We'll it happened. Went down yesterday. Totally sucked (as you would expect). Was coming up to a toll booth on the expressway and some jackass decided to almost come to a complete stop in the high speed lane. I glanced away for just 2 seconds to make sure the van next to me wasn't encroaching on my lane, looked back and dumb ass was almost stopped in front of me. I drilled the brakes, front locked, let up and was still to close, hit the brakes again, front locked and this time it tucked and I was sliding into the toll booth. Bike one way, me the other. Went down about 40mph I think. Luckily I had my gear on, leather jacket, helmet, light gloves, boots, etc. Still hurt like a SOB though. Elbows got skinned up from the inside of the jacket (hey coulda been worse), my knee took a nasty hit and jammed my thumb. Never hit my head though not a mark on the helmet. While the bike didn't look bad most of the damage was under the plastics. Got the estimate back, $6000 in damages. Ouch... Insurance will cover it and I'll have it back in a few weeks but still sucks.

At the end of the day it's still my fault for not being hyper vigilant and not anticipating they guy was going to stop in the middle of the interstate but we aren't perfect and shit happens. Be carful out there, lots of idiots on the road, Anyway some pics...

Phantomx2k I feel sorry for you mate! your's was similar to mine in June 2010 but mine was worse than your injury keep your chin up Bro sadly shit happens & at least you will be able to ride again compared with me I could not ride for 19 months!

Glad you walked away from it....sorry about your new bike...bummer.You'll be back and a better rider this time around!Heal up fast.....

Glad to hear you're ok. I had crashed a couple of weeks ago and was lucky too. I'd say get a heavier leather jacket with the insurance $$. Dainese and Alpinstars make some really well vented ones.

* Last updated by: dragking on 2/14/2013 @ 1:49 AM *

Ouch glad you did not get too banged up. Look at it as avoiding the worse. Rear ending a car at speeed could have caused a lot more damage. Fix 'er up good as new.

This just happened to me this past June ...but the opposite side Really sucks And expensive just real glad no hospitalization... Will be done with the cosmetics and ready to ride or possibly trade with an ABS model
Yeah express toll lanes are loaded with idiots, I try to avoid routes with tolls as much as possible

Phantom:

The sky has an uncanny blue today, does'nt it? So blue, it hurts the eye's, right? Yeah, it's good to be alive...

You did not mention if you were going for an "EZ Pass" booth? Were you maintaining fwy speed to pass through the toll booth, or were you already slowing in anticipation?

You also describe pretty remarkable composure under very difficult circumstances. Congratulations on your training! Front-Lock, Release, Re-Lock (and unfortunately, that time, tuck). Still, your training held, and mebbe, just mebbe, your here to tell the tale because of it.

I for one am glad you still here, and that you can tell it from upright.

Bob

Sorry for the incident. Glad to see that you are here to tell the story. I had the same choices this past summer. I chose to continue breaking and hold on. Next thing you know, I was on the roof of the car in front of me. I actually came out better, but my bike faired worse than your's (bent my frame on impact).
Again, glad you are realatively OK.

Thanks guys. Appreciate all the very nice comments. Yea I'd like to think my training and almost 30 years of riding helped to keep me from hitting them, hitting solid objects sucks, a lot LOL. I try to avoid that.

Yes I was slowing in anticipation and let me tell you I was really close to them. I still don't know where the hell he came from. I remember looking ahead and nothing was even remotely close to me up front at least nothing that cried warning, I looked left because the van was close to the white line and when I looked forward again they were just there! I know better as well a lot of people freak out in those lanes. They either jam the brakes and go from 70 to 25 (the limit through the toll, sunpass lanes here) or I even saw a guy just last week stop in the sunpass lanes because he didn't have a pass and tried to back up!!!

Hopefully we can all take a lesson from it, I know I did. And yes my friends the sky was a gorgeous blue and even the rain that followed today didn't get me down, I'm very happy I'm here to see it...

And I'm a firm believer that ABS would have helped. That extra confidence knowing I can drill the brakes as hard as I want and maintain control is worth having. I don't think I'll ever buy another bike without it. I am considering trading for a green '13 with ABS as well. But for now I just want my baby back and all healed up. For now ill enjoy my Victory until Kermit's healthy again LOL.

* Last updated by: Phantomx2k on 2/14/2013 @ 7:57 PM *

Sorry to hear it, but as you said it could have been worse. Glad you had the gear...

Tell us about the 6K in damage.

You mentioned it was mostly interior, beneath the body covers. I think I see frame sliders in the pictures. Did the sliders bust the engine mount?

That 6K, well, it's alot sure, but yeah, that blue sky huh...

I dont' have a complete parts list yet but it's around $4400 in parts and $1600 in labor to put Humpty back to together again. No frame sliders (wish i did). Essentially from what I could see it needed quite a bit. All the right slide plastics (expensive, probably $2k alone or more), brake lever and brake pedal, some part of the engine cover that got ground through, engine oil and filter, new tires (covered in oil), some heat shields and parts that were under the plastics, bar ends, mirror, gas tank, Corbin seat, entire two brothers right side exhaust setup, front fender, rear sets, rear passenger peg. That's just what I saw glancing at it for 5 minutes. It's all apart at the dealer now, Geico should be out there sometime today to either approve it or total it (doubt that). I'll know more this afternoon when I hear from the adjuster.

* Last updated by: Phantomx2k on 2/15/2013 @ 11:11 AM *

They don't do crashing very well...do they?Geez.Mine had a two page list of stuff that was 'damaged'....insurance totalled mine.Again...glad you walked away Phantom;)

Insurance adjuster went by to see the bike, service mgr said the didn't even blink at the parts just simply said "replace it all" and wrote them a check. She's getting fixed over the next couple of weeks and should be good as new. Even getting new tires (Pilot Power 2CT'S this time).

Can't wait to get it back. Hoping to pick up my Victory either today or tomorrow from it's service visit (15k service got done) its been at the dealer for a week, my garage is looking decidedly empty lol.

Glad you're ok, sorry about your ride man. I wish I had abs also.

Dang!! I'm glad YOU'RE ok!! The bike can be fixed, that's always my attitude. I got my Alpinestars stuff in today! After seeing this I'm glad I did! Either way, I'm sorry about your ride too. That sucks!! Good luck with gettn her fixed up!

Terrible. Glad to hear you are ok.

Kofla

Riding My Own Biography
2010 ZX-14 MotoVlog

Glad that you weren't hurt Phantomx2k...no one wants it to happen to them, but the bike can always be repaired or replaced. You have the right attitude and frame of mind, so just put it behind you and keep on ridding.

A litte note on road rash... If your a hairy bastid like me shave the area around the rash, you'll thank me later. Everytime it would start to scab up and heal a bit the hairs would get stuck in it and then when you go to bend the area (this case my knee) it pulls the little hairs out and stings like hell. Oh don't try to put those really stick adhesive bandages on that prior to shaving, I'm sure you see the flaw in that, wow did that suck.

Anyway just a little helpful advice from the "gimp" lol... I'm really hoping this heals a little more over the next week I'm supposed to run a 1/2 marathon this sunday that I've been training for. I ran a little yesterday and it wasn't to bad but man I'm off my pace. The body when it's in healing mode really drains you of energy, even when you aren't doing anything!

* Last updated by: Phantomx2k on 2/17/2013 @ 10:02 PM *

You're probably still in shock!Crashing can be very disturbing....just glad ya didn't break anything(on you)...