found this story on another forum (a us kawa forum, don't worry, I'm not going anywhere..). The gist - this guy didn't listen to the advice of others. In the US, there's no restriction on what bike you can have for the first one. Perhaps he was lucky not to go ahead and buy a thou. But he bought a 636 instead. His story:
OK lets see... None of my family, friends, co-workers wanted me to get a bike. oh your going to kill yourself, your going to crash, typical things people say. But no I had to buy a bike and my first mistake I bought a new 04 636 for my first bike.
I managed to get 1400 miles before I crashed. In those miles I experienced head shake a couple of times. I have hit a bumps in the end of a corner, now that scared the shit out of me. Also accelerating onto a empty freeway shifting into 3rd at about 95mph which is most likely my fault for not being smoother...
now the fun part. I went for a ride Sunday Nov 20th 2004. great day just going to et breakfast at the parents. I was wearing my Helmet, Joe Rocket Jacket (none leather), my well padded Camel pack leather full length gloves, Levis, and my vans.
OK at a stop light in front in the left of the 2 lanes going my direction with a 1/2 mile empty straight. Light turns green. I accelerate at a moderate pace shifting about +/-12k into second, then 3rd was about +/- 10k putting me somewhere in the 90 to 100mph? right? well i shifted into 3rd hard enough to bring the front off the ground a little. Well it was enough to induce massive head shake. I tried to ride it out, but it just got worse. The bike started veering to the right lane and the 4' wide shoulder to a 6" curb to 3' of dirt, then a 6' cyclone fence and big redwoods lined the fence. This is what I'm looking at as I veer into the right lane, So instead of staying on for the ride i jumped off the back. ya I jumped off the back probably at 75mph. I remember tumbling violently then sliding into the curb ankles first, then continue to slide, tried to get up but still sliding and ate it again, then continued to slide on my back and saying to my self.. "Holy shit I'm still sliding don't get up wait till you stop" I slide for about 50' waiting to stop. I finally stopped 250' from when i first started to slide, skip, tumble according to police.
When I first stopped I was still in the right lane I looked down to see my right ankle hanging what seem to look like flesh and muscle. I still was able to pick myself up on my left leg and get over to the shoulder on some grass. I looked down and just saw blood spurting out of my right fibula and could see everything inside my ankle. My left ankle at this point was hurting worse which was funny since it was all together compared to the other. I was conscious during the whole thing.. from start till surgery. Had to sit in pain for 10min for ambulance, 15min for them to get me into the ambulance and 20min for the hospital ride in a bumpy ass ambulance. I told the EMT that Cadillac should make ambulances. I mean really the ride sucked. Then goes to say I have a piece of you bone in a paper towel that a bystander found on the side of the rode. lol I was like really... shit thats not good.. the police also said there was a fleshy trail of where i slide from my right leg dragging on the asphalt.
My helmet never hit the ground, my Jacket was slightly damaged, pads saved my shoulder, pack back took allot of abuse saved my back, Levis have holes all over, Gloves took abuse right in the wrist area on both gloves, Shoes might be bloody.
OK, so the final tally was 13 days in trauma, 12 days normal hospital room. Shattered right lowered Fibula (4 pieces), Fractured a lower Tabula in half, also missing 6 inches of nerve, 3 surgery's total for right leg. Left leg shattered fibula in pieces where it connects to ankle. Just one surgery for left leg. Its almost been 4 months since i have walked.... shit
The right lower leg will be amputated in march..... oh ya I'm gonna be Bionic bitch's
The left leg I should be able to weight bear in a week or so...
Kaiser insurance payed so far with out amputation $175,000....
Was getting a bike worth it? no, but fuck it was fun
Will ride again? hell ya, but not for a while
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Originally Posted by enigma51
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