just getting older. I keep seeing signs like this and it's really making me think. I think I'll be taking your advice. Glad you're (relatively) OK, hope you feel better soon.

glad your ok... get well soon..oh and ouch dang that looks like hurt!!!!!

Ed

Thanks for concern, guys.
The I-595 off ramp is long and straight, over 3 miles.
Traffic is doing its usual 75+.
I came around a car, making a pass, and there they were,
about 6 seconds away.
I had scrubbed off about 15 mph of speed when the front end let go.
I guess I could have swerved into the break-down lane,
but I didn't know what they were going to do.(the one had his emergency flashers on)
My old sportbike reflexes (thirty years worth) got the best of me.
A long wheelbase Speedmaster with that relaxed front rake
doesn't transfer as much weight to the front wheel as the
sportbikes I've been riding up until 2006, does.
I just overwhelmed the available front wheel traction.
(note to self: use both brakes at once, that's why they put them there.)

My wife is a nurse, so I'm well taken care of.
When she got to the Hospital, she started helping
the other nurse with my bandages.
I told them, "You know, when I fantasized about two pretty Spanish girls
taking care of me, this wasn't quite the script I had in mind."
Must have been the Morphine and Percocet talking(not).

Danm, I just went through nearly the same thing. 50/55 mph slide down three lanes at rush hour on the right side. Didn't flip, so wasn't hurt as badly. Even so, my knees were ripped up and bleedin' for weeks. I feel for ya'. Hope all the pain goes away real soon!

Glad you made it relatively undamaged.

Get well soon.

Hells bells - that must have stung. I reckon you were lucky not to hit anything solid other than the road with your lid.

Hope you get better soon, ride again.

I would rate this one up to the miracle of the Hudson River Plane crash. A friend of mine's brother was on that plane. He had a quick come to Jesus moment when both engines cut out.There are no accidents or coincidences. God has some neat plans for you. It is best to get saved before such an event. Billy Graham has a provocative question. If you died tonight do you know where you are going?

Reason to drive a car.




We all decide what level of risk we're willing to take, what level of protection we want to wear, and someone will always argue it's not enough.
My mother truely believes anyone riding a motorcycle is "stupid", and you'll never change her mind.
Someone else will argue to only ride on a closed course, with medical professionals on site, and full track gear.
Their all right in their own minds.
If your not happy with your choices, don't do it.
If you die doing something you enjoy, at least you died doing something you liked.
Your never completely safe!, but if you want to really reduce your risks, join a monastery.

Sorry, forgot to say I hope you heal well, and sorry about your misfortune.
Get well soon!

Glad you're relatively OK. Another argument for all the gear all the time.

Brian, glad to see your not too banged up! That goes for the bike, too. Heal quick.

Dave

Thanks for the write up Brian, that took some guts! Hope ya sleep okay with all that hurtin.

Ouch! Glad you are relatively okay. Speedy recovery man.

"There are more old drunks then there are old doctors so I believe I'll just have another round."
G.Jones