Always a Yager rider

[ScooterWolf]

Hello all,

I've been a long time member but it's been a while since I've posted. About five weeks ago I was in a scooter accident. A car traveling in the opposite lane as mine made the dreaded, and unexpected left hand turn into my lane. Fortunately, I turned left myself, swerving my scooter -- a Yager Gt 200i into the opposite direction. The sudden action, and braking forced my bike into a skid. I was knocked out upon hitting the ground. Later I leaned that I was ejected from my scooter and thrown into the other vehicle's back wheel.

I suffered four fractured ribs, fractured cartilage in my neck and bruised vocal cords, a bruised left hip bone, and my to right front tooth was snapped in half and went through my top lip (despite wearing a full face helmet). I spent four days in the hospital. That was five weeks ago. Needless to say I'm happy to be alive, and in the middle of dealing with insurance companies, medical bills and in the process of possibly getting a lawyer.

What I really miss is my scooter. It was totaled with the front forks bent. I've considered getting another Yager, however, I've always wanted to move up to a slightly bigger and faster bike. So far I'm looking at the Grand Vista. Regardless, no matter what I get (and it could still be a Yager) since the Yager was my first bike I will always consider myself a Yager rider. We've bonded.

I was the one who actually started this section of the forum for Yager riders about five years ago, along with the Road Craft section. Since that time I haven't been posting as much as I used to. Life, as they say, gets in the way. I will try to get back and post as often as I can.

Getting a second chance on things makes you want to hold on to what was fun and exciting more tightly.

I am so bored without something to ride. Didn't realize it was such a part of me until it's gone.

--Scooterwolf

[CROSSBOLT]

Wondered where you went. So glad to hear you are mending. You were saved for a purpose. Yager was an excellent bike and I was happy with mine until the wife convinced me to got a new scoot which turned out to be a DT300i. Very happy with it. Glad you are back. Give us a blow-by-blow, will ya?

Karl

[ScooterWolf]

Thanks Karl,

My friends at my dealership where I got my Yager have been pushing me towards the Downtown and the People 300. I like the flat running boards of my old Yager, and the gas cap next to the handlebars. I'm still opened to anything though.

Can't really add to much to what I described before. The driver was an 18 year old kid who was charged with failing to yield. I'm upset that he wasn't given a sobriety test, or the fact that he wasn't asked if he was on a cell phone. Being 18 it could also just be inexperience behind the wheel. The accident happened around 8:30 at night. It wasn't super dark, more twilight - y. Still, there was no signal given for his turn, or in his police report statement no  valid reason was given for his turning into my lane other than he thought I was farther away and going slower than he expect (I was doing about 25-27 MPH). Seems fishy to me. That's one of the reasons I'm looking into getting a lawyer. As long as my medical bills and my bike is replaced I'm happy.

- Wolf

[zombie]

I hate these threads.

I'm happy (of course) that you are mending but hearing how something as simple, and fun as a scooter can literally end your life is a shaking thought.

Well you kept your cool, and have it all in perspective so I hope this will be the last time you have to go thru this.
There's a fella on the Triumph forum that just had the exact same accident. 18yo girl, on the phone.

That fella got messed up tho. Like falling from a plane bad.

[ScooterWolf]

Hey Zombie! It's been a while and great to hear from you!

I'm just glad I have the ability to post to here. It's because of sites like this, the interaction and exchange of advice, instructions and ideas that I had the experience to turn away from the car when I did. When I was in the hospital there was another person on my room who had been in the same kind of accident as I was -- he was hit by a left hand turner. He was on a motorcycle, and had only 18 months riding experience versus my five years. He hit the car head on, was thrown from his bike and over the car. He had been in the hospital five days before I arrived, and in the four days I was there he had surgery on his ankle, was going to have surgery on his hip and was suffering from blood clots in his leg and lung.

He was still there when I checked out.

I think about that and realize how lucky I was. Experience makes a big difference, but how you gain it is important too.

- Wolf

[az_slynch]

Wolf,

     Glad to hear that you're still one piece! Sorry to hear about your Yager. I always tense up a bit whenever I come up on a left-turning auto, and I ride with my left pointer covering the passing lamp switch and my left thumb covering the horn. I was caught out on my Vespa P200E when a parked car pulled a U-turn in front of me during a rainstorm and that's an experience I never wish to repeat, though I got off a lot lighter than you did (busted mirror, tweaked headset, scraped/dented legshield and cowl and a few bruises/scrapes of my own).

     I hope you find the right bike to suit you. The Yager's a tough act to follow; the only decent analogues I've seem are the SYM RV200 and the Yamaha S-MAX.

[ScooterWolf]

 Thanks Az,

I pretty much do the same thing. When I approach a 3 or 4 way intersection, or a parking lot with a vehicle about to enter into the lane of traffic I hover my thumb over my horn. In my case because the car was traveling in the opposite direction I was (two lane road) and I hadn't detected anything unusual (like swerving, or erratic driving) I had passed my focus further down the road. I was driving along a county park that had a chain of lakes. The place had everything from ducks, to turtles and foxes that where known to wade across the street in the evening hours. I was looking more for them.

At this point when I ride again I'll have to hold my thumb over the horn even for passing cars. In the police report the driver admitted that he tried to beat me to the road he was turn on to, and didn't think I was close as I was. Again, sounds fishy to me. I have a feeling he was distracted by something since he didn't even use his turn signal.

The SYM RV200 looks promising. I'll have to look into it.

[zombie]

If you like I can eat that kids brain. He obviously has no use for it!

Just be in Miami on Thursday, and Ohio on Saturday. I'll PM the details. Shhhhh~

[ScooterWolf]

Wait at least until he pays my medical bills and buys me a new scooter. I'm going to go to my dealer tomorrow.

Have a feeling there might not be a lot of stuff between the kid's ears for even a snack. Booger pick would be more substantial.

-Wolf

[zombie]

Ummm, I'll wait, and ummm, I'll pass.

Good luck, at the shop.

[Wil B.]

ScooterWolf,
Sorry to hear about your accident. I hope everything heals up and the lawyer does their job.  I was out on my Yager at dusk Sunday night doing my usual mix of country 2 laners and expressways to get there. The Yager would be tough to replace as it does so many things well.  Fortunately, if I need to go bigger or faster I have motorcycles for that.  But the Yager is my favorite!

Get well...heal fast,
Wil B.
Broadview, IL

'04 Kymco Super 9
'10 Kymco Yager 200gt
'71 Guzzi Ambassador
'91 Honda Nighthawk

[ScooterWolf]

Thanks Will,

Man, you're really making me miss my Yager. After looking at a few scooter's today I do realize how great the scooter is/was. My dealership told me they wouldn't be able to get a Grand Vista as it's been discontinued. I'm looking at a dealership near Atlantic City, but that's about an hour and a half away.

For now I've passed my attention to the People Gt 300i and the Downtown. At my dealership they are both selling at the same price. I like the flat running boards on the People, but hate the lack of under the seat space and the gas cap's location there. Love the deep under the seat space of the Downtown, but miss the flat running boards. Love the amount of lights on it -- good visibility. After my crash I could use that.

Not a fan of the higher price of both.

emailed the dealership on Atlantic City to see if they actually have the Granda Vista on site. Their website also said they have a Yager. It may be worth the trip.

-Wolf

[PapaSoldTheHarley]

Thanks Will,

Man, you're really making me miss my Yager. After looking at a few scooter's today I do realize how great the scooter is/was. My dealership told me they wouldn't be able to get a Grand Vista as it's been discontinued. I'm looking at a dealership near Atlantic City, but that's about an hour and a half away.

For now I've passed my attention to the People Gt 300i and the Downtown. At my dealership they are both selling at the same price. I like the flat running boards on the People, but hate the lack of under the seat space and the gas cap's location there. Love the deep under the seat space of the Downtown, but miss the flat running boards. Love the amount of lights on it -- good visibility. After my crash I could use that.

Not a fan of the higher price of both.

emailed the dealership on Atlantic City to see if they actually have the Granda Vista on site. Their website also said they have a Yager. It may be worth the trip.

-Wolf

Accidents suck, and when you are hurt without any fault of your own it's really awful... Glad you're not hurt worse.
My two cents on the People: don't fail to ride one. Those wheels (16" may steal some under seat storage form you, but the ride they give is unmatched. Very happy with my new (2016) GTI 300...

[ScooterWolf]

Thanks Papa,

It's been a couple of months since my crash and I've purchased a Downtown 300i since. The People was an equal choice but at my dealership both bikes were the same price. Love the flat running board on the People, but the small under seat storage wouldn't meet my needs. I went with the DT, and have been very happy.

-Wolf

[scooterdad2324]

I'm glad your OK and on the mend. My prayers are with you and hope all goes well with your new venture for the perfect scooter. God bless and safe riding wolf

Sent from my XT1526 using Tapatalk