Went down yesterday

[Henecton]

As some of you may have heard I was riding with Gene and a group of MAD riders yesterday when I was hit by a horse trailer coming around a turn. The crash happened at 35-40 MPH and my left foot hit the trailer hard enough to cut the top of my riding boot off. Thankfully I had chosen to wear my ballistic riding pants instead of jeans, the knees of my pants were melted and along the right side the pants had several holes worn through to the liner. My Joe Rocket mesh jacket was worn through and I had road rash on my shoulder, my elbow may have a hairline fracture, but the armor in the elbows prevented anything more serious from occuring. The MAD riders were great and made sure that everything was taken care of, Chad aka Cabbie went home and got his truck and with the help of the MAD group loaded up my bike to haul to his house and then to Ducpond for me. The driver of the horse trailer was sighted for crossing the centerline(which she denies  , but the trailer is so big it barely fits on the road on the straightaway and the road is closed to tractor trailers because of how narrow and twisty it is). The only serious injury I sustained was a broken fourth toe, a severely bruised foot, and the toe nail on my big toe is lacerated. I have a feeling my bike is totalled but will wait and see, the driver and myself have the same insurance company, GEICO, so I am sure they are going to try and screw me.

[dolci]

I had seen Gene's report.  Glad to hear you are - mostly - in one piece.  Glad the gear did what it was designed to do.

[zooom]

glad you are okay for the most part and your gear did what it was designed to do for the most part....hope you are back on the road soon!

[ducpenguin]

Good to hear that you made it out with minor problems (Health wise).  Good to hear that you were wearing proper gear and that it did its job!
Sorry about your bike! 

[Slide Panda]

Here's to your speedy recovery. 

Good to hear that you went to the Drs to get checked on.  Hopefully insurance will do it's job and what you pay them so much for.

[Dragsterhund]

glad you are okay for the most part and your gear did what it was designed to do for the most part....hope you are back on the road soon!

Yeah, for the most part. After Mike left in the ambulance, we were all looking at our boots, and noticed that boot manufacturers don't really design boots to protect the top of the foot (exactly where Mike's foot hit the trailer and boot ripped open)... most of the protection is on the outside of the boot and ankle/sole. Although, even though they failed, they probably kept his toes attached to his feet.

Boots are funny things... remember Greg's boots from VIR?

Mike, we were looking at your bike... I don't think it'll be totaled.... it came out surprisingly intact. You'll need a new left-side rearset (ripped completely off where it hit the trailer) and two new exhaust cans.. front brake lever, mirror and handlebars. Everything looked pretty streight, it seemed like the footpeg/rearset/foot took the brunt of the impact. Your left front rotor is was sliced the tire on the trailer open and noticed the brakes pulsing when I coasted it down the hill into the runoff area, so you may need a new rotor. You're tank was barely scratched. 

I have pictures of the trailer and accident scene if you need some photo evidence of what happened. Glad you're ok, buddy.

[topspin_flyer]

Mike,

Sorry to hear your news but glad to hear how those boots saved you foot.  This could have been a lot worse so we are all very lucky.  I wish you a speedy recovery and hope you can be get back on two wheels soon!

Scott

[mcgalinmd]

And then to top off your wreck, I read most everyone got caught in the "storm of the century" on the way home.  I guess when it rains, it pours. (no pun intended)   

Hope you get well soon - both you and the bike.  [moto]

[Henecton]

The bike is totalled  . Jason called me at home to let me know the forks are bent, both termis are gone, and the engine cases are cracked.

[zooom]

shiza.....that sucks in certain regards....but does that mean you could have one of them new swanky 696's?...

[potomacduc]

Glad to hear your ok, but now is the time to think of your next bike!

You can be a zooom clone:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000-Ducati-Sport-Touring-Cagiva-Gran-Canyon_W0QQitemZ160261237352QQihZ006QQcategoryZ49989QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That's a nice deal on a pretty clean bike. 

[bdub]

Mike --------- A horse trailer??? Those things don't fit on any road. I'm constantly paranoid out here. Glad you're not hurt to bad. If you need help picking out a bike let me know. What about all the stuff you've got going on. Let me know if I can help.

[Henecton]

Thanks for the offer of assistance bdub. My 695 was my baby, I may actually go the path of a used bike this time. The insurance company will probably drag this thing out so I may have some time to think it over.

[Duc and Cover]

Considering you got hit by a horse trailer I'd say you walked away pretty lucky. Sorry about the bike though. Cover up any road rash with some "2nd skin moist burn pads". They are magic.

[twolanefun]

My 695 was my baby, I may actually go the path of a used bike this time. The insurance company will probably drag this thing out so I may have some time to think it over.

John Bowman's ST3 is sitting at Winchester Motosports and needs a good home - Gene