Leather Wallets -  - Would Recommend

"McMike" (mcmike) 08/02/2019 at 13:19 • Filed to: two wheels bad, tutu135

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I think from now on, I will carry two.

That is, when I get on a motorcycle again.

That shiny new teal motorcycle I picked up back in march and I have done two things together. 1) 3,500 miles, and 2) gymnastics on the highway.

Not sure the bike is going to make it. I have counted between $5-6K worth of parts alone, and that’s only what I can see. There is some value left in this bike, so I’m hoping it’s just a lot of bolt on bits, and I’ll get it back.

We also did the “full dresser,” which consists of a low-side, followed almost immediately with a high-side, violence, tumbling, groaning, cursing, exchanging of information, and a trip to the ER.

Surprisingly, I was able to ride it home, but once I got here, the adrenaline wore off and I have been chair-ridden ever since. Fortunately, I can work from home. I don’t like to, but I can.

Because of the low/high side, there is damage to just about everything but the front/rear fender, seat. Shit, there’s even damage on the top of the windscreen.

Low side at the top, high-side flip, skid, bounce, came to rest - even those marks look expensive.

Some of the highlights, but not all. No need to bore anyone with photos of scrapes and scratches on 50 motorcycle parts.

Long story short:

Two lanes on highway. My lane was going 5 0ish, the other driver’s lane was going slightly slower. We were all slowing down for congestion.

I had rolled off the throttle and was just closing up the 100' gap to the car in front of me. The other lane was already bumper to bumper.

While I was coasting down in my lane, one of the cars in the other lane saw the reasonably large space in front of me and decided they had to be in it. They cranked the wheel and jerked out.

Not in front of me. Into me.

The only warning I had was movement just beyond my left knee out of the corner of my eye. I looked down to see a fender coming into my lane. He came in contact with the rear of my bike like a PIT maneuver.

Bike went down on the left side, I slid for 20' or so, ruined a pair of pants, then the rubber met the road and vaulted us both in the air and I ended up on the shoulder while the bike bounced to a stop.

There goes my riding season.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:25

2

well shit

sounds like you’re still mostly in one piece tho...so thats good

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:26

1

What matters is that we still have you around. Here’s to a speedy recovery.

As for the bike, that can be fixed or replaced. 

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:27

2

Sue that dumb fucker

MonkeePuzzle > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:27

3

I speak for all (except maybe the scum over in ) when I say we are glad you are reasonably unscathed!

Wishing you a speedy recovery, and best of luck finding a replacement aqua machine.

Additionally, this image gave me a solid lol, likely because I imagined it accompanied by cartoonish slide whistle sounds. 

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:28

0

Glad you’re mostly okay, sorry about the bike. Hopefully you can save it, people suck.

HammerheadFistpunch > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:28

2

Glad the bodily damage was fairly limited.  This is why riding bikes scares me.  I know I know...but well, yeah the danger is real.  

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:29

0

I am very glad you came out mostly unscathed. Fucking people and their inability to look for obstacles in their surroundings. A bright blue Harley no less, can’t be that hard to miss. 

facw > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:30

1

Ouch... Hope you’re on the mend.

Those situations where one lane is moving much faster than the other are so dangerous, even in cars (I had an oh shit moment where someone pulled out in right front of me on the highway in H ouston, but I was able to panic successfully and avoid hitting them).

My wallet is made of synthetic fiber sail cloth:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U749TC

I don’t particularly recommend it. It is thin and light, but also quite plasticy. It feels pretty sturdy, but I don’t have any evidence it would be good crash protection.  

McMike > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 08/02/2019 at 13:30

5

As long as I don’t have to stand up, sit down, bend over, walk, pull my pants up or raise my hand to ask a question, I’m good.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:31

0

Yikes. Glad to hear that you’re in one (if battered) piece.

Also, +1 on leather wallets.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:31

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lol heal well mate

M.T. Blake > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:32

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That ‘was’ a nice bike. Could have been worse! You could be the worlds best rider and get killed by some idiot... stay safe!

CaptDale - is secretly British > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:32

0

Glad you are ok! At least the other driver is at fault?

vicali > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:33

0

This ride would be great if it wasn’t for all the cars...

H ope you and your bike feel better soon.

BigBlock440 > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:34

1

See, if you would have had loud pipes and were revving it while you were coming to a stop like a good Harley rider, this wouldn’t have happened.

$kaycog > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:36

1

Scary stuff.  Glad  you’re mostly okay.

For Sweden > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:36

1

With this evidence, I think you can request the FBI Hostage Rescue Team to take out the perp.

facw > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:38

5

Let’s stick to the important stuff. Are you still able to manipulate images for our amusement?

Pich, with Z32 now featuring Civic [Si] / No > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:42

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yikes my dude, hope you get better soon  

atfsgeoff > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:44

2

Even if it is totaled:

Buy it back from insurance, replace the busted light, the bent brake lever and windshield, then ride that shit exactly the way it is. The rest are scars worth keeping.

BeaterGT > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:45

0

Glad you’re still here and in good spirits! What were they “ driving” ?

Cash Rewards > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:47

0

Shit man, glad you’re still among us. There was a bad one on rt 7 just outside of Tyson’s last year that didn’t end so well.

Its gonna bother me until I figure out where you were. Just just enough from the pics to give me an idea, but not enough to nail it down. 

vondon302 > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:48

2

Holy ouch batman. That sucks but could have been so much worse.

Sorry  couldn't resist. Heal up and cheers!

McMike > facw 08/02/2019 at 13:51

2

I never carry a high speed differential between lanes. I always slow down to something that gives me a chance to react.

The only think you can never react to is THAT car. That car that is right next to you and is on top of you before you can react.

MonkeePuzzle > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:55

2

working from home, why would you need pants?

McMike > atfsgeoff 08/02/2019 at 13:55

2

Even if it is totaled:

Buy it back from insurance, replace the busted light, the bent brake lever and windshield, then ride that shit exactly the way it is. The rest are scars worth keeping.

4/5

McMike > MonkeePuzzle 08/02/2019 at 13:57

2

Because I’m not an animal.

And I happen to like this office chair.

Party-vi > McMike 08/02/2019 at 13:59

2

Glad you’re not too banged up.

KnowsAboutCars > McMike 08/02/2019 at 14:02

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Glad to hear you’re relatively ok. The bike is a shame it was such a good colou r too.

McMike > For Sweden 08/02/2019 at 14:03

3

I have forwarded the images to the appropriate authorities:    The FBI, the DMV, Department of Homeland Security, Scotty Kilmer, and Department of Transportation.

McMike > KnowsAboutCars 08/02/2019 at 14:11

2

It was the only year the Road King was available in that color. Took me months to find it. 

There are four for sale within 500 miles of here. I’m watching them. 

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > McMike 08/02/2019 at 14:13

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Glad you’re okay. That’s the most important thing. Metal can be mended....   bodies, it’s never so simple.

Ash78, voting early and often > McMike 08/02/2019 at 14:14

0

Was Steven Seagal behind the wheel of the other car? That’s all I can think of for motive...

Get better soon! 

Pickup_man > McMike 08/02/2019 at 14:17

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Glad you are relatively ok! Heal fast. 

fintail > McMike 08/02/2019 at 14:18

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And this is why I don’t want to ride. Luck, it was on your side. Pick up a lottery ticket just for the hell of it. Glad to see you survived relatively fine.

What hit you?

shop-teacher > McMike 08/02/2019 at 14:18

0

Damn, that's a shame. Glad you're more or less OK. Did the offending driver at least stick around?

MonkeePuzzle > McMike 08/02/2019 at 14:24

2

dress the chair?

benn454 > McMike 08/02/2019 at 14:25

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 This is why I always decide no every time I'm tempted to learn to ride. Too many oblivious idiots.

ttyymmnn > McMike 08/02/2019 at 14:27

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That sucks. Glad you’re not more seriously damaged. Even in a car, I find that driving along a line of stopped cars is one of the more perilous things you can do. Many years ago I was driving by a line of cars stopped on an intestate offramp and a motorcycle changed his mind and pulled out right in front of me at 60 mph. I damn near picked up a hood ornament that day. 

McMike > ttyymmnn 08/02/2019 at 14:34

1

I know better than that.   There was a 10mph speed differential between the lanes. Nothing I could have done.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > McMike 08/02/2019 at 14:46

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Hopefully none of you is damaged more than bumps and bruises, and everything heals up quickly.  Take it easy for a while and I hope things don’t start hurting worse over the next few days.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > McMike 08/02/2019 at 15:01

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The lead image makes me think there is an assless chaps joke in here somewhere, but seriously, I’m glad you’re okay.

WilliamsSW > McMike 08/02/2019 at 15:11

0

Shit. So sorry to hear it. Sounds like you’re on the mend, hopefully feeling 100% quickly.

People need to pay a little more attention FFS.   

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > McMike 08/02/2019 at 15:30

2

Sounds like the bike did a good job of keeping you off the road. Mostly. Without the saddle bags you could have found yourself sliding in between the bike and t he road. And then you wouldn’t have walked home 

McMike > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 08/02/2019 at 15:50

1

The front and rear guards do a great job keeping the expensive bits off the road. I dropped my old one before at 10-15 mph, and the guards were the only thing that touched the ground.

Clever, since it would be a shame to drop a bike in a gravel or sandy parking lot and have to replace $1500 worth of painted bits. That would be the equivalent of the Camry dent.  Most guys would leave it or try to paint it with a sharpie or slap chrome on it.  :)

I did ride the bike into the first slide though, so they did their job this time.  Not a scratch on that leg.

nermal > McMike 08/02/2019 at 16:25

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Better get one of these before you realize you need one - They’re in the same color theme as your bike!

gettingoldercarguy > McMike 08/02/2019 at 16:52

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Glad you’re ok (relatively) . Lawyer up asap.

I went down once trying to power it off a tank slapper, but couldn’t pick up the front. High sided after cracking four tubs trying to hold on, slid a couple hundred yards mostly on my back. My ass touched down briefly and my skin melted into my underwear.  At the hospital, the surgical tech was told to wait to start scrubbing whole they got me a local anaesthetic.  Doctor left and I guess the tech thought he should start scrubbing the underwear out of my ass without pain meds.  Painful and I was just watching blood flow like a waterfall into the pan.  Doctor came back in, yelled for him to stop, apologized, but we were done.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > McMike 08/02/2019 at 17:32

0

Damn. Glad your (relatively) okay!

Louder exhaust on the next one?

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > McMike 08/02/2019 at 19:19

1

All things aside I am glad you are okay and I hope the other driver can learn from this and  do  better in the future. I always worry about our two wheeled friends when I see you guys out and about. At the end of the day it’s not even up to how safe you are, it’s everyone else. 

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > McMike 08/02/2019 at 19:23

0

glad you’re safe. going full pants next time?

DipodomysDeserti > McMike 08/02/2019 at 21:49

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Glad to see the Biltwell lid held up and you’re still breathing. Godspeed on the recovery.

McMike > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 08/03/2019 at 09:11

1

At the end of the day it’s not even up to how safe you are, it’s everyone else.

Yup. I do 3K miles a year, most of them in DC traffic. I have never let anyone hit me before because I see it coming most of the time. It’s like I have ESP. The way drivers behave, the way they position themselves in traffic, change of pace vs their surroundings etc.. I know where to position myself to stay out their possible carelessness...

Not this time. My eyes were on every car ahead of me, not next to me.   Nothing I could have done to prevent this one - except for leaving the house five minutes earlier or later.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > McMike 08/03/2019 at 11:56

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Exactly, even when you have developed that 6th sense and have lots of experience sometimes it’s out of your control. But I guess that’s part of the appeal of motorcycling 

TheRealBicycleBuck > McMike 09/12/2019 at 14:43

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I’m glad to see that you came through it ok. The first major wreck I remember was a motorcyclist who was hit by someone running a stop sign. He slid twice as far as you did, but without the benefit of a leather wallet or anything else to protect his backside. It dawned on me later that the streak on the road was skin and blood.

Again, I’m glad you were wearing the gear and came through it safely.

McMike > TheRealBicycleBuck 09/12/2019 at 15:42

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Thanks. It’s been six weeks and I’m feeling pretty good. Still sore, still going to the doctor, etc... 

Just got the final estimate approved by the insurance company last week.

$10,456.

They started ordering parts, and I should have it back by the end of October.