And so I join the ranks of those who have fallen. Around 6:30am this morning I was driving my usual route, slowed for the usual small patch of gravel right at the apex of a tight turn, and wham. Apparently a huge storm went through that area and washed around 5 times more gravel down there then usual. Incidently that low side could have saved my life, since another 100 yards down the road or so a giant branch was blocking the entire other lane, and people these days have a habit of just flying around the turn and avoiding the tree by going into my lane.

Anyway, the bike has a fair amount of small things damaged on it (signals, shifter etc) and the tank is pretty well dented up so it may cost a bit to fix or else I may part it out and buy a different bike. Either way I'll probably get one the end of the summer or start of next, I will be riding again.

As far as myself, I am ok. Couple superficial scratches on my legs where I hid some bigger stones, and my shoulder dislocated but quickly popped back in when I first sat up. That will probably be tight/sore for a few days but doesn't even require any tylenol etc right now so it's not bad. And that's about it, I was wearing full gear including helmet, gloves, jacket, jeans (not the best but did indeed work well, no rips), and boots, though they weren't tied tight enough and the one came off (luckily all those years of kicking boards and bricks made my feet pretty tough ).

Moral of the story, always wear your gear, you never know when you will go down and you aren't the guy who is going to ride for 20+ years and never go down.

 

ATGATT

 

Jeans is not "full gear", but glad you're ok. I hate gravel in corners.

 

I actually have a set of full leathers on hold for me, but the jeans did prove to protect my legs quite well (better than expected).

 

sorry to hear that .. good thing u'r ok

 

It happens. That's why I'm confounded when I see so many riders out there without helmets and gear. It's as if they left that day guaranteed they wouldn't fall off. Man, I wonder where I can find guarantees like that??

Glad you're OK. I'll bet you learned a few things from it though

 

Welcome to the club.

I haven't ridden in months but I am always amazed at the number of people who ride without the basics such as a HELMET or even GLOVES. Didn't these people ever fall off of their bicycle as kids?

 

Thanks... I think.

The same day on the way home from work I was being tail-gated by a guy on a new 600 with a helmet... and that's it. Shorts, t-shirt and that's it.

 

and i dont understand people (not saying OP) who spends well over $600 for racer replica helmets and not spending any money on decent leathers...
i havnt rode on street for awhile and its always scary to see people riding w/o decent gears(leathers).
glad OP is ok.

ride safe everyone!!!

 

Heck in SC I see guys riding all the time two up with their g/f, no helmets, and half the time the girl is wearing shorts and tennis shoes. These people have never experienced road rash. Buddy of mine was riding with his g/f one time in her shorts and when they crashed, both had to have major skin grafts and were in the hospital for weeks. She looked hot (before), though, ha