Dragon Ride Report...or almost there crash report

[PachmanP]

This was going to be my ride report for my late May trip to the Dragon and a gear review on my new Nelson Rigg CL-1000 saddle bags and my Givi E360 top case, but that plan was overcome by events. They did perform flawlessly though.

On a Wednesday in late May, I left at 4 something in the morning to meet two buddies here in Maryland to slab it down 81 to the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground just south of Waynesville, NC. One's rides an '83 Honda Shadow; the other rides a '90 something Honda ST1100. We went down for a Honda V-4 (the ST is a V-4) forum's spring get together. As an aside, GStwins should do something like that.

*This is where I would put a picture of my bike geared up and ready to roll, but of course I didn't take one...*

The trip started poorly-foreshadowing things to come. Taking my loaded bike off of the center stand, I dropped it and smashed my finger. After struggling to get it back up and almost giving up to go back to bed, I managed to get it up and take off.

The ride down was about 550 miles. We stopped every 100 miles to gas up and stretch. I decided my next bike will have a fairing, a better seat, and more power. I was struggling to keep it at 70 loaded down, and it defiantly did not take climbing the mountains well. The Cramp Buster proved it self worth $10, and we made it to the promised land.







The campground is awesome. You basically ride across a little bridge into motorcycle only territory and ride up to a your cabin. There are maybe 15 cabins and lots of tent space. It's about 1.5 hrs from the Dragon, but there are a lot of good roads in the area.

We got a little bit of riding in before dinner. The roads down there are as sweet as everybody says. Smooth and twisty as all get out.

The next day was the Dragon ride. We left at some ridiculous hour in the morning (like 8...) with a group of maybe eight. A pair of guys were tagged by the NC state police on the way in to start things off.  They were doing over 100 mph but only were written up for like 15 over.



Waiting at a little gas station with ancient pumps while they get their tickets.

We set off again to rt 28, and the excitement happened. I got caught up in the turns and pushing the bike, and I went too fast into a downhill right hander. I crossed the yellow line and started scrapping parts, then the shaZam! hit the fan. I don't know if I just went off the edge and tumbled, or if I panicked and hit the brake or something and high sided. I tumbled and ended up in a ditch. I don't know how fast I was going at the time, but I'd guess 30 mph ball park. I think part of the issue was that it was down hill, so I wasn't gauging my speed and deceleration correctly. I also think I was counter steering the bike, but instead of leaning my body off the bike, I was actually sitting more upright basically counteracting the steering. I remember crossing the line, so I defiantly was not looking thorough to the corner exit.



Waiting for the ambulance with the paramedics from Fontana Dam.

I was quite happy when everything stopped moving and I could still wiggle my toes. The next guy in the group was just a little behind me, so I wasn't alone for long. I tried getting up with some help, but couldn't stand on my ankle and started to black out. I laid there until paramedics from down the road came up.  I had a fun little ambulance ride because someone else had called while we were still trying to determine if I needed an ambulance or just a ride to the ER. I was worried about a concussion since one eye didn't seem like it was focusing so well. It turned out I'm not the only squid to bite it there. 3 of the 5 deaths in the area were in that corner. We had a scare with a WRX waiting for the ambulance.





The guys I was with set the bike back up. The front being up hill and the damage being on the left side is making me think high side now.

The bike was towed out which must have been fun. I think I was about 10 minutes from the Dragon when I crashed. When I was finally in the ambulance, the guys went ahead and finished the ride. One of the guys lowsided on the Dragon and almost went off an edge. He got a little rash (had jeans on), but was ok. Bent his shifter back and rode the rest of the weekend.

Damage tally on me:

Broken Right Index Finger!



Massive bruising on left ankle and calf.



It doesn't look so bad now, but it got worse after it aged a few more days. It still hurts to walk on it.

Massive bruising and swelling with a little road rash on my low back and butt.

*pic here if I can find it   *

Grade 1 AC joint separation in my left shoulder.

Rash on my right upper forearm.

Assorted bruises that were popping up for a week.

All in all I came out pretty good! 

My helmet did it's thing. The right knee on my riding pants got shredded, but the knee was fine. Right shoulder on my jacket is pretty scrapped up, but again nothing made it through. My gloves held up, but I got a little scraping through the leather.  The leather was gouged away from the steel toe on my right boot, so I could have dodged a bullet there too.  My gear for the most part did it's job. I shouldn't have gotten the rash on my forearm and back; it occurred because of gear failure. I'll talk more below.

The po po did write me two tickets which is dumb. One for to fast for conditions, and one for crossing the yellow line.


Damage tally on bike:

The whole front end
Instruments and levers
Banged up tank
Grab bar
Tail light
Rear plastics
My fancy new tail rack
Left side pegs, shift lever, engine cover

Haven't fired it up but it doesn't look like any damage would have affected the engine. The frame appears straight with no paint cracking at joints or anything. I only had liability, so no insurance. I think it'll be rebuildable. BaltimoreGS has already hooked me up with most of the front end from his stash.





I got a ride and a tow back home from a couple of guys from the V-4 group. They were all great getting me back from the hospital and home.

I think lesson learned is to ride within my limits (whatever that means). Post-accident analysis and discussion had me realize I need to focus on my riding more. I putter around thinking gee this is fun without thinking about the line, working on body position, and looking through corners. I haven't been riding long enough that I do it right unconsciously. I suspect that had I done everything correctly (except go into the corner too fast...), it would have been a close call and not a wreck.

Thanks for reading. Be careful out there and keep the rubber side down. 

[PachmanP]

So how'd the gear hold up?

Joe Rocket Blaster 3.0 Leather Jacket


Held up pretty good on the shoulder where I slid. I regret not having the shoulder pads in, but the jacket fit poorly with them in.
The right sleeve unzipped and rode up which gave me my worst rash. That was a failing on the jacket's part. The mesh on the inside of the sleeve also tore from the leather, but it doesn't appear to have been the source of the rash.

Joe Rocket Ballistic 7.0 Textile Pants


Didn't hold up as well. You can't really see it that well, but the pants tore all the way through at the knee. The knee pad was actually in the right spot for once though. I attribute that to luck more than the pants because they shouldn't have shredded all the way through.

I had thought that the rash on my back was from the zip between the jacket and pants pulling out, but on second thought I was an idiot. I must not have zipped it after we left the gas station. 

HJC CL-SP

No pictures, but it did it's job. No head damage. This is my second CL-SP, and I'm a fan of them.


For the most part, my gear did it's job. My opinion of textile gear is lowered, and I don't know that I'll go that route again with out some careful study.

[hambonee]

Discussion on the gear is it worked.

Moral of the story..wear it

Glad you came out of it ok man!

[ver4]

Jessie told me about this story and I'm glad you're okay.

[Adfalchius]

Thanks for the update.  Jessie and I have been thinking about you often- glad you're on the mend.   I gave him that headlight bucket, so it should be coming your way soon.  That x-ray is a wicked keepsake!!!  At least it's the only broken bone you suffered (was this the same finger you smashed?  That would be cruel of fate).  Will you be able to salvage your luggage rack?

Moral of the Story: If you plan a big ride and you drop the bike before you leave...go back to bed.

-K

[Elijafir]

Sorry to hear about your crash.  It's good you were geared up.  One of the first things a buddy of mine told me when I got my GS was "Stay Square, and Stay off the paint!"  I just thought he was messing with me until the other day when I took a corner a little too tight and almost lost it on the paint.  That stuff is SLICK!  Then your rubber catches asphalt again and tries to toss you.  Looks like you got tossed. 
It sucks you get the "insult on top of injury" of getting traffic tickets when you crash.. but, at least it's only two.  I'm sure if he really wanted to he could have thrown in some "Failure to Reduce and Control,"  "Careless Driving," "Speeding", etc ...  Hope you get better and back on two wheels soon.
Best Wishes.

[DoD#i]

I decided my next bike will have a fairing, a better seat, and more power.

Glad you got away with fairly minor damage (to you.)

Fairing and better seat you can do while putting this one back together.

Removable fairing if you don't want it on all the time.

I may sound a bit like a broken record on this point, but have you taken an MSF course? If not, do.

[BaltimoreGS]

Thanks for the write up Danny and I hope you heal quickly!

-Jessie

[O.C.D.]

And here I am all happy cause I just rode to work and then I read this?!

Sorry to hear about your mishap.  I am glad that you came out as you did.  Everything is replaceable and your gear looks like it all worked.  Lesson learned.

Thank you for sharing.

[Y2K6GS500F]

Wow! Glad your ok. Looks like it could have been much worse.  Hope you feel better soon.