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Author Topic: crashed my bike - pretty bad  (Read 25362 times)

Offline steve hawkins

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #15 on: October 07, 2008, 03:45:47 AM »
Rob,

As another who has very recently had an accident.....Yesterday.  You have my sympathy.  I myself am feeling angry and annoyed but I am uninjured.

Get well soon.  

Steve Hawkins
« Last Edit: October 07, 2008, 06:22:28 AM by steve_hawkins »
Steve Hawkins R100 (that wants to be an R65)

Offline Rob Valdez 79 R65

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #16 on: October 07, 2008, 05:24:31 AM »
Yes, I was shocked to hear about your 2nd time in as many weeks!

At least you can vent your anger and frustration outward.


i feel I have no one to blame but myself.


It sure was a pretty day for a ride, though!


I am REAL glad your son was not injured.

I like the conspicuity of a sidecar rig for family m/c fun.

balibeemer

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #17 on: October 07, 2008, 06:20:09 AM »
Rob
My commiserations ; to you and your bike. Interestingly enough, the HURT report mentions that most MC accidents happen within 5 miles from home - That's why Harley owners are constantly moving house!

My sympathy to both of you - Get well soon!.

trolle

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #18 on: October 07, 2008, 07:22:06 AM »
Hi Rob

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, and I hope that you will get on that particular horse again.

Apart from all the other idiots on the road there is one thing I fear; letting my mind drift while driving the bike. So far I have managed too keep my concentration but as your example shows, even the most experienced can fail.

A lesson to bear in mind.

greetings from a semi cloudy north with good riding conditions

SCJJR65

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #19 on: October 07, 2008, 07:45:11 AM »
Damn, Rob!   :o

I'm just glad you weren't hurt any worse.  I figure your bike can be restored once again, but the human body ain't quite as easy to whip back into shape.  Just shows us all an accident can happen to even the most experienced rider (and I would surely rate you as one of them), and we cannot afford to let our guard down for a moment.  None of us.

Pattimarie and I will keep you in our thoughts and prayers that you set a world record for recovery, and also that your bike ends up needing "just a little" TLC to become roadworthy once again!

Hang in there, my friend!   [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Joan

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #20 on: October 07, 2008, 09:53:54 AM »
Hey Rob, saw about it over on BW... Hope you are feeling better every day.
When Blueberry found out about it, she fainted!


I'm imagining (from recent crashing experience) it will be a couple of weeks before the worst of the pain retreats. I surely hope you can keep that finger, and I'm betting a new left cylinder head you will.  :) And handlebars.  ;) And a mirror!  :D And probably some forks, too.  ;D

So when you're up to it, let us know what you need for replacement bits.  :-*


Offline Justin B.

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #21 on: October 07, 2008, 10:40:10 AM »
Joan!!??  What have you done to Blueberry!!!?????
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline nhmaf

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #22 on: October 07, 2008, 09:33:18 PM »
Joan !  Please tell us that is a VERY OLD picture of blueberry, and not something which has recently occurred !?!?!? :-?
Airhead #12178 ? BMWMOA #123173 ?BMWRA #33525 ?GSBMWR #563 ?1982 BMW R65LS ?1978 BMW R100/7 1998 Kawasaki Concours

Offline suecanada

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #23 on: October 08, 2008, 03:38:43 PM »
I'm here Not-so-Fast-Ed!!    Please give yourself some time to get your mind around this blip Rob!! I am so, so sorry you had to keep me company on the better- rest list.  :-[ I bet you feel like maybe it's time to give up biking but don't be too hasty to make a decision while you still hurt.   :-/  Rob listen to me...you are a vital part of this Forum which is comprised of probably the best people you are ever going to meet in this world. Maybe you are typing with one finger now but in 5 weeks or 6 you'll be back and what better way to take part in the forum than to experience the ride yourself and pass on the joys and the frustrations.!!! Don't go to the sidelines yet!! There is plenty of time for that when we get really old!! Like over 85 or maybe later. Then we can just settle in here to give sage advice!!  I assume I must have let my mind wander too...maybe it wandered right out of consciouness!!! But no matter, take some time to analyse why and just decide to learn something from it...like drink more gatorade...take a short rest every couple of hours, leave more space, whatever you figure contributed to the mishap try to figure out some way to trigger your mind to not do that again...I say this cause you and I need to be brave to get back on and if we equip ourselves with some way to try an avoid a "repeat" then we WILL be able to be much braver. Knowledge is power right!!?? Take the time to figure out what lesson can be learned from this. Let it make you stronger. Ok, Ok, a few tears are allowed too! And getting angry will be part of the scene too. The bike can be fixed as you know. Don't let this mishap rob you of one of the things you love best, Rob!!

I missed reading about the mishap until today as yesterday I trailered LRB 4 hours east via a friend and his trailer down to a really good BMW mechanic so hewill be in top-shape for Springtime when I'll be ready to go I hope!! I am making plans for Johnson City on LRB. Derek is not thrilled but knows it is impt. to keep going. I sorta promised him I won't travel in the Prairies for awhile!!
1983 R65LS - LRB still my favourite!? 1988 Honda NX250, "Toodles Too" and a Suzuki DR650, "Calypso." All stored in the "Brrrmmm Closet".

Offline Justin B.

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #24 on: October 08, 2008, 04:38:06 PM »
Sue, if you were in some boring flat-lands then it would fairly easy to nod off.  I have done that before.  I recall (while in my late teens) riding a Honda 450 across southern New Mexico about midnight in the middle of summer.  I remember all of a sudden being 20-30 yards off the road going about 20 mph.  Lucky that there was no fence, ditch, etc, and it was dead flat ground.  I immediately stopped, got off, and went to sleep on the ground.  Glad no snakes, spiders, or scorpions found me!
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Darwin_R65

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #25 on: October 09, 2008, 04:30:41 PM »
Rob, so sad to hear of your misfortunes.
Unfortunately I read your post out loud and my wife now wishes I hadn't as my bike is about to go on the road when my speedo comes back from the instrument shop.

Once again thanks heaps for the ignition switch you mailed me.

When you've finished beating yourself up for your lack of concentration, I'm sure after a bit of healing time we'll be hearing of you back on the road again. Hope so anyway. Also hope you keep up with this forum while the bike's temporarily off the road.


John

Offline Rob Valdez 79 R65

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #26 on: October 10, 2008, 10:40:47 AM »
Just promise your wife that you have learned from my mistake.

Naturally this applies to any motor vehicle situation, but even more so [size=12]in group riding situations:
[/size] [size=14]
ALWAYS keep your gaze in the direction you are travelling!
[/size]


I think it is a real shame, myself, that a vehicle that is so good at sightseeing is so dangerous, as well.

You DO know that the bike has a natual tendency to go where the pilot is looking, right?
It is a tool that is taught for safety, but as we know, it has a dark side, as well.

Offline Semper Gumby

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #27 on: October 13, 2008, 05:48:59 PM »
crikey!  Here I am again thanking God you are still with us.

+1 your sentiments on group rides.  I take them very seriously.  The BMWMOGA club has a list of rules for group rides.  And Every group ride starts with a briefing by the leader of the ride and a designation of the sweeper (the last guy).  Every group ride I am on I am concious of how quickly disaster can happen.  It helps me stay aware and on point.  Some of the most fun I have had was on a group ride when the group of six that I was in got in "sync".  Everybody started thinking the same thing.  When we got done we just all sat on the bikes and smiled until one person (the leader) said "that was cool."

Heightened Situational Awareness is so important in a group ride.

Please get well and stay with us.  Don't be too hard on yourself.  We have all done things we regret.  That is because we are human and not machines.
Bill Gould ?1980/03 R65 When at first you don't succeed....Moo!

Offline msbuck

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #28 on: October 16, 2008, 10:10:45 PM »
So Rob, how's the fingers healing up?  Have you had a look at the bike yet?  How's your mental state these days?
Looking for an update...  Hope it's all looking up!  You've been in my thoughts and prayers often these days.
A?da
'84 R65
'98 Laverda Ghost Strike
'06 Lifan LF200-GY
Willow Springs, North Carolina

Offline Rob Valdez 79 R65

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Re: crashed my bike - pretty bad
« Reply #29 on: October 17, 2008, 09:05:28 PM »
Update... If you don't mind a cut & paste from my Boxerworks post:


[size=12]First Night Back at Work[/size]

Well, I convinced the docs to let me come back. probably too soon, considering the trials of everyday things like commuting (20 min, nbd) and walking (my office is at the opposite end off the building from the elevator), but we have a pretty small staff here, and my absence was sorely missed. At least I have that!

No cast on the leg. the night of the crash i had fluid on in the knee, and they did MRI's of the knee and called it "bruised bones". It hurts mostly below the knee cap. I have a leg immobilizer sorta like this one.
It is way too uncomfortable to wear longer than a half-hour, but I only need it when I am doing any serious walking, anyway. But it feels great when I first put it on. It gives a sense of security.


The left arm has a small fracture at the top of the fore-arm. The inside of my elbow took a good smack, too.
There is a small patch of roadrash where my gauntlet slid down.

The doctor I saw on Tuesday was their leg specialist. He examined that well, but bowed out of any hand diagnosis as that was not his specialty. So still no word on the "percentages". The may have just been setting me up for a worst-case scenario.
They forced me to make an appointment with the hand surgeon on the 30th.
Their office is 100 miles away from me. They don't want to release me to another hand surgeon's care until the original guy has his follow-up on Oct 30. What do you guys think? Is my pinkie finger valuable enough to warrant the trip?
I already have copies of all the x-ray/mri films. I am waiting for the reports before I go shopping for a local shop.
I'll try and take some photos of the pin films for your admiration.


I have the use of my thumb and 1st two fingers on the left hand, but it is very weak and limited mobility. I could not even clip my fingernails using my left... I had to beg my sis-in-law to do it. :(



The collision occurred about 75 miles north of home, just a few blocks from the Indiana Air Marshal's house. Lucky for me, he just finished building a mega square-foot machine shop on his property, and extended storage is NBD. We were not able to connect last Tues. when I went up to see the docs.

Yes, you will see pictures as soon as I take them.

When I spoke to Steve on Monday, I asked him for details, but he was kind of vague having forgotten a lot.
I knew the l-h valve cover would be toast, but I fear for the valve train itself, as it was determined that the left head put a hole in the R1200GS' final drive.

I asked about the left fiberglass leg shield, expecting it to be in a mess. He said he was pretty sure only the paint was scuffed. I'm not putting any money on that one!

He did say the left handlebar is bent and limits steering, but it rolls fine. No doubt the left (heated) handgrip/mirror/clutch lever are wasted as well.
I was astounded when I saw my GPS and it looked just like it did 2 seconds before impact. I think the said it was thrown free. And I was looking forward to upgrading to color when I was in the hospital, before I had some belongings delivered from Steve' by another ABC member that was going my way... :)


Mostly I am just impatient to get past the fist 4 weeks, but now that I think about it, I am half-way there!