"OT" I wrecked my motorcycle Yesterday

[n0hardmask]

...As my son says, "Its not "if" you are going to have an accident...its "when"". Fingers and toes crossed...he hasn't had one "yet".

Kempo,
Dittos on being grateful that you make it out of that wreck rather well, considering. Also dittos on Nanwilson's comment, It's not IF, it's When.
I'm about your age, and returned to cycling three years ago; didn't have ANY training before first riding in '71. But this time, before I got on my BMW R1100, I took Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) training and it was well worth it! Getting to practice procedures for sudden stops like you did on that hill.. it's better when you've done it before. So I'm a big fan of the training, and of wearing protective equipment (though in TX it's sure been Hot for jackets, etc lately)!
I hope you heal well, both body and your nerve.. I think I'd still be shaking if I'd been through what you have. Godspeed, kempo, you have a load of supporters here at CpapTalk. earl

[Vader]

Sorry to hear about this, Kempo.
Good thing you're still a youngster!

Hope you have a speedy recovery, and get back to feeling normal, soon!

[msradar65]

Glad to hear you are ok. Sorry to hear about your bike. She served you well. Sounds like its time to write the local news about that intesection. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Seems like they need to put a warning sign to let you know what is over the hill.

[mowdoc]

Happy to hear you were not permanently laid up!!

I ride a bagger myself and highly reccommend you pay a little extra on the new scoot for the Brembo anti-locks. I have them on my bike and I know they saved my butt one time from a serious problem. I have been into the anti-locks four times (two times testing) and they are better than advertised with no "fish tailing" at all.

I hold a deep respect for a rider that has been down, and still rides.

mowdoc

[HoseCrusher]

Bummer dude... Glad to hear that your helmet worked and that you aren't banged up too bad.

I look forward to hearing about your new bike and further adventures.

[Goofproof]

I'm glad to got out ok, been there and done that myself, with a Goldwing. The wife and I, had to dump it in a one lane bridge to keep from hitting my daughter and husband riding in front of us. They went into a one lane bridge too fast at an angle and it had sand on it. It was like life shifted into slow motion. They went over the side of the bridge and I dumped it in the middle of the bridge. I got it down to 5 mph when the front tire slid out, it pinned us. I got the bikes up and running, it was a painful 40 mile ride home. The daughter and hubby came out ok too. Good Luck when you get your new ride. Jim

[GumbyCT]

I look forward to getting a bike again one day. I'm sure if i could ride without the helmet which is legal in Arizona.

I was wearing my helmet and a good thing. There was a big oh gash on the back side of it. No doubt I would not be here typing this out if I had not had it on.

Having survived my very own headon bike crash I can say that helmets do save lives and I am sure you are sore the day after. Every muscle in my body ached some 40 yrs ago. Now I wonder if that accident is the cause of any of the aches and pains I feel today.

Riding w/o a helmet is like jumping from an airplane w/o a chute. You only wear the chute IF you want to jump again

[mars]

Sooo happy to hear you are okay and ready to ride again..........
As my son says, "Its not "if" you are going to have an accident...its "when"".
Fingers and toes crossed...he hasn't had one "yet".

Hi Kempo

Sorry about the accident,
sorry about the bike,
pleased you are OK

I too believe that it is when, and not if.

A few years ago I had to bite the bullet. Shortly after I came off the bike I was riding (got broken ribs, my fault) I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis. So that was the end of a retirement dream, unless they find a way to reverse osteoporosis.

Australia does not have a good record re: motor bike accidents -

http://www.aaa.asn.au/saferroads/bikes.asp

Am glad you are not badly injured, and ready to ride again when you get your new bike

cheers

Mars

[Slinky]

(((hugs))), Kempo. So sorry 'bout the bike but oh so glad you are still w/us!!!!

[Mr Bill]

Sorry to hear about the loss of the bike but glad you came out of it relatively unharmed.

My mom once had a hilltop experience. She was in a Ford Ranger PU at the top of the hill, in front, turning left. The car behind was braking, flashing lights, as they came to the top of the hill because she saw this guy coming up too fast behind. The guy was driving a Cummings Dodge dullie and pulled out to pass them both at 50+mph. he T-boned the Ford Ranger. His right front bumper hit her door frame just as she was crossing the center line. My 70 yr old mom survived, after 10 days in intensive care. The drivers side was crushed flat all the way to the center of the truck and I've always wondered how my moms legs somehow flew over the stick shift onto the bench seat so she got shoved out the passenger door relatively unharmed (skull fracture, concussion, crushed larnyx, broken wrist) rather than pulped.

[WldWcnWmn]

I am so sorry to hear about your bike, I am of the Honda 'Wing riders, myself. It's a very lucky thing you're here to tell us your tale! My daughter and I were involved in a cage accident Thursday, that totaled my car. Many times over the last few days friends have said "you were so lucky you weren't riding" (it was my day off and normally, I would have been). Sounds like the universe was in alignment for a lot of us this weekend! I know your bike is a heartfelt loss, but thankfully it's replaceable (that's what everyone keeps telling me about my car, anyways - which I really liked and am having a hard time replacing). Here's to future safe rides, with the rubber on the road!

[img][img]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6072/612 ... eeb371.jpg[/img]
R.I.P. Benney - thank you for your constant service 001 by wldwcnwmn, on Flickr[/img]

[kempo]

Happy to hear you were not permanently laid up!!

I ride a bagger myself and highly reccommend you pay a little extra on the new scoot for the Brembo anti-locks. I have them on my bike and I know they saved my butt one time from a serious problem. I have been into the anti-locks four times (two times testing) and they are better than advertised with no "fish tailing" at all.

I hold a deep respect for a rider that has been down, and still rides.

mowdoc

mowdoc I feel confident that I could have avoided the accident if my bike would have had anti-lock brakes.

So my next Harley will have this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ6R8vNm7_M

[Alshain]

Did you ever find out why the car was stopped in the middle of the road?

I think she was stopped behind a car that was attempting to make a left hand turn thus she did not have her signal light blinking and apparently she had taken her foot off the brake so her brake lights were not on.

The trooper who worked the wreck treated the accident as a one vehicle accident since I did not run into the stopped car. If I had hit the car, according to the law, the accident would have been my fault.

The Trooper said they had worked way too many accidents at this intersection because the hill top does not give motorist enough time to react to a stopped vehicle try to make a left turn. There are no warning signs before you top the hill. Apparently the Highway Department is not doing a good job with warning signs.

The ambulance people said the last call they had made to that intersection there were 6 people laid out on the Highway.

No doubt I'm a lucky guy.

We had a nasty spot like this here too. What made it worse is it runs perfectly along the solar east and west paths making it very dangerous in the mornings. After 25 years that I've lived here, last year they finally put up no left turn signs over the apex of the hill.

Glad to hear your ok, sorry bout the bike.

[StillAnotherGuess]

The Trooper said they had worked way too many accidents at this intersection because the hill top does not give motorist enough time to react to a stopped vehicle try to make a left turn. There are no warning signs before you top the hill. Apparently the Highway Department is not doing a good job with warning signs.

The ambulance people said the last call they had made to that intersection there were 6 people laid out on the Highway.

No doubt I'm a lucky guy.

Ok, ok, so a couple of points including: It is good you are alright, and it is good your wife was riding her own bike.

That said, my 2 points are;
1. You had travelled this road at least once before, so the road was not completely new to you.
2. Had you had any alcohol prior to the accident?

[chunkyfrog]

I am quite certain that Kempo has more sense than to ride even a tiny bit impaired.
Crap happens when you are tired, too.
FYI; the NHSA has proof that sleep deprivation is as bad as being really stinkin' drunk.