Bad ride yesterday

[Rttoys]

A few guys from work wanted to ride a bit for Memorial Day, sounds good.atriot: One guy is a noob rider with a new Fatboy (got it 3 months ago). I rode with him a few weeks ago, seemed to ride well, took a few turns a little wide, but nothing to be worried about. Two other guys have HDs and have been riding for 4+ years, one other neighbor/friend of one of my co-workers was rideing a Kawi Vulken (not sure of riding skills) and me on my Ducati (I have to be different:smash:, but it is a V twin, so I fit in).

I lead us on a nice hundred and change mile journey to a good eat'n place in Sommerville,TX.....well we didn't make it:mad2: About 15 miles from the eat'n place I'm waiting at the next turn off, because I took off to play in the twisties, and the 2 behind me get to me and sit also. All the sudden, a cop comes flying around the corner headed back where we just came from. I thought, well, if someone call me in for haul'n ass, he would of stopped and gave me a tongue lashing, but he didn't. Then about 4 or 5 minutes later to bikes are coming our way.....that's them.....no it's not. They stop and ask if we were waiting on someone. Yep. They said there was a guy down on a Harley, sitting on the side of the road.:yikes: So we head back and sure enough, the guy on the Vulcan somehow went a little wide in a turn, hit the gravel and off he went. Really don't know how it happened, it's a posted 65mph turn, he was not going fast Anyways, cops are there, EMS and then an ambulance, they take him away to the hospital, later to find out no broken bones, just major rash. Bike's probably totaled.

Everyone leaves, even the friend of the guy follows the ambulance to the hospital to be with him until his wife can get there. So now it's just 3 of us. We decide to hit the nearest freeway and go home...we're done. Fire up and go down the same rode we were just on, slower now, and I watch for the 2 to be behind me. Go down the hill, uphill, slight curve to a 35mph S turn, go straight, watch my mirrors......nothing, continue slowly straight, mirror.....nothing.....go slower.....nothing.....F#&$*#*, turn around, the guy behind me (co-worker with the new Fatboy) went off into the ditch:rolleyes5::smash: Don't know how this one happened....... He's fine, just shook up. Bend his handlebars back into shape, tweeked the crashguards back, dug the mud out of his exhaust and let's good home.

We made it home:hurray: Then the drink'n began........what a day.ut:

 

[saratoga]

At least no one was seriously injured from the sound of things... one of those days where you end up saying "Now what?"

 

[66FLH]

Ask him how much he wants for the Fatboy!
Glad everyone is ok.:wink5:
I hate riding with newbies!

 

[bighawg]

It's good everyones all right. You may be able to get a good deal on the fatboy thats for sure.

 

[66FLH]

It's good everyones all right. You may be able to get a good deal on the fatboy thats for sure.

:ihih:

 

[Rttoys]

Ask him how much he wants for the Fatboy!
Glad everyone is ok.:wink5:
I hate riding with newbies!

He wants to call his insurance company on the Fatboy I told him not to and buy the bars, risers, crashguards and exhaust he wants, and consider it upgrades he was going to do sooner or later.

If I know the person, I don't mind riding with a greenhorn. I like helping them out when they have questions or just give advice, but if I don't know them, it's nerve racking. You don't know their abilities, ego, ability to listen......the other guy (first one who crashed) none of us really knew nothing about him. We did have a little 'pre ride meeting' so everyone was on the same page and everyone seemed ready for a nice cruise. I guess **** happens sometimes, but we all did get home alive in the end. First crash dude got 30+ stiches and a major headache...oh and an ear ache due to his wife:crazy:

 

[LeadfootDuramax]

Man, sounds like a rough day. Maybe next time we should just take the Jeeps to Spring Creek. They are supposed to end up in the ditch and muddy.

 

[FLSTFI Dave]

Ask him how much he wants for the Fatboy!
Glad everyone is ok.:wink5:
I hate riding with newbies!

Could be a good deal.

I am glad every one will be able to talk about this one too.

Some newbies do not bother me. If I know them well.

My wife, as a newbee only bothered me because if something happened, I would feel at fault for encouraging her to ride.

I did have her take the MSF safety course. Then we practiced lots before she hit any roads. Then the first 1000 mile we she only rode with me. 1 year later she has 10K plus mile on her bike. I will ride with her before many of my friends. :biggrin5:

 

[SfcJones]

I always ride as fast as the slower of the group rides, if a newbie goes slow, I go slow...if he goes fast....I go slow and see what happens, this Saturday afternoon me and my son were taking the last ride together before he deploys to Iraq when we came on to a wreck...crotch rocket in pieces on the side of the road, ambulance with the stretcher just standing there behind the rig with the sheet covering up the stretcher, that is always bad news, a few miles when we pull up to a light my son opens his visors and had tears in his eyes, he told me he knew the guy, come to find out the rider was doing the twisties in and out of traffic on a 4 lane hiway and rear ended a PU truck, his partner didn't see it happen. This is what gives the good riders a bad name.
Come to find out, the guy makes it, broke both wrists, minor head injury and 35 - 40% road rash on arms and back....no gear at all and was estimated to be going in excess of 85 mph, he did have riding boots on and chaps....but just a tee shirt as it was hot outside

 

[Rttoys]

That's a bummer.:sad:

I hate the excuse "it's to hot to wear (insert riding gear of choise here)" It was 95* here yesterday with 90+% humidity, when we were riding. I had on summer riding boots, jeans, summer jacket, full faced helmet and full gloves. The market is flooded with summer riding gear. Here is my jacket for summer use (actually it's their latest and greatest, mine is over 5 years old and one of their first designs of this jacket) : http://www.joerocket.com/productJR.cfm?products_id=2731

It actually speeds up the air going through the jacket makeing it cooler than haveing a t-shirt on. Plus, you won't get wind burned or sun burned.

I have a Shoei helmet that gets a bit warm, but it's at least 5 years old too, so an upgrade is due and I know they have come a long way with venting in the last few years. My gloves breath well and my boots just cover my ankles so air vents through them and my pants.:smile5:

 

[12ga diesel]

That's a bummer.:sad:

I hate the excuse "it's to hot to wear (insert riding gear of choise here)" It was 95* here yesterday with 90+% humidity, when we were riding. I had on summer riding boots, jeans, summer jacket, full faced helmet and full gloves. The market is flooded with summer riding gear. Here is my jacket for summer use (actually it's their latest and greatest, mine is over 5 years old and one of their first designs of this jacket) : http://www.joerocket.com/productJR.cfm?products_id=2731

It actually speeds up the air going through the jacket makeing it cooler than haveing a t-shirt on. Plus, you won't get wind burned or sun burned.

I have a Shoei helmet that gets a bit warm, but it's at least 5 years old too, so an upgrade is due and I know they have come a long way with venting in the last few years. My gloves breath well and my boots just cover my ankles so air vents through them and my pants.:smile5:

I too hate hearing the excuse "It's too hot to wear ..." I had a simmilar Joe Rocket Jacket and my wife had that same jacket as you have when I had my ZX-6R. We both had full face HJC helmets and Joe Rocket golves. I had a couple pairs of riding jeans with the Kevlar knees and rear end. To be honest with you, I enjoyed wearing my riding gear. No matter what my next bike is, the riding jeans will be one of the first things I buy again.

As for the two stories, I'm glad to hear that everyone will be okay. SfcJones, I know that feeling that your son had, as I have rode past a scene like that too. It's tough to look at, especially when you are a fellow rider. I have no problem riding with nubee's just as long as they don't ride like they own the road or have been riding for 20 years. We all make mistakes, and you have to be more careful when it is one of you first times out on the road. I have in the past pulled over to explain to a new rider that riding like an ass in and out of tracfic will just help give all riders a bad name.

 

[eng158]

happy no serious injuries. i love riding but that is the reason they are called donor cycles.

 

[SfcJones]

happy no serious injuries. i love riding but that is the reason they are called donor cycles.

I mentioned that to my son, I hope that he doesn't become part of the donor cycle club. It is bad enough that every car/truck is out to kill you, we don't need to do it to our selfs. This poor sap learned a lesson, he might even never ride again, I hope that new riders take the course, and actually I need to retake the course as I could learn soem more each time

 

[BERK]

Owning a motorcycle is a lot like owning a firearm or a pitbull, you better make sure you know what you're getting into. I personally take great offence when I hear someone say "organ donor". It irritates me more when the person saying it has never swung a leg over anything with a motor. Granted I probably should have eaten **** more than my share of times, I know many riders,including myself, who ride very hard and have never gotten into a serious accident. For years I rode with a group of guys that would wheelie, stoppie, slide, highchair, and donut at every opportunity possible in New York traffic. The only guys that ever died or got hurt were the ones who bought a bike for the cool factor, and always rode over their head. A Fat Boy is NOT a good first bike for most people. Although I know some guys who bought big bikes as a first bike with success, the majority will hurt themselves fairly quickly. I watched a newbie on a GSXR 750 crash on the way out of the dealership! People who can't ride should start out on a managable bike in a controlled enviornment until they are confident in their ability to handle it. Jones, find some other Ducati riders and stay with them, all you are doing is pushing cruisers past their ability.

 

[66FLH]

Owning a motorcycle is a lot like owning a firearm or a pitbull, you better make sure you know what you're getting into. I personally take great offence when I hear someone say "organ donor". It irritates me more when the person saying it has never swung a leg over anything with a motor. Granted I probably should have eaten **** more than my share of times, I know many riders,including myself, who ride very hard and have never gotten into a serious accident. For years I rode with a group of guys that would wheelie, stoppie, slide, highchair, and donut at every opportunity possible in New York traffic. The only guys that ever died or got hurt were the ones who bought a bike for the cool factor, and always rode over their head. A Fat Boy is NOT a good first bike for most people. Although I know some guys who bought big bikes as a first bike with success, the majority will hurt themselves fairly quickly. I watched a newbie on a GSXR 750 crash on the way out of the dealership! People who can't ride should start out on a managable bike in a controlled enviornment until they are confident in their ability to handle it. Jones, find some other Ducati riders and stay with them, all you are doing is pushing cruisers past their ability.

I believe no rider should push himself to keep up with ANYONE else no matter what they are riding.That seems like kind of an unfair thing to say.

 

[Rttoys]

A Fat Boy is NOT a good first bike for most people.

. Jones, find some other Ducati riders and stay with them, all you are doing is pushing cruisers past their ability.

Everyone that asks me about a first bike, I try to steer them clear of all those big, heavy, expensive bikes. I've only been successful a couple of times, though. So I sit back and wait for the 'I told you so', and it always happens. It happens from anything from what happened this weekend, to a simple off-balance parking lot mishap, but it will happen and it's easier to swallow it on a cheap throwdown than a nice perrrdy expensive machine.


Yes, I was the leader, but I had it setup correctly. In our pre ride meeting, I told them that on the twisties I will take off, do not try to keep up, I will wait at the end and will not get off that particular road until everyone is accounted for. The person directly behind me was an experianced rider, too. So, when I leave the pack, he is now the leader and can ride the route according to how cruisers ride that road. The 2 newbies were behind him and the tail was an experianced rider. So it was all covered. The 2 cruiser guys behind me, did get away from the first guy who crashed, but the tail, said he staied back and did not push him. It was just driver error.

On the second crash, I was lead, then the newbie, then an experianced tail. We were not even 2 miles down the road and I was not going fast at all. As a matter of fact, I took one slight curve with no hands, as I forgot to latch my helmet and was costing in neutral. So there was no way I was going fast. It was just another driver

O'ya, if I would of been on my V-Max, I would of rode it the same way, and that's as close to a cruiser as I have or ever will have.:coolgleamA:

 

[Rttoys]

I believe no rider should push himself to keep up with ANYONE else no matter what they are riding.That seems like kind of an unfair thing to say.

True true. I make sure everyone knows to ride their own ride and leave the ego at the driveway.

 

[66FLH]

True true. I make sure everyone knows to ride their own ride and leave the ego at the driveway.

I seem to always be the speed demon in the "groups" I ride with.Whether it's on th ATV,the KTM or on the Harley,I like to haul ass wherever I go and I make it a point to let the others know to not even try to keep up,more so on the highway than in the dirt.I've been riding bikes since I was 6 years old.I grew up on two wheels and have had my share of close calls too.I had a GSXR lock to lock at over 70 mph one time.(sold it the same day)I have never and would never push anyone to ride faster than they feel comfortable.:nonod:
(except in the dirt,thats a different story all together!:biggrin5:

 

[BERK]

I believe no rider should push himself to keep up with ANYONE else no matter what they are riding.That seems like kind of an unfair thing to say.

Testosterone has a tendency to make guys do dumb ****. I had a rookie on a ride that insisted on passing me every chance he could. I was purposely taking it easy because there were two other rookies with us. Finally I had enough and turned up the wick a bit. Well at the first hard right, rookie #1 went straight off into a field of shoulder high weeds. Nothing was hurt but his ego, and he took it easy for the rest of the day. I mis posted when I said Jones, I thought he posted the original thread. The problem with riding a sport bike, especially a Ducati, is they make hard turns look effortless. The guy on the Fat Boy may be lulled into a false sense of security. I personally avoid doing mixed rides when possible.

 

[66FLH]

Testosterone has a tendency to make guys do dumb ****. I had a rookie on a ride that insisted on passing me every chance he could. I was purposely taking it easy because there were two other rookies with us. Finally I had enough and turned up the wick a bit. Well at the first hard right, rookie #1 went straight off into a field of shoulder high weeds. Nothing was hurt but his ego, and he took it easy for the rest of the day. I mis posted when I said Jones, I thought he posted the original thread. The problem with riding a sport bike, especially a Ducati, is they make hard turns look effortless. The guy on the Fat Boy may be lulled into a false sense of security. I personally avoid doing mixed rides when possible.

I understand completely.:wink5: