Triumphrat

DrEnglish

Well, my perfect record of not crashing is down the drain. I was on an organized group ride Saturday, and the guy in front of me decided to cut across my path at about 65 MPH because he was panicking and stood it up by braking hard in a long left hand sweeper.

So I had to jam the brakes to avoid a collision and wound up running off the road towards a g*d***** 100 foot cliff. Yep, I said 100 foot cliff. I kept the bike upright as long as possible while trying to slow down, but wound up being thrown off the bike, sliding toward the cliff on my back, and stopping about 10 feet from the edge when my head hit a rock.

The bonnie was not so lucky, and went over the edge. I recovered the bike with some help from other riders who climbed down, dragged the bike upright, and then pulled it back up with a nylon tow strap.

So the bike has a bunch of cosmetic damage, busted flyscreen, broken foot pegs and shifter, etc. But it was rideable with a few roadside repairs and appears to be functionally OK, as am I. I rode it all the way home last night, about 350 miles.

I have some bruises and soreness, a few scrapes, and a whole lot of rash on my clothes and helmet. The bike will need some work, but not so much that it's worth it to file a claim. I'll just fix 'er up and go.

Bike looks pretty tough, I'll post pics of bike and my gear soon. I suppose I'll fix the cosmetics, though it is all the way Mad Max at the moment.

I don't blame the guy who stood his bike up in front of me...I figure it's always the responsibility of the rider to deal with whatever the road throws at him...my bike, my crash.

Moral of the story, keep your eyes open, assume nothing except unpredictability, and wear your gear!

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So long, and thanks for all the fish!

sweatmachine

geez Dr E, my jaw literally dropped when I read the bike went over the edge.

Sorry man.

I'm installing rear sets this week and I'll have the stock footpegs if you want them. I'll donate them to you as condolences. I doubt the stock bonnie shifter will work, but if it will it's yours too.

Glad you're ok!

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"If you will it Dude, it is no dream"

904cc Custom Bonnie Cafe Fighter!

rodburner

Glad your ok.

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Ruining a perfectly good Bonnie since 2004.

bgaz

Glad you are ok.
I find group riding some of the most risky riding you can do.

A few years ago, a local celeb decided to ride cross country with some 'experienced' bikers.
They made it about 10 miles then it started to rain.
In the process of pulling over to don rain gear one of the other guys ran into him breaking his leg in like 20 places.

When riding behind anyone, I leave a lot of space, they could go down, lock the brakes up, etc.

I never ride close to anyone, and people who ride next to each other in a lane are asking for it.
I see that all the time...

Glad you made it without going over the cliff!

Brett

DrEnglish

Here is a link to the pics (fixed (I hope) after several report can't see the page):

over the edge

when prompted, PW is "bam"

and a few choice images:












[ This message was edited by: DrEnglish on 2007-04-30 07:12 ]

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So long, and thanks for all the fish!

itcha

Wow man,

Sounds like you did really well to prevent this situation becoming a tragedy. Glad to hear you are okay, that was one heck of a story. Hope you and the bike are back to 100% health very soon.

I'll be taking extra care on my next ride.

Colonel_Dorkus

Glad you're ok man. Seems like you came out of that pretty good considering. I can't believe you rode it home. Down a cliff and all. Prescribe yourself some meds Doc. You're going to be sore for a bit.

-Aaron

D9

HOLY ****!

Dr E... all I can say is... what a throwdown. You wore the
gear... sure sounds like it helped you survive, along with
that trusty rock that stopped your slide.

Even 10 feet is a looooong way down... 100 feet is way, way beyond hurt and well into almost certain oblivion.

You're incredibly lucky. Glad you're still with us... you're gonna feel like you're about 100 years old tomorrow, but that's a small price to pay for being able to ride home...

Cheers,

D9

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tba-golfer

Doc E

You take my breath away.
Glad you are well...
YIPES!

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"And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose."
A. E. Housman

Colonel_Dorkus

Oh, and welcome to the club. Fun isn't it.