[scbulldog]

Actually returned Wed. night, but am just now able to find time to tell you all of my interesting adventure. So my buddy and I head out of the Greenville,SC area early last Monday morning for some fun riding up in the smokies. A little over two hours into the trip we were blasting (my version of "blasting" is fairly aggressive...no knee dragging!) through a section of hwy 215 heading towards Waynesville, NC. We were coming out into a straight area when it happened... it felt like one second I was on the bike and the next I was off. Probably more like a three second deal. Was going about 35 at time (thankfully was slowing... a lot of thankfuls!) Went flying over the bike, did some rolling and sliding and for a moment had no idea what the outcome was for me or the bike. Thanks to a great helmet and some moderately good gear I ended up with just a little road rash and a broken bone in right hand (just found that out Friday, have to see hand specialist this week). My bike hit the asphalt pretty hard and slid for a good ways, was sure I would watch it being towed away. I will back up for a moment and tell you what caused the dismount...I honestly did not know. After I realized I was OK I went back to look at the "scene". I hit a bed of silty sand that I (or my buddy in front) never saw. With the shadows from trees just did not see, and try to always scan. The sand threw me off the road...hammered the abs brakes (which I believe kept me from t boning into a guard rail) jerked back on to road and over the top. My moto sliders did the job. The left slider was shaved down quite a bit, sheered off left foot peg, shifter, left grip extender, and a little cosmetic to fairing, etc. I "limped" in to Waynesville with no peg or shifter (thankfully was in third gear...guess I could have manually maneuvered if needed to). Found a shop and used a bolt for a shifter, used one of my passenger pegs for left peg, ate some lunch to calm down and rolled on. Glad I jumped back on the horse quickly, rolled through the dragon at a spirited pace the next day and was in my normal fairly aggressive mode that day and Wed. This is my first real street riding accident. Thankful it was at a moderate speed and thankful not too serious for me or the bike. Sorry so long of post, but hard to condense! Looking for some better mesh gear at the time! Have been searching site and net, open to suggestions. Stay safe!

Bulldog

 

[BMWK100]

Unbelievable that you were able to finish your ride! Glad you are OK and now you got me interested in getting sliders for my bike.

I read on a BMW forum that two guys in Texas ran over armadillo road kill in the wet and both crashed due to the slick nature of the armadillo. It was flat on the ground so neither of them ever saw it. Scary!

 

[TheNomad]

Yep. Been doing 215 since the mid 80's. I always respected it a lot.
There is always some fine gravel around and it's the same exact color as the road. Sometimes I go up there in the Vette, and the sound of fine gravel hitting the mufflers (which reside behind the back wheels) is non stop. I don't see it, but I hear it. I think 276 is less tricky. 178 is cool, but the squids have brought the cops...

Hope the hand gets better and PM me if you need help moving the bike to the dealer for repairs. I have a small trailer that works OK.

MD

 

[scbulldog]

Thanks for the offer Nomad...

Thankfully I am able to ride the bike. Have already started the insurance process, will ride it over for repairs...seriously appreciate the kind offer.

 

[DaveM]

I am glad you were not seriously hurt scbulldog.

I have had rather a lot of offs on the road but the last one was about 8 years ago.

It is never fun whether it is a car that ran a stop sign you Tee bone or you make a silly mistake yourself.

I hope they can fix your hand up all good and the insurance company looks after you.

There is not much you could have done to avoid sand on the road if you cannot see it.

Good luck
DaveM