Life get more exciting
Aug. 21st, 2009 09:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pecuniumA week ago I had a real accident on the bike (which was a scooter). Bike is totaled (in all probability). I might be able to repair it, but that would be, in essence, a complete teardown and reassembley. It looks as though the frame is bent. Everything else works (well the throttle seems stuck at about 15 percent, but given the way things were torqued, I'm not surprised).
That said, it was a good wreck.
The guy next to me drifted, or thought about changing lanes, or something. I looked over a tad too long (I am a moderately experienced rider of motorcycles, but not a recent one), and the two cars in front of me stopped.
I had good following distance, and all the needed gear (helmet, leather jacket [the classic style, with the belt done up], jeans, boots; well above the ankle, and studded gloves).
I saw the stopped cars, hit the brakes, and saw there was no way to stop in time, so I laid it down.
It was over in an moment. The bike hit the ground (and so too my shoulder, hip and foot).
From the aches, pains, scrapes, and bruises, I have a pretty good idea of the next bit. My shoulder rolled, the helmet dragged, my head rolled, the front tire of the bike hit the driver side rear tire of the car, and the frame bent; shoving the fairing into my topside (right) knee.
I was, as one is, up in a moment. The lady in the car was out shortly thereafter, all shook up because she had never seen me (bike, good following distance, etc.).
Apart from the bike being totalled (it cost $800, all in, and I;m guessing the needed parts [fairings, frame] are about $400; a good used scooter is running about $500, and [if there are still some at that price] a new replacement would be $700 (I can live without delivery. I'll look into a new scooter, and then disassemble this one to sell/keep for parts. If I get an actual motorcycle, I'll offer this for a project, and then probably sell it for parts, but I digress) I'm fine.
Not having transportation sucks. I was gettig used to the idea of being completely independent of others again, but I'll be able to replace it in a month, or two; the belt will be a little tight, but the GI bill ought to be paying me by October.
It could have been a lot worse. It's the first time I've ever had to lay down a motorcycle. It was a lot less scary than the occaisions I've had to lay a bicycle down. Which may have been the speed of it all (I was doing about 40 when I saw the stopped cars, and something between 15-20 when I hit the ground).
I'd have to say time on bicycles, and horseback, helped a lot. Everyone I've spoken with about it says I was lucky enough to do everything right. I'll put it in the win column, under Victories, Pyrric.
That said, it was a good wreck.
The guy next to me drifted, or thought about changing lanes, or something. I looked over a tad too long (I am a moderately experienced rider of motorcycles, but not a recent one), and the two cars in front of me stopped.
I had good following distance, and all the needed gear (helmet, leather jacket [the classic style, with the belt done up], jeans, boots; well above the ankle, and studded gloves).
I saw the stopped cars, hit the brakes, and saw there was no way to stop in time, so I laid it down.
It was over in an moment. The bike hit the ground (and so too my shoulder, hip and foot).
From the aches, pains, scrapes, and bruises, I have a pretty good idea of the next bit. My shoulder rolled, the helmet dragged, my head rolled, the front tire of the bike hit the driver side rear tire of the car, and the frame bent; shoving the fairing into my topside (right) knee.
I was, as one is, up in a moment. The lady in the car was out shortly thereafter, all shook up because she had never seen me (bike, good following distance, etc.).
Apart from the bike being totalled (it cost $800, all in, and I;m guessing the needed parts [fairings, frame] are about $400; a good used scooter is running about $500, and [if there are still some at that price] a new replacement would be $700 (I can live without delivery. I'll look into a new scooter, and then disassemble this one to sell/keep for parts. If I get an actual motorcycle, I'll offer this for a project, and then probably sell it for parts, but I digress) I'm fine.
Not having transportation sucks. I was gettig used to the idea of being completely independent of others again, but I'll be able to replace it in a month, or two; the belt will be a little tight, but the GI bill ought to be paying me by October.
It could have been a lot worse. It's the first time I've ever had to lay down a motorcycle. It was a lot less scary than the occaisions I've had to lay a bicycle down. Which may have been the speed of it all (I was doing about 40 when I saw the stopped cars, and something between 15-20 when I hit the ground).
I'd have to say time on bicycles, and horseback, helped a lot. Everyone I've spoken with about it says I was lucky enough to do everything right. I'll put it in the win column, under Victories, Pyrric.
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no subject
Date: 2009-08-22 06:21 pm (UTC)I think it has to do with a greater sense of control on a horse/motorcycle (can't say why that doesn't translate to bicycles).