PDub
Scoot Enthusiast
Ann Arbor MEEEEEchigan
Posts: 139
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Post by PDub on Apr 19, 2019 18:55:29 GMT -5
WOW, thanks for the welcomes from everyone, and for sharing your experiences.
I will not give up on scooters -- I'm in for the long haul. Put over 10K miles on my first Ruckus (and she's only down for transmission bearings, not engine) and nearing 9K on my second (the one who went down). I'll need to repair her -- but I haven't been able to evaluate the damage yet. I think the front shocks/triple tree?? is bent. My friend who put her into the garage said she was not rolling right. Yikes. Well. Will deal with it when I am able. --
I will, however, need to get a car. Even if I was not on blood thinners, I don't have the stamina to trust myself on a scooter right now. (Walking out to the chickens and gathering eggs is enough to bring me back inside for a long rest...) Someone is going to lend me a car long-term, & possibly give it to me, so I'll be able to get around once I can concentrate for longer than 15 minutes at a time (ha ha, no I'm not on opioids anymore, just need a lot of rest!)
I will post pictures of the damage to my gear when I get it out to look at -- I do know that a zipper tab on one of the pockets on my right sleeve punctured my forearm -- that was the only visible injury I had when the EMTs got me into the ambulance! My helmet face shield looks about like 90GTVert's above.
<yawn> time for another nap...
[Hi Ray, wondered if you'd be here!!]
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Post by lilpinny on Apr 19, 2019 20:28:32 GMT -5
Chickens? I love chickens.
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Post by lilpinny on Apr 19, 2019 20:30:32 GMT -5
 I commend you guys If you decide to ever ride a scooter again. Your a beast for that. I've only dipped my scooter in a turn briefly on some loose gravel. But had a slight idea that it was coming. Plus I've wheelied myself off the bike a couple times resulting in a couple broken tail lights. But nothing that would traumatize me enough to not think about riding again. 👍 Gotta get back on that horse, cowboy. |
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PDub
Scoot Enthusiast
Ann Arbor MEEEEEchigan
Posts: 139
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Post by PDub on Apr 19, 2019 21:22:52 GMT -5
Chickens? I love chickens. Well, here ya go!  |
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Post by lilpinny on Apr 19, 2019 21:42:52 GMT -5
Chickens? I love chickens. Well, here ya go! Chickens are the best! |
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Post by section1 on Apr 24, 2019 18:13:11 GMT -5
I haven't had a crash yet but I do always wear my gear. I'm starting to wonder tho if my gear is really going to help. Reading what has happened to others I was looking for some boots or better shoe and started thinking about what I need. I have a Pilot Air Mesh Jacket with the armor that came in it, a Z1R helmet and face shield and gloves with the hard knuckle protection. I always wear jeans. I don't have any boots or good shoes yet, just tennis shoes. This stuff was inexpensive and may not offer any real protection. How do you know if your gear is good without crash testing it?
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Post by 90GTVert on Apr 24, 2019 20:23:38 GMT -5
How do you know if your gear is good without crash testing it? Ratings/certifications can help some. Look for helmets that are DOT, Snell or ECE certified. Look for armor that is CE rated. Pay attention to materials. An all mesh jacket is great in the summer, but it won't protect you like thick leather. If you can put your hands on the stuff you can get an idea of what is more likely to last in a skid. I'm hoping maybe I can use my Joe Rocket Atomic 5.0 jacket this summer instead of my First Gear mesh jacket. The largely mesh jacket seems like it could tear apart quickly and it's armor sucks compared to the others even if it is held in place when needed. We'll see though. If it's 100 degrees and the mesh is the only thing that I can bare, then at least it's still better than shirtless in shorts and flip flops like some of the other scooter riders I see in the summer. There's great gear out there that should fit most situations. Most of us just can't afford a closet full of it and don't have tons of gear local to try out in person. |
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Post by section1 on Apr 28, 2019 15:45:05 GMT -5
Any particular brand of gear you would recommend? I would like to think I have reasonable protection in case something bad would happen. I see some Klim jackets for $1600 but I doubt it makes you bulletproof and I don't have that kind of money to spend. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
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Post by 90GTVert on Apr 28, 2019 20:56:25 GMT -5
Any particular brand of gear you would recommend? I would like to think I have reasonable protection in case something bad would happen. I see some Klim jackets for $1600 but I doubt it makes you bulletproof and I don't have that kind of money to spend. Any recommendations would be appreciated. You don't have to spend that kind of money for a decent jacket by far. My first jacket was a Joe Rocket Ballistic from NewEnough.Com (now MotorcycleGear.Com) on clearance for $80. Normally a few hundred dollars, but I wore that thing for about 10 years and it was a good quality piece. Check that site and others like it to see if you can find a deal. Also RevZilla is great about videos detailing features and fit of gear and has excellent return policies IMO. |
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Post by lilpinny on Apr 28, 2019 21:31:38 GMT -5
Man, I can tell a story. This was in ‘99. I had a Suzuki SV650 with a stage two kit and a yosh exhaust that had been dyno’d twice over a week’s tuning.
I had to pick up my laundry to make a flight out for work.
I was coming down 101 in SF and turning off on to Caesar Chavez and I hit something on my wheel that caused me to hit the guard rail. I dragged along that thing with my gloves and my Vanson leather and managed to slow it down. Then I looked over the guard rail and saw a 50 foot drop. I must have been doing 15 MPH ast that point
I hit the brakes and looked over and said “F**k that”. I jumped off the bike, I wasn’t going very fast, landed on my feet, and then fell back. This was in the middle off freeway of ramp,.
The car behind me was nice enough to stop and say “are you ok?”. I was in the middle of the road, which was better than over the side. My only thought was to get the f**k out of there before a cop showed up. I picked the bike up, the pedals were broken and part of the brake handle. I managed to stick my foot way in to shift. And get it out of there.
I picked up my laundry, got back home, got packed and got my flight.
That’s why I don’t drink a drop anymore before I ride. I had some good gear, the person behind me was so awesome, I was lucky. But I shouldn’t have been out there on the freeway. Looking back, I was to impaired to be riding.
Still freaks me out today. I got lucky.
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Post by milly on May 8, 2019 10:19:04 GMT -5
At 62 I want as much protection as possible so got myself bullit armoured jeans hip and knees with a winter lining but still good for this summer weather at 55f some Oxford two piece waterproofs and a tucano urbano jacket with back shoulder and elbow armour. I also have flip down helmet so it goes to full face but with the advantages of lifting up to talk to people and I can get it on and off with glasses on, a kappa kv31 Arizona its called I done 30 miles in torrential rain today and could maintain 45-50mph without a problem. I had the waterproof leggings on but not top as wanted to test the tucano urbano jacket. After the ride I was 100% dry . Even the spada promaloft gloves are dry on the inside. I do find also being protected I am more confident on the road and being dry I am fully aware of my surroundings more than when I was younger and used hand me down old ripped belstaff waxed cotton jackets or leather's and crappy old bright yellow plastic type waterproofs which either leaked at the crutch or front of jacket and you sweat like mad in warm weather plus travelling hundreds of miles in those days it took away concentration and I got more fatigued than I do being an old fart.
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Post by ThaiGyro on May 14, 2019 4:06:19 GMT -5
Great thread! Being 62+ and having road raced, enduro's and some flat track. I am "experienced". I will opine, that damage "potential", occurs at interesting speeds and not what you would think. (OK, there are extremes)
First your thoughts on protective gear are correct. Comfortable, but functional is a requirement.
My Thai crash shortened ti the point: I hit a non-moving soldier/scooter at about 70 kph. (45 mph) He pulled in front of me at dusk. No alcohol involved by either party. Just a brain fart on his part. He was Burmese, however, who drive on the right, unlike Thai who drive on the left. He was looking the wrong way.
I center-pinched him at full (front)lockup and flipped over him. My CRF250L with me, shattering my left hip and wrist in the air and upon a full face plant/pavement nutting.
I was wearing my ballistic jacket, pants, carbon knuckled gloves and shorty boots. My four day old Shark Pro Carbon helmet saved my head, for sure! The face shield was scratched. No other visable road rash on anything.
My opinion is not just wearing proper gear. You must also know how to crash...and be lucky enough to have the kind of brain that reacts in emergencies. My years on bikes gave me quick responses. I flipped on purpose, or that soldier would be dead. His right leg was broken in 14 places, but no other injuries. (he had no helmet) If I had attempted a diversion? Dead meat for me. Trees, big ditches, mayhem.
What I learned during 40+ years of fun...high speeds don't hurt unless you stop suddenly. Most major injuries/damage occur around 25 to 45 mph, (40 to 72 kph) If you can, pull your arms into you body and just let it happen. You can actually slide on your ass balancing with your legs! Impending doom? Just let go!!
For the record, I have a titanium/porcelain left hip, steel plates in left wrist, steel plate in left clavicle (Different crash) and SS wire holding my breastplate together. These were all from street crashes. I did have a shoulder separation from a slight wall connection, but no surgery! That was 160+ mph!!
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Post by milly on May 14, 2019 12:29:33 GMT -5
Agree with you there ThaiGyro there is an art to crashing. |
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Post by jmfloyd218 on May 26, 2019 5:48:15 GMT -5
I crashed my vip back in febuary of 2017, really not sure what happend it happed so fast, but i was coming to a stop sign when i applied brakes its like some thing jerked the handle bars out of my hands there was sliding action, then i was thrown over the handle bars, the bike landed on my right leg shattering my tibia, the helmet definately saved me as my head slammed the pavement.. i never looked into what happend to my scooter to cause this as i sold it on craigslist for parts and cautioned the buyer to look it over good before he tried to ride it.. anyways i spent 18 months on crutches, had one surgery that was a failure, once i had my 2nd surgery last year i was off the crutches by september, its been a year almost since my revision surgery, im walking again, but my leg still isnt right.. never will be, im riding again, another vip, i check everything over more carefully now, brakes. Wheel bearings. Tires, fork , etc... i wreck didnt scare me off, i always thought sone careless impatient driver would cause me to crash.. but it doesnt matter what you ride, a big honda goldwing, or a tiny china scooter, if you crash it can be dangerous.. ride safe everyone
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phatmanxxl
Scoot Enthusiast
Posts: 484
Location: Missoura
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Post by phatmanxxl on May 27, 2019 14:01:28 GMT -5
People tell me I don't need a helmet for a scooter, I always say back "The day I don't wear it is the day I should've had it on"
I live by that.
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I commend you guys If you decide to ever ride a scooter again. Your a beast for that. I've only dipped my scooter in a turn briefly on some loose gravel. But had a slight idea that it was coming. Plus I've wheelied myself off the bike a couple times resulting in a couple broken tail lights. But nothing that would traumatize me enough to not think about riding again. 👍
