Wrecked the Bike Today - CONCLUSION
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
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Wrecked the Bike Today - CONCLUSION
Well, I was heading into work this morning and since it was a nice cool day I decided to take the long way in. I was approaching a busy intersection (~40 mph) in the middle lane to go straight. I was watching everything (well I thought I was), was going the speed limit (I usually slow a little but this time I didn’t), and had a green light. A guy in a pickup truck coming from the other direction turned right in front of me just as I was about to enter the intersection (I was just about on the white line when he pulled out). I don’t know why I didn’t see him but I didn’t. He was going pretty fast and all I could see was the extended cab of his pickup truck as I was headed right for it. I began maximum breaking (learned this in the MSF course) and I must have given too much because I felt the bike start to squirm under me. Next thing I remember I was sliding face first on the black top. I stopped and had the oddest thought; “That didn’t hurt nearly as much as I thought it was going to.” I jumped up and traffic had stopped and some folks had got out to help me. They picked up my bike and got it off to the side of the road.
I thought to myself that I was fortunate that the bike laid down and I didn’t hit the truck. Well the truck guy called 911 and the fireman showed up, then the Harley dealer’s pickup (it happened about a ½ mile from the dealership), and then the cop showed up. The Harley guy looked at my bike and asked if I had hit the guys truck and I said “no.” He walked over and said, “well somebody did.” The font of my bike hit right in front of the rear axle of his truck. I have no memory of it. I don’t know if the bike squirmed and threw me off, if I hit his truck and then flew off or what. All I can say was Jesus was looking out for me and it was not my time.
I’m not “injured” but I am starting to get pretty sore. I was wearing an Icon Mainframe full face helmet, an Airstar Stage 1 perforated leather jacket with shoulder and elbow pads, leather gloves, jeans, and boots. I got a little road rash on my knee and general soreness which I figure will get worse. It could have been allot worse though.
I asked the guy if he saw me or not. He said he didn’t know, he thought he could turn but he said he knew that he didn’t have a protected arrow. There were several cars in the right hand lane that were turning onto the same road he was so he must have just dazed off. I should have seen him and known he was going to turn but I just didn’t because he didn’t stop at all, he went full speed through the turn lane. He said he had just moved into town and didn’t normally go that way either, he was going to get some breakfast. He was a nice guy other then the fact that he turned in front of me.
The guys insurance has already called me and said that a claim has been opened and is going to call the Harley dealer today to start taking a look at the bike. The front fender is trashed, the forks are bent and the frame is bent where the forks are attached. The bike is a 1999 1200 XL Sportser Custom. I’ll post some pics when I get a chance. His truck was allot worse. The rear fender was smashed and his drive shaft was snapped.
[font="times new roman"][size=3]I’m sitting here, feeling stupid that I wrecked the bike, playing the “what if” game. What if I had gone the regular route, what if I would have swerved instead of breaked, etc., etc.I keep asking myself over and over,&nbs
I thought to myself that I was fortunate that the bike laid down and I didn’t hit the truck. Well the truck guy called 911 and the fireman showed up, then the Harley dealer’s pickup (it happened about a ½ mile from the dealership), and then the cop showed up. The Harley guy looked at my bike and asked if I had hit the guys truck and I said “no.” He walked over and said, “well somebody did.” The font of my bike hit right in front of the rear axle of his truck. I have no memory of it. I don’t know if the bike squirmed and threw me off, if I hit his truck and then flew off or what. All I can say was Jesus was looking out for me and it was not my time.
I’m not “injured” but I am starting to get pretty sore. I was wearing an Icon Mainframe full face helmet, an Airstar Stage 1 perforated leather jacket with shoulder and elbow pads, leather gloves, jeans, and boots. I got a little road rash on my knee and general soreness which I figure will get worse. It could have been allot worse though.
I asked the guy if he saw me or not. He said he didn’t know, he thought he could turn but he said he knew that he didn’t have a protected arrow. There were several cars in the right hand lane that were turning onto the same road he was so he must have just dazed off. I should have seen him and known he was going to turn but I just didn’t because he didn’t stop at all, he went full speed through the turn lane. He said he had just moved into town and didn’t normally go that way either, he was going to get some breakfast. He was a nice guy other then the fact that he turned in front of me.
The guys insurance has already called me and said that a claim has been opened and is going to call the Harley dealer today to start taking a look at the bike. The front fender is trashed, the forks are bent and the frame is bent where the forks are attached. The bike is a 1999 1200 XL Sportser Custom. I’ll post some pics when I get a chance. His truck was allot worse. The rear fender was smashed and his drive shaft was snapped.
[font="times new roman"][size=3]I’m sitting here, feeling stupid that I wrecked the bike, playing the “what if” game. What if I had gone the regular route, what if I would have swerved instead of breaked, etc., etc.I keep asking myself over and over,&nbs
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 953
Likes: 8
From:
RE: Wrecked the Bike Today
Glad you're ok after that. Don't beat yourself up over your decisions. Who knows what could have happened if you took your regular route.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
RE: Wrecked the Bike Today
Boy, sounds like you were very fortunate... glad you weren't hurt any worse than you were. Good points about being careful and paying attention. We're invisible to those cage drivers.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,795
Likes: 7
From: hollywood, FL
RE: Wrecked the Bike Today
first off glad you lived to tell about it. Yes the good Lord wasn't calling you home yet. from what your wrote I don't think theres much more that you could have done in prevention/awareness. what's done is done, take whats positive from it and move on. heal up well and get back out riding asap. 
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,014
Likes: 19,122
From: The Wasteland
RE: Wrecked the Bike Today
You are very lucky. Last year, the exact same situation happened to my friend Sean, only he was going about 60-70 mph when he hit the truck. His wife was behind him on her bike and saw the whole thing. My friend died right there in the middle of the intersection in front of his wife, me and about 30-40 onlookers. Im not trying to scare you but, it is a dangerous life we lead on these machines.
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Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
RE: Wrecked the Bike Today
You are a lucky man to survive that kind of crash with minimal injuries. Sounds like the bike will probably be totalled out. Thank god that you did not get hurt worse. The bike can be replaced, you my friend cannot...
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 0
From: Crown Point, IN
RE: Wrecked the Bike Today
Glad your ok.
Looks like the MSF coursehelped- it seems that the accident could have been a lot worse. Good thing about those full face helmets - they protect your head as well as your face.
I went from a skid lid to a full face after watching a friend get pretty messed up because the skid lid rotated off of his head.
As Viper said to Jester about Maverick (in the movie Top Gun) "Get him back in the air as soon as possible."
Don't be afraid of the scoot - get back on your steed and ride......
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Looks like the MSF coursehelped- it seems that the accident could have been a lot worse. Good thing about those full face helmets - they protect your head as well as your face.
I went from a skid lid to a full face after watching a friend get pretty messed up because the skid lid rotated off of his head.
As Viper said to Jester about Maverick (in the movie Top Gun) "Get him back in the air as soon as possible."
Don't be afraid of the scoot - get back on your steed and ride......
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
RE: Wrecked the Bike Today
Glad you're doing OK, it could have been alot worse. No need to start second-guessing yourself. It already happened......start concentrating on getting healed and fixing the bike. Thanks for the post. Take care