Who has been down
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 3
From: Arizona
Yes, I did.
WARNING!!! Some scenes may not be suitable for children and others.
Yes, I crashed and tore the top of my head up. I was travelling down a paved road, no booze, a warm sunny day in June. I just started through a curve in the road at about 20-25 mph when I encountered some loose gravel strewn on the roadbed. When the bike started to slide I remember thinking, "Hope I can make it to the grassy shoulder". I didn't make it, the bike did.
I don't remember much for the next few hours and my wife told me later as she was waiting outside an emergency room hearing, "Tink, tink, tink." This was the sound of the gravel being picked out of my scalp and dropped into a metal pan by the ER staff.
Well 3 days in ICU, 7 more days in the hospital with a concussion, ribs broken in 9 places, punctured lung, broken scapula 24 staples in my scalp to hold it in place, after which I went home and recouperated for 2 more weeks.
I was lucky, someone must have wanted me alive for something because I could have just as easily been dead as alive.
Ride safe, watch for loose gravel. Oh yeah, wear a helmet!
Danny D
Yes, I crashed and tore the top of my head up. I was travelling down a paved road, no booze, a warm sunny day in June. I just started through a curve in the road at about 20-25 mph when I encountered some loose gravel strewn on the roadbed. When the bike started to slide I remember thinking, "Hope I can make it to the grassy shoulder". I didn't make it, the bike did.
I don't remember much for the next few hours and my wife told me later as she was waiting outside an emergency room hearing, "Tink, tink, tink." This was the sound of the gravel being picked out of my scalp and dropped into a metal pan by the ER staff.
Well 3 days in ICU, 7 more days in the hospital with a concussion, ribs broken in 9 places, punctured lung, broken scapula 24 staples in my scalp to hold it in place, after which I went home and recouperated for 2 more weeks.
I was lucky, someone must have wanted me alive for something because I could have just as easily been dead as alive.
Ride safe, watch for loose gravel. Oh yeah, wear a helmet!
Danny D
Last edited by Danny D; Jan 17, 2010 at 08:34 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Georgia
Late August of this year some young girl, probably fresh outta high school, slams on her brakes out of no where like she missed her turn. Nasty ditch to my right and a big ol Ford diesel truck coming down the other lane, so it was put the bike down or slam into her. I completely broke my tibia and fibula - only thing holding my foot on was tendons and skin. Now 8 screws and 1 titanium plate later, I'm able to walk again, but I still have that classic biker limp you see about half the folks at rallies or swap meets sportin.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
3 times & counting!!
First two where from when I was young & fearless! Both times on my Honda Hurricane 600, first time I was launched from behind thanks to some dude in a pick-up not seeing the red light I was stopped at. Second time I was going WAY too fast around a freeway cloverleaf and slipped the tires out from under me and sent that sucker flying & tumbling into a million plastic pieces! (too bad, it was a fun little rocket!)
Third time was the demise of my '98 Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe, I am almost embarrassed to admit it but here it goes.......
On my way into the work place parking lot & I make a blind left turn in front of a semi-truck also making a left turn into his place of business. I got T-Boned by a kid on a Yamaha naked sport bike doing about 40 MPH. His front tire crushed my right foot and spun my bike around 45 degrees, luckily I had the trailer hooked up which I think helped me keep the bike on 2 wheels.
4 screws, 2 pins & 6 months later I was walking again. Not my proudest moment by far, but was lucky I didn't get hit by a car or another truck
( industrial area) 
First two where from when I was young & fearless! Both times on my Honda Hurricane 600, first time I was launched from behind thanks to some dude in a pick-up not seeing the red light I was stopped at. Second time I was going WAY too fast around a freeway cloverleaf and slipped the tires out from under me and sent that sucker flying & tumbling into a million plastic pieces! (too bad, it was a fun little rocket!)
Third time was the demise of my '98 Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe, I am almost embarrassed to admit it but here it goes.......
On my way into the work place parking lot & I make a blind left turn in front of a semi-truck also making a left turn into his place of business. I got T-Boned by a kid on a Yamaha naked sport bike doing about 40 MPH. His front tire crushed my right foot and spun my bike around 45 degrees, luckily I had the trailer hooked up which I think helped me keep the bike on 2 wheels.
4 screws, 2 pins & 6 months later I was walking again. Not my proudest moment by far, but was lucky I didn't get hit by a car or another truck
( industrial area)
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 413
Likes: 10
From: South Dakota
I've hit the ground twice, once was on gravel right after the turned onto the gravel road. It was at night and didn't see a large rock, hit it with the front tire and down I went. Wasn't going fast enough to get hurt on that one. Second one, I was going around the lake in my hometown a little to fast and the rear tire got into the loose rocks on the side of the road. Hind end slid out from under me and in my attempts to gain control went into the ditch and into a grove of trees. Didn't get hurt to bad on that one either just really sore for a couple of days. Bent the bars on the bike and had a couple of scratches to buff out. That was almost 30 yrs ago, I have become much wiser and slower in my old age. Be careful out there!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,932
Likes: 32
From: Broomfield, CO
3 times total, the last being this summer when a car stopped suddenly in front of a truck whose tail lights weren't working. From 30 mph, it still takes a while to get stopped. I hit the bumper at about 8 mph and was thrown from the bike. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 784
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
twice
1st in 89 on an 84 Kaw 550 LTD when a woman ran a red light and tboned me. Bike was totalled and I got a broken right foot and some road rash
2nd on my 05 Road King. Woman pulled out of a parking lot right in front of me. I hit her in the front end and flew over her car. A lot of road rash to my hands, elbows, hip and knees as well as a gash in the back of my head that took 10 staples. Once again my bike was totalled. Worse thing is that the woman works with my wife - I think it was a hit gone bad
I did get a brand new 07 Road King out of the deal, but I wouldn't recommend doing that for a new bike
1st in 89 on an 84 Kaw 550 LTD when a woman ran a red light and tboned me. Bike was totalled and I got a broken right foot and some road rash
2nd on my 05 Road King. Woman pulled out of a parking lot right in front of me. I hit her in the front end and flew over her car. A lot of road rash to my hands, elbows, hip and knees as well as a gash in the back of my head that took 10 staples. Once again my bike was totalled. Worse thing is that the woman works with my wife - I think it was a hit gone bad
I did get a brand new 07 Road King out of the deal, but I wouldn't recommend doing that for a new bike
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: Linden, Virginia
On a bike twice. Same bike both times. First time was April '83; rode with some friends to Mt. Rushmore and I hit ice turning into the parking lot at the visitor's center. Two years later a car came left of center on a twisty and I went over an embankment to miss it. I still fight with my shoulder from that one.