Sunday I went for an awesome 3 hr ride through the steepest, sharpest mountain roads I've ever been on (okay, I moved to WNC from FL, so most curves are steep and sharp). 6 miles from home, one curve did me in. Pretty scary moment for me... wondering as I tumbled over the ground if the bike was going to run me over. It didn't!  Got an ambulence ride to the ER, where I met my motorcycle group (they're nurses and docs, and all laughed with me after we assessed the injuries). My pride's not hurt -- accidents happen, speed was NOT a factor, and I knew I'd crash at some point. Could have been a lot worse. Helmet and road suit saved my life, as did that metal road sign that prevented me from going over the cliff.

Now I have to heal (left side of body banged and bruised; right side is crushed and mangled  ) and fix my bike. Front cowlings and left fairings are trashed. Rear body damage. Right side looks great. Left mirror and lights are gone. Big dent in tank. But would you believe -- frame and forks are 100% mint! Guess I didn't even need the frame sliders I've been waiting on! 

Can anyone recommend good websites to order body parts online? I'm riding a 2004 Suzuki GS500F (blue). Can't wait to try that curve again soon!!

-Angela

Glad you're alright! Were you awake for your ride to the hospital? I wasn't for mine, and I was confused as hell when I woke up in the ambulance. Kinda one of those, "What in the f%$k is going on he.... ohhhhhh" type moments. Can you get pictures of the bike and gear? I'd be interested in seeing how well it held up.

Glad you're still kickin' though.

I was in and out -- remember rolling, then woke up on the asphalt (screaming, mind you, until I realized help was there), then passed out again after giving full report to EMTs (I was a combat medic in Army, so training kicked in), and woke up again in the ambulence. Overall experience was good -- except for the rude Highway Patrolman (who ticketed me).

Will get pics soon... can't use my dominant hand, so difficult, but will try tomorrow. I'm quite pleased with my bike and can't wait to fix her up!! I think I'll leave the dent  in the gast tank and pant a reminder over it.  Hehee... 

Glad you're ok to laugh about it!

What happened in the corner?  Did you slide on something?

So sorry to hear of your crash, but glad you are well enough to tell us about it.

Where in WNC did you lose it? I am SC, about 90 minutes from NC-215 west of Brevard. That's one currrrvy road.

I'm in the medical biz also. I keep MRI scanners scanning.

Quote from: angrsand on March 07, 2006, 05:37:15 PMGuess I didn't even need the frame sliders I've been waiting on! 

Can anyone recommend good websites to order body parts online? I'm riding a 2004 Suzuki GS500F (blue).

Your best bet will be ebay. There are lots of 04+ parts often. You will be able to heal up and shop around at the same time.

New body parts will cost more than your hospital bill! 

Glad you had a good ride.  Too bad you crashed.  Glad you're alive, though!  Heal up well.  Do you know what you did wrong (the events leading up to the crash)?  Please, tell us what brand and model gear you were wearing.  Lucky on the condition of the bike.

I'm in Asheville... and we rode through Madison County, all the way to Erwin, TN, via Sam's Gap (7% grade and spiral curls) and lots of local back roads... 3 hours without problems.

What happened in the curve? Well... I'm a newbie.    Been riding only for a year, and NEVER on mountain roads. I was riding w/ a motorcycle safety trainer, who was giving me pointers. Stopped for coffee shortly before crash and he said I'm great, no worries, and started to plan our NEXT ride. Then this damned curve happened. Normal curve, no big deal... then at the end it just cut even sharper, blind. I ran off the road. Steep cliff (with trees, boulders and eventually a river down there) scared me.. and I... well... *sigh* I hit the brakes.     Tail spin, metal road sign, tumbling... good thing I was wearing my Shoei helmet and Aerostitch Roadcrafter jacket!! I should have had the pants on, which would have saved my knee. And I definitely need new boots -- as both big toes got jammed bad! NOTHING BROKE!!

Later my buddy tells me it was a "typical textbook mistake" and that I'm new fodder for his classes! Oh well!!   At least I'll remember what NOT to do next time... and it's a good thing I didn't get hurt a lot worse.

Yep, that would be textbook.  I know that delayed apexing would have helped to prevent that.  However, that's textbook knowledge.  I'm still trying to keep it going in a straight line myself.  I just slow way down for curves for now. 

whoa . ashville eh ? i use to live in canton . my mom and step did still live there glad your ok !

Glad you made it through relatively unscathed; hope you heal quickly. Keep us posted on your progress, and I hope you'll paint a Band-Aid on the tank, or maybe some stitches! Keep your spirits up and welcome, our new friend, to the show that never ends...

Glad you're ok....Why did you get ticketed?

Quote from: skoebl on March 07, 2006, 07:57:09 PM
Glad you're ok....Why did you get ticketed?

So the mistake was you jammed on the rear brake and locked the rear tire instead of leaning harder into the turn? I'm confused, a  new rider myself. Glad to see a fellow soldier. I comission next year.  Good luck on your recovery.

Glad to hear you made it though ok! 

Curious: why were you so certain you'd crash at some point?

Glad you're ok too.  I want to know why you got the ticket too.  Kinda strange that the cop would ticket something like that, unless someone tinkled in his coffee that morning.

Quote from: annguyen1981 on March 07, 2006, 08:53:54 PM
Glad you're ok too.  I want to know why you got the ticket too.  Kinda strange that the cop would ticket something like that, unless someone tinkled in his coffee that morning.

He was a High Po. High Pos are assholes.

Quotewho ticketed me

I have to ask, If speed wasnt an issue and you just undercut the turn,
what was the charge on the ticket? 

Quote from: Blueknyt on March 07, 2006, 09:02:32 PM

Quotewho ticketed me

I have to ask, If speed wasnt an issue and you just undercut the turn,
what was the charge on the ticket? 

Probably "Failure to maintain control of the vehicle". Like I said, high pos are dicks.

Hey Angela!  Glad to hear that everything (mostly) is alright.  Welcome to the club...  I just had my first 'incident' three weeks ago.  Almost the same thing- sharp corner, but no impending cliffs.  There was actually a newly tarred over pothole with gravel still on the surface, pretty much at the exit of the apex.  I saw that and lowered my speed to about 10 mph, but the back tire spun loose still and I ended up offroading before going down.  Nothing too major- scratched tank, fairings, turn signals, mirrors, bent handlebar, and cracked speedo bucket (hint, hint... if anyone has an extra).  Scuffed up my boots; leathers and gloves slightly scratched.  Helmet unscathed.  3rd time that this bike has been dropped that I know of.  (Once by the person we purchased it from and the previous time by my wife who fixated on an object.)  This is a great bike that takes a licking and keeps on ticking.  Get well and back on the saddle soon!

He's right, these bikes are tough as nails. I lowsided my '04 at the track at 50+ mph causing it to smash up quite a number of components, but it fired right up when I got it back into the pits. Be glad the frame and forks are okay! That stuff can get expeeennnnnnnssiiiiiiiive!