BMWBMW

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

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.

Yikes. That sounds really scary. I'm glad to hear you weren't injured worse. I hope you heal quickly.

VAC,

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

Rick F.

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

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.

Thank heaven it wasn't the Beemer!

Glad to hear you escaped almost unscathed... Hope you are feeling better and riding again soon.

Details of the incident withn pictures.



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



VAC

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!

Good to hear you are almost OK. Sounds like a scary crash. What was the cause of the tire failure ?

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

A slow leak, my main rationale for installing tire pressure monitoring eqpt. Some of the best $$ I've spent on accessories. Scott

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

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.

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.