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Tourer
Posts: 575
Spirit Lake IA "Birthplace of Victory Motorcycles" | Just a quick note concerning motorcycle safety. My wife and I were riding 2 up yesterday morning on a state highway coming to a yellow flashing light at an intersection for a very small town. I was heading Westbound and a Jeep was heading Eastbound. I slow for the intersection and saw her approaching and I remembered thinking "Surely she'll wait to turn until I pass". She didn't. I hit the accelerator so see if I could get through without her hitting me. She clipped the rear of my Vision. Next thing I remembered was the bike falling to the LH side and then the long slide of my body and my wife's body on the gravel (between the road and a 10 ft deep ditch). We were both wearing leather chaps and jackets, gloves, and helmets. Other than a little soreness of the muscles and my wife's shoulder, we don't have a scratch on us. Miracles do happen and it helps when you wear your protective gear! Looking behind me in the 150 yds of gravel was a deep trench where the tip-overs dug in. On first glance, I have a bent LH floorboard, scuffing on my LH saddlebag door (looks like chaps rubbed off finish), maybe a broken corner on the bottom of LH faring, scraped tip-overs, and that's it. I wanted to ride it home, but floorboard would not let me get my foot under the shifter. We'll see what her insurance says. 2 Shark helmets trashed (and damned hard to find now due to US Distributor), and jackets/chaps scuffed all to hell. I know safety is a personal preference, but I'm certain that the following things saved us: - Leather jackets and chaps
- Gloves
- Good helmet
- Training from Motorcycle Safety Class . . . I think 1 sec in delay due to not throttling up would have caused her to broadside us
- The design of the Vision and it's tip-overs
- Yes, we had the bike blessed a year ago . . . I do believe God was looking out for us that day
I'll post pics of my helmet when I get a chance. BTW, my brand new Mr Wizard's Magical Jet Tips are still good as new!
Edited by Man314 2011-04-07 4:41 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | Hope you and the Mrs are ok The bike can be fixed or replaced.
Edited by Trekwolf164 2011-04-07 4:32 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Man glad to hear you can write about it and the wife is okay too! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 785
Mt. Vernon, WASH. | What's THE NUMBER ONE EXCUSE that falls out of some yuppie puppy cagers mouth after a crossing accident? 'I didn't even see him' while the rider lays in the middle of the street on the far side of the urban assault vehicle dieing, because you dumb ankle (I use ankle to signify that you are dumber and stupider than that other much referred to female physical attribute) you aren't even looking because you are too friggin' STUPID or too self absorbed! You are so unmindful of whats going on past the peak of your hood that you might as well be wearing a welders helmet.
I've written letters to my 'duly elected mis -representatives' @ the State Capitol, and had letters published in the local rag pleading with the state DOT to use the multigazillion dollar digital highway signs to flash 'be aware of motorcycles' instead just of how long it'll take you to get from here to there in minutes. or 'no flammables in the I-90 tunnel'.
I ride like a fighter pilot, head always on a swivel, check my 45's on cars coming up to pass and make quite a show of it so they know I'm watching them, looking @ that BOZO who's driving in a trance, or acts like he's sitting on the couch @ home.
Try this, next time you're on the slab, hold your lane and pick out some car just getting on and count how many times he passes and repasses you in 5 miles, that'll give you a good indication of just how stupid the average clown in a car is he thinks he's making great time-There are days when the State Patrol should have the authority to pull the whole crowd over and administer a 'DUMB S#1T ' slap to the whole mess of 'em.
This subject and aviation safety are my #1 sore points so I'd better close now-
the best advise I can give you is the one that's is the mechanics #1 law in aviation "ASSUME NOTHING!!" don't trust anyone, they're all out to kill you |
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Cruiser
Posts: 156
dinwiddie, va | Glad to hear you guys are ok. If the bottom of the fairing is cracked, the subframe for lower fairing is most liked bent. Same exact thing happened on vaparadox bike that just restored back to new. Make sure the insurance guy takes that into account. Wont be seen without getting down in there or removing fairing |
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Tourer
Posts: 554
2 mi from Jim Beam n KY | Glad you and the SO are ok!!
Wow!
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Tourer
Posts: 457
Green Bay, WI United States | I have had almost the very same thing happen but got cleared. When I turned around and chased him down he had no idea what happened and was talking on a cell phone. I tried to get him to pull over so we could "chat" but he was too chicken shit! Glad you and you Lady are OK but this is what I call "un-nessessary roughness"! I am in full gear minus chaps 99% of the time and hope if I go down I will be a survivor, like I always say.....
Ride hard, ride fast, but above all - ride safe and free....... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 206
Lumber Bridge, NC United States | glad you and the wife are ok . |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | nightvision - 2011-04-07 5:13 PM
Glad to hear you guys are ok. If the bottom of the fairing is cracked, the subframe for lower fairing is most liked bent. Same exact thing happened on vaparadox bike that just restored back to new. Make sure the insurance guy takes that into account. Wont be seen without getting down in there or removing fairing
+1 ... The subframe to the tipover is bent.
If the floor board is bent up because the subframe is bent and you want to ride it home try this fix.....step down on the floorboard with your weight and is will go most of the way back down. That is what I did and I continued to ride it until the parts came in to fix it correctly.
Thank goodness that you guys are OK....Now if my brother was wearing that gear instead of no helmet and a t-shirt a few weeks ago.....he would have been able to miss that nine days in the hospital, six cracked ribs on one side and 2 on the other, road rash all over and 17 staples in his scalp!!!
Take care |
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Salina, KS | Glad to hear that there was only material damage. Sounds as though you were being watched over, if just for an instant. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 164
Quad Cities, IL | +1 and AMEN on GOD looking out for you. Clearly He isn't ready for you. 
Glad you choose to wear the proper gear, especially in IA where there is no helmet law. It's easy to think it will never happen, but it pays great dividends to be prepared for if/when it does. Ride on, ride safe. |
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Tourer
Posts: 323
Troy, NY | Glad everyone was okay. That sucks to have your bike out of commission to start the season. I think the insurance company should pay for your pain and suffering while your bike is getting fixed!!! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 40
| God bless you both. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| Heal quick. Glad it wasn't as bad as it could have been. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
Tifton, GA | Very glad y'all came through without major injuries.
Glad I was a FORMER T-shirt and cheap helmet rider when I went down last year. My leg broke above the riding boot that was probably better that what would have happen to the ankle if I had been wearing tennis shoes. I was less than 3 mi from my home starting a 3 day 500+ mile trip. |
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Tourer
Posts: 575
Spirit Lake IA "Birthplace of Victory Motorcycles" | Thanks for all the kind words and sharing your experiences. Learning through each other will help us all become better and safer riders.
Here's a few pics. First one shows intersection and it's hard at this angle to see where the tip-overs dug in . . . I think our bodies "erased" some of the furrow that was plowed. Thx for tips on getting sub-frame checked out. Second picture shows bike at rest.
(IMG00472-20110406-0832.jpg)
(IMG00471-20110406-0832.jpg)
(Using a Vision as a plow.jpg)
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Tourer
Posts: 575
Spirit Lake IA "Birthplace of Victory Motorcycles" | Here's some of the gear. Here's how I'd rate my protective gear usage before the accident: - Helmet 100% (yeah I know I'm in Iowa and I don't have to, but my head is pretty important)
- Gloves 30%
- Jacket 90% (I have one leather with armor and one mesh with armor for hot days)
- Chaps 10%
- Boots 90%
- Pants . . . purely optional, especially when wearing chaps (Just kidding!)
I'll be seriously looking at changing my AGATT habits. Pretty sure my face would have been messed up, had bad road/gravel rash, and maybe even lost an ear.
Don't mean to preach here, but if just one person changes their safety habits as a result of this post and avoids serious damage, then the whole accident will have been worth it.
Edited by Man314 2011-04-08 8:33 AM
(Wife's Jacket Rash.JPG)
(This could have been my face.JPG)
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | I did the exact same damage to my Vision a few weeks ago the most expensive fix is the left fairing it is a large piece. I was able to push the floor board down enough to shift with my side sole of my boot to get home . |
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Tourer
Posts: 575
Spirit Lake IA "Birthplace of Victory Motorcycles" | Trekwolf164 - 2011-04-08 8:11 AM I did the exact same damage to my Vision a few weeks ago the most expensive fix is the left fairing it is a large piece. I was able to push the floor board down enough to shift with my side sole of my boot to get home . I tried to push down on floorboard, but it was really jammed. The Sheriff was even trying to help me pull the bottom pin to remove floorboard, but the silver pin/shaft was bent pretty bad.
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Tourer
Posts: 575
Spirit Lake IA "Birthplace of Victory Motorcycles" | More pics
(There went my ear.JPG)
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Tourer
Posts: 575
Spirit Lake IA "Birthplace of Victory Motorcycles" | More pics
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | It's good to preach even if it appears to make others mad. I think after I started to ride again I have redefined "defensive driving" for myself. First of all, no law, no education, no punishment will bring me back alive after someone does something stupid, to include myself, and I die.
In the hundred years of automotive safety folks have gone to extremes to prevent the loss of life and it seems that it barely stymies it.
You're preaching gear, while there is others fight against it, ie, helmet laws. So it says to our culture of riding, we don't even know what we want. But one thing we all can do, is ride vigilent, diligently, everytime we ride.
The more I ride that way, the more I have come to enjoy riding and the less close calls that I have. Your mishap has reinforced my thinking to believe they WILL turn in front of me and react accordingly. So far it has kept me from many "close calls" or contacts. Maintaining control of your situation as long as you can will be the only key to your survival.
Now, I'm off my soapbox. Still glad you are able to write and share this with us. How's the wife unit doing?
Edited by Cap'n Nemo 2011-04-08 9:00 AM
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Central Wisconsin | Man314 - 2011-04-08 8:03 AM Here's some of the gear. Here's how I'd rate my protective gear usage before the accident: - Helmet 100% (yeah I know I'm in Iowa and I don't have to, but my head is pretty important)
- Gloves 30%
- Jacket 90% (I have one leather with armor and one mesh with armor for hot days)
- Chaps 10%
- Boots 90%
- Pants . . . purely optional, especially when wearing chaps (Just kidding!)
I'll be seriously looking at changing my AGATT habits. Pretty sure my face would have been messed up, had bad road/gravel rash, and maybe even lost an ear.
Don't mean to preach here, but if just one person changes their safety habits as a result of this post and avoids serious damage, then the whole accident will have been worth it.
Thanks for updating us on protective gear. We always wear a helmet and jacket. I'm guilty of leaving the chaps off in warm weather not wearing "All Gear All The Time", I should get Kevlar jeans. Sure is great both of you were able to stand up and walk away after that accident. It's a wonder the bike didn't have more damage and even roll. I'm also curious how your wife is holding up through all of this?
Edited by Thomas 2011-04-08 9:14 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | Great machine + excellent gear = cautionary tales, rather then funeral notices.
Hope you are back up on your ride very soon. |
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Tourer
Posts: 575
Spirit Lake IA "Birthplace of Victory Motorcycles" | Trekwolf164 - 2011-04-08 9:13 AM Great machine + excellent gear = cautionary tales, rather then funeral notices. Hope you are back up on your ride very soon. Well said . . . add to the great training (Motorcycle Safety Course) and information (here on boards). Coming into the intersection I did scan and was aware that she was there. Once I saw that she was going to actually turn into me I remembered that sometimes you need to hit the throttle to power through a situation. I'm pretty sure she would have broadsided us if I had delayed and possibly went right over us. I also remember reading on this forum that if ever in a situation like this, try to keep legs and feet tucked in and ride the bike down to its side. The design of this bike with the tip-overs does help keeping you from getting legs pinned. My wife is a real trouper! I was afraid she'd say she never wanted to ride again. She was in good spirits until the paramedics put her neck in traction and strapped her to the board (precautions). Nothing broken, but her shoulder is pretty sore. Going to orthopod today to make sure her rotator cuff, etc is OK. Paid meds are helping.
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Accident . . . we were LUCKY!
