I've been browsing since I began putting my GS together a month or so ago. It's my first cycle. I've been into cars a great deal, but they lack at times. I don't have much to say, so I'll post something informative..

Here it is, a gear review..

I wasn't so lucky yesterday. (well okay, I was) I do acknowledge everything that happened as my fault and stupid to say the least. Anyhow, I began merging into traffic after entering the ramp. Of course I checked for any oncoming cars since I did not have much a merge lane to use on this particular ramp. Long story short, I looked too long and began to daze off and ended up too far over on the ramp. I had one of two choices: Either try to cut back very hard and risk hitting/jumping the median into traffic, or attempt to come up and stop. Due to my lack of experience,  I hit the brakes hard before I was upright again and naturally I locked 'em up and the bike slid out from under me.. I slid for about 20-30ft doing roughly 30mph. I'm guessing on these numbers. I did manage to slow before I hit, but I know I was doing about 60 before I went onto the ramp. When I went down, I slid on my back/elbows most of the way and then I either tried to get up while still moving (to avoid getting hit), or I just rolled over to my knees. At that point, I was still going fast enough to bruise my knees and shave some skin off, which didn't take long at all. When I finally stopped, I got right up and walked to the bike which had hit the cement curb. Apparently the starter was trashed so I was stranded until my buddy came back around... One guy asked if I needed help from the other side of the road and I told him to come over, not knowing if I was injured or not. A nurse also stopped to assist me......

Okay, tired of typing now. We rolled the bike down the street and headed out. I got some minor rash and bruises on my knees.  Here's the review part..

I was wearing:

HJC Symax: The helmet never hit anything. I kept on my elbows/back shoulders and lifted my legs and head up a bit.

Super Ego Jacket: Had the chest/back open (mesh). There was slight wear on the elbow/forearm area. Didn't see a spec on the mesh. Armor did it's job, I'm not even bruised.

JR Sonic Gloves: Looks like these rubbed a little on the left hand. Stiching came out under the pinky on the palm. I could have snagged on something, but that's unlikely. Nonetheless, my hands are still perfect though I have a mysterious blood blister on my left index finger.

Other: I was wearing street shoes and blue jeans. Blue jeans tore within a second of hitting the ground. Good thing I managed to roll over again. The skin on my right knee was fused with denim and tar.  I'll wear the pants next time. (I would have walked away unscaved otherwise)

Lessons...

I shouldn't have been riding where I was. My buddy admits that he shouldn't have taken me out that way..

Look through the turn. I knew this, but didn't listen to myself.

Wear gear. Everyone makes mistakes.  

Don't brake when leaning.. This is an obvious one. I suppose I ran out of options and didn't know what else to do.

Scrubbing is fun..

Time to fix the bike and go out again..  

Good to hear you made it through okay.  

And all this time I've been changing into my jeans just to go riding   I think I'll get some motorcycle pants next paycheck...

woah you live in westminster. thats pretty cool, i live like 5 miles straight behind target in westminster but my bike has been down since like may of this year but is set to go into the shop next week finally. maybe when its fixed we can go riding. oh and wow, sorry to hear about your accident but glad your ok. i have a few extra parts if you broke anything like handle bars mirrors or stuff like that.
shane

Glad to hear you're OK.  I hope getting the rash on your knee cleaned out isn't too painful, and that you can get the bike back up and running quickly.  The search feature here can pull up a ton of useful information for you if you need some pointers on anything.  Let us know how it goes, and don't be afraid to ask if you need any help or advice.

Quote from: my00forestwoah you live in westminster. thats pretty cool, i live like 5 miles straight behind target in westminster but my bike has been down since like may of this year but is set to go into the shop next week finally. maybe when its fixed we can go riding. oh and wow, sorry to hear about your accident but glad your ok. i have a few extra parts if you broke anything like handle bars mirrors or stuff like that.
shane

Cool!  Yea, I'm doing fine right now and my knee is finally starting to look normal in terms of size again, lol. The jacket really did save my ass though.

I'm pretty much at the 482/27 intersection. I'll have to get the bike back home to see what I need. It faired pretty well, but the curb took out the tach/headlight glass. I would have ridden home, but I'm fairly cerain the starter is done for. I just finished putting everything back together too! (Bought the bike from a friend who had managed to snap a valve.) Hopefully I'll have everything done next week along with the valve adjustment, it's tapping at idle.

Anyhow, if you need a hand with anything let me know. I've taken the motor apart a number of times and I'm starting to know my way around it pretty good.

Quote from: leoGood to hear you made it through okay.

Thanks! Last summer I flipped on the Yammy and couldn't walk for a few days. I injured the other knee this time, but thankfully it's just bruised I can walk on it.

Quote from: NarcissusAnd all this time I've been changing into my jeans just to go riding  I think I'll get some motorcycle pants next paycheck...

I can only imagine if I hit harder on the knees!   Jacket saved my arse tho.  :mrgreen:

Quote from: JazzzzzGlad to hear you're OK.  I hope getting the rash on your knee cleaned out isn't too painful, and that you can get the bike back up and running quickly.  The search feature here can pull up a ton of useful information for you if you need some pointers on anything.  Let us know how it goes, and don't be afraid to ask if you need any help or advice.

Thanks! Except for the knees, everything is 100%. Rash is doing well too, not as bad as I thought as it looked worse with the swelling. Stung like hell yesterday, but today it's feelin' much better.  

I've already found a ton of info on here, and plan to find much more.  

Glad to hear you're alright! Take care of that road rash though, and be sure to apply anti-bacterial ointment to it and keep it clean. Depending on how bad it is, you might have a significant chunk of scar tissue there after it's all healed up. That might also be coupled with some nerve loss around the area. You can lessen these chances by keeping your wound clean and making sure it doesn't get infected.

(The scar tissue and nerve damage is what happened to my finger when I went down, even with thorough cleaning. Just stay safe! )

Quote from: AlphaFire X5Glad to hear you're alright! Take care of that road rash though, and be sure to apply anti-bacterial ointment to it and keep it clean. Depending on how bad it is, you might have a significant chunk of scar tissue there after it's all healed up. That might also be coupled with some nerve loss around the area. You can lessen these chances by keeping your wound clean and making sure it doesn't get infected.

(The scar tissue and nerve damage is what happened to my finger when I went down, even with thorough cleaning. Just stay safe! )

Thank you. Seems like I already have a bit of nerve damage on the right knee. I noticed this when cleaning the deeper stuff didn't, well, have any feeling.  Could be the Neosporin.. Of course this makes cleaning easier (sarcasm), lots of nasty little scrapes in there. It's looking a lot better today. Like I said, I think the swelling exaggerated it a little bit. I'll snap some pics if I get around to it.  I'll be wearing pants next time and I'll be out soon, the weather is too nice to pass up!  :mrgreen:

If it's very bad, it might take 3 weeks or more to fully heal. Keep it wrapped, too, and change the bandages regularly. The nerve damage can be kind of cool though. You can poke it with sharp things and freak people out! :lol:

Quote from: AlphaFire X5If it's very bad, it might take 3 weeks or more to fully heal. Keep it wrapped, too, and change the bandages regularly. The nerve damage can be kind of cool though. You can poke it with sharp things and freak people out! :lol:

Oh, I'm just waiting for the jokes.... "Sooo, uhh, what happened to your knees? Heheh."

Good to hear you're alright.

I wonder why people tend to gear up the top half of their bodies and then ride around in jeans and tennis sneakers? Seems like every week someone comes here and posts something like

QuoteJust got a new GS500! Got myself a good helmet, warm and cold weather jackets, waterproof gloves, and some Sidi boots. Just bluejeasn for now though.

I know I've read in more than one place that most motorcycle injuries are to the legs and feet; shouldn't it be batter to wear leather pants and a T-shirt? (On the other hand, maybe then the figures would be flipped.)

Anyway, hopefully threads like this will open some eyes and save some folks from road rash.

Quote from: miloGood to hear you're alright.

I wonder why people tend to gear up the top half of their bodies and then ride around in jeans and tennis sneakers? Seems like every week someone comes here and posts something like ...
I know I've read in more than one place that most motorcycle injuries are to the legs and feet; shouldn't it be batter to wear leather pants and a T-shirt? (On the other hand, maybe then the figures would be flipped.)

Anyway, hopefully threads like this will open some eyes and save some folks from road rash.

Probably because most people are conditioned to protect their torso and head where most of their vital organs are.  Limb sprains and fractures hurt and can be pretty threatening if severe enough, but similar injures to the chest, torso, or abdomen (ribs, back kidneys, spine, etc)  are much more likely to cause very serious harm or be fatal.

That being said, I have been riding in jeans *even though* I know from rollerblading that they offer zero protection from any sort of meeting with the pavement (even at 5-10mph).  I had been waiting for a closeout deal on pants, but reading the orginal post has changed my mind about waiting on a good price before I get some.

I am sorry for his injury, but I am just as disturbed by the judgement his more experienced rider/friend demonstrated by allowing him to be put in the situation prematurely (by taking him to a spot he wasn't ready for, by his own admission).  If the original poster hasn't taken MSF, then i suggest not climbing back on the bike until he's completed it.

Glad to hear your ok just checking in here from New Windsor area. One of the best things I have done is taking the MSF. They have it a CC Collage. Should check it out

See ya around

Joe

<sniff>  i miss my supra.  i had a 95tt.  i'm in laurel, but i used to work up in westminster.  you ever go to any of the local supra meets?  we may have met.

Quote from: jiggersplat<sniff>  i miss my supra.  i had a 95tt.  i'm in laurel, but i used to work up in westminster.  you ever go to any of the local supra meets?  we may have met.

I thought the name looked familiar, and sure enough..

I usually go to the Black Falls meets, used to go to the Chilli's meets in Gaithersburg, but lately I haven't been out much. My car has been down for over a year due to a lot of things. (turbo was stolen, people who didn't want to work on my car, etc.. ) Then engine is sitting in the basement with me and I'm about to order another set of stockers to get this thing back on the road.. I can't believe that I didn't get to drive it all summer.    

Anyhow here's a pic..