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I could use some advice please. I wrecked my bike. I had a 05 vulcan. It's been 2 weeks today since my wreck. I don't remember going out on my bike. I don't think I was wearing a helmet. I pretty much don't remember that day. A witness says my bike flipped 3 times. The back end came up over the front end. My front forks are bent and and my handle bars are totally twisted and my gauges all busted. The tank has a dent in it but the rest of it looks ok.
Can you tell me from this if it's "totalled"? If the insurance company says it is what does that mean? I've never had to deal with insurance or a wreck before. Is it better to let them say it's totalled and write it off or is it better to let them fix it? I don't want to ride an unsafe bike. And what if I can't ride anymore. Some people can't ride after a bad wreck. I don't know if I will be able to ride anymore. I don't remember the accident so maybe I can skip the fear that comes from a wreck. If any of you had a bad wreck how did you deal with it and keep riding?

First off glad you are OK . Secondly , I strongly suggest that you get back on some kind of Motorcycle as quickly as you can , even if it's a very short jaunt. So that you get back in the saddle . When the old cowboys fell off of a horse they got right back on it .
If you are lucky enough to have the insurance total it out . Do so and then see how much you can buy it back for . With the extra money you should be able to fix your scoot and have it as good as new . As long as your frame is not bent . Hell , you could even customize it .
That's what the old Wizz would do , I guarantee it .
Kind regards, Wizzard

Wizzard wrote:First off glad you are OK . Secondly , I strongly suggest that you get back on some kind of Motorcycle as quickly as you can
Kind regards, Wizzard

I couldn't agree with the Wizzard any more. I crashed my '05 bike after only having it for two weeks. After the bruises healed (ok after only 3 days) I was back up on my uncles bike. Take it easy a lot of people have been in an accident. Think about a car, if you got into an accident in a car would that stop you from driving? Probably not.

MOST IMPORTANTLY

If you can not remember the accident and you flipped (possibly without a helmet) you need to see a doctor as soon as possible you could be suffering from nurological damage that is not present to you at this time. Your head does not grow back or heal right up! You need to go see your general practitioner and see if he thinks you need to see a nuero specialist. If you think I am kidding if you can answer yes to any of these question (which you already have) you need to see a doctor.

Are you having memory loss?
Headaches?
Numbness or weakness in any of your arms or legs?
Blurred vision?
Slurred speach?

These are all indications of damage to your head that could be nothing or could be something that needs to be looked at.

Go see a doctor. I'd rather not scare you with all the things that could be wrong, because most likely they aren't. But at the very least you need an MRI to make sure that there is no bleeding up there.

The bike is secondary but like Wizzard said, "if you CAN get back on the horse you do." First rule of falling off a horse, same for a bike. The longer you wait the more anxiety develops and the greater the chance you'll never get back on. Now if you decide you don't want to get back on again then don't, no one is going to say you have to.

PS, please wear a helmet.

Thanks for all the comments. I asked a friend to borrow his bike but he said not untill I am more healed. ugh, stubborn men. Maybe he'll let me ride pillion. I'll try, I told him I shouldn't wait too long before I get back on but he's very stubborn.

As for all the comments about seeing a dr. I'm sorry I skipped the details about spending 4 days in ICU and then 2 more days in the hospital.
I have a bad concussion but I'm getting better. I reminded people of Dory off of finding Nemo for awhile. My neck is messed up. And all my bruises have faded execpt one on my thigh and one on my arm. I think my internal bruises are healed. My belly feels ok.
The only bright spot is my helmet was safe at home and I don't have to get a new one.
I did have trouble getting into my truck after I got home. I'm still driving sooo slow. I'm definetely going to try to ride pillion soon. I miss it.

I will tell you right now. I don't want you to ride anything anywhere anyhow without a helmet. I know you might feel a little sheepish after you crashed, but a helmet is not only the law, more importantly it saves that beautiful head of yours from recieving concussions. I hope you feel better and get the wind back on your knees where it belongs. Feel better.

Well, umm you can still get a concussion wearing a helmet, but the chances of doing so are lower. The chance of brain injury drops dramtically when wearing a helmet, and it'll keep all of your skin ON your head when you go sliding down the pavement.

As some people are so fond of stating "it's not the law everywhere." And that is true, but it's not very smart either. A 3 ft fall onto cement is enough to get permanent life altering damage to your brain. We're talking drooling on your shirt can't control your bowels, need a personal caretaker for the rest of your life. You sit more with your head more then 3 ft above the ground when you ride.

And, with that, I give you Sev's idea of the ultimate motorcycle:



Or maybe this is more your speed, Sev:

damn all these edits....
Firstly...sorry to here about your accident and injuries Sarek.
2nd
Sev is soooo right....nasty nasty things can become of one without a lid in a bikewreck...I for one don't give an __F if i get killed, but the worst would be to make a burden on my family be becoming a vege....
3rd
I just wanted to add this to Zoo's post