Accident: Initial Cause Throttle Miester

So here is the final story.

The bike is done. Insurance adjuster dropped off a check this mornning for my gear and riding apparell. Kind of sad that another one is gone. Road rash is starting the heal. My right foot is really messed up. Going tomorrow for a consult, guessing strains and sprains, hopefully no surgery. Bike did a serious low-side and slide for quite some time. Left side really wore out. The insurance adjusted told me the throttle was still stuck at a high rpm and the shop recommended that he not start the bike for that reason.

After I've thought about it, I have some new thoughts from the accident. I did not up-shift in to fourth, I was in 3rd the whole time and the roll-on, maybe to half or 3/4 throttle was still catching up. I think I got off the bike at around 60ish. Yes, I paniced and a clutch then kill switch would have saved me and I'd be up in Laconia with my buds eating ribs at the Osippee Smoke House, but at least I'm alive. My heavy-ish Red-wing boots with big rubber sole likely caused my right foot to drag and bounce causing more injury. My Alpinestars SP-1's wore out pretty quickly but did well. 9 year old Joe Rocket Ballistic coat saved a lot of my skin. LL Bean relaxed fit jeans don't hold up well across the tar. LL Bean black leather belt did save a little of my lower back though. Brand new Aria Profile in white...well worth the $500. I've already ordered another one for next year.

Guess that's it for me for the season. Going to focus on getting back to walking. I would say that if you have one of these devices on your bike, be suspect of it and train yourself for this situation. Train on pulling the clutch and hitting the kill switch.

Thank you for all of your well wishes. Next year I'd say I am going back the dark side...Harley Davidson. Slow and low has served me well the past 8 years. I just may not be worthy of the long-lusted after VFR...ride safe and most importantly, don't skimp-out on the gear.

 

GLad you are not hurt too bad. I was thinking about a throtllemeister or throttlelock. you put the kaibash on that idea. saving up my pennies for cruise control.

Get well soon and get back on something even if it is a hardley. Ride on, Bro

 

It was over a year after my accident that I started riding, again. Take it slow. Remember, there's no reason we have to ride a bike versus a car. Personally, I took the downtime to consider "cashing out" while ahead (with my life), so to speak. It's a dangerous hobby we have here, and there's not much to really gain from doing it. We sink time and money into it over what driving a car costs.

Even if you never have a part failure again, and you ride with your thinking cap on all the time, there's the idiots on the road you have to worry about.

Here's more or less what my accident looked like, except the car came from my right side. He apparently didn't even see me and was attempting to jump out across the road in front of the slower moving car that was behind me and in the right lane.
YouTube - How to stop a terrorist

 

Hey bud, glad to hear you're doing better.

Thanks for your post; while I know you said you find it embarrassing, I know there are plenty of people who will get an education from it. Through your unfortunate happenings, others will benefit. I applaud you.

Don't sell yourself short, either. I'd be more concerned if I was sitting here and reading your post and you WEREN'T questioning yourself, and talking about how you "did everything right".

You're alive and well, so I think the phrase "Live and learn" couldn't be more apropos.

Take care. Heal well.

 

Well at least you knew what you should have done. Stuff happens and we live and learn.

But I have to say, no matter what bike you buy in the future, any brain fart can get you. Don’t think a VFR or any other bike for that matter isn’t for you based upon this one accident.

Heal up and get back on brother.

BZ

 

Sorry to hear about your going down. Glad it was not too serious. But it sure sounds as if it could have been tragic.
I really don't understand your story.
If you are accelerating and turn your Throttlemeister at the same time, the throttle will lock. That's what it is designed to do. I can't imagine why you woud be wanting to lock the throttle while approaching a stop sign. Are you saying that the Throttlemeister locked by itself or did you turn it accidentally the same time as your throttle? You have be carefull not to accidentally turn the Throttlemeister if you don't want it engaged. If properly installed the Throttlemeister will unlock as you grip both the Throttlemeister and the throttle and close the throttle. Unless the Throttlemeister failed or you weren't turning both the throttle and the lock. Do you beleive it failed or is it more likely you set it yourself? Was it in fact a Throttlemeister? Or a knock off.
Thanks for posting this as it ceratinly is a story of what can go wrong when you panic. Those experts who have total contol of their rides and knock ABS should give a listen. Panic situations are all too common.
Don't let it get to you....just remember that a wrong move on a bike can be have serious consequences. They are totaly unforgiving. You may have seen a problem with the Throttlemeister on a pre ride inspection. Get back on and be a better more carefull rider for the experience.

 

Jeff8478:

Unlike many of you here, I've not yet taken a track school course, so I don't have the ingrained, reflexive, and intuitive riding instincts that some of you possess. That said, last riding season, after studying Reg Pridmore's book Smooth Riding The Pridmore Way I decided to adopt the technique of routinely covering the clutch and brake levers with 2 fingers, which Reg says is often useful even when street riding.

All went well until one day, while riding a BMWK1200GT. I was entering an unfamiliar and moderately tight right hand turn, and I had the bike leaned over a bit when all of the sudden my lane was covered with gravel, and as a result of my inexperience I panicked; because I was covering both the clutch and the handbrake with 2 fingers at the time when this occurred, I just automatically grabbed down on both levers and handlebars in a desperate "Hold on tight!" effort without any forethought.

Of course, this resulted in simultaneously disengaging the drive shaft while suddenly applying the ABS brakes, hard. This in turn caused the bike to abruptly and quickly roll (ie, rotate about its long axis) from right, to upright, then on towards its left. In other words, by panicking and grabbing down on both levers I quickly converted an impending right low-slide crash into an impending left high-side crash.

As the bike began to roll and careen to the left I just sorta instinctively extended my left leg and kicked down hard on the road. Amazingly, this resulted in just enough of a counter force to stop the quickly evolving high-side by pushing the bike back upright. By sheer luck, I'd also miraculously somehow released my death grips on the levers at around this same time, so the bike regained enough forward momentum and engine power to right itself and ride on down the road, albeit in the opposite lane for a little while. (I would've bought the farm had there been any oncoming traffic.)

I strained the shit out of my left foot, knee, and hip during the kicking maneuver, and afterwards what this taught me (YMMV) is that I would do well to stop covering the hand levers because of what can otherwise happen in an 'Oh shit!' panic moment. I've since found that I have much more control during panic moments when I keep all of the fingers of both hands on the grips, and then extend a couple of fingers to reach the levers only as needed. I will still occasionally cover a lever with 2 fingers in certain situations, but not often. YMMV.

 

I've been thinking about getting one those "cruise controls", think I'll pass for now. As other have said, glad you're mostly OK and you were smart in wearing gear.

 

Let me join the chorus and say I too am sad to hear of your accident. It sounded somewhat similar to mine 2 years ago. After somehow grabbing too much throttle as I came into my 1/4-mile driveway, I too "forgot" about grabbing the clutch and instead grabbed way too much front brake. Since I was trying to turn as well it all went down very quickly. Grabbing the clutch needs to be second nature (and I was trained to slam both feet down on the clutch and brake when driving a manual-trans cage so it should be a normal thing, eh?)

Naturally, you learned what I learned: Do NOT wear jeans! Now I only ride with full leathers and much better gloves. Good luck with the recovery.

 

If you are accelerating and turn your Throttlemeister at the same time, the throttle will lock. That's what it is designed to do. I can't imagine why you woud be wanting to lock the throttle while approaching a stop sign. Are you saying that the Throttlemeister locked by itself or did you turn it accidentally the same time as your throttle? You have be carefull not to accidentally turn the Throttlemeister if you don't want it engaged.

NHmountainman - Thanks for the post. Just for the record, I never touched the throttle lock. I bought the bike used and it must have been on too tight. I rolled on the throttle up a small hill and it stuck. I could not roll it back. I could not unscrew the lock. Panic...set in...

When I saw the bike today at the repair yard, the throttle was still locked. Won't have one on any future bike.

 

Dude, sorry to hear about your accident. Glad your on the road to recovery.
I dropped my ZX-11 drying the brakes (don't ask) and learned all about how well jeans and windbreaker prevent road rash. My arai quantum saved me all kinds of grief and is worth every penny.
While I can only hope I would have the reflexes to handle the unexpected, I never ride without a helmet, my roadcrafter, gloves and boots. Yes even when it's 90deg out.
Best wishes for your recovery and don't give up riding!!!

 

Good call on your analysis. We can all benefit from evasive and emergency maneuvers. It would not hurt anyone to practice pulling the clutch and learning to brake quickly and effectively.
Muscle memory takes over when we have brain farts.

 

questions

First of let me say, that Motorcycling is much like going to sea and aviation. In that they are all three inherently dangerous and most unforgiving of mistakes. but it is a price we all have to consider paying if we want to play. I think about it every time I mount up. ATGATT!! NO EXCEPTIONS. You should buy the best and toughest gear you can fit and afford. I will still continue to ride knowing these risks.

Sorry I am Ignorant, What does YMMV mean? I know i will feel stupid when i find out.

Also one of the responses said that this was an endorsement for ABS. Dont see how. would have probably gotten you killed by allowing you not to stop and roll into the intersection and get hit by a Transit bus. if ABS's function is to prevent wheel lock up.

also I didnt realize how a throttlemeister worked until author posted this, I will not get one for sure now. My hand position on my throttle tends to be on the outside of the bars. I can tell this by the wear on the bar ends. I have worn the black coating off of the bar end.

 

Glad you said it first DANIMAL, what is YMMV ? You make me vomit???

 

I also had to look this up, recently. Someone on one of my other regular forums uses it regularly - often following an asinine comment. Apparently means "Your mileage my vary."

No offense to whoever used it in this thread (I haven't even checked the context), but it's an acronym I'd like to see die a quick but horrible death. I usually see it following an obnoxious, overly opinionated declaration that can't possibly be backed up with facts or statistics - and 300shooter's interpretation is usually just as accurate. But of course, YMMV.

 

That my friend is a lot easier said then done. It is really easy to panic and REALLY hard to do the right thing. Don't beat yourself up over not doing the "right thing".

I'm glad your ok, that's all that matters.

Thank you though for adding one more parking lot practice idea. Without practicing the right thing, making it happen will be a lot harder to do.

 

I tried a Throttlemeister for short time but quickly removed it - my problem was twofold - very few places I felt like using it and I found it would lock w/ heated grips.

 

It's good that you posted this, no matter what all the responses are, it will help you in the future. Glad you are ok and the bike can be repaired. I will go out and practice an emergency stop using the kill-switch/clutch combo..... Haven't done that in years.... so you know your post helps us all....