TOPIC:

hey guys, you know what they say....its not if you go down, but when you go down.

Ive wanted to make a riding video so I just used my ipod armband and strapped it to the dash. Ironic it got the gory details! I was going for a great fall ride on RT5 to Williamsburg from Richmond to get some BBQ at Pierces Pitt when it went down. I was geared up helmet to boots, doing the speed limit of 55 and minding my own business when havoc ensued. From the report given to the cop, the driver behind me said they saw sparks coming from below the bike and then I veered off and crashed. I'm assuming from the video that my kickstand came down and pushed me to the right. I fully remember the crash in every detail. I didn't pass out or anything. When I heard the grinding sound I got on the brakes a bit, I could feel the bike go right and i could not steer/countersteer or lean enough to follow out of the curve. I mashed the brakes to try and scrub off enough speed because i knew I couldn't recover and was going off road. Too late as my front wheel hit the damp shoulder, that skidded and slammed the bars hard left and then we started cart wheelin! The bike crashed into me at least once. I was told the bike skidded ~30ft and I landed ~18 ft from it, in the ditch. Everyone stopped and helped until EMTs came. They were great to me.

So as soon as I knew I was conscious, I wiggled all my extremities and could talk/moan. My left arm felt messed up and when I went to prop myself up, it buckled and I knew it was broke. Well, I now have a broken scapula (shoulder blade) and clavicle (collar bone) Im in a sling because these are inoperable breaks and they just heal in 6-12 weeks....I am very lucky to walk away alive

Be safe brothers and sisters!!!

Wow, that is Scary, you laid still so long Good thing you start out saying you'll be OK.
Hope the Broken bones heal up well and the bike is not to damaged.

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I'm glad you are still with us.

Wow dude!I can't think how many times I've done that in the past (forgetting the kick stand down). I'm sure that camera is what initially distracted you from putting up the kickstand. The possibility of flying into a tree around a curve like that is has always scared me. You handled the situation well. Bailing on pavement would have hurt a lot more in the long run, unless well protected. I keep thinking you are fortunate you live in the U.S. In a left hand drive country you had the extra danger of cutting across oncoming traffic (I assume kickstand is still on the left side on overseas bikes). All the best on your recovery.

Joe

thanks for the kind words! the kickstand thing is what I dont understand...im very diligent about that very move...in the vid I even go around another left curve without incident
I dunno. Im grateful to be here for sure. Im guessing the reason modern bikes have that kickstand kill switch is for reasons like this!!!

Yikes! I hope you get to feeling better soon. You have to be really quick getting off the brakes when you leave the pavement. As soon as you hit the loose stuff the front wheel locks and that's it.

Wow... of all the times to be filming right! Really glad your ok and will heal up. Never like seeing anyone go down.

You can hear it at 311 in video. Ive done that a few times but always got lucky and kicked it up. Could have been a lot worse. Glad you alive

peter1958 wrote: You can hear it at 311 in video. Ive done that a few times but always got lucky and kicked it up. Could have been a lot worse. Glad you alive

i think youre right!

the sad thing? you hear a harley at 6:55 slow down and speed away......

ok we need pictures of the bike so we can send parts!