R
RTNewbie
Guest
I was in my first crash after 15 years of riding on Friday may 29. Now that i'm back from a very conveniently timed beach vacation, i'll share some details about my first crash on the street.
Commute to work. ATGATT, mechanically sound and well maintained 1996 r1100rt with Michelin pilot road tires (appx 600 miles on ft and 4500 on rear, moderate flat center tread, not worn into wear indicators, but slated for replacement, new pilot 2 in garage at home) 94k miles on bike. 7:30 am in light rain, light rain all night before, about 50 degrees, no gravel on roadway. About 14 miles into commute in easy left hander on two lane/secondary road (speed limit 45 mph) at about 65 mph, at apex of turn, the rear stepped out to the right, countersteered into slide, might have chopped the throttle (not sure). High side, landed on my shoulder and head at near horizontal angle (best i can tell) on center line of road. Conscious but saw huge white flash (explains why a dont rememeber fliying through the air), sliding in belly at slight angle towards soft shoulder thinking clearly "hey, I'm OK!", looked left and saw Ole Blue sliding past me from behind and at higher speed on other side of road (into oncoming lane) on her side with smoke and panniers trailing after. Looking back ahead to soft shoulder (gravel), realize i'm still going really fast as gravel flies up in front of me. Come to rest in gravel still in my belly and feeling OK. Rest for couple seconds then sit up and realize wind is knocked out of me (a little), lie back and attempt to remove gloves, realize shoulder not working.
Paramedics on scene within minutes, fully conscious, ambulance ride, emergency room, pain meds, xrays, cat scans. Broken right collar bone from impact, one scrape on right elbow, large bruise on right hip. No head injury, not even a headache.
Riding gear
Head: HJC Symax (modular, full faced) heavy fracturing of outer shell (upper right side) heavy road rash on face shield, evidence of compression of inner shell. Obviously destroyed.
Torso: Tourmaster Flex jacket with armor. Right shoulder armor and cordura shell show major impact. Right forearm (inside arm) major abrasion, not worn through. Belly and chest minor abrasion major abrasion where buttons and wallet were/was. Destroyed.
Legs: Firstgear airpants with armored knees and hips. Minor abraiion at right hip. Not destroyed.
Feet: Sidi sport touring mc riding boots. no evidence of crash.
Hands: Tourmaster gel air gloves (not armored, not gauntlet) various abraisions, some major, arguably worn through. Destroyed but no injury.
Bike:
Extensive damage. Full extent yet to be seen. Insurance company would likely consider a total loss
Cause of crash: Driver error. Driving too fast.
Commute to work. ATGATT, mechanically sound and well maintained 1996 r1100rt with Michelin pilot road tires (appx 600 miles on ft and 4500 on rear, moderate flat center tread, not worn into wear indicators, but slated for replacement, new pilot 2 in garage at home) 94k miles on bike. 7:30 am in light rain, light rain all night before, about 50 degrees, no gravel on roadway. About 14 miles into commute in easy left hander on two lane/secondary road (speed limit 45 mph) at about 65 mph, at apex of turn, the rear stepped out to the right, countersteered into slide, might have chopped the throttle (not sure). High side, landed on my shoulder and head at near horizontal angle (best i can tell) on center line of road. Conscious but saw huge white flash (explains why a dont rememeber fliying through the air), sliding in belly at slight angle towards soft shoulder thinking clearly "hey, I'm OK!", looked left and saw Ole Blue sliding past me from behind and at higher speed on other side of road (into oncoming lane) on her side with smoke and panniers trailing after. Looking back ahead to soft shoulder (gravel), realize i'm still going really fast as gravel flies up in front of me. Come to rest in gravel still in my belly and feeling OK. Rest for couple seconds then sit up and realize wind is knocked out of me (a little), lie back and attempt to remove gloves, realize shoulder not working.
Paramedics on scene within minutes, fully conscious, ambulance ride, emergency room, pain meds, xrays, cat scans. Broken right collar bone from impact, one scrape on right elbow, large bruise on right hip. No head injury, not even a headache.
Riding gear
Head: HJC Symax (modular, full faced) heavy fracturing of outer shell (upper right side) heavy road rash on face shield, evidence of compression of inner shell. Obviously destroyed.
Torso: Tourmaster Flex jacket with armor. Right shoulder armor and cordura shell show major impact. Right forearm (inside arm) major abrasion, not worn through. Belly and chest minor abrasion major abrasion where buttons and wallet were/was. Destroyed.
Legs: Firstgear airpants with armored knees and hips. Minor abraiion at right hip. Not destroyed.
Feet: Sidi sport touring mc riding boots. no evidence of crash.
Hands: Tourmaster gel air gloves (not armored, not gauntlet) various abraisions, some major, arguably worn through. Destroyed but no injury.
Bike:
Extensive damage. Full extent yet to be seen. Insurance company would likely consider a total loss
Cause of crash: Driver error. Driving too fast.