After only riding for about a month now, finally had a good spill.

Will start off with, Why?
Unprofessional BS at work had me so ticked I wasnt 100%.

Got out of work (cant smoke on grounds)
So I go to pull over into this dirt parking area.
Noticed where the dirt started and the pavement ended but didnt see the nice patch of dirt on the last 5 yards of the pavement.

Slowing down on the street, go to turn in....
The Second my front tire hit the dirt I didnt see... WHOOSH! there she goes sideways.
Front tire slides left and bike lands on its right side.
Luckily half my body landed on the bike but my right arm landed in the gravel.
Nice gouge just above my elbow and rash from there all the way almost to my wrist (right arm)
No broken bonds but still hurtin like a sum prick!

Bike damage.
Handlebars bent on the right side.
Headlight metal slightly bent but fixable.
Scrapes on the front brake lever, muffler, both blinkers and outside cover of the right side crankcase cover. (need ANOTHER Suzuki sticker now!)
Muffler got knocked off the exhaust too but I was able to shove the pipe back in to get home.
Tank was full, some gas leaked out and ate some of the shoddy paint job (PO's work) on the right side.
and the center stand seems to have been bent to the left as it was even more in the way then usual under my left foot.

anymore then that I am not sure of.
Rode straight and fine otw home but rode it like an old lady the entire 45 min ride home.
After I replace the handlebars, plan to take it to the shop I got it inspected at and have them do a VERY thorough examination to see if there is any other damage I didnt see.

JUST got home 10 mins ago and still shaken up, in pain and even more ticked, so I havnt gone out and checked it very thoroughly.


and the rash is MY STUPID mistake.
Dont have a proper HOT weather riding jacket yet and its been HOTTTT here the past 3 days so I wasnt wearing my jacket.
THE VERY LAST TIME THAT HAPPENS!
So there is no need to point that out any further. haha
I will be buying one Before I ride again, unless its cool enough to wear my Thick leather bikers jacket.
If its too hot and I dont have one yet... no riding.

No pics, this Crap cost me my digital camera now too.
Was taking pics of the rash and so shaky I dropped the camera and now the lens is stuck in and wont come out.

Also, LOVEEEEE the stock blinkers <3
forget which one but one of them was bent Straight back along the bike (was certain it was broken)
Picked the bike up and both side blinkers were fine, just scraped.
So something that can bend like that and not break is damm good in my book.

Sorry to hear about your bad day.  Remember, there are three types of riders....welcome to the "Those that have been down" club.

- Porkchop

yep, thats out of the way now
Christened my bike with some blood too.

Havnt been riding cocky at all but def. a lesson learned.

That is, 100% attention and just as important.. a Clear head BEFORE even getting on the bike.

but WOW!
never had peroxide burn or hurt before.
WOW was I screaming when I dumped it on my rash! and laughing too for some odd sick reason.... 

Guess the local salvage yard will have some more business from me Saturday.
off Sat Sun Mon & Tues (supposed to be nice)
with the gf Sat and Sun so I HAD plans to ride all Mon & Tues so the salvage yard it is.
hopefully thats all thats needing to be replaced so I can keep my plans
also the reason I dont buy one online (shipping time)

Welcome to the club.

Quote from: Porkchop on June 01, 2011, 08:09:30 AM
Sorry to hear about your bad day.  Remember, there are three types of riders....welcome to the "Those that have been down" club.

- Porkchop

Three types?

Those who have been down
Those who haven't gone down yet
Third type 

@Tomb Can't help but wonder, if work doesn't allow smoking on the grounds, is this parking lot a regular visit where you have a burner before your ride home or was this a "first time cause I am pissed off" stop?

Michael

[/quote]



@Tomb Can't help but wonder, if work doesn't allow smoking on the grounds, is this parking lot a regular visit where you have a burner before your ride home or was this a "first time cause I am pissed off" stop?

Michael
[/quote]

bingo.
I wouldnt of been so ticked and blamed it on the BS at work if it was my regular routine.
I only stop in paved parking lots otw to and from work to light up.

This time was a, stop to relax before I explode.

Quote from: mister on June 01, 2011, 11:36:53 AM

Quote from: Porkchop on June 01, 2011, 08:09:30 AM
Sorry to hear about your bad day.  Remember, there are three types of riders....welcome to the "Those that have been down" club.

- Porkchop

Three types?

Those who have been down
Those who haven't gone down yet
Third type 

@Tomb Can't help but wonder, if work doesn't allow smoking on the grounds, is this parking lot a regular visit where you have a burner before your ride home or was this a "first time cause I am pissed off" stop?

Michael

Type One: Those who have been down.
Type Two: Those who going to go down.
Type Three: Those who are going down again.

- Porkchop

  glad you're ok!

Well, the nice gouge on my elbow has stopped throbbing.
All is good atm

WAS thinking of just trying to bend the handlebars back.
(the cheap @$$ in me) but screw that.

Just going to go check out how much stock bars are at the salvage yard and anything they have on the wall new for sale.

IF I buy brand new bars, what would I all need with them?
Probably going to get new grips as well + the glue.
(already read to keep the front brake resi up when replacing)

Dont have a clymer manual yet as I plan to buy it off someone from here ($ sent Friday if its still available) then wait for $ to get there and manual to be sent here.

Thanks

also, So glad I got actual riding gloves and didnt go cheap on some garbage.
https://www.leatherup.com/site/product?pid=51537 (not advertising!, just showin what I got)
padding below the thumb and bottom of ur hand area saved me from more rash
so its always good not to be a cheap @$$ (but knew I should have just sweated my butt off with my heavy leather jacket)

(edit)
found a different post on GS500 handlebar replacement that I couldnt when posting this.
so I need 7/8" handlebars?
and anti-vibration bar-ends?
is that it as far as the handlebars go?

Bike shop should sell dirt bike bars similar to the GS if you can't get any OEM ones. Shouldnt need glue for the grips they're a Buddha Loves You to get off so I wouldn't think you need glue to keep em on. To get the left grip off shimmy a screwdriver under the grip and spray dish washing detergent or wd40 then try and twist off. If you buy after market bars you may need to drill holes for the lugs on the controls also.

yeah Just found a detailed walkthrough +pics page on replacing the bars.

http://www.everydayriding.org/2010/06/gs500-handlebar-replacement.html

and noticed the drilling part.

Welcome to the club.

Glad to hear you're OK.

My first, and so far only spill, was on a CBR 125 during my training course last may. @ ~35 kph i leaned over the front wheel, looked straight down, and locked the front brakes.
Long story short, fractured wrist and bruised leg... wrist in a cast for 6 weeks. Retook course in sept, passed test, and have been riding ever since.

Good luck getting your bike back on the road!
Post some pics as you go if you get a chance

thanks
and all the other glad im ok's  

looked down over the front end?
Crazy! be grateful nothin worse happened!
thats one thing I'll never ever do! haha

I still have the horror memories of growing up and wrecking on a bicycle!
The last time I recall wrecking on one of those was slightly missing the entrance section of a parking lot and hit the curb.
Bike stopped dead, and away I went superman style right over the handlebars with the bike following me and the seat smacking me in the back of the head.
Cant even imagine the damage of that on a motorcycle!
So I steer clear of ANY situation where I can go over the bars! haha

Would have pics but as I stated above, was so shaky (not shaking but shaken up) when taking pics, I dropped my digital camera and now its broken.
So I gotta wait til Saturday when the gf comes down and use her phones camera (dont have one of those either, HATE cell phones!)

hopefully its just the handlebars to get me back on the road tho.

headlight has some dmg but works, just need a new bucket and the metal trim around the light.