Triumphrat

Dedmon · 12-19-2004

Yesterday heading home from a short ride a car turned into me. I hit the right fender of his OBPS (the first three letters are Old Beat-up Piece you can figure out the rest). I went across the hood and landed ten feet on the other side. That is where the EMT's found me (Swearing in a very ungentlemanly way). I am thankful that I was wearing an armored jacket and good helmet. My only injuries were a broken foot and a big laceration on my knee. Not too bad all things considered.

The Adventurer is a total. The last time I saw her she was propping up the front of the OBPS. I guess the next couple of weeks will give me time to figure out what to replace her with. Me thinks a Speedmaster.

Everyone have a happy holiday and keep the chrome bits up.
Take care,
Jim

mecscc · 12-19-2004

Boy, Jim. Sounds like it was bad enough, but glad you aren't hurt worse. Doesn't make for the best of holidays, but hopefully you will be mended by the time the warm riding season comes around. As you have already figured out, you can get another bike, but can't get another you!

Did they ticket the genius that nailed you?

God bless,

Monte

legend · 12-19-2004

Jim,

I am sorry to read about your accident. The good thing is that the EMT'S found you in good enough shape that you were talking. ( I think you said "swearing", but that's about the same.)

I've been in your situation (that's another story about a mechanic that didn't make sure the front caliper bolts were tight) and I know how frustrating the whole situation can be.

But I realized a few days later how fortunate things really turned out.

How fast were you going when this happened? Did the other driver try to blame You?

Again we are all glad you are safe.

Merry Christmas and have fun looking for your new ride.

Mark

Dedmon · 12-19-2004

Mark,
I was slowing down to take a left turn. Probably doing 30 or so at impact. My sister asked if my life flashed in front of my eyes and I said no all I could see was car.

Monte,
I don't know if he was ticketed. I was kind of busy :-D . I have to call and get the police report. I have a tremendous fear that he is uninsured... Wouldn't that be lovely?!?!

Jim

bobshields55 · 12-19-2004

Jim

So good that you are OK. And I sure hope he is not one of the uninsured, it happens far too often.

Heal quickly friend and enjoy the Holiday Season and have fun choosing your new ride.

Had a good ride on mine today as it was sunny and above freezing. Kept the speed down as the roads were wet and luckily for me I didn't have your misfortune.

Bob

Shawn · 12-19-2004

It's good to hear that you are still with us, and that the protection you were wearing helped. Take lots of vitamins and allow your foot enough time to heal.

Although we shouldn't put too much focus on the bikes that don't make it from an accident, I have to admit to a small bit of anguish due to the loss of an already rare bike.

When you get your next Triumph, maybe you'll take it over into Arkansas and join us sometime.

sgrow · 12-20-2004

Hey Dedmon, I had the same thing - well almost the same thing - happen to me about 6 weeks ago. Luckily I was going about 30 mph after slowing down from 45 mph. Girl (as I've already stated elsewhere on this forum, sorry

pulled out from a median to a cross road (terminology?) and I laid the bike down to avoid hitting her, which I was successful in doing thank goodness. Wonderful thing about the Thunderbird is, assuming you turn the steering wheel in instead of out, the handlebars take the majority of the blow along with the mufflers, brake/shift levers/foot pegs, and of course turn signals.

But the tank and the engine chrome - spotless! It's like the movie "Christine" where that car goes and fixes itself in minutes after being smashed and torched. I guess the orange fins on the tank don't help in that regard

Back to the topic, what was the topic? Oh yeah

You. You get well and don't feel bad for going after the guy who caused all this. (We get up off the pavement and just feel lucky to be alive. We could care less about who's got insurance or who's *gonna pay*

) In my case, I had a motorcyclist behind me who saw everything. What better witness!

Take it slow,

sgrow
P.S. But would I have been showing off if that motorcyclist wasn't there?

[ This message was edited by: sgrow on 2004-12-20 00:43 ]

cafetbird · 12-20-2004

sgrow:

I am not saying this to be critical, but for the benefit of others - we need to get over the reflex with modern bikes to "lay the bike down" to avoid an accident. It is a fallacy of older equipment - and others don't need to be thinking this is the thing to do! People used to need to lay the bikes down with the old dual leading shoe set up, but no longer.

With modern braking and technology, you will almost always stop faster by applying the brakes than you will by scraping metal down the road. It is sort of the modern brakes vs. the Fred Flinstone concept - pretty logical if you think about it. Brakes and rubber were made to stop quickly = metal was not.

This is one of the biggest reasons that we should all take an advanced MSF or track safety course - to "train our brain" to ovecome our instincts. When riding bikes, the brain is the worst enemy, not the cage driver. Not braking in corners, countersteering, proper braking, looking through the turn, target fixation - these are all things that are counterlogical to the brain that we have to train ourselves to overcome!

Ride safe out there, folks! :-)

[ This message was edited by: cafetbird on 2004-12-20 06:05 ]

sgrow · 12-20-2004

CafeTbird,

I didn't mean to imply that laying a bike down is the way to go. But certainly there are situations where doing so is advantageous. First, hitting something while upright more often than not causes you to fly through the air after impact, hitting the ground or another object, increasing the possibility of broken bones and spinal injury. The girl that pulled out in front of me was in a SUV, and had I not lowered my profile, I would have clipped her rear bumper with my front tire, and might've gotten tangled up in the mess.

sgrow

cafetbird · 12-20-2004

I understand what you are saying.... but it concerns me that it is still a popular misconception that "laying the bike down" is a suitable option to better braking.

Everyone that rides infrequently should go out to an empty lot and practice covering your binders and breaking as hard as you can. These bikes will stop very well... unlike the "real" classics!

Glad you are O.K., by the way.

[ This message was edited by: cafetbird on 2004-12-20 14:14 ]