The Silver Bullet Bites the Dust

All:

While I have posted infrequently, I have thoroughly enjoyed this board, and the information it has provided.

Unfortunately, a football sized rock, loose gravel, a left slide and 11 days in the hospital have put me out of riding for good.

Surprisingly, the bike (2008 non-ABS) was completely totaled by the insurance company. Speed was approximately 30mph at the time of the accident, and I still cannot believe they totaled it. The insurance company (Progressive) was first class all the way, and paid me much more than I thought I would get.

I wish you all good health, safe riding, and a happy holiday season. My injuries and this entire ordeal have given me some new insight into what is important.

Regards;

Phuqet

 

I was gonna make a comment that missing the football sized rock was a somewhat important insight, but that would have been in poor taste, even for me.

11 days in the ol' infirmary can be a bummer, it's cool that you have made it out ok. I'm very sorry to hear that you have decided that it's time to hang up your helmet for good. I wish you the best of luck, health, and happiness in your future endevours. Peace, and may we someday see you again.

 

You survived; thank God! I'm glad that you are out of the hospital, and hopefully doing much better. I am very sorry to hear about your bike and I agree that a 30 mph 'wipe-n'-swipe' totalling that bike is somewhat baffling?

This might sound a little strange, but man, you are more experienced now than you could imagine. Your accident has made you a better rider, but you're going to have to get back on another horse to wholly understand what I am talking about. I can certainly appreciate your reluctance toward returning to two-wheeled liberation due to your most unfortunate experience, but I strongly encourage you to get back out there and ride Bro!

 

Good luck. Heal fast.

 

Sorry to hear of your misfortune Phuqet. I hope you have a smooth recovery without too much debt for your medical expenses. I know you guys south of the border have to pay though the nose for medical unlike us up here where it is next to nothing. Good luck and I pray for your full recovery.

 

I second what the above have said and I say give it time. In a year or so the itch may show back up to ride.

BZ

 

Bets of luck in whatever you decide, two wheels or not. Glad to hear you're still in good shape.

 

Bummer! Complete the recovery and do what feels right.
Was the rock in the road from a rockfall? What happened? (We could all benefit from some of the details from your accident.)
Best of luck!

 

...yeah, my Kawasaki was totalled after a 25-30mph solo accident...too much sliding damage on the engine covers...

 

Sorry to hear about your experience, get well, and i hope all is well for the holidays! Hopefully we'll see you back here at some point or another.

 

All:

I appreciate the kind words and well wishes. Missing the rock would have certainly been better than hitting it...I figured that out as I slid along the road.

For those requesting details on the crash, here goes:

Traveling on a twisty, 2-lane road in the foothills at approx 35mph; limit is 55. Negotiating an increasing-radius left hand turn (a turn I have driven through maybe a hundred times). Oncoming traffic was heavy, and coming over the centerline a bit more than I was comfortable with. I shifted my line slightly away from center and as I came around the sharpest portion of the curve, the vehicle in front of me (auto) had apparently kicked the rock around on the road. I missed the rock with the front tire but the back hit it off center. The rear tire jumped up I estimate 3-5", and came down in some gravel along the edge of the road (still on the pavement), I almost recovered, but at the last minute the rear slid off the road, which is all gravel along the shoulder. The rest is history.

I almost got my left leg clear, but the bike came down on my leg, breaking it in 3 places, including a compound fracture. No other injuries. Textile armored jacket (First Gear) performed exceptionally well, and helmet (Shoei) did it's job as well.

I'm sure there will be lots of second guessing and advise on what I should have done. Please note I have over 33 years of riding experience, encompassing more than 250,000 miles on 2 wheels. This is the first time anything other than my tires and boots have ever hit the ground. I have done my share of absolutely stupid things on a bike, and traveled at some ridiculous speeds. Karma? Perhaps.

Best Wishes

Phuqet

 

Sounds to me like there wasn't much you could do. Had a similar thing happen to me in my younger years. I figure it falls into the s--t happens category. Glad to hear you are healing well.

 

Based on your latest event and your more than 33 years of riding experience, I now promote you to 40 years of riding experience. All of this combined experience makes you a 'Master of the Road'.

 

First off, thank you for sharing. You are the reason why this is such a great forum. Best wishes on your recovery. As far as hanging it up goes, you must do what is right for you and the family. However, I do put a lot of merit in the ole 'back in the saddle" addage. We used it a lot in the military when we lost an aircraft/crew.
Stay in touch with this forum, we would all like to hear how your recovery is going.

Merry Christmas!

 

...many of us have had similar accidents and said the same thing (hanging it up) only to later get back into it as better motorcyclists that actually enjoy the experience MORE after a crash/comeback.
Don't push either extreme...just "BE" for now. Then, listen to your mind and see...

 

Glad you are recovering. I've had my "get offs" in my 14 plus years on motorcycles. The time i flew over the handlebars at 30mph on one of our local bridges almost made me hang it up for good as well. I'm glad i snapped out of that rut quickly! If i had never ridden again I would have never met all the great people from this website! Give it time and I'm sure you'll make the right decision for yourself. That in the end is all that matters!

:cheersaf:

 

I don't know...if ya fall off, ya get back on.:unsure: It's just the risk we take every day we swing a leg over the thing. You'll heal up. Bones do that. Life is short, and you could be 60 looking back and thinking about the things you could have done.

Your reaction to going down is not uncommon, let the emotion calm down and then in a few months of not riding, you'll know what to do.:cheersaf: Will it be another V4?:tongue:

 

I had a nasty lowside 16 years ago on a vfr400r('86) and never rode after that. I didn't ride because i was so shaken up and couldn't ride because my wife just gave birth to our first baby. Well, after 15 years of pondering whether to ride or not, I finally got a cheap '92 vfr750 to see if I still had the skills and passion. It wasn't easy at first because I was shaking just after going 40mph! Over time, I learned to transform my fear to enjoyment and since, sold my '92 vfr 750 and bought a 2002 vfr800fi. That's been almost a year ago. Now, I consider myself a much more experienced and mature rider. Best of luck to you Phuqet and may you, someday, find the passion to ride again!

 

As others have already said, the very best of luck to you, in whatever you choose to do. Life is short, it passes quickly, and we all have our own priorities.

Without a lot of drama or beating the subject to death, my decision was the exact opposite; in the remainder of my days, however many that may be, motorcycles will always be a part of them. That's my decision as of this writing, anyway. One never knows about these things...