Went Down

[Davet261]

I am just curious to see how many people have been down on a road bike.   I ride without protective gear but I am leaning toward getting some.  Maybe this will open up my eyes.

[Willow]

  Maybe this will open up my eyes.

I'm not sure why it would.  You didn't ask how many believed they were spared more serious injury by the protective gear or how many believe they would've experience less or no injury had they been wearing armor.

Incidentally, I wear a helmet and armored jacket most of the time when I ride.  When I collided with a Ford (and subsequently with the pavement) I was wearing a half shell, chaps, an armored mesh jacket and loafers.  I believe I was spared a serious head injury by the helmet and I believe the spine pad in the jacket was instrumental in preserving my ability to walk.   

[Valker]

She didn't, but she does.
http://www.rockthegear.org/index.php?/testimonials/view/brittany_morrow_the_roadrash_queen/

[Paxton]

When I was working, I had to wear the required "faceless bureaucrat" suit and tie.  ???
So on my way to work (less than 5 miles) I would wear only a helmet.

On this day, the RV in front on me and I were both turning right at a city intersection.
In the middle of the turn he made a sudden stop. 
I swerved and avoided a collision . 

I did go down and dragged 'bout 20 feet. My left leg took the brunt of the "slide." 
Lucky, I escaped with no broken bones.

The sad part about it was that my Vespa's handle bar broke in half and the left side cover flew off.
Did I mention that I was riding my Vespa? No kiddin.' 

Do ware a helmet. Judging by your avatar, you don't have to worry 'bout "helmet hair!"

RIDE SAFE

[czuch]

As I was sliding down I-40 one rainy evening ruining a real nice leather jacket and a very nice Bell Tourstar helmet I was thinking how much I dont like riding in the rain, but I was glad I had protective gear on. I personally dont go anywhere without it. In fact, a friend wanted to give the Valk a whirl and I wouldnt let him without a helmet. He was so confused.

[MacDragon]

What's missing in the poll is "helmet, some protective gear"  I would not classify my helmet and either Leather or mesh with pads... full protective gear and certainly not no protective gear.  I usually wear jeans and leather shoes.  Boots, sometimes. 

[Karen]

Never been down while in motion; dropped my too-tall-for-me 74 CB750 several times at a standstill until I lowered it. Wear all the gear after falling down 3 stairs & cracking a rib. Decided that it would be soooo much worse hitting the ground at speed. Never ride without boots; had a friend with an ankle injury in a car crash in the 60's that never did walk right afterwards. Lived long enough to finally get careful.

[Black Dog]

When I crashed, back in '82 (on my '77 Wing), I was wearing a 3/4 Bell Helmet, Gloves, Dingo Boots, Jeans, and a Denim Jacket...  So, I guess you could have said I was 'geared up' (for that era).  The helmet had a gash/scratch in it afterward, that sure woulda been a big boo-boo, had it been my head 

Now days, my helmet is a Nolan Trilogy Modular, and the Gear is Armored Mesh and Cruizer Works MC Boots.

Black Dog

[ibsrp]

I went down about two years ago and I can tell you my gear
saved me big time. My full face helmet saved my face and my
chaps, jacket and gloves saved my skin. I didn't have any road
rash at all. I hate to think what would have happened to my
face if I had any other type helmet. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I still had many broken ribs and other stuff.

[The Anvil]

My one pavement "crash" occured when some dumbot turned left in front of me. I braked, hit sand (it was March) bike tucked under me and I landed on top of it face down and rode it like a sled for about 30 feet. I never touched the ground with any part of my body. But I was in full gear.

Now, I've crashed dozens of times while racing and woods riding. In fact, I crashed pretty hard twice in the past calendar year. I can say that I've bounced my head off of enough things to kill me several times over. One of my crashes put a gash in my helmet (courtesy of a big, sharp rock in the trail) that would have opened my head like a ripe watermelon.

So if you're wondering WHETHER gear works the answer is yes. It's not even in dispute. Any other opinion is just idiocy. That said, it's your choice to make. I take certain risks that many others would find unacceptable so it's not about judging anyone's decision. Just be honest with yourself about it.

[bscrive]

My accident happened in '86.  Just got my license.  I guy pulled out in front of me and I had no time to react.   I hit the side of his car and the bike and my sister went under the car.  I remember flying over the car and hitting the pavement on my back.  I still remember, as clear as it happened yesterday, the smacking sound my helmet made when it hit the pavement.  I was wearing a leather jacket as well.  Walked away with only a sprained ankle, without the helmet I am sure I would have been killed.

[Thespian]

 I retired my leather jacket a few months back, Joe rocket rider now. Always boots ans chaps. I love my 1/2 helmet with curtain, but I am probably going to get a scorpion, EXO 1,000 soon.    

[Bigwolf]

I remember a scorching hot day with humidity of 99%.  I had a leather jacket that looked like a cycle jacket but had no armor or ventilation.  With just a 25 mile ride home from work, I tied that steaming hot jacket on the back pulled my full face helmet on and took off wearing blue jeans, a T-shirt and tennis shoes.  Hit the asphalt at about 45 and slid on my bare left arm for a ways.  For the next several weeks I had to wear long sleeves to work with temps still in the high 90s and could feel the scab tearing everytime I moved my left arm.

The bike didn't survive that and I never rode again till I got my Valk.  First thing I did after I got my Valk home was to order a real motorcycle jacket with armor and ventilation.  I wear this jacket even if the temps are in the high 90s.  I also never ride without sturdy 10 inch tall boots.

Bigwolf

[Paxton]

QUOTE FROM bscrive: '...  I hit the side of his car and the bike and my sister went under the car..."

===============================================

You told us that you survived OK. But inquiring minds want to know... what was your sister's fate? 

[F6BANGER]

ATGATT

All
The
Gear
All
The
Time

At least I do now. I didnt used to.

A true story......Around 1985 I had a kawasaki 550. Got a speeding ticket. Went to driving school. The motorcycle instructor rode a goldwing. One day he didnt show up. We found out that as he was backing his bike out of his driveway, he fell over and cracked his head on the ground. He didnt make it. He was an instructor and wasnt even riding. Kinda made me think. I wore helmet and gear for many years. When I first got my 98 valk I rode with my Harley Friends. They didnt wear gear so I didnt all the time. Thought I was cool. Didnt have a problem for years. Decided to start wearing gear all the time when I picked up the Interstate. I had it for less than 2 weeks and only 135 miles on it when the lady pulled out in front of me. It was February and I was wearing all the gear. Well, 8 broken ribs, punctured lung and separated shoulder later, I was happy to still be alive. If I hadn't had the gear, I prolly wouldnt be typing this right now. My helmet was wasted. Didnt have road rash thanks to the gear. 

You make your choice. Why do you think motorcycle racers wear gear?

[Jess from VA]

What's missing in the poll is "helmet, some protective gear" I would not classify my helmet and either Leather or mesh with pads... full protective gear and certainly not no protective gear.  I usually wear jeans and leather shoes.  Boots, sometimes.  

Yes, my most usual attire is helmet and SOME protective gear.  I'm never without some.  I am only atgatt in cold winter weather.  Except a DOT half helmet is not atgatt.

BTW, in over 40 years' riding, I have never seen a rider wearing only a helmet.  I'm pretty sure this will get you pulled over.

I could be wrong.

[Phil57]

I can't type this over but just posted about my crash. All my gear is trashed.65mph and was home from the hospital 6 hours later. Was lucky but the gear saved myself lots of injury. I still suport the no helmet law and your choice to wear what you want. I will not be shy to give my opinion and my experience. SOB hurts like hell right now.
 

[Momz]

During my last incident (not accident) I was wearing a "skid lid" and just I broke my collar bone.

[cookiedough]

99% of time I wear my helmet, but with hot days normally a t-shirt, tennis shoes, and shorts.  On cold days just pants and gloves and tennis shoes with sweatshirt.  I have been meaning to get an armored jacket and think that would be a good idea.  Never been down while riding ever but tipped my former 1984 honda magna in my parents uneven driveway stopped.  Was a pain in the butt to pick up on such an uphill incline.  Never will I live in a home with such a steep hill affecting driving and mowing and basically the yard being useless so steep besides sledding in the wintertime.

[musclehead]

She didn't, but she does.
http://www.rockthegear.org/index.php?/testimonials/view/brittany_morrow_the_roadrash_queen/

that girl got totally molested by the road, i remember the story.

I got knocked off my 650 night hawk by a ditz that couldn't see so she just backed out at full speed. I sailed to the other curb, landed and jumped up and turned around cursing like a longshoreman. (that amazed the folks in the business, 3-4 faces lined up in the window making a big "O" with their mouths)
minor injuries only, not a scratch on my helmet 

[WamegoRob]

My one pavement "crash" occured when some dumbot turned left in front of me.

My one crash occurred when some dumb road turned left in front of me... and I didn't 
Taught me pretty quick to not get so carried away by the joy of riding and pay attention to the 'riding' of riding.

[fudgie]

Hmmm...seems like more crashes with a helmet on then with no gear. What does that tell us..... 

I do wear leather fingerless gloves and a vest 100% of the times. Chaps and leather jacket when its cold. No helmet unless in the rain or made to. We have never been down.
 Was up in the hospital rehab to transfer a guy with a TBI. It was sad and did make me think about wearing gear. But Kit and I decided to go out the way we came. Wet and fast!  We would so rather die riding together with no protection then to wear it and be laid up forever never to ride again.
Ive seen folks killed with and w/o gear. It makes no diff if its your time to go, you will go. I can only stick so many fingers in holes and pump you full of drugs but its not our decision if you live or die.

[john]

            '' What does that tell us ? ''           ??? 
     more people should ride the bus  ?       

[F6BANGER]

It may not be your fault. You never know when that car may pull out in front of you or even worse ram you from behind.

[Davet261]

  Maybe this will open up my eyes.

I'm not sure why it would.  You didn't ask how many believed they were spared more serious injury by the protective gear or how many believe they would've experience less or no injury had they been wearing armor.

Incidentally, I wear a helmet and armored jacket most of the time when I ride.  When I collided with a Ford (and subsequently with the pavement) I was wearing a half shell, chaps, an armored mesh jacket and loafers.  I believe I was spared a serious head injury by the helmet and I believe the spine pad in the jacket was instrumental in preserving my ability to walk.   

I did not want to make the poll too complicated.  I assume people will post their outcomes of their wrecks in the messages  (at least I am hoping)

[fubar606]

   OK   OK    i have a dirty mind

[CajunRider]

Full gear here... and if you could have seen my jacket and helmet after the fact, you'd know how well they did saving my life.  

Here's the bike (notice the top engine mount is no longer attached to the engine...) :  

[pBrain]

I heard this from a biker lawyer friend.

Riding gear doesn't prevent injuries...they just make it less painful

[The Anvil]

Hmmm...seems like more crashes with a helmet on then with no gear. What does that tell us..... 

That the ones wearing gear live to tell about it?

[MNBill]

Some gear in my case, car pulled out from a stop sign in a 45 zone, I was not speeding. She hit the right side of my bike. I had some burns on my shoulder/leather jacket collar area. Half helmet or I would not be typing this but I will say I respect the guys with the full helmets as the only road rash I had was on my face. Steel toe boot saved my foot altho I still suffered a broken toe. Carhart jeans wore throught but I did not get bad road rash, I remember seeing her coming out, and jumping to my feet to find/help my wife so I think I did not slide far.

[bscrive]

QUOTE FROM bscrive: '...  I hit the side of his car and the bike and my sister went under the car..."

===============================================

You told us that you survived OK. But inquiring minds want to know... what was your sister's fate? 

My sister survived but she broke both her legs.  One of them was broken in three places and both legs had compound fractures.  Her legs healed but one leg is shorter than the other.  To this day she hates it that I ride.  Sh!t happens though.


Great comment Anvil, you took the words right out of my mouth.

[BigAl]

Hit a Chevy Station Wagon doing 60 on a 125 Honda. Does that count, ruined my day.

[Mr Whiskey]

fudgie, you pretty much said it all! That's how we roll.
Peace, Whiskey.

[PaulO]

Been down twice on the road.  Second time the worse of the two.  Full face helmet and complete gear.  Definately saved me from serious injury or death.  Interestingly, I read several years back that the vast majority of motorcycle accidents occur when someone pulls out from a side street in front of the motorcycle.  More interestingly, statistically most of these happen on low traffic country roads.
Paul

[olddog1946]

Went down in Germany, going too fast at 3 am, pretty drunk and ran through a curve and into a bush (in front of a brick wall), tore the bike all to hell and broke my leg, and cut up my beautiful face with a broken face shield...
 The good news is I don't drink any more...and I now wear a full face helmet and mesh gear..

[art]

My best one [there were two] was in 1968 .I had a 66 norton atlas on the way to work.I had just put on new megafones mufflers [nice sound] .No helmet,t shirt ,jeans and sneakers.A woman in a pontiac pulled out in front of me while I was going 50+ and accelerating hard.I froze on the gas knowing I was going to hit hard.All I could think of was to jump up off the bike and try to go over the car.I did as soon as the wheel hit and flew over the car just right.My next thought was to cover my head with my arms and hopefully protect my head.I was lucky I never hit my head just broke a wrist an big toe.Believe it or not I got the norton back from repair and the front forks were not bent but the steering head was.I knew I could not do that again and survive so I took the norton to an auto dealer and traded it for something better , a1963 jaguar XKE

[Dogg]

I have had 2 accidents. The first on the drag strip. Hit the dirt embankment at 105 mph. Broke almost everything except my spine. Go figure. I have no real scars thanks to full protective bodysuit and a better than great surgeon.
  The 2nd was on the street. My valk was 32 days old and it was October. I just went around the block before a trip to the mall to see a movie. Tire temp was 42 F and asphalt temp was 38 F.  Went around a simple little turn at 30 mph and the rear tire broke loose. Corrected then, dove back into the turn a little slower. Tire let go again and threw me into a hi end roll. Bike barrel rolled 7 times before sliding to a stop with me bouncing on top of it at least 4 of the rolls. Then it kicked me off going face first into the road in front of it. I hit the road, tucking my face against my chest as well as I could, spilt my skull cap, shredded my sweatshirt and leather gloves. Chewed holes in my jeans just below the knees, lost the skin on my shins and hand but everything else was fine. Bike was beat up pretty good. Turns out, Dunlop made a compound change in the tires for the 2001 model year for the valk. Trying to get more mileage out of them. They paid my insurance company back after it was repaired. After testing of the rubber compound of those tires, they gave me a brand new set of tires and repaired my bike. All $9600.00 of it. But they wouldnt buy me a new helmet. They said I was lucky to be alive wearing a novelty skull cap. I now wear a helmut no matter what.

[Valkahuna]

I could not vote. The poll let me only check one answer. I've been down with gear, with helmet only, and with no gear at all. The latter two were earlier in my life, when I thought I was invincible. I found out I was not, so now I wear gear.  

I just can't bring myself to ride a bike in shorts, not even around the block. Same with boots, gloves, and a helmet. Usually wear a jacket as well. If you can learn to do to wear all of these things without having suffered pain, or permanent scars/injuries, then you are luckier than I was.

[Moonshot_1]

3 years ago this month.

Taking my daughter to a Dr. appointment in Sioux City.

Was going down a 2 lane county road.

Crested a hill and about 1/2 mile away is a tractor.

We come up on the tractor and I go to pass him on the highway.
Just as I switch lanes I see him start his left turn to enter into a field access.
Never takes a look.

I get over to the very edge of the road and nearly get past him but he just clips the back end and the bike goes down.
Daughter slides off at this point and walks away with nary a scratch. Unbelievable.
She had a coat and helmet.

I stay with the bike as me and the bike slide down the road.

Now I am falling out of the sky and really confused for a brief moment.
(The bike high sided and apparently flung me into space. I just remember sliding on the road and falling from the sky)

I get flung over a rather deep ditch and wind up hitting the bottom of it after my re-entry.

I wasn't wearing a helmet and did get a glancing blow on the slope of the ditch with no ill effects.

But on impact I:
Broke collar bone in 2 places.
Broke most of ribs on left side
Severely bruised lung, sternum, abdominal area.

Yeah,... it hurt.

Collar bone wouldn't heal so surgery was needed.

Am still riding. Even the bike wasn't too worse for wear. Lots of cosmetic damage but no structural damage.

Still have issues with the injuries. One of the ironies of it all is that it's now much easier to ride the cycle than it is driving a car. (Turning steering wheels is a bit uncomfortable and wearing a seat belt can get irritating on the left side.)

Generally don't wear a helmet. The gear I wear is largely related to the weather and sometimes distance traveled. If a long distance I'll generally wear more gear as there is a better chance of running into weather or some other circumstance and it's nice to at least have it along. And if I have it along I just as well wear it.

[B]

Route 66; Day2 of 19; Chatham, IL ... you might still find some leather and textile my wife and I left on The Mother Road in September...
 I always wear gloves, boots, helmet, jacket & jeans... chaps if it's cool enough.
You never think it will be you... Thousands of miles you ride and you think 'why do I wear this stuff?' ... Slidin down the highway, you're very glad you did. 

PS - It doesn't hurt to have an astute guardian angel too.