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Crash Poll Stories, Summer
The Crash Poll has become a popular place and the page has become BIG, so I broke the stories into seasons of the year.The topic of "get-off's" came up and the stories started, many have found them very educational and some find them entertaining. A real study into the details of how and why motorcycle accidents are what they are. Read This! Spring Time Stories Summer Time Stories Fall Time Stories Winter Time Stories On Road?: No Model Year: 1988 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 27 Comments -------------------- In 1994, I entered the Canadian National harescramble open with a paris-dakar 750 suzuki. 30 miles (50km) into the 150 km race I ended up in a pack of two strokes moving at about 60 mph (100kmh) across brushy fields and sand dunes, (yes, we have dunes up here) when I decided to break away from the group down what looked like a sandy open stretch. Needless to say, I topped the dune at speed and ended up mid air wondering where the ground went. I impacted the next dune top (thank god for 13 inches of suspension)which slowed me to about 30 mph, and proceeded to cartwheel down the next. Fairly spectacular really. Sand isn't always as soft as it appears. I finished, but the beak of the bike was facing right. I definitely recommend chest and spine protection and a healthy respect for the unknown factors out there. Above all ride at a safe speed regarding the unknown. Of the number of motorcycle deaths out there, most riders are killed within 1 mile of home. Caution, so you can live to ride, ride to live. Just bought a new 1999 KLR and am looking forward to enjoying it for back road tours and some long distance trail adventures, Great Site, Cheers. Wayne P. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: yes Model: 750cc Bike Make: Suzuki DR750 Big Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: No Model Year: 76 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 19 Comments -------------------- July in Atlanta-I alway rode with at least heavy cotton sweatshirt, this time it was too hot and I took it off. I was very familiar with the bike, used it to commute to work, had app 6k miles on it. I was running down a dirt road by an old grist mill, the creek for the mill actually crosses over the road. I had crossed this area before-normally about 1"-2" deep. I decided to do the Baja thing, gassed it to app 45mph, then lifted the front wheel to cross the water. WRONG! Recent rain had put the creek app 6"8" deep, as soon as the bike hit the water-instant stop-I was over the handlebars and hit the gound headfirst, then slid app 30-40feet on my back, tearing the tank top right off of me. I jumped up, got the bike started, straightned out levers, bars, mirrors, etc, and pointed it toward home figuring I needed to get there quick before shock set in. I was doing ok until I looked down at my right elbow and saw the condition it was in with gravel hanging out, etc. Almost lost it, but made it home. Six weeks sleeping on my stomach while new skin started to grow on my back. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: mr250 elsinore Bike Make: honda Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 89 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 22 Comments: Second spill on the 250 was in Manhattan passing a bus on the right. It made a right turn in front of me, I grabbed a fistful of brake, lost traction and went down on the right side. Not a pretty fairing after that. Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 250cc's Bike Make: Kawasaki 250 Ninja Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 1982 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 22 Comments: Looked down to switch my tank to reserve; looked up to see the traffic in front of me stopped; rear-ended the car in front of me. Hurt the bike, but spared the rider. Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Email Address: wgochoa Model: 650 Bike Make: Yamaha Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 1982 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 23 Comments -------------------- Tried to "hug the right edge of the road" on a right turn on the street. Like making a square turn. Front tire lost traction and flipped the bike on it's nose. Bike was hurt, but rider was spared. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Email Address: wgochoa Model: 650 Bike Make: Yamaha Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 1982 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 26 Comments -------------------- Stopped behind a U-Haul truck stopped in the middle of the road. U-Haul backed up and destroyed the bike - rider was spared. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Email Address: wgochoa Model: 650 Bike Make: Yamaha Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 1982 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 28 Comments -------------------- Automobile turned left in front of me. Performed emergency braking procedure, but not well enough to prevent the accident. Hit the right rear fender at about 20 mph and went flying. Bike was destroyed and the rider was sent to the hospital with minor, but long-lasting injuries (Crotch smashed on gas tank - Oh My God The Pain! - Semi-normal sexual performance returned after about a year.) -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Email Address: wgochoa Model: 650 Bike Make: Yamaha Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 1994 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 25 Comments -------------------- Going out to the desert for an all night concert over the evening of the summer solstice. Group of friends (including the violinist & drummer from the band I was going to see) chose the twistiest route there. We had a blast over the twisties. Now we're into the long straights, and the 90 degree intersection type of turns. I go into one too hot, and there's sand in the middle of the line I need to take. (sand? in the desert? who woulda thunk it?) My bike lowsides. I roll away nicely. My friends pick up the bike for me. I feel like a doofus. Broken plastic pieces, but that's just theft insurance now. :) -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: yes Model: CBR600F2 Bike Make: Honda Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 92 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 24 Comments -------------------- Took a right corner faster than what I am used to. (mistake #1) I saw the curb approaching very quickly and panicked. I became fixated on the curb so thats where the bike went. (mistake #2) I slammed on the brakes (mistake #3), jumped the curb (the curb was not very high; maybe an inch or two), lowsided the bike on some grass, the bike was abruptly stopped by some hedges, I was thrown clear of the bike by 10 to 15 feet. I was wearing full leathers and helmet so I only had a little bruise on my arm. The bike sufffered damaged body work only. Fortunately, no cars were around. The grass and the hedges were undamaged. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 500 Bike Make: Kawasaki Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 81 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 28 Comments -------------------- Two women in a rental car were talking instead of watching and turned from right lane into left lane as I was passing them in city traffic. Speed of traffic was 30 mph. I was located even with the driver's window when she turned into me. They pushed me into the median. I was able to slow bike down so only damage was laying the bike over at less than 5 mph. They said they didn't see me. I hit the car on the driver's door and left a dent and scratch where my case guard hit. No damage to bike except some scratches on right side plastic lowers of fairing. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: GS1000G Bike Make: Suzuki Helmet?: yes DUI?: yes On Road?: yes Model Year: 1976 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 18 Comments -------------------- Going through town toward the hills and orange groves to go hill bombing, buddy and his girlfriend following in a 57 Willy's 4 by pickup. Had been drinking Bud tall cans and smoking joints at their pad. Saw girl on sidewalk with halter top, big boobs and a cute smile, turned around to look at her as I passed, looked forwards and there was a station wagon stopped about to make a left turn 20 feet in front of me. I jumped off bike doing 40, slid past car on the right on my boots, gloves and butt, stood right up as I finished slinding a la ski-slide-to-a-halt. I ran to the back of car to remove bike, handlebar end poked through the tire. Cops came, I smoked a cigarette to get beer off my breath and got away with it. I paid the car owners $80 for a new tire, they wanted $400, I told them that they were out of their mind. Lessons? 1) Ride then party, not vice versa 2) Knobbies suck on the street. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: XT 500 Bike Make: Yamaha Helmet?: yes DUI?: No Model: 500 On Road?: yes Model Year: 91' 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 22 Comments: young, dumb, and full of @*%. Loaded?: No season: Summer Bike Make: ex500 Group?: No Model: Ninja 500 On Road?: No Model Year: 96 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 25 Comments -------------------- Open track day at pocono. Lost front end and slid off. Broke every peice of plastic either on impact with ground or when bike hit wall and haybales. No serious injuries but shoulder and ankle weren't right for about three months after. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Bike Make: Kawasaki Group?: No Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 82 2-up?: No Hurt: yes Rider Age: 43 Comments: At stopsign on rainy nite and was on the wrong end of a hit and run. Still don't remember the accident. Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 920 Bike Make: Yamaha Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 78? 2-up?: No Hurt: yes Rider Age: 16 Comments -------------------- My friend and I were racing along the road going to a gravel pit. He slowed up to turn early and i didnt see right away what he was dooing. By the time I did it was to late and we clipped handle-bars. I 99 percent of the time wore good leather gloves, a levis jacket, levis jeans, good boots . On this day I seem to have forrgotten the jacket, and gloves, it was a nice warm summers day. I lost control and went down with it luckily staying in my lane. 2 semis and a truck were going the other way. I could here tires screeching as i skidded along. My left arm up to my shoulder looked like ground beef. My left hand was ground away in spots till it was whiteish. My left side of my body from belt up the size of a fist was ground up. Knees were worse for wear. I think my boot got caught in something because part of it was missing like it got cut and my big toe gave me problems for the longest time. Slowed me up for about a month for therapy. Still ride to this day ,10 years later, as fast as I can and getting ready to buy a new motorcycle this coming spring. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: yes Model: 360 Bike Make: Yamaha 360 enduro Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 94 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 17 Comments -------------------- i was accelerating up an on ramp on brand new tires. i guess that and some oil on the ground made my bike slip out and lowside. another crash, same stuff above, happened early in the rain when a cab stopped short, i slammed the brakes, and slid out. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 500 Bike Make: Kawasaki Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 1986 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 24 Comments -------------------- Just got a new job. They expected you to use your own car for transport to the job site with gear to do the work. Geology. So I put the Health&Safety gear into a backpack and rode off on unfamiliar freeways through construction traffic. Unfortunately I dumped. Did I mention that I only had 3 months riding experience at the time. Only 1 month freeway experience. And I'd already done my morning commute of 67 miles, checked in at the office, and then been sent out into the field. Anyway, a car merged where I wasn't expecting it to. I slammed on brakes (too hard). *** 5 second loss of time*** I was on the ground. Near as I can reconstruct, I probably locked the rear wheel and let it loose after it slid out of line. Probably got kinda thrown over the handlebars judging from the look on the truck driver's face. Thank goodness his brakes worked. His passenger helped me pick up my bike. I rode it away from the accident and called in sick to the office for the rest of the afternoon. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 500cc VF500F Bike Make: Honda Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 84 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 48 Comments: First trip to Baja. Barreling down HW#1. Road into the infamous vado (wash) between Catavina and St.Ynes going about 60mph. Didn't know then what I know now; it's the only vado in Baja that's allways wet, therefore there's moss growing at the bottom of it. Down I went. I was wearing an Aerostich jacket sans pants cause of the heat. My body was very sore for a couple of days; jeans were tore up and I had abrasions that didn't disappear for months but... I wasn't seriously hurt. Bike damage: headlight lense, windshield, mirror gone, handlebars bent, hardbag scratched. I rested a couple of days at the ranch, straightened the bars, cut a piece of plexiglass to serve as a headlight lense and continued my trip. Like Mark Twains cat and the cold stove I now cross vados that I know arn't slippery very slowly. Bogdan Loaded?: yes season: Summer Group?: No Model: R65 Bike Make: BMW Helmet?: yes DUI?: No Model: XLH 1200 On Road?: yes Model Year: 95 hurt: No Rider Age: 42 Comments -------------------- Again in pea gravel in the process of turning a corner. Another vehicle cut in front of me, and I locked the brakes up in gravel at 10 - 15 MPH and high-sided. Result was broken collar bone. We were on vacation at the time, and went on with vacation. It healed up by the time we returned home. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Bike Make: H-D Helmet?: yes DUI?: No Model: 360 On Road?: yes Model Year: 1973 hurt: No Rider Age: 17 Comments -------------------- I was riding to work about 9 in the morning watching the tach instead of the road as I downshifted to make a left turn, started turning and looked up to see bumper, grill and tire smoke from a Caprice classic that I had just turned in front of while he was doing about 55 miles an hour. I got back on the throttle and got far enough out of the way that the bumper hit the swing arm instead of my right leg. The next thing I remember was being on the ground on the shoulder of the road with the bike on my left leg, me still straddling the bike and the motor still running. The bike was totaled, broken right shock, bent rear rim and swing arm, bent left shock and mangled cosmetics. Me?, I got up, shut the bike off and started appologising to the driver of the car who was almost in tears because he thought he had killed me. How I came through the whole thing without a scratch I will never know, other than I am sure that the full face helmet helped even though it didnt apear to ! have been damaged other than a small scratch where my head had hit the ground when I landed.Total dammage= 73 honda cl360 totaled, 1500 dollars worth of dammage to the car, 6 point ticked for failure to yield while making a left turn which also totaled about 18 points whithin a years time and I lost my licence for a while which I still think was a good thing because it settled me down emencely. Stupid things we do when we are kids and live through them. DonKLR650a13 -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Spring Bike Make: Honda Helmet?: yes DUI?: No Model: KLR650 Hurt?: yes On Road?: yes Model Year: 97 hurt: No Rider Age: 40 Comments -------------------- Fell down in dirt after getting rear wheel stuck in a hole. Seat height is so great that I can't get my feet on the ground. Have subsequently gotten a lowering kit! There have been many fall-down-go-boom falls in the dirt with no consequences! -------------------- road: No Loaded?: No season: Summer Bike Make: Kawasaki Helmet?: yes DUI?: No Model: 500 Ninja Hurt?: yes On Road?: yes Model Year: 94 hurt: No Rider Age: 47 Comments -------------------- I was trying to keep up with more experienced riders(mistake#1).We were going through some nice twisties and came upon a tight right/left "S" curve. I made the right-hander alright but got wide in the left-hander and caught some gravel(mistake#2).All this at about 45mph. The results were a very hard low-side resulting in a broken left shoulder and a mess of all the tendons and ligaments. -------------------- season: Summer Bike Make: Kawasaki Group?: yes Helmet?: yes DUI?: No Model: 500cc On Road?: yes Model Year: 1970 hurt: No Rider Age: 23 Comments -------------------- A drunk hit me from the rear and sent me flying through the air. I landed on my head (helmet) and watched the drunk drive off as I lay on the ground. They caught him later but went very easy on him. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Fall Bike Make: Kawasaki H1 Helmet?: yes DUI?: No Model: R100RS On Road?: yes Model Year: 82 hurt: No Rider Age: 46 Comments: panic stop rear brake locked left up for about 1-2 seconds slid to stop and had a Laugh In fall over!! Loaded?: No season: Summer Bike Make: BMW Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 93 2-up?: No Hurt: yes Rider Age: 51 Comments -------------------- On a one up loaded A-7 going camping, took a T intersection of 2 state highways too fast, lowsided. Fx tibula and fibula needed surgery to place titanium nail in tibula. One and a half years later walking well. I had on all the gear except motocross boots, was wearing light weight 10 inch high boots. I knocked the face shield off my Shoei RFR and replaced it. Scratched my Kili but, am still wearing it. Bike had minimal damage from low speed lowside. Have dropped off-road at low speed about 6 times (no injuries and no major damage) in 15k miles, plus the above road crash John Houchins -------------------- Loaded?: yes season: Summer Group?: No Model: KLR650 Bike Make: Kawa Helmet?: yes Model: Enduro 400 DUI: yes Model Year: 74 hurt: No Rider Age: 30 Comments: on fire road, road stopped at arroyo, i did not! 40 ft jump(distance not height) landed in sand, bent bars, bruised and scraped me road: No Loaded?: No season: Summer Bike Make: Suzuki helmet: No DUI?: No Hurt?: yes On Road?: yes Model Year: 1990 2-up?: yes hurt: No Rider Age: 49 Comments -------------------- We were on Hwy. 1 heading North, towards Jenner, and we were approaching a real tight hair-pin turn to the left. The road was very steep and we were traveling uphill at about 20 Mph. The rider in front of me pointed out a hazard on the center-line and I looked down to check it out. I noticed an oil slick about a foot wide and moved to the right to avoid it. When I looked back up and to the left, to set up for the turn, my view was totally blocked by the side of a motor home that had come around the curve in the opposing lane. I was total disoriented and looked straight ahead for an alternate route. There was a gravel/sand covered turn-out that would allow me to enter and, hopefully, turn the bike around with a little throttle to regain the road. The turn worked great and I was headed back onto the pavement at a very oblique angle. The pavement had a lip about three inches high which, at the oblique angle of attack I had, prevented the front tire from actually entering t! he roadway. I rode the bike along this lip for about 30 yards. I couldn't stop as there was a drainage ditch to my right that fell away as I moved up the hill. I continued to accelerate hoping to find a flatter spot to cross over onto the road. At about 35-40Mph the bike was flipped over by a huge bump along the roads edge. My wife and I were left dangling over the ditch with the bike tires on the pavement and the handle bars and saddle bags resting on the hillside. The bike was barely damaged and we were basically unhurt. The moral of the story is: In this type of situation it would have been better to decide in favor of stopping the bike in the turn-out rather than to try moving off the pavement and then back onto the roadway. I had no idea what the road access was from the dirt edge and put my wife and myself in a dangerous situation. By stopping I would have had the chance to pick my angle back to the road, rather than be carried into an angle that was dictated by momentum. Hope you all ride safe and learn alittle from this incident. -------------------- season: Summer Group?: yes Model: 1340 Bike Make: Harley Davidson FXLRC Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 1999 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 44 Comments -------------------- I was riding on a dirt logging road in dry conditions. Speed was about 20-25mph. The road made a gentle climb and turn to the left, with the slope of the road being opposite to the turn. In other words, the turn was banked the wrong way. Not much, but enough for the spill. As I entered the turn, my front tire, which had loads of tread life remaining, lost traction on some pebbles and small rocks in the dirt. I was on the ground before I knew it. The bike hit hard on the left side, bending the handlebar, clutch lever, shift lever, and radiator grill. The stock skid plate offered no protection for the side of the engine casing and so it got ground-down a bit. I landed solidly on my left hip and left hand, thus finding some strengths and weaknesses in my protective clothing. My hand was numb from the impact, but no other damage; the leather glove showing hardly any wear at all. My left hip had a huge bruise. Eight months later and there are still some broken blood vessels visible. A hip pad would have kept me from all injury. I am very glad this was a low speed accident. You are vulnerable at ANY speed, so dress right! -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: KLR650 Bike Make: Kawasaki Helmet?: yes I just wanted to thank you for your "crash" stories. I'm 38 and I'd had my first motorcycle, a 2000 KLR650, for a week when I misjudged a right-left "S" turn and laid it down. Luckily I was on the soft shoulder when I made contact with the ground and slid on my butt and back. Wasted a turn signal, the choke lever and some plastic (easily replaced by Dual Star and Kawasaki). I felt like such an idiot! I thought anyone else would have made the maneuver successfully. It's good to read that others (many others) have done similar things and have been able to laugh about them later. Sincerely, Dan, San Diego, CA. DUI?: No Model: R100S On Road?: yes Model Year: 77 Hurt: yes Rider Age: 27 Comments: Riding with "friends" on an unfamiliar, very tricky road. They left me far behind, and I started pushing myself to catch up. I came around a corner, only to discover it was decreasing radius. The Beemer's right cylinder head touched down, unloaded the back tire, and high-sided. I was bounced through the air and somehow broke my leg in two places. BMW engineers have decided how fast you are supposed to go on their bikes. LISTEN TO THEM! Loaded?: No season: Summer Bike Make: BMW Group?: yes Helmet?: yes DUI?: No Model: 1000 On Road?: yes Model Year: 86 2-up?: No Hurt: yes Rider Age: 34 Comments -------------------- I was approaching an intersection after a long day riding in the Rockies on a VF1000R. I was tired but decided to wait until I got home to take a rest (ok, bad decision #1). I was ~200 ft. from a major intersection (in the right hand lane) when the light turned yellow. All crossing traffic was stopped and (at 35 mph) I felt I had plenty of time to clear the intersection (#2). About this time a Ford pickup in the adjacent right turn only lane swerved back into my lane and stopped for the light.... My helmet and jacket kept the plate glass of his camper window from shredding me as I entered his camper, post haste. Ever put a dent into a tank with your tender parts? If not, don't. One of my "friends" (Hi Rich) brought people by the house to look at the tank for weeks after the accident. I also had a pretty nifty fracture to my left wrist. After ~$12K of surgery, my wrist is "good" but not "normal". I really think had I taken that break, I'd have been sharp enought to a! void the entire accident..... Peace ;-) -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Bike Make: Honda Group?: No DUI?: No On Road?: No Model Year: 1968 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 30 Comments: I was at the peak of my off-road riding ability; the Zundapp and I seemed unbeatable. Nevertheless, while leading a group on a rough 4WD trail in the mountains west of Boulder, Colorado, I launched too high off a rock ledge and went airborne over the edge at about 45MPH. I distinctly remember thinking, "This is it." In all my near-crashes I could exercise options for recovery. There was no recovery on this one. I honestly assumed I would die. It's amazing how much you remember thinking about in a very short period of time. I landed on a steep boulder-strewn slope. The bike never moved from it's initial landing. I also remember thinking I should tuck into a loose ball to protect my limbs. I tumbled on down through the boulders until I hit one bigger than me. I was alive. I could move. I got up in time to see the next two riders go by but they were too busy racing each other to see me. Finally, a slower rider saw me waving my arms. The whole crew soon gathered and got ! my bike back up on the trail. The exhaust pipe was busted off but the bike would roll. I rode someone's Montessa down the mountain and they coasted down on mine. A hospital visit that evening revealed a split collar bone, a chipped vertebrae and some serious bruises. I went back to the scene later and saw that I had broken a limb out of a tree 12 ft above ground and stopped tumbling about 150 feet down the mountain. It was an interesting experience. I've had 19 motorcycles and this is my only serious crash so far. Now in my sixties, I don't ride fast off-road anymore, but I did see 120MPH on my BMW just last week. I have this nagging suspicion that, with age, I've acquired an unhealthy lust for speed and danger. I dwell on it some -- knowing the next one will likely be a high speed crash and I won't walk away. Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: yes Model: 125 Bike Make: Zundapp Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: No Model Year: 1997 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 18.5 Comments -------------------- It was a beautiful summer morning and my friend (on a KX 80) and I were heading up the 'driveway' (a road/path through the field) back to the farmhouse. I was looking cooooool. My jeans jacket not done up and the sleeves rolled up, no helmet on, wind through the hair, yadda, yadda... Half way up the third field there is a dip. I hit the dip on the right side - which is the wrong side - and I was too far forward in the seat, too busy looking at the beautiful sky, had the shock set too hard, and was basically being stupid. Needless to say over the handle bars I went. As I was flying through the air I saw my bike flip end over end at least twice. I landed, was knocked out briefly, got up, picked up the bike, restarted it, and continued on my way. Resulting injuries: - bruised ribs - bruised pride - one scrape on my stomach Lessons learned: Pay attention to your surroundings and the terrain you are riding on. Do not be lazy in familiar surroundings. Ensure you are properly mounted on the bike. Wear your helmet and appropriate gear at all times. Ensure you bike is set up properly. I was young and stupid. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: yes Model: KDX 200 Bike Make: Kawasaki Helmet?: No DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 81 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 17 Comments: Wet corner after a summer afternoon rain also the rear brake had been over adjusted, which caused the rear wheel to lock prematurely. Ground round road rash with imbedded asphalt tattoo had to be scrubbed out in E.R. Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 185 Bike Make: Honda Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: No Model Year: 68 2-up?: yes Hurt: No Rider Age: 13 Comments: I was teaching a friend how to "drive" a bike on the back roads in Alaska. We were in first or second gear doing about 15 mph, when we happened upon some old tire ruts that had been made when the road was really soft (read: mud) the ground was hard as a rock this particular day. Of course we headed right into the deepest rut, and the newbie tried to drive back out. We left the rut, but the bike did not. By the way, I was teaching from the passenger position, you know: on the back yelling instructions... Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 90 Bike Make: Hodaka Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 1983 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 28 Comments -------------------- Cut off by an oblivious, cell-phoning, SUV driver who clipped my front wheel with her bumper, sending me to the ground at roughly 50 mph. Resulted in grade two left shoulder separation and total destruction of favorite pants. Actually, I was very lucky. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 850 Bike Make: BMW Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: No Model Year: 95 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 48 Comments -------------------- in a loosie rock down hill, i was riding too much in the front(like i use to do on my rm 250) i just give a little touch to the front brake and went to a theet dig -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: yes Model: 650 Bike Make: kawasaki Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 98 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 32 Comments -------------------- At slow speed, I got caught in hard clay ruts, my front became my rear and my rear became my front. I now have a 20cm by 12cm black bruise on my right knee, but the A12 is A1. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: KLR650 Bike Make: Kawasaki Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: No Model Year: 1968 2-up?: yes Hurt: No Rider Age: 15 Comments -------------------- After torturing a poor little Honda 90 on some small hills North of Long Beach in 1970, my friend Tom Birch and I decided to ride back home on some abandoned RR tracks. A few hundred yards later, the gravel base that surrounds the ties suddenly thinned out and we hit a tie that was about 4 inches above the gravel. We flew off of the bike at around 30 mph and I skidded 15 - 20 feet on my shins and knees. It hurt so bad that I just yelled for a few minutes before I could stand up. My legs were badly bruised and sore for several weeks. Those rocks that they use on railroad tracks are not rider friendly. Also, I think that that little Honda got back at us for abusing it! -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 90 Bike Make: Honda Helmet?: No DUI?: No On Road?: No Model Year: 2000 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 43 Comments -------------------- They say god looks after fools and children, fortunately I fall into one of these catagories. Frequently i will tell my wife "I'm going to the store" hop on the 'Big Green F%#@er' and disappear for 3 or 4 hours on my supposed errand. Understand that going to the store in Monkton Vermont means the opportuninty to enjoy miles of dirt roads that make the Dakr look like a superhighway and numerous 'shorcuts' on log skidder trails in the woods and cow paths through fields. On my last such errand I took one of my favorite short cuts, an old unserviced farm road that is also frequented by our local brand of ATV kids. They're like skateboarders with power tools! Anyway they had really torn up the path leaving some impressive ruts that hard dryed in our Vermont clay soil. I had made an uneventfull pass through the ruts earlier in the day and probably too confident this time through. As I entered the worst section I somehow ended up with my front and rear wheel in different ruts. My second error was to try try and power out of the predicament thinking I could get my rear wheel to climb into the front wheels track. No such luck! With a more aggressive rear tire it should've cut right into the track, but with the OEM rim protectors it loaded up with clay and tryed as hard as it could to catch up with the front wheel. Down I went, hard on my left side at about 10 mph on the hard clay washboard. Dosn't sound bad but the inertia of getting jerked from rut to rut made it like a body slam followed up by a piano being dropped on you. Fortunately for, the bikes sake, I was stupid enough not to bail out, giving all 400lbs (wet and loaded) of KLR650 a nice fleshy cushion to land on. When it was over my left leg was still under the bike facing in the driving position but the rest of me was facing the rear wheel face sowm in a stagnat mud puddle. At this point I think I had only hurt my pride, brused some ribs, and cut my thigh. The worst was yet to come, and this is why you never, never, neve! r, should ride in these conditions alone. I was pinned in the most awkward of positions and no matter how hard I tried I could'nt get turned around to pull the bike off my leg. After a half hour of grunting and cursing it got even worse. I dislocated my left sholder trying to lift the bike off myself with one hand, lying in the prone position. It poped right back in but was not the result I had hoped for. I had only one option left and I new it was going to smart a bit. Pulling both arms down by my side and spitting out a mouthfull of muddy swill, I rolled my body in one quick jerk pulling my left knee in ad out of joint. This also loosend up the hardend soil under the bike enough to pull my leg out now tht I was facing skyward. This would have been so much easier and less painfull if I had a buddy there to pull the big green thing off me. I've be riding since I was 5 years old so you would think that 38 years of riding would have taught me that much, but no. I sat next to my bike for about a half hour letting my knee and shoulder rest before trying to get up and stand the bike up and ride outta there. it must have been an adrenalin thing because I was able to get the bike up with my right arm and mount it with a knee that had just been twisted like a rubber band. I rode home and climbed on the couch with some ice bags and watched my knee swell up big enough to dwarf a soccer ball. All in all I was feeling pretty lucky that I wasn't still laying there waiting for the coydogs or a black bear to come finish me off. I'm back on the bike wearing a knee brace for a few weeks but It could have been worse. K.C. Y2K KLR650 "Big Green F#$%er" 73 Yami RT3 360 "Little Thumper" -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 650 Bike Make: Kawasaki KLR Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: yes Model Year: 80 2-up?: No Hurt: No Rider Age: 39 Comments -------------------- Just mounted up brand new tires. I wanted to road test the bike before my normal commute the next day. The front end washed out and I went down. Sprained wrist and a few scratches on me. The riding gear did its job. I had to replace the mirrors, right turn signals and brake lever. Bee berry careful on those new tires! -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 450 Bike Make: Suzuki Helmet?: yes DUI?: No On Road?: No Model Year: 1983 2-up?: yes Hurt: No Rider Age: 35 Comments -------------------- Stupid Stupid Stupid... I was wearing shorts riding with 14 yr old nephew on old poorly maintained farm bike through plowed field. When turning around (too fast, no brakes) the front end washed out in the loose dirt. I tried to shield nephew from bike by extending left arm and leg. Lost balance and fell to the right, pinning my right leg under the exhaust pipe manifold. Severe burns to right knee and calf. 4 weeks of scrubbing raw flesh and physical therapy followed. Lessons learned: 1. WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR 2. Do Not Ride 2-up in dirt 3. NEVER ride a bike that is poorly maintained. 4. Burn Unit Nurses are not gentle, meek, or sweet... but they get the job done... hats off to them. -------------------- Loaded?: No season: Summer Group?: No Model: 125 Bike Make: yamaha Helmet?: yes I had just taken the bike from the rear of the garage and was driving across the wet grass toward the asphalt driveway. I was going to slow to have good control, but I didn't want to rut up the ground. The rear tire slipped out to the left, and as I planted my right foot to hold the bike upright my foot slid forward on the rain soaked grass. The bike went down on its right side, and I did a combination split/belly flop on top of it. My left shin came down hard on the left foot peg in a slicing fashion. I had a pair of heavy leather boots on, which saved my skin, but my shin bone was badly bruised, nevertheless. I went and purchased a pair of shin protectors after that painful mishap. The moral of the story: If you are unwilling to make ruts, stay off the wet grass...its as slick as ice. And remember...most accidents happen close to home, maybe even in your own backyard! Bike Make: Suzuki Comments: A truck in front of us lost a 4 Liter pail of oil on the road, at night, just before a turn. Luckly we were only doing about 50 km/hr at the time. As soon as we hit the pool of oil both our bikes went down (we were just starting to lean for the turn). No one was injured, except our bikes! DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: yes In A Group: yes Injured: no Loaded With Gear: no Model: GSR 425 Model Year: 1979 Rider Age: 25 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: Kawasaki Comments: I was riding to vent a little. I came across a powerline trail that intersected the dirt road I was on, and turned down it. I had been reading some riding tips in a motorcross magazine. One tip on body positioning for agressive riding was refered to as an "Attack Position". This seemed like a good place to try it. I was hot on the throttle and was about ready to shift to 4th when I realize to my horror that the trail was about to intersect with the dirt road. I put the "Panic" in Panic-stop. My speed had dropped to about 20mph when surface of the trail changed (mud). I locked the front end up and was instantly hurled to the ground. Now I really know what having the wind knocked out of you means. I also know what it is like to tear a tendon in your hand! Surgery and recovery has given me pleanty of time to reflect on my mistakes. All my protective gear was tested. Conclusion; I need better boots. Bike repairs = $45.00. DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Dirt Helmet: yes In A Group: no Injured: yes Loaded With Gear: no Model: KLR250 Model Year: 1999 Rider Age: 35 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: Harley Comments: I was working in a Gas Station that had 3 or 4 motorcycles stored. They were owned by sailors stationed NAS Alameda. Everyone rode them including me. One day I took a bike that had a homemade side stand of scrap iron jury rigged to the bike. I headed out of the gas station and was trying to turn left but the stand dug into the street forcing me up onto the sidewalk and flying through the plate glass window of the Packard Auto sales room. The year was 1948. That hurt so I didn't crash again until the Moab Get Together of 2000. This time I received the cherished 'Missing Link' Award for trying to take out a road grader. DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: no In A Group: no Injured: yes Loaded With Gear: no Model: Large? Model Year: about 1945 Rider Age: 17 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: HONDA Comments: 2 LANER IN CT. TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME STOPS, NO TURN OR BRAKE LIGHTS. I GO TO PASS ON LEFT, TRUCK MAKES LEFT TURN. 70 FOOT SKID MARK ON ROAD, 3 INCH IN UNDERWEAR. MY FRONT TIRE STRUCK SIDE OF LEFT REAR OF TRUCK AND I DUMPED MY BIKE ON IT'S LEFT SIDE. NO INJURIES, $1600 ESTIMATE. SHE SAID SHE SAW MY WHITE HELMET IN HER SIDE VIEW MIRROR AND HEARD MY HORN. SO WHY DIDN'T SHE STOP? GOOD QUESTION. THE LESSON IS DON'T BE IN SUCH A RUSH TO PASS. DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: yes In A Group: no Injured: no Loaded With Gear: no Model: 750 Model Year: 1998 Rider Age: 32 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: Honda Comments: 1978 Overcooked a decreasing radius turn and hit a guardrail at 55-60 mph. Leg hit guardrail at an angle that almost allowed me to keep it upright until forearm hit reflector post protruding from top of rail causing a surface to air launch and subsequent cartwheels. Several broken bones, minor internal injuries. Only minor road rash despite wearing only jeans and flannel shirt - probably due to tumbling rather than sliding. Helmet damaged but worked as required. DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: yes In A Group: no Injured: no Loaded With Gear: no Model: CL450 Model Year: 1971 Rider Age: 17 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: klr Comments: I ran into a car and hurt myself really bad. My wife was right, I have no coordination. I will listen to her in the future after I heal. DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: yes In A Group: no Injured: yes Loaded With Gear: yes Model: 650 Model Year: 2002 Rider Age: 36 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: KLR Comments: I had just left a stop light in Colleyville Texas when a 16 year old girl pulled out of a gas station about 20 feet in front of me , she never even looked wy way. I layed the bike down which seemed like a good idea at the time but when the bike hit the car I was thrown off, my back impacted the drivers front post and mirror, my chest hit the handle bars. In short I broke 4 ribs in my back 2 in my chest, 3 vertebra in my neck and 1 in my back. I spent 5 days in the hospital, man I still hurt after 9 weeks. Road rash has healed and most of the purle is gone. Glad I had a helmet it was totaled. Still dealing with the insurance company. $3098 of damage done to the bike. DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: yes In A Group: no Injured: yes Loaded With Gear: no Model: 650 Model Year: 2003 Rider Age: 38 Two Up: no Season: (Ed: Summer I guess!) Bike Make: KLR650 Comments: hit a slick on a 20mph corner. slid across opposing traffic to the dirt on the other side. only got a little dime sized scrape on my knee and the bike got a scrape on the hand protector and the exhaust pipe. DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: yes In A Group: no Injured: no Loaded With Gear: no Model: 650 Model Year: 2002 Rider Age: 23 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: Yamaha Comments: Boy ran out between parked cars and I swerved to miss him (20mph) he hit the front brake lever and I did an asphalt faceplant breaking my jaws and orbital bone above my left eye. He was uninjured. I also lost a couple of teeth and had some minor lacerations. DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: yes In A Group: no Injured: yes Loaded With Gear: no Model: 400 Model Year: 1975 Rider Age: 21 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: kawa Comments: I crashed DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Dirt Helmet: yes In A Group: no Injured: no Loaded With Gear: no Model: KLR650 Model Year: 1987 Rider Age: 35 Two Up: yes Season: Summer Bike Make: KLR650 Comments: While travelling a mountain hiway about 10:00 PM under a full moon, I hit a patch of sand on the center of the roadway. Bike began to slide, I tried to recover from the slide, and rear tire immediately caught traction and the bike high-sided, throwing me off like a catapult. I tumble over several times, rolling off the hiway, finally coming to rest about 50 feet down an embankment. Despite the 70mph get-off, I never lost consciousness, but have ~30 minutes of missing memory. Riding partner was 1 minute behind me and he got me back up to the road, and dialed the ambulance via the cell phone. Broken hip, and 2 broken ribs, 9 days in the hospital, 1 month off of work, 1 month in a wheel chair, another month on crutches. Lost 100 days of good riding. Was protected by Tourmaster Cortech jacket/pants, Aplinestars boots/gloves, Shoei TZ1 fullface. Had zero road rash, no broken skin or raspberry at all. Jacket survived, pants were cut off in the ER, helmet and boots were done for. My mistake, I was not focused on the ride. MB DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: yes In A Group: yes Injured: yes Loaded With Gear: no Model: 650 Model Year: 1989 Rider Age: 46 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: Kawasaki Comments: I was trying to hop over a large oak tree root, and got the bottom of the frame caught on the root. I balanced on the frame for a second with both wheels off the ground, before falling over on the side. I was fine and laughed real hard in the end. DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Dirt Helmet: yes In A Group: no Injured: no Loaded With Gear: yes Model: 250 Model Year: 2003 Rider Age: 32 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: Kawasaki Comments: On a dirt road that was littered with rocks about the size and shape of a apple. I did a good job of missing the majority of them but I hit one left shooting the bike off to the right. The bike dipped and as I fell forward my hand rolled the throttle launching the myself and the bike up and enbankement. At that point the bike landed on me pining me to the ground. Very minor injuries, brused knee, shoulder and ego! If I would have gone the other way I would have launched the bike off a 200 foot cliff. DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Dirt Helmet: yes In A Group: yes Injured: no Loaded With Gear: no Model: 650 Model Year: 2004 Rider Age: 34 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: Kawasaki Comments: I was leaveing work one fine Summer day. Just after CMC in Moab,Utah. I was in love with my KLR and life was good. I had rediscovered why I had bought the KLR up in Moab, had a wonderfull time riding the trails. It all came to a sudden stop 06/29/06......I had just clicked into perhaps third gear, there was a young girl waiting to make a lefthand turn. I let off the gas, I looked right at here though the windshield, she looked right at me. I see the car dip as she applied the brakes, I see that I am OK. As soon as I applied some thottle I saw my mistake. I couldn't have been ten feet from her when she hits the gas. I punched both brakes as hard as I could, I watch my front end fold up under the skidplate. Then I flew across her car hood hitting my right shoulder on the windshield and came to rest sitting in traffic. Oh my God I thought now what. The bike was screaming on its right side. I crawed over to it and hit the kill switch. Then I called my wife. That was a ! tuff call to make. My injurys were, as I sailed over the bars I snapped off the left mirror dragging my genitals over my Wolfman Explorer bag (holy crap), my right shoulder was on fire, and I had landed very hard on my tailbone. Of course my pride and my bike were totaled. So I took the rest of the week off, took the once mighty KLR to its resting spot at my Dealer. Now I ride even more saftly. I assume nothing....That's my story, Thanks for reading. Feels good to unload this......... DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: yes In A Group: no Injured: no Loaded With Gear: no Model: KLR650 Model Year: 2004 Rider Age: 48 Two Up: Season: Summer Bike Make: Honda Comments: DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: no In A Group: no Injured: no Loaded With Gear: yes Model: shadow Model Year: 1985 Rider Age: 26 Two Up: no Season: Summer Bike Make: hd sportster Comments: Sideswiped from behind by young agressive driver in a toyota celica with a bal of .08 hit me in the foot, broke my tib and fib am still recovering and still limp I barely saw it coming. I was at low speed didn't hit my head will be wearing a helmet from now on DUI: no Dirt Or Road: Road Helmet: no In A Group: no Injured: Loaded With Gear: no Model: 1200 Model Year: 2004 Rider Age: 56 Two Up: yes Season: Summer if you have or want changes to any of the stories you submitted, drop me an e-mail, I'll do what I can... |
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