First crash in 11+ years of riding. Doh!

Riding home from work yesterday, had a very small rainshower 45min before I left. The roads were starting to dry, but still wet enough to demand caution. Approaching a stop sign on a downhill, I was already downshifting and slowing quite a bit, but as soon as I eased on the brakes, both wheels locked and the bike slid down in an instant. It was like I was on ice and someone kicked the bike hard from the left.

I held on and slid for about 5 feet, but had to let go of the bike so as not to enter the intersection. It stood up on 2 wheels for a second, then flopped down again and slid to a stop. I was only going maybe 9mph, so nothing too dramatic, but it sure shook me up.

The 3 week old fairing took the brunt of the damage and did an excellent job of protecting the bike. Sucks to loose a $300 batwing, but it protected the headlight, forks, turn signals, tank, etc etc etc so I'll gladly take it! The saddlebag took the rest, so the bike itself is unscathed.

My Icon boots took a nice drag, and thank goodness I always wear something over the ankle and built for biking. They made the different between walking away without a scratch and a trip to the ER to have my ground-off ankle bone repaired.

Glad you're ok and were wearing the right gear. When I was a kid people said "there's 2 kinds of riders - those who've crashed, and those who are going to" Now that you've got that out of the way - ride on.

I'm a bit confused. The bike went down, then got up somehow, to go down a second time?

Yep. I was sliding, foot under it, trying to hold onto the bars. When I realized that I was about to slid into a bad intersection, I let go. I thought it would just slide some more and stop. But it popped back up onto two wheels for a terrifying second (I had visions of it accelerating and plowing into the house across the street and being totaled) but the front wheel jerked and it flopped back onto the fairing. Hard enough to shatter it, but at least it stopped sliding.

That sounds like a lot, but it was actually only 2-3 seconds and about 12 feet total. Kinda in slow motion when it happened.

Nice boots!

I'm in the market--- I'll make sure to add Icon to my list. Glad to see you're alright!

Now you're in the latter of the two motorcycle rider categories.

Wonder if you hit oil or the glazed slick white line. Any one you can walk away from with minimal damage is a good one. Get er back together and ride on!

Glad your alright. I have some boots that look exactly like those called Joe Rocket Meteor boots. They crash well

Sorry to here this but happy you walked away from it. As for bike parts it easly replaced if you have too, look on the bright side you had not had the bat wing painted yet. I belive you can get a new buckle from ICON for the boot

Joe Gearin wrote: Nice boots! I'm in the market--- I'll make sure to add Icon to my list. Glad to see you're alright!

Big +1. Definitely nice boots. Great when they look good and work good.

SWMBO is in the market for boots. Probably not the model for her, but definitely makes Icon worth close examination.

I actually wear the Icons all day when I ride to work. I used to change into business-casual shoes, but the Icons are seriously all-day comfortable. And who knows when your desk chair might go down hard and trap your ankle under it!?!?!?

The only thing I can say after riding for many years and having been in a few accidents myself, is to ALWAYS let go of the bike as soon as possible.

I always think back at my accidents and the ones in which I got the most injuries are the ones I did not let go of the bike.

Glad to hear you're all right.

Slippery wrote: The only thing I can say after riding for many years and having been in a few accidents myself, is to ALWAYS let go of the bike as soon as possible. I always think back at my accidents and the ones in which I got the most injuries are the ones I did not let go of the bike.

Not always the case, but its easier to look back on things and say that. If my dad had let go of his bike instead of riding it out on the crash bars he would very likely be dead. As it was the rig was barely able to stop before running him over.

UPDATE: The insurance adjuster was by yesterday. Much easier and nicer experience than I expected. He was concerned with getting everything put back to 100% and was very clear in their policies and procedures. Cut me a check on the spot. I have never actually filed a claim before, so this was all new to me. It's usually You ran into my bondo collection...i mean car? Meh, have a nice day!

High points to Progressive Insurance. Thanks Flo!