Crash and burn

[JPaganel]

This past Thursday I was going home about 5 pm on I-94. Some dipshit cut off a guy two cars ahead, he slammed on the brakes, girl behind him bumped into his rear, I braked, then swerved to avoid them, and almost made it, but slid on a two mile long oil slick and went down. Two miles isn't an exaggeration, I heard the state trooper call it in to DOT.

Bike wound up in the next lane over and burst into flames. I wound up in the next lane over from that. I'm mostly fine, got a broken left thumb, a little rash on my knee, and a couple of miscellaneous bumps. My jacket and kevlar jeans kept my skin attached. Going to need a new helmet, bounced my head off the pavement a couple of times. My phone was a complete loss, blown to tiny bits.

FJ is banged up and scorched. The responding trooper put it out and called a fire crew to make sure he did a good job. I am definitely out left side panel and right scoop, and the chin fairing is pretty much gone. Also the crankshaft cap is trashed.  Not sure what the fire damage is yet, haven't pulled the tank to look. Bike does turn on and crank, so I'm optimistic.

Speaking of the state trooper, as he was driving me to drop me off at Hardees, some woman ran a red right in front of him and nearly wrecked into the cruiser, so I bumped my knee into the partition. He apologized and said he just had to write her a ticket for that one.

[movenon]

Sorry about the crash but I am glad you are OK and was wearing gear.  The bike is fixable or replaceable.  I and others can relate to what you are going through.  Heal up and and try to look on the positive side of things.  You might be able to upgrade to a pink stripper  
Seriously I am glad you are here to talk about it.
George

[aviationfred]

Glad you are OK.  

Looks like the Tank and Main fairing came out unscathed.   There are air scoops, side panels and chin cowlings readily available as replacements on eBay and http://fjclub.co.uk/

Looks like you may have a good winter project ahead of you.  

If you decide to repair your ride, I think I can safely say the fire will have destroyed a bit of the wiring.

I have a spare 86'/87' main wiring harness that is yours for the cost of shipping.
Also, I would pay attention to the clutch cover for weeping oil. The rear brake lever has a tendency to put a hairline crack in the cover from mishaps like this.
Fred

[JPaganel]

Sorry about the crash but I am glad you are OK and was wearing gear.  The bike is fixable or replaceable.  I and others can relate to what you are going through.  Heal up and and try to look on the positive side of things. 

I am pretty positive. I think I got off real easy for crashing in the middle of rush hour.

You might be able to upgrade to a pink stripper  

I support strippers of all colors.  

Seriously I am glad you are here to talk about it.
George

Yeah, me too.

[Lotsokids]

Wow, sorry to hear about this. But it could have been SO much worse. I (like you) think you have something to work with as far as the bike goes. Don't rush pulling things apart, as much as you want to. Heal first. It will be there.

I bet if there was a video of your crash, we would be wondering how you survived!

[CatTomb]

 

Sorry to hear about your accident and I'm glad you survived all of those thing: rush hour, multiple lanes of traffic and asphalt bass beats with your helmet.

   

I'm headed out in a few days for a two week, 3000 miles trip. This is a great reminder to increase my follow distance, wear all my gear and assume everyone in front of me is one or more of these things: on the phone, smoking crack, coming down off their anxiety meds.

Heal up quick and Godspeed getting the FJ healthy.

Jeff

[JPaganel]

If you decide to repair your ride, I think I can safely say the fire will have destroyed a bit of the wiring.

We'll see when I pull the tank.

I have a spare 86'/87' main wiring harness that is yours for the cost of shipping.
Also, I would pay attention to the clutch cover for weeping oil. The rear brake lever has a tendency to put a hairline crack in the cover from mishaps like this.
Fred

Thanks!

But it could have been SO much worse.

I know. I kept looking at the dent on my helmet and thinking how nice it is to not have that dent in my skull. Helmets are a lot cheaper than heads.

I (like you) think you have something to work with as far as the bike goes. Don't rush pulling things apart, as much as you want to. Heal first. It will be there.

Heh.

When I crashed, I had a set of left hand drill bits in my bag, to fix a rack of carbs for another bike. Actually went and did it before going to bed that day. I have one working hand,  I can still wrench. 

I'm headed out in a few days for a two week, 3000 miles trip. This is a great reminder to increase my follow distance, wear all my gear and assume everyone in front of me is one or more of these things: on the phone, smoking crack, coming down off their anxiety meds.

Stay safe.

And yeah, distance. If I was following closer, I would have hit something, for sure

[The General]

So glad you`re okay mate. 

A two mile long oil slick!....(in another lane?).  You are one Very Lucky Man. ...glad you`re right handed too!

[big r]

Sorry to hear about the crash. BUT glad that you are going to be okay. Easier to fix a bike than to have to have repairs to the body. Heal well and fast. Big R

[simi_ed]

Wow, that could have been (more) ugly!  Good outcome, though, you made it home, and in 1 piece.  Good job on that.
What happened with the FJ igniting?  perhaps fuel spilling out and then sparks from the slide?  At least the fire damage doesn't look catastrophic.

Good luck and heal fast! 

Ed

[fj johnnie]

  Glad you are okay.  Nice to hear you had proper riding gear on. Rest and get well.

[Dads_FJ]

Sucks about the bike, glad it wasn't worse for you.

Insurance?

[Country Joe]

I'm glad to hear that you are still here to tell the story. Get healed up quickly.

Joe

[JPaganel]

What happened with the FJ igniting?  perhaps fuel spilling out and then sparks from the slide?  At least the fire damage doesn't look catastrophic.

I was missing the sliders from the scoop, and the screws are completely ground off. That certainly could generate some sparks. I know for a fact is spills gas from carbs  when laid over from the time my wife dropped it.

  Glad you are okay.  Nice to hear you had proper riding gear on. Rest and get well.

Yep. Gear definitely served well. I'm looking for pants with knepads.

Do they make thumbpads?

[FJmonkey]

Do they make thumbpads?

My thumb took a hit as well some years ago, with good leather gloves, the protection of our hands is a slippery slope. Protection over function. If your gloves can't function and protect them, then why limit their function...?