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Good Article - enjoyed reading it.

Thanks for sharing.

Here is a story that will get your heart pounding:

I wish I could say I did everything possible to avoid this mishap but I'm still beating myself up, questioning if I should have swerved or low-sided the bike vs. squaring the bike up while trying to stop, etc. I had just gone through the curve past Moma Alice’s, going toward Hwy 9 and was going about 45 mph. when I saw the dog on the bank, along the right side of the road. I backed off the throttle to begin to slow down since I anticipated the dog might jump out. Before I could even start to brake the dog bolted. I opted to square up, hoping the dog would shoot pass me as I braked and then try for an emergency maneuver at last possible second but it didn’t work. Even though anticipating his move it all happened too fast The last thing I saw was the front tire hitting the dog right behind his shoulder blade where the rib cage begins. From that point on I felt like I was inside a blender…….on low speed.

Anyway, the neighbor’s dog weighed about 100 to 115 lbs. They found it dead, just at the edge of Moma Alice’s woods. Evidently the impact high-sided or flipped me and slammed me down onto my right shoulder, head, and neck. While sliding and rolling I honestly remember telling myself to relax, in an attempt to prevent breaking any bones. I also remember wondering how long this was going to last and wondering if I would ever stop. Watching my shield separate and flop on the helmet didn't help. What seemed like 30 seconds was probably only 3, but when I came to a stop I realized I was still in the road and needed to get out of it in case a car was coming. I tried to get up but couldn’t so I rolled myself off the road and into the shallow ditch on the right side/shoulder of the road. It was probably at this time I realized what actually happened and was looking around for the bike. I couldn’t find it. However, I discovered that I was no where close to being where I thought I was. I was about 100 feet away from where it all started. (Damn!!) I tried to stand up again and found out [again] I couldn’t. I felt pretty beat up and couldn’t catch my breath. While on my knees I did a quick self-assessment for injuries, took my helmet and gloves off and that’s when I finally saw the bike. My VFR was another 50 feet down the road, lying in the opposite ditch with the lights still on, facing me. It was on its right side. All I could think about was how good this bike once looked and how I had messed it up. (Double damn!!) When taking my helmet off I also realized there was something wrong with my right shoulder. It was clicking and popping when I moved it around. Everything else seemed OK except for a little bit of burning (road rash) on my left knee. I looked down and saw a small tear in my jeans, with what appeared to be yellow paint marks across my left thigh and both knees.

My neighbor was cutting his grass down toward the road, which is probably why he had let his dog out of his pen, so he was on his mower when he realized a motorcycle had just slid into his yard, stopping about 25 feet from the last pass he had just cut. Once he saw me on the other side of the road, he told me to sit back down and stay where I was. I saw him ride the mower up to his house (to call 911) and then he came back to check on me. His wife came out saying an ambulance was on the way and she asked if Anne was home, because no one was answering our phone. I told her she was, but outside and probably didn’t hear it ring. His wife then got in her car and drove to our house to tell Anne. About then I saw two fire trucks arrive and two or three volunteer fireman personal vehicles. Then the ambulance arrived and two more cars showed up and another fire truck. I guess when a call goes out for a motorcycle accident people expect the worse, so I probably disappointed them when I was actually walking around, assessing damage to my bike and talking to everyone. Even the ambulance driver had to ask who was hurt because so many people were standing around the bike. I was further back trying to find out what had happened to the dog and if anyone had seen it. I didn’t know if it was OK or not. The EMTs did a quick assessment, asked where I was hurting and if I had pain anywhere else. During their primary and secondary assessment is when I removed my jacket and realized my left hand was also beginning to hurt. After removing and seeing my jacket is when I came to truly believe how important decent riding gear is. The helmet, jacket and gloves definitely did their job to protect me. I have no road rash (upper body) and suspect my collar bone and hand were only broken due to and during initial impact when the bike slammed down. As much as I was sliding, tumbling and rolling the helmet does have some damage but I never felt a thing. Only the visor popped loose from one side, probably at first impact. The chin-guard (front section of modular helmet) stayed in place and remained locked. The mesh jacket I had on is shredded in various places but the back, shoulder and elbow protectors stayed in place and never allowed skin to directly contact the road. My gloves, a pair of elkskin Ropers from Aerostitch, are chewed about halfway through in the palm, back and knuckle areas of both hands but I don’t have any abrasions on either hand. Considering what happened I know I was lucky. The only other injuries I have is a bruised third toe and ankle on my right foot, even though I was wearing composite toe safety boots. I think I also have a hairline-fracture in one of my upper vertebra but my orthopedic surgeon didn’t see this as a concern.

As for the bike, there were parts and pieces all along the road and in the ditch (on both sides). The front fender was torn off, the windscreen popped loose from one side, the upper and right fairings are busted and scraped up, and the right foot peg and mirror were broken off. The gas tank also got bent. The rear right side fairing and passenger grab bar are also worn down and scratched up. Everything on the left side looks OK. Internally, although it will run, I think the coolant reservoir is busted, the front forks are bent and the instrument panel is messed up. I know the front brake lever is bent / broken, too. I’ll send pictures later.

Scary, huh?

I sent this to my dad and he said it stopped him from riding to play tennis that day with only his tennis clothes on.

But don't get too discouraged because, if done safely, riding is one of the funnest things a person can ever do!

Very glad to hear you came out ok.

Did your neighbor's house insurance pay for the wrecked bike and your med bills? If it was his his dog they should have.

A seasoned biker was telling me to get a shoei. He was riding and his friend in front of him went to take a left turn and a ford focus was behind him. She pretty much ignored his existance and came up along side him in the turn and knocked his bike out from under him. He went down and his head went underneath the car tire. Amazingly enough he came out of this with minor injuries and the fire department had to cut the helmet off of him. The helmet compressed so he couldn't get it off but he came out with no concusion or injury. As soon as I can I am gonna get a shoei helmet.

I almost had to call the fire department to get a shoei XX(X)L (biggest they sell) helmet off of my head...

In the shop... DAMN that thing was $#%(&# $&*#@ $&#* &@#* #&*$% )@ #$($% #&$$*# UNCOMFORTABLE!!!! Like a ^&#$ #$^&ing #^&$# &%$ing vise! Of course, that's me... you might have the same head shape as your friend's friend in which case go for it. But do try it on first... 'cause, well, if given a choice between wearing a Shoei any length of time and having my head run over by a focus... well... I'm just not sure.

And I'm not criticizing shoei, they make fine helmets...just not for me. There are plenty of helmets that give good protection. Choose the one that first you, not the one your buddy swears by.

dieziege wrote:I almost had to call the fire department to get a shoei XX(X)L (biggest they sell) helmet off of my head...

In the shop... DAMN that thing was $#%(&# $&*#@ $&#* &@#* #&*$% )@ #$($% #&$$*# UNCOMFORTABLE!!!! Like a ^&#$ #$^&ing #^&$# &%$ing vise! Of course, that's me... you might have the same head shape as your friend's friend in which case go for it. But do try it on first... 'cause, well, if given a choice between wearing a Shoei any length of time and having my head run over by a focus... well... I'm just not sure.

And I'm not criticizing shoei, they make fine helmets...just not for me. There are plenty of helmets that give good protection. Choose the one that first you, not the one your buddy swears by.

lol actually for me shoei seems to be the only helmet that fits my fat head.

For my head, only the Scorpion EX400 and the HJC CL-12 seem to fit comfortably. Have tried on every helmet at the stealers in my area and they are the only ones I would want to go on an all day ride with.

Try them on before you buy.

Im scaired to try and get a new helmet, my big fat head is very unreceptive to all things cover like. the only one I have had on that fit has been my Gmax. Baseball caps are my mortal enemy.

The HJC CL-12 is an amazing helmet. I have the CL-12 and the CL-15 both and they are perfect for my head. they are DOT and SNELL which makes me happy too.