Boom! Bang! Screech!

[PacificShot327]

Well, folks, it happened. As some of you know, I've been tinkering and whatnot, trying to get my bike in working order (even repainted it...) after it died on me two weeks ago. It started up again on Tuesday.

Tonight, I was in an accident on the way home from work. The bike is in pieces.

Couple of guys were hootin' and hollerin', shouting out inappropriate/obscene remarks. Tried to get away from them. Lost focus, dumped the clutch. Front wheel came up, gas tank came completely out of its spot and fell on my chest. I hit the ground, not quite flat on my back. My scrawny tush took the brunt of the fall.

The front wheel went back down, rolled a short bit and fell over in the middle of the intersection. I couldn't get up at first, but popped up and picked up the bike, rolled it out of the way. Really not sure how I managed to do that. My right knee took damage. Can't really walk on it right now. I think it'll be fine, though. My booty sure is sore, though.

Thank the Lord for ATGATT! There's a nasty dent/set of scrapes where the back of my helmet hit the pavement and slid a short bit. I have no cuts or scrapes because I was wearing all of my gear.

I can't really say this to anyone outside of the riding world... but I think you guys will understand. I feel like part of my soul has been torn up. Watching the tow truck people pick up the pieces and tie them down was truly heartbreaking. I know this isn't my last bike. Was never going to be. But it's the only one I could've had for a while. With Bob still looking for a job and me trying to support us on a salary that a single person would struggle on... it's just not happening any time soon. Makes me sick to my stomach, really.

Sigh... overall, I'm ok. The best I can do right now is hobble about, because of my knee, but I'm alive. It could've been so much worse.

[Gummiente]

Very sorry to hear of your accident, but I am relieved to know you are okay. You are going to get that knee checked out, right? And while I can empathise with your feelings about the bike, at least it can be repaired. Your soul will be healed once the bike is roadworthy again.

As for the two rednecks, I'm assuming that they did not stop to offer help.

[cdillon23]

I am glad you're okay. I understand what you are talking about a little bit with your soul. Its like the bike is an extension of you. I am glad you're ok.

[Wrider]

Sorry bud... Glad you're mostly ok, but yeah I totally empathize with you on the feeling of your bike being in pieces. I sold my bike and almost cried when the guy took off on it, and it wasn't even wrecked!
Cheer up, you'll get it back in working order, and next time you see those rednecks, I suggest a CCW and a hip holster. Seriously, it does make a difference.

[Brackstone]

Glad to hear you are okay!

Pacific I thought you were starting out on a V-Star 650? I must have missed when you upgraded to the FZ?

[paul246]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, and glad that you are not too seriously injured.

Yes, all the gear- all the time, it pays dividends when called upon. Good for you to be smart enough to use it.

[Lion_Lady]

Glad you're okay... now the question, Grasshopper:

Is there anything that you could have have done differently that may have prevented ending up on pavement? The best way to keep stuff like that from being repeated - by you and others - is to figure out what went "wrong."

... when I was still somewhat new to riding, I had a carload of idiot teenagers come up behind me. Windows rolled down, hollering, etc. I was aware of them, but did not acknowledge them. Just kept riding, focusing on an escape route. One of them tossed a firecracker out of the car, then they roared by.

Stuff happens. Focus on what YOU can do to control the situation.

P

[Flipper]

So sorry to hear that, but glad you're ok.
I know it hurts inside too.
I went down last year and the emotional pain was the worst.
Take it easy on yourself, you'll be out there again.

[PacificShot327]

Gummi: Of course not - they sped off. :-/ A woman nearby jumped out of her truck and raced over to me to see if I was ok and called the authorities.

Brackstone: I never got the V-Star... not yet anyway. I still want one. Maybe one day.

Lion_Lady: Yes.

1) I shouldn't have let those guys get to me.
2) I shouldn't have tried to take off so fast.
3) I don't know what difference it would've made, considering some of the stories I've heard, but regardless of me getting into this mess or not, I should've had (I sure wanted!) a smaller bike. This happened to be one heck of a deal I couldn't pass up on. With as badly as I messed up, I'm thinking I would've ended up on the ground either way, but I still have to wonder... while I am certainly not without plenty of mistakes, the FZR has treated me well. It does exactly what I tell it to do... haha.

Today's update: I feel some icky-feeling shifting about inside my right knee. Agggh. I made it worse today by getting into the car and bending it while it was rotated a bit, so stretched things out in a not pleasant manner... I found a massive bruise on my left knee. I don't remember when or what it hit. :-/ And, haha, it hurts to sit. I have a nice purple/black/blue bruise right where my tail bone is. Ouch!

I'm going to get the bike tomorrow, I think. Will post some before/before/after the befores/and after pics (I painted the bike twice. I finished the last job on Monday. Ugh.) when I bring it home. I did get a couple of shots last night at the scene before the officer drove me home, but it was too dark to see much.

[Gummiente]

Today's update: I feel some icky-feeling shifting about inside my right knee. Agggh. I made it worse today by getting into the car and bending it while it was rotated a bit, so stretched things out in a not pleasant manner...

Get. Your. Knee. Checked. Out. Soon.

Or you may not be riding again, ever.