Nenna
06-04-2006, 10:48 PM
Ok, so...
I hate riding in Santa Cruz, and I have since I got here. I don't really even like riding around town, because people don't know how to drive/merge/etc. And the freeways are claustrophobically small. Anyway, I had just sold my gixxer to this guy in San Jose, who asked me to ride it out there (he doesn't have any gear at the moment) because I wanted to sell both bikes and buy an f4/f4i... something smaller, cause I'm not totally comfortable on the gixxer. It's a bit big for me. I've ridden maybe twice since I moved here, cause I'm not happy with the streets/freeways/drivers here. For all the tourist money, it seems like they could keep the potholes smaller...
So I was following my bestfriend/roomie on the 1 (two lanes going north, with a concrete barrier instead of a shoulder on the passenger side). The entire freeway hit its brakes instead of merging onto the 17, and so did I. With a wall instead of a shoulder, there was very little exit room. I didn't think I hit them hard enough to lock up. But... I did. And whether it was cold tires or the roads or just me being stupid and not used to riding anymore, I lost it. It hurt. I was wearing jeans and my teknic jacket. On consideration, should have worn my teknic pants. On the other hand, i was wearing boots instead of heels (yay for me).
Some people stopped, and one hysterical woman was all for calling the cops because she said my gas tank was broken. it's...not broken. Anyway, the people behind me had large problems merging (as always) and there was nowhere to take my bike because there's no shoulder, just that delightful concrete wall. A motorcycle cop came up and told me to get my bike off to the next exit, maybe half a mile away. I tried to convince him that I had gp shifting, but he kept trying to find neutral by clicking down... The exit was actually up hill, so I had really huge issues pushing it off. Definitely my workout for the day. But once I got it off the road, he and another (car) cop were really nice. There was a towtruck, who said he got a call 20 minutes ago, and that his rates were $200/hour, a minimum 1hour service, and that the clock started when he got the call. Which confused us, because nobody had called his service. My friend called another place, who said they'd charge me 125 instead of the usual 175. But then the nicest motorcycle cop in the entire world said "Hey, I have a friend down the street who has a ramp, maybe I can have him come help you out." Which he did. This really nice cowboy type man and his son came over, with a ramp and some rope, and loaded up my bike for me, and tied it down. The motorcycle cop said I wasn't allowed to help because pushing my bike off the freeway was a complete workout for me.
Then he asked if I wanted an accident report. He explained that since it was just me, it would be my fault and go on my record. I have liability only, so I said no. He gave me his name and office number and said that if I changed my mind to let him know. He and the other cop joked about me getting a smaller bike unless I get a growth spurt. They were really really very nice. I'd really like to do something for the two cops, and the cowboy and his son... any suggestions? Keep it clean, boys.
I borrowed a friend's ramp, but I couldn't even try to get it out of the truck, so this incredibly nice guy from a parts/accessories store came by after work to unload it for me.
The damage:
well, I won't be able to get my f4i, even if the katana does sell. I went down on the left side (for the first time. When I got hit by the mercedes and whenever I drop the bike because I stopped and my legs are too short, it's always been on the right). The oil is completely gone, and the cover is very broken. There's a big hole in it. The fairings are pretty scratched up. And I was told that the steering problem could probably be fixed by taking the triple clamp and loosening, and then retightening it. It's a struggle to keep the steering straight. And then the mirrors are bent. So, it's ugly. I don't know what it will cost yet.
Oh, right, and me. Well, in case anyone wants to know about the teknic venom, it held up well. My helmet is shot. I think the gloves are fine... I can't remember looking at them. My left knee is skinned. in about three places. about a total of three square inches. My right knee.... is really bruised, and skinned. It hurts much more than the left, even though I went down on the left. But I kinda tumbled on the freeway. It's really puffy, and maybe the same amount of skinned area. My left elbow has a patch of rash about an inch by an inch and a half. Friction through the jacket, the jacket is still whole. And my right thumb got pinched or bruised or something. it hurts too.
Anyway... like I said, the nicest cop in the entire world. Not sure what I can do for him and his friend (except maybe a nice bottle of bourbon). And it all hurts a little. I took painkillers, and cleaned everything out with gauze and then hydrogen peroxide and now a bunch of neosporin.
If I had to crash, I did have the nicest help afterward. However, I wish I could be in san diego where I know the community and where you all are.... it's been three years, but i'm still a :squid:
(all the pics are of my skinlessness... pics of the bike may come soon)
I hate riding in Santa Cruz, and I have since I got here. I don't really even like riding around town, because people don't know how to drive/merge/etc. And the freeways are claustrophobically small. Anyway, I had just sold my gixxer to this guy in San Jose, who asked me to ride it out there (he doesn't have any gear at the moment) because I wanted to sell both bikes and buy an f4/f4i... something smaller, cause I'm not totally comfortable on the gixxer. It's a bit big for me. I've ridden maybe twice since I moved here, cause I'm not happy with the streets/freeways/drivers here. For all the tourist money, it seems like they could keep the potholes smaller...
So I was following my bestfriend/roomie on the 1 (two lanes going north, with a concrete barrier instead of a shoulder on the passenger side). The entire freeway hit its brakes instead of merging onto the 17, and so did I. With a wall instead of a shoulder, there was very little exit room. I didn't think I hit them hard enough to lock up. But... I did. And whether it was cold tires or the roads or just me being stupid and not used to riding anymore, I lost it. It hurt. I was wearing jeans and my teknic jacket. On consideration, should have worn my teknic pants. On the other hand, i was wearing boots instead of heels (yay for me).
Some people stopped, and one hysterical woman was all for calling the cops because she said my gas tank was broken. it's...not broken. Anyway, the people behind me had large problems merging (as always) and there was nowhere to take my bike because there's no shoulder, just that delightful concrete wall. A motorcycle cop came up and told me to get my bike off to the next exit, maybe half a mile away. I tried to convince him that I had gp shifting, but he kept trying to find neutral by clicking down... The exit was actually up hill, so I had really huge issues pushing it off. Definitely my workout for the day. But once I got it off the road, he and another (car) cop were really nice. There was a towtruck, who said he got a call 20 minutes ago, and that his rates were $200/hour, a minimum 1hour service, and that the clock started when he got the call. Which confused us, because nobody had called his service. My friend called another place, who said they'd charge me 125 instead of the usual 175. But then the nicest motorcycle cop in the entire world said "Hey, I have a friend down the street who has a ramp, maybe I can have him come help you out." Which he did. This really nice cowboy type man and his son came over, with a ramp and some rope, and loaded up my bike for me, and tied it down. The motorcycle cop said I wasn't allowed to help because pushing my bike off the freeway was a complete workout for me.
Then he asked if I wanted an accident report. He explained that since it was just me, it would be my fault and go on my record. I have liability only, so I said no. He gave me his name and office number and said that if I changed my mind to let him know. He and the other cop joked about me getting a smaller bike unless I get a growth spurt. They were really really very nice. I'd really like to do something for the two cops, and the cowboy and his son... any suggestions? Keep it clean, boys.
I borrowed a friend's ramp, but I couldn't even try to get it out of the truck, so this incredibly nice guy from a parts/accessories store came by after work to unload it for me.
The damage:
well, I won't be able to get my f4i, even if the katana does sell. I went down on the left side (for the first time. When I got hit by the mercedes and whenever I drop the bike because I stopped and my legs are too short, it's always been on the right). The oil is completely gone, and the cover is very broken. There's a big hole in it. The fairings are pretty scratched up. And I was told that the steering problem could probably be fixed by taking the triple clamp and loosening, and then retightening it. It's a struggle to keep the steering straight. And then the mirrors are bent. So, it's ugly. I don't know what it will cost yet.
Oh, right, and me. Well, in case anyone wants to know about the teknic venom, it held up well. My helmet is shot. I think the gloves are fine... I can't remember looking at them. My left knee is skinned. in about three places. about a total of three square inches. My right knee.... is really bruised, and skinned. It hurts much more than the left, even though I went down on the left. But I kinda tumbled on the freeway. It's really puffy, and maybe the same amount of skinned area. My left elbow has a patch of rash about an inch by an inch and a half. Friction through the jacket, the jacket is still whole. And my right thumb got pinched or bruised or something. it hurts too.
Anyway... like I said, the nicest cop in the entire world. Not sure what I can do for him and his friend (except maybe a nice bottle of bourbon). And it all hurts a little. I took painkillers, and cleaned everything out with gauze and then hydrogen peroxide and now a bunch of neosporin.
If I had to crash, I did have the nicest help afterward. However, I wish I could be in san diego where I know the community and where you all are.... it's been three years, but i'm still a :squid:
(all the pics are of my skinlessness... pics of the bike may come soon)