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So, there must not be enough souls tortured in Hell today, but what started off as a good Karmic day, turned bad very very fast. I hope you guys find this worthy of reading and learning from, as I sure did. For the sake of the story, my boyfriend is named M and best friend is B.
M and I were going to take a trip up to NH. Midway through, his bike started leaking oil, so we stopped at a park&ride to assess the situation. It was a bolt that sat behind the engine near the front sprocket, which got loose and chainsawed off, producing said leak. After a good karmic visit by a passing fellow rider, we deemed it too dangerous to proceed up, so we hightailed it home. Some visits to a bike shop for supplies, we repair the issue and meet up with my best friend, B, for a ride to do his bike inspection.
We rode staggered, M as front point, B middle, and myself as rear guard. As we changed lanes to get around traffic, instead of straightening up and heading forward, B kept riding tilted. Suddenly, BOOM! His front hit the barrier, and the angled momentum sent the bike right down. B was thrown sideways and forward, as both slid for a second or two. As the bike laid right in my path, I managed to dodge it, but it was so fast and sudden, that I wasn't able to clear it 100%. My front hit B's rear tire, and managed to take off a chunk of my lower belly fairing off. I stopped immediately, and ran towards B, who sprang up almost as fast as he went down.
After some police and EMTs showing up, we tallied the damage.
B: some road rash on the left arm, and left knee, as well as some light bruising.
B's Bike: Slightly twisted forks; missing front left turn signal; front fairing cracked in half; bent shifter
My bike: broken bottom left of the belly cowling, slightly bent shifter
We got home, thankfully in one piece and without further incident. Plans, broken.
Inb4 hate:
We spent as much time as we possibly had to train B to ride before making this plan. Up to now, there were no major incidents.
LESSON LEARNED: Do not let newbie starters on the road until absolutely making sure all maneuvers are learned in the parking lot. We managed to walk away relatively unscathed, and with minimal damage. It could've been worse, much much worse. It seems when it rains, it pours.