I #$&#^ HATE gravel (GROSS PIC WARNING!)

[ostwayne]

Yes, I crashed, and yes, I'm going to have my rant about it (even though it happened a few days ago).
So with that having been said...

I was driving my usual route home which include a section of twisty roads, which I drive pretty much every day.
Longer left handed sweeper, taken while working on leaning/hanging off the bike.
Just going along, never saw anything on the road (it's a tad dusty, which it normally is)
Then I feel it... loss of traction... 
I try to turn the bike back upright... but nada, it just keeps sliding, and I keep getting closer to the ground.
I feel my knee hit the ground and start grinding. Not something enjoyable on a friday afternoon.
I ditch the bike to avoid getting caught under, and brace myself on my forearms, sliding down the road, thinking I was the smart mother f--- to buy a nice leather jacket with armor. 
I start slowing down, but the bike doesn't, and I watch... in sheer horror, as my beautiful gs finally smacks right into the guardrail, with a clanging sound I won't soon forget. 
I get myself up, and check for injuries... there's a nice hole in my jeans, but everything else feels and looks fine.
My helmet never even touched the ground.
I get my composure, and some people are nice enough to stop and help my pick the bike up.
It starts, and other than the scratches on the fairing and the bent cluthc lever and shift lever, it's good to go.

and now the ironic part.
I finish my journey, which wasn't go to home that day, but to do go the motorcycle shop to pick up my motorcycle pants which had arrived that day. 

No, I'm not going to stop riding, I actually went out again that night, after hammering some things back into their normal places. 

I'm done ranting now, have a good day 

[RVertigo]

and now the ironic part.
I finish my journey, which wasn't go to home that day, but to do go the motorcycle shop to pick up my motorcycle pants which had arrived that day. 

  Oh man...  Did you tell them they should have shipped them faster?  Geeze!

Glad you and your GS made it out alright...  So, it was just a bit of gravel?  Were you hauling ass or what?

[plusultra]

   Man, congrats on still having a fully functional motorcycle and all of your skin.   Once again, this goes out to show ya,  WEAR YO GEAR FOOLS!

[Jarrett]

Glad to hear you and the bike made it out ok.  Did you end up with any road rash?  If so, post some pics before it heals up too quick.  That will pursuade riders like myself that have pants and don't wear them to go ahad and don the gear for every ride. 

[average]

(subway) DUNANUNANAH HIS NAME IS JARRET!!!!  j/k welcome aboard, bud. Nice to see another brother around.

BOT: wow, man. Its good that you and the bike made it out of that with minimal damage. Atleast you can say you lived and learned   

[ostwayne]

Jackalope, the best part was the conversation that took place at my shop:
me:"man, I wish these came in faster"
guy at shop:"how come?"
me:"I lowsided"
guy:"what? when?"
me"... less than an hour ago"


but to answer your question, yes, a decent patch of gravel/dust/dirt
and yes, I should have been going slower, even for a road I know, maybe I could have saved the slide.

I only have rash on my kneecap, but I'll post pics later tonight. I'll give you details for now:
it's been four days, and the two patches on my knee are still draining.
I have to cover my knee in the shower so it doesn't soak the wound and start the healing all over again.
it hurts to bend it all the way, I can't run without some pain and fear the wound will open up.

yeah, that's why it's all my gear, all the time 

[bucks1605]

I know how you feel, I went on a poker run last weekend and the route had us going down this gravel road with hills and turns and it was only about a cars length wide.  Don't ask me what they were thinking.

[galahs]

I too was a victi of gravel a couple of weeks ago whilst going round a bend at 80km/h (50MPH).

I too escaped with minimal bruising and a few scratches as I was wearing all my gear.

I too HATE GRAVEL!  (and hate is a very strong word) 

Glad to hear your ok 

[rangerbrown]

2 miles of gravel one way every day for me.

so... drifting is fun

but it sucks if you on pavment and hit it


sorry but at lease you still with us

[Onlypastrana199]

That happens all the time out here, about half of our roads are paved....sometimes you can accelerate out of the gravel spinning the wheel will sometimes grab the pavement underneath...sometimes ur just f%&ked.  Sucks, sorry you lowsided!

[ostwayne]

BY request.... pics of my knee.
Not for those about to eat a meal, BE WARNED!
Keep in mind:
The lowside occurred 5 days ago
I've kept it bandaged, then applied liquid bandage to it (the stuff is amazing)
so without further adue, why gear is so damn important:

[pandy]

Ewwww!! Very nice! 

Seriously, I'm glad you weren't hurt worse, and thanks for posting the pic.

P.S. Ya' might add a "Graphic-Pic Warning" to your thread title so that those who prefer not to be warned won't be surprised.

[galahs]

Mate if you weren't wearing your gear, you'd still be picking gravel out of your flesh 

[calamari]

mmm, suddendly I feel an urge to eat some corn tortilla chips... brb

[average]

Yeah....you uh...have those tortillas...Im gonna finish my beer   

[ostwayne]

ah, warning added, so I'm not to be blamed for anyone losing their lunch. 

tortilla chips now... around day 1 I was feeling it looked like tortilla soup (there was more red, and it was a lot less solid looking  )

and yes, now with pants, full power ranger status. 

Thanks for the well wishes everyone! 

[makenzie71]

that's not that bad...imagine having something similar completely cover your left forearm with bits of your elbow visible to the public (my street luge accident).

I'm also not too sure how you guys wreck on gravel unless you're hitting it full lean with the front brakes almost locked.  I manage the transition between asphault, gravel, snow, ice, water and lizards with nothing resembling grace, but without wrecknig or damaging anything either....

[Jarrett]

I wish we all had the "Force" at all times like you Mac.  Sometimes we have an off day.  It's good that some off days just result in alittle road rash.  I know some guys who's off days ended up being thier last.  They'd never had an off day before either.  Don't get too cocky.  It can happen to anyone, it just doesn't happen to everyone.

[makenzie71]

off day or not, I can without doubt say that the only way gravel could cause me to wreck would be if someone threw it in front of me (assassination attempt...who knows) or if I were doing something stupid.  Most people who have an "off day" are only falling victim to someone's stupidity.

[average]

C'mon,Mak. Even you have had a spill at some point. Be easy,man......