Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.

[Silverstreak]

I was touring W. Virginia on my 02B12 when the marbles took me out. There were marbles on ever corner. At first I just ignored them or found a good line through them. Then, as I became more and more distract by find a line through the marbles I began to miss my turns. Finally on 219 at 150, which is just north of Marlinton, I got off on the gravel and then lost the bike to a very deep trench. As the bike dove into the trench I was tossed over the bars and slammed head first in the bottom of said trench. The bike came to rest completely upside-down. The strange thing was that the new windshield was undamaged because the handlebars were holding the bike just inches off the bottom of the trench. The tail section was saved by my homemade backrest. The tow truck operator did an awesome job of getting the bike out without further damage.

I didn't do so well, I was airlifted to Ruby Memorial in Morgantown for a three day all inclusive. The Doc released me with two fractured vertebrae in my neck. I have to wear a collar for the next 10 weeks.

the end... ow.

[PitterB4]

Damn, man.  Sorry to hear it!  Heal up quick!

[txbanditrydr]

+1 to Pitter's comments.... take the proper amount of time to heal real good - glad to "read" you're still around to post up.

[stormi]

Holy Sh!t!  I'm so sorry to hear that!  Good to hear it's not a permanent injury!

It'll be no time before you're on the mend, just don't rush it, there's always next year.

[ZenMan]

Damn, bad luck!

I hope you won't need any surgery?!?!

I sympathize with ya... I'm just healing up from a "no-riding" injury myself. Take it easy and get well, ok?

[06 Greyhound]

Sorry for you rotten luck - take your time and get well soon.

[Dragbike]

I was touring W. Virginia on my 02B12 when the marbles took me out. There were marbles on ever corner. At first I just ignored them or found a good line through them. Then, as I became more and more distract by find a line through the marbles I began to miss my turns. Finally on 219 at 150, which is just north of Marlinton, I got off on the gravel and then lost the bike to a very deep trench. As the bike dove into the trench I was tossed over the bars and slammed head first in the bottom of said trench. The bike came to rest completely upside-down. The strange thing was that the new windshield was undamaged because the handlebars were holding the bike just inches off the bottom of the trench. The tail section was saved by my homemade backrest. The tow truck operator did an awesome job of getting the bike out without further damage.

I didn't do so well, I was airlifted to Ruby Memorial in Morgantown for a three day all inclusive. The Doc released me with two fractured vertebrae in my neck. I have to wear a collar for the next 10 weeks.

the end... ow.

Wow! I feel your pain good luck!
 Last Friday after work I jumped on the Bandit for a cruse through the back roads and hills were I live Cherokee County Okla. half way through the joy ride with my girlfriend we saw and waved at some people in the road on the opposite side of the road. Got up next to them and an Australian blue healer darted in front of us, no time to do anything! Hit the dog broadside and did a flying “W” over the handle bars OHP officer said later we went 75 feet on the asphalt and 26 feet in the ditch about 4 foot deep and the bike hit a big rock (about 7’ X 3’X8” thick) and moved it 8 inches. I broke my left collar bone in 3 places and road rash on my back left shoulder and left knee. My girlfriend cut up her left hand and had a bad bump and road rash on her left knee.  It even rubbed the shoe laces off of her right shoe.  She was on top of me for most of the trip is way she got lucky with no more injuries! I will have to say that the OEM Suzuki crash bars are worth their weight in gold, Saved the engine!!  
It also took about ¼” off of the left side of my helmet! I have to stay off work for 6 to 8 weeks!  I needed a break from work (too much over time) but crap this is not the way to do it! Here is a link to some more photos
Click Me
Brent

mod edited to make the external link work.  Yahoo doesn't allow linking from other sites, that's why the pic doesn't show up.

[smooth operator]

Damn Silverstreak, Sorry to hear that.  I got to do a little exploring in W.V. last year while working in S.Oh. It amazed me how close the houses were to the side of the road. The roads were plenty twisty enough, but like you said, theres alot of crap on the roads,and no run off to pick up the pace. I ended up doing most of my riding in S Oh instead.
  Hope you heal up quick, Dan

[Red01]

Heal quick guys! To the rest of us - be careful out there.
We don't need any more stories like these.

[LowRyter]

get well soon guys.  Brent, didn't know that you went down.

So Sorry guys.

Silver, I once got launched out of a corvette, tragic deal.  I was the lucky one with 4 compresed-fractured lumbar vertabras.  

Best to you both.

[Heaven Bound]

Bummer...as an "official" WV resident, let me express my sincere regrets about your accident, and my hope for an excellent recovery.

I spent last weekend riding south in VA/NC/TN with several of your countrymen (from Toronto) with the ST.N group and there were some bad spots of gravel there as well.  Can't seem to get away from it. I also hope that you will come back a try WV roads again because there are a lot to choose from and several good ones not far from where you had your little get-off.  And besides, we need your tourism dollars  

[CWO4GUNNER]

Wow, you have allot to be thankful for. Just thinking about a neck fracture makes me wear a dirt bike collar off road, maybe I will start wearing it on the street as well. Anyway I am very glad for you not becoming a quadriplegic.

[Heaven Bound]

I will have to say that the OEM Suzuki crash bars are worth their weight in gold, Saved the engine!!

Wow.  Hope you heal up well also.  Looks like you have the makings for a 'nakid' bandit now  

[solman]

Kinda the opposite for the guy I rode with.  Made it out with minor damage, but the bike is done.  Glad to hear that you will recover.  Take care of yourself.

[Silverstreak]

It's not naked, the fairing is fine. It's the forks that got a little twisted.

I'm going to post some picks later in the week. I don't have any of the scene, unless LEO will send me some.