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Post by dexameth on Oct 21, 2021 19:41:24 GMT -5
Well times are sad... I crashed on the way to work last Wednesday. Was travelling at 50mph, flowing with traffic when I noticed a huge 4x4 piece of lumber pop out from the vehicle ahead of me. I was about 2 car lengths back, but it wasn't enough time to react.
I hit the lumber and it bucked me up and over the handlebars, and while upside down in the middle of the front flip I see the thing I just hit, then I hit the ground. Basically on my left ear (wearing a helmet) I rolled onto my left side to the back side of my collar bone then onto my backpack. The backpack then gripped and caused me to keep rolling, skinning my entire right side. Both my right arm and leg are shredded, as well as my right finger knuckles.
I kinda landed on my feet, and yelling at the top of my lungs. Caught myself and was able to get the bike outta the 3 lane road. Only one car had stopped, and an old man in the closest parking lot got out to help me pick up the stuff in my seat bucket that is all over the road now.
Start calling my boss, who has a truck, and no answer. I was on my way to work, still have 20 minutes or so and I'm only a couple miles away. I sit down on the curb wondering WTF i'm gonna do and an ambulance shows up. Someone called. They cleaned me up, and then my boss called. Police showed up but did nothing, no major injuries or anyone to "blame".
My boss shows up a few minutes later, and now I finally check out the scoot. Looks totalled. Forks bent, plastics broke, all the stuff I didn't wanna see. I got a ride home, took the day off work to clean up the wounds and parked the scoot.
I finally was able to inspect it and it looks as though the body is toast, and the forks and front wheel are gone. Frame/engine seem good! Tonight I fired it up for the first time since the crash, runs great. Just can't ride, as the forks are twisted to Hell and the front wheel is bent.
Gotta admit, I'm a little freaked out since the incident. I hate riding behind anything now even more than I have before. Kinda sucks. I used to LOVE riding scooters and now I'm getting to the point to where I don't wanna ride anymore; at least in this area. Seems like every time I ride I deal with something that makes the ride not enjoyable. I wish I could break the habit.
Anyhoo, just wanted to post an update. This ZX may be down and out for a while. I really don't wanna make it a naked build, but the body is cracked all the way around. Only a few bits left in tact. I may have a donor scoot with a "blown engine" that I could simply swap engines.
I guess I'll see how the hands are dealt. Ride safe yall.
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Post by jloi on Oct 21, 2021 19:50:13 GMT -5
terrible news man. so sorry for your injuries and your loss of your scoot. hope you can work ok soon and you and the scoot heal quickly .
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Post by dexameth on Oct 21, 2021 19:51:50 GMT -5
terrible news man. so sorry for your injuries and your loss of your scoot. hope you can work ok and you and the scoot heal quickly . Working sucks. I keep banging the scabs against everything... My right leg swells up if I stand too long (weird as it's only got road rash). I'll heal but I'm totally bummed about the scoot. |
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Post by oldgeek on Oct 21, 2021 21:12:17 GMT -5
Well times are sad... I crashed on the way to work last Wednesday. Was travelling at 50mph, flowing with traffic when I noticed a huge 4x4 piece of lumber pop out from the vehicle ahead of me. I was about 2 car lengths back, but it wasn't enough time to react. I hit the lumber and it bucked me up and over the handlebars, and while upside down in the middle of the front flip I see the thing I just hit, then I hit the ground. Basically on my left ear (wearing a helmet) I rolled onto my left side to the back side of my collar bone then onto my backpack. The backpack then gripped and caused me to keep rolling, skinning my entire right side. Both my right arm and leg are shredded, as well as my right finger knuckles. I kinda landed on my feet, and yelling at the top of my lungs. Caught myself and was able to get the bike outta the 3 lane road. Only one car had stopped, and an old man in the closest parking lot got out to help me pick up the stuff in my seat bucket that is all over the road now. Start calling my boss, who has a truck, and no answer. I was on my way to work, still have 20 minutes or so and I'm only a couple miles away. I sit down on the curb wondering WTF i'm gonna do and an ambulance shows up. Someone called. They cleaned me up, and then my boss called. Police showed up but did nothing, no major injuries or anyone to "blame". My boss shows up a few minutes later, and now I finally check out the scoot. Looks totalled. Forks bent, plastics broke, all the stuff I didn't wanna see. I got a ride home, took the day off work to clean up the wounds and parked the scoot. I finally was able to inspect it and it looks as though the body is toast, and the forks and front wheel are gone. Frame/engine seem good! Tonight I fired it up for the first time since the crash, runs great. Just can't ride, as the forks are twisted to Hell and the front wheel is bent. Gotta admit, I'm a little freaked out since the incident. I hate riding behind anything now even more than I have before. Kinda sucks. I used to LOVE riding scooters and now I'm getting to the point to where I don't wanna ride anymore; at least in this area. Seems like every time I ride I deal with something that makes the ride not enjoyable. I wish I could break the habit. Anyhoo, just wanted to post an update. This ZX may be down and out for a while. I really don't wanna make it a naked build, but the body is cracked all the way around. Only a few bits left in tact. I may have a donor scoot with a "blown engine" that I could simply swap engines. I guess I'll see how the hands are dealt. Ride safe yall. That really sucks to have happened. It's good that you are ok for the most part. The scoot can be replaced, but you cannot. For inspiration, or not, here is a picture of my naked ZX. Mine needs me to build a motor to put back in it right now, but it is my favorite scoot. That be the intracoastal waterway in the background. hop on it down there and float up this way Lol!  |
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Post by 90GTVert on Oct 22, 2021 2:02:59 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about your wreck. Gotta admit, I'm a little freaked out since the incident. I hate riding behind anything now even more than I have before. Kinda sucks. I used to LOVE riding scooters and now I'm getting to the point to where I don't wanna ride anymore; at least in this area. Seems like every time I ride I deal with something that makes the ride not enjoyable. I wish I could break the habit. I think that's normal. Especially when you crash and it seems like it's out of your control. 2 of my crashes were surprises like yours, with a hay bale coming off of someone's truck and a deer running across the road at night. It's been 3 years now since the deer, and I still barely ride at night unless it's in a town and that used to be my favorite riding. The idea that you can be doing nothing wrong and something can come out of nowhere and severely injure you or worse is unsettling. It's one thing to understand that this is the risk of life on 2 wheels; but it's all too real when it happens to you. I know you had one other serious crash some time ago as well, so I have a feeling this isn't the first time you've had these thoughts. My opinion is that you should do some risk assessment and decide if riding in that area or under certain circumstances makes sense and what your options are for commuting. Hope you heal quickly. |
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Post by dexameth on Oct 22, 2021 6:23:05 GMT -5
I don't own any cages (cars) so I can only commute by scoot. I commuted by bicycle for years, led me to getting the scoot and then it all blew up from there. Now I'm inclined to return to commuting mostly by bicycle... I can ride away from the traffic more (cycling trails, sidewalks, back roads etc). My commuter bike was stolen at the beginning of the summer and my current bike isn't really outfitted for commuting. I'm going to fit it with the appropriate racks and bags (I'm not a fan of backpacks) this way I can take lunch, clothes, tools and whatnot. Luckily the ride isn't too far.
I still scoot every day, but the anxiety is real.
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Post by repherence2 on Oct 22, 2021 10:59:28 GMT -5
I don't own any cages (cars) so I can only commute by scoot. I commuted by bicycle for years, led me to getting the scoot and then it all blew up from there. Now I'm inclined to return to commuting mostly by bicycle... I can ride away from the traffic more (cycling trails, sidewalks, back roads etc). My commuter bike was stolen at the beginning of the summer and my current bike isn't really outfitted for commuting. I'm going to fit it with the appropriate racks and bags (I'm not a fan of backpacks) this way I can take lunch, clothes, tools and whatnot. Luckily the ride isn't too far. I still scoot every day, but the anxiety is real. Im glad you are still alive to tell the story. You can always add a gas engine kit to the bicycle. Those engines are pretty fun. Or maybe swap the ZX engine into a 4 stroke scoot? |
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Post by oldgeek on Oct 22, 2021 11:03:14 GMT -5
I don't own any cages (cars) so I can only commute by scoot. I commuted by bicycle for years, led me to getting the scoot and then it all blew up from there. Now I'm inclined to return to commuting mostly by bicycle... I can ride away from the traffic more (cycling trails, sidewalks, back roads etc). My commuter bike was stolen at the beginning of the summer and my current bike isn't really outfitted for commuting. I'm going to fit it with the appropriate racks and bags (I'm not a fan of backpacks) this way I can take lunch, clothes, tools and whatnot. Luckily the ride isn't too far. I still scoot every day, but the anxiety is real. It sounds like they are set up for bikes pretty well where you are. Maybe a E-bike would be a good compromise. I dont think anyone here would blame you a bit if you quit with the scooters. |
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Post by dexameth on Oct 22, 2021 11:14:58 GMT -5
I would love an e bike, and my shop sells some nice models. I just don't have inside storage at my place and it's not gonna stay outside to be stolen. I'm fine with an "analog bicycle" as long as I can carry my stuff.
Don't get me wrong, I'll never stop scooting but I'm gonna mellow out a bit...
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