Awwww....Shit
An old and wise rider said once said: “I’m not afraid to go fast, it’s the crash and burn part that sucks.”
Amen to that.
The setting: a rural area east of Portland with rolling hills, farms, forests, streams, nice meandering roads (some smooth, some rough). The time is 7:30 pm on July 14, 2004, a nice summer day one day after my return from L.A. The sun, low in the sky, is causing intermittent glare through the trees alongside the road (a stroboscopic effect).
I’m wearing an Arai full face helmet, First Gear armored jacket, leather hiking boots and jeans. So, why am I not wearing the perfectly good pair of armored riding pants that are sitting at home? Good question.
I’m riding conservatively, enjoying my first ride after returning to Portland with my new acquisition, a mint condition 2001 Kawasaki ZR-7S.
I’m not happy with a car close behind me and think about pulling over at the next opportunity to let him pass. Left curve coming up, it looks to be fairly sharp. As I slow down before the point of entry, I am bothered by the tailgater and glare from the sun.
First mistake: allowing myself to be distracted by conditions about which I could do nothing.
Arriving at the point of entry I see some gravel on the road. My mind falters, just long enough to enter the turn late.
Second mistake: not looking where I wanted to go {example}
I wake up and realize I’m going wide. My mind races, trying to decide whether to complete the turn (lean much more aggressively—something I’m not yet comfortable doing) or straighten and stop off the road. But wait, there’s a depression or small gully covered with gravel that I would have to ride through.
Third mistake: “thinking” instead of automatically applying more counter steer.
Unconsciously I go for the brakes, resulting in an aw shit moment. I know what is going to happen next. A split second later it happens. The bike goes down and we part company.
Fourth mistake: applying the brake too aggressively when the bike is not fully upright.
It is a strange experience. I am calm, without fear, aware of what is happening while sliding on the ground with the bike close behind—a spiritual moment—followed by "ahhh, I’m actually crashing for the first time...gee, it’s good to get this over with." It happens so fast my mind doesn’t have time to process the physical sensations.
The car behind me stops. People come out of the house situated on the curve. Someone calls 911. I lay there taking it in and trying to assess the damage to me—nothing major I think. I slowly sit up and with help remove my helmet, discovering in the process my left shoulder is injured. Can also feel pain in my left foot so I don’t try to move any further. Instead I relax as best I can and listen to the conversations around me. Seems mine is not the first accident at that spot. The home owner has had several cars wind up on her property after losing control in the curve—comforting news at the time but after the fact, it doesn’t assuage my chagrin.
The paramedics arrive followed by a deputy sheriff as I am being carted off to the hospital. Later, in the emergency room, I learn from the deputy that the property owner put my bike in their barn for safe keeping.
Damage to me: fractured left clavicle, abrasions to left hip, left knee and right knuckles. I thought my left foot was broken but it was just badly bruised. Doctor said 4-6 weeks for the shoulder to heal. Oh yeah...my ego took a bruising also.
Damage to the bike {photo slideshow}: left cowling cracked in several places, cowling bracket bent, left mirror broken, left turn signal knocked off and scratched, alternator cover holed and scratched, left rear side panels and grab rail scratched, upper rear frame bent. No damage to lower frame or swing arm.
