While traveling south from Cedar Rapids, IA to St. Louis I had my first low side. I had gotten off the highway to fill up on gas and grab lunch. As I was getting back on the on ramp all of the sudden I'm sliding on my right side. I was probably going about 25 MPH around a bend so I wasn't going to fast. After sliding to a stop I tried to figure out what caused the accident. Turns out they were repainting the road striping and I slipped on wet paint. There weren't signs anywhere or workers there to let you know the paint was wet.
Some people helped me lift the bike up and walk it to the side of the road. I was fine because of the gear I was wearing, full face helmet, riding jacket, kneepads. I was so glad I was wearing the knee pads. I bought the $25 kneepads on a whim to get my order over a certain amount for free shipping. I ended up sliding on my right knee and it went straight through my jeans. So I made sure I was fine then my attention shifted to my bike.
As far as damage to the bike goes, the initial fall broke the bar end off, dented the tank in 2 places, broke the brake lever and bent the right mirror. As the bike was sliding it ground the end of the handlebar down, cracked the plastic handgrip part of the trottle, the rubber grip and scratched the clutch cover. And because I had the pelican side cases on bike for my trip the right one was scratched up pretty good and the mounting bars were bend in such a way that I couldn't get it off until I was able to bend it back a few days later. One of the worst things is that when I rode over the paint it kicked thick white road striping paint all over the bike. The bike started up fine and got into gear just fine but I didn't have a front brake.
I decided to ride to the nearest Honda shop hoping they would have a lever that would work. I get there and they are closed all day on a Monday. I go across the street to Walmart, grab a pair of vice grips and go on my way. I cant find anyone anywhere around that has a brake lever so I call ahead to Atlanta where I planned to spend a few nights and have them order one for me.
Now for some pictures...
You can see in the next one that the bar end actually sheared off leaving part of it inside.
In this last one you can see white pain on the front tire, engine, radiator cover exhaust... and the scratched side case, dented tank.
I don't have any other more specific pictures because I left my bike in Florida due to Hurricane Irene. I'll get more into that when I type up my ride report, and I'll post more pictures when I'm reunited with my bike.
Atleast now I have an excuse to get a new jacket, boots, handlebars, grips, mirrors, etc...
So for all you guys out there, wear your gear. I am a firm believer in ATGATT. Had it not been for the $25 kneepads I probably would have been in the hospital having skin grafts put on my knee.
I commute a 6 mile trip from my house to work everyday. One day this summer they striped and didn't mark anything. And I took a left hand turn over the paint and almost lost it ( I was going slow, at 25 mph I would have been down for sure). Now the lines scare me wet or dry... I don't know if I'm crazy from the one event, but it always seem to me like the paint is slippery, even if it's dry.
ya them paint lines are slippery as shit even when perfectly dry on a dry day..... make them wet paint lines... f that.
looks like the tank isnt to bad at all.... lot better than my tank is from the previous owners tip over at a stop sign.... ur pelican case is what saved the bike.
REGARDLESS of the bike, glad you are 100% ok. the bike can be fixed
Man, I'd be ALL for going after the city for that one. Unmarked fresh paint? What were they thinking?
They should cover all you expenses on your bike and any medical bills, etc. If they don't budge, call a lawyer. Open and shut case in my book.
This is my hope. Now that I'm home I'm going to try to get a hold of the correct person. It was a highway crew that was painting them so I may be looking at the Department of Transportation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nd4spdbh
ya them paint lines are slippery as shit even when perfectly dry on a dry day..... make them wet paint lines... f that.
looks like the tank isnt to bad at all.... lot better than my tank is from the previous owners tip over at a stop sign.... ur pelican case is what saved the bike.
REGARDLESS of the bike, glad you are 100% ok. the bike can be fixed
I was pretty weary of them for the first few days after, getting nervous anytime I was near a line. I'm sure it will become a natural part of the way I ride to avoid all lines. I was really nervous about the paint on the tire and loosing traction on a right hand turn so I took it slow at first. Most of that wore off with time. I got it cleaned up a lot more when I was in Florida.
Yep, paint lines are from the Devil...best to avoid them always! I like to make a game of weaving around crosswalk stripes in my lane when I'm going through intersections, which gives the additional benefit of some lateral motion to catch the eye of cagers who may not be paying attention. it's kinda like the old "step on a crack" thing, I just aim for the unpainted spots.
Glad you're ok, and it's great that you were wearing those kneepads! Take care, it's dangerous out there!
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Well, fire the engines! Spur this iron space-pony on!
Assuming you have collision insurance, make the claim through them. Let your insurance company worry about suing the city and the months of legal BS that will take.
Sucks to hear of a crash , glad you made it out ok , on the jeans and knee pads thing i was also wearing knee pads but my jeans were Draggin Jeans with kevlar sewn in them , you might consider them instead of regular jeans if you must have jeans , the knee pads are a good idea no matter what pants you are wearing , they really help take the shock of the impact and saves you some pain , personally never ever rode without knee pads under my jeans and i found these to be the most comfortable and protective pair http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/catego...e-guard-10329/
wow, glad you are ok, never considered knee pads. thinking of them now as I look at my khakis!!!
the worst are the thermo-plastic painting that they use now-adays...slippery in any condition.
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02 919, Black w/Red decals, SS Yoshi's, Renthal UL, bar-end mirrors, sometimes a belly pan and windscreen, sometimes not!
01 CBR F4i-SOLD
02 CBR F4i-SOLD
92 Kawi EX 500-SOLD
Glad to hear your not hurt! Yep go after the DOT. I hope you took pictures of the road so you can prove that there was no Signs marking wet paint. They might try to get you on that you can't prove it so they wont pay for anything. Draggin jeans are on my Christmas list. In the heat of summer my riding pants are just way to hot but I still want some pertection better than just jeans.
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Never Trade the Thrills of Living for the Security of Existence.
thats SUCKSSS!!! I'm glad your ok. good luck with the insurance. They should take care of that. Your not at fault. The white paint all over everything is proof
Jumbo...glad to see you made it thru the crash relatively okay.
Like previously stated, bikes can be fixed, it was a good thing
you had the knee guards on. Post what parts you may need,
I have a collection of stock parts also.
Glad you're ok man and the bike looks to be easily fixable. Heck there's a $2800 bike for sale in the classifieds right now - just buy that bad boy. Talk about a great "parts bike."
Hangster, it's just a scratch compared to what you're going through. I certainly wish you the best in your recovery. Your's was proly the worst accident I've seen injury-wise where the rider lived.
But yeah I've posted the pic before but if it makes one rider rethink knee protection it's worth posting again. That shit hurts!
That sucks man. I will suggest motovationusa's frame sliders. $80 that would have saved the majority of that damage. I know because I had a low slide in the fall of '09 at 45 mph. Most of the damage was to myself, but my bike only suffered a broken brake lever on the handle bars and a bent brake lever on the foot peg, and a scraped motovation slider. Nothing else. Come to think of it, those motovation sliders have saved me twice.
Glad you're alright, it's easier to fix a bike than yourself as my shoulder still hurts. haha
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MH60M - The only Chopper for me...
I'm glad you are ok, but being as that is my favorite color of 919 it really makes me cringe to see one go down...
I know, I really like the color as well. I didn't think I would when I bought it but it was cheap. It has grown on me a lot. I hope to replace the color to stock but we will see how that goes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RoboStraub 919
That sucks man. I will suggest motovationusa's frame sliders. $80 that would have saved the majority of that damage. I know because I had a low slide in the fall of '09 at 45 mph. Most of the damage was to myself, but my bike only suffered a broken brake lever on the handle bars and a bent brake lever on the foot peg, and a scraped motovation slider. Nothing else. Come to think of it, those motovation sliders have saved me twice.
Glad you're alright, it's easier to fix a bike than yourself as my shoulder still hurts. haha
I had a set of GIVI crash bars that I was all set to put on before leaving on the trip. Unfortunately they didn't fit with the 900rr headers. I was going to get frame sliders but didn't have enough time to get them in time for my departure date.
Jumbo, Did you lowside leaving Cedar Rapids? If so I'm sorry, around here every time the roads have been painted recently its been marked or coned off. Glad to see you are ok
he is my insurance agent/ lawer. Really good guy. He is currently sueing this kid that rear ended my brother and screwed up his back. He's located on main street in everett.
Funny how were willing to wear gloves, helmet n jackets but dont give 2nd thot to our knees and ankles. Spidi makes a great pair of knee pads designed to fit over your pants. Easy on, easy off.
I was stopped for gas down in Mt. Pleasant where 34 and 27 meet. I was heading east on 34 to continue south on 27. There weren't any signs on road. I know there usually are but this time there was nothing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by undercover919
Jumbo, Did you lowside leaving Cedar Rapids? If so I'm sorry, around here every time the roads have been painted recently its been marked or coned off. Glad to see you are ok
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