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My first motorcycle accident.

6K views 82 replies 64 participants last post by  Sean Patrick 
#1 ·
On Satruday, as the rear wheel of my Speed Triple was straight over my head and I was looking down at the ground I knew I was about to hurt. I landed on my head and shoulder, and my bike landed on top of me. I was immobile as I struggled to breathe. At first everything hurt. It took a few moments to be able to focus on what was really hurting.

We started to make a pass of two slow moving cars. Just as we were accelerating into the pass we noticed the reason the cars were moving slow: an old gentleman on a scooter was directly in front of them and he was about to make a left hand turn. One of the cars was a crossover so we hadn't seen him. The rider in front of me stopped immediately. I hadn't place myself well and was directly behind him. I grabbed a hand full of front brake. As my Speed Triple did the stoppie I realized any other choice would have caused me to rear end my buddy or hit the old man on the scooter. All of that was going through my mind as I stared down at the ground. Well, and how the Hell I was going to explain this to my wife.

So, some hairline fractures in my ankle and several ribs and a separated shoulder will keep me down for a bit. Bruises and scrapes in other places as well. I definitely hurt. Alot. No doubt my riding gear prevented more severe injuries.

No riding for several weeks and the verdict is out on the bike. The insurance picks it up from the wrecker service tomorrow to deliver to Castle Motorsports in Nashville. I was taken away from the accident scene on a stretcher and never got a good look at the bike. I hope it is repairable!

I am a good rider, but obviously we all have more to learn. I am picking about my placement (lane position and distance) in a group ride in normal circumstances. Apparently not always when passing. That will be corrected.

So there you have it, my first motorcycle accident (I am 51 and have been riding since I was 27) and my first ambulance ride. I will be happy if it is another 51 years before that happens again.
 
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#3 ·
Sorry to hear of the Sean! Your skills at stopping and self-sacrifice limited the damage to only you and your bike. Be glad you weren't on your Rocket! You'd still be under that. :grin2: Hope you heal fast and that you can get your Speed Triple back on the road soon.
 
#5 ·
Nasty Sean

Oh dear, sorry to hear that Sean, I can relate to the shoulder injury too and also being very sore after a a stack like that.

Nasty, I always wonder at how everything seems like it's in slow motion when it happens in a blink, but your brain seems to record absolutely everything, site, sound, smell etc in milliseconds.

The important Sean thing is you are still here telling us the story and only one crash in that time in my opinion is pretty darn amazing if you ride a lot.

Not happy that you crashed, but real happy you are relatively ok, sort of!

Anyway heal quick mate , do what the medical types tell you about exercise when you can start to move more freely again.
Take care buddy.:smile2:
 
#6 · (Edited)
Sorry to hear Sean. A good riding record until now :( 5hi7 happens but i hope you mend quickly. We don't bounce like we used to when we were younger - pity that

Heal quickly
 
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#7 ·
Like Speedy Russ said, lucky it wasn't the Rocket III landing on top of you.

Heal up quickly and that's a good reminder to just be a little more patient out there.
Scared myself the other day by being in a rush but came through it in one piece.

Now you'll be able to forecast the weather with your shoulder.
We have rain coming in.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Sean, my friend, you have no idea how much your post distressed me.

We both know being injured and in pain is not a fun time. I have, however, learned to worry when injured and there is an absence off pain. When there is a lack of hurt I start checking to see if everything is still attached. Pain tells you the parts are still there. Won't say I have never had a M/C accident just that my unseen riding partner has protected me from injury for over forty years.

Your machine? Not something to worry about. It can be repaired or replaced. You cannot
be replaced and the Club needs your guidance (as does the daughter).

Just a thought if you were to pick-up the machine from Castle on a Saturday you almost go past the Opry. Let the Mrs go to the Mall for a bit of shopin and take in the Opry that evening. You know you probably scared the stuff outta her.

Speaking as a former Sidecar Instructor if you haven't taken a M/C Rider course take one. Well worth the cost of admission.

In our thoughts and prayers Godspeed.

K
 
#10 ·
I’m sorry to hear you had an accident, but it sounds like your experience kept it from being much worse.
Good luck with the healing process, both physically and mentally. Listen to the Doctors, and don’t try and do too much too soon.
And know that we’re all thinking about you and hoping for a speedy recovery.
And good luck with the bike, I know that hurts too!
 
#53 ·
I was raised in Jacksonville; lived there for 34 years. My only serious accident was in 1973 while still a HS student in the afternoons (yes, we had split sessions) and working mornings at a new car dealership on Cassatt Ave. I was riding through a residential area, with the right of way, when I saw a car approaching a controlled intersection at a higher than normal speed. I thought to myself: 'he will see me and stop at the sign'. I've never made that mistake again. Motorist stated he was 'late for work'. Bike was totaled, I went to St. Lukes with a concussion and bruising - I was lucky.
 
#11 ·
Sorry to hear of your accident and glad you are mostly ok and still here with us. Thank you for letting us know the circumstances as we can all (well at least me) from learn from what happened. Good luck in your recovery!
 
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#20 ·
Best wishes to you Sean. Hope you have a speedy and full recovery. As others have said, thanks for reminding us to keep these things in mind. The riding season here in New England is just getting started and we all may be a bit rusty both mentally and physically. Sorry to hear about your injuries. Keep us in the loop.
 
#25 ·
I had my first accident on May 6th on my 4 month old GSA. It’s totaled, I’m just waiting on a value from insurance so I can get a check and go buy another bike. Mine also took flight but fortunately it didn’t land on me and all I had to get were 9 stitches. Heal quickly, if you’re like me, you’re chomping at the bit to get back on s bike.
 
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