Went Down Today!

[Captainm63]

Got out and was cruising around town and on the Interstate for awhile, no problems.  Trying to go to into the country around Marion TX, no problems, good scenery.  I went to turn around at the entrance to a subdivision out there, going around, and for some reason, while turning I went forward, but knew I wasn't turning quick enough and was going to hit the curb before I could make the turn.  I know now, that I wasn't looking where I wanted to go, and I figure I must've grabbed the front brake and hit the gas a bit at the same time, and caught some sand under my rear tire.  I had a slow speed high side.  Thank God I had ATGATT on!  I still can't remember all of it, it was so quick...the bike went down I must've went over the bars, I slid a bit, just a few feet, my helmet touched the pavement right above my forehead, felt like a light hit in football, saw a few stars for a sec (!), a quarter sized rash right below the Arai decal, and 2 small scratches on the side of the helmet.  The left side of my chest was poked by something, (maybe the windshield)..the only thing that still hurts, other than my neck a bit.,

The bike was off already...the damage to her:  handlebar is tweaked pretty well, looks like one or both stock risers are bent a little as well.  My left peg was bent some, and the gear shift was bent slightly in, not much.  About 6 inches of scratches on the left side plastic below the seat.  My Spitfire winshield was smashed in a several pieces. I think the fork is ok still.  Some rash around the cables on the left handlebars and even a little scrape on the speedo body.

Luckily, a couple of folks on a touring bike came by and asked if I was ok.  I reflexively said yes, but I admit I was in shock amd surprise...it happened so quick, just a little of not doing what I know I should have been doing!  I think I was fortunate not to have been banged up more.  The good samaritans helped me get the bike up.  I let it sit for about 10 minutes  because she was flooded, and she started again.  I limped back home about 10-15 miles, felt really weird with the handlebars like that and being a little shellshocked.  I just told myself to keep toughing it out to get back.  I doubt if those folks read this, because they rode a VSTAR, but it was very classy that I noticed they waited about 1/4  mile down the road for me to get underway again.  Thanks Mr. and Mrs. whoever you are!!

I am going to try to get her fixed up soon and get back on the horse as soon as possible, I think I will get the forks checked out, although, I think they are fine.  I think it was just the worrying about things that made me paranoid about any little sound.  I am going to get those engine guards...I didn't have any damage to the cases that I could see, but I think the guards might have helped keep the damage to the bars, peg and shifter to a minimum.  Like Pants, I think I will replace the shield with the StreetEX.

This sucked after a good day of riding, but if anything I think I learned some things.  Those Olympia pants took my slide and showed no damage! I am pretty sure the foam helped save my hips.  The helmet was awesome...it was a slight hit, I don't think I will need to replace it, but I will have the guys at the MotoLiberty shop where I got it check it out and give me their opinion.  They seem to be straight shooters there.  That damn Harley jacket that I was wearing (I know, that's all I have, SOQS, didn't want to allocate funds for a new one...got it when I was in my "Harley phase" lol).  I think I am going to lobby for the Olympia Bonneville jacket..!  Olympia leather and gel gloves worked like a champ, glad I ditched my thin leather Harley ones.  I will take some Ranger candy (Ibuprofen) and hope I am not too sore tomorrow.  SOQS doesn't know the extent of the damage..luckily she doesn't go out into the garage!  S*&(!,..well, I guess I wanted to work on the bike.  I have to hand it to the sturdiness of the NH, that it would start and still get me back home in one piece, even while she was crippled!  Thanks for listening guys!!

[Moustache]

Hang in there, heal well, and get back at it soon. Glad you are all right,

[Soupskin]

Glad you made it back to tell us about it!

I think you can send your lid to Arai and they will certify if it is still safe to use or not.

[hockeyhawk]

Sorry to hear about your off. Glad your doing ok. hope you heal up soon and get back on that horse.

[fishball]

Take care of yourself, hope you get the bike fixed up soon.

[Burgi]

Glad you are OK. I agree,Olympia gear is amazing. It is good that you are so positive about getting back on.

[drdubb]

Glad to hear that you were wearing your gear and suffered no major damage.

I feel ya about how quick it happens. I have no recollection of falling on my high side. 

The bar risers might be ok. They are mounted in rubber grommets and can move around. I thought mine were bent, I bought new ones....the old ones were fine, so I've got a spare set.

Shift levers can stand some pounding to straighten them. (take em off the bike first)

[mattrowe19]

Glad to hear you're alright! Definitely get your helmet checked out. If you have another one to wear in the meantime, I would. It doesn't sound like it was a huge hit but helmets are designed to be single impact. The EPS foam under the liner could be damaged. I wouldn't risk it. Again, glad to hear your ok. Good luck getting her put back together!

[Captainm63]

Thanks, yeah, I emailed Arai to see if they have a program for checking out helmets.  I really like that helmet, I hope it is still ok!  If not, it did it's job keeping my head from getting cracked open.

[roadrunner]

Another testimonial to ATGATT!  Glad you're doing fine (mostly).. Sorry for the bike damage of course!

[hppants]

Sorry to hear about this Captain.  As I read your account, my hands started to sweat a little.  Since you high sided, and your left side hurts, I would assume you were trying to negociate a right turn?  Like you, I felt it happened extremely fast.  By the time my brain was telling me something is not right, I am on the ground sliding.  At that instant, the whole experience starts to go in slow motion.

FWIW - concerns about broken ribs should include (but not be limited to):

Any shortness of breath
A wet cough
Blood in cough, urine, or rectal

I know I must have bruised mine, and not broken them, as 1 week later, I am prolly 80%

My pants and jacket show the wear precisely where the pads were.  I wonder why riding jackets don't have "rib armor"?

I hope your recovery goes real fast.

[NightHawked]

Sorry to hear of your mishap. Sharing it with us makes us all better motorcyclists. Hope you heal quickly.

[Bumblebee]

My pants and jacket show the wear precisely where the pads were.  I wonder why riding jackets don't have "rib armor"?

There's something you don't think about until it's too late.
Where did you get hit? Directly on the side? Around the back? Around the front? Compressional (front/back)? Direct hard hit like with a bat?


And, um, welcome to the Faceplant Club Captain. Sorry you had to join.

[cmyers]

Glad you are reasonably well. The engine guards certainly help when the bike goes down.

And yes the Nighthawks are tough old birds.

[Captainm63]

Sorry to hear about this Captain.  As I read your account, my hands started to sweat a little.  Since you high sided, and your left side hurts, I would assume you were trying to negociate a right turn?  Like you, I felt it happened extremely fast.  By the time my brain was telling me something is not right, I am on the ground sliding.  At that instant, the whole experience starts to go in slow motion.

FWIW - concerns about broken ribs should include (but not be limited to):

Any shortness of breath
A wet cough
Blood in cough, urine, or rectal

I know I must have bruised mine, and not broken them, as 1 week later, I am prolly 80%

My pants and jacket show the wear precisely where the pads were.  I wonder why riding jackets don't have "rib armor"?

I hope your recovery goes real fast.

Hello Pants,

Thanks, and I also wish you the best for your recovery as I read your account as well.

You know where I hit was on the left side of my chest, I think either the windshield hit me or the end of the right handlebar.  Right in the left pectoral muscles..and some fat! LOL.  I 've got a good bruise coming up there, an it's kind of a line, so I am wondering if the windshield didn't give me a good jab there.

I was actually trying to make a left turn to get out of the entrance of that subdivision, but I know I wasn't looking in the direction I needed to, and I must've tried to muscle it over and rolled the throttle a bit as I touched the front brake by reflex, instead of keeping my cool and just keeping straight and stopping.  That little bit of sand there didn't help.  The bike went down on it's left side and dug a little out of the pavement,...it must've flipped me over the bars and I hit the windshield and right bar,..probably why the right bar was so bent.  I felt so dumb,..out in the middle of nowhere...no traffic, and I do this.  But I still don't remember exactly how I came off the bike,..I do remember the faceplant..and jumping right back up...I was more worried about getting the bike back up.  Great thing about andrenaline!  Although I am finding out how many muscles I tensed up this morning,...I am sore!  I'm glad those two riders showed up to help me pick it up; my skills at picking up a bike solo where not there.
I checked some places to get a new handlebar...cheap cycle parts seemed to be the least...this one I messed up was a replacement to the PO's little drag bar that hit the tank all the time,..I am sorry to have to change it out again!
I think it's muscle issues I was dealing with; I had my left side ribs broken when I was overseas (in addition to other things) and you are right pants, all of those things you mentioned happen.  It took a long time to heal from that, the docs told me the older you are the longer it takes to heal from that.
Here's to me getting smarter, but maybe not from so many painful lessons...in body and wallet!

Happy Mother's Day to all!