My weekend has come to an early end, partly due to rain, but mainly from wadding it up into a gaurdrail at theend of Hwy 28 just east of the Gap store. We got in Thursday afternoon and managed to put in about 150miles.We ran the Dragon 3-4 times.. I think Killboy got a few good pics of me leaning it over and draggin pegs. traffic was pretty dead because the threat of storms held most everyone off, plus it was only Thursday. Then Friday morning we ran across the dragon at about 8am, nice and early and empty on our way over to the VFR meet in Robbinsville. First order of business, blistering some tires on the Cherohola. That road is AWESOME.I must admit, it was very empty and I was running sweeper behind a couple of guys that are amature racers, so I just followed them in, and just kept leaning, and leaning, and leaningand cranking on it. Completely gound off the peg feelers on that road. ( I know, should never drag pegs on public roads) But, man did it feel good. Then we proceeded to ride the enitre day, I have no idea what roads we were on, but we hit the highlands, war woman road, Helena Georgia for lunch, blood mountain, an on and on, all said and done we did about 475miles on Friday. Well, to get back to thehome we had to come back up 129 over the dragon, across the foothills parkway and back to the cabin.

As we got close to the actual dragon on 129, the group got broke up a little bit because of the Mini Coopers that were in town this weekend. They were a good group of people though, they all stayed in there lanes, and would pull over and wave you past if they could. Anyway, riding sweeper positionI was the last to get around the traffic and was chasing the group to catch back up.As I rounded a couple of semisweeper corners I could see the last guy in our group go around a blind right hander. So Iknew Ihad caught back up with them.So as I approached the corner, Iwas feeleing pretty confident, so Isetmy body position,shaved a couple mph with a lightfinger on the front brake, and justthrew the bikeover into a full right handed lean.As Irounded the corner, I could hear the pegs draggin, but I wascarring alot of speed, and the corner was much sharper than I remembered. So I just held my line, and kept constant throttle, and tried to lean off the bike just a little more. About that instant I felt the back end wash out, the next second I am sliding through the corner on my right leg and elbow watching the bike slide across the road in front of me. I didnt so much see it hit the guardrail as I heard it. then the bike disappeared and I was sliding feet first right into the guardrail. somehow in that split second I accounted for the guardrail posts, and realized I was not going to hit a post, but there was no doubt I was going to contact the guardrail. Next thing I know, the bottom of the rail istapping me on the helmet as I laid back and came to a stop.

I layed there for a second or so, and realized, I had slid UNDER and completely through the guardrail, and had come to a stop with my boots hanging over the edge of the hill/cliff. Man, I couldnt believe it, not a scratch on me! Then I started looking around on the ground and realized that I was sitting in a pile of debris from my bike.And I knew, I didnt want to see the bike. As I got up, the last group of Mini's I had just passed were stopping to make sure I was ok. They helped me pull my bike out, as it had wedged itself under the guardrail about 10-15ft from where it first impacted. They also helped me scale down the cliff and back up to retrieve by tank bag that had LAUNCHED.

 

wow! you are lucky to be in one piece my friend!!!!!! thats amazing you missed the guardrail posts and went right under it! sorry it happened and you're bike went to pieces, but you are ok and thats what matters. i WOULD have liked to have seen the angle you had that bike at though! well, get it fixed and get back on, be safe.

 

Oh man, what a story! Glad you're ok and all that.
I'm sure the rain didn't help anything either with the rear washing out.

 

Man hate to hear that. I was up there Friday riding. When did this happen. I was there all day but left about 5:30 when the rain came. Glad your ok and that the guardrail didnt mess you up!

You rode some good roads. How did you like Blood Mnt? Did you ride Fort Mnt? Its fast like the Skyway.

 

I didnt ride Fort Mountain, Blod Mntwas fun, but man we came down that hill fast. I went down right about 5:30-6:00PM, the time stamp on digi cam says 5:38pm. Figure that was about 20 mins after I actually went down. Probably just missed each other.

 

glad you're still with us!
always take off the peg feelers, they'll jack you up.
when running with very fast guys, especially racers, remember that even if you follow their lines, their bike isn't operating the same as yours...so even if their suspension only compresses a few inches, yours may be bottom'd out already.

fix up and ride again! you've now earned your name! hahhahaa

 

Glad to hear you're okay.

If you've got some pics of the trip aswell as the aftermath of the bike, post them up. I'm sure everyone would enjoy seeing them, especially me. I'm in Canada and don't have the luxury to make it out to that amazing place[:'(]

 

I have to take mine off, I snagged them a few times the other day and scared the **** out of me!

By the way the guy from Mooshine already has his pics uploaded. Which bike are you?

The top row was me on one of the passes.
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/Thum...g=02&s=210

 

+1 Tahoe... Remove those feelers. Once I was draggin the feelers and to say the truth I liked the sound they made until one day the feeler grabs a small hole in the tarmac, pulls a small piece of the tarmac but was very close to lose control of the bike more due to the fright than the actual jolt. Also he's right on the suspension. I weigh 150 pounds andhave my bike set in the stiffest spring postion in the front with 1 click from closecompression setting and the rear is pretty stiff too. It may not become the most comfortable ride out there but your at least you are at par with your buddies.

As for the accident, so glad you are here telling us the story. That shows how much gear is important!

I can only give you this advice. When riding with fast guys there are many things you have to consider other than road etc. You have to have a good knowledge of each bike you are riding with and the driving habits of the guys in front of u. What bike is the guy in front of me riding? Whatkind of cornering can it afford? Can my bike attack a corner as good as his? How about stopping power? Are his brakes better than mine? Remember than light guys will have a better stopping distance than a heavier guy and in no less than u realise his rear tyre might be bending your forks.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys, I think I will be removing the feelers, and not adjusting the brake lever so far down. I guess at this point, I have realized that you can lean the bike as far over as you want, your gonna drag parts before the tire actually slips. I was riding behind 3 VFR's and a 07 RR, and I was on an F4i, so I felt confindent (maybe false confindence) that if they could take it, then I should be able to as well. And for the most part, I did. I think if I had been behind the group going into that corner, I would have been able to see that they had slowed considerably. But, the comments you guys make about the suspension setups are very good points, and should be remembered. Now that you mention it, the 2 guys up front both had "ohlins" race shocks on the VFR's, probably had forks done as well. My bigmistake was not knowing the road well enough, and just taking the corner way too hot. (although, I could have made it- had I not dragged my brake pedal)

Have to talk to the insurance company Monday, see what they say. I really should report it, I dont think there is any doubt its totalled. The whole front is smashed, lost the upper, headlight, stays, guage cluster, right brake, foot peg assembly, tail section, Akro slip on exhaust, rearseat, mirrors, right fairing, plus my leathers.All semi-cosmetic, but I am sure its done. Will have to inspect much closer to be sure the forks and frame are ok.

I am hoping to work a decent deal w/ insurance, if it all works out, I can keep the bike for a small price after its been totalled, and use it for a track bike, and still have enough to buy a replacement bike, and a new leather suit.