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Not since riding dirt bikes in the '70's. Learned a lot riding dirt bikes that can apply to the street!
Me too. Lots of dirt bike crashes. If you don't crash dirt bikes you're doing it wrong. Never had a road bike down. Amazing since I rode many miles in me 20s and 30s that I couldn't remember the next morning.
From: CA Central Sierra Mountains - Calaveras County
Tomato Truck Took Me Out
In July of 06 I was on my way home on a rural two lane road at about midnight. As I approached the Turlock city limits I slowed to around 45 MPH. I saw an 18 wheeler approaching from the opposite direction, he had his left turn signal on, so my "red flags" started to fly. I just assumed he would turn in front of me, and damn if he didn't.
I saw he was gonna make his move, but I only had enough time to "lock em up". I stood up on my pegs and braced for the impact. I center punched him in his grill. The bike wedged under the truck and I bounced off him like a tennis ball. The collision messed up my left arm and left leg pretty bad, and required 12 surgeries to put me back together.
I was urprised how many people just assumed that I wouldn't want to ever ride again! On my way to the hosipital in the helicopter, all I could think of was how long it would be before I could ride again. The insurance company let me keep the completely totaled bike, but they didn't "slavage title" it.
So, I spent the next 7 months in a wheel chair rolling around in my garage rebuilding that bike, all with only one arm to work with.
About the time that I got the bike finished, I also got out of that wheelchair. My left arm was in a cast/support set up, and my left leg had an air-cast on it, but I looked at that bike and just had to check out the fruits of my seven month rebuild.
Some of my bro's set me on the bike, velcro'ed my left foot to the shift pedal and my left hand to the clutch lever and grip. It was akward and painful, but I rode the 18 miles to the La Grange Saloon with my bro's.....my wife damn near killed me over that one.
Oh well, I'm getting around with a gimp these days, but I still get in the wind.
Three crashes, two not bad, one serious. These were all in my younger days when I thought I was invulnerable.
1. Went downmaking a left when I hit a large patch of sand that had collected in the corner resulting in road rash on arms and legs.
2. T-boned an 80 year old who made a left that they shouldn't have. Bounced off the hood and flew 30 feet. Sprained ankle, minor road rash.
3. High speed wobble that I did not recover from. Bars hit the stops and I launched. Multiple broken bones and road rash.
Twice one time stitched up had my road rash scraped clean and went home.
Second time spent a month in the hospital and six months or so with cast on both legs.
Kinda walk like Chester from Gunsmoke now.
Twice, both in high school about a million years ago. Both were my fault, once to me to ER. Amazed still to this day that I lived. Yes, I earned my wings.
1968 on my Honda 90. Left turn accident, woman on her way to church with a car load of kids. They got an earful when I smacked up against her car at 25 MPH. Nothin broke but every muscle in my body hurt.
Couple close calls with some idiots (me included) since then but that was the only street accident. (Knock on wood!)
Once...totally my fault....way too much speed for the corner....some gravel....and I got a painful introduction to Mr Pavement! Luckily a FF helmet saved my face....leather saved my skin....insurance rebuilt the bike.....and a surgeon rebuilt my shoulder.
The broken ribs and total body bruising were a daily reminder to never ever do that again!
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