Morning Commute

Tell Us About Your Rides!

Morning Commute

Postby vacommuter » Thu Nov 15, 2012 1:54 pm

So I wasn't on my BMW yesterday but was on my KLR. 0300-ish commuting up 95 to Arlington VA. Put new tires on front and rear last week so I was being cautious with turns and leaning till the slick coating wore off. At milemarker 165 I get the rear end starting to fish-tail. Doing about 70 mph in the middle lane I lay off the throttle and start to head to the left lane shoulder as there are lots of tractor trailers in the right lane. I just get on the shoulder and maybe slowed to 40 when I lost control and went down. Bike stopped about 6 yards ahead of me still in gear and running. By the time I picked it up and called Flo at progressive a fire engine, ambulance and two state troopers showed up. First trooper immediately gets a flat tire. Lots of construction in that area so I'm guessing road debris gave me a flat but haven't examined the tire yet. I waived off the medical help as I felt ok. During the tow truck ride home my foot really started to hurt. Went to the ER and they confirmed open fracture of the great toe. Fortunately that was my only injury. I was heavily ATGATT and had lots of layers on due to the cold. I think my hippo hands kept me from trying to put a hand down when I went down. Helmet trashed, one coat sleeve rashed down to armor, pants rashed, and boot toe ground down where it must have contacted the road when still trapped under the bike. Also crash bars and metal happy trails panniers took most of the grinding from the slide. See the bone doc tomorrow but pretty sure this is one that you just have to let heal. Maybe some gear and bike pics this weekend.

VAC
vacommuter
Member
 
Posts: 85
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:46 pm
Location: Stafford

Re: Morning Commute

Postby Maria V » Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:07 pm

Glad to hear that you walked away for the most part. That adrenaline rush after the fall can certainly hide alot.
Hope you heal up soon.
Maria
Retired Presidente
Kermit's Ride Rule: "Don't hit the person in front of you and no whining."
2009 F650GS - "Moose" Veni, Vidi, Vroom!
User avatar
Maria V
Attack Ninja
 
Posts: 5881
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2004 5:43 pm
Location: NW Territories of MD

Re: Morning Commute

Postby Blixa » Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:47 pm

Yikes. That sounds really scary. I'm glad to hear you weren't injured worse. I hope you heal quickly.
Blixa
Frequent Poster
 
Posts: 262
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 12:25 pm

Re: Morning Commute

Postby Rick F. » Thu Nov 15, 2012 10:30 pm

VAC,

Ouch! Sorry to hear about your spill. Best wishes for healing up quickly.

Rick F.
For all my tour articles, check out rsftripreporter.net.

2020 Mercedes-Benz SL550
2013 BMW 335i convertible (sold)
2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage (sold)
2006 BMW Z4 3.0i roadster (sold)
2005 BMW R1200GS (retired)
2003 BMW F650CS (sold)
User avatar
Rick F.
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 1734
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:43 pm
Location: Catonsville, MD

Re: Morning Commute

Postby Flash! » Fri Nov 16, 2012 8:50 am

VAC--I'm so sorry about your accident! I hate riding 95, and don't even have to ride it during commute times. I'm glad you had so much help show up, and weren't more badly hurt. In that traffic anything can happen even after you're down.

Jody
You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to
skydive twice.


2012 F650GS, Yellow and Black
User avatar
Flash!
Board Guru
 
Posts: 789
Joined: Sat Jan 22, 2005 7:11 pm
Location: Reston VA

Re: Morning Commute

Postby BMWGirl » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:04 am

Wow - sorry to hear this but glad that you are mostly ok. How is the bike? Heal fast and let us know if you need anything!

ps - when you say "this little piggy - I guess you have to change how it starts now. :lol:
BECAUSE I CAN!!!
IBA #37898 - IBR - 2017 IBA #565 Woohoo

2015 R1200GSA white w/PURPLE :-)
'10 K1300GT
'05 R1200ST

"Riding is about having an adventure - you just go with it and No Whining!" Kermit
User avatar
BMWGirl
GO COWBOYS!
 
Posts: 10126
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 5:00 pm
Location: Queen of the World

Re: Morning Commute

Postby gastone » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:26 am

Mike,

it's a good thing it was the KLR. Little bit of duct tape and loctite and that thing will be just fine.

Oh yeah, and glad to hear that you are doing okay.
Garrett

2007 G650xChallenge
User avatar
gastone
Member
 
Posts: 123
Joined: Tue Aug 10, 2010 12:02 pm
Location: Fredericksburg

Re: Morning Commute

Postby biometrics » Fri Nov 16, 2012 11:19 am

Thank heaven it wasn't the Beemer! :D

Glad to hear you escaped almost unscathed... Hope you are feeling better and riding again soon.
1983 R100 /T with Velorex Sidecar
2000 K1200LT (Sold!)
1999 R1100RT-P (Sold!)
1983 Honda Nighthawk 650 (Sold!)
1973 Yamaha 125 Enduro (Ripped off!)
My Avatar? U.S. Army - Kagnew Station, Asmara, Eritrea, East Africa, 1972-1973
User avatar
biometrics
Frequent Poster
 
Posts: 268
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:12 pm
Location: Winchester, VA

Re: Morning Commute

Postby vacommuter » Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:12 pm

Details of the incident withn pictures.



http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=842166



VAC
vacommuter
Member
 
Posts: 85
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:46 pm
Location: Stafford

Re: Morning Commute

Postby R4R&R » Sun Nov 18, 2012 7:53 pm

Glad you were mostly OK; were you ever able to determine the cause of the tire failure? It sounds suspicious that one of the emergency vehicles also had a flat!
'17 Triumph Explorer 1200
'04 R1150R (gone but not forgotten)
('13 Triumph Speed Triple - sons bike)
Itchin' for a ride
User avatar
R4R&R
GO COWBOYS!
 
Posts: 1711
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:20 pm
Location: Springfield

Re: Morning Commute

Postby grownup » Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:34 pm

Good to hear you are almost OK. Sounds like a scary crash. What was the cause of the tire failure ?
Ted
2002 R1150-RTP
2013 R1200 GSA
2016 S1000 XR ( 1 BTC Bike )
User avatar
grownup
Member
 
Posts: 138
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:04 pm
Location: Stevensville,MD

Re: Morning Commute

Postby vacommuter » Thu Nov 29, 2012 1:41 pm

Looks like I had a slow leak in the valve stem and then when pressure got low enough the valve stem got sheared off when the rim slipped. Tire looks good. Tube looked good except for the neatly excised valve stem. Got about 3 more weeks to mess with it before I give the boot the boot.

VAC
vacommuter
Member
 
Posts: 85
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:46 pm
Location: Stafford

Re: Morning Commute

Postby ERC Scott » Thu Nov 29, 2012 1:47 pm

A slow leak, my main rationale for installing tire pressure monitoring eqpt. Some of the best $$ I've spent on accessories. Scott
2016 R1200RS
2005 R1200 GS
2015 1290 SuperDuke-R

You don't choose your life, you live it.
User avatar
ERC Scott
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 2727
Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:58 am
Location: Catoctin Mountain

Re: Morning Commute

Postby Unity » Thu Nov 29, 2012 2:03 pm

Tubeless tire valve stems will give out too. I made it home once thanks to a creative taping job and stops every few miles to use the CyclePump.

Replace valve stems with every (tubeless) tire change!

--John
2002 R1150RT, Silver
Silver, the "cool and aloof" color.
(Road & Track Vol. 56, No.2, p. 19)

1971 Triumph Bonneville, Gold
Gold, the "paying the restorer" color.
(Trust me.)
User avatar
Unity
Shaman
 
Posts: 7170
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:26 am
Location: Reston VA

Re: Morning Commute

Postby grownup » Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:22 pm

I am also considering a TMS 'tire monitoring system'. Can someone recommend a good one ?

After reading this vacommuter's thread, I have been trying to stretch my neck out to see my tires everytime the road surface feels a little wierd. My neck is not long enough. :oops:

I found one for $199.00 and it seems very cheap for the piece of mind of losing presure duirng a ride.
http://www.doranmfg.com/motorcycle-tire ... ystems.htm

Amazon has a few listed too:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... rcycle+tpm

But it seems some of these systems mess up your tire balance.
Ted
2002 R1150-RTP
2013 R1200 GSA
2016 S1000 XR ( 1 BTC Bike )
User avatar
grownup
Member
 
Posts: 138
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:04 pm
Location: Stevensville,MD


Return to Ride Stories

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 24 guests

cron