Statistically it was overdue, having ridden for over thirty years with one major "off" back in 1981 - my second came today on the way to work. Hardly a last minute decision, I pondered it last night, the final decision to be made at 7.00am this morning, dry pleasant a little icy. The scooter was the chosen steed for the 15 mile commute to work. Half leathers - trousers and BMW Rallye Suit jacket for warmth and protection and a pair of my much loved, much travelled Triumph summer boots. The temp. display fluctuated between +2 and -1, traffic was light. Full daylight, hard wired headlamp and an ex-Police yellow jacket confirmed visibility to other drivers.
A 7.5 tonne truck pulled out in front of me on a roundabout, I moved to his offside and clipped a kerb and the whole plot slid down the road to crunchying plastic. Amazingly how the mind was processing data all through the experience, hanging onto the bars to prevent flaying arms, I landed on my right shoulder and elbows, I was even figuring which bones were going to go pop. Mind in overdrive now - internal injuries were the big fear but I could see that there was no road furniture to cause a sudden death inducing stop. Keep head upright !! Bike stopped as I neatly flicked the kill switch, but I was trapped underneath by my left boot. Cars had stopped behind me and I ended up facing them - all I could see whas ashen faces looking at me. An artisan of some sort stopped in the other carriageway and was my knight lifting the bike upright releasing me from a the death trap I faced. I managed to get up - testing limbs looking for poking bones and blood - nothing. Bike is badly scarred rear wheel chewed up puncturing the tyre, missed that on the first visual check. Rode to the Office AA brought me home. Aching body tonight. Could have been a lot worse - excellently designed body armour saved my shoulder and elbow - sufficient protection from my boots prevented foot injury. Nice to see kit work as advertised. Need some new boots now though.....I have no doubt that the hideously expensive Scuberth S1 Pro helmet I was wearing contributed to only very slight whiplash like pain....undamaged, had it been otherwise the maker's excellent Mobility package would have seen a new one couriered to me tomorrow at 1/3 RRP.
the truck dorve off - there is no way he could have missed what happened....
Last edited by: R.P. on Mon 18 Feb 13 at 23:16
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