 Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 594
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 594 |
So the other day I was on my home from work, and my engine bogged down a couple times, like it does when it's time to switch to reserve, though I had plenty of fuel (dry weather). So I vaguely remember seeing a thread on here about inline fuel filters and decide to pull off and visit the "other" Triumph dealer in town to see if they had any fuel filters. Well it snowed like a mother not too awful long ago here, and there are still places with some accumulated sand, like on the curve leading to this dealer. Kept off the throttle and tried to keep turning without having it skid out from under me, and almost made it but had just a few feet too much curve to get it straight before I nudged the curb - next thing I knew I was sliding along on the sidewalk on my right side. Only went maybe fifteen feet tops, wasn't going very fast. Picked up the bike, and it faired okay. Road rash on the saddlebag, scraped mirror, wore off about a quarter inch of brake lever, scraped and slightly bent the brake pedal.
Patted myself down next (priorities man!); a little visible scraping on the ankle of my pants, and elbow and shoulder of my jacket (character), ripped open my glove - not a mark on the helmet. Oh and one really sore right thumb - jammed with a faint possibility of dislocated I thought. Guy from the dealer saw me go down, and ran over to check on me. We got the bike over to the service dept and they gave it a good courtesy once-over. No fuel filters. Starting to snow outside and I felt okay so back on the bike and headed home. Further I got the worse that thumb hurt... the wife with her half a nursing degree took one look and said oh yeah it's broke.
I'll scan the x-ray and put it up later. Broken and dislocated both. Went up to Fort Lewis and they gave me surgery to fix it, with two pins through it. And a nice fat bottle of Vicodin (like House!).
And now the weathers warming up, and I'm banned from the bike (and any other machinery) for six weeks.
At least the bike's okay, except for my new excuse to get chrome levers...
SFC, US Army (Ret)
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 Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,705 Likes: 23
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,705 Likes: 23 |
Glad you are OK>
At least when you can write about it its a good accident.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420 |
Bummer about the spill, Eric. Hope your thumb gets better, you get back in the saddle soon, and get her fixed up too along the way.
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,736 Likes: 7
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,736 Likes: 7 |
get well soon! and now you can have a no push-up profile!! 
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
Darn, that's a tough way to get chrome levers, but hey, any exuse for chrome is a good exuse!
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616 |
Glad your OK! I know the turn your talking about....I hate it even in a car and that car wash leaves a bunch of water on the ground all year round.
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,647
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,647 |
Glad you're okay. I'd give the thumbs-up smiley but it might not be appropriate.
06 America 904
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440 |
Hope you get all well quick. At least all that crap should be off the roads by the time you're ridin' again.
'08 America Blue/White; Custom Headlamps, Custom Lowers, Clearview 20", Bafflectomy
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,246 Likes: 64
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,246 Likes: 64 |
Glad you are OK. Been close to what happened to you more than once. I was lucky each time and managed to come through it up right.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 594
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 594 |
Quote:
Glad your OK! I know the turn your talking about....I hate it even in a car and that car wash leaves a bunch of water on the ground all year round.
Oh yeah, that's the spot! Wow I forgot about that in all the excitement. I ruined my line going into that curve by avoiding a big wet area from the carwash that I suspected might be icy. At least I was going even slower because of it.
Thanks all! Fortunately I have free medical, and yes, no pushups til April 
SFC, US Army (Ret)
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,668
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,668 |
"free medical"? Is that the Obama plan or Hillary Care? LOL Glad you're ok. Tell me more about this free medical . Where can we get it? 
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come; He will guide you in all truth:
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
[quote Tell me more about this free medical . Where can we get it?
you have to be an illegal alien and go to the er.
Eric, get well soon.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
That's what happens when you go to the "other" dealer in town - just kidding. Hope you heal up fast!
Soren
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,968 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,968 Likes: 1 |
Sorry to hear you went down. Hope you're ok
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Two pins down through the metacarpal-V(thumb), huh Sarge?!Yep, you have about 6 weeks with those babies stickin' out of your hand, alright. And, a couple more weeks after that in order to stretch out the tendons so you can have complete movement again. And nope, if you're wonderin', I'm not a orthopedic doctor or anything. I know the above because I broke my metacarpal-I(pinky) bone about 20 years ago and had those pins inserted in to my right hand too. And nope, I only WISH I could say I broke mine riding a motorcycle. Let's just say I used to have a REALLY bad temper, and one day a certain co-worker who constantly failed to do his job "kind'a" p*ssed me off a little too much, and I looked at this wall that I was standing next to and imagined that wall was his FACE!!!  (MY orthopedist told me it is known in his trade as the classic "Boxer's Break")  
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 594
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 594 |
Quote:
"Glad you're ok. Tell me more about this free medical . Where can we get it?
At your friendly local Army recruiting office of course... 
And I just want to put my 2c in about Army medical care - we get something called Tricare (old soldiers would know it as Champus), which covers me and family when not at a military med facility. Emergency room visits are covered 100%, but the followup is not so easy. The ER (I was in there Sat afternoon) told me to call this orthopedic clinic on Monday and schedule my own followup for eval and surgery. So I call them and they won't take Tricare. I had to call my primary care dr and have his office refer me through the insurance to OHSU. After a day and a half of stupid phone calls I finally get an appt scheduled for the following Thursday (two days from today, 12 days after the injury for those who are counting). Meanwhile my displaced bone ends are grinding pleasantly away every time I move. Add this to the fact that an M.D. apparently has less medical knowledge than the 1SG of a recruiting company, at least where it comes to my ability to work with said injury. So the next day my loving wife forces herself out of bed at oh-dark-thirty to get me up to Fort Lewis (two hours north) by 630 for sick call. Within hours I was seen by the ortho doctor and had surgery scheduled for the following day (also a giant family-fun-size bottle of Vicodin). And my surgeon was excellent, according to my wife who would know - also she was the one not stoned and drooling when he explained what the surgery had entailed...reportedly there were even pictures and props, I remember none of this.
OHSU, I'd still be walking around with grinding bones and waiting for surgery; Madigan Army Hospital, all fixed up stat.
And yes, serves me right for trying to cheat on Cascade Moto.
Oh and the wife doesn't know I pulled a bonehead move on the bike - she already worries about me too much. I blamed the injury on getting run down by one of Portland's hippie bicylists, which actually HAD happened earlier, contributing at least half of my bruises sustained that day.
PS - second break on that hand, the first one being a "boxers fracture" caused by an attack by a wall when I was about 19.
SFC, US Army (Ret)
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2 |
Sorry to hear that, glad you're all right. I dropped my Speedy in front of the dealer once. That's the best - and worst - place to drop a bike. #1, it's easy to re-order your broken pieces. #2, everyone sees you through the plate glass windows.
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Englishyankee had me rolling on the floor in an Oklahoma City Indian Restaurant with his tale of dealership parking lot snafus...
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
...#2, everyone sees you through the plate glass windows.
Well Kev, I suppose that's better than everyone seein' you GO through a plate glass window!
Somethin' I've ALSO done in my lifetime! But not on a motorcycle...I RAN through it!!! THAT I did at the same age Sarge here punched his wall...19.
(sorry to keep hijackin' your thread here Sarge, but there seems to be way too many "coincidences" here, dude!) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
Quote:
...#2, everyone sees you through the plate glass windows.
Well Kev, I suppose that's better than everyone seein' you GO through a plate glass window!
Did I mention the dealer's plate glass window is also located on busy US 46, and that it happened at rush hour?
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,736 Likes: 7
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,736 Likes: 7 |
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
all I remember about military healthcare is that Motrin and crutches cure absolutely everything!   
Ah yes, the base hospital. Also known as the Medical Hobby Shop. 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 594
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 594 |
Slight update... mostly doing better now. Got the cast off over a week ago, and been riding the bike. Took it to work all week even! Got me a new pair of riding overpants, leather this time, since on further inspection, the Olympia textile pants I was wearing did not fare half as well as I first thought. Thumb is still really flippin sore, trying to get all the parts moving properly again after not moving for five weeks. Oh here's a cool pic of the pins right after they took the cast off  
SFC, US Army (Ret)
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,883
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,883 |
That will teach you for going to the "other" dealer. The day I visited the "other" dealer, I went down too.
I'm glad your okay.
~Brent
~Brent
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"Nothing you can be is more terrible than what I am." ~ 2007 Black Speedmaster!!
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Re: Down in sand and broke my hand...
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Don't be getting weak on us - we need you in top shape to defend our lazy butts! Keep up on the crunches & running! Glad you are OK and it was a low-speed spill. We still have a lot of debris on these roads in MD. It's supposed to rain hard the next few days, that should help. Heal fast! Quote:
Thanks all! Fortunately I have free medical, and yes, no pushups til April
Al
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