Motorcycle Trip goes kinda bad.....

MMARSH · MMARSH's Garage

Just got back from a Multiple day Motorcycle trip ending in Monterey for the MotoGP.

A friend and I Rode from LA north thru the Sonora pass and winded our way up north to Weaverville where we were to meet 4 other friends riding down from Portland. On the way to Weaverville, one of our friends hits some gravel going around a corner and ends up going down. Tears his leathers at the knee causing a minor injury to his knee and very miner damage to to his bike. He's able to continue the trip although a little banged up.

The next day, after leaving Weaverville. we are just south of Ft. Bragg on Hwy 1 when a baby deer runs out into the road. The first bike center punches the deer but doesn't go down, the second rider, hits the brakes, locks the rear and highsides his brand new 1198S. He lands on his shoulder and ends up with a broken collarbone. He had on full leathers and didn't have any road rash. The bike was still ridable but my buddy obviously couldn't ride it, so we parked it at a friends house that was nearby. We all continued to Monterey for the MotoGP and had a great time. My buddy is picking up his bike with a U-haul on the way back to Portland.

All the riders involved in these incidents are excellant riders. The rider on the 1198s is the best rider I know. He was an Instructor for the California Suberbike school and has road raced for several years. Ironically after all the corners we had been taking that day, this happened on a straight section of road and at about 60 Mph. Luckily everyone was completely geared up or it would have been alot worse.

Be careful out there and watch out for road rats.

stomachmonkey · 07-06-2009, 08:00 PM

Sounds like some scary chit.

Glad everyones ok.

Hebrewhomeboy · 07-06-2009, 08:02 PM

Damn, truly sorry to hear about that, but I'm definitely glad you guys were wearing your gear. It drives me up the wall when I see guys riding around in jeans and a t-shirt, with no jacket.

My dad's coming out to see me in a month or two, and we're planning on a bike ride through big sur, and down the coast on highway 1. I'll definitely take your words to heart and keep my eyes open.

LakeCleElum · 07-06-2009, 08:06 PM

Deer - Rats with antlers.......

Glad it was nothing major Michael.....You picked out some of my fav. roads......

speeder · speeder's Garage

Wow, bummer. Those superbike/track guys are usually pretty rough and tumble, I'm sure he'll jump right back on a bike when his collarbone heals, though.

Deer on the highway are my biggest fear on long drives, especially at night. Even in my old F-250 4x4 going x-country at night, I would wonder over and over whether one could bounce up on the hood and come through the windshield. (After seeing those freakish photos on the web of that happening).

I don't worry about other scenarios of accidents at all, I consider them real long-shots but the deer thing not long at all. Glad you're OK, be safe bro...

charleskieffner · 07-07-2009, 03:38 AM

i'll bet now EVERYBODY will become PRO-HUNTING! LOL!

lets see here over the years..........critters i have hit:

cow
javelina(twice)
numerous rattlesnakes
almost nailed a dezert tortoise(no moleste de tortuga)
laid it down in front of a black bull who just stared at me

and thats on a lousy dirty bike. more fun than i can stand.

hunters do help moto-ciclitas.

Jim Richards · 07-07-2009, 04:05 AM

I almost tagged an adolescent black bear with my 73E the other day. Just a matter of seconds, or tens of feet. I can imagine how serious that would be if it was a bear-bike meet-and-greet.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I was doing about 100mph in the middle of nowhere in the 993 yesterday when I narrowly missed a coyote crossing the road. Made me think of Nostatic.

charleskieffner · 07-07-2009, 05:54 AM

jack rabbits are GUARRANTEEEEEED to take out at least your valance, your condensor,oil cooler, radiator(my datsoon 280-z)..................ask me how i know. zigged when he zigged and i shoulda ZAGGED!

110 MPH about 25 miles outside of gila bend az.

ramonesfreak · ramonesfreak's Garage

deer everywhere around here, even in daylight. I fear the deer more than the cars

Jeff Higgins · 07-07-2009, 05:21 PM

Wow Michael, sorry to hear of your buddies' woes. Glad to hear everyone is relatively o.k., though.

What a ringing endorsement for "all the gear, all the time". Had this been my old HOG chapter, it's almost guaranteed there would have been real carnage. Tee shirts, jeans, novelty helmets...

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Sounds like a hard luck trip, but any wreck you walk away from is better than the alternative, right?

Collarbones can be tough to heal, go to nonunion; if he smokes, tell him to stop.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hebrewhomeboy

Damn, truly sorry to hear about that, but I'm definitely glad you guys were wearing your gear. It drives me up the wall when I see guys riding around in jeans and a t-shirt, with no jacket.

My dad's coming out to see me in a month or two, and we're planning on a bike ride through big sur, and down the coast on highway 1. I'll definitely take your words to heart and keep my eyes open.

You forgot the flip flops. You ever see a foot missing like 90% of its skin?