Time for me to be Thankful

Uncle Phil

Uncle Phil

Site Supporter
ST1100 50,000 Mile Badge ST1100 100,000 Mile Badge ST1100 150,000 Mile Badge ST1100 150,000 Mile Badge
Joined
Feb 26, 2007
Messages
2,396
Age
73
Location
In The Holler West Of Nashville, Tennessee
Bike
3 ST1100(s)
2026 Miles
012580
This time 1 year ago today I was in the hospital after my 75 mph crash where the deer took me out.
Today I am out riding the Great River Road from the headwaters and should be at the Gulf tomorrow,
Reflecting back I realize that could have been my last day on the planet or the end of my ability to ride motorcycles.
Thanks to the Good Lord and good gear - Hit Air Vest and other riding gear - I survived to ride again 2 1/2 months later.
And thanks to those who prayed for me and rescued what was left of BlueBelle.
It reminds me to be thankful for what I have and to enjoy it while I can for we do not know what a day will bring.
And once again I will put a BIG PLUG in for air vests - you ought to really get one because it can make the difference between survival and DOA.
Some accidents are of a nature where nothing would have made a difference.
In my case, I do not believe I would have survived the impact at that speed without the vest because my ribs would have broken and been driven into my lungs.
Hope to see you on the road somewhere this year!
 
Timely post. I was out doing errands today and the thought struck me that it is almost two years since my own getoff. We are blessed.

Edited to add pic. ;)

Here's a pic of my Hit-Air airbag vest.

1780368976661.png

There's a 3-4 inch split in the bladder from the force it absorbed when I hit the ground. Normally, they just absorb the force and you repack them. In this case, the airbag vest sacrificed itself. I had no chest or back injuries.

Chris
 
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+1 on Air Bag vest or jacket.

My Helite air bag vest has been part of my ATTGAT wear for the last seven years. Uncle Phil is one of two rider friends who were involved in serious accidents who survived with major injuries but are alive because they were wearing air bag protection.
 
As I have heard - happiness and gratefulness are two sides of the same coin.
I'm sure glad that you are still with us. Some day not in the too distant future I hope to meet you in person. I've sure enjoyed reading your posts over many years here!!
My airbag vest goes on every time I get on my bike.

Dan
 
Gus1300 said:
The wife says one is in my future to replace my Joe Rocket jacket that is going on 19 years old (and yes, I've replaced the armor in it a couple times).

Good to still have you all with us thanks to the technology.
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Just to be clear, @Gus1300 , buy a vest, not a jacket with an airbag.

Why? The biggest reason is you can use it with any jacket. Your cold weather jacket and your summer weight mesh jacket.

Chris
 
Daboo said:
Timely post. I was out doing errands today and the thought struck me that it is almost two years since my own getoff. We are blessed.

Edited to add pic. ;)

Here's a pic of my Hit-Air airbag vest.

1780368976661.png

There's a 3-4 inch split in the bladder from the force it absorbed when I hit the ground. Normally, they just absorb the force and you repack them. In this case, the airbag vest sacrificed itself. I had no chest or back injuries.

Chris
Click to expand...
My Hit-Air bladders were fine but my long slide burnt holes in the covering.
The first piece of replacement gear I bought was another Hit-Air vest! ;)
 
bdalameda said:
As I have heard - happiness and gratefulness are two sides of the same coin.
I'm sure glad that you are still with us. Some day not in the too distant future I hope to meet you in person. I've sure enjoyed reading your posts over many years here!!
My airbag vest goes on every time I get on my bike.

Dan
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Dan - When I venture out your way again or you venture my way, we will get it done!
It would be a good excuse for you to come to the BRG in September!;)
 
So good to hear that you are riding and especially that you are on the GRR ride.

Sorry I couldn't be with you Phil...

Enjoy that ride and get home safe to Miss Sharyn!

Jude 1 24-25
 
Gus1300 said:
The wife says one is in my future to replace my Joe Rocket jacket that is going on 19 years old (and yes, I've replaced the armor in it a couple times).

Good to still have you all with us thanks to the technology.
Click to expand...
It’s not just the armor that ages. The fabric shell and thread stitching it together are weakened by UV exposure over time. I just recently threw away two jackets and a pair of pants that looked good, just faded, but at 15+ seasons old I I got my money’s worth out of them.
 
Dang times a flying, seems like yesterday you had the run in with the deer, a year ago you say. Good to hear you are back in the Saddle and will be for a lot more. Cheers G
 
First of all, thanks for saying "Good Lord". I can't tell you how sweet that sounds to my ears. I'm a member of a photography forum where I hardly hang out because saying those two words would get me kicked off. Once, I suggested praying without ceasing and all hell broke loose. I love this place.

I've not considered an air vest, but I seriously will now. I had a very bad get-off some years ago where I broke four ribs along with a lot of other things. An air vest would have helped tremendously.

Like you've said, we never know from one minute to the next how life will be. I've had some extremely close calls with deer and things happened so fast I had no time to react. Not long ago, a deer exploded out of the woods, ran directly at me, turned and ran along side me, and then bolted back into the woods. This took all of 5 seconds.

One day when I was in the medical field, I was dropping off some paperwork for a doctor to sign and was waiting in her waiting room. There were two old guys sitting across from me. One turns to the other and says, "I take every day at a time". The other guys says, "Every day!? I take every hour at a time!"

So glad you're alive and back on the bike, Phil. The danger is worth it.
 
ST1100TX said:
First of all, thanks for saying "Good Lord". I can't tell you how sweet that sounds to my ears. I'm a member of a photography forum where I hardly hang out because saying those two words would get me kicked off. Once, I suggested praying without ceasing and all hell broke loose. I love this place.

I've not considered an air vest, but I seriously will now. I had a very bad get-off some years ago where I broke four ribs along with a lot of other things. An air vest would have helped tremendously.

Like you've said, we never know from one minute to the next how life will be. I've had some extremely close calls with deer and things happened so fast I had no time to react. Not long ago, a deer exploded out of the woods, ran directly at me, turned and ran along side me, and then bolted back into the woods. This took all of 5 seconds.

One day when I was in the medical field, I was dropping off some paperwork for a doctor to sign and was waiting in her waiting room. There were two old guys sitting across from me. One turns to the other and says, "I take every day at a time". The other guys says, "Every day!? I take every hour at a time!"

So glad you're alive and back on the bike, Phil. The danger is worth it.
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The vests are expensive - $650 for my Hit-Air.
But when I crashed without one and broke 4 ribs up high I would have gladly paid $650 a rib not to hurt like that! ;)
And breaking ribs twice in one year propelled me to buy a vest - regardless of cost.
And it did exactly that in my crash so I think they are great value. :biggrin:
As I say, there are some crashes that you cannot survive regardless of gear.
But I firmly believe the air vests greatly increase your chances of surviving in decent condition if you do crash just like a helmet and other gear.
 
Yes.

It depends on what you buy. I like the "String pulled" deployment. Others like the sensors that detect "motion". "String pulled" works plenty fast enough. Mine was deployed before I hit the ground. That's what matters. And the "string pulled" follows the KISS principle.

Chris
 
BamaRider said:
Let me ask y'all this. What initiates deployment? Is it motion or some kind of "String pulled?"
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As Chris said there are electronic deployed and mechanical deployed.
I chose the mechanical - a tether attached to the frame of the bike.
With these you do not have to send the vest back to 'momma' and pay a fee to reset and there is no subscription.
If you don't burn a hole in it like I did in my long slide, you reset the trigger and screw in another cartridge and you are good to go.
And you will not set them off by stepping off the bike - IIRC it takes 50 lbs of pull so you notice it before you move much.
I like simple and effective and this type has proven it works quite well.
In my crash I had no warning at all and at 75 mph the vest deployed before I hit the asphalt.
I think it inflates in 60 milliseconds according to the documentation.
The only issue is training yourself to connect before taking off - just a mental safety habit to get into.
I have also trained my brain to give the cable a tug once I get rolling to make sure I am connected correctly.
 
I’ve posted before on my thoughts about vests and why I picked a Helite.

I too like the Kiss Principle and I’m not excited by paying a subscription to survive a crash.

For the next few years, I won’t be riding, so I will be selling my Helite with a spare cartridge. If I go back to riding, I will definitely be wearing an airbag vest.
 
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