Stupid Me...

Thursday night I got home from work changed clothes packed my backpack and headed towards the door for a ride into town for a meeting with a friend. When I reached the door I stopped, looked back at my Joe Rocket mesh jacket and decided against it. I was just to hot and humid I thought to myself. Besides, what's the worst that could happen?

Five miles from home I found out. Taking a sweeping left hand turn the front tire washed out. No I have no idea if there was grit/sand, the tire was still too cold, or I just F'd up. I'm guessing a combo of all three since it wasn't a tight corner, and I wasn't going that fast, around 15 MPH. I was a bit out of it from the head/helmet hitting the pavement to verify at the time.

Now at the speed I was going I wasn't injured badly, but half the injuries could have been completely avoided by wearing the jacket I specifically bought to wear in the summer. So yes, ATGATT guys you can point and laugh because it was my own fault and I'm mad enough at myself for the foolishness. It was a stupid decision I consiously made and have no one to blame but myself.

What makes it worse is I just got back from the Laconia bike week on Sunday where I put 1600+ miles on the bike to/from/there and the whole time I wore my jacket. Even when the people I was riding with didn't. I told them it's better to ride safe - gear up for the crash - and be a little hot than to risk the road rash.

For those of you wondering about the bike, it's all cosmetic damage that'll be costly to fix but it's still ridable as is. For those of you that will remind me that I walked away from it and that's what matters most, I thank you.

 

Well, you walked away from it and that's what matters most (sorry, couldn't resist).

Consider yourself rather lucky. You learned a valuable lesson that could have been much, much more costly. Skin grows back, rashed bikes can be fixed. Broken collar bones, broken elbows take a good bit longer and sometimes never heal properly.

Mistakes are normal. Don't beat yourself up for what you did, just learn from the lesson and move on. I still have the scars from riding when I was a kid, and I get reminded of those lessons each time I look at them.

 

That sucks, sorry to hear about the bike.
As far as the gear, sounds like a valuable lesson has been learned without having to pay the ultimate price. I will not point and laugh.
Thank you for being brave enough to share this reminder of the consequences that could happen to any of us on any ride.
Heal fast, ride safe.

 

Glad youu're ok. Fix her ASAP.

 

I'm pointing. I'm laughing.
couldn't resist that one , Glad you weren't hurt too badly.
Some of us have to learn things the hard way. It's easier! LOL
Confession is good for the soul.
We all do stupid sh_t sometimes. Don't let it happen again. you may not be so lucky the next time.
and believe me getting up and walking away is lucky.
These machines we ride are big powerful solid monsters that can easily kill or maim us squishy bags of mostly water. We should always respect that. Welcome to the ATTGAT for life club, my brother.
Fixing the bike ought to teach your checkbook a lesson, too.

 

Glad to hear you aren't seriously hurt. The bike can be fixed. I understand your thinking on not wearing the jacket, too. I'll let Dan point and laugh , tho. ;-)

 

I'm glad you are largely all right, BJ. Thanks for sharing this; I know I will think of it the next time I think of going out without all the gear.

 

I have walked out the door thinking the exact same thing.
But having lived thru enough near death experiences.
I always tell myself Go back gear up.
Dress for the crash, not for the ride.

We call them accidents because we don't plan them.
BJ knew/knows it was stupid. Title of his thread "Stupid Me"
Like I said BJ, I am glad you are ok. bikes can be fixed, you will heal this time,
Death never takes a holiday. Think of the people you will leave behind.
Hell, I care.

 

If you ever do it again, I'll be sure to point and laugh. As long as this taught you something, then all is good. Just be glad it was a low speed lesson!

 

I am glad that you and the bike are ok, its better to learn that lesson at 15mph than 80!

 

A word of advice about those mesh jackets: I've seen guys wearing those who wrecked at speed and later had to have the plastic that melted into their arm removed via a doctor. These jackets are helpful only at slow speed crashes. There are a few leather jackets out there with very good air flow, perforated leather. Leather keeps the armor in place and doesn't ride up under arm pits when sliding. Even a Textile jacket is a huge step up. I have one and never go out without it no matter how hot it gets.

 

Glad to hear you're ok.. Lesson learned, I used to ride a harley and thought I was too cool to wear gear in the summer, got lucky and never had a drop but now since I've had the vfr I don't go without gear, I like corners too much to be taking that chance. If your looking for a well ventilated, well made jacket , I just picked up a Scorpion Hatrick for my daily commuter and I'm very pleased with it. It has two liners, one for waterproofing and one for insulation, they come out easy and the shell is actually quite cool despite it's construction, decent armour too.
Now I have to ask, What does ATGATT stand for?:unsure:

 

I recently asked the same question...

ATGATT = All the gear, all the time

 

BJ--
Glad to hear you are ok and you were able to walk away form the accident. It is tese comments on here that make me put on my jacket even though I dred wearing it in the summer heat.

Your bike can be replaced and so can all yoru equipment. I just keep repeating to myself I don't need this stuff to ride I need it to fall off.

Out of curiosity, what kind of helmet and any other equipment were you wearing. This is an opportunity to get some feed back from the equipment you were wearing.

Again,
Good thing you were able to walk away.


best

BP

 

Murphy 1 - BJ Sim 0

Sorry man, glad your ok and fix the RWB as soon as your able. Keep in mind that there is a good amount of replaceable stickers on the RWB. Hopefully all your scratches landed on them.

 

So glad to hear you are OK . . . and as others have said, thanks for sharing cuz I know it's not easy. I too am interested in hearing about what gear you did have on and how it faired.

Take care.

 

Let me echo what those above said...sorry to hear it but it could have been worse. Do not give yourself a hard time! Heal up and fix it up and ride on...

 

Glad to hear your ok & bikes can be fixed. I feel your pain of not knowing for sure what happeded. I laid my 96 vfr down on the 23rd. A week after bringing it home and I couldn't tell you for sure what happened.
Hey maybe should try for a bulk discount on replacement parts! :whoops:

 

Besides the helmet I wasn't wearing any true motorcycle gear. I've always worn jeans, boots and gloves; but none were motorcycle riding specific. But you asked, so I'll give the run down...

Helmet - HJC AC-12 - I got my bell rung when I hit the pavement, but it did it's job and my head is still intact. Major scuff mark about where my left temple is but no other real signs of damage. Still buying a new one, and yeah I'd buy HJC again.

Jeans - Levi's - For those people who think jeans are enough to stop road rash, think again. My jeans don't look like they've been through anything; my knee does. I've got a half dollar coin size road rash on the top of my knee, another rash that about the size of a folded dollar bill an inch or so lower and my hip is one giant bruise. Would I wear just jeans again on a ride? Quite possibly, but only if it was a quick trip to the store or a definite cruiser style ride, no more aggressive riding in just jeans.

Boots - Magnum Industrial Boots - These are my quick throw on boots. They're built for firefighter/paramedics and so slip resistant soles and composite tipped toes. A scuff on the left boots upper toe, but otherwise unmarked.

Gloves (here's where someone flips out) - Bell bicycle gloves - Amazingly still very much intact. Both gloves have scuff marks on the palms, but nothing major. My hands are fine, no bruising or cuts; but I believe that's as much from luck and low speed as anything else. Would I wear them again? No way, they've already been thrown out; luck had too much to do with my hands not being shredded.

I never took gear that seriously. I don't own a pair of riding pants or motorcycle boots. I'll be changing that soon. I've gone corner carving with just jeans on and I can't believe I was doing that, if I'd crashed at real speeds my jeans might be fine, but the skin below would be toast. I own multiple pairs of actual motorcycle gloves and now I'll always be wearing at least my lightest pair.

I'm going to say again, thank you to everyone for their well wishes. I'm also going to thank everyone for not kicking a guy while he was down. I wasn't going to post anything because of how stupid I felt, but wanted those who go out with light to no gear to see that this could have been them.