Ow, or: Why you should not ride when you've only had 4 hours sleep the night bef

Yeah...

I'm an idiot. Feel free to remind me of it.

On the way home from the girlfriend's place tonight, I headed off early knowing I was tired, and that I had uni stuff to do but... *sigh*. Anyway was coming around a bend where there are some gravel driveways, though it's a sealed road, and there must have been a patch I hadn't seen in the dark because the next thing I know the rear wheel's lost traction and I'm under the bike, skidding along at about 55.

Not paying enough attention, Not aware of my own physical condition. Not experienced enough. Night time.

The pay-off on this one seems to be minimal mechanical damage- snapped an indicator (naturally), and the front right hand side took a beating - the fairing is cracked and the windscreen seems to have come loose. Mechaincally there appears to be a short, probably where the indicator was, and the forks are knocking on what is probably a bent fairing bracket. Left the bike close to the scene- was fortunate to be heard by a nurse and her motorcycling husband who naturally rushed to my aid (thankyou very much guys!), they offered their driveway to store the bike untill I can do a better damage assesment in the morning, and see if I can get it in a condition to ride it home tomorrow (or not)

Physically I was very lucky. I laid it down away from the curb, and so took the full impact to my (fully armoured + leathered) leg. The knee pad is scraped and from the knee down my leg is sore as hell, but it takes my weight and the nurse pronounced me stupid, but unbroken. Managed to totally avoid any head impact, thankfully.


So a lesson learned by a P plater, and a warning to all those who share my inexperience: if you've been up all night finishing a uni asignment, don't get on your bike.
It's liable to hurt your body and your wallet.

PS: Anyone got a spare front fairing for a suzuki across lying around? I may need one...

 

yeah, aside from the sore leg, nothing major. Love the job my new boots did though... the padding in them is rather spectacular. Very little soreness in my foot and joints at all. The knee bore the brunt of it it seems, but I can walk on it without any more pain than when there's no weight on it at all... just lots of bruising come morning I think.

 

Yeah, the bike can be fixed, my leg will mend... I was lucky to escape with a minor sprain and bruising... armour worked well.

I think every young man should fall of a bike at some point... adds growth, teaches you you're not invincible and you don't know everything... something us young bucks need at times!

 

As soon as she's roadworthy