Cant even call it an accident. More like an 'at fault' as it was 100% all mine. Due to my own stupidity I clipped the back end of a stationary object, meaning a car..
It happened last Sunday on my ride down to the keys with Busa1166 and O Holy P. We were four hours into our ride and had ridden about 200 miles. We stopped to take a break and drink a bottle of water. Less than 100yds back on the road third car in front of me broke down and came to a stop, other two cars in front of me also came to a stop, not an immediate sudden stop but a quick stop. I was simply mentally tired and lost concentration for only a second or less. I was not going more than 20-30mph nor was I following too close. It is just that my concentration lapsed for only just a second or so and by the time my brain smacked me awake the safe following distance I had evaporated and it was almost too late. I was heading dead center for the rear of the car stopped in front of me. I grabbed the brakes and steered left. Almost made it (I know, that doesnt count) I was in control all the way up until the very last ten feet or so but wound up giving it too much rear brake and locked it up. At that point I lost control and all ability to continue steering her around the car and avoid and impact disappeared and I clipped the rear of the car. Bike was semi sideways when both of us slammed into rear of car/tailgate. I pinballed off tailgate and was going over to left. She got too far over and before she came over on my leg I pushed off her and she went down on left side. It was 100% my fault as only a seconds worth of lapse of concentration almost cost me dearly. I have thought about posting this for a few days now. The pain and anger at myself have subsided so I figure I can handle all the 'your a dumbass' comments I well deserve. Busa1166 and O Holy P were with me and very gentlemanly about it at the time but now is y'alls time to laugh it up as again I deserve it. I bounced off the rear of the car like a basketball.
The people I hit could not have been nicer as they were only concerned if I was alright. The responding officer again could not have been nicer as he said to me it was obvious how much my pride had been hurt and he was not gonna cite me even though I was clearly the 'at fault' vehicle.
After we left the scene we contiuned on the No Name pub for a pizza so I can say that it was the most expensive pizza I've ever had.
Words cannot express how lucky I am to have been able to walk away with only a few bruises.
I am still amazed also at the fact that considering how hard I hit the rear of the vehicle that I did not break or crack a single piece on the bike. Both fairings are scratched, nose piece is scratched on both sides, gas tank has fist sized dent in it, stator cover is gouged and scratched but not broken, clutch lever is scratched, both mirrors are scratched and foot peg on left side is dinged as well from when she fell over. My right wrist swoll up pretty bad same as my right knee did. I feel that if I had sliders on bike they may have saved left side from amount of damage it sustained but aslo feel that right side slider may have 'caught' on something and done more damage rather than the bike smoothly bouncing off.
After we ate I rode over 220 miles home and let me tell you it was a long lonely ride. Bike did not leak a single drop of anything and started right up. Without seeing the damage or knowing about it she runs fine and is fine.
There are no questions to be asked by me nor any mystery as to what happened as again it was all my fault. Just simply let myself drift for as second and rear ended a car. We are a big family here. I have shared my good experiences with you folks and now I share my bad one. My gear saved me from further injury because as you can see my helmet is what put huge dent in tailgate.
So let the bashing begin as I deserve all of it .
'Dipstick' , 'Dumbass' and anything else I am it !
Manny (Busa1166) and Patrick (O Holy P) thanks for being there to help me.
Side of bike that hit car..
Left side damage from falling over...
It happened last Sunday on my ride down to the keys with Busa1166 and O Holy P. We were four hours into our ride and had ridden about 200 miles. We stopped to take a break and drink a bottle of water. Less than 100yds back on the road third car in front of me broke down and came to a stop, other two cars in front of me also came to a stop, not an immediate sudden stop but a quick stop. I was simply mentally tired and lost concentration for only a second or less. I was not going more than 20-30mph nor was I following too close. It is just that my concentration lapsed for only just a second or so and by the time my brain smacked me awake the safe following distance I had evaporated and it was almost too late. I was heading dead center for the rear of the car stopped in front of me. I grabbed the brakes and steered left. Almost made it (I know, that doesnt count) I was in control all the way up until the very last ten feet or so but wound up giving it too much rear brake and locked it up. At that point I lost control and all ability to continue steering her around the car and avoid and impact disappeared and I clipped the rear of the car. Bike was semi sideways when both of us slammed into rear of car/tailgate. I pinballed off tailgate and was going over to left. She got too far over and before she came over on my leg I pushed off her and she went down on left side. It was 100% my fault as only a seconds worth of lapse of concentration almost cost me dearly. I have thought about posting this for a few days now. The pain and anger at myself have subsided so I figure I can handle all the 'your a dumbass' comments I well deserve. Busa1166 and O Holy P were with me and very gentlemanly about it at the time but now is y'alls time to laugh it up as again I deserve it. I bounced off the rear of the car like a basketball.
The people I hit could not have been nicer as they were only concerned if I was alright. The responding officer again could not have been nicer as he said to me it was obvious how much my pride had been hurt and he was not gonna cite me even though I was clearly the 'at fault' vehicle.
After we left the scene we contiuned on the No Name pub for a pizza so I can say that it was the most expensive pizza I've ever had.
Words cannot express how lucky I am to have been able to walk away with only a few bruises.
I am still amazed also at the fact that considering how hard I hit the rear of the vehicle that I did not break or crack a single piece on the bike. Both fairings are scratched, nose piece is scratched on both sides, gas tank has fist sized dent in it, stator cover is gouged and scratched but not broken, clutch lever is scratched, both mirrors are scratched and foot peg on left side is dinged as well from when she fell over. My right wrist swoll up pretty bad same as my right knee did. I feel that if I had sliders on bike they may have saved left side from amount of damage it sustained but aslo feel that right side slider may have 'caught' on something and done more damage rather than the bike smoothly bouncing off.
After we ate I rode over 220 miles home and let me tell you it was a long lonely ride. Bike did not leak a single drop of anything and started right up. Without seeing the damage or knowing about it she runs fine and is fine.
There are no questions to be asked by me nor any mystery as to what happened as again it was all my fault. Just simply let myself drift for as second and rear ended a car. We are a big family here. I have shared my good experiences with you folks and now I share my bad one. My gear saved me from further injury because as you can see my helmet is what put huge dent in tailgate.
So let the bashing begin as I deserve all of it .
'Dipstick' , 'Dumbass' and anything else I am it !
Manny (Busa1166) and Patrick (O Holy P) thanks for being there to help me.
Side of bike that hit car..
Left side damage from falling over...