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Crashed My Bike

Started by hawkaholic37, August 03, 2015, 03:06:45 PM

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hawkaholic37

Hi Everyone,

As some of you may have heard, l went down on my new bike at the recent West Coast Rally II. I wasn't going that fast (maybe 30-35 mph), and l am not really sure exactly how it happened. l do remember sailing wide on the corner and thinking l should have downshifted into 3rd. lt was suggested to me from one of the other riders that l may have locked up the rear tire. In any case, l highsided the bike and busted myself all up. I dislocated my right shoulder, and have a few other injuries that have cropped up. It is amazing how your foot can feel fine one day and then you wake up tomorrow and can't put an ounce of weight on it.

In any case, that isn't what l want to talk about. I want to talk about amazing people and how God was looking over me. I was riding with a great group of people. They were calm and cool and knew exactly what needed to be done, which was crucial considering we were way up some mountain road. Donna was awesome. I was so lucky to have her. If you have not met Derek and Donna, they are fantastic. Derek immediately started figuring out how to get my bike down the hill while Donna took care of my injuries. Donna is an EMT with 24 years of experience and knew exactly what to do, what l needed, and what to tell me at the proper time.

Not 5 minutes after she found me and started helping me, a sheriff happened along and he was an EMT as well. Between the two of them l was in great hands. The sheriff was able to call in an ambulance, which was half an hour away.

My shoulder was dislocated and the EMT's that showed up rigged my arm with a sling of sorts that took the weight off of me. I tell you, l think l have a pretty good tolerance for pain, but that injury was by far the most painful thing that has ever happened to me. Finally they got me and my big arse into the ambulance and on the road.

Brian and Robin were my EMT's, and they took great care of me. Robin was a volunteer and she helped Brian out until they got to her house, at the bottom of the hill, where we dropped her off and went on our way.

Brian gave me some Fentanyl to start with, and it immediately started working...unfortunately, that stuff makes you sick to your stomach, so l also got an anti-nausea medication as well. Then more Fentanyl, then more anti-nausea stuff. My guts lost the battle, and l threw up all over myself twice in the ambulance. Brian was fantastic, took great care to allow me to keep my dignity and helped me clean up and stay positive.

After a 90 minute ride we arrived at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, and they took great care of me, got me right into a room and l had a fantastic nurse named Kevin. The doctor came in, he was pretty cool too, and set me up for xrays. Meanwhile, they switched to Dilaudid. I knew it was bad when they gave me Dilaudid, as this is what Trina gets for her condition, which is extremely painful. And more anti-nausea stuff, and more vomiting. Then waiting for xrays. The hospital just happened to be transitioning to paperless charting, so it was an absolute zoo full of IT people and administrators.

Got my xrays, nothing is broken. Then they came in and gave me a local and two doctors worked together to put it back in place. One kept saying, "Push your chest out, take deep breaths" while the other was saying "Just relax and let me have it". Finally it went back in and the pain was drastically reduced.

Meanwhile, Trina and my sister, Kim, were speeding down I-5 to pick me up. They got there in the 6 o'clock hour and we headed home. l got sick another time or two, but all in all, made it home to my own bed as well as can be expected.

Everyone has been awesome. Garth said he could store my bike indefinitely. Derek and Donna are kind enough to bring my stuff to me on their way home tomorrow. Everyone that was there has been so thoughtful and supportive. Here l am, the new guy to the group, and everyone has treated me like an old friend. l can't say enough about the people in this group. l feel like the luckiest man in the whole wide world :)
2004 Suzuki SV650S    Current
1999 Honda EX400    Past
1971 Suzuki TS250    Past
1982 Honda XR250R    Past
1985 Honda VF700S Sabre    Past
1981 Honda CM400    Past
1986 Honda Spree (Weehawwww!!!)    Past
1978 Suzuki PE175    Past

novaraptor

Sorry to hear about the drop, but they happen. Learn from it and move on. And yeah, You meet the nicest people on an FJ. Best wishes for a speedy recovery...
1990 FJ1200
Ride fast, live free... I forget the rest...

pdxfj

Scott,

It was good to meet you and you already felt like an old friend given your posts on here, e-mails and chatting on the phone. 

Wish I could have done more at the scene to have been of help to you, but as soon as Donna showed up I knew you were in great hands.

Most important thing right now is to focus on healing up.  Good to hear nothing was broken.

If you need anything, just let me know.

-Garth

FJmonkey

Wow! What a post... Get your self healed first, then we can work on your FJ. Sounds like you were in great hands and will make a full recovery. Keep posting so we know how you are doing.
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

TRoy

Quote from: hawkaholic37 on August 03, 2015, 03:06:45 PM
everyone has treated me like an old friend. l can't say enough about the people in this group. l feel like the luckiest man in the whole wide world :)

this, too, is kookaloo  :good2:  right on
Peace & Love
86FJ 100K+
07Burg650
15Downtown300

aviationfred

That sucks to hear of a fellow FJ owner hitting the tarmac.  :cray:

I have had the pleasure to know everyone that was there with you. You could not ask for a better bunch to be with.  :good:

Relax and get healed up. As the Monkey said, we can get the FJ back into top form once You get back to feeling well.

Fred
I'm not the fastest FJ rider, I am 'half-fast', the fastest slow guy....

Current
2008 VFR800 RC46 Vtec
1996 VFR750 RC36/2
1990 FJ1300 (1297cc) Casper
1990 VFR750 RC36/1 Minnie
1989 FJ1200 Lazarus, the Streetfighter Project
1985 VF500F RC31 Interceptor

Firehawk068

Sorry to hear about your get-off.
You were definitely in good hands there.
Derek, Donna, and Garth are truly wonderful people.

Glad you are able to tell us the story first-hand.
Heal up, and then worry about the bike.  :drinks:
Alan H.
Denver, CO
'90 FJ1200

Pat Conlon

Heal well Scotty. Physically and mentally. It's important to forgive yourself.

When ready (no rush) let us know what you need for your bike.

TRoy said it best.... :good:
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

Steve_in_Florida

 :hi:

Hat's off to you, Buddy! You're still here to tell about it!

You were definitely in good hands.

Heal up and get back on.  ...unless you really clumsy.

Steve
`90 FJ-1200
`92 FJ-1200

IBA # 54823

Sabre093

Glad to hear your ok!!!!..I've highsided flipped and been launched from a rear ender...all sucked...but learned alot...Get well soon!
2009 FJR 1300
1992 FJ 1200
1987 FJ 1200 Sold
1986 FJ 1200 Sold
1985 Venture Royale
1976 GoldWing
1986 FZ 750
1986 GPZ 900
1984 Honda Nighthawk S 750
1982 Honda Nighthawk 450

JPaganel

Bummer.

Well, join the club. I'm down an Fj right now, too.
1993 FJ1200 ABS

1984 FJ600, up on blocks

1986 FJ1200, flaming wreck, repaired and sold
1986 FJ1200, repaired, ridden, sold


I don't want a pickle
I just want to ride my motorcicle

movenon

Sorry to hear about the crash and as you found out it is a great group.  Derek and Donna are a very special couple they have a special spot in my memories also.  Heal, don't beat your self up, bikes are fixable.  A significant number of us have been down the same road at one time or another so don't feel bad,  get well and stay on the positive side.
George
Life isn't about having the best, but about making the best of what you have...

1990 FJ 1200

jo-sommer

Get well soon!

best wishes from a distance, well knowing how this feels...

Cheers Jo
having fun

red

Hawkaholic,

Best wishes on the recovery, for both you and the bike.  Take the time to get things right (don't rush the process).

Cheers,
Red
Cheers,
Red

P.S. Life is too short, and health is too valuable, to ride on cheap parade-duty tires.

Troyskie

Bummer about the get-off mate, rest up, heal well.
1984 FJ1100 Ms Effie brand new :)
1984 FJ1100 Pearlie, stock as.
1985 FJ1100 Mr Effie 647,000K and still running hard.
1985 FJ1200 'Yummy' takes a licking & keeps on ticking
2013 Trumpy Tiger 800, let's do another lap of Oz

After all is said and done, more is said than done :)