Rider down in Orlando.

[John Schmidt]

Just had a call from the hospital from a friend, Steve, that crashed his I/S, broken ribs and left shoulder blade. Also, a nasty scrape on his helmet most of the way around it about 1.5" wide. Said it makes a believer out of him re. wearing a helmet at all times, doesn't feel he'd be with us had it not been for the helmet. My feelings about helmets: some say they're too inconvenient, I say they're not as inconvenient as a wheel chair.

That said, he explained he didn't hit anything and nothing hit him. He was riding along Saturday afternoon on a country road east of town when suddenly it just threw him to the side and off the road before he could recover. I asked if it felt like he had hit a trough, which he seemed to agree with. I explained a lot of country roads aren't paved as heavily as a major six lane, and in that area with new construction you get a lot of heavy truck traffic. That creates two troughs on each side of the road where the wheels run all the time. My guess that's what caught him. The guy in the house near the accident was able to ride the bike to his yard with no problem, said it appears to be cosmetic mostly. Steve has asked if I would go check it out and if roadable, take it to his house. Since I don't know if anything is structurally wrong, I think I'll just hook up my trailer and go get it....I'd feel safer.

Keep Steve in your thoughts, broken ribs and scapula are painful injuries. He's a fairly new participant on the Fla. board, hate to see this happen to a fine person. I've done some recent work on his bike and it's in good shape, about 17k on it.

[RiderNJ]

Certainly not great news but it sounds like it could have been alot worse.
Prayers and best wishes for a full and speedy recovery from NJ.
RiderNJ

[Grumpy]

Real sorry to hear that, I know from experience, crashing sicks .I totally agree on the helmet, saved my bacon when I went down on I-4. We Will keep him in our prayers. Hope he has a speedy recovery.

[PharmBoy]

Tell Steve that I'm pulling for a swift recovery.  Although, mighty painful these two injuries usually heal up good as new.  I'm in total agreement on the helmet.  Sure saved my noggin in Ft. Worth.  As for dirt roads, I'll go 30 miles out of the way to keep from riding on one.  Besides, that is just that many more miles of riding enjoyment...JTL

[Michael K (Az.)]

Sorry to hear John. Glad it wasn't worse for sure!!
Always said that if I start thinkin with my knees and elbows, I'll start wearin knee and elbow pads.

[John Schmidt]

Just tried to load a couple pictures of his helmet but there seems to be a problem. I just got back from getting his bike and riding it back to his house. Looks like the left bag and radiator pod are history. The left end of the fairing is rough but I think can be repaired. A number of other areas will need attention as well, the headlight garnish is pretty beat up, front fender it scratched with minor dents so can be used. Will need a new windsheild as well, not broken but badly scratched up. Trunk is dinged pretty good but structurally is OK from what I can tell. With broken ribs and shoulder blade, he'll not be riding for a while. Also has an assortment of road rash. Where he crashed is a bad spot, there's been a handful of bike accidents there in recent weeks, one death I understand. The road is wide open and suddenly makes a slight jog...only a few feet, then straightens out again. I didn't see any warning signs there, apparently riders come down that stretch at speed and don't see the slight jog until it's too late. It's a bad spot just made for accidents. Recently a guy on a new Wing came through and missed the turns, hit the ditch and snapped off the forks clean, he was found 75 ft. farther down the road.

[Chrisj CMA]

Get well soon........The bikes tend to do better than the people..........I too became a believer in full face helmets

[Dougger]

John,
What road was it?

[John Schmidt]

John,
What road was it?

It's on the far east side of Orlando where Lake Pickett Rd. dead ends on Ft. Christmas road. About 200+ yds. north of that intersection is where the little jog in the road is, the local maps don't show it but it's there. As I recall, Ft. Christmas Rd. winds south and comes out in the town of Christmas on SR50 by that perennial Christmas tree on the north side of the road. Going north, Ft. Christmas Rd. ends on the south side of Chuluota near 419. It's a fast country road, heavily traveled as a north/south short cut. And, all of them are two-lane only.

[highcountry]

Will keep Steve in our thoughts for a speedy recovery.

[Dougger]

Know the road well. We travel it all the time coming from the Titusville area. It has a lot of funny curves there

[R J]

Thoughts & prayers coming from Iowa as we speak.

[croaker]

That spot sounds like a very real death trap.  Might save someone's life if local folks were willing to press the county to put up a warning sign of some type.  Hate the thought of good people on nice rides subject to more danger than needs be.  Heal up, Steve!