Preaching to the Choir

clinehall · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 7:30 pm

Like I said in the subject line, all of the good folks that read this forum probably alrealy know this but I will preach anyway. I am very happy to be alive today because of a full face helmet, CE armored jacket, and carbon fiber inforced motorcycle gloves. I t-boned an 80lb dog going 55 on my BMW K1200lt yesterday. It came from the left lane where there was no way to see or avoid. the impact caused the wheel to go hard right and I guess physics caused me to go hard left . I hit the pavement and rolled & slid 35 ft. I ruined my jacket, helmet, and gloves. I was only wearing cargo pants (very sturdy eddie bauers, but I will never ride again with out full armour) All I have is a broken right foot (my wife has one right now also) .

All they talked about at the ER was what good shape I was in and if I had not been dressed properly how bad it ould have been. They wouldn't believe the foot was the only thing (and few scrapes and bruises that you would expect) so they did Cat scans and MRI's The think I might have a herniated disc in my neck, but I dont have any pain or symptom,

Bottom line if you ride motorcycles DRESS TO WRECK. I may not look as cool riding as some of the other guys out there but I looked alot better laying on the side of the rode with my face still attached and less bleeding than I normally get from changing spark plugs!

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Dang that's lucky. Are you insured? :wink:

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:35 pm

Sorry to hear that, Cline. I, too, am a big advocate of riding to crash. The *least* gear I'll ride in is over the ankle boots, blue jeans, a kevlar and armor reinforced jacket (that does have large mesh vents), full face helmet, and motorcycle specific gloves. The jeans are definitely the weak link, but I don't think stuff like the "Draggin Jeans" or whatever are enough better to be worth it. On longer rides or sportier rides I do add either full leathers or I have armored over-pants and if the weather is bad I have an armored coat.

It's just silly to ride without at least that much.

--Donnie

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:44 pm

Cline,
Glad to hear you’re OK, relatively speaking. It could have been sooooo much worse.

clinehall · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:44 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

Dang that's lucky. Are you insured? :wink:

Unfortunetly, no. When I bought my wife'f f650 I decided I was paying my self to much premium for 3 motorcycles that sit in the garage most of the time so I only kept collision and comp on her new bike. I guess this comes under the catagory of "Do what I say not what I do!"

clinehall · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:47 pm

Donnie Barnes wrote:

Sorry to hear that, Cline. I, too, am a big advocate of riding to crash. The *least* gear I'll ride in is over the ankle boots, blue jeans, a kevlar and armor reinforced jacket (that does have large mesh vents), full face helmet, and motorcycle specific gloves. The jeans are definitely the weak link, but I don't think stuff like the "Draggin Jeans" or whatever are enough better to be worth it. On longer rides or sportier rides I do add either full leathers or I have armored over-pants and if the weather is bad I have an armored coat.

It's just silly to ride without at least that much.

Yeah, I forgot to mention I had on boots. Wish I would have had on Motocross type, but they are pretty impossible to walk in. I have been looking into that bonarmour stuff.

--Donnie

ChuckNelson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:36 pm

If you want a moto style boot but with a walkable sole try a trials boot, Sidi and Hebo make some nice ones. They have some give and offer decent traction when walking.

I highsided my Kz1000, and walked away with only a limp thanks to leather. It happened a few blocks from work, a car pulled out in front of me and when I dodged it I clipped the droppoff on the edge of the road. I just walked to work to get a trailer for the pieces. The moto carnage was so spectacular the rescue guys were looking in the trees for a body when I got back about twenty minutes later. :shock:

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:08 am

Cline,

Glad to hear that your OK. And also gald to hear that you also are a Dress for the crash not the ride kind of guy.

If more people did that, they would be far better off when they do have an accident.

clinehall · **Posted:** Sat Feb 24, 2007 2:55 pm

got the bike back today. The damage is suprisingly minimal those bikes are built so well. The major damage is from the moron who towed it. Picked it up using support tied around both handle bars. Just more time I get to spend in my garage.

Gwen, thanks, It could have been much, much worse.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

How's the dog?

clinehall · **Posted:** Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:27 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

How's the dog?

Let's put it this way, he won't mess with me again.

MartynWheeler · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:30 pm **Posts:** 303

You have to be careful with motocross boots in street riding. They protect the ankle so well that they can cause the force to be transferred to higher up on the leg, where a break is often much worse. They're designed for crashes on dirt, not street crashes.

I wish I could remember who said this: "Tell me what kind of crash you're going to have and I'll tell you how to dress for it."

All riding (and racing) gear is a compromise based on the likelihood of crashing in certain ways. Change anything to optimize one crash type, and it'll usually hurt performance in other types of crashes.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:35 pm

I'll take a roll bar, harnesses, and a whole car around my person thank you very much.

Riding a motorcycle is like holding a old grenade. You know it will go off, but you just don't when.

Glad to hear your OK Cline.

tomherbert · **Posted:** Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:08 pm

Quote:

an 80lb dog going 55

Boy, that's one fast dog.

Glad you are relatively OK.

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:20 am

Correction: I hit an 80lb dog while I was traveling 55mph. I tell every kid I know to pay more attention in English than any other subject. Of course I was on some good drugs when I made that original post!

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