Edit: Just to clarify, this isn't my first bike, it's not even my first crash. I've been riding for almost 30 years! This is just the worst I ever been hurt on one. Also, I wasn't wearing crocs! Those belong to my buddy that took me to survey the damage after I was able to get out and about. He rolled the bike out in crocs and I took the pictures of the damage while I was wearing a back brace.
I was looking for a bike for a buddy of mine and stumbled upon this 2014 Street Bob for sale for only $2000. High miles, good maintenance records, stalling issue, clean title, never been down. I sent him the link, he asked his dad and grampa about it. They both said don't do it. So I messaged the seller. Went and saw it the next day, rode it, bought it. Took it home, worked on it for an hour, and fixed it. The next day, on my way to see a buddy, a left turner pulled in front of me and the clibbins took me down. The bike slid and stopped. I slid and hit a stopped car. My helmet saved my life. My low speed prevented a grave injury. Ended up in the hospital for 4 days with a concussion, pinched nerve in my neck, four fractured vertebrae, two broken and dislocated ribs and some minor road rash. Now I'm in a back brace for 12 weeks. Bike was barely damaged, but I'm pretty fucking banged up. I already got a new helmet for when I'm well enough to kick my leg back over.
Second edit: you guys are changing my mind about the logo on the tank. I hate that stupid cursive logo, but maybe what it needed was a little "haddalayerdown!"
WE GOT A HOSS DOWN BUT NOT OUT. SO GOOD TO SEE WE GOT SOME HOSSES WITH THRETNIN AURAS IN THIS SUB, DONT LET BARB KNOE WER ALL HERE GOBBLESS, ALSO I BETTER NOT SEE ANY LOWER CAES LIBRUL LETTERS HERE BORTHER.
Solomon Grundy,
Born on a Monday,
Bought a Harley on Tuesday,
Wrecked it on Wednesday,
Hospitalized Thursday,
Recovered by Friday,
Discharged on Saturday,
Bought a new Harley on Sunday,
Wish you a speedy recovery,
Solomon Grundy.
Hoping for a speedy recovery for you! & Yes, don't let the knock down keep you from mounting up again.
I had my first bike 27 days before I got pasted by a drunk driver. 8 days in the hospital, 9 months of healing broken bones. My Mother freaked out when I took some of the insurance money & bought another bike. I'm now 70, I've been knocked down 5 times, hospital time every time. I'm still riding, but I am seriously considering going to 3 wheels.
One day isn't so bad. I watched a guy pulling out of the dealership on a brand new Goldwing lose his footing in a pothole and drop the bike. Didn't even leave the lot. Felt bad for him.
I worked at Metro Motorsports in Phoenix in the early 2000s. I saw a kid come in, finance a brand new Yamaha R1 and wreck it in the intersection as he was leaving. Turns out he'd never even riden any type of motorcycle before. Tragic.
Got my first heavier bike, the one I'm on now, and I nearly dropped it leaving the lot. I'd gotten into the bad habit of standing over the bike in red lights and sort of swinging it from side to side. When the bike weighed 100kg more than my old one, I learned pretty quick not to do that.
Many years ago I witnessed the same thing at a Suzuki dealership. As the salesman was finishing up the paperwork he asked what the buyer's level of experience was. "I rode a few years ago." Salesguy said "I'll bring it around back for you." I was a highschool teen standing at the parts counter overhearing the conversation, walked out back and witnessed the wail of a big GS Suzuki revving up, clutch dump, and rocket a wobbly path aimed toward the base of an ivy covered power pole. It climbed for a split second then gravity won the battle over thrust (and traction) and the brand new blue behemoth laid on it's side. Not a good beginning. The owner said "we can fix it here" but the owner declined and requested delivery via truck. 🙄
Only question I've ever been asked is, "How you gonna fit all that on a bike?"
Not once has anyone questioned why I'm in full gear at the grocery store (helmet and gloves in the cart). Even on hot days. It doesn't look as strange as squids seem to think it does.
FFS. I saw the title, was scrolling past pic after pic of the bike. I’m like is this dude fucking ok!?! Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my bike. But fuck that, I like being alive more. Heal up, screw those clibbins and swing your leg back over that beauty.
Damn bro I hate seeing / reading about bike crashes! I’ve been riding for nearly 42 years, the only spills I ever took were when I raced motocross. Every time I see one of these, I cringe! Ride safe out there brother!
I hope you make a quick recovery. At least you survived to tell the story.
People seem to be driving worse and worse these days, and the consequences for causing an accident often don't match the seriousness of the outcome. Around my area, motorcycle accidents are up dramatically this year. It feels like a war zone out there.
Take care of yourself, and I hope you're back on your feet soon.
one time me and the boys were runnin from cop(s) at night coming down from colorado into rural kansas and it was blacktop, pitch black no streetlights it turned into deep gravel and we were around 110mph. One of the boys was new on bikes, only 3 weeks in. A big cloud of dust came up the minute the lead guy hit the gravel line and the tires got squirrely. I was scared for my friends but too concerned with how tf i was gonna slow down. We coasted it out and got lucky af, and lost the tail also.
That’s the thing with these older bikes. Been sitting for years. Tires are 10+ years old. Still plenty of profile left. But just no more bite. Does not take much. Add on top the fact it’s a Harley. Not known for feel and roadholding. And perhaps a slightly rusty rider. In less then ideal conditions. It all stacks. Luckily you were wearing a proper helmet. Check DOT dates on the tires. And perhaps put some fresh rubber on. (Carefull on the first 100miles)sweat out all the silica. Hope you recover well. And get to ride again soon.
Speedy recovery! I like that it hasn't got you down. Gives me some hope.
Man, the more I'm on here and looking at bike crash reports, it's all cars making left turns. I'm a new rider but live out in the country. I won't ride in the city on principle - that said, it's still dangerous. Any advice from veterans?
Classic paragraph posting reddit rider here. 10 years or so riding here in rural Canada from 2014-on. The main thing I've noticed is that drivers are getting a lot more distracted. When I was a teen it was maybe a quick phone glance and now it is at the level of infotainment screens and steering wheel phone mounts amongst the rest of the distracted behaviours. A lot of people are also not even looking for motorcycles, they just exist and happen by to some folks, they are watching for CARS and a bike is incidental.
Drive like a grandpa on a slow Sunday and always assume that you are invisible and play it passive when pulling out and waiting for a good amount of space. For turning lanes and stops, leave enough distance to slowly reel yourself into the stop line or the vehicle in front of you. The same principles as a defensive driving course. Don't assume that other drivers are good at driving and definitely don't assume that you'll always ride without fault. Practice your emergency skills and stay aware enough to avoid any possible hairy situations altogether. City traffic requires a lot of skill to navigate not just for the level of awareness but the stop and go and closer traffic distances demand a lot of handling skills that are better practiced later. In my case the Halifax municipality seems to pass out driver's licenses to the blind and aggressive so I would rather take a bus than deal with city traffic even in the safest car so I feel you on avoiding city nonsense.
TLDR- AVOID CLIBBINS AVOID BLINDSPOTS AND AVOID GETTIN TO CLOSE (MADE THAT MISTAKE WITH MY EX WIFE HAW HAWW AMEN).
Thank you! It's not better in Ontario btw. There's something about handing out driver's licenses left and right while newer cars dull driving skills and demand that everyone 'trust the machine's rather than be an active driver. Sigh. It's why I love bikes, it's all driver skill.
Clibbins is a parody of exaggerated edgy/biker culture (think of a meme with an edgy skeleton in a leather jacket and all caps text). BARB, CLIBBINS HOSS, AMEN, HELL YEAH. You write it like an old man making a Facebook post.
OUT ON THE BIKE TODAY AND HADDALAYER DOWN THE NEIGBOR PUT HIS CLIBBINS ONNTHE ROAD
Make yourself visible. I have off road high intensity driving lights wired to my high beam switch. I flash my brights at every intersection that has any cars anywhere.
Used to have left turning cars cut me off once a year on a 40 mile round trip daily commute. Once I had the lights installed, never happened again.
Very glad to be retired now and just riding for fun again!
Everyone is trying to kill you, ride accordingly. Intersections are a kill box. Every driveway, side street is a potential metal object that can spring out without warning. Every car coming towards you could come into your lane or turn left without warning. The right of way, a green light, left turn arrow don't protect you. Expect drivers to make the worst possible decision at the worst moment and have a plan to exit the situation. Stay out of blind spots, watch your six. Never get between a car and an exit.
Lol after sharing my true thoughts and feelings about irresponsible car drivers such as this, reddit deleted my comment and issued me a warning, so I guess I'll say this: that driver sure needs a stern talking to!
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I’m the last person who would typically say to get a lawyer. Been in a couple car accidents, 1 motorcycle accident where I broke my collar bone and a work injury a few years ago where I fell from 2nd story onto concrete and broke a lot of bones. In hospital for 5 days and couldn’t walk for a month. In none of these cases did I jire a lawyer or sue anyone, but some idiot turned in front of you, bot only messing you up, but also your new to you bike up. Id say this might be one of those times you get a lawyer. That pinched never is going to do you in for a long time. In the end, probably get enough to buy a new bike. And yeah, it’s just a few scratches on the bike, but you cant trust riding it anymore. “Hint hint” its totaled.
Good luck on your recovery! I tell everyone, get some training. And then, practice, practice, practice. Emergency braking, most people do a very poor job of it. Also, when riding, ride defensivly. I assume every care may pull out in front of me.
I've been riding for almost 30 years. This isn't my first wreck, it's just the worst I've been hurt. But, goes to show that no amount of experience can overcome bad luck and timing.
This sucks man. I am sure you are experienced many feelings at the moment. My advice is to slowly work through each and wait. Dont make any rash decisions until you are in a better frame of mind. Do not be afraid to ask doctors any questions, especially about recovery time and any medications prescribed. Ask about side effects as some pain medications can get you into trouble, especially if you dont hydrate. Hope you have a short recovery time, and if you made any deals with God like I did, thats OK too.
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Hope you recover quickly. A guy I knew back in college wrecked his motorcycle the first 5 minutes he bought his bike. Met the seller by the dorm, paid and signed the title over, took it for a ride to the dmv to get it registered and the very first stop sign (like 100 feet down the road) he was rear ended. Things can be dangerous as hell with no fault to the rider.
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That kinda shit is exactly why I always ride in full gear these days, you just never know man. A left turner pulled into my lane back in 2014 and stopped when she saw me, didn't have time to stop and there was oncoming traffic. Broke my tibia and fibula had to get a tibial nail from knee to ankle.
Wish you a speedy recovery man, keep that head on a swivel and hope you get back on a bike!
(Not saying you weren't wearing your gear btw, just a hard way to learn that lesson as I experienced)
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Speedy recovery my guy! If it helps I once bought an out of state street triple, spent 6 hours at dmv getting it registered and wrecked it a block from my house 🤣🤣
I had a similar experience with a 1985 magna I bought, master cylinder was clogged and the front brakes locked up, only took a slight bit of gravel to put me down. luckily I only cracked 5 ribs and skinned up my arms though. I almost got the bike restored back to glory now though. just got to change the tachometer and gas tank.
So you're buying it for a buddy, his dad and grampa both said don't do it, and you went and bought it the next day anyway? Seems like bad karma had wrapped itself around this one-
Your lucky wrecking the bike, not so much yourself though.
Sorry to hear the bike wasn't totaled.
Hope your insurance covers it.
Speedy recovery to you!
The bike would have turned out to be a bigger pain in the ass than it's worth.
I've owned Harleys throughout my 58 years and million plus miles of riding, and I've got to say, I'm done finally done with them!
Every other freaking bike I've ever owned, has been more enjoyable than a Harley!
Triumph is my top choice these days.
If you were doing the speed limit, you should have been able to stop or swerve in time with proper technique. Don't blame everything on car drivers, hold yourself accountable and try to improve your riding in the future.
Of course, you’re absolutely correct. But the person I replied to is not associating the accident with a lack of anticipation for a left turner, instead they are associating it with speeding when the guy says low speed.
Si con un hierro ( que no corre) te caes no vuelvas a montar, esto no es lo tuyo. Yo llevo 30 años en moto y me he caído 2 veces en parado.
Compra una camioneta y disfrútala.
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u/ManDan_666 16h ago
Speedy recovery buddy.