Register Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

Go Back   GZ 250 Forums > General Motorcycle-Related > Riding Safety & Tips > Lessons Well-Learned

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-13-2012, 11:59 PM   #1
bpdchief
Senior Member
 
bpdchief's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ozark, MO
Posts: 848
What was I thinking !!!

Back in the mid 80's I had a fully dressed 1979 Suzuki GS1000E (full fairing w/lowers, saddlebags trunk).

A friend and I were riding around Hulah Lake in NE Oklahoma... we were on Hwy 10, Jack got way ahead of me (I was looking at cattle) and so I was playing catchup, running 90mph on the bike and running the road ahead in my mind.

Suddenly, I realized I was going past the Labadie Feed Mill - just ahead was a 15mph S turn.

I locked both brakes, the bike squatted in a straight line skid and everything went into slow motion. I've got a death grip on the handlebars, the bike is still going straight - straight for a ditch and fence posts!

I'm thinking ditch, fence posts and 5 strands of barbed wire... This Is Going To HURT!!!

In, up and out of the ditch - didn't feel it. Looking at the fence posts waiting to be ripped apart by barbed wire. I found myself in the pasture looking at a bare dirt spot where the week before the Hulah Train Depot had stood.... They had moved the old train depot to Bartlesville and hadn't restrung the barbed wire.

Turned the bike around and met a white faced Jack looking for me. He heard the tires squeeling and thought he would be scraping me up off the road. I flipped my face shield up and said "damn that was fun - lets do it again". Jack said No lets just go home.

18 miles back to Bartlesville, no problem. Got to Hwy 75 and Frank Phillips Blvd... rolled up to the stoplight put my foot down and down we went. Fortunately, I stepped away and fell in the grass median as the bike fell to the curb. Jack and two other people got the bike back in its wheels ( Thank God for crashbars :-) ) I was shaking so bad it took about 15 minutes to calm myself after the reality of how close to dying I had just been sank in.

Lesson - Never over ride your ability. Be observant to your location and surroundings. Pull your head out and don't do 90 in a 55. I was ignorant, immature and damn lucky. Back then to get your endorsement you went to the license office and told them you bought a bike. IF the examiner felt like it, you showed him you could ride otherwise they stamped your license and took your money.
__________________
I'm never lost - I'm exploring alternative destinations !



Login or Register to Remove Ads
bpdchief is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2012, 12:58 AM   #2
Water Warrior 2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Squamish B.C Canada
Posts: 11,409
Re: What was I thinking !!!

5 strands of barbed wire would certainly leave a mark. Your Guardian Angel had to work hard that days to save your hide.
Years ago, multiple decades at least, a friend did much the same thing. He had a hopped up British twin and went through 3 strands of barbed wire at 110 mph. 6 months later he was discharged from the hospital in one piece but had a lot of scare tissue and surgery stitch marks to show for his adventure.
I once put myself in a stupid position when passing at 115 mph on my GT750. While still going that unneeded speed I pulled back into the proper lane only to hit a dip in the road and become airborn for a moment or two. Luckily I wasn't air borne long enough to drift off the road. That is the fastest I have gone on a bike and things just happen too fast for safety and comfort.
Water Warrior 2 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2012, 05:43 AM   #3
alantf
Senior Member
 
alantf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tenerife (Spain)
Posts: 3,719
Re: What was I thinking !!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Water Warrior
had a lot of scare tissue
A Freudian slip?
__________________
By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman.



Login or Register to Remove Ads
alantf is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2012, 06:59 AM   #4
Water Warrior 2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Squamish B.C Canada
Posts: 11,409
Re: What was I thinking !!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by alantf
Quote:
Originally Posted by Water Warrior
had a lot of scare tissue
A Freudian slip?
Slip no, but my finger stumbled a bit. Nice catch Alantf. I even re-read my statement but saw what I wanted to see rather than what was really there. I do that a lot. Usually I proof read my posts before posting then have to edit them after that. Must be that senior thing happening.
Water Warrior 2 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Reply




Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:33 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.