Learn to always wear gear.

[Gixxerdale]

This link is from an accident that may not have been as horrific as it turned out to be, had Eric worn his gear. This is a gruesome and sad story. Hopefully the Newbies will learn the importance of always wearing gear. I hope posting this may save someone else, and their family, from a similiar fate. Please take the time to read it.

http://zrxoa.org/03Z1Rthreads/hitandrun.htm

[pitbull76]

Damn that's terrible. I just don't know what else to say.

BTW, I already always wear my gear.

[dmdan]

yep thats horrific,
I agree with his helmet assessment. If your gonna be the F'd up, you might as well take it all the way. I am not going to even comment on the gear, No matter how much you wear, I don't know what could have prevented that, except full race gear, with all the guards and pads. That is a little much for a drive home from work.
One more thing I take away from this. I may speed a tiny bit, but my biggest concern is staying "ahead" of the traffic. Trying to explain this to a cop or a judge is useless, and fines should just be payed, but between me and god, I would rather keep an eye on everyone in front of me as I pass them, that way I feel in control. I sketch out when approaching a light or stop sign, for whats approaching from behind, and routinely split traffic at those intersections or keep a close eye in the back, especially when slowing down to make a turn or when coming to a quick stop. Even tho the benefits of running a yellow light to avoid someone who is tailgating to slam into the back of you are slim, I risk the ticket.
More and more people in cages don't understand how bike works, how quickly we can decelerate without using the brake and how much room they have to leave us in turns, or how difficult it is for us to use our brakes when we are leaning on slow corners, like pulling out of drives, or turning in intersections, when they decide to cut us off, for a car a simple tap on the brakes, and its no problem, for a bike its a disaster.

I wouldn't encourage anyone to break laws, but for me, I watch them in front of me and keep them behind me.

[Gixxerdale]

Originally Posted by pitbull76

Damn that's terrible. I just don't know what else to say.

BTW, I already always wear my gear.

Not much to say. It's a dangerous sport/hobby/passion/lifestyle that we are all willing participants in. We all now the score from day one, just be smart about it. I really feel for those left behind by a momentary laps in judgement of the cager (what ever the reason or cause) and Eric (no gear). I've lost a lot of friends (riders) over the last 32 years of riding. Sometimes their fault, most times not. I hope my own family never feels the pain, although last July was not far from it. We all owe it to our friends and family to ride safe!
Done with the soap box now! Next?

[Gixxerdale]

Originally Posted by dmdan

yep thats horrific,
I am not going to even comment on the gear, No matter how much you wear, I don't know what could have prevented that, except full race gear, with all the guards and pads. That is a little much for a drive home from work.

More and more people in cages don't understand how bike works, how quickly we can decelerate without using the brake and how much room they have to leave us in turns, or how difficult it is for us to use our brakes when we are leaning on slow corners, like pulling out of drives, or turning in intersections, when they decide to cut us off, for a car a simple tap on the brakes, and its no problem, for a bike its a disaster.

I wouldn't encourage anyone to break laws, but for me, I watch them in front of me and keep them behind me.

It's all a judgement call, but living in LA and doing a 150 mile commute, I wear full two piece leathers all the time. Yes it gets hot and yes it can be a hassle. I can fit a change of clothes and shoes in a tank bag. When I need hand tools I find a way to fit them in too. I just prefer to put up with the hassle than go through another dose of road rash or worse. I'm still paying the price of a bad decision. But heh, to each his own right?

I think that the various states should incorporate a small amount of basic motorcycle knowledge in the cage test. Nothing difficult. Just enough that they might give us a little more of a chance. Wishful thinking again. I think it could cut down on a lot of the accidents where cagers assume a bike can respond like there cage.

I think most of us push the limits of the law once in a while. Some more than others (no further comment, I plead the 5th!) and more often. Riding to stay in a safe pocket or filtering through slower traffic is allowed here (Cal) and or over looked, unless you appear wreckless. I never sit still long, and at lights I always leave an escape route and look in my mirrors.

[Ansel Marrow]

That is a sad story, though I had a question. Even with a jacket how would thay have prevented his arm from being broken? If it was armored maybe?

[Gixxerdale]

Originally Posted by Ansel Marrow

That is a sad story, though I had a question. Even with a jacket how would thay have prevented his arm from being broken? If it was armored maybe?

True, armor may have absorbed enough impact to keep from breaking the arm. Armored gloves would have saved his hands and leathers would have saved some hide. With the right gear he may have come through it in better shape and not sunk so low during recovery. But that's all guess work. I just never get on my ride without my gear no matter what. I've been there a few times , lesson learned.

[98G]

Originally Posted by Ansel Marrow

That is a sad story, though I had a question. Even with a jacket how would thay have prevented his arm from being broken? If it was armored maybe?

//Looking at this from the standpoint of a critical care nurse, I'm not entirely sure that even full leathers would have prevented broken bones.

//What they would have done is prevent the impaired skin integrity. The impaired skin integrity allowed pathogens into the wounds and caused systemic sepsis. The systemic sepsis is what had the biggest impact on him, aside from the psychological impact from loss of hand functionality. The sepsis is what almost killed him. That's what caused major organ failure and caused him to be on a vent. I'd guess he probably had dialysis as well(systemic sepsis almost always includes renal failure). Protective gear over the abraded areas would likely have kept him from becoming septic, and good gloves would have saved the fingers.

//With full protective gear he'd have likely been a sack of broken bones, but an intact sack of broken bones instead of a perforated one.

98G

[Gixxerdale]

Leathers won't save you from everything, but they do make a large difference in your odds of survival. Another factor is where the crash occurs. Crashing on the track at say 140 is safer than 55 on the street! The track gives you a manicured area with tire barriers, hay bails, air walls etc. Your biggest danger is your own out of control bike or another rider and there bike. On the street you get metal gaurd rails(not M/C friendly), rock walls, culverts, trees, telephone poles, parked cars, cliffs, opposing traffic, etc. Guess I'm saying wear your gear and take it to the track for the high speed stuff, not the streets.

[rteichman]

I feel bad for his 7 year old son. You think the paypal account is legit? I would like to contribute

[Gixxerdale]

Originally Posted by rteichman

I feel bad for his 7 year old son. You think the paypal account is legit? I would like to contribute

I think it is, but you can post to the main forum the story was originally posted from.

http://zrxoa.org/forums//forumdisplay.php?forumid=97

Pretty sad state if someone is scamming on a tragedy like that.

[ZX-10R Urza]

You know, I can undertandhim killing himself. I really can feel what he must have felt. Everything in his life changed in that one split second. I guess I understand now why he was soo badly injured, and felt like not wearing a helmet. I say, screw protection, If that happens to me, I'd rather by dead. I really hope he gets to where he wants to be now. And rest in peace.