Wow. Lucky

[smithpa68]

This is my first post other than my intro message but I thought you guys might find this interesting. Sort of a ride report I guess On Saturday I spent the morning riding singletrack at Durhamtown Plantation in Union Point, GA on my trusty KTM. Had to leave after lunch because I promised my wife a ride up in the North GA mountains on the new (to me) FJR 1300. We headed up past Rider's Hill and through Suches, GA. I had the idea of trying to get my wife interested in motorcycle camping so I went up over rt 180 down to the Vogel State park. That idea didn't really pan out, but if you have ever gone up over the mountain on rt 180 it is very cool. Super twisty. Some turns are 10mph. So worth trying the idea anyway.

So we wanted to have dinner before heading home and found a good BBQ place 5 miles from there on the edge of Blairsville, GA . I igured we would run Rt 129 back toward Dahlonega instead of the mountain road in the dark. Wow that road is fun, Fun, FUN and TWISTY. I was being really careful since it was so dark and a bit remote. We saw very few cars on the road. As I rolled out of one turn to a short little straight, all of a sudden I saw concrete block debris scattered all over the road. Damn glad I was doing some single track that morning. I saw a little opening and dodged left and ran over some the stuff. But definitely missed the big pieces. Felt some thumps under the bike but it seemed ok. Looked like someone had lost half a dozen concrete blocks off their truck on the road. I would have seen it earlier in the daytime, but at night... I was really lucky. I slowed down and felt the bike out. It seemed ok. I realized I left my little mag lite on my workbench and it was so dark I figured I would just go super slow for a bit. I wouldn't be able to look at the bike anyway if I stopped. Bike seemed to check out so I picked it up and kept heading home.

As I got close to home, I was thinking it is about time to change the rear tire and I was thinking about ordering a PR4GT. Less than a mile from home, I saw something dark on the road in a split second and BAM. I was able to shift over a few inches just in time and miss it with the front tire but it definitely hit under the bike. I ran over something else. This time I definitely felt damage. Twice tonight I was glad I had some fresh singletrack practice dodging stumps and roots. I was going about 50mph and just let off the gas. The FJR was wiggling a little. Not bad though. This bike slows down pretty good just letting off the gas. I pulled into a driveway off Campground road. No doubt the rear tire was flat. After I got off the bike, I saw a flatbed tow truck about 50 yards away sitting on the side of the road. Since I was only a mile from home, the wife and I walked home to get my trailer. As we passed the flatbed truck, another tow truck pulled up. The flatbed had TWO flat tires and his company was coming to get him. Damn. If whatever I hit took out TWO freaking tires on tow truck. I am VERY lucky.

Glad this was very close to my house. I got home, grabbed my trailer and straps and headed back for the bike. No big deal getting it loaded up and home. When I got it into the garage, I started looking for a puncture and the attached picture is what I found. DAMN glad that didn't happen up on twisty 129 or coming down GA 400 at 75mph. Kinda freaked the wife out a bit...



Heck of a day of riding.... Two near misses of going down due to debris on the road on the same night. Hoping the rim isn't bent...

 

[Road_Runner]

I have been on those roads. Wouldn't mind riding them again if I ever make it back to GA. I still own a house near Canton.

You are fortunate that first you were close to home and going slow, and second you were about to change the rear anyway. I have had two punctures, and darn it they both were in brand new PR3's.

 

[garyahouse]

68,

That's exactly why I invested in a set of Clearwaters for my FJR. they are indeed cheap insurance. Every extra lumen on the road is important at night. The FJR's stock lights, though they not bad, are no match for a good set of Kristas. They're a lot cheaper than a trip to the hospital. Glad to hear that you and your wife are OK.

But the most important reason I put them on was daytime riding. I had one too many people pull out in front of me during broad daylight. Life holds no guarantees, but that has not happened once since the I first powered them up. FWIW, I think you're wife might endorse spending the extra bucks after your experience today. There is no doubt in my mind that if you had a set of these blazing, they would have bought you some extra time. They make a huge difference in what you see at night, and who sees you during the day.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[TripperMike]

Wow you were a bit lucky that day, or unlucky for those who view their glass as half empty.

I think I'm going to show your post to my wife..."see Honey, if I buy a dirt bike, it'll only improve my riding skills."

Glad you didn't suffer worse.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Glad it didn't turn out any worse...close to home too!

Holy smokes that's not a puncture, that's one cut up tire. Sounds like you had someone riding shotgun on your shoulder that night.

--G

 

[FJR-RemingtonRider]

Glad you made it through unscathed, that was some scary reading there.

Obviously you had plenty of traveling grace stored up.....

 

[eatpasta]

On Saturday I spent the morning riding singletrack at Durhamtown Plantation in Union Point, GA on my trusty KTM. Had to leave after lunch because I promised my wife a ride up in the North GA mountains on the new (to me) FJR 1300.

so lemme get this straight..... you blasted around all morning on your KTM in sweet single track but had to go home so that you could take your wife for a ride on the FJR into the mountains!?

Poor guy....

and whatever you hit SLASHED that tire down to nothing on the sidewall! holy crap! you're lucky it didnt crack the rim. good to hear you and your woman are safe

 

[Big Sky]

A few observations:

We hit a rock between Stanley and Challis, Idaho, bent both rims but no tire failure. I had both wheels repaired at Viking Wheel Service in Wilmington Delaware. Rotors and tires off, bearings out, shipped, fixed, powder coated, shipped, NEW bearings in, rotors and tires on - about $800 and 45 lost riding days. Hope your wheel is straight.

Glad you and spouse survived. Very scary. Yes, she might let you spend some more money now...probably on more life insurance!

I kept waiting to read where you went back and cleaned the potentially fatal debris off the road. Since our rock incident, we always stop, bike or cage, and remove these kinds of hazards. Let's all take the extra minute to help out our fellow citizens while we potentially save lives.

We rode much of North Georgia in October...on a rented FJR. Exquisite!

 

[FJR Bill]

Interesting report. Glad it all worked out. I know those roads very well but not my roads of choice at night at least for me. In my old age I restrict my night rides to more open highways. Additionally back roads at night have lots of varmits that can ruin the ride. Extra lighting would be my first addition if I were to frequently ride in the dark. As all ready mentioned it's good for dayriding too. When on the interstate at night my main concern is large truck tire pieces. Hard to see and extra lighting would be a huge help. I don't have that so I drive slower at night to improve my odds.

Bill

 

[smithpa68]

I do have some aftermarket LED lights mounted on the fender brackets. They were on the bike when I bought it. Not at bright at Gary's though. They do help but would have loved to have my HID helmet light.

A cop stopped while I was loading the bike and I told him what happened and he went to look for the debris. He never came back so.. not sure if he found anything. The next day I looked and didn't find anything either.

 

[Tanker]

Glad to hear it turned out OK for you.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[garyahouse]

The Kristas make 2400 lumens each. I run them at about 30 % at night as they're too bright for oncoming traffic after dark. However, during the day I run them at about 50 % and that number seems to work good. Out on the slab or on lonely country roads, they're blazing at 100 % and life is good. They are every bit as important to me as the anti lock brakes on my FJR. Knowing what I do now, I wouldn't own a road bike w/o ABS, and I wouldn't want to ride without those Kristas. One prevents lock ups in the event that the other fails to deter bone-headed cagers.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[BikerGeek99]

Dang! From the looks of it, you were very lucky the wheel did not get damaged.

Woulda been nice if that tow truck driver woulda gone back and gotten the debris off the road.