High-Speed, Sportbikes, and H2O = mess

[EchoWars]

http://www.kctv5.com/Global/story.asp?S=3669871&nav=1PubcqHq

That's the remains of my stepson's bike in the pic. It still looks better than he does.

Been at the hospital the last two days, and he's had surgery both days on his right leg. Although there were no broken bones, it would have been a hellova lot better if he had broken his leg. Instead, he dislocated his knee as bad as the surgeon had ever seen...the tibula/fibula sitting 4 or 5" higher and behind the femur. Of course, all the tendons, ligaments, and every damn thing that holds the knee together are wasted beyond any hope of repair, and the artery that runs behind the knee was damaged badly enough from the dislocation that a vascular surgeon had to strip a length of vein from the good leg to patch the damaged one and get normal circulation back to it.

He's gonna need several reconstructive surgeries on the knee to even come close to being able to walk halfway normally, and a cane might be 'de reguire' for a while.

His girlfriend on the back ended up with some roadrash, and a fracture on the left leg that does not even require a cast. She's gone home, but Jeremy will probably be there for the next week.

On top of a trashed $8500 bike (Yamaha R1), Leewood, KS police claimed he was traveling in excess of 90MPH, and want to charge him with aggravated battery since his girlfriend was hurt (but I think they are gonna let that one go). I can't get a straight story about how fast they were going (heard everything from 45 to 65), but I ride that road from time to time, and 90 seems a bit of a stretch...

Thanks for those who have asked...he's a good kid and a hellova good rider, just doesn't seem to know when to back off the Goddamn throttle. I always told him that the first time he really blows it and end up in the hospital for a few days he'll slow down. Maybe he learned something...

[outlawmws]

Hope he heals up clean. We have lost 2 in our family (Wifes cousin and Stepbrother) to MC accidents, Glad he wasn't hurt worse, cause you know it could have been...

[Justen]

Damn, I'm glad he is doing okay.

I lost a friend a couple weeks ago- a real rider, raced in Europe, published a magazine called Road Runner. He and I took a cycle tour of Kentucky a few years ago- a way better rider than I was. But he lost control and went under a tractor trailer. By all rights it shouldn't have happened- he wasn't crazy, wasn't a kid, lots of experience. But it did....

Won't keep me from riding, but certainly makes me think. I'm thankful your stepson is okay, hopefully he has learned something from the experience.

[Andyman]

Geez, EW, they're still a very lucky couple!

I've lost it a few times in the rain and snow (yep!), but usually falling off and sliding isn't too bad; the "stop" is what hurts you. I'm so glad there wasn't a phone pole or guard rail in their way, or we'd be sending flowers :yes:

It's a mess, but thankfully, they're both alive.

[markthefixer]

Whew... bad but not fatal.

Brother spent 9 months in cast and electrostimulation unit for wrist/thumb.
Another time My Cousin's wife (Cousin in front, she was riding in back) had about 2 years before skin grafts were finally finished on her leg.. not cosmetic, just reconstructive.

Guess we have been lucky.

Motorcycles are NOT forgiving.

All the best wishes for his recovery

[Manitoulin]

Hope everything works out Echo.

My neighbour was t-boned by an idiot runnijng a red light. He was on a big Goldwing, probably the only thing that saved him was the mass of the bike.

Bikes scare me....

[mg196]

Holy crap, EW. Hope he is OK. What kind of music does he like? Perhaps I could ship him a bootleg or something. If you want, PM me with his tastes and an address.

[Sandy G]

Maybe he learned something from this. Helluva way to learn it, though. Like Mark said above, bikes AREN'T forgiving. Hope he heals up quick.-Sandy G.

[SPL db]

Hope everything works out for the best Glenn! :yes:

Thoughts and prayers your way! :thmbsp:

Scott

[shelby1420]

Holy chit man, here's hopin everything is ok!!!!

[TWantiques]

Teens and 20 somethings think they are invincible.

It's learning about the excesses that is painful. Whether it's speed, booze, spending, women (excess women...may be an oxymoron! :naughty: ), etc.

Glad he is going to be OK. :thmbsp:

Terry

[skippy_ps]

Hope your stepson gets well quickly!

Murray

[Inspiribomb]

Hope he comes through OK, we'll be thinking of him EW.

want to charge him with aggravated battery since his girlfriend was hurt

Whoever suggested this deserves a swift kick in the nutz.

[krimney]

Many stories up my way too of young kids on bikes, many of them turn out far worse than this. As a father of a teenage daughter I will be sure she avoids the back of a sport bike. I have nothing agianst bikes, i'm licensed and have ridden a few years myself(Virago 500), but I feel that big power and young hormone filled young men just don't mix. Many of these sport bikes don't belong on a public road, they belong on a track. Rights and freedoms aside, there should be some sort of mandatory training programs for new riders. In Alberta you can get your license on a rented 125cc bike and then go and buy a 1000cc sport bike.
I could go on but I won't, hope all turns out fine and he's back on a bike soon.

[jcmjrt]

I hope he gets well soon and that he learned something from the incident.

[RichPA]

Wow, that sounds awful, EW. Best wishes for your stepson's speedy and complete recovery.

[jbow]

http://www.kctv5.com/Global/story.asp?S=3669871&nav=1PubcqHq

That's the remains of my stepson's bike in the pic. It still looks better than he does.

Been at the hospital the last two days, and he's had surgery both days on his right leg. Although there were no broken bones, it would have been a hellova lot better if he had broken his leg. Instead, he dislocated his knee as bad as the surgeon had ever seen...the tibula/fibula sitting 4 or 5" higher and behind the femur. Of course, all the tendons, ligaments, and every damn thing that holds the knee together are wasted beyond any hope of repair, and the artery that runs behind the knee was damaged badly enough from the dislocation that a vascular surgeon had to strip a length of vein from the good leg to patch the damaged one and get normal circulation back to it.

He's gonna need several reconstructive surgeries on the knee to even come close to being able to walk halfway normally, and a cane might be 'de reguire' for a while.

His girlfriend on the back ended up with some roadrash, and a fracture on the left leg that does not even require a cast. She's gone home, but Jeremy will probably be there for the next week.

On top of a trashed $8500 bike (Yamaha R1), Leewood, KS police claimed he was traveling in excess of 90MPH, and want to charge him with aggravated battery since his girlfriend was hurt (but I think they are gonna let that one go). I can't get a straight story about how fast they were going (heard everything from 45 to 65), but I ride that road from time to time, and 90 seems a bit of a stretch...

Thanks for those who have asked...he's a good kid and a hellova good rider, just doesn't seem to know when to back off the Goddamn throttle. I always told him that the first time he really blows it and end up in the hospital for a few days he'll slow down. Maybe he learned something...

I'm glad he still has a leg and is not in a coma or worse. I have a friend with an artificial leg due to an old man in a P/U truck pulling out in front of him. He still rides...

You have my prayers and I am sending mojo...

Julien

[LBPete]

EW, I hope the kid heals up well. Hopefully he will recover to the point of it being only a bad memory. You mention he is a hell of a good rider. Good riders don’t crash their bikes on a little water, not to mention with their girlfriends on the back. Good riders are smart riders that make good decisions about road conditions. He may be able to go fast and scrap his kneepads but its how he handles it in traffic that makes the difference between a good rider and a wannabe.

This strikes so close to home it’s scary. My daughter’s 19 year old boyfriend just got a new motorcycle and newly minted motorcycle license. Naturally she wants to ride on the back. As a long time motorcyclist, I’m torn between my love of the sport and my love for my daughter. Truth is I’ve been a motorcyclist much longer than I’ve been a father. I want them to enjoy the bike but safely.

The day that kid got his license and could legally ride a passenger, they wanted to go out for the evening. I shut that down quick. I told them if they want to ride together they do it on a Sunday morning when there is less traffic and less distractions. She wears long pants, boots, a jacket, gloves and a helmet or she doesn’t touch the bike. I don’t care if it’s 100 degrees she has to wear the gear.

So far they have both been cooperating, but there is no way of knowing what they do once they are out of sight. She has ridden on the back of my motorcycle since she was a little girl and hopefully I’ve instilled some basic riding safety.

- Pete

[Negotiableterms]

I wish him a quick and as-painless-as-possible recovery.

If you were in California, you'd have been contacted by now by an attorney to sue the guy with the spinklers who watered the street. I wonder if the damn fool cop would like to arrest him, too?

[RussinOhio]

EW,
Glad your stepson is gonna be ok. A lucky young man he is! Certainly could've been much worse. It don't take much speed on wet roads to spill a bike.

I'm 46. As a teenager many years ago, I came off a freeway ramp (in a Chevy El Camino)....WAAAy to fast on a rainy day. I went into a "flat-spin" that I could not control. I just took the ride until the car stopped spinning! Luckily...I did not hit a thing....nor did anything hit me.

I've had deep respect for wet roads ever since!


Hope your stepson heals quickly.

Russ

[merrylander]

Hope his recovery goes well. When I bought my son a bike (years back) he was mad because I put crash bars on it, but when he had to lay the bike down one time he was happy not to have it laying on his leg.

Rob

[Photobitstream]

This strikes so close to home it’s scary. My daughter’s 19 year old boyfriend just got a new motorcycle and newly minted motorcycle license. Naturally she wants to ride on the back.

Pete, the best thing you can do for your daughter is sign up her boyfriend for a motorcycle riding school. Reg Pridmore (http://www.classrides.com) even has some two-up schools at the Streets of Willow Springs. I've attended Reg's school numerous times and can attest it is well worth the money.

After putting 250,000 miles on street bikes over the years I signed up for some on-track instruction a few years ago, and soon after quit riding on the street. Tracks are much safer, but it all comes down to the person in control of the throttle.

EW, I sincerely hope your stepson recovers fully. This is, as you said, a perfect example of why modern sportbikes and young riders are a bad mix. The motorcycle licensing requirements in this country are a joke. Riding a bike around a parking lot does not prove a person competent to handle one in traffic.

[EchoWars]

Competence isn't the problem...he races at local tracks, and is probably a better racer than I ever was. His problem is that he can't seem to slow down once on the street.

He and his buddies still insist that they were traveling about 50 - 55 MPH (speed limit 45). Not sure if I believe 'em or not, since I know his (and their) riding habits.

[2DualsNotEnough]

Your stepson was very lucky.I hope they both heal quickly,and with as little pain as possible.IMHO that cop sounds like a real Barney Fife.He may be boosting the Mph number to make it a better story.
My wife and I send prayers for a quick recovery.
Jimmy

[LBPete]

EW, what tires was he running on that bike? Are they DOT street tires or track tires? If he was running racing tires that might have contributed to the loss of traction on wet pavement. Bottom line is he was going too fast for conditions

Photobitstream, He just completed a Motorcycle Safety Foundation beginners course. It's required in California for under age kids to get a motorcycle licence. Hopefully some of it sunk in.

The kid is a bone head that can't hold a job. Good looking but a bone head. I'm hoping the relationship doesn't survive when my Daughter goes off to college next month.

- Pete

[THOR]

:yikes:

[EchoWars]

DOT approved street tires.

Water was at the top of a hill on a blind left-hander, so even at the speed limit the tires were unloaded as he hit the water.

He still swears that he was doing about 50mph. Although being sometimes irresponsible has been a past issue, outright lying has not. He nearly has me convinced.

Went home from the hospital today. He's now at my ex's, so I won't likely see him for a while.

[harmkard330guy]

Damn thats really bad but the good thing is is he is still alive. And got a story to tell now and hopefully learns from it. I know i learned not to drive fast when my older brother crashed his 1990 cavalier. And totaled it i was in it when it happend it rolled 1 time at 65 mph and i am really happy i am still alive.

[gonzothegreat]

Dunno if he'd consider himself lucky but he is. At least he didn't end up like the late Duanne Allmann...

Like most of you, I'd run out of fingers counting buddies who messed themselves up on their bikes. My brother's best friend was riding one day and the next thing he knew he was off his bike stuck under somebody's car praying he didn't lose consciousness (just weeks before his wedding...). Former boss lost his right leg and a tech school buddy had his noggin cracked when he went *through* somebody's car (never was the "same" afterward).

Bet the g/f gives him an earfull so he'll take it down a notch.

Did he have decent medical coverage for himself and the g/f? That shit gets pricey...

[Wardsweb]

I hope everyone comes out of this ok. Performance bikes can bite even the seasoned rider. That they sell them to anyone who has the cash and a license should be against the law. To many young kids thinking they're immortal, only to realize they aren't. As most of you know, I use to ride a Suzuki Hayabusa (world's fastest production mc). Getting hurt at work most likely kept me from eventually getting hurt on that bike. Track or street I always suited up in full leathers, helmet, gloves, and boots. Saved my ass big time during a high speed low side (left hander, decreasing radius, transitioning to downhill) when the front wheel unloaded. I walked away without a scratch. The bike ground down the fairing and exhaust while grinding through the stator cover dumping oil everywhere. Bright side it was at only at about 60 mph and not 180 mph from earlier in the day. So it only hurt my pride and my wallet.

[piece-it pete]

Glenn I am glad to hear your kid is ok.

About two years ago my nephew cracked up (long story, 100% his idiot jackass fault, I spoke to the guy he was riding with), hit the side of a pickup so hard it broke the trucks' rear axle, as he flew over the handlebars the mirror clipped his dick and cut the tube along the bottom neatly in two, the back of his hand clipped the truck bed and cut the tendons, and fortunately there was a bend in the road so he landed in a farmers' field and "only" impacted mud up the whole side of one leg.

Lifeflight, multiple surgeries (tube, tendons, and many cleaning mud out from the leg - they thought he was going to lose it at first). Well 'cause he was young (the drs said) everything healed nicely, everything works, sometimes you can see a slight limp (no pun intended).

He was pretty good too. His father raced bikes for a long time. But he had that kids' disease. Plus he just had his new headers installed.

Heck everyone I've known that drove a bike regular got hurt. The suburban family man who only rode his Goldwings on sunny Sunday afternoons - collapsed lung, fractured ribs, broken arms. The bikers that lived next to a party house I lived in for a while wore their scars like medals. One guy I knew lost the use of one arm from a mc accident, rigged up the clutch and throttle on one side and kept driving (often drunk, on an old leaky bsr. he always smelled like oil, gas, and grease).

Anyway I'm sure he'll be more careful now. I'm thinking that the cop probably has a pretty good idea how fast they were going, and is trying to scare him a bit, but you know your kid, :dunno: ? He'd be an ass to actually press charges.

I'll pray for your sons' speedy full recovery.

Pete

[hpsenicka]

Well this thread sure is giving me second thoughts about my "mid-life crisis" dreams of buying a bike for some pleasure cruising... particularly Pete's graphic description of his nephew's injuries. Ouchh!! :yikes:

EW.. hope your son recovers fully from his injuries, although from your description of the damage to his knee... it may be a long slow healing process.

Hopefully this brush with fate has shown him that he is mortal, and helps him develop the instincts and maturity to ride more defensively.

Best Wishes to all...

[bigphil]

Hey Ew, is your son doing okay? Just stumbled on this thread... Giving me second thoughts on buying a bike after I graduate... Best wishes, I bet he's on his way to a speedy recovery!

[EchoWars]

The knee is still farked-up good. He needs reconstructive surgery, but he's got no insurance. I can barely afford gas in my car, so a hellova lotta help I am.

Looks like he's gonna be limping for a while. :worried: