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"Crashed" the Vee

6K views 40 replies 23 participants last post by  agrippa1 
#1 ·
I put crashed in quotes because I'm not sure what constitutes a real crash. After a day of riding the '06 Vee, I was coming up the switchbacks from Sedona. Traffic was moving slowly and I was a bit frustrated since the switchbacks are good peg-grinding turf. As the last 15 mph curve approached there was no traffic behind me, so I slowed way down to let the slow traffic get far enough ahead so that I could use the Vee in a more exciting way. The curve goes to the right, and as I was coming into the tightest part, laid over to almost peg contact, a car that had pulled over on the side of the road, was merging back into the lane. I couldn't see if there was oncoming traffic, so I didn't go wide into the other lane. I had to use the brakes. I thought I had it, but at the end of the maneuver I either reached the point that front brake+turn got me, or the rear wheel broke free and the back end slid out. Whichever it was, the bike and I both fell left (making me think it was too much rear break and the rear tire broke free). I bounced once, felt the back of my helmet hit the road (and all I could think was, "God I'm glad I wear a helmet") and it was over.

I picked myself up, grabbed the bike (it's always easier to pick up a bike when your adrenaline is still coursing full throttle through your brain) and got it to the side of the road to assess the damage. Damage to me was a light bruise on the hip. I had full gear on including padded/armored pants, jacket, riding boots, gloves and full face helmet (ATGATT!).

The bike damage was a busted left turn signal, bent shift lever, bent over left bar end weight, trashed left foot peg (the mount is ok); nasty rash on the left upper fairing, SW Motech crash bars, left handguard, left edge of my nice new Madstad windscreen, and left side of the OEM centerstand. The soft panniers on the left rear are scratched up, but saved the rear end of the bike from damage.

Looking at Houseofmotorcycles[dot]com, I figure I'm in for about $200 in parts. I'll use a miller file to pare down the scrapped plastic and then progressively sand to 1000 grit and repaint, sand the crashbars and centerstand and put some paint on those.

I've had the Vee about three weeks, and I'll admit, I was probably riding dumb. I never foresaw that by creating that gap in traffic, I left that car an opening to merge back onto the road, and I was going too fast to fully control the situation. The upside was that I learned a lesson that is only going to cost me money and not my body. The Vee is an awesome bike, but I shouldn't ride it like it's track day on the open road. I'll miss riding it stupid, but I'd rather leave some of the performance behind, than wreck the bike or myself. Coming from my KLR650, I needed to learn a little humility I guess:blushing:

I'm glad I still have my KLR so I have something to ride while I put the Vee back together. I feel really dumb that I "crashed" the Vee. I drop the KLR all the time--it's what it's made for--and I don't let it bother me. What happened today is my first on-pavement motorcycle crash, and mentally it sucks, since it was really my own fault.
 
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#2 ·
Sounds like it could have been much worse - glad to hear you are ok. Bike parts can always be replaced. I always try to learn something from scary moments so hopefully they will be fewer and farther between! :yikes:
Hope you get the bike back up to 100% soon!
 
#3 ·
Now that I think about it, the bike fell left on a right-hand turn, so I think it was front-brake+turn that got me. Since I went right (over the bike) and ended up on the road with the bike behind me, is that what they call a "high side" crash? My understanding is when you go under the bike (you and the bike fall in the same direction) it's a "low-sider" and when you go over the bike (opposite directions) it's a "high-sider". I'm told it's the high-siders that are most dangerous.
 
#4 ·
Crapola............... Sounds like a highside.... I have been so close to that up on Mingus Mtn...
 
#6 · (Edited)
Bummer. And... no scare quotes needed... I think a highside always qualifies as a crash. :)

I bet the rear end slid out a bit then caught some traction (you eased up on the rear brake or road surface conditions changed), tripping the bike and tossing you.

That sort of scenario is exactly why I try to maintain large safety margins when I ride public streets.

You're safe and that's the most important thing. Sounds like you're learning from your experience...been there...sucks, but it also sounds like you have a handle on the repairs. That's good.
 
#10 ·
I bet the rear end slid out a bit then caught some traction (you eased up on the rear brake or road surface conditions changed), tripping the bike and tossing you.
That's a classic high side all right. There's nothing quite like knowing what caused a crash to keep a person from doing it again. The street isn't the place to push the envelope. I learned that the hard way too.
 
#8 ·
I'm fine. My wife is out of town at school, and I debated if I should tell her I had a crash. She loves riding with me, so I decided to "come clean". She took it badly. I tried to frame it as good news, i.e. "I had a crash, but I'm fine, and I learned something from it". Nope, she got all emotional and got into the "motorcycles are dangerous" thing on me--telling me about her student who crashed into a telephone pole and blew his eyeballs out, and is now blind, etc. I should have kept my mouth shut :headbang: I tried logic, e.g accidents happen in cars too and we keep driving them, but she was a little too wound up--hell, I was the one that slid over the pavement. She'll be fine eventually, and the more I think about it, the accident was great. We ride partly because it puts us out there, and if it wasn't a little bit dangerous, we might as well just buy a big SUV to go everywhere or stay at home. Riding is an ongoing learning process, and a crash you walk away from is a valuable lesson. I'm going to think a little more deeply about the kind of dangerous situations I can put myself into with the Vee, but if the wife want's to push the issue, I can always tell her I'll get back into skydiving :mrgreen:
 
#9 ·
I know I'm going to catch flak for this, but someone needs to say it:

Why the hell were you going all-out on a public road in a curve with limited visibility?
One day they're going to outlaw motorcycles because of people like you.

Now that I've said it and that I feel better:
I'm glad you survived it and you seem to have learned your lesson.

Don't forget to spend some money on a new helmet as well. The one that hit the ground is no good anymore.
 
#12 ·
I know I'm going to catch flak for this, but someone needs to say it:

Why the hell were you going all-out on a public road in a curve with limited visibility?
One day they're going to outlaw motorcycles because of people like you.

Now that I've said it and that I feel better:
I'm glad you survived it and you seem to have learned your lesson.

Don't forget to spend some money on a new helmet as well. The one that hit the ground is no good anymore.
Aren't you the one who brags about exceeding the speed limit 90% of the time and how bloody wonderful you are ? You are the reason people get pi$$ed at bike riders.
 
#13 ·
Duck... had the same thought, expressed it indirectly... but...



Then there's this:



Wha? I can see saying all sorts of things, but that a motorcycle accident was great? Maybe it's one of those DL1000 things a 650 rider wouldn't understand. :confused:
Great in that I learned something without physical harm in a situation where the consequences could have been much worse. And I think a DL650 rider could have possibly hurt themselves equally as well, but it is true that one must respect the 1000 in a way that I wasn't--lesson learned.

As for "Sitting Duck", I've only been here a short time, but I can see a troll from a short distance. I had a relative with the same low self esteem issues and they thrive in an environment where someone admits a vulnerability or failure--it creates in their immature/defective mind an opportunity to step up front through negative criticism--it's pathetic, but psychologically they need more help than one can give on a message board.
 
#14 ·
I'll miss riding it stupid, but I'd rather leave some of the performance behind, than wreck the bike or myself. Coming from my KLR650, I needed to learn a little humility I guess:blushing:
Sounds like you learned a valuable lesson, with limited injury and damage. It will serve you well in the future. All riders with longevity learn lessons, some first hand, others by reading about them. Glad you avoided serious injury and thanks for passing along the experience. I'm sure others will learn from it.
 
#18 ·
Those switchbacks out of Sedona are tourist rubber necking areas and tourists tend to be inattentive and stop to gawk in all the wrong places...glad you are OK. A lesson in expecting the unexpected.
Your 'crash' has the symptoms of a rear wheel lock up induced high side. It is interesting that the SW Motec crash bars did not do a great job of protecting the fairing...perhaps they do better in a low side drop.
 
#19 ·
Actually, the Motechs did well. The scar is on the left front fairing at headlight height so it appears the bike rolled farther up/on the side than the bars could cover. Without the Motechs, I'd probably be replacing the entire left side fairing.
 
#25 ·
Glad you survived and without much damage!

Now, by "left side fairing" do you mean the left cowling cover, the part with the big V-Strom decal on it? I just ordered one of those for my Wee because of a low-side, $182.88 including shipping.

So now I'm wondering, is that about all the crash bars are gonna save? Am just curious how important it is to have them. I've never even seen them.
 
#20 ·
Most common sense is acquired in some form of "the hard way". It's good when you get to learn from your own errors rather than it only being others who learn from your errors.

Generally all sports (and modes of transportation) have their risks...

I cast three Rapalas into the same bush today while trying to hit that particular 2-foot-diameter spot on the water. And when I finally hit the spot I still didn't get a strike.

You get to keep riding. We get to keep fishing.
 
#21 ·
Glad to hear you are OK! You gave me some great advise on the roads around there and I had a blast on them. I know I was riding a little too fast as well but you just can't help it sometimes! I had a nasty high-side on an 04 zx10r, I also ride fully geared and suffered a broken ankle my bike didn't do as well as yours. Ground down both sides even with frame sliders, bent the tank, frame and every piece of faring. Needless to say it was totaled.

The lesson I learned was take it to the track! But I know with these fun bikes and great roads it's hard to keep it within the speed limit. I have slowed down on the street now that I do more track days.

I'll bet that KLR is great on some of the roads around there! I wished I had a good off road bike when I visited your neck of the woods! The GS I had was a street bike that cost too much and a really big deposit! It was not leaving the pavement.
 
#22 ·
I will do nearly anything to have clear sailing in good twisties. I often slow down or pull off to allow the slower convoy to get ahead and leave me some space. I also frequently pass on double yellow in locations where the California Highway Dept idiots have recently converted broken line passing lanes to double yellow no passing zones. I also stay home on crowded weekends to minimize the traffic aggravation. Being retired does have its advantages.
 
#24 ·
Glad you are okay and that the damage to the bike was minimal. And, as others have said, thanks for sharing your lessons learned with the rest of us. Experience is a great teacher, but I prefer to learn from others' experience whenever possible :)

And don't lose too much sleep over our resident curmudgeonly waterfowl. He often has good advice to offer, but seems to need to wrap it in a boatload of condemnation for some reason :bom-rolleyes: Most of the rest of us, however, are honest enough to admit "But for the grace of God go I" :mod2_whistling:

Ride safe, and keep the rubber side down! :yesnod:
 
#26 ·
So now I'm wondering, is that about all the crash bars are gonna save?
Some crash bars will reduce the chances that your radiator bends like this one:


One of my wees has a radiator bent perhaps even more obviously (no crash bars installed when it went down) ... but I'm borrowing the picture from this thread.

They can also protect other stuff, especially if you have luggage too.
 
#27 ·
ZT, thanks for relaying your story in such a straightforward way so everybody else can learn from your momentary error in judgment. Yeah, it's something lots of riders probably already know, but it certainly doesn't hurt any of us to have it reinforced that creating a gap like that to have a little fun in traffic can also have unintended consequences. Also, kudos for squarely taking the blame yourself instead of just blowing off steam at the "stupid cager" who "cut you off." That's how too many people would have written it instead of taking the blame themselves and actually learning something from it. Glad you got off relatively cheap this time, learned a good lesson, and are back on the road with an improved understanding of how to stay safe.
 
#28 ·
I'm a little confused. If it was just rear-wheel lockup, the bike would have low-sided. Since you went over the top and the bike landed left in a right-hand turn, it was definitely a high side. That would most likely occur if the rear wheel stepped out and then hooked up again. A low side can turn into a high side if something on the skidding bike catches and tips the bike to where the wheels catch the pavement and flip you. That's why I won't use highway pegs or other protruberances that can catch. You were very lucky to survive a high side with minimal injuries. They usually result in significant injury. I have had one in 54 years of riding and can attest to that.

I wonder if ABS could have prevented it. I know it isn't going to help you if you are leaned over in a turn and use up all your traction. But even in a lean, it would have prevented the rear wheel from locking up. I'm not sure, but I know I will no longer ride a bike without ABS.
 
#37 · (Edited)
It happened pretty fast, so my original "reconstruction" may have been wrong. It seems that at the last moment the bike and I must have gone from right leaning to left crashing. It's not something I want to try again for the sake of analysis, however :yikes: Perhaps, as you suggest, when the rear slid, I steered left and then the rear came back in contact. It's like slipping on ice, everything happens in the blink of an eye, leaving your conscious brain far behind.
 
#30 ·
I've never noticed the lean detector on my wee. Where is it, what does it do, and how?

Trail braking is braking until after turn-in in order to maximize traction on the front wheel(s). How might this have helped?

The reason ABS won't save you in a turn is because ABS maintains traction in the direction of travel; cornering uses lateral traction which ABS has no control over.
 
#34 ·
It appears the latest BMW S1000RR bike and inline six concept bike are about the only ones with lean sensor traction control. There may be some others but it is rare.
 
#38 ·
"Tech Bikes"

We may be adding too much stuff these days to motorcycles. A bike is a bike. Yes, thorwing some farkles on there to make it a nicer ride is one thing, but turning them into computers on wheels kind of gets away from the raw freedom of the ride. It all depends on how pampered you want to be, even when it comes to safety things like ABS. Bikes existed for decades without such things and in many cases of accidents, it was the rider's fault, not the bike.

Live free, ride hard.
 
#39 ·
Often what turns a potential lowside into a highside is chopping the throttle the moment when you realise "oops". The bike stands up ,and because it has that lateral momentum still at play, over it goes. Glad you are OK! The best lessons are the ones that we can walk away from saying "Damn, that could have hurt! Let's not try that again!". Value judgements from others after the fact add nothing to your learnings. I am going to be on that road in a couple of months and I will keep your experiences in mind.
 
#40 ·
A low side turns into a high side when the rear wheel regains traction with the bike sideways. Getting off a locked rear brake and cutting power when the rear tire is doing a burn out slide are the usual situations.
 
#41 ·
I'd like to address the wife issue.

I'd had my 86 Concours for a year or so when a young lady rolled into me at a stoplight and trashed one of the saddlebags. No big deal, she was going to be out $400plus bucks for another saddlebag.

When my wife came out and realized what had happened her eyes got huge and she got a stricken look on her face. "Someone hit you??!!!!!!" She loved (and still loves) riding with me but it was obvious that she had never come to terms with the fact that something could happen to me on the bike--which is really funny considering that I met her while in the hospital recovering from the death of my beloved CB900F.

I think that we are more realistic about these possibilities than our pillions somtimes.

Glad youre okay.
 
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