The Death of the Ninja: The Story of my Careless Crash

[wego72587]

Yesterday was suppose to be a very very good day that went sour. I've never purchased any vehicle "new" because I believe you can buy the same vehicle used, pay much less and still get everything but the new car smell....but when I saw the 2009 Daytona 675 I just had to have it, and used just wouldn't do. So yesterday was the big day, finally upgrading from my '95 Ninja EX500 to a bike that can pull its weight.

It was a nice day, mid 50's or so, so I decided that I would run all my errands (applying for loan, getting necessary documents, purchasing bike, getting insurance) on my Ninja kind of like a final ride to say farewell to the bike that has treated me so well for my first season of riding. Everything was going fine, I had just finished signing the papers at the dealership and had just left to go to the bank and pick up the check. I was riding down one of the main streets in my town, decent amount of traffic, I had a huge smile on my face, very happy that I was finally getting the bike I dreamed of, when it happened....

Not paying too much attention to the road, just daydreaming about my jet black beauty, I failed to realize what was happening in front of me before it was too late. There was a van in front of me, and a pickup truck in front of that van. I was a good distance away from the van, there was traffic to my right and an island to my left separating me from the oncoming traffic. For reasons unknown to me the pickup truck slammed on his brakes forcing the van to slam on his brakes...once I snapped out of my daydream and was able to assess the situation I could do nothing but slam on my brakes too, unfortunately locking up my rear tire. Skidding too fast I knew I was going to hit so I did the best I could to bail.

My little ninja slid under the vans rear bumper as I rolled onto the center island. I was geared up (helmet, gloves, padded joe rocket jacket) and it was a low speed bail so I didn't get seriously hurt, just have a soar arm today and a bruise or two. No damage at all to any of my gear. The guy immediately got out of his van to make sure I was alright and he helped me pick up my bike. There was no damage at all to his van, but I can't say the same for my ninja. Cracked upper fairing, clutch handle was half broken, broken turn signal, wind screen was severely bent but not broken, and a few nicks here and there. I was able to ride it home just fine, but I was just so disappointed at myself for being so careless. I had just started riding this season (mid June) and had put 4k on that bike before I laid it down.

With the Ninja out of commission I had my roommate drive me to pick up the Daytona. I told the salesman what happened and he just looked at me like "what the hell are you doing buying a new bike if you can't even ride!" Anyways, I'm very confident in my riding skills, I just picked the wrong time to not pay attention. Could have been worse, just lucky it wasn't and that it wasn't on my Daytona <----that would have really killed my day. Please share similar stories so I don't feel like such a jackass!

[Mondo]

glad your okay....take it easy out there on the new bike

[TheIglu]

Time to brush up on your emergency braking skills.

[xrocket21]

Look at it this way, you got your crash out of your system on the old bike, not the new bike!!!!

Can you imagine if you had picked up the daytona that morning and crashed it with 20 miles on it?!?!?!?!


CLOSE CALL!

[markbvt]

Maybe this will be the lesson that teaches you to always pay attention when you're riding.

But we all make mistakes. The important thing is that we learn from them. Every crash I've had has taught me something and ultimately made me a better rider.

--mark

[wego72587]

very close call, the bike had 22 miles on it when I got it and half of those were from my test ride. I look at this as a learning experience. I guess you could say I had some false confidence in my skills and wasn't able to perform a hard stop when I needed to. I'm a very defensive driver, especially on my bike, which is why I'm so disappointed that I got so careless. I keep playing it back in my head and I know I could have avoided it if I had practiced my hard stopping....better luck next time I guess.

[csmutty]

I'm glad you made it out ok. I would practice emergency braking at stated before.

[DucDave]

Thanks for sharing...good lesson for all!

"Experience is what you get....right AFTER you could have really used it!"

[Eddie]

Glad ur okay man!! Good thing this didn't happen after you picked up the 675. Riding in the cold can be a bitch as there is little traction.

[capt1014]

Glad to hear you're all right!, What douche of a saleman!

[FireboltEric_MA]

Glad to hear your fine from your crash. The new bike will be a hoot!

Maybe this is just me, and I am not knocking you...I'm really just curious of this...

But when is it better to bail off the bike vs. stay on it and hope you can make it? Even in a panic situation I have never felt the need to bail off a bike...On purpose anyways..LOL

I am curious to what people say on this as I have herd of this technique many times.. and never really understood it. I would tend to think you have a better chance if you stay on the bike....

Am I wrong???

[Pittenger5]

But when is it better to bail off the bike vs. stay on it and hope you can make it? Even in a panic situation I have never felt the need to bail off a bike...On purpose anyways..LOL

There is a point, however that point is usually LOOOONG after most people bail.

[toocrazy2yoo]

Gawd, dang...I go away for a few weeks and peeps are crashin' out all over. Like me takin' a trip had anything to do with it..Gxxxer and Wego, hope yall come out ok. Wego, from what I read, and what I think ( I'm one of those ain't crashed yet but will types), and maybe some peeps will agree, if you KNOW the bike is goin' down, let go. If you KNOW you're fucked...you're always better off OFF the bike. Bikes have a way of doing endo's, flipping, doing all kinds of weird stuff (like sliding under trucks and into trees) and if you're doin' the death grip on the bars, you're goin' along fer the tumble. Hey, ya made it, yer rockin' as is Gxxergrrrl, that's all anyone that crashes can ask. If it makes yall feel better, peeps are crashin' all over. It's been a hard year for bikes. May next year be better!

Chin up to the both of yez. The rest of ya? See ya in the funnies. Took a long-assed ride on the Connie, bitch needs a rest...

Later!

[Chippertheripper]

never give up...ask all the trees i've smashed into on my dirtbike over the years.

isn't that why most gloves have hard knuckles on them, cuz most ppl's instinct is to hang on? (and hence rub them all over the tar)

hijack complete.

[Evil_Weasel]

wow that'll ruin your day but it certainly could have been worse. glad to see you are alright, lesson learned. now get back out there.

in 12 years of riding sportsbikes in a sporting manner,i've crashed in almost every stuipid and silly way possible....at any speed from 120 to stopped. hell once i even crashed while standing beside my bike, so don't feel bad.

[Danz19899]

Hey man i know your feeling i toasted my ninja in September. I went into a corner a little hot and completely was being lazy so i didnt lean off the bike and it work so leaned over the left engine cover started scrapping and it lowsided into a curb then flipped. Sucked balls I was doing somewhere around 45mph. i bailed as soon as the tires left the ground and tumbled onto the median and was fine.

Glad your Ok man i'll never ride with out gear after my little get off.

Bailing on the bike can be good and bad. if the bike going down like in a lowside and there's nothing u can do, bail and get yourself away from the moving 400lb uncontrolable object. however in most quick stop situations its better to try and stop from my experiences. I dont use much rear brake since it locks up so easy. i used to till i did a few Long days of rain riding and locked the rear up several times.

[OreoGaborio]

I guess you could say I had some false confidence in my skills and wasn't able to perform a hard stop when I needed to.

With 4k miles of experience, you have nooooo idea how common it is to fall into that trap. You're definitely not alone.

I don't know the exact numbers, but I'm fairly certain most people's first crash falls somewhere in their first 3-6k miles... I got bit by the complacent bug, too... also right around the 4k mile mark. Right around there is when you start getting complacent.... you have enough riding experience to know what you're doing, but not enough riding experience to... well... know what you're doing

It's like you're good enough to keep yourself out of trouble for the most part, but not quite good enough to get yourself out of trouble should you find yourself knee deep in it.



Oh well... ya live & learn. Glad you weren't badly hurt & almost equally glad you got it outta your system before the 675!

[SteveM]

I just picked the wrong time to not pay attention.

... and there's a right time ????

Glad you're OK, but apply this relatively inexpensive lesson to your new, expensive bike.

And get to a parking lot to practice emergency braking on the Daytona. You may be confident in your riding skills, but it does take practice to get comfortable with emergency braking.

The bike can stop a lot quicker than you think it can and if you keep your head up, it will stop upright, in a straight line.

[OreoGaborio]

... and there's a right time ????

I usually let my attention wander when I'm doin 140 on the back wheel, splitting two 18 wheelers with my hair on fire and my passenger having a heart attack.

It's very soothing to get away from the more hectic moments in life sometimes.

[Paul_E_D]

Let go of the bike when: The wheels are off the ground but other parts are on the ground, or when you hit something.

There are exceptions, like if you are going to hit something and the surface you are on doesn't allow much braking (dirt)

I jumped off a rolling bike once heading for the wall in T6 sand trap after leaving the pavement at 70+ without having any chance to use the brakes. It hurt, but less than the wall would have.

[Doc]

You got your first bike NEW. Rode 4000 miles on it and crashed it the day you were buying another NEW bike?

Are you independently wealthy? I think a Trackday, the ERC or maybe Lee Parks ARC would be money well spent.

Live and Learn. Good luck with the Triumph.

[RyanNicholson]

don't feel bad man, I got bit by the same deal around the 4-6k mark.... cept I rear ended my girlfriend at the time haha.

Congrats on the new bike, and sounds like you've got the makings of perfect track bike as well... rock on! Just keep your eyes open.

[CEO]

cept I rear ended my girlfriend

nice work

[CEO]

You got your first bike NEW. Rode 4000 miles on it and crashed it the day you were buying another NEW bike?

Are you independently wealthy? I think a Trackday, the ERC or maybe Lee Parks ARC would be money well spent.

Live and Learn. Good luck with the Triumph.

here we go with another long winter of condescending posts from doc

[Jim]

here we go with another long winter of condescending posts from doc

and they're different from the posts during the season