faceplanted last night

Coming home this morning I ran into the teeth of the nasty little storm that dumped rain, freezing rain, and snow on the Baltimore/DC metro area. The last I checked the weather, it wasn't supposed to have started when it did nor was it supposed to be as much snow+ice, but hindsight and all that...

Anyways, I was on the inner loop of the Baltimore Beltway coming from Glen Burnie and trying to get to Towson before the storm got too bad. I realized about 5 minutes out that the rain wasn't just rain, but was freezing to my helmet and me. Not good, but traction wasn't an issue so I soldiered on. About halfway home, it turned to snow. Traction... not so much.

Forget the exact reason, but I drifted out of the clear tire grooves into the slush that started to accumulate in the center of the right lane, got into a mondo tankslapper, and got suplexed into the pavement (basically a throw-me-down low side) on my left side at about 40mph. I ended up sliding face down feet first up the highway before slowly coming to a stop on the shoulder. Wiggled my fingers, then my toes, and took an inventory... my left knee hurts and my shoulder feels funny.

Stood up to assess the damage and assure the small crowd of motorists who stopped to check on me that I was ok. Helped me lift the bike up, took two quick pics:

before trying to limp home. Nothing was terribly damaged so I thought I might be able to make it paddling along with my feet out, but no dice. Everyone was in a big damn hurry this morning, traffic was easily moving its regular 60+ mph pace in a berkeleying SNOW STORM. Cagers are i n s a n e, and as I was preoccupied with not getting run over I lowsided again, this time at maybe 15mph on the right side. Threw in the towel, called my family to come get me, and left the bike on the side of the highway until I could get a truck to come get her.

Here's the total:

Hand guards (GYTR flaps), gone. Both pegs bent. Both bar ends ground down, possibly ruined heated grips as well. Bars are probably bent. As you can see, the end of the Driven shifter was ground down pretty good too.

As for me, I have a small bruise on my left knee and a very stiff and sore left shoulder, but no lasting damage. I was wearing my Teiz Motorsports Lombard suit (which held up admirably, only a small scuff on the left knee), Tourmaster Solution boots, inexpensive Olympia winter gloves, and my Shoei RF1000 helmet.

To top it off, the bike's gone missing. Called teh state police to see if they picked it up, but they have no record. When they call me back, I'll either know what impound lot to go to or be filing a stolen vehicle report.

Well, at least you're ok, sucks that the bike is gone though.

So, if I'm reading this correctly, you parked your showroom perfect motorcycle safely off to the side of the road and later discovered that it had been stolen...

Glad you're okay. Hope it was insured.

Damn makes my ride through lassen in a snow flurry look like a cake ride. Just remember crashing is the easy part, picking it up and putting it back together is the hard part. I crashed my bike twice in a month so I know about putting it back together. Sucks to hear the bike "went missing."

Glad to here your OK... I don't have the guts to ride in the snow

Glad you're O.K. Have you found the bike? I used to play polo (a group of 10 of us)on an ice field years ago on bikes until I hooked a big crack in the ice and landed on my helmeted noggin. Ended up with a fractured skull and broken arm. Good thing I was only doing about 10mph. You dumped doing 40?!!! You either have big cajones or wasn't thinking clearly.

Kinda makes my story about finding a cool motorcycle abandoned on the side of the road less cool.

Seriously, glad you are OK and I hope the bike was the result of a good Samaritan picking it up.

Wow, glad you are OK. Sorry that the bike's gone.

Any sign of the bike yet?

Nope, none. It's Baltimore, I expect that its changed hands 3-4 times already for a few hundred bucks or a few bags of crack or something, or has been stripped for parts. I hope she maims or kills those who profit or receive her in part or in whole, that was the first vehicle I ever liked enough to name. :(

Still waiting to talk to the insurance rep, we're playing phone tag apparently. Did a bad thing in preparation for that and added up the farkle receipts. ooofff.....

That totally blows.

Dude, that stinks. As someone who has ridden in the DC area for decades I offer this unsolicited advice:

It's a huge pain in the ass, but carry a Kryptonite New York Fuggedaboutit chain and lock all the time. And a disc lock. The day I get tagged by a car on my KTM 690 or 950 and have to get an ambulance ride I want to return to find it locked to whatever it was locked to and festooned with wads of DC parking citations.

Also. Other than ice racers who do it on purpose, mortals can't ride on ice. Knobbies go fine on packed snow. Actually, knobbies are awesome on packed snow, but on 1/2" of wet snow on 28 degree pavement? it's not if but how soon the bike will assume it's natural resting position on its side.

Again, sorry about the bike. Bawlmers a bitch like that.

Skeird- sorry to hear. Hope that you heal well, and that insurance takes care of things.

I'm pretty much fine at this point, shoulder's stopped hurting and I've started bike shopping. Insurance stuff should work out fine, I just need to find a notary for a few forms and send them my receipts.

There's at least 5 WR250R's in the immediate area so i should be back on 2 wheels by the end of the month.

Glad things are working out

Glad you're ok. You ought to replace that helmet as well. They're generally considered one-time use sort of things. Good luck getting another bike, post pics when you get it.

I remember vividly your account of your trek across the country on that little beastie. I'm so sorry to hear that it's gone now. Hopefully it found its way to the Falls Way Impound lot and not into the same hands that probably have my $900 Cannondale F400.

Heal up quickly. Riding season is a-commin'!

Definitely throw the helmet in the trash and go buy yourself another. Or better yet, do what I'd do. Get yourself a hacksaw and cut her in half. Take some pictures of the cross-section of a cool helmet and post them here. Or, throw it off your balcony or a roof onto the asphalt and see if it exploderates. Put a melon in there and see if THAT exploderates. (I get bored easily.)

Glad you're OK.

Hey, any luck on finding your bike or getting on a new one?

Old bike? No. Insurance and I settled this morning, so its theirs now I guess.

New bike? Yes

Bought another one of the same thing, rode her home today. Took a run up this little hill...

and ended up in this pretty field

God I missed riding. Shame the weather still sucks this winter.

I'm sure your new one will happily serve you or many years and adventures to come. Glad it worked out.

Bad weather? Just stay out of the snow and you'll be fine. Cold? Buy warmer gear and get out there!

benzbaron wrote: Damn makes my ride through lassen in a snow flurry look like a cake ride. Just remember crashing is the easy part, picking it up and putting it back together is the hard part. I crashed my bike twice in a month so I know about putting it back together. Sucks to hear the bike "went missing."

I used to live up near Susanville, right off of 395. There are some great roads up in those mountains.