QuoteBravo Jen. Everybody makes mistakes and, luckily, this woman's mistake didn't get someone killed. I'll bet it's a long time before she ever makes that same mistake again. I'm sure it's playing over in her head also. Now, if she had done it on purpose... Love the little twin and this forum.

I give her two weeks after the end of the court stuff to do something really stupid again.

Dav, you're as cynical as Bebe...she said the same thing. Ok, place yer bets ever'body. Love the GS and I like this forum too.

C......

it's human nature to forget that kind of thing after a fortnight or so.   if we are lucky she will be in like a fast food drive through and realize she is rolling foward and rear ends the idiot in front of her, and that fattie is too close to the wall to get out of his car and goes on a subway diet.   therefore starting a new diet craze that rocks the nation.  all because of you getting hit on your moto-scooter.

Stephen,I hope you understand where this is coming from. If you really enjoyed riding before, the desire will return. My dad for instance rode his ST 1300 from Rose Bud, AR up to Alaska this past summer. Had a great time except for a lot of forest fire smoke that ruined the view most of the time. Anyway, not two weeks back home he was almost done in by a guy pulling out from the right and turning left in front of him. Dad was beside a big SUV that was turning right at the intersection. The guy couldn't see Dad so just pulled out because the SUV had his signal on,(unheard of around here, how about where you are from?) All of a sudden there is a car in front of him. Grabbed all the brakes he had and went down on the left side. He hit the road pretty hard. Tore everything loose from his shoulder blade. It hangs rather funny now below a sticking up collar bone. Nothing they can do about it!! He spent a couple days in the hospital and it hurt bad for a while. He still hasn't and probably won't get all of his strength back in his grip. It happened on a Monday and on Friday he hopped up on his KLR 650 and rode to Quitman for a Church fish fry. He is 67 yrs old this year! He wants to try a 48 state ride this summer!! Just can't figure out the route yet I guess or when would be the best time to try.
  The damage was $4,000 to the machine, mostly plastic. Helmet and leather jacket saved his skin. Just a little rash where his shirt grabbed the flesh on impact.
  I have been run off the road twice in one morning, been pulled out in front of numerous times, high sided in a panic stop when two pickups pulled out like they were glued together. The first one was no problem but the second should have waited. When we all came to a stop I opened my eyes to look up at the bottom of his front bumper with his front tire almost touching my helmet!! Scary indeed. The first guy called the police on his radio. It was cold out so I was really covered up. No injury to me and only accessory damage to the bike which he paid me for in cash after I got prices. Many, many, many close calls. The point is I still go outside, drive (well, ride again now that I once again have a bike) to work where I use punch presses, press brakes, spot welders, operate mig welders, plasma torches, and sundry power tools. I could get maimed badly at work at any time if I wasn't careful or properly trained or wearing the proper protective equipment. I get the odd cut now and again, smash my fingers or thumb with a hammer etc., but I still need to go to support my wife and six kids. You do what you have to do and a lot of what you want to do. I hope you will want to ride again. Nothing better for me than a ride home after work to make it all better. Now after reading most of this before going to sleep and then waking up wondering where you are I hope you get better soon and get back after it. KEEP THE GEAR ON!!!

Quote from: Stephen072774it was my turn to go down last Saturday.  

what a bummer dude... heal well bro  

Woweee ... scareeeee ... Glad you're OK, rashed and bruised ... but OK.
Bike ... yea can be replaced ... pretty much contrary to what some people think ... its a mass of metal and plastic and rubber and other material.
Cool.
Srinath.

A real eye opener for noobz like myself.  Today was the first day I rode a few miles without my leather... Suddenly this gives me a totally new perspective on  riding.

Get well...

Jonah

Thanks for all your well wishes... I knew that telling you guys and gals would make me feel better.  You can imagine what all the non-biker folks I work with are saying... its nice to hear from people that understand.  I'm gonna be fine, and tho I'll be bikeless a while, I'll be around here, with a smile on my face :mrgreen: .

Well glad that you are still alive, and sorry to hear about your bike.  Hope you heal quickly.

wow, sorry to hear man...i'm glad that you made out as well as you did, get better soon...


- alex

Stephen,

I can totally relate to your feelings regarding making that call to your wife. My heart was pounding when I read that. The emotion of your experience reminded me of a story.

When I was a teenager I got into a rollover accident in my mom's van. I was driving and had a friend in the car with me. We were going too fast (not wrecklessly, but too fast) and I hit something (I think it was a large pothole, or a big broken chunk of asphalt, but I can't remember which) as I was going (too fast) into a sharp right hand curve. (the curve sign was obscured, and I didn't notice it coming up) The van fishtailed, and I couldn't get it back under control. It spun ~90 degrees and started going over.

As the car started spinning,  my friend had his window down and his arm and palm resting on the widowsill. When the van started to roll he braced himself by gripping the sill harder, and the van came over and crushed his knuckles into oblivion. I remember the feeling of the van rolling and my head hitting the headliner. I closed my eyes at that point and everything went muffled.

When I came to, I was dangling from my seatbelt. I looked over at my friend. He was clutching his right arm by the wrist below what was left of his right hand, and he was staring at me with this panicked expression. The sound kind of faded in a few seconds afterward, and I realized he was screaming. Screaming and staring at me. I climbed out of the car and ran to the nearest house for help. an ambulance came and my mom (who's pretty nervous to begin with) met us at the hospital.

A few things have stuck with me from that:
1) The look on my friend's face as he was clutching his mangled hand, staring at me and screaming.
2) The look on my mom's face when they gurneyed me into the ER.

Needless to say, That accident comes to my mind when I'm riding. I never want to see another loved one looking over me with that expression on their face, and even more so,  I never want to see another person I hold dear get hurt in a situation where I was controlling the vehicle. I don't think I could ever forgive myself. Tahera (my wife) has gone for rides with me and she's enjoyed it, but I've gotta say the sense of responsibility in those situations is just awesome. The thought of her getting hurt really is more than I can bear. It's bad enough when I relate a near miss to her.

I'm glad that it was you making the phone call. I'm glad your wife wasn't riding with you. I'm really really glad.  Even if she didn't get hurt, it would've been something I'm sure that would weigh very heavily on you.

Heal up quick, and thanks for the lesson to all of us. I know I'll think of it the next time I'm riding on a backroad somewhere.

Regards,
Riz

IF there is anything I can do let me know, even if it's just more prayer, good luck with healing and I'm glad you're still with us!

What struck me while reading your story was your positive attitude.  You mentioned you probably will be back on a bike sometime in the future, you were glad about your gear working, and although saddened by the GS, were thinking of an F model to replace it.

Glad to hear you will be alright, and I hope you get what you need out of the driver.  As said before, hug your wife!

Just read this

I'm glad you are okay and all of my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Take care, Stephen.

I dont personaly think (Most) cagers set out to kill those of us on bikes. The problem is, most cagers who do cause the accidents with bikes are so complacant (sp?) and allow themselves to become distracted from the enviroment.  this i find very stupid, mistakes happen but i have a very hard time forgiving STUPID Mistakes.  not paying attention to what is around you while operating a heavy machine is stupid. not much differnt from fireing a gun at a target without know whats behind it.  Or ligting a smoke while pumping fuel.   Runing a stopsign..........

glad you are (mostly) ok.  heal well.

everything else -- the bike, the insurance, the lady -- is secondary, really.

edit: oh yeah.  those paramedics should be put in front of a wall and f%$king shot.  goddamn assholes trying to get out of doing their jobs at the expense of your health.

Quote from: crashoh yeah.  those paramedics should be put in front of a wall and f%$king  shot.   goddamn assholes trying to get out of doing their jobs at the expense of your health.

Hey "crash" those are some insightful and intelligent comments you have made!

I have been a professional firefighter for 27 years and the department that I work for also provides paramedic service.  

There are rules and regulations that dictate where the paramedics can transport patients.  They are not at liberty to just transport to any community that they wish.

If you reread "Stephen072774's" account of the accident it is clear that he was not seriously injured.  He even made time to go home first and change into shorts before going to the hospital.  The paramedics offered to transport him to the hospital  they were required to go to but he wanted to go to an emergency room of his choice.

Quote from: stephenThe ambulance finally got there and they checked me out. They then asked what I wanted to do. Said they could transport me, but they came from a different town and I wanted to go to the Winfield ER. So they told me to have my wife drive me, but that I definitely needed to go the ER to get checked out. So I had my wife carry home and I changed into a pair of shorts before I went to the ER.

I am personally offended by your profane, ignorant and offensive remarks, and I do not think the majority of the membership of this forum appreciates them either!



Bob


_________________

You are one lucky dude! Heal up fast and good luck with everything!  

Accident scenario is similar to the Janklow incident.

I'm on the highway every day and am in the habit of easing off the throttle a bit and covering the brake at intersections when vehicles are present--moving or not.   Definitely pays to be a defensive driving obsessive-compulsive when motorcycling.