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Yesterday, the wife and I, with a friend, were riding on a gorgeous overcast day. We were on our second day of a two day trip, totalling about 700 miles.
My friend was in the lead, my wife behind him, and I took the rear so she was protected between us. We have Cardo and can talk to each other.
We're only minutes in, literally in the second right turn, when suddenly my bars started to vibrate and I couldn't turn. At 75 on this highway, the speed limit, the guard rail came fast. I was aimed at it. I tried to reduce speed but didn't grab the front brake, rolling off the throttle, knowing something was wrong.
No, it wasn't a death wobble, my tire pressure was good prior to leaving and my neck bearings were greased and lubed.
Best as we can tell, I hit road debris and had a rapid loss of pressure in the front tire, likey while in the straight, and only realized it too late going into the sweeper.
I kept the bike up and managed to miss the guard rail by only a few feet. I hit the soft dirt of the highway suppression. The bike instantly started to tumble. I help on for one tumble and it threw me off. I banged my left leg and the bars locked left and I was thrown, about 40 or 50 feet, impacting the soft ground like a lawn dart, driving my head and left shoulder into the ground. Missing a tree.
The helmet saved my life, without a doubt. The impact sounded like a cannon blast in my ears.
Amazingly, there was a Boy Scout troop in a van behind me. They stopped and rendered trauma aid with a kit they had. I suffered an avulsion, a large tear of flesh the size of a baseball on my left leg just below the knee. I won't show those pictures.
My back hurt like hell, but I never lost consciousness and was able to provide constant feedback to the scouts, a trauma nurse who was coming the opposite direction but was stopped when the bike landed in her lane. To the EMTs to the trauma room staff.
X-rays were taken, a CT is still pending. An MRI showed L2 L5 vertebrae suffered impact fractures. And more fractures on the wingy dealies where the muscle attaches, causing severe pain when I take in a deep breath.
I had on leather so I have impact injuries, but no road rash.
I have had an incredible support system. My friends have taken shifts to be with me around the clock and my wofe has not left my side, sleeping in the chair beside me as I type this. I have a back brace and have since been able to sit up, but can't stand.
My wife's bike was ridden from the scene and stored at a friend's house. My bike was picked up from the wrecker yard, at the request of insurance. I'll be able to swap a few parts back to stock.
The bike is totaled but can/will be replaced. It will take 6 to 12 weeks before i fully recover. That gives me time to shop. Obviously this was a horrible incident, but I've been here for years and see them from time to time. They serve as a good reminder.
I'm blessed to be posting this sharing my experience. I'm sad about the bike, it has been with me through a lot over the past two years and 25k miles. But things are replaceable. I'm just so glad my wife wasn't on the bike with me. The crash was ruled as not-at-fault single vehicle accident.
Now, what you came to see:
These are only some of the pics taken. I'm keeping this PG.
I spent nearly a week at the trauma hospital in Austin and was transferred to my local hospital last night. My wife brought my girls to come visit. I can't explain how special that felt.
I was able (with a lot of help) to get in the shower this morning and this afternoon, did PT. I pushed as hard as my body could go and then tried to push a little further. Not injuring myself, but taking it serious.
The staff here have been happy so far with my willingness to overcome and I'll get no trouble from them as lomg as i keep at it.
Not sure if I said in the original post. My injuries are as follows:
Broken left foot, repaired with two screws. Nothing fused.
broken left should, repaired in surgery my relocation on the the tip that broke off.
Seven vertebrae, that will heal and I use a back brace.
An avulsion wound on the left leg with an internal degloving above the would. Repaired by surgery.
The rest is just sore as hell, including my right foot. Im waiting for an MRI to make sure there's no soft tissue damage.
I was wearing my FF and leather head to toe.
Lastly, my friend that picked up the bike. I was able to discuss with him after he inspected the bike. He believes the tread separated from the tire. There's a patch loose that didn't appear to be from the crash. That's not a debate, just report I got.
I appreciate all the kinds words of encouragement. They mean a lot. I understand I don't know you all personally, but some I do. But at the end of the day, strangers or not, we're all apart of this community and share the commonality of riding motorcycles.
I hope everyone stays safe and has many more miles and smiles.
Lastly, I am considering a Road Glide ST when I'm better in a few months. Only time will tell though.
Glad you are still here to tell the tale.
I wish I had some kind of memory of my crash 3 1/2 years ago, although I do have several reminders of it that give me grief.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Lucky and unlucky, speedy recovery for you. Good on those that stopped and helped also.
That rapid loss of air in the front tire you indicated, but pics show looks like air in it?
Glad you were not more seriously injured! I had almost the exact same thing happen to me 15 years ago going a lot faster than you. Unfortunately, I was on a busy interstate and when those bars started shaking violently, I knew I was going down hard. I healed for the next 2 months and one of the happiest days of my life was getting back on my other bike for the first time and going for a short ride.
Oh, my Lord, glad you are okay brother. WOW, what a story and what a ride. The bike can be replaced, but I know how much you had put into it. That really stinks, but again I'm glad you are okay.
I hope your wife is okay. I'm sure that really shook her up. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery.
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I crashed but survived *PICS*
