Moto-Charlie
Vendor
I?m the rider that was able to avoid hitting ScubaDave and hit his bike instead. He ricocheted back into the road so quickly there was nowhere to go. I?m pleased that he?s basically OK and I see by separate post where he has found a low mileage ST1300 to replace the one totaled in the accident. That?s great news and I hope he enjoys it for a long time to come.
It?s taken a little while for the dust to settle for me. I was able to take my first real shower today in 2+ weeks so I thought I?d mark the occasion with a post.
I go to the doctor?s office this Wednesday to have the 7-inch line of staples removed on my left arm. I had a fairly bad break and I needed a plate and screws to put it back together. I also broke 2 right side ribs. The whole left side of my body looks like a purple grape gone bad. I?ve been a quick healer in the past, feel a little better each day and expect to be good as new in a couple months. I?m typing this with 2 hands today, which bodes well for picking up my work pace.
My 1992 well-loved ST1100 was totaled by the insurance company due to age and mileage (127K). JonB has been kind enough to offer me a good deal on some spare parts he has lying around. The insurance money left over after my buyback should be enough to fix the ST back to where it was if not better.
I don?t generally talk about myself much and I haven?t told too many folks about my accident. Other than my family, and a few need-to-know clients the only other riders who know are some good friends I?ve made through my Alps tour business. All my tour mates find it ironic that I would crash within an hour of home.
I?ve been riding for 40+ years. I?ve been RT from the east coast to the west coast 5 times, been from one side of Canada to the other, and spent a month riding in Mexico. I?ve taken a bunch of track days, been to the Alps 2 ? 3 times a year for 30+ years in ALL kinds of conditions and at speed and ridden with more than 350+ friends and tour members and never came close to an accident (except for 1 rainy track day ? but that?s another story). Then I go an hour from home with some ST riders and I?m toast in 10 minutes. Who knew?
My only other accident was on a new BMW 750 during a rainy track day. I?d been riding for about 10 years at the time. I broke my left collarbone, 3 ribs and punctured a lung. The bike was totaled. Two months later I purchased a new FJR 1200 and went to a track day. I was determined not to let it phase me and it didn?t. I?d also like to think I?m a much better rider now. My tour members tell me that I?m smooth, fast and really good ? so who knows maybe I am a decent rider.
My track day accident was more than 25 years ago, pre-kids, pre-big house, pre-people counting on me. I think my wife would be happy if I dialed it back, maybe my kids too. And I would if I thought it was my fault or a failure of my abilities but I don?t. In this case it was simply the fickle finger of fate that plopped Dave?s bike in front of me. It could have been the landing gear from a 747 falling right out of the sky in front of my car and I would have had the same lack of options (I remind my wife I?ve been rear-ended 3 times over the same 40+ years while driving my car by people behind not paying attention).
I don?t think I?m stupid and I?d stop if I thought I didn?t have the skills any more. I?ve been to more places by bike, seen more things, met some fantastic people and had some great adventures, more than many people will have in a lifetime. So, if I had to stop it wouldn?t be fatal, even though I enjoy motorcycling immensely. However, I don?t have to stop and comes next June I?ll be ripping up the Alpine passes on a K1300R glad to be alive and excited to be biking.
It?s taken a little while for the dust to settle for me. I was able to take my first real shower today in 2+ weeks so I thought I?d mark the occasion with a post.
I go to the doctor?s office this Wednesday to have the 7-inch line of staples removed on my left arm. I had a fairly bad break and I needed a plate and screws to put it back together. I also broke 2 right side ribs. The whole left side of my body looks like a purple grape gone bad. I?ve been a quick healer in the past, feel a little better each day and expect to be good as new in a couple months. I?m typing this with 2 hands today, which bodes well for picking up my work pace.
My 1992 well-loved ST1100 was totaled by the insurance company due to age and mileage (127K). JonB has been kind enough to offer me a good deal on some spare parts he has lying around. The insurance money left over after my buyback should be enough to fix the ST back to where it was if not better.
I don?t generally talk about myself much and I haven?t told too many folks about my accident. Other than my family, and a few need-to-know clients the only other riders who know are some good friends I?ve made through my Alps tour business. All my tour mates find it ironic that I would crash within an hour of home.
I?ve been riding for 40+ years. I?ve been RT from the east coast to the west coast 5 times, been from one side of Canada to the other, and spent a month riding in Mexico. I?ve taken a bunch of track days, been to the Alps 2 ? 3 times a year for 30+ years in ALL kinds of conditions and at speed and ridden with more than 350+ friends and tour members and never came close to an accident (except for 1 rainy track day ? but that?s another story). Then I go an hour from home with some ST riders and I?m toast in 10 minutes. Who knew?
My only other accident was on a new BMW 750 during a rainy track day. I?d been riding for about 10 years at the time. I broke my left collarbone, 3 ribs and punctured a lung. The bike was totaled. Two months later I purchased a new FJR 1200 and went to a track day. I was determined not to let it phase me and it didn?t. I?d also like to think I?m a much better rider now. My tour members tell me that I?m smooth, fast and really good ? so who knows maybe I am a decent rider.
My track day accident was more than 25 years ago, pre-kids, pre-big house, pre-people counting on me. I think my wife would be happy if I dialed it back, maybe my kids too. And I would if I thought it was my fault or a failure of my abilities but I don?t. In this case it was simply the fickle finger of fate that plopped Dave?s bike in front of me. It could have been the landing gear from a 747 falling right out of the sky in front of my car and I would have had the same lack of options (I remind my wife I?ve been rear-ended 3 times over the same 40+ years while driving my car by people behind not paying attention).
I don?t think I?m stupid and I?d stop if I thought I didn?t have the skills any more. I?ve been to more places by bike, seen more things, met some fantastic people and had some great adventures, more than many people will have in a lifetime. So, if I had to stop it wouldn?t be fatal, even though I enjoy motorcycling immensely. However, I don?t have to stop and comes next June I?ll be ripping up the Alpine passes on a K1300R glad to be alive and excited to be biking.