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Message started by Fujisawa Rob on 06/04/11 at 18:36:42

Title: Took my first spill!
Post by Fujisawa Rob on 06/04/11 at 18:36:42

I took a turn and as far as I can determine I slipped on some loose sand. I scuffed my face shield on the pavement, but luckily didn't get the finish of the helmet (this is my brand new GMAX Crusader). I was wearing jeans, boots, gloves, and the helmet, but only a t-shirt. I scuffed my shoulder and my arm and bent my finger. I hit the ground pretty hard, and at first thought I had dislocated my shoulder, but it's fine. Here's the kicker: I was doing MAYBE 30 MPH. Glad I had the helmet on. Jacket is on order.

I bent the hell out of the left foot peg, twisted the handlebars, and cracked the headlight housing. I think the handlebars will fall back into place once I loosen and re-tighten the bolts. I already lost two of the plastic covers for the riser bolts - DOH! I can glue the housing, but the peg will have to be replaced. The shifter looked a little bent, but I was able to bend it so it looks ok now. I didn't want to overdo it and crack welds.

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by KristenAnn on 06/04/11 at 19:41:54

I am glad to hear that you are ok. It is scarywhen y0ou go down for the first time.

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by kimchris1 on 06/04/11 at 23:05:09

Sorry to hear of your spill, yet glad to hear
your ok.
As you now know, it doesn't take much speed
to leave you with road rash.
Their are 2 types of riders, one that have gone down,
and one that will.
Hopefully this is your first and only.
Left front pegs seem to be in high demand at times.
Keep checking the market place section and post
a request for one yourself..
Nice your new helmet was not damaged either. :) kim

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by bill67 on 06/05/11 at 02:46:20

I'm the type that will go down ::) 40 years of riding and never been down.

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by Routy on 06/05/11 at 04:37:43

I think that sand should be outlawed on the roadways ! >:(
Thats what got me too,......but thankfully I was in a tight U turn going downhill at 2 mph,.......but still very scary.
I think I have a consolation tho,......
while "you very likely will go down once", I believe your chances of going down a 2nd time, is much much less than the first :)

So glad you will be ok !

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by Fujisawa Rob on 06/05/11 at 05:21:44

77786279656370727A7463110 wrote:

It was definitely an eye opener.

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by Fujisawa Rob on 06/05/11 at 05:24:06

76796378646271737B7562100 wrote:

It's Florida, the whole place is made of sand :-/

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by bluedad on 06/05/11 at 07:23:47

Glad you're ok!
Took my first spill the night I bought the bike; didn't even get out of the seller's neighborhood when I took a left at a stop sign and gave it too much throttle and didn't have the correct angle and hit a curb. The bike and I flew over into someone's yard and landed on the grass. Still broke the mirror and bent the right foot peg. Did not inspire the wife's confidence in my decision ;).

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by Howitzer on 06/05/11 at 07:35:14

Glad to hear you're ok. Take it easy, and don't push things when you're riding. You'll get better over time.

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/05/11 at 10:24:54

I scuffed my face shield on the pavement, but luckily didn't get the finish of the helmet (this is my brand new GMAX Crusader)

So, now ya know how easy it would be to smash a chin into asphalt.

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by Serowbot on 06/05/11 at 10:28:49

332A312B2C3D36393636580 wrote:

I am glad to hear that you are ok. It is scarywhen y0ou go down for the first time.

Yeah,... after the first 20 or 30,... it gets easier... :-?...

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by Philip on 06/05/11 at 11:21:06

Glad that you're okay. I have only owned my S40 for about two months now and the thought of getting into an accident worries me. I work as a paramedic and the past week we had a woman lay her bike over and she lost her leg, next day we had a man giving his son a ride down the interstate and his front tire blowout causing them to wipe out, then I had a bicyclist get ran over by a drunk driver. Seems like God screaming at me not to ride, but people also get seriously hurt and killed in auto accidents. Just stay very alert, wear as much protective gear as you can, increase your visibility and stay safe!

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by Fujisawa Rob on 06/05/11 at 17:03:23

213E383F22251424142C3E32794B0 wrote:

I scuffed my face shield on the pavement, but luckily didn't get the finish of the helmet (this is my brand new GMAX Crusader)

So, now ya know how easy it would be to smash a chin into asphalt.

Yep, I'll never ride w/o a helmet! I value my teeth (and my life).

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by Fujisawa Rob on 06/05/11 at 17:10:34

Update:

Loosened and repositioned the handle bars, they are just fine. I found all but one of the chrome plastic bolt covers..darn.
I was able to bang the foot peg back into shape, more or less, but I snapped the 'special hex bolt' putting it back in. Is this a factory only part, or can I substitute with a standard bolt and some sort of spacer?
The front signal is a bit tweaked. I've already moved the rear signals to the license plate bracket, and moved them inboard.
I discovered that I lost the handgrip cap. Are these just glued on? I went back to look for it - no dice. It's possible it went flying, or loosened up and fell off on the way home.
I've got some epoxy to glue the headlight. I've got another thread where a helpful person has offered to sell me a 7" Marauder headlight. I hope it's metal. I have a 7" Cibie H4 lens to put in it.
A replacement clear shield is about $20. I have the smoke one, but I haven't really used it, and I can't see well out of it at night.

Thanks for the kind words. I feel stupid and careless, and honestly a little apprehensive about riding again.

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by Howitzer on 06/05/11 at 18:56:19

6F7E7E746D6F747C73741D0 wrote:

Thanks for the kind words. I feel stupid and careless, and honestly a little apprehensive about riding again.

That's how I felt for a couple of weeks after. I was imagining my rear end slipping out at every traffic stop.

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/05/11 at 19:30:13

3524242E37352E26292E470 wrote:

[quote author=213E383F22251424142C3E32794B0 link=1307237803/0#9 date=1307294694]I scuffed my face shield on the pavement, but luckily didn't get the finish of the helmet (this is my brand new GMAX Crusader)

So, now ya know how easy it would be to smash a chin into asphalt.

Yep, I'll never ride w/o a helmet! I value my teeth (and my life).[/quote]

oint I as making ws

W/O a full coverage type helmet,, the chin is extremely vulnerable.

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by Fujisawa Rob on 06/06/11 at 06:26:00

7F6066617C7B4A7A4A72606C27150 wrote:

W/O a full coverage type helmet,, the chin is extremely vulnerable.

I think I read something like 15% of impacts to the head are to the chin area. Makes sense.

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by 4carbcorvair on 06/07/11 at 05:29:27

5445454F56544F47484F260 wrote:

Yep, I'll never ride w/o a helmet! I value my teeth (and my life).[/quote]

I had a rock kicked up from the car in front of me, it was a good 1 inch or more round. I thought it was a leaf or something heading towards me. Until it hit my face shield, cheakbone area. It actually threw my head back doing about 50mph. Than a few weeks ago a small pebble/rock hit my helmet. I'm a helmet believer. Everytime I go out, it's on.

Title: Re: Took my first spill!
Post by Fujisawa Rob on 06/07/11 at 06:40:11

732426352524283531262E35470 wrote:

I had a rock kicked up from the car in front of me, it was a good 1 inch or more round. I thought it was a leaf or something heading towards me. Until it hit my face shield, cheakbone area. It actually threw my head back doing about 50mph. Than a few weeks ago a small pebble/rock hit my helmet. I'm a helmet believer. Everytime I go out, it's on.

We've all had rocks crack windshields on cars. Think of what that would do if it hit you in the eye!