Blowing the basics, my first(last?) fall.

[aristide1]

Was winding up my ride for today and when I got home I decides a few loops around the block were in order. I went up the hill to an intersection and decided to make a right. It was also uphill. I was a little unstable at a stop, the ground below me was a little depressed so I decided to go. I started taking the turn wide and thought this is no good I should give it a little more gas. Well that wasn't right either, and then I did what I did once during the MSF course, I started to get into trouble and inadvertently gave it more gas, which got me into more trouble, and I twisted the throttle so more. On the course I eventually squeezed both brakes hard and stopped but here I hit the opposing curb and went down. Fortunately I went down on some grass. It still hurts. So:

1. While not in full control I decided to go.

2. I did not let go of the throttle when I was in trouble.

3. I suppose using the brake as I powered through the turn would not have improved my inexperience (nice word for plain old dumb).

The mirror snapped off, but it was barely threaded on, so I moved the adjusting nut and put it back on. The plastic around the front blinker did not hold up well, and it snapped off. The I have several big arse scratches.

Oh my ankle hurts a bit, which reminds me I simply forgot to wear over the ankle foot ware. See if that ever happens again.

Now to see what my little fiasco will cost me. And still I feel pretty lucky. I flagged a guy when I was down and he helped me lift it up, which at 375 pounds I didn't feel like doing by myself.

On the ground I thought "I'm never doing this again". Five minutes later I got back on it and drove a few more miles, I even went to the same intersection and made the right turn the correct way this time. Doesn't make me feel any less dumb.

[scooterollie]

Aristide;
Glad you are OK! Few of us haven't made some kind of "stupid" mistake at one time or another, even with a lot of riding experience. Yours was a good lesson, resulting in little injury or damage. I know how you are feeling. Been there, done that! These simple accidents help us learn and improve. Sometimes I say to myself, you really got to keep your full attention on riding. These things don't tolerate lapses in attention like cars do.

[gusset]

Glad you came out of it OK Aristide. Also, thanks for posting the details...stuff like this is what helps others also benefit from your experience.

[WarrenS]

During my first year or so I made mistakes, too. I had some accidents that weren't my fault. I learned from the experiences and have gone over 50 years without going down. It does get better.

[aristide1]

It hasn't come naturally to me yet. Stops and intersections I feel very "mechanical". Had I worn the correct shoes I would have had thicker soles, which would have been better.

I set out today to get to the mall and back safely, and I did that. I really think that when I continued to ride my mind was thinking "good, all done" and I let my guard down, which resulted in the rest of me going down as well.

What will all these scratched parts cost me? Ugh.

When I picked up the bike there were some oil stains on the grass and the smell of gas. It didn't want to idle for a while, glad I got it upright as quickly as I did.

Oh well, whatever doesn't kill you makes you say "Ouch, man that hurts." :-)

[aristide1]

scooterollie said:

... These things don't tolerate lapses in attention like cars do.

Oh you have no idea how worried I have been about that. I have found myself spending hours on the NY State Thruway driving in a straight line. Road hypnosis kicks in. You're not asleep but not with it either. All of a sudden I look around and I've lost the last 30 minutes and 30 miles.

[guyruss]

aristide, Im glad you walked away from it. Years back I was cruising to my job on a beautiful spring morning on a honda motorcycle going around a winding curve, wasn't paying good attention (complacent) went right off the road, bent in the gas tank from the pressure of my knee caps, (adrenalin) and went right over my handlebars and head first on the ground. Broke face shield bloody face sore neck/head damaged forks, handlebars, tank. Walked away from it after waking up. I pray that I don't ever do that again.

Russ

[aristide1]

I had a friend who was doing like 95 mph on a 450cc motorcycle, with gears. He decided to slow by letting go of the throttle. Unknow to him the severity of the engine braking he went flying over the handlebars. His belt buckle caught something on the handle bars. He then steered the bike with his upper half hanging in front of the bike, looking at the ground. He managed to maintain control and stop. When he got off the bike he was shaking, then he threw up.

He still like riding.

Wow, I'm surprised how much better my ankle feels today.

[bunnii]

I ran into a stopped truck three hours after I got my scooter. At least you didn't run into a solid object. I feel like more damage happens that way. The right turn was what got me. I took it too wide and went into the apposing lane, stopped, then paniced and pulled the throttle when the lady in the car honked and yelled at me. I ran into her truck going like 2 miles an hour, maybe, and it was just sad.

Glad your ok. As long as you come out alright and learn from it, it's all right

[scooterollie]

I have had the pleasure (?!?) of severe pain from several kidney stone episodes. Don't look forward to the pain from a serious scoot spill. I've gotten real accustomed to my skin and bones being in their usual places.

Also, it's amazing how hard it is to make smooth, safe maneuvers when you tense up.

[aristide1]

One day later I had a lot less pain, but after that progress really slowed down. As I told my coworker I am limping much more gracefully today. I skinned my knee pretty well, but in the grass I never even ripped my jeans.

[aristide1]

Also, it's amazing how hard it is to make smooth, safe maneuvers when you tense up.

That pretty much sums it all up.