FJRSKI Crash Report

[FJRski!]

First off, I want to offer a heartfelt thanks to everyone for the outpouring of concern and support.  I haven’t returned phone calls to friends, or even taken the time to post up, and I probably won’t have time tonight to read PMs.  I’ve been spending  my free time at the hospital with Becky and my attention has been elsewhere.
She is OK and doing fine, considering everything.  I fractured the ball on the head of her left femur.  The surgeon said the damage was unusual, matter of fact, he said he had not seen a fracture quite like this before.  Normally, they see a lot of pelvis damage with this type of injury.  Fortunately, her pelvis was not damaged, and her hip socket remained completely intact.  She had a partial hip replacement Sunday.  She was out of bed and hopped about 10 feet to the bathroom on a walker today.  A good sign.  Perhaps she was lucky, if you can call that luck.  
The doctors did a great job of putting everything back in place.  Her prognosis is good, I expect she will make a complete recovery, although it will be painful, and will take more time than normal hip surgery.  Right now, I’m saying my prayers.
Other than that, we were both virtually untouched.  The only mark on her riding suit is a dirty left knee.  I think her knee got planted in some soft dirt and the momentum of the crash did the rest.  I walked away unscathed, and I mean completely, except for a barely visible mark on my left shoulder from the jacket amour.  I look worse, and hurt more, after I get done pruning the shrubs.  Actually, the hurt is incredible; it's just the pain ain't physical.
As for what happened, I BLEW IT, big time; simple enough explanation.  I ran wide and crashed exiting a sharp dogleg corner at Niantic and Green Hill Road.  We went through the first corner smoothly, and the FJR should have made the second corner easily at that speed.  Maybe I got crossed up.  I got trumped by inertia and just couldn’t make the bike to turn in.  I panicked at the last moment and that’s what did me in.  We ran off into a ditch lined with soft dirt and packed with stones.  I really don't know how fast we were going, but the FJR left maybe 10 or 12 feet of skid marks in the ditch.  This was the kind of low speed get-off that I would have shrugged off in my dirt bike riding youth, indeed, this wouldn’t have been so bad if it wasn’t for my wife’s injury.  
My FJR – which can easily be repaired – is an ugly mess. And like who cares?  The mechanical damage appears limited to a bent shifter and twisted highway peg.  O yeah, and the left front turn signal blew out, of all things, but the plastic housing is still intact.  I rode it home afterwards at a very conservative pace, and it handled fine, although I was pretty shaken up.  The paint job is another story.  Most of the plastic on the left side is badly scratched, and even the right side of the tank got scarred when my boot came over.  Frame sliders wouldn’t have saved that babe.  
One side of my brain says it’s time to quit riding; the other is inhabited by a helpless addict.  There is no rationale required.  It's like so many people – some of whom told us in the past that we were crazy to ever think about getting on a motorcycle – have said in the past few days: accidents can happen anytime anywhere; at least you were doing something that you both loved.
Finally, I want to thank Jeets and ChillTech.  You guys are great.  Thanks so much for just staying calm and doing all the right things after the crash.  I owe you a big one for that assist.  I know you will say that you didn’t do anything more than any one of us would have done for someone else, but you guys did a superb job of handling the situation.  Many thanks.

[kendenton]

So glad to hear that you're OK, and of course wishing Becky a quick and full recovery.  Lots of thoughts to express, can't find words to do them justice.  

[DredheadV2.0]

You're beating yourself up a lot more than anyone else ever could.  Go beyond the guilty feelings and realize this could happen to anyone - none of us is a machine, and we all make mistakes from time to time.  How you go forward from here is your own decision, but make it a rational one or you'll probably regret it later on.

I'm happy to hear it wasn't worse.  Both of you heal up quick, now.  

Peace.

[Windblown]

Sorry to hear of the mishap. Never had the pleasure of meeting you, but I can tell from what you have written here that I like the cut of your jib.  Glad to hear things are going well for your wife.  

[TJConc]

Take it easy and take care of your lady, big guy. Hope to see you back in the saddle soon.  

TJ

[JETSET]

Sorry for your misfortune.I'm sure you and your wife will make a full recovery.As for you mind set (get over it)I say this as friend and fellow rider whether you ride again or not (I think that you will).You will gain your confidence back I'm sure of that.Now is the time for support both mentally and physically for you and your wife.Take care of your wife and yourself I wish you both a speedy recovery. If there is anything I can do to help I'm here for you.Goodluck!

[keppyou812]

Frjski;
 
Sorry to hear about the mishap.  And I know what your going through.  My girlfriend wrecked her bike last month. The guy taking up the rear started yelling on the chatterbox that she went down.  Turned around, and headed back down the mountain.  Saw the bike wedged under the guardrail, then saw my giflfriend wrapped around one of the posts for the guardrail.  She was a little pissed at us for not letting her get up, then got really pissed, when the ambulance showed up, and the guy got out and first thing he did was pull a pair of scissors out of his pocket..
4 stitches(found out should have been more) and some really interesting discoloration on her left hip, and some road rash on her left elbow.
Bike of course was totalled.  
1 week later, she has her new bike.

Point is that even though the pain/anxiety that I went through when I came back down the mountain, I know of her passion for riding.  She will mend.  We are actually looking forward to riding to Denny's this coming weekend(her first ride, aside from picking up her bike).  

Give Becky our best  (myself, daughter, Erin, and my g/f, Seres)!!!  And don't beat yourself up too much.  As was said already, chit happens, and honestly you didn't mean to have that off!!!

Ken

[googus]

+1 on everything the most important thing is that for the mosty part everyone is OK. After my 3 accident I always said thats it but then I ride to this day. Just take your time and take care of the wife

[Rincewind]

Thanks for the report, FJRSki.  Take care.  

[squeezer]

Thanks for the report, FJRSki.  Take care.  

+1, and take it easier on yourself.  We'll keep you and Becky in our thoughts & prayers.

[nnjhawk02]

+1, and take it easier on yourself.  We'll keep you and Becky in our thoughts & prayers.

+2

All the best for your lady.  

Don't make any rash decisions on riding vs. not riding anymore, in time U'll figure it out.

[motospeed9058]

From the sounds of your post, the gear you had on did it's job.  Could have been WAY worse.  This sounds like an honest oops.  Don't get discouraged.  Glad to hear that the two of you will be fine.  Hope you heal up quick.  

[andmoon2]

Relax the mind and worry about riding later.
Get the boss well first.
Best wishes!
Don

[JamminJere]

As I mentioned on the phone to you the other day buddy, Leisa and I are here for you guys, no matter what. If there is ANYTHING you need or we can do, you better be giving me a call!  I mean that.

Jerry

[DosEquis00]

Glad to hear Becky is doing better and don't beat yourself up too bad. Just take it all in and you will come to the correct conclusion.

[gforce]

Sorry to hear the news, FJRski.  Haven't seen you since Sparta last year, when we lined up all the blue ones at the motel.  (I'm looking for the pic of you demonstrating how the 6-pack stowed in the saddle bag.  )

But it's the psych which is most prominent here.  I bought my FJR for our 2-up STing, so I'm entirely on board with all of your feelings.  While we love our 2-up trips, I can only imagine the anguish you're going through over your wife's injury.  And let's not forget hers about getting back on the bike.  My wife and I haven't yet had a getoff together, so we can only block out the problem.

Riding with our spouses or SO's involves a choice between riding 2-up (and being directly responsible for what happens) and riding together (and being distracted by concerns about pace, gravel, passing, intersections and the other myriad variables which make group riding complicated under the best of circumstances).

In the end, though, I think the old saw about "riding your own ride" winds up being the answer.  Whenever we ride alone (whether 2-up or solo), we can (and obviously do) continuously assess the situation ourselves and can move up or down on the continuum between "sport" and "tour" literally moment by moment, and without any external influence from the group we're riding with.  And that transient aspect is just one reason that finding that "sweet spot" is perhaps the toughest aspect of group riding.  While too slow is "no fun," even a moment of too quick can be a prescription for disaster.  No wonder it's often at the root of the problems which arise on group rides.

Add to all that the responsibility that comes with riding with our spouses (whether 2-up or on separate bikes) and the stakes obviously go WAY up.  

In the end, if you and your wife enjoy riding, get back out there as soon as she's able.  Maybe we finally ought to do something that I've been pushing for here for quite a while: establish a sub-forum, or a separate site if need be, for 2-up sport-tourers.  We may be less able to reach -- and we are less interested in -- that last increment of quickness, but we've found that the exchange of being able to enjoy the sights, smells, dining and nights together on our two-wheeled trips is more than an adequate trade-off.  Indeed, it's an alternative I think many of our fellow riders envy us having.

Here's hoping you guys get through this quickly and positively.

[zzkenoman]

Its always hard to hear news of another rider down, especially a couple.  Glad both of you are ok, and about the bike....its also fixable.  Many of the guys and gals on the blue forum still talk about my accident with my FJR back in 2006, unfortunately I took longer to heal, walk, and just recently, able to ride.  At least your bike didn't look like mine
Photos of bike

[kendenton]

....In the end, if you and your wife enjoy riding, get back out there as soon as she's able.  Maybe we finally ought to do something that I've been pushing for here for quite a while: establish a sub-forum, or a separate site if need be, for 2-up sport-tourers.  We may be less able to reach -- and we are less interested in -- that last increment of quickness, but we've found that the exchange of being able to enjoy the sights, smells, dining and nights together on our two-wheeled trips is more than an adequate trade-off.  Indeed, it's an alternative I think many of our fellow riders envy us having.

Here's hoping you guys get through this quickly and positively.

I could not have said it any better - what an eloquent and accurate post.

[JamminJere]

I could not have said it any better - what an eloquent and accurate post.

+100!  What Gforce said, I too agree wholeheartedly

[gforce]

Thanks, gents, the thoughts have been simmering in my feverish brain for quite a while, but the occasion hadn't arisen for trying to coherently state them.  Even now, I'm not sure I've succeeded fully but that you've gotten the idea is encouraging.

Not to hijack this very important thread but what those of us who happily ride our ST bikes 2-up need to do in response to this is to redouble our efforts to get the leadership here to give us a sub-forum.  I mean, we already have club house playpens for the IB set, track ho's -- even dirt riders -- yet the fact that we who demonstrably occupy a discrete segment of the -- hold on -- sport-touring community don't have at least a sub-forum here for the exchange of the particular issues which attend 2-up sport-touring (like how to participate in group rides, great routes for 2-up trips, intercom and other communication issues, how to shrink the make-up kit, dining and/or hotel recommendations, etc.), is just wrong.  Unlike the other club house forums I've mentioned above (with the possible exception of the IB sub-board), there is no better place for such a forum than here.

I've made the suggestion before and it obviously hasn't happened.  In Becky's honor, let's finally get this done.

End of rant.  Hijack done.  Carry on.

[edited to add:  OK, I've started a thread, referencing this hijack.  Post up with your views:
http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,26047.0.html]