Crash report! But did the gear do it's job?

[jfurf]

So on Sunday I had a little "get-off" incident. The day before I had cleaned my SV1K's chain and checked the rear Pilot Road 2 for wear. It was near the end of its life but I figured I easily had a few hundred more miles in it.

Well I was wrong.   I was riding with a buddy on a rural, twisty two-laner in the Hiawassee, N.C. area and went around a left-hander at about 40 or 45. Wasn't pushing hard or leaned way over. I lost traction anyway and the rear wheel kicked out. I tried to save it but couldn't and I low-sided. I slid probably 30 feet. The bike was not damaged other than a broken bar-end mirror, broken tip of the clutch lever and a scratched up exhaust pipe.

I got right back on my feet. No injuries at all. Not even bruises. No road rash.   This was my first ever get-off at anything faster than a 5 mph tip-over. So I popped my cherry.  

Anyway, how did the gear do?

First Gear Mesh-Tex mesh jacket



As you can see, the mesh fabric on the forearm did tear up but the jacket overall did VERY well. Not even a tiny bit of road rash. I'm very happy with this jacket. I know people say you sacrifice abrasion resistance when you go with mesh, but it's way way too hot here in Atlanta to wear leather for the type of around-town community and errand-running I do. I feel like the jacket did it's job. Yeah, it's trashed now but it WORKS. We need to encourage more young riders to wear mesh. I see so many of them wearing t-shirts in the summer because they figure it's leather or nothing.

HJC FS-15 Helmet

My helmet got scuffed up on the chin bar and face shield but did a good job. No head injuries. Not even a stinger. My riding buddy, who is a very experienced and not-cheap-at-all rider said he thinks the helmet can still be worn. I'll probably get a new one anyway just to be safe.

Lee Parks Deersports Gloves
This was my first ride with my new (not cheap at all) Lee Parks gloves. They barely look like they've even  been crashed in. I honestly think these things could handle at least 15 more pavement excursions.


Cortech Latigo boots
These are pretty inexpensive road racing boots but all they show now is a few minor scuffs. They did a great job. No soreness at all in the ankles or feet the next day.

I was just wearing jeans this time, even though I own riding pants. To be honest, they got scuffed up but didn't rip apart and I didn't get any road rash at all on my legs. I think I'll get some kevlar riding jeans at some point but I'm starting to think the big, heavy, hot textile riding pants are unnecessary. Seems like the wrists, elbows, forearms fingers, head and ankles are what take the brunt of impacts.

 

[Formerly Known as Bigfoot]

Good to hear you were atgatt and are ok.

[Scratch33]

Whoopsiedaisey!  

Glad you're okay.

[Nodaclu]

Also glad to hear that you're okay!

My gear is 6 years old now, and showing signs of wearing out. I've been debating a one-piece Teiz suit, and also debating the whole textile vs. Kevlar lined jeans thing. I've seen jeans rip apart first hand in a pavement slide, and I always wonder if the Kevlar lining in the hips, knees and butt are enough to prevent road rash in an off.

[bomber]

good news! glad you weather the storm -- I always igured my mesh gear was a BIC lighter like thing -- while it would be nice if they'd last for more than one get-off, your's certainly did the job for you, and died honorably.

Well done!

[FiremanBob]

I hope you don't have one more pavement excursion, much less fifteen.

[napper]

I was just wearing jeans this time, even though I own riding pants. To be honest, they got scuffed up but didn't rip apart and I didn't get any road rash at all on my legs. I think I'll get some kevlar riding jeans at some point but I'm starting to think the big, heavy, hot textile riding pants are unnecessary. Seems like the wrists, elbows, forearms fingers, head and ankles are what take the brunt of impacts.

I don't think you can extrapolate your one get off to "wrists, elbows, forearms fingers, head and ankles are what take the brunt of impacts."  

You weren't wearing riding pants this time and you didn't pay for it.  Unless you can crash next time just like you did this time, the results will be different.

I had a get off this past February and my FirstGear overpants took more damage than my jacket, gloves or boots.

I'm glad you were wearing the gear you needed and weren't hurt in the get off.  

P.S.  Yes, by God, replace that helmet.

[SuperHans]

Crashing sucks. Glad you made out okay.

[servicerifle]

Wait, what did the chain have to do with the crash?


Send the helmet back to HJC, they should be able to determine whether it's still good or not.  I did that with my Shoei.

[Rincewind]

 I slid probably 30 feet. The bike was not damaged other than a broken bar-end mirror, broken tip of the clutch lever and a scratched up exhaust pipe.

Thank god for unfaired bikes!  

Glad you are ok, jfurf.  Thanks for the report.

[jfurf]

Wait, what did the chain have to do with the crash?

Oh nothing. I just meant that I looked over the rear tire while cleaning the chain the day before the incident. That's all.

I honestly wonder if I just happened to get a crappy tire from Michelin. Maybe they made it on Friday afternoon or something.  

[Hambonee]

I don't have any pictures of my gear but my story is as follows...

Sooo, on day I am bored so decide to ride to my local bike shop to browse. As I am making the left turn into the parking lot someone SOMEHOW misses my turn signal and brake light and bumps me as I head into the turn. I bump forward and fall knee first with the full weight of the bike on me.

I came away fine if not a bit bruised and with a tiny limp for a day or so. The jack A&% who hit me bought me my new ninja 650r at the time

Anyways..gear wise

Had some cheap Cortec overpants with knee armor. They were toast on the left knee and the armor had deep gouges in it but did it's job.
Gloves were Cortec scarab RR and they held up fine other than some impact padding on the underside that wore through
HJC helmet did it's job where my forehead bopped the ground.
Jacket came away with nothing other than a scuff on the shoulder. Cortec textile...
Boots not worth mentioning as I think they came away scott free...

What I came away with is armor=good

I now wear knee armor even under my Kevlar jeans if I use them as I like my knees. I also dumped all the cheap nylon gear and wear real cordura only at a minimum. I know leather is better but for a happy medium Cordura is a ton better than that fake nylon crap everyone uses now.

My statement on gear is I was only going about 20mph and my gear got messed up. If i had not been wearing it I would have been messed up. You can ride as well as you want but you can avoid the idiot in the car. With all the new gear out there you have no excuse not to wear it. I have a dainese d-dry jacket and the thing is good from 40 degrees to 100. If I add a microfleece under is goes much lower. If it's cold I throw in the liner if it's hot I take it out and open all the vents. A tee shirt and shorts as I see all the time is plain old DERP in my opinion. But oh well..if you wear that don't whine if you crash and end up with things ground off...just saying.

[foobert]

I'm confused about the rear tire.  Did it go flat?  

If not, what's the tread depth?

I'm just trying to understand why the tire is implicated here.

Thanks!

[swimmer]

I'm just trying to understand why the tire is implicated here.

Thanks!

+1  How was the tire to blame?

[mxvet57]

Gravity and momentum suck.

[Rincewind]

Gravity and momentum suck.

It would be hard to ride without them.  

[ConPilot1]

Glad you're still here to tell about it. Sorry about your crash. Kudo's on the ATTGATT.

Sounds like you saved a few layers of lunch meat off your ass there buddy.