Wed Feb 12 13:36:48 1997
- Message No. 393
From: Ulrich Koepping
Subject: Accident - share my experiences (longer)
Hi AT owners!
You have read right, I had an accident with my twin. Besides my leg in
plaster I have made some experiences, which I want to share with you
all,
so that such a thing will hopefully not happen to anyone else again.
I am sorry in advance for my english, but I hope you will undestand
everything.
1) What happened to me and my twin
I went on a little offrad-trip over some fields, it was so buityfull
weather that I could not resist. The problem was, that the ground was
wet especially in the shadows. The first half hour everything went
normal, the twin was sliding, sometimes willing to go its own way but
not uncontrollable, I thought.
At the place I lost controll of the bike the field path was a little bit
sloping (abschuessig). My front wheel got on the right side of the path
where the grass beginns. I feld that the bike was going to far to the
right
and tried to steer back to the middle of the path. But there was not
enough
grip any more. The front just went straight to the right and slided over
the
grass toward the field to the right (a little below the path).
Then it fell to the left side an we both slided some time over the
grass.
Here my left foot came under the motor-protection and got some hits.
Because
I had not got much speed (I would say 20-30 km/h) the procedure was over
quite fast.
I just weared quite thin leather boots, even cheap ones. They where not
able
to protect my foot at all. My big toe of the left foot is now broken
several
times, I think I can be lucky that this is all. My twin has got a bended
fork,
I had not the time to take a closer look. But is still running, I was
even able
to drive home.
I have to say that this surely could have been prevented! A more
experienced
driver would have choosen another line over the path, and after feeling
the
front wheel loosing its grip it would have been a possibility to steer
TO
the field, just rolling down and not falling to the side.
2) What have I learned?
- BUY GOOD HEAVY CLOTHS, DON'T SAVE MONEY
If I had bought heavy boots, probbly with plastic or metal protectors,
the weight of the twin would probably not have broken my toe-bone. So:
every time you start riding, think about it, what could happen if your
bike will slide with you or on you some time over the road, will fall
on
you or anything like this. Heavy cloths are surely not the solution to
any problem, but I will not miss additional protection in the future.
(the opposit of this problem is of course, that heavy cloths cannot
be removed after an accident so easily and probably hinder you while
riding!)
- DON'T OVERESTIMATE THE MACHINES POSSIBILITES AND YOUR ABILITIES
Driving a motorcycle is always a risk. Of cause. But it is also fun.
And thats why we ride. But: The fun is also there if there are some
security reserves left. A courve needs not to be taken with the
maximum
speed! At some point there is always a limit, then your twin can do
nothing more for you!
Another point is, that my experience was of cause not enough for
offroad
rides. And I probably started to early and to hard with my tours. So I
will try to see my abilities more realistic in future.
- OFFROAD IS NOT ONROAD
Especially a twin behaves very different offroad. On the road it han
be
steered where you want. Offroad you become to feel the weight. The
twin
sometimes just has its own oppionion of where to go. And: these
mixture
tires for onroad and offroad usage (I use Michelin) do NOT provide the
optimum traction for offroadusage, I would say.
- WHEN FALLING, GET AWAY FROM YOUR BIKE
I do not know, whether this is possible at all, but if you get in such
a
situation, try to jump from the bike, get your legs away from the
bottom
parts, try to keep the bike away from you.
OK, I guess these are no real news for you at all. (I hope no one
laughts
about my story ;-). I would also have said:"Yes, of couse!" before my
ride
last sunday. But now with a leg in plaster I become to know, that it is
neccesary to really think abolut these things again. Please do not make
the
same mistake like me. Don't save money or time at the wrong place. I get
to know that you can get really easily hurt by your twin and I do not
want
to imagine what can happen at higher speeds. I do not want anyone to
have
such an experience like me.
I am sure I was not able to write down what I think, but I hope you all
understand what I mean.
So far, of course keep on riding but TAKE CARE!
Uli
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