I went down today...

[byron555]

I went down today, going about 15-20mph... I know better, but was not thinking. I just went from my Shinko 705's to my Kenda Track-masters, trail riding tomorrow ... A BRAND new front knobbie... 1/4 mile into my errands on the new front, I took an in town left hand turn and leaned over a bit to far on the smooth concrete... Washed out the front end instantly went down...

I gear up differently depending on what I am doing... Errands = an open-faced Helmet and what ever I am wearing at the time. Today it was shorts, t-shirt and Keen sandals (damn warm weather)... In 18 years of riding, this was the first time I went down on the pavement like this. ( a couple of tip-overs, nothing else)


Scraped my elbow, knee and ankle on my left side, and ripped my shorts. More embarrassed than anything else... But you know what the lightest scrape on my fore arm hurts the worst.... Anyway, I know that new knobbies need to be broken in, and that I cannot lean the bike over as far with those tires on. Idiot me... The helmet has a knock and a scrape in it too... Bike only has a scrape on the plastic part of the bark buster...


excuse me while I ooze puss in my house

[Faunus2011]

Glad you and the bike are essentially OK!

But, you know you are gonna get eaten alive on here for admitting to riding in sandals? If you felt embarrassed earlier, brace yourself!

[byron555]

Originally Posted by Faunus2011

Glad you and the bike are essentially OK!

But, you know you are gonna get eaten alive on here for admitting to riding in sandals? If you felt embarrassed earlier, brace yourself!

Hey, the toes are covered (riding with open toe shoes creeps me out) that's one of the reasons I buy them... That makes them about as safe as cheep sneakers without socks.

I look at this wipe out as a friendly reminder on forethought when it comes to riding

[nwdub]

There is a reason they make mesh gear.

I hope you learned your lesson.

glad you're ok.

[Canuman]

A buddy of mine was commuting to work on his Guzzi wearing light dress shoes earlier this year. A car pushed him over into a storm drain. He ended up out of commission for the better part of two months with a nasty wound on his ankle and lower leg.

For short hops, about as light a shoe as I'll go is an old pair of lace-up work boots that cover four inches above the ankle. I had a 35 mph get-off two years back where I destroyed my riding pants, ate up my right boot, and zapped a hole through a glove. Except for a jammed thumb, I was uninjured. On the one hand, I wasted about $300 in gear on that spill. On the other hand, I didn't have to spend anything at the hospital. Mesh is far, far better than no protection at all, and is comfortable to wear. I'm actually cooler in high temps in my mesh than in a T-shirt. You can always throw a pair of sandals on the back and change if you have a lot of walking to do.

Glad you're OK.

[Yossarian™]

Beware the flesh eating bacteria.

[byron555]

Originally Posted by nwdub

There is a reason they make mesh gear.

I hope you learned your lesson.

glad you're ok.

I own a mesh coat... I look at it this way, scooter riders wear their regular clothes and on occasion, wear a helmet. When I am using my cycle like a scooter I do the same, except I always wear a helmet...

Today while trail riding I wore MX boots, MX pants, MX helmet, chest protector, gloves and goggles. Went down 4 times, no injuries, but I am going to be sore in the morning!

really dry and deep sand is a lot of work! And it has not gotten easier as I have gotten older.

[PT Rider]

New helmet time.

[NJ-Brett]

No way I will get on a bike in shorts.
Sandals seems about the same as shorts, really asking for it....

New Knobbies on the street in shorts and sandals just seems crazy!
Like motocross in a bathing suit with flip flops...what could go wrong?

[Bobblehead]

you know all the things you did wrong. I have gone down once without gear, I am never doing that again.

Shorts. Sandals. New knobbies.

[byron555]

I got my leg out from under the bike before it went down, and saw the pretty sparks from the foot-peg.... Wore that and the hand guard plastic down pretty good... Not to mention my Keens (covered toe sandals). The sandals are still wearable... The bike is fine and so am I.... I continued on with my errand run without issue.

I always wear a helmet... I've crashed many times in my life as a rider(all dirt prior), and I am always glad to have the helmet. It has saved me from harsh injuries...

Growing up as a dirt rider, all major injuries have been avoided by helmet use, at avg. dirt speed (35ish mph) it was my head that was going to take the brunt of the damage (bouncing down a trail, whatever)... road rash? well skateboarding, bmx type bikes, have given me way more rash than my MC... Of course when I head out of town on the MC, I GEAR UP! Town, where I live = 35 mph or LESS, yes you can get scraped up pretty bad at 35 mph.... but to run to the hardware store, I am not going to spend 15 minutes changing my clothes... Might as well take the "cage"... I will always take the 10 seconds to don a helmet though.

[Ironhead76]

i had a very similar crash about five months ago on my enduro going about 30 in a t-shirt and jeans. gotta say light halfway road rash is THE WORST!! i got some on my left forearm, that shit never scabs up right and then after it heals up it just looks like a fatty bruise. also its called face plant for a reason... the only scrapes on my helmet were right on the chinguard and vizor, so full face all the way bro!!

[John Bentall]

Originally Posted by byron555

I own a mesh coat... I look at it this way, scooter riders wear their regular clothes and on occasion, wear a helmet.

Are you in any way envious that many scooter riders wear regular clothes and, on occasion, a helmet?

I, for one, am not - indeed I pity them. Since I wear full gear 99% of the time, I feel really weird running an errand (defined as less than 2 miles each way) on my scooter without it.

Riding a cycle is different to riding a scooter because of the physical exertion.

John

[atgatt]

Originally Posted by NJ-Brett

No way I will get on a bike in shorts.
Sandals seems about the same as shorts, really asking for it....

New Knobbies on the street in shorts and sandals just seems crazy!
Like motocross in a bathing suit with flip flops...what could go wrong?

Agreed (well, look at my user name )... but to each his own. I recently bought some RevIt GTX Defender pants and did some research into abrasion tests. After seeing that normal blue jeans wear thru after skidding 3 feet (stich tests) my feeling is... hey... if you're going to wear just jeans... why not shorts? Not much difference as far as abrasion protection. I guess you will burn yor shins on the exhaust... but not much protection. Having said that I learned quite a bit about what protects best and came to the conclusion that:

1. There are tradeoffs/compromises we make with all safety gear. I have not yet been able to take the plunge but I have a new found respect for motoport users.
2. To each his own. I live near the NH state line and see guys with no helmet on a daily basis. It's your head!

ATGATT

[NJ-Brett]

I WILL use my bike for a quick run to the store, but always put jeans on.
I like riding, any chance I can get, because I love my bike, so I will take the time to put on pants.
I have burn scars on my legs from learning (over and over) to not go close to a hot bike with shorts on.
I will not even go around the block in shorts.

I almost never wear any gear other then a 3/4 helmet, but always wear good sturdy worn out sneakers and jeans with the helmet. 2 miles or a 9000 mile ride.
On long rides I do bring a jacket....