Methodician
New Member
Wow just under two weeks with the NC700X - some of the best overall feelings of wellbeing in my life... I loved that thing like a good friend, like a favorite horse, like an adventure companion. I had so much planned with my new bike!
On the way home from work I went shopping. When I was just about 200 yards from home with my loot in the fronk someone made a left turn in front of me - cut me off like I was invisible. They stopped, looked, and went - having never seen me coming with my high beams glaring and reflective tape. It was that moment that I became a statistic. According to nolo: "The single most dangerous situation for motorcyclists occurs when cars are making left hand turns".
(see Motorcycle Accidents: Common Causes | Nolo.com)
The worst part is that I can only kick myself in the butt so much because it really wasn't my fault. I'd like to think that if only I had a little more practice I would have made it but I'd probably have just been a LITTLE closer to not crashing. The weird thing is that in spite of all this I'm not sure I'm prepared to swear off all riding. In fact, I'm hoping to get another NC700X - this time with the DCT/ABS option I originally wanted. Maybe, just MAYBE the ABS could have saved me, or at least reduced my injuries.
The design of the NC700X lead to a specific injury but may have saved me from others. Take a look at a side-view picture of the bike and you'll see the incredibly smooth and gradual slope leading from the seat up the false fuel tank. It acts like a little jump. I went right up it and found myself levitating calmly into the air, flipping a bit over 180 degrees, and landing just in front of the bike on my left arm, knee, etc... and ending up on my back, cringing and cursing in the middle of the road, writhing in pain. It's some of the most intense pain I've ever felt. In addition to the crushed inner pelvis, I had a messed up left hand and elbow, broken knee (nothing too severe) and lots of bruising and abrasions.
The most severe injuries sustained were to my inner pelvis. It's broken in 5 places but will require no surgery, braces, or special treatment to heal. I can almost walk and it's just been a few days since the incident. Don't take this as an excuse to be careless, but a word of caution and a touch of advice. I braced against the false tank, which on most standard bikes would have splayed open my pelvis and lead to major surgery. In my case it lead to a few broken bones and prevents me from lifting my legs for a few days/weeks/months depending if you're a wolverine like me
Friends and family are devastated and, naturally, shocked and appalled to hear that I haven't decided to swear off all riding. I may still but haven't yet. I really want a new NC700X! First though, I need to deal with all the legal/insurance bulljunk and heal up. Hopefully I won't be too much in the hole financially at that point. Then it's decision time.... It was easy to decide I wanted the NC700X before I bought it for the first time. Whether or not I repeat the apparent mistake will be one of the toughest decisions of my life.
On the way home from work I went shopping. When I was just about 200 yards from home with my loot in the fronk someone made a left turn in front of me - cut me off like I was invisible. They stopped, looked, and went - having never seen me coming with my high beams glaring and reflective tape. It was that moment that I became a statistic. According to nolo: "The single most dangerous situation for motorcyclists occurs when cars are making left hand turns".
(see Motorcycle Accidents: Common Causes | Nolo.com)
The worst part is that I can only kick myself in the butt so much because it really wasn't my fault. I'd like to think that if only I had a little more practice I would have made it but I'd probably have just been a LITTLE closer to not crashing. The weird thing is that in spite of all this I'm not sure I'm prepared to swear off all riding. In fact, I'm hoping to get another NC700X - this time with the DCT/ABS option I originally wanted. Maybe, just MAYBE the ABS could have saved me, or at least reduced my injuries.
The design of the NC700X lead to a specific injury but may have saved me from others. Take a look at a side-view picture of the bike and you'll see the incredibly smooth and gradual slope leading from the seat up the false fuel tank. It acts like a little jump. I went right up it and found myself levitating calmly into the air, flipping a bit over 180 degrees, and landing just in front of the bike on my left arm, knee, etc... and ending up on my back, cringing and cursing in the middle of the road, writhing in pain. It's some of the most intense pain I've ever felt. In addition to the crushed inner pelvis, I had a messed up left hand and elbow, broken knee (nothing too severe) and lots of bruising and abrasions.
The most severe injuries sustained were to my inner pelvis. It's broken in 5 places but will require no surgery, braces, or special treatment to heal. I can almost walk and it's just been a few days since the incident. Don't take this as an excuse to be careless, but a word of caution and a touch of advice. I braced against the false tank, which on most standard bikes would have splayed open my pelvis and lead to major surgery. In my case it lead to a few broken bones and prevents me from lifting my legs for a few days/weeks/months depending if you're a wolverine like me
Friends and family are devastated and, naturally, shocked and appalled to hear that I haven't decided to swear off all riding. I may still but haven't yet. I really want a new NC700X! First though, I need to deal with all the legal/insurance bulljunk and heal up. Hopefully I won't be too much in the hole financially at that point. Then it's decision time.... It was easy to decide I wanted the NC700X before I bought it for the first time. Whether or not I repeat the apparent mistake will be one of the toughest decisions of my life.
