Crash and Burn

Discussion in '7th Generation 2010-Present' started by Forester, Jul 14, 2014.

  1. Forester

    Forester New Member

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    OK, no burning involved actually, sorry to disappoint.:topsy_turvy:

    About a week ago I was out for a nice long day ride (450ish miles). About 150 mi into the trip I was on Rt 56 in VA, either Nelson or Amherst county, not sure which. I was having a great ride, really feeling good and the weather was perfect. Apparently I missed a pretty fair pile of gravel in a sweeping right hand turn.

    Here it is after I plowed through it:
    [​IMG]

    No real explanation for why I didn't see it coming, just not paying enough attention obviously. The front tire went out from under me fast and I felt the right peg drag hard. I remember thinking "just ride it out" stay with it, and when the front tire hit clean pavement I thought for a split second I was going to make it through. When the tire caught though it must have been turned too hard one direction and it slapped back and forth hard and down I went, lowside. The bike slid across the opposite lane and into the grass, I slid a little ways on the pavement and hopped right up much faster than I should have. I am guessing I was running about 50MPH

    There was no cell phone signal and it took 30+ cars driving by before someone stopped to see if the guy with the oddly parked bike needed any help. He offered to be a witness to the location of the crash, helped look the bike over closely (he was a rider too apparently) and gave me his information. Thanks Eric!. Two BMW riders did give me a thumbs up or down question gesture while I was there with him so I'm sure they would have stopped if needed.

    The bike was rideable so I went about 15 miles and stopped to call the insurance, they said no police report needed so I did not invite them to discuss any tickets I was due:greedy_dollars: I also checked the bike over closely again.

    All in all things could have been worse, my helmet clearly took a good lick and my Draggin Jeans held up decently. I got alittle road rash on my knee above the Kevlar lining.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Gloves, jacket and boots held up great. All are scuffed but usable.

    Now the bike, since that is everyone's main concern:playful: (mine too!)

    Damage was basically all right side plastics, upper, middle, lower cowlings, tank cover, Exhaust cover, engine cover etc. Wheels are off because I already had new PR3s waiting to go on so I'll just do that now.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Insurance (progressive) came out Wednesday, did an estimate on the bike and riding gear and has been very easy to get along with all in all. I am doing the repairs myself so I ordered parts which should be here this week or early next and stripped the bike down this weekend.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    While I have it torn apart, it seemed like a good time to do a few upgrades so new toys that are coming are:

    Honda Heated Grips
    Adjustable levers (china)
    Honda wind deflectors- hand guards, not the screen
    knee pads and tank protector
    T-Rex crash protection (a little late huh?)
    Competition Werkes tail cleanup
    Akrapovic Exhaust

    Since Progressive covered my riding gear I am also taking the opportunity to upgrade it. I certainly got a lesson in it's value!


    All in all, it sucks to miss a few weeks riding right in the summer, but it could have been much worse!
     
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2014
  2. Outboard John

    Outboard John New Member

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    Glad that you weren't hurt any worse. That raspberry on your knees gotta hurt a bit, than goodness you had your gear on, I see a lot of people riding in shorts and tank tops this time of year. Good luck with the bike.
    John
     
  3. risgett

    risgett New Member

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    Glad you're ok. Bike's can always be fixed or replaced, so as long as you live to tell the tale... all is good.
     
  4. Scubalong

    Scubalong Official Greeter?

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    Sorry for the mishaps. Glad you are not hurt and still here to share your story :thumb:
    That is a beautiful bike :love: Fix her up and get her back on the roads soon.
    ATGATT work ....Yay :party2:
     
  5. TNRabbit

    TNRabbit New Member

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    That sucks but glad you're ok!

    Another rider & I went thru that exact spot on Saturday this past weekend. Other than that spot, 56 was mostly clean. It's a fantastic ride! We must have passed about 100 bicyclists on the way up.

    I assume you were traveling west when this happened?
     
  6. Forester

    Forester New Member

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    I was traveling west, and it is a great ride. Interesting that the gravel was back. After I took that picture I cleaned the road off best I could with my boot. Glad you had a good ride, I should be back in action soon!
     
  7. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    Glad you came out relatively unscathed, also good to know that Progressive seems to be covering your bike and new gear!
     
  8. Forester

    Forester New Member

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    I have been very happy with the way Progressive handled things. The estimator came out, looked the bike over closely, did an estimate and cut a check for everything on the spot. If I find something else that was missed I can call and add it, but I have the bike pulled apart now and I don't see anything missing from his parts list.

    Now, who knows how the policy will go up next year. Thankfully it just renewed so at least I get a one year reprieve from that pain.
     
  9. ThickToast

    ThickToast New Member

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    Wow, had a very similar slip earlier this year. Those effin gravel fairies! It's never pleasant when your bike rides you down the road. Get well soon.
     
  10. mofo

    mofo New Member

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    Glad to know you're okay, I hate reading about riders getting hurt.
     
  11. Arnzinator

    Arnzinator New Member

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    Glad to hear you weren't seriously hurt. Progressive covered your gear? If so thats awesome. My policy is due up in couple of months. I'll have to see if my co covers gear, maybe time for a switch. Looks like your face shield is mirrored? I know everybody is different but for me riding with dark or mirrored shield makes it difficult to see sometimes. Especially if the road has heavy cast shadows from trees & such. Maybe time for some frame & engine sliders.
     
  12. Forester

    Forester New Member

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    They did. It was a simple thing too. I laid all the gear I was wearing out on the bench and he wrote down models etc. I figured they would quibble over weather certain pieces were damaged "enough" to count but hey just covered everything I had on. Simple.

    I had a spectra shield on that day. I really liked it because I could get by with it for everything but pitch black darkness and it was good for the daylight. I think you are right though about a tinted shield on a road with some light and some heavy shade. It can be hard for your eyes to keep adjusting. The replacement helmet has a flip up internal shield, I am thinking I will use the flip down sun shield for open roads and just the clear on any road with a mix of shade/light.

    Sliders are going on when it goes back together, frame, front fork, and rear on the left side. Throttlemeisters will have to do the job on the handlebars.
     
  13. TNRabbit

    TNRabbit New Member

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    Since you're doing your own repairs & were ATGATT, perhaps the adjuster cut you a break on the gear & covered it. I'm pleasantly surprised they did that~
     
  14. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

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    I have the same helmet, good to know it works well, I am careful at any turns because gravel and be at any turn or sand. One thing comes to mind-a scotts damper might have saved you. I have ridden on quite a bit of gravel-bikes don't like sharp turns-slowing it down bit does help-scotts damper-I adj sometimes when riding. Scotts helps push though gravel without plowing with the front wheel-that's a turned front wheel. if you had sliders on, you might have saved the plastic and only had to replace a plastic puck.:bandito:
     
  15. Arnzinator

    Arnzinator New Member

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    I picked up an AGV Skyline last season for the sole purpose of an internal tinted shield. Some might say the internal shields are kind of gimmick. But once I started using it, I had to wonder how I got by so long without one. So much more convenient than carry 2 shields. So awesome the ins co covered your gear.
     
  16. warbirds

    warbirds New Member

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    Glad you're OK.
     
  17. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Glad to hear you could ride "it" away, thats always a good sign. Like aboove people mentioned, bikes can be repaired/replaced, the human is far more fragile.

    I like that rear service stand, did you make it yourself? Would be nice to have a small welder in my shop, just don't know what to buy. Cheers and keep that rubber side down!
     
  18. MichaelD

    MichaelD New Member

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    Glad you ok. Looks like your gear did its job. By looking at your shield it would be a perfect example of why to wear a full face instead of a open face. After repairing your bike it will just mean that much more to you.
     
  19. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Wow! Glad you are OK. Many here have spoken already about the gear and insurance. But did I understand you right that you cleaned up most of that gravel, and it has re-appeared in the same spot? In other words, someone is deliberately putting that there? If so a few things come to my mind. Take picture of each and every time you see a new pile of gravel there. Go back to your insurance people and ask them to document your findings. I don't know if it will make a difference, but usually after a fault claim, your rates go up because you are usually deemed to be a higher risk. It appear to me, that someone through a deliberate action, caused you to have this collision. Maybe the insurance company may pass the fault elsewhere. Also, I think I would make a call into the police on this if that gravel is re-appearing. Someone could very well loose their life due to this. I can understand people get pissed when their areas get inundated with peeps on bikes racing up and down their roads but action like this is unacceptable.

    In Canada, under the Criminal Code of Canada, someone caught doing something like this could be charged with many criminal offenses including Criminal Negligence Causing Damage or Injury or death which ever is applicable. These are Indictable Offenses, similar to your felonies. Or Setting a Trap. Not sure if that is an Indictable Offense or not off hand but bet it is.

    Super glad you are ok and all things considered, so is your bike.
     
  20. TNRabbit

    TNRabbit New Member

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    I'm pretty certain the gravel on 56 finds its way from gravel drives & side roads via rain & 4-wheeled vehicles turning in & out of them.....I doubt there's any criminal intent.
     
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