January 16, 2010

sunken tug


Car pulled out in front of me this afternoon. Guy was trying to go across the two east running lanes to the west running lane. I saw him coming.. was thinking .. is that guy going to try and go? Sure enough he did.. hit the brakes and skidded a good 20 feet before I hit him. The whole Front end is toast .. frame probably is too. Guy wasn't even that apologetic. Went in the ambulance to the hospital.. nothing broke .. some cuts and banged up pretty good. Didn't have anyone to pick me up from the hospital so walked back to the bike in the rain, removed the front fender (it was squished against the front tire and the bike wouldn't roll) then rode it home. Sketchy as hell as everything on the front end is bent one way or another. I would have gone home and got my truck to pick it up but it has a flat- ha! Typical. It's almost impossible to get the bike in the back of a 4x4 by yourself anyway. Oh well .. short lived tug.
I heard Matt D of Dice had the same thing happen in Phoenix, he's ok but the front end on his bike is trashed too. then there was Gilby in LA a couple days ago..

31 comments:

토끼 & der Tiger said...

Wow, that sucks...sorry dude. Looked like a sweet ride.

t said...

It sucks but bikes can rebuilt easier than people can. I thought I was seriously going to be fucked on this one. I'm happy I'm walking around after it!

Jay said...

sorry man , been following your posts about the bike...
you ever need a hand again like a ride from a hospital, a truck to pick up a bike or a place to stop...especially if your down toward tacoma/olympia/yelm area
let me know 706 341 9660
jay

t said...

Jay..I really appreciate that.That means a lot. If you come up to Seattle. Let me buy you a beer or a coffee or something.
Thanks man.

t

Jay said...

will do...,its always nice to know people around that are into old bikes...

matt machine said...

fuck t,...im glad your not too badly banged....that can go wrong real quick sometimes....and your right....bikes can be fixed...did you get up... like the last off i had... and start feeling your body looking for the break?

ive got a spare front end here...ill send it to you if you want. serious...

walking back after the hospital in the rain....man!!!!

relax mate...im thinking good thoughts for you tonight...

I_am_10_ninjas said...

what a pisser. fuckINg bliNd, tUnnel viSion impAirEd, caGe drivers!

t said...

Jay.. just email me before you come up.. it goes to my phone as well.

Matt.. thanks brother! I have my glide pan front end brake on the left side. I could put that on with a star hub wheel.

I pulled myself off the guys hood after the collision.. I got caught up in the bike so it held me from being launched and also the front end took a lot of the impact. The previous owner of the bike had this oil cooler on the front of the frame behind the front wheel. The front wheel and fender got buried so that the oil cooler put a perfect square stamp into the back of the fender. It was rubbing so much that 3 people couldn't budge the bike. Had to get 4 cops to lift the front end off the ground to roll it off the road. The fork tubes are bent back, twisted, front wheel tweaked, axle bent, handlebars tweaked, etc.. I need to get the bike damage assessed by a 3rd part for the insurance claim before I start changing it though.

t said...

10 ninjas.. I was thinking all those things right after it happened. I let the driver have an earful of my thoughts as well.

Bird said...

Mannn...and you just got it going too!
Sorry, to see it happen, very glad to see you are ok.
That could have gotten ugly quick!

FloridaSteve said...

Well that sucks. Best thing is you're OK to ride another day.

Man I hate that "moment" when you see it about to happen and you're yelling in your helmet... "Don't do it fucker!" and they do it anyway.

Unknown said...

Shit thats bad luck.. Still as long as your ok, like my missus say's its only metal n rubber... (what does she know) Glad ya ok though...

t said...

thanks I appreciate it!

I hate that moment too when you see it about to happen and your doing everything you can to avoid it but there's not enough space or time and you know it's going to happen regardless. Everything slows down, gets quiet for just a split second but seems so much longer when your in that moment, then bam you hear the crush of metal and everything around you becomes loud again.

cookey said...

aaahh fuck no!

those bits where it all slows down can be pretty exciting huh.

anyhow at least it wasn't yr fault, I've only ever had myself to blame after a stack... then you get to feel like a tit as well as having a busted bike and body.

good to know your all good

hon said...

t, been following your blog for a while now, this sucks, I'm glad you are o.k. sending thoughts from Canada.

nic said...

Sending good thoughts. Really glad you are okay. This blog would suck without you!

t said...

haha.. thanks Nic..

Cookey.. I still haven't settled up with an accident that happened over a year ago. My lawyer loves me.

Neil said...

Sorry to hear this terrible news. Glad you are in good condition.

Sideburn Magazine said...

you didn't listen did you? I said car tyres hung off the side tug-boat style. the mo fo would have bounced off you.
but seriously blood I'm glad your still in one piece.
& only a cucumber cool photographer would make a photograph of their sunken ship in the middle of the road - with your shades still lying there. Was it lying there like that the whole time you were in the hospital?
♥ BP

Anonymous said...

God damn!!! Is this any indication of whats in store for 2010? I hope not!
Glad you are ok T. and Matt too..Damn!

t said...

thanks everyone.. I appreciate it. Be safe out there as well.

Cro - A Bad weekend for shovelheads I suppose.

I always look at motorcycle accidents as inevitable for at least one a year as much as I ride. Then when I get in one and I'm not dead or maimed. I feel lucky and happy that I got through it. When people ask me about getting into motorcycling I always say .. it's dangerous.. your going to get in an accident. Whether you live or die can be diminished by your ability to stay alert to some extent. I've been hit from behind when traffic and I was at a complete stop. Guy not paying attention and just plowed into me from behind. Not much I could do there. I can't imagine learning how to ride and then paying attention to traffic at the same time. I was lucky enough to learn to ride on the dirt- off road when I was a kid so I don't have to think about the riding aspect of it and just look out for cars. I've never wanted anyone I've known to get into motorcycling for the very reason that I didn't want to see them hurt.

Guzzmen said...

Glad ye`r Ok man , same thing happend to me a couple a years ago .Could`nt walk for 6 months
due to a crushed ankle and so .
They say real bugs never die :)
Hope you`ll be back on the track
soon bro .
Cheers from Belgian greasehead "Guzzmen".

Chris said...

Glad your doing ok, always sucks to see a bike sleeping in the middle of the road.

kzcafe said...

Hey Seriously... I live in the Seattle area as well. If you ever need a ride or a hand with a disabled bike I have a truck, do not hesitate to call. Chris 206-307-3320.

t said...

thanks Chris.. wow.. thank you.

Anonymous said...

I was looking at the bike's pictures again few hours ago...
then I read this.

I'm glad you're doing fine

take care!

carlito

t said...

thanks Carlito.. didn't take long did it.

Anonymous said...

it may sound masochistic, but i don't mind tasting the asphalt once in a while
makes you feel alive

foremost when, no matter how hard you hit the ground, you can still stand up (metaphorically and phisically) like you did

get well soon


carlito

Motorcycho said...

that whole story is sad!
I would've driven down from Vancouver!

t said...

Thanks Norman! Well I've walked myself out of Hospitals a few times. Once in London, Once in Amsterdam. Brisbane.

Carlito.. I think we need to ride together sometime. You sound as sick as I am.

David Bond said...

been away for the weekend, just saw this all. man, i'm glad your ok