KymcoForum.com
Scooters - 125 to 300 => Grandvista 250 => Topic started by: Rudolf on July 13, 2015, 01:47:24 PM
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On the morning of 2nd of June 2015, while riding home from work/night shift i was hit in an intersection of my hometown Hunedoara/Romania, by a 3.5 ton Ford Transit van. The van driver failed to yield to me before turning left. I couldn't avoid the impact and i crashed in to him. The front of my bike bent upwards so the handlebar was resting on the l seat... When the bike crumpled it broke both of my legs (two broken femurs, one broken fibula and tibia and smashed knee joint) i was airlifted for the hospital because of my open fractures and hemorrhage. Was in the hospital with 4 operations. Spent 45 days there. The front end is damaged. In fact the whole bike has 80% damage.
(http://www.hunedoaramea.ro/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/accident-rudolf-hanzelik.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-0/11168465_985795964786313_7627054067977155928_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=0fe22147be46e5b5974a80cbd8fc36e4&oe=5611610B&__gda__=1444846433_f0d4dff9689214e5b7d7e2f36bbb1785)
(https://fbcdn-photos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xft1/v/t1.0-0/11745409_985795968119646_8201855476822782353_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=831045a3693e850e05eae702faefd3fa&oe=561EE103&__gda__=1444967305_0cf0e0d3f0273dbbf4693fe1bb27f6ce)
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Wishing you a speedy recovery! A motorcycle driver was just killed here in Austin, TX last night at around 2:30 a.m. Hearing things like this sure does make getting on two wheels all that much harder! I dread those intersections where the opposite driver has a green yield light, you never know if they're going to pull out or not!
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Wow hope you are doing ok at this point, and the driver of the van (commercial driver or personal?) has great insurance to help you out!!! I have never ever seen a scooter folded like that, must of been a hell of an impact.
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Rudolf,
Happy to hear you survived. I was recently in an accident with a left hand turner back in late May. I managed to turn left in the opposite direction he was coming, but my bike went down and I woke up in the hospital. I know some of your pain and wish you a complete and speedy recovery.
Hope the other guy's insurance covers your bills and loss of bike. I lost my Yager GT 200i in my crash. A GV was my immediate choice, but since it and the Yager have been discontinued I wasn't able to find any.
-Wolf
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Rudolf,
Yikes. Very sobering pictures. Wishing you a quick recovery.
Aaron
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The van was commercial. I'm still in the hospital at a specialised clinic at 170 km from home.
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I believe it's a design flaw in the frame of this bike. The risk is present to all grand dink/grandvista owners to have their legs crushed in a frontal crash with another vehicle when the front end of the bike folds on their legs.
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Healing thoughts/prayers sent your way ! :'(
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How long will your recovery take? Hope nothing is permanent.
-Wolf
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Thank you all for your moral support.
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Best wishes for a full recovery.
Very tough thing to go through.
We're good listeners - if you need to...
Sincerely,
Stig
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First, and foremost, thank god you are alive. Sorry to hear this.
You can't assume the way the bike crumpled was/is a design flaw. There is NOTHING to prevent this on ANY scooter. It is the nature of the beast.
This is exactly why I am firmly against large scooters. They are too weak, and fragile to attain the speeds they do.
That said I realize this accident was not at 70MPh on a highway... Imagine if it was! Large scooters are akin to back yard helicopters IMHO.
Rant over.
Like Stig said, we are a group of good listeners, and we all pray for a fast, and complete recovery for you. As sort of a PS here... all of the accidents that I recall reading in the past 3-4-5-6 years are all the same. Driver turns left in front of a rider.
Perhaps we should all be making left turns on our bikes as a preemptive measure.
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I'm considering to get myself a touring motorcycle at around 650cc, for offroad and cruising. Honda Transalp, Yamaha Tenere or Aprilia Pegasus. Not too fast, robust, does the job. O, and complete street equipment that i didnt have: boots, pants and jacket with plastic inserts. And alot of awareness.
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Thanks to everyone for their prayers and moral support.
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Buddy up w/ Stig, and Kreps. They'll keep you safe.
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(https://scontent.ftsr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/l/t1.0-9/11755785_989727774393132_766644712453406638_n.jpg?oh=324a13b12f71dffcf56c39b04e6b5249&oe=5842F5EA)
Photoshop illustration of the crumpling of my bike, the front end crushed my legs. This is a risk present to all grandvista/grand dink owners if they get involved in a head on collision with something solid.
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I found this to be a good article by those who have been hit (like me) or nearly hit by left hand turners.
http://www.motorcycle-mastery.com/visibility-on-a-motorcycle-z-motion-x-motion-and-why-cars-pull-out-in-front-of-us/ (http://www.motorcycle-mastery.com/visibility-on-a-motorcycle-z-motion-x-motion-and-why-cars-pull-out-in-front-of-us/)
-Wolf
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(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11755785_989727774393132_766644712453406638_n.jpg?oh=ecacab26755790e38fcd160974e535c8&oe=564A93C3) Photoshop illustration of the crumpling of my bike, the front end crushed my legs. This is a risk present to all grandvista/grand dink owners if they get involved in a head on collision with something solid.
That's not a design flaw it's an inherent problem with the "step-thru" scooter. The weak link is lack of high horizontal support.
Heal up my friend.
AMAC
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^I agree. All step-thru scooters will fold up like that in a head on collision.
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It folded up too fast before i could fall off it. It folded on my legs, crushing them.
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I will scrap some parts including the frame, the rest i sell to a friend who has identical scooter.
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Powerful engine on weak frame: Not OK!
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I am 6' 4" tall (193 cm) so not much space for my legs. My knees where touching the black plastic.
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Powerful engine on weak frame: Not OK!
In all due respect its time to stop riding scooters.
All step thru scoots will fold in half in a head on. The frame is no weaker than any other.
AMAC
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Just for a bit of added info. Any scooter prepared for race track duty will have a stiffener bar added from the top of the head set to the top of the frame that supports the seat.
I do agree w/ you Rudolf, that scooters are dangerous. I is just what they are.
Look at the picts of Mac's scoots. They are all the same. They will all fold the same. It was just unfortunate that you were hit exactly as you were. A slight off angle, and the front end would have folded to one side but just perhaps the accident would have been worse. At best you had a hundred or so pounds of metal between you, and the car.
At worst, I'm very sorry to here anyone is hurt on something as enjoyable and freeing as a scooter. You really can't blame the bike. You bought it, and rode it.
This hopefully will never again happen due to that one driver, and hopefully you will heal, and recover quickly.
Let's just suppose you did have a racing stiffener... Where would that bar have ended up in a head on?
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(https://scontent.ftsr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13147693_1154354474597127_6306233358213942143_o.jpg)
â€Dreapta†is right and â€Stânga†is left in Romanian
Illustration of my fractures, the magenta lines are the tapered Intramedullary Rods, plates and bolts. The screws are shown in blue:
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Ouch, and ouch. Some serious work. On the positive side they can rebuild you ... faster, strong ... I hope. I'll have to tip a drink to you Rudolf, to a fast, complete, and healthy recovery.
Here's to you, man!
-Wolf
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Rudolf,
Sorry to read about your accident. Impressive pictures. Fortunately, my last motorcycle accident was in 1990 when I got a broken leg. Keep us posted on your progress.
-Paul
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(http://i61.tinypic.com/2v8pnbd.jpg)
My Burgman AN400 has a beefy frame - but still would not want to hit something head-on. The Burgman does not have an airbag or a seat belt.....
If the scooter front doesn't come to meet me - I'll be going to meet it.
Same diff...
Hope you have a full and speedy recovery.
Stig
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A better view of my wreck:
(https://scontent.ftsr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11896071_1001783919854184_4466781362484552336_n.jpg?oh=b69db52de53a0403e6dcc5e00c79abbe&oe=5879FB3D)
(https://scontent.ftsr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p206x206/11885323_1001783133187596_143569115739901456_n.jpg?oh=d639f3a6bc4d97d6793e435a086e0b88&oe=584455B1)
Temporary external fixation of my left calf from 2nd of June till 10th of July 2015:
(https://scontent.ftsr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11870787_1001782623187647_3822350041757954589_n.jpg?oh=93127b280b1c79f3a442cc4f1dd26370&oe=583E03F5)
Two cuts: the longer one is where they've inserted the intramedullary rod in my left femur the shorter cut is where they cut a corner bone off my pelvis to shape and insert-it in my right knee joint that was seriously busted.
(https://scontent.ftsr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11866479_1001782413187668_5066999682845583927_n.jpg?oh=9f4b59e45943f7d85ebe536ac95aafa2&oe=584017AC)
Reconstructed right knee:
(https://scontent.ftsr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11870848_1001782449854331_5223839122677954239_n.jpg?oh=7613205432bae35c23a90a67968045f8&oe=58707037)
(https://scontent.ftsr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11049619_1003485833017326_8055305174335960511_n.jpg?oh=6e9155ab984f2ffc109d57ab446d0363&oe=583EEDFB)
The chopper that transfered me from the hospital of my hometown to a specialised hospital 170 km away:
(https://scontent.ftsr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11855793_1001795506519692_5408591305281937837_n.jpg?oh=d0790f95890f9b427e2f60b5214ca57e&oe=5878CAA2)
It was a noisy 35 minute flight while i was drifting in and out of consciousness.
After 45 days and 4 operations in the hospital i was transferred home via an ambulance, it was a 3 hour bumpy ride.
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11889692_1001782969854279_4515874411144721875_n.jpg?oh=fb826b21b2fc60168b3b22153a9aaa46&oe=567A31DD)
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In some ways I still can't believe it all happened but I'm glad you are keeping us up to date with the pictures.
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Some of my fracs and titanium implants, double fracture of my left femur, due to compression via frame and deceleration:
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11870711_1003486019683974_3378780994199094400_n.jpg?oh=bc94d1e34ac51dae5aa014beab003c78&oe=56416E1A)
Left fibula and tibia fracture:
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11863415_1003486043017305_3673105124958647659_n.jpg?oh=9cbb8a4daf07a91ffb785a69dd3c8749&oe=563BF021)
Compression fracture of my left femur:
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11891272_1003486123017297_761334430114338349_n.jpg?oh=7c89ae35333611235041b85d680e03f4&oe=5673BA2B)
Right knee fracture and reconstruction:
(https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11870857_1003486083017301_1999205569215130846_n.jpg?oh=072487bfb94ade7173b37e6c94187378&oe=5674082E)
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Some of my fracs and titanium implants, double fracture of my left femur, due to compression via frame and deceleration:...
Wow, especially the compound fracture and putting all the pieces back in place. At least it was a commercial vehicle so the insurance should be good. What are you able to do? How much time do you have before you are walking?
My major accident resume looks like this:
1990 - broken left leg after hitting the side of a car that pulled out from a stop sign as I was passing in lane the car in front of me which was turning into that same street. Had a full leg cast for 5 weeks? then a walking cast for 4 weeks? then a cane for 4 weeks. I was 23.
2009 - while playing dodge ball after about an hour my left Achilles tendon snapped - was able to walk normally after about 3 or 4 months. I was 43.
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To sue him or his employer! For now i have to go to a recovery clinic for fizical therapy. At least two more months till i walk again unaided.
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To sue him or his employer! For mow i have to go to a recovery clinic for fizical therapy. At least two more months till i walk again unaided.
Each time I was injured I had to focus on what I could do and not what I couldn't do.
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To all the drivers out there!
Look Twice! Save a Biker! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q8xB16R3qw#)
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(http://i61.tinypic.com/2v8pnbd.jpg)
My Burgman AN400 has a beefy frame - but still would not want to hit something head-on. The Burgman does not have an airbag or a seat belt.....
If the scooter front doesn't come to meet me - I'll be going to meet it.
Same diff...
Hope you have a full and speedy recovery.
Stig
This is awesome! A lesson that KYMCO could learn from.
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I wonder what the chances are of a direct head on collusion that results in a frame fold the kind Rudolf suffered? It can happened, but is it enough to render all step through designs as dangerous? Not sure. Seeing the posted pics does makes my decision to ride a DT without flat running boards feel better. Rudolf, given your size I have a feeling some kind of leg injury was inevitable. Wish you a speedy recovery.
Sue the hell out of someone and live the good life.
-Wolf
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Thanks, Wolf! I will sue the crap out of the driver that didn't yield to me before turning left, also i can sue his employer. I was comming from the opposite to him so he should have yielded to me before turning left.
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I wonder what the chances are of a direct head on collusion that results in a frame fold the kind Rudolf suffered? It can happened, but is it enough to render all step through designs as dangerous? Not sure. Seeing the posted pics does makes my decision to ride a DT without flat running boards feel better. Rudolf, given your size I have a feeling some kind of leg injury was inevitable. Wish you a speedy recovery.
Sue the hell out of someone and live the good life.
-Wolf
A "fold-up" event is inherent to step thru scooters. Nothing new there and a risk we choose to take.
As far as framed maxis like the DT don't get a false sense of security. Although there is more frame there is no high frame support as on a motorcycle. Without that bar the scoot will fold if smacked hard enough. Another risk we assume.
To put it into perspective. I've been in 2 major cycle wrecks in 40 years and managed to walk again after. Ten years ago a slip fall in the bathroom left me a L4 paraplegic , not I risk I ever payed much attention to. Now more than a few steps requires a wheelchair.
Go figure.
AMAC
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AMAC,
That is crazy. Sorry to hear about that. Yeah, regardless of any perceived sense of safety, flat running boards or not I'm going to do my best to avoid being hit by anyone, or in any way. Once is enough for me.
- Wolf
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This is the most common type of motorcycle accident, when an other vehicle turns left in front of a motorcyclist.