Down she goes

Message

kyle · #1 Unread post by **kyle** » Sat May 14, 2005 12:50 pm

Well, that sucked.

Took the MSF course and immediately started riding to work and on the weekends every chance I could. Went for about a month, doing great, and loving every minute... until.

Its an offramp from an eastbound interstate extension onto a major highway, a big S-curve that sweeps down and to the left taking me under the interstate I was just on, and then sweeps back to the right to merge with the northbound traffic. I'd ridden it maybe a dozen times before, I knew it was there, but its one of those things that's always further up the road than you remember it.

Doing about 45, which is slower than I take it in my truck (even though the whole thing is marked 30, in this kind of traffic you'll get run over going that slow), just as the offramp starts to merge with the northbound lane, there are two long potholes in the left tire track. Front tire catches the leading edge in the right hand curve, and before I even knew I was going down, it was over. Only slid about 30 feet, but the bike hit the opposite curb, bent the frame and forks, pushing the front tire under the handlebars, and its toast.

Lucky doesn't even begin to describe going down on this kind of highway, at 7:45 in the morning during rush hour traffic and not hitting or getting hit by another vehicle, and walking away (literally.. the police wouldn't give me a ride a mile and a half up the road to my job) with only half a dozen pea-sized nicks on my right hand and arm, and a bruised right knee.

Sucks to be me, but stuff happens... anyways, now I'm just waiting on word from the bank to see about a loan for my next one.

Sigh.

nyrblue35 · #2 Unread post by **nyrblue35** » Sat May 14, 2005 1:18 pm

sorry to hear that, that really sucks. guess the best thing i can say is consider it a learning experience right? but thats learning the hard way for sure.

iwannadie · #3 Unread post by **iwannadie** » Sat May 14, 2005 1:18 pm

that sucks bad, but dam good you didnt get hurt going down in a busy road like that. is your insurance paying up fully?

#4 Unread post by **cb360** » Sat May 14, 2005 1:54 pm

Could have been way worse - but it's understandable hard to feel too lucky when you total a bike. Glad you walked away from it - that's tough luck. Damn potholes...

kyle · #5 Unread post by **kyle** » Sat May 14, 2005 2:14 pm

There is a snafu with the insurance, but they've ordered the tapes from the phone conversation where I bought the policy, and if they're honest then it'll be resolved no problem.. otherwise I've already spoken to a lawyer about it, and I guess we'll see what happens.

As for the potholes, they were filled by that afternoon, so unless the guy from the insurance agency went by there before he came to see me and got pictures, then... well, go figure.

Oh, I didn't specify, but yeah, I was wearing a leather jacket. The two nicks on my arm are probably friction burns from the shirt I was wearing, as the jacket didn't rip or wear through at that point. The nicks on my hand are from where the cheap gloves I had shredded on the pavement. Needless to say, I already have a pair of leather gloves ready and waiting, as well as an Aerostitch 2-piece suit. I had all that stuff a couple days before the wreck, but I hadn't made time to pull them out and get them into use.

iwannadie · #6 Unread post by **iwannadie** » Sat May 14, 2005 2:17 pm

an honest insurance company? lol that would be the first. mine took like 6 months to finally pay.

kyle wrote:There is a snafu with the insurance, but they've ordered the tapes from the phone conversation where I bought the policy, and if they're honest then it'll be resolved no problem.. otherwise I've already spoken to a lawyer about it, and I guess we'll see what happens.

As for the potholes, they were filled by that afternoon, so unless the guy from the insurance agency went by there before he came to see me and got pictures, then... well, go figure.

kyle · #7 Unread post by **kyle** » Sat May 14, 2005 2:20 pm

Yeah, I'm not holding my breath for the insurance company, but whatever happens happens.

Toyuzu · #8 Unread post by **Toyuzu** » Sat May 14, 2005 3:08 pm

Man, sorry to hear that, Kyle. Just goes to show how important complete, unwaivering concentration is in our sport, but it happens to the best riders. I hope everything works out with your insurance company and you are able to get back on the road very soon. Keep us posted.

CentralOzzy · Sat May 14, 2005 3:10 pm

Man that really SUCKS!

Glad your OK though.

SO....If the friggin Cops didn't help you out for a lift to work....how did you get there in the end?? Walk with a crook Knee??

kyle · #10 Unread post by **kyle** » Sat May 14, 2005 3:13 pm

Just walked to work. Bruised, but really not bad at all.

And oh, I'll be back out, insurance company or no. I've already put money down on a bike, just waiting on the bank now, but since they're closed on the weekend it'll be Monday before we can sit down and talk.