Taking it easy, for once, and on a major, but curvy, highway and hit an oil spot in a turn this morning. Bam! I was sliding down the road before I even knew I was down.
Lots of people stopped to help- there are good people in this world! Good thing I was in a left turn and slid off the right side in my lane, or I would have had to deal with oncoming traffic. A couple went out of their way, almost 30 minutes, to drive me home so I could get my trailer and get back to recover "Roxy." Good people!
Roxy has some bruises (see pix) and so do I. I bruised my left rib pretty good, but know that I probably wouldn't be up for even writing this if I didn't have an air vest on. They're hot, they cost money, and people (maybe like you?) will scoff- ask me if I give a flying $h1t. I highly, highly, recommend you get one. "Ask me now how I know..."
As I said, I was riding fairly conservatively, but headed to do The Snake where, riding conservatively, is not my norm. I'm fortunate and now asking what I/you can learn from this. Feel free to jump in with your observations. From the video the crash looks so "mellow," like you're traveling vertically and now, for some reason, suddenly, horizontally- it's very gentle (my ribs disagree). What you'll see is the ever-present oil stripe (lot of trucks on this road) and then a weird small tire (motorcycle ?) skid shooting off hard to the right. I can't quite figure out what happened there. Anyway, about (or exactly) the time I hit that intersection is when I went down. Slick as "owl $h1t," as I was able to confirm when I went back there and dragged my boot across that area.
What have I learned? I sometimes "ride the edge." This was not one of those times- which is humbling. Early morning when the street is "dry," but not really, from dew, you need to be careful of the effect of residual oil. Staying outside that oil path is not really an option, as you're choosing the line from curve to curve, but I will be more aware of it. Don't talk to me about throttling on- as I said, I was down before I even knew I was in a skid. Finally, the air vest- screw anyone who shames you - order one right now, fu(k!ng, right, fu(k!ng, now!
I special ordered this one from Italy.
Homepage - Motoairbag - L'airbag per i motociclisti
I get nothing from that recommendation other than knowing I may have save you a major injury- you're welcome. Get that one, or another one- whatever.....
There are two main types- the electronic "brain" versions and the more analog tethered ones. I have this one from Italy that utilizes a lock mechanism like a seat belt- i think that's unique. With this one you don't have to come off the bike before it engages. Possibly, I hit the pavement before I extended enough to employ the bag, but even if that's the case I'm sticking with this design. It doesn't need to be charged, doesn't mind getting wet, and it employs earlier than other analog models.
The Damage Done... Wear ATHGATHT (All the Gear All The TIme)- did it's job!
Visor, left jacket sleeve, and left thigh area of my riding overpants....
No dent- just the logo
Be safe out there......