Lowsided the Ducati last Saturday

[holtjv]

Yep, first track day on the new 848 (to me). After one session and a suspension tweak, the duc was running nearly as well as the daytona. 2d session after lunch I turned in a bit early, hit the curb, and lowsided at about 80mph. This was turn 7, the first corner after the back straight, for those of you who know Texas World Speedway.

I have to say that the whole experience has been very interesting. The crash itself was kind of cool; I slid on my left side for about 50' and thought I was done. Nope. I then launched off the banking into the grass and started to roll. And roll. And roll. Don't know how many times, but at least 5 or 6. Came to a stop about 10 yards short of my bike, which was a full 70 meters from the apex where the crash happened.

Here's what the corner looks like--go to 6:00 in if you're curious. That curb is quite attractive, unfortunately:

TWS Texas World Speedway Ducati 999/Kawasaki ZX6R Laps

The damage:

Bike:
- all plastic except bellypan and right side fairing
- clutch lever
- left rear set (really peg and shift lever)
- left bar end shaved down smooth 50% (cool)
- that's it! axle and under-fairing frame sliders prevented further damage and were last minute additions before the track day

Body:
- broken radius (wrist)
- 2 small bruises
- That's it!

So here's the deal on the wrist; plates and pins put in on Wednesday and I'm typing with it right now--no cast, no sling, little rehab. 6 weeks til normal use.

I'm interested to hear the responses that don't start with "I told you so", although those are always listened to.

Shot of the wrist with hardware:

[LakeCleElum]

Respone? IN my young days, I kept track of how many times I crashed with a written list I still have the list today. I didn't count crashes while I was racing or riding my dirt bike. Last time I looked, the list had between 25 and 30 crashes. Guess I was a slow learner.

To ride a bike well, you have to exceed your limitations a few times. School of hard knocks for sure. My hat is off to you for doing it on the track and not the street where you could have hurt someone else.

Try to limit your crashes early on or you'll be all crippled up and hurt all the time by the time you're in your 50's........

Expensive lesson, right?

[Noah930]

Glad to hear you're on the mend. I just used that plate in my last distal radius ORIF. Reduction looks perfect. You're not trying to fix the fracture, so much, with the surgery, as opposed to restoring the normal alignment of the wrist joint to prevent future arthritis. These volar locking plates (like you have) have really revolutionized this type of fracture fixation over the last 10 years. Instead of being immobilized for 6 weeks in a cast, you're now out of immobilization within 10 days and moving. Still, the biggest problem will be permanent wrist stiffness, particularly in wrist flexion. The bike's an easier fix.

[holtjv]

Hey Noah--recommended rehab for 3 days+ after the surgery? I can touch all fingers with my thumb, pinky barely, and just now moving the wrist up and down a bit, which I suspect will be the stiffest part.

And the doc, whose name is Hurt, said the same thing about using it to prevent arthritis, as well as being able to get back in action sooner.

As to $$, I've just bought race plastics for the bike and rearsets--under a grand. I don't ride on the street any more except test rides around the block.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by holtjv

I don't ride on the street any more except test rides around the block.

Sometimes those are the fastest rides.

[Noah930]

Get that wrist moving, too. It sounds like you're moving your fingers. Those usually are fine. But, like I said, the biggest problem is permanent wrist stiffness. Wrist flexion is usually the problem. The more you move early, the better. I usually give people 10-14 days before therapy, but if you can tolerate it at 3 days, even better. Your common sense and pain will keep you from overdoing it.

[Tobra]

It will turn out better if you don't let it swell, compression, ice can make a plate like that ache a bit. They make CPM(constant passive motion) devices, think battery powered articulated brace, strap it on and it automatically moves. Don't know how that would be for a wrist though, pretty complex motion.

Do your physical therapy, frequent range of motion, use other hand to help it along. On fractures, I hold the anti inflammatories for the first 72 hours.
If you wrap it up, keep in mind that if it is too tight, you can have nerve or vascular problems

[Noah930]

There are CPM machines for the wrist. I haven't used them, but I have used a product called a Dynasplint. It provides constant flexion or extension to the wrist (it doesn't move the wrist up and down like the CPM). I don't know if they necessarily add much to the recovery of a motivated patient, though. They may help a bit. They certainly cost a lot. Those rentals will bill out 2-4 times what I get paid for the surgery.

[cbush]

Good for you for getting out there and enjoying yourself. Glad you are mostly OK. People have done worse to their wrists falling on ice, or whatever.

Hope your season starts better next year!

[nostatic]

In the grand scheme of things, far from the worst day at the track. I'll take a low side at the track over a coyote on the freeway any day.

Follow the advice on the wrist as it turns your your hands are kind of useful. Beyond that, just get some used plastics for the 848 - should be easy to find.

[holtjv]

Originally Posted by nostatic

In the grand scheme of things, far from the worst day at the track. I'll take a low side at the track over a coyote on the freeway any day.

Follow the advice on the wrist as it turns your your hands are kind of useful. Beyond that, just get some used plastics for the 848 - should be easy to find.

I got a great deal on some race plastics for the Duc. But I guess I should stay on the lookout for pieces to reassemble when I sell it--good point.

[vash]

phew!!

way better than a highside!

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by vash

phew!!
way better than a highside!

+1! Here are some pics of a friend of mine lowsiding at Hallet a couple of weekends ago:

[holtjv]

See how much smarter he was than I? Keeping his hands up?