linkin5: "I learned tonight that I have to be more careful, I got cocky and it almost cost me more than I can afford"
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So true. Biking, wheter it be street or dirt, quickly teaches riders that there are fine lines between respect, confidence, fear & arrogance. Learning exactly where those lines are can take a lifetime. Wearing proper protecteve gear helps ensure a longer lifetime...

 

I've had 2 flats at speed in 45 years of riding. Neither caused me to go down but this one was close. I still haven't got to the tire yet to see if I can tell what the cause was. But it did go quick as it was fine for better than 11 miles as the bike was handling normal until it pitched way out in a hard corner, I should have pulled to the side of the road right there and then but I wiggeled the bike and still couldn't feel the flat but by the next corner all the air had gone out and I couldn't not feel it at that point. I don't think a pre ride inspection would have prevented this as it is just one of those things that happends, but I should have had my helmet on, I was dressed correctly everywhere else but my head. There was a fence on both sides of the road so if I would have bought it, it might have been my last hurrah.

 

i just high sided my bike in august, with a broken collar bone and shoulder blade to go with it... i was upset i didnt have my riding jacket on cuz i probly wouldnt have a crushed shoulder blade.

i wouldnt even be here if i didnt have the helmet on...

 

you should have heard the knobbies making like 5 times the noise they normally do. I picked up an XT 225 a few weeks ago from a gal friend of mine to take to my house to install handguards, a new rear tail light and levers, and as soon as I took off, it was like cards in the spokes, I continued on for 3 miles to my house, and when I got there the rear tire had 3 lbs of pressure in it. I'm surprised with my fat @$$, the tire didn't roll off the bead as I tend to corner pretty fast and low. Glad you held on. Reminds me of a few weeks ago at work I walked around my 1300 and the rear tire had an 8 inch section where the cords were showing through. I really need to start checking my stuff more often or actually every time I ride.

 

....Yes , you have to wear all the gear you have all the time, it is a pain to put it all on for just a quick ride, BUT in may 3rd of this year I was having a nice ride,two lane black top no traffic and out of no where a silver honda accord blew a 2 way stop sign at high speed, crossed 30ft in front of me. I had to lay it down at about 35-40 mph after a bunch of tumble-rolling (me and the bike) i came to a stop face down on the black top. The honda driver took off (bastard) got my wits about me, stood up, felt shaken but ok, pulled up my klx250s , it started right up! felt some pain in my right arm, got on the bike to ride home and when i reached for the clutch lever I found my left hand and arm did not work. So i started the bike in 2nd and rode home about 2 miles( could not stop or shift ) but alas, got home. When i took off my riding coat and chest protector found my elbow was backwards, went to the hospital ER and they rushed me in, all of the hospital staff was amazed I had zero road rash. My riding pants were still on (looked like some one with a 8" grinder attacked my pants,helmet,jacket and my gloves!) The doctor told me I had broken my elbow in 3 places and the 2 lower bones in my left arm. ONLY due to me putting my hand out as I hit the pavement, The doctor who put me back together is also a Rider and told me you never want to fall at speed with your arm-hands out to break the fall or this is what happens... Long story short ,Wear your gear all the time with out fail and never put your arm out!!!
BTW: I had Geico ins. the paid me for all the damage 100% !! then told me to go buy any helmet i wanted up to $300 and they would cut me a check! plus paid me for all the replacement gear that was torn up

 

Any biker interested in self preservation can learn a lot about correlation & causation of motorcycle accidents by reading the comprehensive & unsurpassed "Hurt Report". It should be mandatory reading as far as I am concerned. Among the finding:
-protective gear works
-alcohol is a bad idea around bikes
-watch out for oncoming cars making left turns
-experience and training count for a lot
-loud pipes have nothing to do with saving lives

 

Just a follow up as to the cause of my near miss. As I broke the tire down for repair I found the valve stem was torn from the tube. I don't run rim locks as I ride on the street 98% of the time and don't ride really hard off road as I'm getting too old to heal up from a bad get off. This is the only issue I could find, and it was made worse by riding on it all the way home. Kind of explains the instant failure I had though. I had the tire at 14 psi and I think this was a factor in it also. FWIW the Trackmaster tire was rode flat close to 15 miles and with a new tube is in as good of shape as it was before I had the issue. For now the tire is at 20 psi and I will do rim locks this winter.

 

I've said it before and I will say it again, 15,000 miles on the bike, and 4 rear tires later, all the crazy terrain, trails, fire roads, central Oregon volcanic rock, and sand, I've never had a tire pull the valve stem, and that's because I run 25 in both front and rear. I don't air down for any situation. I would rather learn to adapt in all riding conditions with max air than have to push a bike back from somewhere and have to change a tire.

 

Jesus bro glad you are still able to write and not a brain vegetable, at least you learned the possible consequences of pushing the edge and without protective gear...without punishment.
In '98 I had an awful ski crash and was paralyzed waist up, for about two years- no guitar, no drums, no sports-it sucked big time. After mucho therapy and time I have regained 95% and maybe 90% left arm- I am lucky i can enjoy the bike and other activities still but it also brought a reality to how fragile our amazing working human bodies can be when faced with trauma.
Wow Deej that is some pressure! I find the difference from 24 to 18 psi rear as the feel of a road bike leaning and rolling smoothly on to its side tread (24) to more of a dirt bike squash and leaving a fat footprint while pulling out of a turn at 18. That said i plug around 20/20 on road but i go down to 13 psi rear and 15 front on full dirt rides. Never a flat yet.
My WRF with no tubes runs the rear at 8 and the front at 13. The useable footprint of the rear at that psi is mind blowing. But I also shreaded a rim lock and valve stem once and had a long quiet ride back but I love the traction climbing creekbeds and pulling phat g's out of corners so i trade off the risk.
Anyways- always a helmet, always leather gloves and always decent footware when I ride on any pavement and I wear even more in the dirt.
Glad your still here Link