First Wreck: 2011 CBR250R vs. Gravel

[ruxpin76]

Well, had my first motorcycle wreck. NC 66N, just past Moore's Spring Road. Blind right hander after a short downhill... This road has been gradually degrading, and is an abnormally coarse aggregate in a oil-and-stone or tar-heavy asphalt format... Ridden it quite a few times, and was taking a buddy there for the first time.
I was leading, and in full riding gear. He was on a XR650 with tee and a custom helmet I'd just painted him. I decelled down the hill and made for the apex when the "rough patch" (which typically has about the same grip as the rest) ended up being a gravel patch about 12" long and lane-wide. Front slid out into a classic low-side. Luckily my buddy saw me go down and avoided the gravel.
I ended up laying in my lane with bike in the oncoming lane on its' right side. I managed to get it up and to the shoulder before any traffic came by. The slide razored my shoelaces into 2" bits on right foot and shoe came off, but it was a mid-top racing shoe that did its' job of protecting that ankle bone. I'll post some pics of damage to the bike. Somehow my left thumb bore the brunt of any bodily damage (strained), but avoided real road rash. Have some abrasions from my jeans repositioning themselves too quickly...
Otherwise, helmet is toast and jacket too, but they did their job.
DON'T do what I did next: Rode home without police report.
Although I called the cops and got a report, it was only because the cop was nice and I managed to convince him I wasn't lying because I'm an ordained minister...
Anyhow, bike's at the local dealer for "crash damage appraisal". They called today and said the amount will be $16xx, and I'll have a $500 deductible. On the plus side, my riding gear will be covered too.

All said, be careful in "off season" riding. I was being "normal" and not blasting the road, but I've ridden that road aggressively in the past.. And wear all your gear. It saved me a trip to ER, and me going down saved my unprepared buddy from getting messed up... And call the LEO from the site and don't ride home -- even it the bike runs ok and it's only 10 mi.

My and the ceebee will live to ride another day....despite the cops warning to sell the bike.

~Ted

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[sac]

Damage looks pretty minor. Glad you're ok!

[ruxpin76]

Helmet and jacket:
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[Tango37]

********************. +1 for being geared up. Glad you're ok.

[Jme250RA]

Glad you are ok! Glad you wore your gear also. Hopefully this will be what is needed to get your buddy to wear gear also. If there wasn't snow on the ground I'd be riding in the off season also.

[RubenAlonzo]

Thank goodness you were wearing a full face helmet, Ruxpin. All told, I concur with sac in your well being. Looking at the fairing damage, you must have been VERY leaned over as it seems almost as if the bike suffered more abrasion damage than impact. Panels can be replaced, you can't buddy. Cheers!

[katedwolf]

Thanks for the report and the pics. The helmet pic is especially impressive. Just imagine what your head and face would be if you had a skull bucket. ugh

Glad you're OK. I know your area. Have been to Hanging Rock years ago with a friend from N Wilkesboro.

[ecustu7]

Thanks for reminding all of that we can't control all things.

I always wear all my gear, because I know this could happen at anytime. I hope this has convinced your friend to gear up properly.

[atakacs]

Glad to know you survived with barely a scratch. Do you have a pic of the damage to your frame slider, per chance?

Sent from my PG86100 using Motorcycle.com Free App

[ruxpin76]

Originally Posted by atakacs

Do you have a pic of the damage to your frame slider, per chance?

No frame slider, therefore no damage to it. The bike nosed in (ground the point off the right front fairing by right bar) and slid mostly on exhaust and brake and that point... No damage to side panels in rear or on frame. It DID cause a misalignment between the gauge cluster and key cylinder, so it either tweaked the triple clamps (likely) or pushed the whole front fairing assembly over (possible, if the support stalks are weak...)

As far as how it affected by buddy, unsure. He was riding on an expired permit (which he didn't tell me until later), and followed me home. I ran an errand after in my SUV and he followed on his bike. When I looked in the rearview as I was pulling out of the development, he was wheelieing behind me. I'm 36 with nothing to prove on the street (I race cars on tracks for my adrenaline kicks.) He's 26, and apparently doesn't have the connection between squid behavior and hospital bills yet. We'll see if this sobers him up some...