Today it was my turn to go down...bugger!

[DJ Downunder]

Yes today I dropped my beautiful bike for the first time...I got caught in a sudden downpour..and slipped on the tram tacks.

It's been five years now and everyday I tell myself..I'm not going down..and ride like I mean it..I've been so so careful..but today I stuffed up.

The rain hit so suddenly and so hard and the odd thing was the sun was still shinning..I was forced over into the tram tracks by a truck entering in front of me..I was thinking..careful..careful..and after passing the truck that had stopped for me I eased over to the side of the road..back across the tram track..I remember thinking 'do I turn sharp so I cross the track at more angle..or ease across carfully...I think I eased across slowly..and maybe at not enough angle.

Before I knew it I was starting to go down..I'm not sure if I lost the front or rear..because when you loose the front it's usually very sudden..but it seemed like slow motion..going sideways and then down..like a wheel was caught in the track.

It this point I've left the bike and was sliding alongside..the road was like glass..I was not slowing down..I notice a cyclist ahead and my bike was heading toward him..and yes my bike hit him and knocked him onto the footpath.

My bike then bounces off the curb and along..and bounces off a tree and stops..and I stopped sliding also..I jumped up and see oil gushing from the right valve cover..I'm not sure if I should go to my bike or the cyclist that I just knocked over.

I choose the cyclist...he gets up..a bit shaken..all seems ok with his bike..he has a sore ankle from were my bike hit him..but he says he's ok..and then helps me pick up my bike.....oh bugger..my poor bike.

Cars stopped to check that we're ok..we exchange phone numbers..I pushed my bike onto the footpath..I'm glad I had all my gear on because I'm fine..even after sliding 30-40 yards..my hip feels a bit sore but I'm ok.

I went home..got my car..hired a trailer..picked up my bike (and took pics)..and drove home nice and slow..bugger,bugger,bugger..I'm so pissed off with myself.

I've contacted my insurance company..and my BMW dealer..and will take my poor bike in tomorrow...bugger!

Take care out there guys..(and gals)..expecialy in the wet..I'll post my pics soon.

DJ

[sjbmw]

Oh man. I am glad you are not hurt, physically that is.

godspeed to your mental recovery.

as always, a great pic, even in trying times.

[R4R&R]

Wow - that really sucks DJ, I'm sorry to hear that. Do you think ABS would've helped? You said a truck forced you to do something you would rather not have done, is there any way to go after the truck driver? How fast were you going?

Looksl ike this may be a good time to take a good look at the R1200R!!!!

[denverchuck]

DJ, Sorry to hear about the lay down, I'm glad you and the cyclist are good to go, looks like the R took the big hit. I'm a believer that the more miles you pile the more likely you are to eventually go down, just be thankful you are fine - the Roadster is replaceable.
Keep your head up mate, maybe the R12R is in your future...

[MikeCam]

DJ,

Prayers, good thoughts, some of my left over good karma, a dose of Ying and yang...glad it wasn't worse for you. Sorry it happened at all.

Mike Cam

[DSKYZD]

Main thing is that you're healthy, DJ. Don't beat yourself up about the bike.

I'd be tempted to just hide the whole thing and pretend it didn't happen. You're taking pictures and sharing it with us. Strong character!

All the best to you and the bike.


DSKYZD

[wncbmw]

DJ - first off, so glad you survived intact and able to take pictures! Could have been much worse. Assuming tram and train tracks are similar, they are a real crash waiting to happen, even in the dry! Sounds like a wheel got trapped in a track or an edge.

Keep us posted on the bike recovery project.

[single650]

Thats a real bummer DJ.

A least you got off OK, and the cyclist - the bike will be fine they're tough beasties.

[beemerphile]

Any crash you can walk (or limp) away from is a happy ending. The picture shows a great sense of humor and more than a bit of skill at photo composition. Congrats!

I threw my ST1100 down a wet road with a bit of sand in a turn in upstate New York in November of 1995. That's why we wear ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time). Otherwise, we'd just wear it when we were going to crash.

As we rednecks say "You done good!"

By the way, on my Georgia motorcycle license test there was a question that asked "...if you were crossing tracks that were at an angle to the road should you proceed straight down the road or turn into the tracks?" They say my answer of turning into the tracks to lessen the angle of attack was incorrect. I was once following a friend who took the state's advice and I saw his bike become a railroad train as he continued (without it) down the road. Bullfeathers State of Georgia!

Lee

[DJ Downunder]

Thanks guys...I appreciate all your concerns and comments.

I'm sure my bike will be back looking like new soon...I hope.

Here's the scene on the crash..and those damn tram tracks.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2631.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2633.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2634.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2635.JPG

The damage pics...

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2636.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2637.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2639.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2641.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2642.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2643.JPG

I'm just glad that I didn't end up on the other side of the fence..





Here's my car with hire trailer...and another tram buzzes past..bloody trams.





My gear held up great..my new'ish Draggin's were amazing..I slid so far and just a little scuffed..no real damage..even my knees didn't get hurt..yes lucky.

The jacket also got scuffed up..and also no shoulder damage..more luck.





The truck did not do anything wrong..I was just worried that he might come out in front of me and wanted to give myself room if he did.

I was going about 45 kph (30 mph)..not fast but maybe too fast for the conditions....and it happened about 10 klms (6 miles) from my home..and a long walk back.

I don't blame anyone but myself..and glad the cyclist was ok..that could have been real nasty.

It just goes to show..a clear and open road..and it can all go wrong when you least expect it.

DJ

[Lobo1625]

DJ,

Sorry to hear about the incident. Very glad to hear/see you're ok. The bike can be fixed. Such a beautiful bike, I'm sure it will look good as new. Glad to hear that the Cyclist wasn't injured either, more than a sore ankle. A speedy recovery to you, your bruised ego and your R. Glad you're ok.

[Valueman]

DJ,

I am so relieved to read that you are OK.

It seems every week on some forum I read a post that reminds us all of the danger in riding a motorcycle. Of course, there is danger in many things we do. Sometimes things just happen. I am glad that your gear protected you, and I hope your 1150R will be well soon.

Though we have never met, your many post and tales have led to great respect for you as a motorcyclist. The way you are handling this only enhances that.

Be well, mate.

VM

[scottybooj]

whoa dude.

glad to hear and see you're alright.

she sure did take a beating...looking back at my 35mph slider in the rain two years back, I got off way lucky.

mend your ride and your pride and get back out there!

[TonyT607]

Hey, Matey, could have been MUCH worse. Thankfully everyone is ok and the bike will be good as new.

Now go have a pint (or five) and toast the fact that you (and the cyclist) are ok and that you live to ride another day.

Since you'll have a bit of time on your hands I'll send you some more reading material.

Take care.

[rph802]

Hey DJ,

What can I say? Damn sorry this happened to you of all people. It certainly could have been at a lot worse. I have a pair of those Draggin jeans too. Glad to hear they hold up well under fire and more that you're fine.

NOW stay away from the Moto Guzzi dealers!!!!!!!!!!!

Craig

[bad n ruin]

It just goes to show..a clear and open road..and it can all go wrong when you least expect i

So true,DJ, so true! Thanks for taking the time to post pictures along with the accident report. Your bike was always one of my favorites -so clean and tidy. It looked brand new after 5 years!

It's good to hear the gear worked as advertised - glad you weren't physically damaged. If there's any justice, the Bike (or a replacement?)will be better than new in short order!

[domekrome]

Glad you're okay DJ, I too had a bit of a dust-up. Mine was on Monday though. I have posted a brief synopsis & link to photos in the Off-Topic forum.

[Beemeridian]

564

[darcym]

Glad to hear you're ok, DJ -- hopefully the bike repairs will go smoothly and as painlessly as possible. Interesting road down under -- looks like you share the roadway with the trams? We don't have much (if any) of that around here. Or if we do, the roadways are marked so that the tramways aren't used for vehicle travel.

As I recall from MSF school, train tracks are to be crossed as close to a ninety degree as possible, to avoid the tires slipping into the tracks. Sounds like that's what happened. It happens so fast ... worse in the wet.

Looking at the damage to the bike ( ) makes me think a little harder about some kind of protection. I hate hanging more gear on the bike than necessary, but a low speed (relatively) crash like that might be less likely to result in damage if you're using crash bars. Food for thought, I suppose.

Let us see the pics of the bike when it's fixed so we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief.

dm

[chris]

Hi DJ, really sorry to hear it mate. Just glad you're OK, like they said everything else can be fixed although I have to admit as I hopped around the road on my good leg after being hit by a car 10 years back, I was much more concerned about the state of my bike than the fact I couldn't walk and really pi**ed when they shut me in the ambulance and made me leave it behind!
Hope you get her back soon good as new.