Went down today

[mike4sho]

Well, I've been riding since 2009 and I crashed the bike today.  I live in Salinas, California, and for those of you who don't know about Salinas, it's the lettuce capital of the world.  So as you can imagine, there are a certain type of drivers (bad) around here.  I was headed to work this morning and following a vehicle on a two-way roadway.  The driver turned the left turn blinker on like she was going into the fields and almost came to a stop, then figured she didn't want to turn there.  So on we go, now the right turn blinker - o wait no turn yet, blinker goes off.  Then we come up to a t-intersection and the right turn blinker goes back on.  The car goes all the way to the right shoulder, slows down considerably and begins to make a right turn.  She realized she didn't want to go right, so she made a left turn from the right shoulder toward a dirt road where the lettuce fields are.  Unfortunately for me, I was behind her and about two car lengths behind.  I realize "oh sh**" she's turning in front of me and I turned the bike to the left and slammed on the brakes.  My training tells me to turn to the right, but instincts says the left - so I go left.  I realize I am closing in fast and either I laid the bike down or it went down from the braking.  The bike slides into the car and I follow the bike into the car.  The driver stayed but everyone around left the scene.  I jumped to my feet and pick my bike up by myself (thanks ride like a pro dvd), which was on the dirt road near the fields.

She begs me not to call the police, but I see where this headed so I did and they took a report.  The bike starts, but I had it towed home. The right crash bar is bent pretty good, the chrome spark cover is gouged, the timing belt (? I think that's what it's called) is cracked, my headlamp separated - but looks fixable, my aux power plug was dented, and my hiway pegs were scratched.  I actually slowed down quite a bit and I am lucky I wasn't really injured.  The inside of my right knee is burised and I am getting a little sore, but other than that, my jacket saved me from road rash.

I called the insurance and I'll let them handle it.  Hopefully she's found completely at fault, but who knows.  I want to get back on and ride, but my wife and I just had a baby 7 months ago.  We are looking at buying a new house and I wonder if I should take a break from riding and take care of my responsibilities as a husband/father.  I always told myself, if I crash, I'm done.  No more riding.  But I don't truly feel that way.  I want to get on and just ride, because it's what I love to do.

http://s1242.photobucket.com/user/mike4sho/embed/slideshow/valkyrie]http://s1242.photobucket.com/user/mike4sho/embed/slideshow/valkyrie]http://s1242.photobucket.com/user/mike4sho/embed/slideshow/valkyrie

[..]

Ouch. Hate to read that.

Take care of baby and wife.

[Patrick]

Sorry to hear this, thats too bad. But, thats why they're called accidents. They happen quick.

[Gavin_Sons]

If you like riding don't give it up.

[Fritz The Cat]

There are 2 kinds of riders, those who have gone down and those who will. Welcome to the other side.

[Gryphon Rider]

There are 2 kinds of riders, those who have gone down and those who will haven't. Welcome to the other side.

There, fixed it for ya. 

[john]

bummer ... been there ... done that ... twice .... nearly forty years ago .... 
" I wonder if I should take a break from riding and take care of my responsibilities as a husband/father "      ???     

two car lengths surely SEEMED like plenty of space
at the time didn't it ?             
six or even eight car lengths would have saved you (all riders) a lot grief  ...       
all the tales , excuses I have ever heard or witnessed for following to close never .. ever make any sense .
if you can not avoid running into the vehicle in front of you .... yer too close
  a sad and avoidable event ...   my experience             $0.02       

[musclehead]

I've been to Salinas many times for lettuce loads for Wendy's. the drivers there are no worse or better then elsewhere in the country.  sorry you took a hit like that, but you walked away. those are the best possible type of motorcycle accidents to have (I did it twice, haven't learned my lesson yet )

[art]

Know how you feel, I had a bad crash many years ago riding a new 66 Norton atlas. and t-boned a Pontiac. I got a broken wrist but my wife was pregnant with my first born son. I did quit riding for 25 years thinking I have more responsibilities now and stopped. I took up riding in 93 and just quit again because of an accident. I figure it's time again. You do what you feel you should do don't listen to other people it's your life.

[hairyteeth]

I hope you don't get one... but your ticket would read "too fast for conditions". Glad your going to be ok. HT

[Pappy!]

For what its worth........I thought about getting back into riding when my son was around 14...which was the time I saw my very first Valkyrie. I decided not to just in case. Am glad I went the way I did at that time.
Everyone is different. Listen to your wife and to yourself. ....... and you will make the right decision.

[Gavin_Sons]

Having 2 small boys at home I know where your coming from. I don't ride near as much as I use to. I have just as much fun at home playing with the kids as I do out riding. But a good long ride once a month or so is the perfect solution to getmy brain away from work and everything else that rattles around Iin there. My bike has been sitting since I got back from inzane but plan to ride to work tomorrow. Keep the bike, you will need a ride to let your brain relax soon. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I've been there also. T-boned a lady that ran a stop sign at 45mph. Never touched the car, went flying thru the air like superman. Ended up ok because I was young and lucky, not so good for the bike though.  2 years after that had a guy on a Harley make a uturn across a double yellow at the bottom of a rise. Got over as far as I could but clipped the passengers foot and went sliding down the road. Leather jacket protected upper body but jeans shredded along with my leg. Spent a month in the Navy hospital off and on having gravel and dirt scrubbed out. Quit riding for 8 years after that. You'll make the decision that is right for you. It really doesn't matter my opinion or anyone else's . Glad you weren't hurt too bad. And for the record it doesn't sound like you did anything wrong to me. She cut back across on you. It's easy for people to armchair quarterback.

[NCGhostrider]

I wiped out way back in '91 or so.  Slid down the road after being unable to correct a slide in gravel in a sharp turn. 

At the time I worked for MHMR, and had a really bad near death experience with a client (patient) that attacked me with a nail in a board.  Needless to say I was distracted.   I almost pulled the slide off, but ran out of room with a very close barb wire fence.  I got off as the bike wrapped up in it!

Anyway, my first child was on the way, and I decided not to ride till she was older, and then my son was born a few years later, and once again, I held off. 

I was looking for a bike in 99 and 2000 when I found the Valk.  I had a high stress job in I.T. and needed to have a stress relief.   

You and your wife will have to weigh out the decision to ride or not to ride.  I enjoy the little riding I get to do these days.   I am glad I came back to it.   I wish I hadn't quit flying also, haven't got back to that, and probably won't.

Craig
NcGhostrider
99 I/S 

[CajunRider]

Sorry to hear about the accident. 

Glad you weren't seriously hurt.

Good job on the protective gear!!

Turning left from the right shoulder is illegal, and the other driver should fully be at fault in my opinion.  Hopefully, you don't get hit with some sort of partial fault like following too close or something. 

[Robert]

Sometimes to be a better husband and father you need some stress relief. For some its golf and some its football but to some its motorcycles. Just have a decent life insurance policy to take care of your family. If you can afford it a policy that pays you when you cant work would also be nice. But in truth no one is guaranteed tomorrow so that is why we live everyday to enjoy all we can and love those given to us. Glad you weren't hurt a slower version of what happened to you happened to me no damage to the bike but it does shake you up. You'll get over it.

[BobB]

Always sorry to here such stories.  It has happened to me, I T-boned a car that turned in front of me over 45 years ago.  I don't like to preach, but five years of riding experience if just enough to be over confident.  I'm not talking about your riding ability, I'm talking about the situations you ride into.  If I see an erratic driver in front of me, I back off and give them room.  Try to reanalize what you got into and  figure out how it could have been avoided without damage.  Perhaps something positive can come out of it.  Hope you get back in the wind soon.

[Bighead]

Sorry to hear you took a spill but I saw zero picture to warrant not riding again?m

[cookiedough]

Yah gotta do what you BOTH decide in terms of riding still.  For us,  I sold my 1984 Honda Magna in 1997 and bought a fishing boat since was having kids in 1998 and 2000.   Fast forward to around 2007 got the itch again to ride bought the Valk since kids are older now age 13 and 16.  Didn't miss too much those 10 years of cycling had other things going on like raising kids and working and fishing more. 

In hindsight,  I realize now I probably should've kept the honda magna and continued riding it occasionally say 2-3K miles per year at most especially since that same bike now that sold for 1500 in 1997 is still worth easily 1500 bucks. 

[Oss]

I tell myself that every time I do have an incident or an accident
or just avoid one that I should have or could have done more
to be safe.

Whether its recognizing a dangerous cage driver
recognizing when I am tired/sleepy

whatever

there is almost always something we could have done
realistically to improve our chances

Glad you are ok, the bike is just a thing

Do what you feel is best, I chose to get on the horse right away
but that was just me, stubborn,  scared but stubborn

Good luck either way you choose to go

[Mobile Mayor]

Bin down hard twice.   First time, three months hospital and rehab.  Bike totaled.  Second time, up right away, one night in hospital.  One year later still having some pain.  Both times, legally not my fault.  I am rebuilding I.S. that was my ride in the second one.  Have I learned anything?  Damn right I did.  Even  though I might not have been in the wrong, I was not being careful as I should have been.  If you love life, and love to ride, learn from what happened.   It's your decision.  You have family and the responsibilities that go along with that.  On the other side of the situation, you have to have some decompression time for yourself.  Live to ride--Ride to live.  Best wishes which ever way you decide.

[RainMaker]

Sorry to hear you went down but glad you are pretty much OK.

Such things do play havoc with the mind.  I chose riding motorcycles over flying single engine aircraft as my depth perception isn't so good and my landings were of the "hard" variety.  I figured I had less chance of making my wife a widow by riding the Valk versus flying a Cessna.

[blueberry]

The way I look at it is if it's your time it's your time. Doesn't matter if it's on a bike or in a car or doing whatever. And riding a bike to me doesn't have anything to do with being a good father or neglecting your responsibilities. That just doesn't make sense to me. Glad your okay and you do what you feel you need to. I went down three times so far but doesn't stop me from riding everyday. The ole saying get bucked off a horse and get back up and on it is what I say. My wife loves my valk and won't let me sell it no matter what. She gets mad and says like hell you will when I tell her I'm thinking of selling him. She knows I need that release to clear my head and keep me sane. lol. Hope it all works out for you bud. 

[therapist]

One of the things I have learned in 50 years of riding, is to give a wide berth to any drivers who are acting the least bit weird.  Not blaming you, but the way you told the story, that woman was screaming, "I am an idiot driver so stay away" in her actions.  If you get back on "the horse that threw you", learn from this and become an even more hyper-vigilant, defensive rider.  Glad you are OK.

[Momz]

So glad to read that you were able to "walk away", and that you remembered evasive maneuvers.
I hope your not too sore and it sounds like your bike is repairable. 

[fudgie]

The way I look at it is if it's your time it's your time. Doesn't matter if it's on a bike or in a car or doing whatever. And riding a bike to me doesn't have anything to do with being a good father or neglecting your responsibilities. That just doesn't make sense to me....... The ole saying get bucked off a horse and get back up and on it is what I say...

+1 

[Valkjerk]

Mike, you are a lucky guy. You were blessed with a wife and child, a Valkyrie, a not-so-serious accident and all the accumulated wisdom bestowed upon you by members of this forum. What more could you ask for?

I've been down on many various motorcycles for the 50 years that I've been riding. Some were due to foolishness, carelessness and some were just plain downright unavoidable accidents which were beyond my control. However, I did give up riding for a few years so that I could concentrate on growing my business, putting my son through college and paying off my mortgage. I accomplished all three goals within a couple months of each other and in '99 I rewarded myself with a brand new Kaw. Nomad (because I wasn't exposed to Valkyries at the time). After the Nomad, a couple Goldwings and twelve Valkyries.......ta dah......we're up to date.

Garner what you can from all these riders and make your best case to your wife and if it helps, sit her in front of the confuser and read all these posts to her so that you can both reach the inevitable conclusion that crap's gonna happen no matter what and that riding Valkyries is a good thing. (smiling)  Gary  (Glad you're ok)

[Paxton]

"... T-boned a lady that ran a stop sign at 45mph..."
================================
Meathead; Whether boning with a T or just a bone, it sounds like a hard punishment for just doing 45 MPH! 

[Paxton]

Mike;
Great lookin' Valk. An easy fix... but I vote for that beautiful baby, hands down!

[The emperor has no clothes]

"... T-boned a lady that ran a stop sign at 45mph..."
================================
Meathead; Whether boning with a T or just a bone, it sounds like a hard punishment for just doing 45 MPH! 

Paxton I was rather hard on her wasn't I  . But you should have seen what I did to her dad that was in the passenger seat

[mikesgotmods]

That truly sucks that you had this happen.  She looks totalled to me, so best to part her out.  I call dibs on your handlebar clamp mount/clock!!!  Ok, just kidding, but seriously, where can that be purchased?  Are those still available and do you remember the name of the company or vendor?

[BigBod]

Had a BIG accident in 1988, put me in hospital for 3 months, time in a wheel chair when I got out..first thing I wanted to do was get back on my bike. I was totally non weight bearing on one leg but went on a run with crutches strapped to the bike. When I stopped my Dad had to come over and flip the sidestand down as I could only put my left foot down..Mad I know but I was desperate to ride again..

Didn't get my first car till I was 40...

I got a 7 year old daughter now, don't ride as much as I did but no way could I give it up, it's been my life.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Had a BIG accident in 1988, put me in hospital for 3 months, time in a wheel chair when I got out..first thing I wanted to do was get back on my bike. I was totally non weight bearing on one leg but went on a run with crutches strapped to the bike. When I stopped my Dad had to come over and flip the sidestand down as I could only put my left foot down..Mad I know but I was desperate to ride again..

Didn't get my first car till I was 40...

I got a 7 year old daughter now, don't ride as much as I did but no way could I give it up, it's been my life.

Now that is dedication their!

[nogrey]

I've read this post several times now. Always hard to hear about a bike accident. You see or hear about them nearly every day in the news this time of year. I see people run stop signs and red lights all the time when I'm driving in my car. I rode into town a few weeks ago on a Friday. Stopped by the church my son pastors and took him to lunch (he drove). He told me as i was leaving "I worry about you on that bike Dad". I told him that I am a little afraid every time I climb on to it, and that I felt that anyone who is not a little bit scared ought not to be riding. Now, please don't everyone climb my case on this. I am a very confident rider and have no fear of the machine or my ability to control it. It's the factors that I can't control that "scare" me. I am a certified "Smith System" driver/trainer and have been for many years now. I am also a certified "worrier". I think I understand all of your misgivings and the complications involved in having this accident. Do what you think is best for you and your family. Motorcycles are like Doritos (an old Doritos commercial said "go ahead, eat them, we'll make more"). There will always be a motorcycle waiting should you decide to take it up again later. Shoot, I'll probably have one you can buy!  Thanks for sharing your story.

[Jack]

Sorry to hear of your accident.  Here in Arkansas, you would likely be charged with "following to close" or "travelling to fast for conditions".  No charges for her, sad to say.  As for continuing to ride, my second wife and her family nagged me into getting rid of a bike I had owned for 18 yrs. 2 yrs later, we were divorced.  I should have kept the bike.  My first purchase after the end of child support was my Valkyrie.  I have had a few accidents, debatable if any were my fault, but my present wife knows I need my bikes to keep my stress levels in check. Only you can decide your future.

[Chrisj CMA]

If you continue to ride, don't fail to learn some things about the accident, other drivers behavior and safer ways you can ride so as to avoid this happening again.

I am glad you weren't seriously hurt, that's the hardest part to hear, when there are injuries.

I would practice emergency stopping and getting more comfortable with the front brakes.

Once you spot a bad or erratic driver, you cannot stop being suspicious of their intentions or even trust they are going to do what they should or what it looks like they are going to do until they are very small in your mirrors.

[Willow]

... Stopped by the church my son pastors and took him to lunch (he drove). He told me as i was leaving "I worry about you on that bike Dad". ...

I'll apologize in advance for hijacking the OP's thread to address you, Nogrey.

Some of my friends, especially my non-riding friends don't understand, but I'm sure your son would.  I truly believe that we, as motorcycle riders, should be aware of the risks naturally present with riding two wheels out in the midst of unpredictable four wheeled caged traffic.  I do, however, tell my friends, "My life and my well being are in His hands.  I firmly believe He is able to protect me just as well at eighty miles per hour on a motorcycle screaming down the interstate as He can when I'm in a rocking chair on the front porch."  Life on this earth is terminal.  I just don't worry as much as some may.  I do think I should take the responsible measures to reduce at least the perception of the risks as is reasonable, but I also accept that it's not so much in my hands as we often wish to believe it is.

[Jess from VA]

Once you spot a bad or erratic driver, you cannot stop being suspicious of their intentions or even trust they are going to do what they should or what it looks like they are going to do until they are very small in your mirrors.

Right on the money Jeff. 

I was going to post the same thing (but didn't want to poke anybody in the eye).

Who hasn't got behind someone obviously lost and/or looking at maps, wandering in their lane, slowing then going, signaling left then right, then off.  You must give these lost boys a very wide birth and all your attention.  Same as texters and c-phone drivers and deer.  Completely unpredictable. 

[nogrey]

... Stopped by the church my son pastors and took him to lunch (he drove). He told me as i was leaving "I worry about you on that bike Dad". ...

I'll apologize in advance for hijacking the OP's thread to address you, Nogrey.

Some of my friends, especially my non-riding friends don't understand, but I'm sure your son would.  I truly believe that we, as motorcycle riders, should be aware of the risks naturally present with riding two wheels out in the midst of unpredictable four wheeled caged traffic.  I do, however, tell my friends, "My life and my well being are in His hands.  I firmly believe He is able to protect me just as well at eighty miles per hour on a motorcycle screaming down the interstate as He can when I'm in a rocking chair on the front porch."  Life on this earth is terminal.  I just don't worry as much as some may.  I do think I should take the responsible measures to reduce at least the perception of the risks as is reasonable, but I also accept that it's not so much in my hands as we often wish to believe it is.

I couldn't agree more! 

[Paxton]

nogrey;
I am diagnosing you with (MVD) Multiple Valksonality Disorder. I am jealous!