Took a short group ride, came home minus bike.

[wbrisett]

Well, as I've zigged and zagged across the US over the past couple of years, I've experienced a great many things. However, nothing like what happened Saturday.

My wife and daughter were going to the Schlitterbaun water park for the day, so I decided to go have breakfast with the BMW club, then go on the club ride. The ride was a nice route that ended in Goldthwaite, Texas.

After a wonderful ride lead by Tom, our club president, we stopped in Goldthwaite for lunch. The forecast for Saturday was cloudy with 30% chance of rain. Not a big deal I figured. In fact, we dodged rain during the ride. We did see two very nice suspension bridges during the ride, one in current use and the other replaced a mere five years ago. That really surprised me. Anyhow, that was the group ride. Nine of us on the ride. At one point, we stopped so one of the riders could head back to Austin. Goldthwaite is about 35 miles north of Austin, of course our jaunt put us in the 120+ category by the time we zigged and zagged.

After lunch we all parted ways. I stopped at the Exxon to gas up, As I was leaving, I saw Tom pulling in. I started down 183 south. It started raining, nothing major. Some light drizzle, but the roads were wet from some heavy downpours that had been occurring in the area. I continued doing 70 MPH down US 183 south (the posted speed limit), and then just after FM 963 around 3:30 PM, thing went totally crazy. All of a sudden, I lost total control my 2009 BMW RT, I did a complete 360, before I knew I was in a world of trouble. I resisted touching the brakes, but by this time, the bike went into this hard wobble and I lost it at that point. I went down hard on the pavement, and then let go of the bike, and it went end-over-end, and both the bike and I ended up in the north bound lane. Fortunately for me, there was no traffic in the north bound lane at that exact time. There was a truck coming up, which was pulling a horse trailer, but they were able to stop in time (15-20 seconds later and they would have run over me).

The driver helped me move my bike to the side of the road, and somebody else called 911. About 5 minutes later, Tom passed and figured something was up and turned around. I started telling him what happened and within about 5 minutes, Shellby, who had breakfast with us, hit that same spot in the road that I did, and almost the identical thing happened to him on his K1200s. He ended up in the ditch on the southbound side of 183.

Neither of us were hurt, other than some minor scraps and bruises, we both walked away from the accident(s). Our bikes are a mess. I would be surprised if the insurance company didn't total both. Steve, a member of our BMW club who owns a motorcycle towing service, took both bikes down to Lone Star BMW and they have already take some photos and apparently there was more damage than I thought.

Anyhow, both Shelby and I were saved from major injuries by wearing protective gear. If you think those nylon jackets don't protect you, think again. Saved my skin, at least when my jacket didn't ride up. Both of us walked away with minor, and I mean minor scrapes and bruises.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

This is the report Tom sent to the group:

On the way back home, we were all traveling individually. Both Wayne and Shelby went down hard, on 183 at 963 [the road to Oakalla]. It had been raining, there was what you might call a "skid pad", water on tar...

When I came by, Wayne was up by the side of the road, talking to the people who nearly ran over him. So, while we're all standing there, we see Shelby coming down the road and then all of a sudden, he's in a low-side, at the same spot! Both incidents were pretty spectacular - just imagine going from 70 mph to zero in about a hundred yards - rubber side NOT down...

Both riders are at home with minor abrasions and some aches and pain. Both bikes were hauled back into Lone Star by Steve, and pronounced "most likely totaled" by Robert and Peter.

It was quite a scene, but thankfully nobody was seriously injured.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

And from Shelby today:

My accident was similar to Waynes. I was travelling 70mph in light rain in the left lane going south on 183. Without braking, change in throttle, or directional change, the bike just went sideways. There was no tire- road friction at all. It felt like riding on air, not even ice. I didn't brake or add any input, because I had no clue what was indicated. The bike then lowsided and I took a very long slide down 183. I saw the bike "chasing" me and was concerned that it was going to hit me. I barely missed the post of the speed limit sign.

My gear saved my life and skin and probably a knuckle and some hand tendons.

Steve Shreeve of ASAP motorcycle service did a great job picking up the bikes, and I am thankful to him for taking me back to Lone star.

-=-=-=-=-=-=--=--==-=-=-

Photos taken by Shelby with his iPhone at the scene....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/82683679@N00/sets/72157618737618786/

I am very thankful that I had on all my protective gear. My helmet is a mess and needs to be replaced, actually most of my protective gear needs to be replaced, but very little of my skin does, so that's a plus. Sunday at church one of the guys I know said, never go faster than your guardian angel can fly. I suppose my does at least 70 MPH.

I took my 2004 BMW RT out on Sunday for a quick spin, it would be the last ride on that bike for me. I had to get fuel
before the new owner picked it up. It was wonderful sitting on the bike again, and I'll be back on the bike in a few days, but it was quite an experience.

The DPS (Texas highway Patrol) officer and I examined the scene and the only thing we can determine is that there was a dead armadillo on the road, which was quite smashed, when I put my boot on it, it was slicker than snot. My guess is that we must have hit that and went down. It wasn't hydroplaning, or anything else from my experience.

Wayne

[bassjones]

glad neither of you were hurt any worse.  amazing how quickly things can happen isn't it.  atgatt.  it'll save your life one day.

[crashtech]

Glad nobody was hurt. That was a close call. I am foaming at the mouth for that bmw though. Buy that sucker back from the ins and fix it. It aint hurt bad.

[wbrisett]

Glad nobody was hurt. That was a close call. I am foaming at the mouth for that bmw though. Buy that sucker back from the ins and fix it. It aint hurt bad.

Actually, it's leaking oil at the cylinder head, which means it has a nice hole in it. That's an expensive repair.

Wayne

[Papa Lazarou]

Glad you're both okay. Sorry the Beemer lost half its swinging arm.

[crashtech]

Actually, it's leaking oil at the cylinder head, which means it has a nice hole in it. That's an expensive repair.

Wayne

The K1200S...yellow???

[wbrisett]

Mine is the 2009 RT, The K1200S belongs to the other rider.

Wayne

[motomem]

Sorry about your bikes and glad no serious injuries.
Those are the kind of accidents that will make a person consider hanging up his boots. Nobody to blame, machine was working right, nothing much to sort out in your mind to keep it from happening again.

[wbrisett]

Those are the kind of accidents that will make a person consider hanging up his boots.

Shelby called me yesterday and said that might have been his last ride. He is a surgeon, and said that for a while he has been thinking of calling it quits. That accident probably pushed him over the edge. Me... I've still got my Buell Ulysses and I'm considering taking it for a nice long ride today... except for lack of a good helmet. Might have to see if Cycle Gear is open today.

Wayne

[traveler]

My first thought was that both riders who went down hit some diesel fuel spilled in the road (we're talking Texas, right?). But a dead armadillo? Taking out two riders within minutes of each other? What are the odds of that?

Glad both riders survived relatively unscathed, too bad about the bikes.

[sagerat]

Wow, invisible submerged squashed armadillo.  That has to win the award as freakiest crash of the year.  Glad you're fine.  I can't imagine doing a 360 on a motorcycle.  

[wbrisett]

 I can't imagine doing a 360 on a motorcycle.  

I honestly thought that after I did the spin that I would be fine. But there was way too much wobble to keep me upright.

Wayne

[Squijummonkey]

I give a double   for riding after that. My first dump was in a drizzly condition and rain still scares me.

I'm happy to hear that you suffered no major injuries, but I'm sorry about your bike. Any plans for a new one? Or are you going to keep with the Buell?

[Deltablues]

Wow! Harley riders in Texas are sinking to new lows if they have to stategically place dead armadillos on the interstate to take out snooty BMW owners. This.....is.......WAR!

[eggmandingo]

Wow!  I'm so happy you guys are safe.  I try to avoid roadkill, but after reading your post I will be on alert...esp. when it rains. HOLY COW!   Thanks for the post, I'm sure it'll save me some skin!

[bluepoof]

Holy crap, that's scary.  I've seen those frickin' armadillos all over the roadsides in OK and TX and always found them a little creepy...now I know why!  

Seriously though, I'm glad you and your friend weren't hurt.  Here's hoping you (plural) and the bikes heal up well.  

[ragtoplvr]

Some, maybe all Armadillo's jump when startled, so if you happen to see a live one give it a wide clearance, and honk just before you get there, pretty funny.  They jump quite a bit higher than I expected.

On the other hand, miss one by a foot and it could be messy.

Try to straddle one in your cage so as to spare it's life, and it will jump up into the undercarriage of your vehicle, adding yet another slick spot to the road.

Rod

[wolf46]

2 short armadillo stories (I'm from Tejas and now in the northeast). My first car, a 1970 T-bird I tried to miss a 'dillo and it hit my starter and smashed it to pieces, 'dillo got up and ran off.
Next one, I tried to kick one on my '78 xr175 and was wearing boots and still almost broke my foot and damn near tore me off the bike (this was probably about 20mph). They are tough critters, and wouldn't want to mess with those claws either.

[chornbe]

New pavement is the devil's own... glad you weren't hurt.  

[wbrisett]

Holy crap, that's scary.  I've seen those frickin' armadillos all over the roadsides in OK and TX and always found them a little creepy...now I know why!  

Well, now I'm scratching my head because another rider who went on the ride sent  me this email today:

Actually, I hit that same patch, but somehow I was able to stay up (i.e.
Sheer luck, NOT skill) and slowed it down.

It seemed to me like a lower channel devoid of chips with only tar and
covered with water. Add that all up and you get NO adhesion. I must have
gone through there before you or somehow I missed the wreck. In any case,
that you are OK is good.

-=-=-=-=-=-

I think next weekend I'm going to head back up there and have a look around and take some photos. I really want to know if it's the road, or if it was something in the road.

I did look at my GPS tracks today and they show me going 65 MPH up to the point where I lost control. The speed limit is 70 MPH, so I was under that. Would 55 MPH made a difference? I don't know. I just know it was a freak thing and one I'm never going to forget. I walked away with minor injuries (although looking at me two days later is unfreakin' real, the whole left side of my body is a nice purple color), and that to me is all that counts. A member at church said that when he was in Nigeria, they had a saying which was "never go faster than your guardian angel can fly"... Mine can do at least 65 MPH. I know my dad who past away last summer and that guardian angel were looking after me.