Down, but not out.

[xmirage2kx]

Well I went down yesterday. I got a call from my wife that I needed to be somewhere in 20 minutes, and it was 25 minutes away . So instead of putting on all my riding gear (jacket, gloves, helmet, boots) I took off in just a tee-shirt (no helmet, jacket, gloves, but at least I had on my leather steel-toe work boots… not the best but better than sneakers).

All the roads between me and my destination are 25mph-45mph so my 150cc scooter has no problem keeping up with traffic, and I was even speeding in most places (shame on me). I was taking corners about as fast as you can on my scooter the whole trip with no problems and was now in sight distance of my destination with 1 corner to make and time to spare . I pull into the corner going 20-25mph only to look down and realize I was turning onto a gravel road . Well as I am sure you can imagine fast and hard cornering + gravel = PAIN .

So to sum up the damages:

Scooter: My scooter made it with minimal damage thanks to the fact that I was under it the whole time . I Bent a brake handle, some road rash on the handle bar grip and some on the air box too, as well as a bent kickstand.

Me: I got the worst of it by far. I have some wicked road rash on my left arm, both hands, and some minor rash along the outside of my left leg. I shredded my left boot and bent the steel-toe.

Thankfully I never hit my head and after a few painful weeks should be back to 100% (plus a few scars).

What I learned:
1. Don’t be in a hurry… scooters are just not meant for that.
2. Wear your gear… always! If I had my gear on I would only have some minor road rash on my leg.
3. Pay attention. If I had been thinking about riding and not making it on time I would have realized I was turning onto a gravel road and going WAY too fast.
4. Wear your #@%* gear
5. Gravel = Bad. I already knew this but it’s still a good point
6. You spent a lot of money on that gear, PUT IT THE &@#$ ON!!!!!

[rattlemeter]

But did you get there on time?

[scooterollie]

Sorry to hear about your spill. Thanks for sharing with us - a valuable lesson for us all.

[isawhim]

Ouch...

Number 3 only works if you are aware of number 5... Well worth the mention.

Gravel, leaves, water, ice, snow, sand, Expect the worst!

Be glad you were driving a vespa! If you did that on my scoot... you would need the whole side replaced! (Well, I guess. I have not tried to drop it, to see what damages it might get.)

[90GTVert]

I did something simialr last July, but turning too fast for slick asphalt. Much like you, I learned to wear gear the hard way. I had a helmet, leather jacket, gloves, etc... just didn't wanna wear them before unless it was cold. Nearly a year later my toe still doesn't wanna bend just right and I've got some road rash scars. Nothing major, just makes you wonder how your brain would function had your head touched down first without a helmet.