Crash, Miracles still do happen

[Vance]

It was 10/9/12 on my way to work in downtown Los Angeles, 82 miles one way from home. On grapvine, 5 Freeway, dumping ground, at 6:00 in the morning, still pretty dark, and slammed into a drive shaft/drive train at 75 mph. Hit it so hard it bent my front rim, blew my tire, and I've ridden street bikes over 30 years and never felt a wobble like that and had to let it go.

The miracle was it was started cooling off up at my house at 4,000 feet and that morning, yes, that morning, switched from my summer nylon/mesh to full leathers with a full spine brace on. When I let the bike go I got on my back and next thing I knew I was sliding. I realized I was sliding and then prayed I would not roll once as I would have broken every bone in my body. I slid for at least 100 yards, jumped up looking not to get run over and walked away from it. Yes, I'm an idiot and had dress shoes on and so my ankle road rash was down to the bone as it ate away my shoe. Throbbed for about a month. I could only imagine if I had that road rash on my legs, butt, back. I'd still be on morphine in the hospital.

Well, that was my 2003 FJR that was just getting ready to turn 100,000 miles, bummer, never made it. My windshield motor had died a few months earlier and finally broke down and had the shop order the, yes, $700 part. It came in the day of the accident. Had a little trouble sending it back but they took it back for $38. Found a 2004 with, yes, ABS brakes with only 3,200 miles on it, saddle bags still in box.

So that's my story. Am now a full believer in leathers year round. Upgraded everything I have. Got full Italian leathers that breath so can wear them all summer. Have full riding boots with steel sliders and what the heck, upgraded my helmet while I was at it to a Schuberth (quiet). Now I kind of want to just drop it at 100 mph to see how far I can slide. Well, maybe not.

Would attach a pic. of the front rim so you could actually see how hard I hit but I'm not sure I can, can I?

Anyway, I'm back out there. Like falling off a horse, you got to get back on right away.

Oh, did I mention I changed out my headlamp and got 110 watt in there and installed fog lamps so I can light up the grapevine like a runway so I can see where the heck I'm going?

Ride Safe, and ALERT!!!!

 

[AlleyCat]

Glad to hear you came out relatively well considering how bad things could have been. I almost took out a ladder (I should say it almost took me out) laying in the middle lane of the highway. What saved my bacon was riding at a respectable speed (faster would have meant less time to react) and keeping a safe distance behind the twit that ran over the ladder. At night, I have ridden too fast for the headlights and every time I do I get that little voice in my head saying that I am playing with fire.

You raise some very good points about good riding gear. I need to get some pants and better boots (got the gloves, the jacket, helmet).

 

[FJRay]

glad you are OK. Those high watt lights have a lot more draw and have been known to let the smoke out of wiring. keep a close eye on things.

 

[ahchiu]

Glad you came out ok, as Ray said the 110 can draw a lot and get pretty hot, I would get HID or exterior driving lights to throw a brighter beam down the road better.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Scary ride, glad you came out of it relatively OK. To post pics, first upload to a hosting site (photobucket) and then use the IMG function to post.

Great find on the used FJR, can't beat that!

--G

 

[RedPorscheKilla]

Wow what a scare, I don't envy you one bit. But your lessons learned in re: protective gear, invaluable. I ride next to my FeeJay a Gixxer and a Cruiser, I have for every bike the proper gear, leather and armor in order to make sure it will protect me.

When I grew up, I suffered a sports related injury which forced me in to the hospital for surgery. I had a room companion, a biker...he had dropped his bike in one curve, slid and bumped at low speed with his back into a guard rail, with the result he had 3 broken vertebras and needed a 6" titanium plate screwed into his spine, so he could still walk. He didn't wear any armor and was so depressed over it, because a back armor would have spared him this....

 

[rogdeb]

Whoaaahhhh !! Scary, scary -- glad you're still here to recount the story.

 

[Silver Penguin]

Scary story. Glad to hear that you're well enough to be posting on the forum. I'm a firm believer in ATGATT. It saved my skin when I wrecked my bike a few months ago. I was wearing a Roadcrafter which was hardly marked except that the medics cut all four limbs of the suit to remove it. It did its job admirably. As did the boots, which prevented a much more serious injury n

Tell me what you think about the Schuberth helmet. I'm thinking of getting one when I get the new bike. I like the idea of a quiet helmet. Is the difference noticeable enough to be worth the $$?

 

[TomInPA]

Amazing story, and glad you're back riding. You can post pics by hosting them on Photobucket, or email to a friend or admin and I'm sure it will be posted on your behalf.

 

[SkooterG]

So YOU are the guy that bought that low-mile 04 abs FJR! You got one HELL of a deal on that thing. If I didn't already have three FJRs in the garage and no room (or extra $$$)..........

 

[odot]

I thought you were done with gen ones and moving on to gen twos? What gives? I mean....who could pass up going from one POS to a worse one?

 

[BigFJR]

It's easy to get complacent. Thanks for the reminder and glad things didn't go really bad.