First time, Yager GT 200i, maybe 3 years ago, winter day, 28 degrees F. Rear ended at a toll booth on my way to work. The guy behind me didn’t so much as come into the booth and hit me. He was actually waiting behind me, then for some reason, before I was able to leave after paying the toll, he stepped on the gas and ran into me. Bike thrown forward and into the left side of the toll booth. I wasn’t hurt, but really pissed. Bike had cracked paneling and fractured front light. Toll operator called the police and the driver and I pulled over to the toll plaza area and waited. Cop issued him a ticket, but didn’t ask or check to see if he was using a cell phone. Turns out the guy is a well know sports writer/radio host in the Philadelphia area, who, last year, ran as a Republican for the House of Representatives for New Jersey (or maybe Pennsylvania).
He lost. Better still, his insurance covered all repairs. I was wearing a heavy leather jacket, full face helmet, over the ankle boots and winter gloves.
May 17, 2015. Driving back from Micky D’s around 7 at night going down a residential street with a county park/lake on one side. Lone car coming in the opposite direction. Makes an un-signaled left turn in front of me. I manage to turn the opposite way (to my left) and avoided being hit and hitting him, but my scoot -- same bike, the Yager -- goes down and I wake up in the hospital. Four broken ribs, fractured cartilage in my neck, bruised vocal cord, and my top right front tooth was snapped in half and went through my top lip. Road burns across my left arm, and hip, and a nasty one on my right shin.
The McDonalds is exactly one mile away from our house so I opted not to wear my riding jacket. Was wearing my full face helmet, but just a short sleeve shirt, shorts and sneakers. The driver was an 18 year old kid driving his day’s car. Fortunately, his dad’s insurance had the proper coverage and will be paying for all of my medical expenses. The Yager was totaled, but two months later I purchase my Downtown 300i.
Two months ago, this year, I rode and broke one of my cardinal rules -- never drive if it’s below freezing. It was a bright sunny day, but the temperature was just below freezing. I had to go into Philadelphia to pick up some items for a class to teach the next day. Rather than taking the train I decide to scoot as it looked like a good day to do so, despite the cold.
Getting into the city is uneventful, and an enjoyable ride. As I’m leaving to head home I pull out of the scooter corral where I’m parked and take a turn at an intersection after waiting for the light to turn green. Turn left and WHAM! bike goes down after the front wheel hits a smooth manhole. Scrapped paneling, but that was it. No damage to any lights, mirrors, even reflectors. Had a bruised and swollen ankle, and a small cut on my hip. I was more in shock than in pain and pretty pissed off. My bike was still fairly new, and now she had her first wipe-out. Picking her back up I rode home with no problems. Ankle was worst the next day, and in hindsight I make have fractured it slightly as it still doesn’t completely look normal -- still swollen, but no readiness or pain. I’ve even gone jogging a few times since.
Was wearing my heavy winter jacket, full face helmet, winter gloves, over the ankles boots and thermals under my jeans. Lessoned learned -- don’t ride when it’s below freezing. Frozen metal is extremely slippery. Have since had the paneling repaired and the DT looks better than new.
- Wolf
