This morning I went on a ride with the Cornell (university) Motorcycle Club. I've had my SV for quite some time now but am still a novice rider. We were on some back roads just outside of Ithaca NY, everything was going smoothly until we came up to a pretty sharp turn. Recommended speed was 15 mph so I shifted down to 3rd and grabbed a little brake to slow me down. As I was about to lean into the turn I noticed that there was quite a big of gravel on the road so I decided not to lean as much. This just made me go wide and hit the gravel shoulder and caused me to low side. Here is the aftermath when we got my bike home:



Not so bad.




Just a little bump of the head, my helmet is fine.




A little scratched up.




The shifter broke off so we bent out the bar so my friend could ride it home.




Gas tank got a little banged up, and I think my bars are out of place.




Mostly just superficial damage.




Tore off the shoelaces on my sneakers.




Some scratched on my cluster




The bar end was pretty bent so we just took it off, but I think I can bend it back to normal.




Shifter and bar end.




Jacket definitely saved my shoulder/collar bone.




Unfortunately jeans don't do as much for protection.






Not bad at all. The road rash doesn't really hurt - but my foot/ankle took a big blow from the bike landing on it. I am limping around for now, if it doesn't stop hurting I'll head over to get it x-rayed but I don't think I'd be walking if it was that serious.

I am just pissed that I crashed in a such a dumb way and laid my bike down for the first time. But I will get over it because it is really not that bad. I know I'm going to be flamed for not wearing boots/pants but that was my choice. I will definitely look into boots and pants for later.

 

Ah, it could have been a lot worse. Doesn't look like you came out too bad.

 

glad you weren't too hurt. Its tough to know what to do when you spot a hazard on the road, ya just gotta think quick. at least there was no opposing traffic to avoid, that could have gotten sticky

 

Yeah, more than anything I am mad at myself for falling. I don't think I really could have done anything different, I almost saved it but like I said I am still a beginner. I am glad I didn't take anyone in our group down with me, I was riding second out of a group of 6 and the last guy had a second rider. I would have felt terrible taking someone else down because of my lack of skill but we were in good formation with plenty of distance between each other so it worked out okay. I am fine, but my foot/ankle still hurts when I walk or touch it. I am really not looking forward to having to fix the bike.

I'm also glad I have a naked bike with no fairings to fix.

 

Glad you came out with out too many injuries. However, there was probably something that could have been done seeing as how there were 5 other bikes that made that same turn. Just curiuos, have you taken the MSF?

 

Glad you're good, get a new bar end weight. Having it bent could throught the weight off a little and cause a vibration. Better to just get a new one.

Helmets are also made for one hard impact and should be replaced afterwards. Most don't, but is it worth your life or permanant brain damage if something were to happen again?

Looks like you know you need boots already. If you like jeans, then at least get some removable pads for riding. I need to as well.

 

Pretty much exactly how mine was. Except I hit the gravel and didn't avoid it. Minor scrape on the knee and jacket too the brunt of the accident. Only advice I have is to brush it off, get her fixed up and get back out riding again...(and maybe invest in some pants and riding boots)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TypeR864 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Just curiuos, have you taken the MSF?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, CblP s40 was taught how to ride by my brother, and I think a lack of education/training isn't to blame here. I can assure you that the MSF doesn't teach its students (in practice) how to negotiate such situations. Quite simply, it's a new rider on a new bike in a tight, gravel strewn corner.

You live, you learn.

 

Overall bike doesn't look bad and your body will heal. Atleast you are ok.

 

Yeah the bike doesn't seem too have too much damage and the only thing that is really bothering me is my foot/ankle (still limping and noticed some swelling). I did not do MSF but I doubt they would prepare me for a situation like that - connecting 2 corners and seeing unexpected gravel. Though I do have insurance and I guess half the correct gear.

To clear up I was riding 2nd of a group of 6. So only one person (the guy who taught me to ride, and himself rode cross country this summer) was in front of me. The rest were behind and slowed when they saw me go down.

To repeat myself - I know the bike will be fine and so will I but my ego has taken a huge hit and more than anything I am just angry at myself for going down.

I was looking into the thicker riding jeans from icon and alpinestars before this accident but boots is what would have saved me - rash at that speed is just superficial.

 

It happens, glad your ok... what do you go to cornell for? I spent a lot of time out there this year. Sooo nice there.

 

live and learn

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Willybeen &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what do you go to cornell for? I spent a lot of time out there this year. Sooo nice there. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Applied Economics and Management

 

I've found a lot of times that a panic reaction or avoidance move is worse than trying to carefully tread over the hazard. Gravel is always hard to tell how severe it'll be though.

I always "try" to leave enough traction left over to do something about a hazard in the middle of a turn.

Nice bike too

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sporkcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've found a lot of times that a panic reaction or avoidance move is worse than trying to carefully tread over the hazard. Gravel is always hard to tell how severe it'll be though.

I always "try" to leave enough traction left over to do something about a hazard in the middle of a turn.

Nice bike too </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah I should have learned through the gravel because there would have been a chance that I made it, where as when I hit the soft shoulder I would have fallen no matter what.

So it is 6:30 am and my foot hurts so much I have not slept for half an hour. Called up my dad and he's going to take me to the hospital.

 

Definatly pick up some boots. In my low side I was wearing Oxtar race boots and my ankle still hurt from where the bike landed on me but it would have been a lot worse. .

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by svrider &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Definatly pick up some boots. In my low side I was wearing Oxtar race boots and my ankle still hurt from where the bike landed on me but it would have been a lot worse. . </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah I just got back to my dorm from the hospital. Nothing is broken just sprained pretty bad. My foot is swollen to ****, even the doctor said he thought at least my big toe (now twice the size) was broken. I got some crutches, ace bandage, shoe thing and drugs so I will be all good (especially after classes when I can take my pills).






Modified by CblP s40 at 9:59 AM 9/8/2008

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lude-Conduct &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Overall bike doesn't look bad and your body will heal. Atleast you are ok.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Your get off doesn't seem all to bad, bike actually faired pretty well, as did you, minus the ankle.

 

Classic Foot plant lowside... Good to hear your going to be okay and it could have been much worse. The damage looks extremely minor at a pretty low speed. How long till your up and riding again?

 

take the pills after class??? whaaaat?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ragnaroek &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">take the pills after class??? whaaaat?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I need to be sober to actually learn stuff (Cornell is tough!). But I was in and out of sleep in my financial accounting class anyway because I didn't get any rest last night. Maybe I should pop one now


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MSchu &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Classic Foot plant lowside... Good to hear your going to be okay and it could have been much worse. The damage looks extremely minor at a pretty low speed. How long till your up and riding again?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah I was going pretty slow. I'll be on my bike when I can move my ankle without throbbing pain and fix my shifter and whatever else is broken. I know what I'm going to be asking Santa for this year though boots and pants lol.

 

Glad you're OK. It could have been a lot worse. As someone else mentioned, I'd recommend some riding boots or even construction boots that will cover your ankle.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gixx312 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Glad you're OK. It could have been a lot worse. As someone else mentioned, I'd recommend some riding boots or even construction boots that will cover your ankle. </TD></TR></TABLE>

This is pretty sound advice. Whenever I go for a ride (not commuting) I usually wear Timerland hiking boots with pretty good ankle support/protection. Also, they aren't that big and clumsy, which is a concern with non-motorcycle specfic boots.

 

can't believe you would ride in those sneakers. Any over the ankle boot would of spared you a lot less damage I believe.


That's a sweet bike, btw

 

Yeah, I feel naked without my riding boots. I'll wear converse for a little around town tooling, but anything over 30mph and I'm wearing over-the-ankle protection.