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Crashing sucks

Switchblade

Switchblade

muf kin poser
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 21, 2003
5,034
592
A Little South of Bardstown down yonder in them th
#1
What a freakin shitty day last Thursday was. Coming back from school the Sporty blew a rear head gasket...$30 dollar part deadlined it.
So I jump onto the little Blast to head to class in the evening. A construction truck(F-350 with a boxed tail end) decides to merge right on top of me sending me into one hell of a tank slapper. BAM, face first onto the tarmac at 40mph+/-.
Face shield on the helmet took the brunt of head impact, gloves saved the hands, jacket saved shoulders, arms and elbows with internal armor, but USMC issue Woodland MARPAT only shredded as the knee impacted. A face down slide, roll out of it and roll for however long and up on the feet wondering wtf just happened as I am looking at an 'oncoming' white SUV thinking I am truly done.
The white SUV had blue lights and was blocking the turn lane as well as the inner most oncoming lane. He spotted what was happening as I crashed and made sure no one would hit me. The construction truck reversed and came back. Dude didn't see me in his mirror as he merged on top of me.
Rookie cop was going to ticket us both for lane change violations which he was not even there to see. This would have meant lawyer fees to fight, and a claim on insurance would have netted $200 deductable for maybe $180 worth of plastic parts and a brrake handle that is scuffed but otherwise fine, as well as a rise in yearly insurance over the next seven years.
No thank you rookie, no report. Don't want to spend in excess of $2,000 for a small amount of damage and a swollen, skinned up knee, or $40 faceshield. I of course am thinking with the amount of traffic, and riding 24/7/365 that a $300 pair of leather's just might not be a bad idea right now
 
#3
Re: Crashing sucks

ATTGAT. All The Gear, All The Time. It's how I ride, and with better pants you'd have been unhurt. I'm glad you're ok, having had similar experiences. If you're looking at better gear, don't forget to look at the newer textiles, especially the hi-viz colors. I've got an Olympia AST I like, and I bought it after a lot of research.
Again, glad you are OK!!!


1911fan
 
#4
Re: Crashing sucks

I got rear-ended on my 2005 GSXR by some fat old hag EATING while driving and ended up belly up on her hood for a few feet. She was a complete b!tch about it and didn't care. Bike was done, but I was ok.
 
#5
Re: Crashing sucks

Glad your OK, Blade. When i used to ride they allways said yellow was the most visible color but somehow i just couldnt bring my self to be ..........yellow.
 
#6
Re: Crashing sucks

Glad to hear you made it with only a few scrapes, most times riders aren't that lucky.

You may want to consider changing your insurance company if they surcharge your policy for 7 years for an accident that wasn't your fault. Most companies only surcharge for 3 years and only if you are a majority at fault and the damages paid reach a pre-determined dollar amount. If you have the other driver's info you should still file a claim through your policy and let your company pursue the other driver for your damages and injury.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1911fan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ATTGAT. All The Gear, All The Time. It's how I ride,</div></div>

I agree, I don't ride anymore but when I did I wore full leathers, boots and gloves, my motto was, "It's better to sweat than bleed."
 
#7
Re: Crashing sucks

Glad to hear you're ok, Switch. I saw some pretty close calls at Ft Bragg by drivers not looking out for bikers, and I've had a number of buddies who had to lay their bikes down. With the way people drive anymore, eating, putting on makeup, talking on their cell phones, texting, or drunk, it's getting more dangerous every day for motorcycle riders.
 
#9
Re: Crashing sucks

Switch, I thank Christ that you are well and fine. Also makes me almost want to wish a 'pox' upon the bastage that hit you. Except for him backing up, to check on you.

Grateful for that, too. So often, you just hear of them driving away.

"Keep 'er betwixt the shook's"
 
#13
Re: Crashing sucks

I am always pretty damn careful when I ride. I have found that old line,"When it doubt, Twist that throttle!" If the little Blast was a big Buell it wouldn't have happend because I was trying to GTF out of the way by downshifting and MTFO.
I am seriously going to look at a couple pairs of pants that I can swap CF padding in and out of in the knees.
 
#14
Re: Crashing sucks

Glad you are ok! You are right crashing sucks balls. Good luck in the future if you decide to keep riding.
I quit riding my GSXR1000 because of assholes like the one who caused your accident. Too many bad drivers out there, and my weekhand pistol accuracy at high speed isn't sufficient enough to take them all out!
 
#16
Re: Crashing sucks

Good to hear you're ok. Too many drivers not paying attention; on the phone, putting on makeup, texting
frown.gif


I don't ride on the road much anymore and even on the track some jackwad can still late brake into your rear at 120. You've heard about the two kinds of motorcycles riders huh?

Those that have.
wreck.jpg


and those are are going too.

Leathers are cheap compared to hospital bills.
 
#17
Re: Crashing sucks

I'll never quit riding. From 1998 - 2003 I was without a bike. That was the worst part of life ever(or maybe being an E4 with three kids, a wife, and a new car payment, of course by mid '03 I was a 'Staff'). This makes No3 on asphalt, and the first by someone who wasn't paying attention.
I just need to pay better attention, and maybe, yeah, MAYBE, ride a little slower(I do the speed limit in town so that's a weak thought). It is after all, all about exposure so I got it 24/7/365 since that's when I am on a bike riding.
Rain, Snow, Sun, I ride a motorcycle, and my ass LOVES V-Twins, and nasty little thumpers
 
#18
Re: Crashing sucks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Switchblade</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What a freakin shitty day last Thursday was. Coming back from school the Sporty blew a rear head gasket...$30 dollar part deadlined it.
So I jump onto the little Blast to head to class in the evening. A construction truck(F-350 with a boxed tail end) decides to merge right on top of me sending me into one hell of a tank slapper. BAM, face first onto the tarmac at 40mph+/-.
Face shield on the helmet took the brunt of head impact, gloves saved the hands, jacket saved shoulders, arms and elbows with internal armor, but USMC issue Woodland MARPAT only shredded as the knee impacted. A face down slide, roll out of it and roll for however long and up on the feet wondering wtf just happened as I am looking at an 'oncoming' white SUV thinking I am truly done.
The white SUV had blue lights and was blocking the turn lane as well as the inner most oncoming lane. He spotted what was happening as I crashed and made sure no one would hit me. The construction truck reversed and came back. Dude didn't see me in his mirror as he merged on top of me.
Rookie cop was going to ticket us both for lane change violations which he was not even there to see. This would have meant lawyer fees to fight, and a claim on insurance would have netted $200 deductable for maybe $180 worth of plastic parts and a brrake handle that is scuffed but otherwise fine, as well as a rise in yearly insurance over the next seven years.
No thank you rookie, no report. Don't want to spend in excess of $2,000 for a small amount of damage and a swollen, skinned up knee, or $40 faceshield. I of course am thinking with the amount of traffic, and riding 24/7/365 that a $300 pair of leather's just might not be a bad idea right now</div></div>

Glad your OK Switch - and a valuable lesson to all riders - WEAR YOUR HELMET!
 
#19
Re: Crashing sucks

Glad to hear that it was a low-side and that you didn't hit anything solid. Most of the time, if you can slide until you come to a stop a helmet and good padding/protection will suffice. A few years ago I came off at mid Ohio in turn one, lost the rear at around 130 at full lean, and didn't burn through the leathers at the back just at the sides: Walked away. I hate to disagree with your post but when that happens it's not a 'freakin' shitty day', it's a good day!
Leathers2.jpg
 
#21
Re: Crashing sucks

It's only got a little scuffing on:
Right brake handle
Right Front signal lens
Right Rear Signal lens
Right side tail/seat slight scuff
Right peg scuffed

No frame, now wheel, no other damage. It tracks true and straight. The wheels are dead on. Sunday, I did a THOUROUGH PMCS, and checked everything on it to spec. That little bike is freakin tough! My knee will take longer to heal than it will take me to get over the scuff marks on what was a perfect condition bike.

Funny thing about that little Blast. On a twisty back road, there is no superbike, or other sport type bike that can keep up with it. I of course have no Eddie Lawson on a Super Moto running around here either so I'm good on that. If you live in Nor Cal and do the 'Sunday ride' outside of Mill VAlley, look hard at that green Kawai SUper Moto because those leathers that say LAWSON over the shoulder are the freakin real deal dude on a wicked fast bike, or maybe a fairly fast bike with a wicked fast rider. Me and my friends were 'hella fast' until he showed up one weekend, and yes were doing the 'Not Worthy' when we all stopped to break on top of Mt Tam...that guy was freakin nuts fast!
 
#23
Re: Crashing sucks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Switchblade</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Funny thing about that little Blast. On a twisty back road, there is no superbike, or other sport type bike that can keep up with it.</div></div>Interesting point. When I discovered this about small bikes I left the big sportbikes bikes behind for track work and started racing a 125cc. Anyone can twist a throttle, but driving a bike correctly is all about corner speed and the lighter bikes have no equal in that regard.
smile.gif
 
#25
Re: Crashing sucks

Damn glad to hear you're ok Switch. Had a similar thing happen about 18 months ago - asshole not paying attention.

It's "us" against "them" out there. Now when I ride, I'm conviced that every car is trying to hit me (which may not be far from the truth).

Keep riding man. If you quit, the terrorist have already won
grin.gif
. Just kidding.
 
#26
Re: Crashing sucks

On my 07 R6 I cut out the butterfly valve so everyone could hear me, and installed HID lights with the bulbs that are as bright as lookin directly into the sun so they could see me. Never had one person almost hit me, especially at night. For some reason nobody wanted to stay in front of me too....... hehehehe
 
#29
Re: Crashing sucks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: crl49</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Please, the Blast couldn't develop a tank slapper as it cant handle or go fast enough.
Sounds like lack of riding skills or fat guy on a little bike syndrome.
</div></div>

:::popping popcorn:::
 
#30
Re: Crashing sucks

Pouring a bourbon and lighting a long cigar. They do not call him Switchblade for nothing. Make that a short cigar...this won't last long.
Had dinner with Switch and his family a couple weeks ago. Trust me...he is neither old nor fat. Still in kick ass shape. He has to stay that way to keep his hot wife interested.
 
#31
Re: Crashing sucks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: crl49</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Please, the Blast couldn't develop a tank slapper as it cant handle or go fast enough.
Sounds like lack of riding skills or fat guy on a little bike syndrome.
</div></div>

MrRogers.jpg
 
#32
Re: Crashing sucks

oh boy, this thread just got 'interestinger'.


Neither manners nor intelligence can be purchased today. At any cost. They are also 'things' that cannot be stolen. No matter how hard one tries.

"Hey honeeeyyyy, come watch this....."
 
#33
Re: Crashing sucks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: crl49</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Please, the Blast couldn't develop a tank slapper as it cant handle or go fast enough.
Sounds like lack of riding skills or fat guy on a little bike syndrome.
</div></div>

The Buell Blast can outrun any 'big' sport bike on a technical twisty road. Highway 3 up in upstate NY found that the little Blast could run every turn at WFO(94mph - 105mph depending on the road). The litle Blast handles very well like any small bore road racer. WFO into the turn, the tires drift to scrub speed and the motor drops down from 6k down to 5.5k rpms. As the bike apex's out of the drift the motor runs back up to WFO and the bike moves easily back up top speed. As the Blast comes into the next corner, the drift is nice and easy and it's right back to fun.
That little bike handles extremely well. It is the little Lotus Elan to the big bad Corvette or Mustang on a highly technical road. Small bore is very light and holds 95% - 98% of it's speed through the corner where the larger bike has to brake. Anyone that knows bikes, also knows that those little small bore cafe racers are fun as hell to ride because they handle so well, and th eBlast is exactly that.
Anyone who has been on a track, or has run bikes on highly technical roads for 25+ years knows this. Anyone with experience knows damn well that a good rider on a smaller bike will school your inexperienced ass on a good ride.
As to your ad hominum attack, well, cretinous behavior is all your's. I don't think I'll lower myself to mimic your ad hominum attack.
 
#34
Re: Crashing sucks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: crl49</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Please, the Blast couldn't develop a tank slapper as it cant handle or go fast enough.
Sounds like lack of riding skills or fat guy on a little bike syndrome.
</div></div>

And with all of 81 posts. doh.
 
#35
Re: Crashing sucks

Hmmmm..sharp blade cut that boy. He will not know until he looks down and sees intestines and other parts down around his feet.
 
#37
Re: Crashing sucks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RJW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hmmmm..sharp blade cut that boy. He will not know until he looks down and sees intestines and other parts down around his feet.</div></div>
Well, seeing as SwitchBlade has some culinary expertise, I put forth that he go 'Ginsu' on this kid.

"He slices, he dices, he chops, cuts, (and flambe's).... he even makes Julien Fries!"

grin.gif

We all haven't seen a show as such, in quite some time now.
 
#38
Re: Crashing sucks

I have always ridden motorcycles, rain or shine, and since I have been east of my beloved redwoods, snow too. I ride to get to work or school. But the best reason I ride is because it makes me smile. When the raod gets twisty, the inner goblin comes out, and for some reason the throttle only has two positions: WFO, and OFF. I ride not only because I have no car, but because I love riding.
Rain, Sun, we ride motorcycles. When you get a bike between your legs and she loves you back, it is total joy and fun. When another rider comes up to you at a stopsign and says,"Holy shit dude, wtf is in that Blast? I never heard a blast that sounded or wailed like that!" "Well, it's just a little bike, most never find it runs really good at wide open. That is where it excels."
Since my sweet American Heat is in the shop for a new head gasket, my little Blast and I are tightly welded together in daily fun...provided asshats in F-350's pay attention when they merge. Me, Now I just ride 10 over and keep the cages behind me and nowhere next to me.
Keep the shiny up, that rubber down, and the fun handle at WFO!
 
#39
Re: Crashing sucks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: crl49</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Please, the Blast couldn't develop a tank slapper as it cant handle or go fast enough.</div></div>You're making things up. Tankslappers have nothing to do with speed. Relax on the bars to avoid them; pin the throttle to get out of them.

I remember being on the track with Wes Orloff once. He was on a Buell, as he worked as a test-rider for Harley Davidson at the time. My bike had maybe fifty horsepower on his. He passed me in Thuder Alley at Mid Ohio on wide-open throttle with the front wheel in the air. I nearly jumped off my bike and into the gravel trap.

I've ridden scooters and 200-plus HP turbocharged 'Busas. And I've never yet figured out how to effectively use more than about 60hp on the street.

As it's not about the gun, it's also not about the Bike.
 
#40
Re: Crashing sucks

When your right side bar end is hit, the handlebar moves the opposite way. Holding hard to prevent it, makes it snap back to the right. My bars were smacked from the right, and when the bike went left, it went right back to right as the bar snapped out of my left hand, yanking my wrist, into a 1 - 2 tank slap. The front end, when at full lock right, dove deep into it's suspension, then down since weight transfer was already moving from a highside into a drop slide with all the weight trransferred to the front. The speed of Holy Shit happened so fast that I was on the bike one moment, and the next watching big scratches go across my face shield, then realizing I was sliding toward teh traffic lane. Moving into a roll to scrub off speed and onto my feet with my mind still going wtf happened.
I can look back on it and feel each and every motion. I know as the truck box hit my bar and I was trying to move left to go around him, that sent the bike into a full lock slap. A left highside would have sent me directly into oncoming traffic in the air. Fate can be a real motorfucker but she was kind enough to look out for me because with teh amount of traffic that was coming in my lane, I would have been run over. With the LEO stopping traffic in the oncoming lane, I was safe.
I thank God for three things:
A good damn helmet
A good damn cop
Not getting beat the hell up worse than I did

When I went down I had already written off the bike, but finding with a deep PMCS that she only had cosmetic damage was really nice.
Overall I am pretty damn lucky and I think Friday I will buy a lottery ticket or two just for kicks
 
#41
Re: Crashing sucks

Glad you're OK Switch.

Probably the most fun I've had on a track was an Aprilia 250 that I begged my leg over from a buddy... the 750 and 1k's have an accel rush that no small bore will mimic, but I've yet to find anything 600+cc that will turn like a little 2smoker 250.

I'll ride one of dem little bikes any day, the lean angle makse me smile more than the tank humping to hold onto the machine (though... that part is pretty damn cool too)
 
#42
Re: Crashing sucks

Oh, don't get me worng, I lust after the acceleration of my Sporty's sub 10 capability, wheel in the air, FTW I'm movin the hell out! The fun of the small bore bikes, especially the little oil mixers is their ability to rush into a corner faster than anything I have ever been on, and hold or only drift a little speed off before apexing it.
A 1979 RD400 Daytona Special was my first step from the IT250 Hare and Hound bike(Early American Super Moto). That little RD would literally smoke anything else on the road, but paled against the big 500's on the track. A ride on a old GT500 back in Japan was the epitomy of oh my god im gonna die fast. Those V3, and V4 oil mixers were hellaciously fast and just as tough to master, but man they are fun to ride at 'scary fast and quick'
 
#43
Re: Crashing sucks

Next thing you know, someone is going to tell me that this thing is too slow to tankslap because it only makes 35hp. But wait....it only weighs 145 pounds. And it goes faster when I swap out sprockets and stuff and even faster when I change the transmission gears. What's up with that?
96RS125.jpg
 
#45
Re: Crashing sucks

RS125 RS250 TZ250. These bikes will show you how little you know about riding/racing. They are all about carrying momentum and not just twisting the throttle. Next time you are coming down a large incline with twisties,put your bike in neutral and see how fast you can coast without braking. Thats is as close to feeling how these little rockets are ridden. You can't make up the speed by twisting the grip,its all about finesse and picking the right line. I can always tell the squids,they have the biggest baddest HP and never attend to that that makes you faster,BRAKES and control. Horsepower just makes it easier to hide how poorly you did in the corners. my .02
 
#47
Re: Crashing sucks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tucsondave</div><div class="ubbcode-body">RS125 RS250 TZ250. These bikes will show you how little you know about riding/racing. They are all about carrying momentum and not just twisting the throttle....</div></div>After having raced a bigger bike I thought I knew how to ride. Then I rode a 125.

I thought I knew how to set-up a 125 correctly. Then one day I jetted it just right and lifted the front wheel coming out of turn six at Mid Ohio on full throttle. So I thought I knew how to ride a two-stroke and got on a 250. That's when I realized that if you snap the throttle open the rear lights-up and, if you're leaned over, they spit you into outer space.

Hmmmmm.......Maybe there's a pattern here. Or, maybe I'm just a slow learner.
laugh.gif


So I went back to a much safer discipline and dusted-off my bolt gun. I thought I knew how to shoot a rifle. Then I went to Rifles Only....
 
#48
Re: Crashing sucks

I had a Kawasaki Mach III with an expansion chamber. The power band was a little...narrow, but when it was on - hang on. The swing arm was a little undersized, though, and when the power came on, the bike sometimes wound up pointed in undesirable directions. I had it beefed up.

Now I'm too chicken to ride. Or, perhaps, wise. Sometimes, it's hard to the difference.
 
#49
Re: Crashing sucks

Those Kawasakis had an engine that overwhelmed the chassis. The mis-match was a design problem with that bike.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lindy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Back in the 60's, Honda made a 6-cylinder 250 cc racing engine which developed maximum horsepower at 20,500 rpm. The sound was awesome! Smaller bikes can be very interesting.</div></div>In the 60's Honda made a 50cc to race on the Isle of Man. It must have had a very narrow power band because I think it had 22 gears. I met a few of the members of the Honda team that raced it. I wouldn't want to challenge those guys to a race down the sidewalk!

Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4PA8VFpUlc&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhQkGM1y0fU

And Frank thought being assaulted by killer bees at R.O. was an event.
laugh.gif
 
#50
Re: Crashing sucks

Riding those old 2 stroke dirt bikes from a 100cc up to a 250cc was how to learn what a oil burner does when the throttle opens and that little piston comes online. The 100's were fun bikes as a little kid, then they just lost power and were too slow, so it was replaced with a 125. That bike was really fast, then it too lost power on the dirt, but sneaking it out to the mountain road it became really fast, almost too fast. Then it too lost power and became too slow. Then that big blue IT 250, a true hare and hound bike with a lot of work done to it, ridden only one race was on sale. Trade in teh 125 and it was mine. That bike gave me my first real holy shit moment. When I twisted third really hard, the front end came up, it came up farther, and it came up scary high, holy shit ease off the go stick. That bike took all summer long to master on teh little dirt course and flat track we made in the field. The first time I took it onto the road through the hills, oh man it was scary fast.
Then I started racing those little dirt races on fire trails. Man that was fun, but not as fun as the back roads were. Then we saw a Hare and Hound race. Can I get new tires and race these race, PUH LEEEEZE? I'll clean all the stalls, I'll buck all the hay, I'll even do Lee's stuff too, just let me race!
HAre and Hound, ala Nor-Cal was Cow Mountan and Red Mountain, fire trails to roads. Those were scary fast races. The kid on th ebig blue and white IT250 was fast, but not fast enough to be in the top ten. Not that first summer anyway. I would love to have another oil burning 250. Been thinking about one of those YAmaha or Suzuki Super Moto bikes. Find a used one, rip out the motor, and install one from a 400 or 250 motocrosser in it. Yeah, real fast through back roads, scary fast!
That little Buell Blast though, man it's fun when the road is tight, just tight enough for WFO and drifting the corners. Can't wait for the sporty to get out of the shop, she drifts corners too. She loves japanese food. You know those pesky 600's, and oh those long armed hyabusa's with the nazi helmet wearing home boys that can't ride, them too. I really need to get a track bike and have some fun!
 
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