First Road Crash

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Was bound to happen, I guess. On a road about half a mile from home. Almost dark. I know this road very well. I even knew that it was being resurfaced. The westbound side had a new layer of asphalt, leaving about a 3"high lip to the eastbound side. I was traveling east, just about to turn onto the dirt lane toward home, I failed to recognize the size of the lip as I gently swerved wide to the left to enter the dirt lane at not so sharp an angle. Fortunately, was only going about 10 MPH(est.) As soon as my front tire hit the lip, I was slammed to the ground and spun around, could feel my left knee and helmet grinding on the road. I'm OK. Sore, both knees bloody. Not sure why the right one is. I must have rolled to that side as the bike spun out from underneath me. Don't remember, but I did stand up right away. Called my son to come help me. I can pick the Tiger up by myself, but didn't want to risk picking it up only to drop it in the ditch.
Just by dump luck, the way my Carpuride records in segments, the crash happens right at the end of this video. Must be a lag to the next video, because I didn't catch me rolling and standing up. Be careful out there my friends.

Fast forward to the very end of the video.

Bike ended up facing 180deg. from the direction I was riding.

I haven't done a full inspection, but besides some battle scars on the left side crash bars, I believe a bent shift lever my be the only real issue on the bike.

I was wearing jeans, but not my kevlar-lined riding jeans. Ugg.

 

[Rob S.]

Ouch! Glad you're okay.

That's quite a 'lip.' And the bugs. Took me a few seconds to realize what they were. Reminds me of when some rural friends in south Jersey told me there are "too many bugs to ride without a fairing."

Glad you're okay.

 

[Rob S.]

Ouch! Glad you're okay.

That's quite a 'lip.' And the bugs. Took me a few seconds to realize what they were. Reminds me of when some rural friends in south Jersey told me there are "too many bugs to ride without a fairing."

Glad you're okay.

180 degrees is one thing. Just be glad the bike (or you) didn't end up hanging from a lampost.

 

[trevor]

Glad you are ok....can't believe there are no requirements for signs warning of the uneven pavement. Yikes

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Thanks Trevor. I’m thinking there should be signs. But this is a very rural road. Maintained by the township (bunch of hicks). If I’d suffered more damage than 2 skinned knees, a busted turn signal lens and a bent shift lever, I’d be showing up at the next township supervisor’s meeting. My armored Joe Rocket jacket and my helmet seem undamaged. Glad I was also wearing armored leather gloves and good sturdy riding boots. I may replace the helmet anyway, even though I think it’s fine. Oddly enough I have my yearly physical scheduled tomorrow afternoon. So at least I’ll have the doc check me over.

 

[Baatfam]

YIkes...I hate when that happens...
Glad you're mostly good. Glad the bike is mostly good, also.

 

[Steve]

Good to hear that you're OK. Also good that is was not the GS.

In post #1 you say "could feel my left knee and helmet grinding on the road".
In post #5 you say "My armored Joe Rocket jacket and my helmet seem undamaged."
The two statements are at odds with each other. Look the helmet over VERY carefully.
You might see some scratches (you might not). An impact might not leave a mark.
Given your statement that "I was slammed to the ground", you may have hit without realizing it.

Either way, after inspecting your helmet carefully, REPLACE IT.
After replacing it, destroy your old hemet to the point where someone can not take it out of the trash and use it.

.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Thanks Steve. Yes, I intend to. My birthday is coming up anyway.

 

[rphillips]

Shouldn't celebrate a birthday with a crash..... Oh you mean a new helmet for the birthday. Hate hearing it happened, glad it wasn't worse