Always wear your Helmet

[rsadler221]

Yesterday while out riding my ST I decided to visit my daughter and grandkids. I turned in their driveway and went to the top of the hill and pulled into their extended carport. I did a sharp turn to the left so I could get the bike turned around but soon discovered I didn’t have as much room as I thought and ended up dropping the bike. I was not able to step out of the way and the bike knocked me on my side and back with my head hitting the concrete pretty hard. I was wearing a helmet, 1st Gear mesh jacket, jeans and ankle high boots (not motorcycle boots). My head and back were fine but I got a good bruise on my hip and left ankle. What I learned from this experience is I need to get riding pants and some good motorcycle boots that protect my ankles. I also realized from this experience that I could have had a serious head injury from a simple bike drop and in the future I need to wear a helmet even I am just moving the bike a short distance.

On a more positive note, this is my first post and I have really enjoyed this forum over the last two months since I purchased my 05 ST1300A. I love the ST and this forum has been a great place for tips, information and entertainment.

Robert

[NBA336]

Robert, welcome to the site. I'm glad you are enjoying the 05 ST. They are great bikes. And, thanks for that message about the helmet. I'm afraid to admit it, but I have, on occassion, taken my bike out into our court just to turn it around and have just got on without helmet, gloves or boots. Sometimes, I've done it with moccassin type of shoes. Your post has woken me up to what can happen. Thanks for the reminder. Safe riding. :)

[AgSTreak]

Good post and wise advice you have there. I guess it's time I look into a pair of real M/C boots. Thanks for sharing.

[Rider]

ATGATT (All The Gear, All The Time). It's one of my mantras.

[Carl_T]

Just a reminder,
Since you hit your head hard, that helmet needs to be checked out and the liner (perhaps) replaced by the manufacturer. The foam compresses one time and one time only. Since it was concrete the shell should be examined also.

It's not to be trusted now riding until you have that done.

[Mellow]

Robert, Quick!... go to the hospital... one sure sign you suffered a head injury is ..... YOU POSTED! :eek: ..... LOL

Welcome to the board.

[sherob]

Carl made a good point... these are a one shot deal. :)

[rsadler221]

Thanks guy for the advice. I was already in the market for a new full face helmet but had been procrastinating. Now I have got to make a decision.

[crazykz]

This bike handles well but in cslow corners it's easy to get bit. Glad to hear you're ok. Wish your first post was a little more positive but it's good to hear from you.

Did you try the bike pickup technique discussed in an earlier thread? I had to do this once with the ST and I'm glad I know how to do it because it makes it a lot easier on the body.

Curt

[Rider]

And that's a good thing ... right? :eek:

[SteveST1300]

So true about the helmet. I have a good friend (even though he rides a Harley) who used to wear one of those novelty helmets. One night he went down in a parking lot going no faster than 15 MPH 6 weeks later when he awoke from a coma he didn't know what had happened he now wears a real helmet! :03biker:

[tccox]

Just about a year or so ago, the owner of one of the most successful BMW Motorcycle dealers in the country, BMW of Orlando, went around back to bring a new GS up front, just parking lot right ???. No helmet and a bit of a crash and the man lost his life, in a slow speed parking lot crash.

[rsadler221]

Curt, I did try your method of picking up the bike but I had trouble doing it the first time by myself because of a bad knee. I tried it again with my daughter pulling on the right handlebar and the bike came right up. She said she didn't pull very much but she may have been trying to make me feel better.

Robert

[MNwing]

Welcome, you will find this is the best site and people around. Sorry to hear you dumped the bike, but the main thing is that your ok.

[Rider]

Just about a year or so ago, the owner of one of the most successful BMW Motorcycle dealers in the country, BMW of Orlando, went around back to bring a new GS up front, just parking lot right ???. No helmet and a bit of a crash and the man lost his life, in a slow speed parking lot crash.
:(
That tarmac is so hard and our heads are so soft.
Let's be careful out there, folks. Glad rsadler wasn't hurt.

About 25 years ago, Ohio repealed the mandatory helmet law. So the first day we could ride helmetless, I hopped on my bike and rode one block without a skidlid.
I turned around and put my helmet back on. I felt totally naked and vulnerable without it.

[CruisingDog]

I did this in Utah (no Helmet) and felt really vulnerable. On went the helmet at the next opportunity. The other annoying thing was that bugs and sand/dust were filling my lungs! It protects you more than just for accidents! Good for the UV also!

[SAVAGE]

Not to make fun of your buddy or lessen his injuries, but every head impact could be fatal to anyone. I have rung my bell quite a few times (luckily all on the dirt) and have a garage full of helmets to prove it.

[Actionfigurejoe]

I read a statistic where the majority of either fatal or severe head injuries occur under 15 mph. Simply falling over backwards and striking your head on the pavement can cause brain bruising and swelling. Three years ago I was snowmobiling near Burgess Junction, WY. I reached the top of a large hill and stepped off the sled. My feet slipped out from under me and I went over backwards on a slight hill. My head struck and ice chunk and I momentarily blacked out. When I awoke my vision was blurred and my mind was confused (more than usual that is :D ). I wasn't permenently injured because I was wearing a helmet. I have no doubt this minor fall would have killed me without a helmet. In reality there is no minor fall when the head is involved.

[MNwing]

In July 1995 while working under my mobile home at the lake, I hit my head on a piece of metal welded to the frame, hurt like "h", was able to get out from under the house, and managed to get up right and when I was finally able to walk went in the house. There was no bleeding, just a small bump.

In late March of 1996, after having severe headaches and other problems they thought I should have a ct and thirty minutes after getting out of the tube, I was in a wheelchair being taken to ICU. I had a large sub dural hematoma that was shifting my brain and causing lots of problems. The following day I had surgery and 6 days later was discharged from the hospital.

I have always worn a helmet since I started to ride, and now after having surgery, will not even consider getting on a bike or sled with out it. Head injuries are nothing to mess around with.

Something of this type puts a new look on life, what's important and what's not.

Sorry for the long post, but feel its important that any time you suffer any type of head injury, don't mess around, see your doctor.

[rwl1955]

I was teaching tha BRC a couple of years ago and I had a female student who was vertically challenged to say the least. I was ending one of the exercises and I motioned for her to ride towards me and stop. She slowly came to a stop right in front of me and I watched in slow motion as started falling to the left. Instead of dropping the bike she stayed w/it. I watched her head bounce of the pavement like a basketball. If she hadn`t been wearing a helmet she would have had a serious head injury.