Joined the "Laid her down" club today

[Tripps]

I've been lucky twice, once on the Rocket, and once towing my wife's car to Florida on a tow dolly. Both times I hit ice. On the Rocket, the back end kicked out going around a curve, I heard metal scraping, started to go sideways, I didn't let off the throttle, I turned the front wheel into the skid, and the bike miraculously stood back up and was going down the road.
In the van, same thing, black ice, van and car started going sideways, then the other way, my wife couldn't believe I recovered, I told her if I had hit the brakes, or even let abruptly off the gas, we would have been done.
I don't think I could have repeated either feat in 100 tries, but I did the right things, and got lucky besides.

 

[Boog]

A few have said damage might be worse than I hope. I feel very strongly the final drive broke before the accident, and contributed to it. I have yet to start dealing with things so I know nothing for now.

Pappy, I am happy to read you are able to still write and tell the tale! I am saddened by that final drive photo though as the others have mentioned. However, that windscreen looks like it held up well...

 

[Jay]

@PappyBlade glad you are a ok and with us to assess the damages. Hopefully it gets resolved soon and you can be on your way with a fixed or replacement ride.

to @scot in exile post, trail braking and leaning in helps tremendously for dealing with unexpected issues through the turn, including a high entry speed and blind obstacles. I took the Yamaha Champions Racing school course on my rocket (there were several cruisers with me) and it helped with many riding behaviors beyond just cornering. I highly recommend it. Can't say I could keep up with many on here, but gained a lot of confidence through that course for riding the R3T. Helped to dispell some bad habits picked up from fellow “long time” riders who didn’t understand the physics and context of certain recommendations. One such thing is the conditions when to apply throttle in the turn, make sure you understand and don’t just toute the “give it more gas” mantra.

 

[Kojack1970]

Glad you are okay. Other than the final drive, doesn't look to bad from the pictures. I'm sure we've all had that oh ****, pucker moment on the back road turns, I know I have.

 

[jake shaw]

Glad you came through relatively unscathed.

 

[1olbull]

Glad you are okay bikes can be replaced you cannot, as said by Steve you are very lucky that nothing was in your way for so long.
Now I doubt that the final drive had anything to do with the crash and a crash it was , the old saying I had to lay the bike down makes me cringe as very few riders can actually lay a bike down on purpose the human need for survival just stops most from doing it.
Over 80% of crashes involving no one but the bike and the rider occurs in corners/curves and the cause is usually entering the corner too fast/misjudging the corner as you said you went in too fast and bad things happen.
I do not know what riding experience you have but in your situation, the brain tells you the wrong steps to take
1-Entering the curve too fast-- brain said let go of the throttle, press the brakes sound like good advice but really it is not, once you apply the brakes or let go of the throttle in a curve the bike wants to straighten up, if possible lean more and at times a little more throttle will get you through the corner.
Now can you brake in a corner, of course, you can trail brake but you have to know what you are doing when entering a curve it is always easier to increase speed than decrease speed?
Now this applies to every one of us on this site and if you disagree then you should be on the professional race circuit------" the bike is capable of more than the rider is"

Well stated, lover of goats!
Especially your comments regarding a rider purposly laying down his bike. Not only difficult to do, it takes time & distance that is never supported by scene evidence. Loss of front wheel traction will put a bike down almost instantly. Worse, is the fact that a sliding down motor develops half the friction of a braking motor. Other than in a corner, tis always best to stay on the brakes.
In a corner, USE UP THAT LEAN ANGLE! Your motor will lean way more than you think! If you want to get technical, trail brake the rear to offset the effects of weight transfer to the front.
The only nit pic I would have is the "more throttle" in an emergency corner, because more speed equals more radius and more lean angle necessary.

 

[scot in exile]

The good ending to this is that PappyBlade is okay and if you scrap the bike please send me the exhaust
Saying what should have been done is extremely easy from behind a keyboard, most of us have had that O **** moment and came through it, the important part here is to learn from it, I can guarantee that our very own PappyBlade will be running it through his mind time after time thinking what if.
Everyone can practice trail braking or any other exercise all you need is a large parking lot or school lot(after hours of course) and practice practice practice you never know one day it might save your life.

 

[atlsrt44]

He didnt say anything about having to change his underwear so it wasnt too bad

 

[scot in exile]

He didnt say anything about having to change his underwear so it wasnt too bad

After that whoopsie, MrPappy will need a pressure washer to remove his underwear

 

[Starmanut]

I hurts to see that bike. But glad to hear that you are okay!