Got whacked this week

[Rocketman]

Not like in Goodfellas, but like in the "teenager didn't pay attention to where she was going".
I slowed to a stop to wait for traffic to clear so I could turn left.  I heard a squeal of brakes, then a crunch.  It actually took a moment for me to realize that it was happening to me, but there I was, being propelled forward.  

All in all, it could have been worse.  All the painted parts in the back (fender, trunk, saddlebags) are bent or cracked up (pretty much trash).  The bag/trunk rails are bent up.  The left side exhaust is deformed.  I didn't notice until today that the tank nose has a dent in it (I'm not even sure how that happened, the only thing that could have hit the tank there would be my body.  I'll leave ya'll to speculate on what that means.)
That covers the important damage.  The unimportant damage (Don't argue this with me.  I'll heal, the Valkyrie won't!):  I'm generally OK.  I was sore for a little while, but that's gone away after a day or two.  My knee got twisted up.  I generally came out pretty well.

I guess two collisions (plus one single-vehicle spill) in 23 years of riding isn't too bad.  Both of the collisions happened as I was slowing down to turn left and a driver behind me not seeing me.  The first one, I saw her in my mirror and managed to avoid much more than a grazing swipe.  This one, I was watching cross traffic for my opportunity to go, so I didn't see her coming.  As such, it's 100% legally her fault, but I missed an opportunity to do something to help the situation.
The teenager driving the other car was completely freaking out and crying.  She took full responsibility, and her parents arrived and took care of insurance/etc.  I hope the kid learned something.  If I took a minor hit, and she becomes a better driver or watches for motorcycles... well, it's not worth it, but it'll at least have SOME positive spin on it!

So, what are the next steps?  I have knee surgery scheduled for Friday.  Should be a fairly quick recovery.
Insurance has given me a preliminary "it's totalled" message.  I have some ideas for buying it back and restoring it, and have also received a quite tempting offer to buy another.  Bottom line is that I will be back on a Valkyrie very soon.  How and when depends on what insurance tells me, and when they tell it to me.

Mark

[Jess from VA]

I'm very sorry to hear this brother. 

I'm glad you weren't hurt worse.

Lord, please deliver us from drunk, drugged, texting, inattentive, aggressive, and unskilled drivers. 

I had my worst get-off in 40 years a few weeks ago and was only sore for two days; no blood.  It was my own fault (except for the slippery sand, which with hard brakes had me and bike sliding sideways in one second), no one hit me.  A helmet and an engine guard (and my pride) the only damages.

I wonder if the cops dumped her phone?   

[f-Stop]

So glad you are OK! 

Too bad about the bike, but motorcycles can be fixed or replaced.  That tank dent could possibly mean a bent frame.

Good luck with that knee surgery.  Is that surgery because of the smash up or from ice hockey?

...

Looking forward to seeing you back on two wheels!

[Rocketman]

Too bad about the bike, but motorcycles can be fixed or replaced.  That tank dent could possibly mean a bent frame.

Good luck with that knee surgery.  Is that surgery because of the smash up or from ice hockey?

Bent frame?  Yeah, I suppose it's possible, but it looks like an impact to me.  I'll be inspecting the frame once I start taking plastic bits off.

Knee:  The smash up made it worse.  It was already hurting before.  I tend to think it was more the years of football that have been messing with my knees for the last ~30 yrs.

[Rocketman]

I wonder if the cops dumped her phone?   

I doubt it.  She was taking full responsibility, so I don't see the need.

[da prez]

  Heal and all the knee issues are from the rumper bumper. The last three accidents I was involved in were rear end hits.
  As you are well aware , do not take the first insurance offer.  Just an FYI.  If needed I came across a beautiful blue and silver interstate.
  Thankful you are able to talk and heal.

                                                         da prez

[DIGGER]

Dang Mark.... so sorry to hear this.    Really glad you are ok.    Geeeez.  You can usually control whats ahead but not much you can so about whats from behind.    Really glad your personal injuries are not bad.   

[Kiwitex]

 
Wow, hate to hear that Mark, glad you're not too badly hurt.
Hope your knee heals fast and well.

[Jess from VA]

I wonder if the cops dumped her phone?   

I doubt it.  She was taking full responsibility, so I don't see the need.

That's good for the ins coverage, and the cop could write her for failure to stop (she deserves a moving violation for plowing into you, totaling the bike and injuring you), based on the facts apparent.  But if there is a greater violation (under your state law) for texting and driving (and the phone dump shows it) that's a bigger ticket than failure to stop (and she deserves that too).

This is just the old prosecutor in me. 

[DIGGER]

I wonder if the cops dumped her phone?   

I doubt it.  She was taking full responsibility, so I don't see the need.

That's good for the ins coverage, and the cop could write her for failure to stop (she deserves a moving violation for plowing into you, totaling the bike and injuring you), based on the facts apparent.  But if there is a greater violation (under your state law) for texting and driving (and the phone dump shows it) that's a bigger ticket than failure to stop (and she deserves that too).

This is just the old prosecutor in me. 

I agree.  Next time I see someone texting and driving Im gonna roll my window down and throw my beer at them.....

[Jess from VA]

 

Driving and texting got so bad, I made up a game to play while driving or riding (in traffic heavy or light).

I would hang back and watch for weaving or erratic cars ahead.  Then speed up and look inside, and most of the time, they were on their phone texting or talking or shopping or gaming or whatever.  Give them a dirty look, and they pull the phone down.  

I see kids (Jr hi and HS) walking by my house to the buss stops in the am, and over half are always looking at their phones.  Always.  Then there's the ear bud folks grocery shopping talking their heads off.  I go... I'm sorry were you talking to me?  NO, I'm on the phone dummy.  

At what point do they just get a chip (and USB recharger port) in their heads? 

[Rocketman]

That's good for the ins coverage, and the cop could write her for failure to stop (she deserves a moving violation for plowing into you, totaling the bike and injuring you), based on the facts apparent.  But if there is a greater violation (under your state law) for texting and driving (and the phone dump shows it) that's a bigger ticket than failure to stop (and she deserves that too).

This is just the old prosecutor in me. 

I'm not looking for punitive here.  I expect she got a ticket, but didn't ask.  If she didn't learn the lesson from feeling the impact and seeing me sliding down the road, a ticket isn't going to teach that lesson any better.  (Daddy will pay the ticket and the extra insurance costs anyway...)
Based on her reaction, I think she learned the lesson.  I hope she remembers it.

[Oss]

Heal well and soon

Sorry you had to go through this

[DIGGER]

Well....hows your leg healing?   Any permanent physical damage?

[Rocketman]

Healing up OK.  It's been two and a half weeks, and I'm mostly walking normally now, albeit a bit slower.
The Valkyrie is in pieces, but I'm ready to start putting it back together now.

[DIGGER]

Healing up OK.  It's been two and a half weeks, and I'm mostly walking normally now, albeit a bit slower.
The Valkyrie is in pieces, but I'm ready to start putting it back together now.

Good news.  Praying for ya

[98valk]

sorry to hear about this. if u are keeping repairing the bike, remember to check the swing arm bearings. Grumpy had a crash when his bearings went bad, He stated they were damaged from an earlier incident when he got rear ended like you describe and never thought to check them during his repairs of the bike.

[Willow]

I'm sorry this happened to you.  I hope the girl did learn a lesson.

As for the dent in the tank, the frame sounds suspect.  If not the frame perhaps a lesson to not ride with a body part erect.   

[RatchetRachel]

Hey Mark , that's bad news brother.  I hope you are doing OK.   How was surgery?  Praying for a speedy recovery!

[Rocketman]

Thanks everyone.  Surgery went well, my knee is getting better every day.
But more importantly, the FrankenValk is alive!  I rode it for the first time yesterday evening, and took it to work today.
Some of you who have known me for a long time may remember that I had a Valkyrie in my garage when Ike put a bunch of water in there.  Insurance totalled that one out too, but I kept it.  I turned two Valkyries into one, and am riding one of the very few 2000 green/silver I/S models.   
I still have a few things to sort out on the FrankenValk, but it's rideable, and I'm a happy man.

[f-Stop]

 

[DIGGER]

Thanks everyone.  Surgery went well, my knee is getting better every day.
But more importantly, the FrankenValk is alive!  I rode it for the first time yesterday evening, and took it to work today.
Some of you who have known me for a long time may remember that I had a Valkyrie in my garage when Ike put a bunch of water in there.  Insurance totalled that one out too, but I kept it.  I turned two Valkyries into one, and am riding one of the very few 2000 green/silver I/S models.   
I still have a few things to sort out on the FrankenValk, but it's rideable, and I'm a happy man.

Awesome!!!!

[franco6]

That s too bad  Mark. Hope your knee will be fine soon .

[MoflaII]

Here’s hoping for full recovery !

[Heathen]

I see kids (Jr hi and HS) walking by my house to the buss stops in the am, and over half are always looking at their phones.  Always.  Then there's the ear bud folks grocery shopping talking their heads off.  I go... I'm sorry were you talking to me?  NO, I'm on the phone dummy.  

At what point do they just get a chip (and USB recharger port) in their heads? 

I walk 3 large Cane Corso Mastiffs around my neighborhood, and just like you said, I see people approaching me on the sidewalk, head in their phone, oblivious to the fact that they are about to walk straight into 400 lbs of dog and 300 lbs of man.  They look up at the last second and look startled or scared.   And I keep thinking "well, glance where you're going once in a while you big goof."  I've seen 'em walk right across street intersections without looking up.  I don't konw how they survive long enough to get a driver's license and drive around with their head in their phone.

[Jess from VA]

I walk my neighborhood every day, and I almost always get off the sidewalk (into the street) when a leashed dog or three are coming at me.  Some say thanks, some say I didn't have to (and some say nothing).  I do it anyway.  I like dogs but I don't like being bit by them.  And it's the sneaky little Chihuahuas and other ankle biters who attack from ambush I worry about.  Most all big dogs are fine.

There is this one lady I see often who pushes a stroller and baby who always goes with two enormous and very alert German Shepherds.  You'd have to be crazy to do anything stupid.  They'd have you for lunch.