Total loss

[zweige]

Just got word from my insurance adjuster that my 2002 black beauty is a total loss.

I wrecked on Sunday about 40 miles outside of San Diego on the back roads that I travel for fun all the time. This time not so much fun.

The day started out great and I was really in the zone. Not going fast, but very smooth and fluid which to me is way more fun. I had a big scare on a switchback that was covered with oil which I was able to skid through, but I had lost the zone.

After the oil I just didn't feel in sync. My helmet felt a bit uncomfortable and I was thinking that I'd write a letter to Motorcycle Consumer News, as they had a multi-piece article on the 'zone', asking how do you get back in the zone after you're out.

Anyway I decided to stop at a little convenience store for some water and to take a break, got back on the bike and 4 miles later was going around a decreasing radius corner around 40mph when an oncoming car crosssed the center line. I don't think they crossed it too bad, but I obviously overcorrected. All I remember was feeling the back tire skitter a bit and the next thing I was tumbling in the gravel/dirt on the shoulder of the road. The bike came to rest in a barbed-wire fence which was a good thing as it save the bike from going down into a deep ravine. Luckily I stopped sliding before the barbed wire.

Even more lucky I was able to get up and walk away. After getting home and to the E.R. the end results are: my ring finger is broken, ribs fractured and my left side is one big bloody bruise that hurts like hell, but my helmet did it's job and my jacket as well. I was wearing jeans, which got torn up a bit, but since it wasn't on asphalt I think I got lucky there. One thing that was a bit disturbing was that my First Gear Pilot jacket which has leather patches on elbows and shoulders and 330 Denier nylon on the arms and body got ripped up pretty good. The leather elbow patch/pad certainly helped my elbow, but ended up ripping off the jacket. I also got some holes in the arm and back. I thought that this nylon was as tough as leather. I can't imagine how it would have handled asphalt.

The tow truck had to drag the bike out of the ditch and onto the bed as the front wheel had come out of the forks and the rotors were bent so the wheel wouldn't turn. I also couldn't get it out of gear so the rear was stuck as well. Pretty sickening to see your baby being dragged back across the dirt into the back of the truck. There were other bike parts in the same area that my bike came to rest so I guess it's a tougher corner than I gave it credit. Also, from the time that I was in the wreck until I got back to the bike, maybe 90 minutes, someone took my seat, my tire repair kit and the headlight assembly. Go figure.

I think my being a bit distracted by my helment and not being in the 'zone' as well as my lack of riding consistently over the last couple of years definitely played a part in my not handling the situation better. What you don't practice you can't execute. I wish there was someone riding with me that could tell me exactly what I did wrong, but can only think that I came in a little too hot for the decreasing radius corner and once I pushed it to the outside I couldn't/didn't lean enough to make the corner and the rear end stepped out and hit the dirt at the edge of the road. And that was all she wrote.

Overall feeling pretty damn lucky. This was my first wreck in 15+ years of riding and over 100,000 miles. My wife handled this really well considering her father was killed on a bike 10 years ago in the same general area. I mean it's pretty tough to yell at someone that walks away from a wreck. We haven't really talked about me getting a new bike, but I'm sure we will.

I think I still need time to let this all set in before I make any grand decisions. On one hand if this didn't happen I'd be out there again this weekend. On the other hand I need to consider my 5 year old daugher's comment when I got back to the house, "daddy, I'm glad you came home." I don't think she realizes how that hits me on so many levels.

Thanks for letting me share. I've been a member of this board for some time and although i don't post all that often I consider you all family.

Keep the shiny side up,
Eric

[rdsmith3]

Wow. Glad you are OK.

[R4R&R]

Did the other car stop - you know, the one that was in your lane, that caused the accident?

Bummer, Glad you're ok. What about the bike - are you going to get back in the saddle or fold?

[zweige]

The other car didn't stop. Like I said, he wasn't WAY over the centerline. As it was a curve I doubt he even saw me go down.

I've got a few months to heal up before I have to decide so I'll take the time to do some pondering. As I said, it's hard to imagine not riding again. Plus I kind of want to get back out there and make that corner this time.

[Kevin Markwell]

Zweige,

Hope everything heals up just fine. Thanks for providing such dramatic food for thought and reminding us all how tenuos the edge can be. I can only imagine your thought processes. Having a five year old does add some perspective to the rationale and rationality of riding.

The scenario you fell victum to is all too familiar. It happened the same way to a guy who was following me on an R-6 a couple months ago and essentially the same way to me four years ago, except that I was able to stand the bike up and ride a little ways into a cornfield. There was no gravel and no fence so it was just a little bumpy and a lot embarrassing. All three of us were lucky they were left hand turns.

Since then I have worked on "push down and trust your tires" and "when in doubt, gas it" but there are obviously limits to those strategies. That split second decision of what to do when the unexpected happens while leaned over is something we all try to plan for and can only hope works out right at the time. I know what you are getting at by being in the zone verses over thinking it. Sometimes it seems like nothing can go wrong and other times like nothing feels quite right. Being in tune with my own limits at the time is my stategy for staying safe, but I know I may be fooling myself to think that will always work.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Kevin

[darthrider]

Eric -
Naturally I'm very happy you are "relatively" OK, and sorry you got banged up and lost your bike.

I applaud you for fessing up and accepting responsiblity. So many riders after a crash just want to blame anyone but themselves. And I appreciate your analysis of what happened and how you could have avoided this. You manned up and you will be a better person - and rider - for it.

And mainly I applaud you for sharing this experience indetail with us. I hope you share it with every rider you can get to listen.

I crashed 4 years ago and did the same as you. I must have "replayed the tape" 500 times in the first couple of days and ended up with a very clear understanding of what happened, what I did wrong and what I could do to prevent it from happening again. And shared that knowledge & understanding with a lot of other riders.

I remember some of them said they would never tell about a crash that was their fault. Others just wanted to "help me" assign blame to others or just write it off as "bad luck." But others thanked me for what I said, just as I am thanking you.

Continuing to ride - or not - may be a very difficult decision for you, especially with the loss of your wife's dad and your concern for her and your little girl. I can not, nor would I offer any advice there except to say that my wreck and resutling "attitude change" has made me a more careful and better rider.

I hope that is the same outcome for you. It certainly looks like you have your head on straight about the incident. and riding in general. I would be happy to ride with you anytime.

Thanks for your post, good luck with the insurance company.

[DJ Downunder]

Thanks for letting us know about your accident...shame about the bike...glad you're ok...I hope you get another bike soon...get over it and move on.

It just goes to show how thing can go pair shape without any warning and reading you story will make myself and others take extra care when we ride.

DJ

[arkline]

Damn! Glad you're up and kicking aroung, but really sorry to hear that something like this happened to you. Take care of yourself..

[srosenfeld]

I'm glad you're OK. Having an accident certainly gives you perspective, especially when you have young kids (I have three ranging from 1-7).

Whether you get back in the saddle is obviously a very personal decision. Don't do it if you won't be able to focus again 100% on the ride. Also, I highly recommend a high-speed / track riding course. I took one with Lee Parks a few months ago, and it helped me understand the limits of the bike and how far I could push it in the corners. That level of trust helps when you get into hairy situations.

Whatever you decide, Get well soon, and keep us informed.

[beekstersocal]

hello niehbor. im glad you walked away. there was a thread a while back about why we ride ,and with loosing one of our fellow members it sometimes hits me in the gut.. i mean sometimes i ask myself what the hell am i doing ,but to each there own we ride for are own reasons and nobody elses and i know that what we do does affect the people around us ,but you cant live in a friggen box. either way glad your ok and im sure what ever deccision you make it will be the rite one

[JCsman]

Thank you for the insightful story - gutsy to be so honest.

I'm glad you could walk away. Stay well.

[rchop]

What road were you riding on when the crash occurred?

[Bry]

GLad to hear you're still functioning ok! Disturbing to think someone nicked stuff whilt you were away! Hopefully Karma will catch up with them!

Bry

[Lion_Lady]

Hey, glad you're relatively okay and are sharing your experience with us...

Regarding the 'failure' of the First Gear Phoenix jacket. I've heard good things and some bad things about it (of coures I can't remember the source of either of the specifics). Do you think that the failure of the patches could be that the leather was too strong for the rest of the fabric? I do know that mesh is more likely to fail than full on fabric, because it can get hooked on roughness in the road.

Something to think about, I guess.

P

[Biff's R]

Glad to hear that you are okay.

I also had a similar situation last year. I was happy to be uninjured, thankful I was wearing my gear, and embarrassed that I screwed up. You will replay this many times in your mind as Darth states, and if you ride again this incident will serve as a reminder to keep your mind right.

[jrock]

Now you can get an f800s.

[wncbmw]

Glad you are OK, relatively speaking. Thanks for the discription of the accident. Sounds like the kind of thing most of us could experience any time. Keep us posted on your plans.

[boxermania]

Glad that albeit a bit bruised you are OK, sorry about the bike but material things can be repaired or replaced and glad that you have a loving and understanding family.

Get well soon.........

[BobFV1]

Glad to hear you're okay. Ride safe!

[jamming]

Eric, stuff happens, but, your ok, you will heal and we here will be here for you.
Get healed up, look for another bike. Looking is almost as fun as riding.
By the way, welcome to the bent bike faternity. If you ride you will join.
Take care of yourself.
Roger