Pandora bites the dust...

First I would like to apologize for not reporting sooner about my well being. I know SkooterG was concerned about me as we went on the same ride (way ahead of me), and he found out about my crash latter on the day (after I returned home).

I am fine, a bit hurt on the soft parts (muscles), but otherwise fine.

Yesterday I was so shaken and banged up that I got home and “crashed” in bed, I didn't wake up until today. The morning has being rush, rush, rush and just now I get a change during lunch to write about the mishap.

The bike is more banged up than me, I slid on the gravel to the right of the road and poor Pandora hit the guard rail and spun around, meanwhile, I was rolling and turning on the floor until Pandora caught up with me and gently pressed her soft seat against my back... we slid down the road for about 15' ... me feet first, and Pandora pushing me with the seat on my back. It all felt in slow motion, I even saw my tank bag rolling to my left and passing me. when we came to a stop I sprung up faster than I went down, I immediately looked around to see if there was any blood …. Check, no blood, then checked for anything broken …. Nope, everything seemed to work… appendages??? Check, check, check, check… check, so far so good, I was intact!!!! By that time, everyone was off their respective bikes and lifting Pandora off the floor to park her on the side of the road. Pandora had extensive abrasions all over the left side, from the front faring to the pannier. The right side had hit the guard rail and the front rim was bent from the impact with the rail’s post; otherwise, she was rideable. Then it hit me, my ego was broken in three or four places and will take time to heal, oh well, at least I was intact and the bike will soon recover.

I really appreciate you guys for helping me with the bike and rhino105 for comming with me to make sure I made it back safe. I owe you man!!!

Here follow a few pictures (I have to reduce their size) of the mishap:

It all started as a normal happy day... I got time to stop by the baloons and smell the flowers:



Then it happened, the curve came to me with a vengance, you can see where I went into the gravel, then I hit the guard rail and came to stop by the second bike (Pandora):



The bike is a wee-bit scraped:







I would hate to think what would have happened without a guard rail:



This would have been my hand's palm:



And my knee:



The elbow would have also be gone if it wasn't for my jacket:

Wow Rocha it brings back bad memoriues. Sorry about your mishap. It looks like the leathers did their thing. Heal quickly. I guess the bike is fixable as most stuff looked cosmetic. I'm curious, did you have sliders on I can't tell from the picture. Or did they break off?

Glenn

Jesus FJRocha, thank God your O.K.. The other side of that guard rail looks like it was quite a drop. The pics of your riding gear are dramatic examples of the importance of the right gear. You would definitely be in the hospital in a world of hurt right now if you weren't wearing that stuff. I was out riding yesterday and came upon an accident scene where a bike (BMW?) went down on an exit ramp. It must of just happened as the cops were just arriving on the scene. I couldn't see the rider but it didn't look good. Good luck with your recovery and time will definitely heal your broken spirit. I kind of smiled when you mentioned that you jumped up after you crashed.....I did the same thing a bunch of years back when I mistook a 90 degree turn for a 45 degree turn in the fog and went down. My first thought when I jumped up was "I hope nobody saw me".....

Shiiiit, glad you're ok man. This sucks. Though I have to say, the FJR holds up to a beating fairly well.

Glad your OK, tis the season for get off's around here for sure. I would be a little concerned to see light thru my gloves as in your picci. I have been riding with the Held Steve gloves, have not tested their abrasion resistance, but the palms look like they offer better protection.



How fast were you travelling when this happened?

Glad to hear nothing broken or torn off..(you that is...)

Bikes can be fixed quickly, but bodies take time to heal. As the pilots say, any one you can walk away from is a good landing.

KM

Glad to hear you are ok Frank. I was hesitant to post anything until I heard from you. Then, with the terrible news of lawinter, I was not having a good morning. Fretting over you, and feeling piss poor about lawinter.

Wish I could have been there when you went down to lend a hand. As I was waiting and waiting for the last of the group to catch up, I was getting a bad feeling, only to be confirmed upon the arrival of those who witnessed your little foray.

And due to my tardiness at the start of the ride, we didn't even get to talk! And I sooooo wanted to get the "gouge" on that little custom rack you apparently made for yourself. I mean, you went and made yourself a rack and didn't share with the forum? Oh, the shame!!!!

Hope you and Pandora both heal quickly. Very happy to see that your gear literally saved much of your hide.

And now, since I can't help being a sarcastic S.O.B. (it's my nature ya know)................I told you those Michelin Pilot whatevers you put on there were the wrong tire!

And why do I NOT see any sliders on Pandora? Not that they would have done a whole lot of good.

Question: I take it the abrasions to your alternator cover did NOT go through all the way?

Take care buddy. Get yourself and Pandora back on the road soon, so we can go for a nice RELAXING ride somewhere.

Question:  I take it the abrasions to your alternator cover did NOT go through all the way?

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It does like it made it through near the bottom?

Wow Rocha it brings back bad memoriues. Sorry about your mishap. It looks like the leathers did their thing. Heal quickly. I guess the bike is fixable as most stuff looked cosmetic. I'm curious, did you have sliders on I can't tell from the picture. Or did they break off?
Glenn

Click to expand...

Well....

The MOKO sliders are in my office, on top of my desk, ready to be installed and just waiting for me to get the time to do it... I guess now I have the time.

Glad to hear you're ok... that's the most important thing.

Get the bike fixed, add some sliders, put a carbon fiber generator cover on that scratched up one, get some replacement gear, and you'll be good as new.

Glad your ok FJRocha!, My unsettling experience w/almost being hit and hit hard from behind last week, followed by the fatal accident of another forum member and Teerex and now your story has kinda got me shook up a bit. I'm glad to see you are ok and that Pandora will be ok. Just be careful out there everybody!!!!!! We need a break, I dont want to open this forum tomorrow and read about anybody else getting hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You people are scaring me

So many wrecks lately... glad you're okay. That's something like 4 wrecks in the last couple of weeks... with Larry paying the ultimate price.

Glad your alright FJRocha. And Woo-Hoooo !!! That sure looks like the spot to not go over at !

Looking at some of your gear wear makes me wonder just how well my mesh jacket could retain the armor in a protracted slide?

Your insurance company may have to buy you a new set of Wilbers, some Avons, and one of those nice racks that Gerauld makes....

Question:  I take it the abrasions to your alternator cover did NOT go through all the way?

Click to expand...

It does like it made it through near the bottom?

Click to expand...

That's kinda what I thought, and what the other witnesses reported. If that's the case, where's all the oil? I mean, I thought I put that damned expensive cover on my FJR to allow it to ride home after a low-side like FJRocha's wherein the cover is penetrated. Thought that situation was supposed to allow all the oil to drain out?

Bueller?

FJRocha said:

I would hate to think what would have happened without a guard rail:

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Well, I was thinking alot of that the 2nd half of the ride. On the old Route 666, Devil's Higway, or the west's version of Deal's Gap, there are absolutely NO guardrails, and more steep cliffs to keep you more than entertained. Don Stanley and I were riding tail on this portion of the ride, and after your oopsie early in the day I kept hoping I wouldn't come upon another of our riders down. Although it finally hit me that if a rider ahead of me failed to negotiate one of the bazillion corners on Devil's Highway and went for long ride down the cliff, I probably would never even know it. Only if there happend to be some obvious signs as bike/rider left the road. Scary feeling that is.

Dude, gald your OK! Its funny we both live in Chandler but I have yet to meet up with you!

If your right muffler is damaged, I might be able to hook you up with a replacement. I still havent 100% decided if I'm keeping the D&D's but if I do I have a good right side muffler.

Thank goodness you're a rider that gears up! The sport touring crowd doesn't seem to skimp so much on gear and that's good!

I'm so glad you're okay! From the pictures, you can't tell that there is sand there, it looks the same color as the tar!

sorry to hear about the mishap, but, other than the hits to the ego, glad to hear you're OK.

Is that the road following the Gila river between Globe and Kearny?