Saw a no-gear crash yesterday afternoon

[Jeff]

So in my years of riding/racing, I've seen probably more than 1000 crashes.  Only a few have been on the street that I've actually witnessed.  Yesterday afternoon was one of the worst.

I was driving down 94 westbound, outside of Brookfield, heading into Waukesha to pick up the wife from work, when a guy on a big ole harley about 100 yards in front of me went down.  I don't know what caused him to fall, but he lost the front and in an instant was tumbling down the concrete at 70+mph.  With no helmet or gear...

Jeans & a T-shirt, he tumbled over and over towards the concrete barrier.  He started sliding about mid-way through the fast lane and hit the barrier head first...

I had 911 on the phone before he was even stopped.  I stopped on the shoulder, he was in the median.

He layed there for a few.  I thought he was dead.  After about 7 or 8 seconds, he started moving.  Tried to get up, fell, tried again and a few people who stopped helped him up...

As there were others tending to him who had a better vantage point of what the hell happened, I gave the info necessary and left.  

The guy was RAW.  Left arm was raw from his shoulder to his finger tips.  Flesh literally hung from his open wounds.  His head was pouring blood.  Jeans shredded, T-shirt almost completely removed.  It was sickening...

People, it's your choice (in some states) and your life, but understand.  There are a LOT of things you can't control while you're on a bike, and skin doesn't hold up very well against grooved concrete.

Laugh at me, but I wear my race helmet and a Hein Gericke jacket on my zuma when I ride it around...

[SuzyAngel]

I too have been witness to a accident of this kind right down the street from where I live.  I was coming back from my bank, a rider was coming the opposite direction from me, a car pulled out in from of him from the side street, and instead of this jerk backing it up, he pulled out more, the bike hit his front quarter panel, he flipped off the bike into the air and landed almost right in front of my car. I was already stopped while he was in the air.  I got out and helped him, between his legs was alot of blood coming out.  I held his hand and the ambulance was there within a minute.  He held my hand tight until he got in the ambulance.

Good news at the end.  He ended up knowing someone who knows the guy I make beef jerky with.  He called the house and I spoke to him about everything.  He said "so you were the pretty girl holding my hand", I said "yes".  I was so glad to hear from him and he is getting better from a broken hip and leg.  :)

[Team-G]

I would argue that racing is safer than street riding, even if you do wear all the gear on the street.  

Wanna see a road rash crash fest?  Ride with the newbies at the Sturgis rally; more blood every year.

I hate to see bikers get hurt... :(

[dave_anderson]

The more I race the less I want to ride on the street. I don't feel comfortable without a leather jacket and gloves on even when its 90.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

I don't feel comfortable without a leather jacket and gloves on even when its 90.

Hell I dont feel comfortable without my hard hat, gloves, and toumaster riding coat and pants. This weekend I still felt naked riding to BHF to cornerwork with just the hardhat, gloves and jacket. :o ;D Kinda hard to find a safe place to put the pants on the bike while riding from teh pavillion to my corner.


BTW to the asshat who made the comment "nice frame slider" referring to my helmet, f-u.

[cleezmo]

This is one area I definetely stress to people, especially when I talk to anyone new to the sport or thinking of entering the sport. My message is BUY GOOD GEAR AND WEAR IT!

I feel naked without my Arai and either leather or textile suit on. Even on street rides I wear my race boots and gloves with the nylon suit. I have no idea how the helmet-less crowd does it.

The other thing I don't get is the "no gloves" crowd. Seems like every day I'll see some guy on a sportbike go buy wearing an expensive helmet, a decent looking jacket, and no gloves. That's crazy......

[PaulV]

 :-/I cringe every time a no gear rider goes by on the street.  I always like to tell our new guys,
you wear your t-shirt and shorts, and I'll put on my gear and lets run as fast as we can down my driveway and dive face first on the asphalt and see who comes out better.
That usually works, although, I haven't had any takers yet.

Paul
Polar-Optics

[L8brake731]

You'll always have those who ride insist that they will never go down while just "cruisn" around.
I have also seen my share of street accidents and as a racer and a safety instructor understand the importance of personal protection.
JeF4Y: they laugh at me too ;D But at least we have our skin. They say it's our LARGEST ORGAN (boy, I bet this starts a debate) you lose enough of it and you can die.
Hope the guy you saw recoups and wises up!
At least racing; we all go the same direction; most of the time. ;D