Bandit Alley

GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: Silverstreak on May 25, 2007, 10:23:32 PM

Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: Silverstreak on May 25, 2007, 10:23:32 PM
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.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: PitterB4 on May 25, 2007, 11:58:55 PM
Damn, man.  Sorry to hear it!  Heal up quick!
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: txbanditrydr on May 26, 2007, 12:10:52 AM
+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.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: stormi on May 26, 2007, 12:11:16 AM
:shock:

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.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: ZenMan on May 26, 2007, 12:57:01 AM
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?
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: 06 Greyhound on May 26, 2007, 02:11:09 AM
Sorry for you rotten luck - take your time and get well soon.
Title: Re: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: Dragbike on May 26, 2007, 04:28:07 AM
Quote from: "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.

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!!  (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bj_race/detail?.dir=6fdfscd&.dnm=9834scd.jpg)
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 (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bj_race/album?.dir=6fdfscd&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bj_race/my_photos)
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.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: smooth operator on May 26, 2007, 06:23:58 AM
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
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: Red01 on May 26, 2007, 10:43:02 AM
Heal quick guys! To the rest of us - be careful out there.
We don't need any more stories like these.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: LowRyter on May 26, 2007, 10:56:25 AM
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.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: Heaven Bound on May 26, 2007, 11:58:15 AM
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  :wink:
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: CWO4GUNNER on May 26, 2007, 12:08:22 PM
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.
Title: Re: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: Heaven Bound on May 26, 2007, 12:09:15 PM
Quote from: "Dragbike"
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  :wink:
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: solman on May 27, 2007, 04:41:09 AM
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.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: Silverstreak on May 27, 2007, 10:58:36 AM
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.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: Sven on May 30, 2007, 07:13:49 PM
Streak, I'm just glad you're alive and healthy enough to post your story, although I wish it were a happier one.  Another reminder that we are riding powerful machines that can never be taken for granted.
Title: MARBLES
Post by: banditone1250s on June 03, 2007, 03:27:36 PM
Thank GOD that you are okay and will hopefully recover real soon. Those marbles really scare me because of the fact that they can show up any where. The road can be clean as a whistle one minute and all it takes is for a "car monster" to get off the road just a little and they can "spray" the road with those nasty little marbles that can be the death of any of us. You just never know. God speed to ya and don't be afraid to "climb back on the horse". Banditone1250s...
Title: Re: MARBLES
Post by: leedogg on June 03, 2007, 03:54:18 PM
Quote from: "banditone1250s"
Thank GOD that you are okay and will hopefully recover real soon. Those marbles really scare me because of the fact that they can show up any where. The road can be clean as a whistle one minute and all it takes is for a "car monster" to get off the road just a little and they can "spray" the road with those nasty little marbles that can be the death of any of us. You just never know. God speed to ya and don't be afraid to "climb back on the horse". Banditone1250s...


This is why I am very fearful of corners- sucks that they are so fun!  Down here it is the weather...it rains everyday round my house this time if year...never know what'll get washed out onto the road.  We have a saying down here- "If you don't like the weather- hang around for a few minutes- it'll change" :bandit:
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: Silverstreak on August 07, 2007, 11:59:03 PM
Had my first ride today since the spill in May. My bike is still in pcs but my buddy through me the keys to his Triumph Sprint.

I have all the parts coming in this week. I managed to find everything on Ebay. I was shocked at how much some of these parts cost. A new brake rotor is $400. A new wheel is $800. To replace the entire front end is around $5000. Thankfully I didn't have to do that.

I should be back on the road by mid to late Sept.

I forgot about the pics. My computer has been giving me problems but I'll try to remember to post them soon.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: Sven on August 08, 2007, 08:57:31 AM
Quote from: "Silverstreak"
Had my first ride today since the spill in May. My bike is still in pcs but my buddy through me the keys to his Triumph Sprint.


Good to hear you're back in the saddle.

It *is* amazing how expensive motorcycle parts are, especially compared to something like PC parts.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: PitterB4 on August 08, 2007, 11:00:20 AM
Sounds like you're well on the mend!   :bigok:

The cost of m/c parts is why so many bikes with relatively litte damage get totaled by ins companies.  It's a big help to us track day junkies!  I don't need no stinking title!  

Any way, good luck getting her back together!
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: dcMinnesota on August 10, 2007, 10:37:36 AM
glad to hear you are ok.  219 can be clear as can be sometimes and other times the corners have been covered with runoff debris and gravel. i've ridden it when it's been real bad and it's not fun.  hope you have a speedy recovery.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: stormi on August 11, 2007, 12:52:25 PM
I'm glad to hear you're doing well!  

Yeah, the price of parts is unreal.  I've been looking at the prices lately on CBR parts, and opted to repair the body work rather than replace.  I just don't think the front cowl is worth $661Cdn (full bore retail from the dealer)...
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: longislandbandit99 on August 13, 2007, 12:52:03 AM
That's some mean ink in that picture dragbike.

I hope all of you are careful out there.  Poor roads and potholes are deadly at anything over 40 mph.
Title: Bought a ditch Paid for it with my neck.
Post by: smooth operator on September 05, 2007, 08:25:38 AM
Silver Streak, I havn't been in here for awhile, just read your post. Hope your doing better by now. I did some riding in WV last summer(and s.Oh) I found alot of dirty roads too.Makes for very catious riding. And the houses were right on the edge of the road too. Alot of windy roads,but nothing to go fast on.
    Get well soon, Dan