July 23, 2009
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my first motorcycle crash
I just crashed my motorcycle... 30 minutes ago.
- Exiting Capitol Ave South, on 680-S, right turn curve
- Before I entered the curve, I was going about... 50mph and the car behind me was catching up
- I slowed probably to 30-35 mph right before/during the curve... when it was a 25 mph curve
- As I was exiting the curve, I straightened up too early and instead of finishing the curve, I went off the side of the road into the unpaved part
- I straightened up also because I needed to slow down... a short merge with oncoming traffic.
- Fell on my right side
- My jacket got a few scratches on the right arm
- I myself did not sustain any injury or damages
- None of my clothes got ripped
- My backpack and laptop was okay
- My bike was not okay
- Front-right turn signal smashed into the fairing, and that part is cracked
- Front brake handle bent
- Right foot pedal missing
- Right foot brake bent
- Cracked windshield
- I didn't even hit my head, my helmet is unscratched
- I got to my senses and then picked up my bike, walked to the side of the road, and started it, and rode home.
The bike was $1500 used. Now I don't know what it's worth after the crash. Repair it and keep riding? Sell it as is? Repair and sell it?
Should I buy another bike? Or quit motorcycles forever? Decisions, decisions
Comments (7)
whoa, man, glad you're okay. I didn't even know you got your license and stuff. I dunno.. if I were you, I'd give it up completely, but it depends on how much you like riding. stay safe..
geez.
=(
quit forever!
Glad to hear you're okay!
More details please: I don't understand, did you go off the right side of the road? How exactly did you crash? Did you lose traction in the unpaved portion? I'm confused because usually when you straighten up too early, you would be heading to the outside of the curve (which would be the left in this case). Sounds like you slowed down during the curve, which is an absolute no-no on a motorcycle. You need to do all your braking before the curve, then maintain speed or accelerate through the curve... even if a car is on your tail. A car can slam on its brakes, a motorcycle cannot slam on the brakes during a curve.
What kind of bike do you have? I would just sell it as is and take whatever someone is willing to pay for it. You can try to bend back the bent parts, but replacing fairings would definitely not be worth it.
glad you are okay. it could have been much worse. the road is a scary place... the training is only "preschool" 30-35 mph is too fast to hit a curve that is marked at 25mph... especially at night... haha you might never know what's on the ground... any leaves or gravel and it's game over. i think you just choked... because im sure you already kno that you cannot brake during a curve... your turn only gets wider. (which explains why you went off the road) next time even if you have to brake for on coming traffic... see if you can "split" the lane and go to the stopped car's right or left. (this will give you more braking distance) if not... then falling would be the better option than careening into the car in front of you... (or just slow it down to the curve's recommended speed and who cares if the car are tailing you... you will beat them in the turn) now... what can you do about the bike. you can buy new front signals ($10-$15) replace the front break lever (~$10), foot break pedal (~$10), foot pedal (?)... and just replace those... the others are just cosmetics... you can just leave those. (well you can fix it but i don't think it's worth it) oh yeah you can probably get this stuff at cycle gear. (there should be on in sj near moorpark st.) hope this helps
i say quit forever!
o_O BE CAREFUL........
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