Opelousas,La. to Southwest Colorado.

[n5tbu]

I finally got to take my trip,I had to end it early because work was piling up back home.
I did 3700 miles and just over 2 weeks.
Here is a link to the pics,some have a caption describing the pic...do a slide show.
Mark
 http://n5tbu.blogspot.com/

[luckylindy]

  Great pix.  I've got to ride to Colorado someday. 

[n5tbu]

NOT someday! we never know when our time is up...JUST DO IT!!
I decided on the new motto,a year ago this July ,when my only brother passed away at only 56 years old.I.m 49 and I wanna have some fun before I check out.
Mark

[n5tbu]

I was curious as to just where New Boston,Tx was....google told me to tell you to ride to Mena,Arkansas and take the Talimena Scenic drive into Oklahoma,before winter sets in. Lots closer than Colorado,not as high,but just as much fun
Twisties,switchbacks,and straightaways!
Mark

[luckylindy]

Mark,

New Boston is in the NE corner of Texas, just 100 miles from Mena.  I try to ride up that way several times a year.  I think that is some of the best riding found in the south and I'm fortunate to live as close as I do.  I rode with some buddies to Tennessee this summer and we hit the Smokies and Tail of the Dragon.  Great roads, but Talimena is close.  We said our trip next summer should be to Colorado, so maybe I'll get there in '09.  I'm sure you enjoyed escaping the  LA heat for some CO cool.  Here's a pic from 12-31-07 when we had Talimena to ourselves on a cold New Years Eve.

[Uncle Fester]

Nice!  Lots more pics than mine!   Of course, I've never ridden that far! What a trip!   

[DesignFlaw06]

Nice!  Lots more pics than mine!

You know how you take a good picture? You take a lot of them.

Nice pictures! Glad you can get out and enjoy the bike.

[n5tbu]

LuckyLindy...escaping the Louisiana heat was the plan,but the Texas Panhandle heat was almost unbearable!
Colorado was so nice,I wore my coat and even my cold gear just to be comfy!
I'm gonna do it again in "09,just without the trailer,gonna do the motel thing...less trouble,more comfort,maybe we can time it as a group ride?
I now have the new chain,sprockets and rubber...I was doing the chain all wrong!  Too tight and oiling when cold,now I got it!
Mark
P.S. gonna do the Mena/Albert Pike area for Thanksgiving,come go with me?

[luckylindy]

Mark,

If you are going to Mena around Thanksgiving let me know, I might be able to ride with you.  I plan to ride up to Mena soon to catch the leaves changing color.  Keep in touch also about Colorado next summer.  Enjoy your riding down in LA.

[n5tbu]

It's gonna be a while till I can ride again,some idiot in a cage rearended my Nighthawk 250 at a stop light,he was doing about 50MPH! Good news is,I'm not dead,bad news...broken heel on right foot.No walking for at least 2 months.
mark

[ROJ]

Glad to her you're alright (mostly), from the looks of the wreck it could have been ALOT worse. I hope you get well and heal up quickly, there will always be more days to ride.

[luckylindy]

  Mark,

A broken heel after that!! You are very fortunate that was all the injury you had.  Now for that idiot that popped you..... Glad you are relatively OK and hope you heal quickly.

[DesignFlaw06]

That'll buff out!

Seriously, glad you're OK. Consider a broken heel being lucky. Now you have a perfect reason to get a 750 when the heel heals (sounds weird saying that).

Just curious, but what's the insurance situation? Each state seems to have its own rules. Hopefully you don't have to pay a dime. Michigan is stupid when it comes to insurance. They require you to have insurance, but use an insurance scheme that protects against uninsured motorists with No-Fault. Basically meaning no driver is at fault and you both have to cover your own expenses. I think you can sue for your deductable from the other driver, but still....

 

[n5tbu]

He prob had the min required in La. 10000/20000/10000,my health Ins.deductable,loss of wages,pain,suffering,comes out of the first 10,the bike is replaced out of the 20. If the 3rd guy involved files a claim,we have to share that 10/20/10.
I already have an 03 750,just waiting on me to ride her again.
mark

[Hondo]

Holy smokes Mark, glad to hear that you are OK! 

[SF48]

Wow!  You are one lucky dude!     To come away from that with a broken heal...you cashed in some chips on that one.

[MrF]

Glad you made it out of that one relatively ok.  From the looks of that bike, it could have been a whole lot worse.

[FAITHBIKER]

Hey,

Glad to hear you're doing ok, that's looks like a nasty crash.  Just wanted to comment on the insurance thing.  The first 10 is per person bodily injury, the 20 is per accident bodily injury, and the second 10 is property damage.  Basically, any damage to your bike comes out of the 10, not the 20.  Hopefully you can get a new bike for 10 or under, but I just wanted you to be educated on insurance.  I work in the insurance business, so just wanted you to know. 

[n5tbu]

Thanks for clearing that up! Next question....do I get replacement value or book value for my bike?
Mark

[FAITHBIKER]

I believe his insurance will give you book value.  Now depending on your insurance you may still get the difference from your insurance company to replace the bike.  I know my company will give you replacement cost for the first two years of the motorcycles life, if insured with us within 30 days of purchasing the bike.  I'm not sure which year yours is, my guess a newer one from what I can see?  Each company has a different policy on pretty much anything the state allows them to, so you'd want to check with your company on that one.   

[FAITHBIKER]

Also, I'd probably wait to turn in a claim on your company until you find out what the other company gives you, but if you're not happy with it, your company will probably fight the other company to get what they need if you have full coverage on the bike, because they will have to pay you themselves if they don't get it from the other company. 

[luckylindy]

  Mark,

If you don't want to answer on the forum PM me, but I was curious how this came out for you.  The idiot that caused my accident had no insurance of any kind.  Luckily, my Progressive ins adjuster and everyone involved was very helpful to me.  I was sad to  see my NH go but they paid me book value + accessories. I am considering sueing the fool who almost killed me, but on the ticket she claims she is unemployed.  I don't know if its worth hiring a lawyer to pursue this.  Did you sue your rearend idiot?  It's incredible how quickly life can turn aftersomething like this, but I guess we are both blessed to still be here.  Take care.

LL 

[n5tbu]

PM sent

[n5tbu]

It's been 9 months since the wreck,I have healed,but my lower back has good days and bad days.I was in a wheelchair for 3 of those months.....NOT fun.
The Insurance finally settled after 6 months of fighting them.I got 2250 for the bike.
The bike is still at my local wrecking yard and he is suing the insurance company for storage fees.
USAgencies is a joke!
Still riding my 2003 Nighthawk 750 and have made a few trips to the Ozarks in Arkansas.
Mark

[happycommuter]

Still riding my 2003 Nighthawk 750 and have made a few trips to the Ozarks in Arkansas.

Glad to hear that you're back in the saddle!