For all the ease in riding this bike, training courses and practicing ... I couldn't avoid laying it down this weekend.

I was riding down a very easy stretch of road when an oncoming car drove onto the double yellow and looked to be taking the curve a bit wider that I would have liked. I must have hit the front bake too hard and next thing I knew I was lying on the side of the road in a field. My ridding buddy and a car passing by stopped to help me. After a quick "systems" check, I found that except some apparent road rash, a hurt foot and ankle, I felt alright.

I was about 40 minutes from home in the country, and with apparently minor injuries and a bike that still ran, albeit with some dents, scratches and bent handlebars, I decided to ride it home. Good or bad, I made it home just fine, though shifting was painful at best.

I decided to go to Urgent Care, where I found that I had broken my left big toe (hence the shifting pain) and injured my ankle. I got bandaged up, given a tetanus shot and was sent on my way.

It all hurts, but I can only be happy that it wasn't worse. I'll try to get some photos for you guys of the bike here. I have to call the insurance company to see what the damage is. It's drivable (obviously), but is beat up pretty bad.

Anyway, my advice from the accident, stay away from the center lane, and watch that front brake!

Yikers! Glad to hear you're [mostly] okay.

Sometimes it's the things we think oncoming traffic will do that are more scary/dangerous than the things it actually does.

Sometimes it's the things we think oncoming traffic will do that are more scary/dangerous than the things it actually does.
Aint that the truth! I'm glad to hear that you are okay. What kind of gear were you wearing? And by chance did you have steel toe boots? Just curious. And don't worry about the bike. Anything mechanical can be fixed or replaced. Your health is #1. Oh, and :welcome to the sliding across the pavement sans bike club!!!

Sorry about your toe and bike, hope they get better soon...
Welcome to the site :)

Ouch... good that you made it out fairly unharmed. I guess walking will be painful for a while, but at least you're still able to.

Lane crossing is really bad out here... some of the coutry roads wind all through creek bottoms and stuff and the idiot drivers around here are too lazy to turn a little later and sharper... luckily, none that I've come across were in blind corners, or I might be in the same place as you... I would probably freak as well.

Here are some photos of the bike ... the insurance agent was out today, and I should know if it's totaled or not tomorrow:

(click photos for more detail)

http://media.storples.com/images/wreck1s.jpg (http://media.storples.com/images/wreck1.jpg)
http://media.storples.com/images/wreck2s.jpg (http://media.storples.com/images/wreck2.jpg)
http://media.storples.com/images/wreck3s.jpg (http://media.storples.com/images/wreck3.jpg)
http://media.storples.com/images/wreck4s.jpg (http://media.storples.com/images/wreck4.jpg)
http://media.storples.com/images/wreck5s.jpg (http://media.storples.com/images/wreck5.jpg)

Sorry Brother, hope you get her fixed up and back out on the horse soon.

Ouch. :? Best wishes for a speedy recovery for you and the bike.

It looks mostly cosmetic (except the bent handlebars), but there could be some stuff I'm not noticing... good luck with it. Maybe this is a good opportunity for a cool color change?

At least you didn't hit that car head on. I bet your insurance scraps the bike.

Bummer. Sorry to hear about the accident! Been there done that.

I seriously doubt they will total out that bike. Unless the frame has been damaged in some way which I can't tell from the pics.

At least you didn't hit that car head on. I bet your insurance scraps the bike.
I seriously doubt they will total out that bike. Unless the frame has been damaged in some way which I can't tell from the pics.

Actually, antihero is correct, though I thought they might total the bike too, Super Sneaky Steve, but I guess not this time. ~$2400 to repair the bike, so far. My guess is that they will find some more things wrong, but I was told they'll cover anything else that is found wrong with the bike. Surprisingly, they will also replace the motorcycle gear that probably saved me from much worse injury, so kudos to Progressive. I don't know about a paint change, but if so, any suggestions? How hard would it be to paint everything that is black now? Probably something the insurance company won't pay for, however.

I am happy because I'll get my 599 back, but sad because I think it will be repaired before I am.

If you're going to consider a new paint job, might I suggest using the same design as your garage walls? :naughty

Ouch indeed!

I had progressive when I totalled my first bike and they covered the bike, the mods, and my gear. I was pretty happy with them. When you get all that money, make sure you buy yourself some decent gear and good riding boots.

Wishing you and your baby quick recovery!

If you're going to consider a new paint job, might I suggest using the same design as your garage walls? :naughty
Ha, nice catch ... yeah, the previous owners were artists, good ones actually, but some of their work was kid oriented (they teach elementary school art), so there you go.

I liked it! I think a few flowers on the 599 tank would look sweet! But then again, I'm this dippy hippy gurl so what do I know. :lol:

Sorry to hear about the accident...It really sux when someone goes down..Scares me sometimes... But it Is a good reality check for the rest of us..I know it is for me, so thanks for posting about it..and I hope you and the Bike both recover quickly..

And as far as tha paint goes ,,Whatever you do, DONT PAINT IT YELLOW... Its slows the Hornet WAY down. :D I I'd say a Different shade Of Black will look PERFECT on that Bike!! 8)

Jawbreaker - f&*% you.


:P

:wink: And chick Dig black.. See!! lol

You are making NO sense at all! :lol:

"Chicks" (feh) like pink and flowers and hearts. When "chicks" ride motorcycles "chicks" love bikes that give them space for a good reach-around. After all, NOTHING is better for a relationship than a good O at the start of a ride!

"Chicks" (feh) like pink and flowers and hearts.
:lol:

... and just for a follow up, I have some photos of the crash scene:

The guy in the distance is where the first marks appeared on the road, the close up of the guy is where my bike landed, and the photo is from where I landed. The distance is about 50 feet and almost 3/4 of the slide for me was on pavement, despite the angle of the photo:
http://media.storples.com/images/crash_site1s.jpg (http://media.storples.com/images/crash_site1.jpg)

Here is a sign I narrowly missed:
http://media.storples.com/images/crash_site2s.jpg (http://media.storples.com/images/crash_site2.jpg)

And here is someone on the yellow line while we were revisiting the scene, just as when I wrecked:
http://media.storples.com/images/crash_site3s.jpg (http://media.storples.com/images/crash_site3.jpg)

Glad it wasn't worse and that you missed the sign.

Seems like the repairs would cost more from the photos.

Sliding on grass and not hitting anything is definately the way to go. I have a good friend who did very much the same thing. He rode away with some minor rash and a few scrapes on his bike.

Been riding for about three years now and never gone down...i'm beginning to get worried. :roll: Just lucky, i guess...

Been riding for about three years now and never gone down......
Damn it... QUICK, EVERYONE, FIND SOME WOOD! :lol:

You're my hero, rnd. :roll: :wink:

Been riding for about three years now and never gone down......
Damn it... QUICK, EVERYONE, FIND SOME WOOD! :lol:

Are you suggesting we go find some porn?

wonder how much frame sliders or the givi crash cage would have minimize damage

Frame sliders in a crash like this could cause more damage than good. They help if the bike falls over at a stop or a near stop, but if you go down at speed, as I have before, the frame slider ended up cracking the engine case, which guaranteed the "totalled" title.

Frame sliders in a crash like this could cause more damage than good. They help if the bike falls over at a stop or a near stop, but if you go down at speed, as I have before, the frame slider ended up cracking the engine case, which guaranteed the "totalled" title.

Also, during a high speed slide, the frame sliders have been know to catch on something and cause the bike to start flipping.

They're still worth it though. If you're ever in a situation that causes you to worry about sliders doing more harm than good, you've got more to worry about than the condition of your bike.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/ex500/SSS/slider2.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/ex500/SSS/slider1.jpg

This was a 919. As you can see a damaged engine block is way worse than replacing the side covers and bar ends.

I'm not a fan of sliders for naked bikes.

Seen that way to much... I like the Givi Crash bars... The protect like the sliders (Better Maybe?) and not likely to "Catch" on anything and cause the bike to flip.. they are more expensive, but worth it IMO.. They also fit the lines of the Hornet pretty well. I've had several people ask if it came from Honda that way, or why Honda started putting cages on their Engines.. So It must look factory installed to most... Here's a pic or two if you wanna see it..

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/8535/img00821sh4.th.jpg (http://img410.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img00821sh4.jpg)

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/654/img00801dc4.th.jpg (http://img241.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img00801dc4.jpg)

...They're still worth it though. If you're ever in a situation that causes you to worry about sliders doing more harm than good, you've got more to worry about than the condition of your bike.
+1
FWIW the GIVI Bars are the way to go if really worried about the issue.

last saturday in a curve( 45km/h ) i slide over ( in a tunnel)

i caught a bunch of rocks and than i let the bike go away than it hit de wall

For my self I didn't touch the wall but I slide around 50ft on asphalte and

small rocks.........so all my equipment is finish( helmet,gloves,second helmet that was on my rear seat,racing boots and my riding pants and almost few parts on my bike

For my self I didn't touch the wall but I slide around 50ft on asphalte and small rocks.........so all my equipment is finish( helmet,gloves,second helmet that was on my rear seat,racing boots and my riding pants and almost few parts on my bike
That's all fine, but are you okay?

yeah I'm ok I only have a bit roadrash on both knee and on my hip (a scrare inch)

:shock: wow, what's going on with all this crashing guys? Be careful out there and please make sure you wear gear!!!

I was in Maryland over the weekend and I swear, out of 15 or so riders I saw, may be one of them wore any gear other than a helmet!?! :wtf

Wear it!!!

PS. LarryBoy... I'm glad YOU're okay. Bike will get fixed.

What Alex said.

Larry - glad you are all right. Good gear is the best!

In Iowa, I rarely see any gear.

I was at a gas station right off the interstate by my house and I saw a guy wearing an Icon jacket and that's when I was looking at them so I asked him how he liked it and chatted. He was coming from Michigan to Missouri and in the 2 1/2 hours he had been driving through Iowa, I was the first bike he saw with a helmet.

Most of the bikes you see are small touring bikes and some sportsters for the over 30 crowd, and under 30 you'll see mostly just sport bikes. A lot of GSX-Rs basically. And 9/10 will be wearing t-shirts, no helmet, and mechanix gloves. Apparently that's the style - so you can walk around with the gloves in your pocket to show off you have them. Really stupid and annoying.

Hey MK4. Wanted to weigh in on Icon jackets. I have a "motorhead" that is very good, but I have never crashed in it...
The look is really great, I get a lot of compliments especially from women.
The fit is a little loose in the body, which I think is a fashion thing. I could imagine that sliding feet first, that the jacket would ride up a bit. There is no zipper for pants. The cuffs are a little large, so if you have gauntlet gloves you may find yourself unable to get the gauntlet over the outside.
It is a little hot, but the arms are perforated and there is no collar.

In Iowa, I rarely see any gear.

The latest baffling trend I've been seeing on warm days is rider wearing riding a sporty jacket and the bike is wearing the helmet. WTF? It's hot, you wear long pants, jacket and NO helmet?

Perhaps concessions must be made for heat, not suggesting that we take helmets off. I would rather ride in my underwear than ride helmet-less.
These fools with no helmets are going to get brain injured and our tax money will eventually pick up the tab.
I suppose that they think they look cool. Sad really, looking at the organ donors of the future.
Many of us wear jeans when it gets really hot. Along those lines I just picked up some Carhart logging jeans with double material in the front.
They seem really sturdy.

Carharts are the bomb.

rfoap and Larryboy glad you all are OK!!
As far as gear, or lack thereof, it's pretty amazing and terrifying to see
the amount of people here in Virginia Beach that ride with no gear
other than a brain bucket helmet. Sure, gear is friggin hot in 95 degree
sun but so is road rash. I would say 60% of sportbike riders here
where gloves, armored jackets, boots and full face helmets. Almost
none of the cruiser guys wear anything more than boots, shades,
fingerless gloves, and half helmets. Alot of people ride in shorts and
sneakers, some fools ride in wifebeaters. Even clowns two up with shorts
and sandals on. They have no clue! Even in a low speed fall, somebodys
gettin shredded. To each his own.

Well, tomorrow will be 6 weeks since my accident and I thought I'd give a quick update.

My medical boot came off this past Wednesday (a good thing), but in that time my leg, ankle and foot have atrophied and so it will take a few weeks to get my strength back. It still hurts a little to walk, but the bone has healed and the doctor said that was just weakness in the muscles. My road rash on my knee is just about healed, while the other spots have pretty much gone away. The road rash on my palm has left a pretty big scar, which looks cool, but it still somewhat sensitive to pressure.

My bike has yet to be completely fixed. As you all know, the 599 is not the most popular bike in the states, and so parts have taken awhile to get here, specifically the left front shock tube. It's only cosmetic damage, but a part I'm waiting for nonetheless. The dealer it's getting repaired at has been really good about keeping me informed and I'm hoping to get a call today telling me it's ready to pick up.

So, it could be a good weekend for me, though my first ride in many weeks may be put off while one part comes in. Thanks to all that looked over this thread. Laying down a bike sucked for me, but 6 weeks later, it's only be an experience to gain from. Enjoy your rides and take it easy!

Goos to hear about your recovery. Take it easy at first. Let us know how you make out.

Recover well. :thumbsup