Dropped it

Finally - I'm back but I have some bad news. Ouch!   10/15, I was approaching an intersection and took too long to decide to stop. It had just started raining a bit earlier so the approach was an oil slick. I locked up the brakes and the wing came down on my left leg breaking it in 3 places and shattering my ankle. $2,700 worth of repairs later and the bike is back to normal but I'm still recovering with a titanium rod, two stainless plates and several stainless steel screws and pins.

What was incredible for me was one of the local fire departments had an engine across the intersection from me and watched me go down while on their way back to their station. Needless to say, I had help real fast. All my riding gear did it's job and the only injury was to the left leg below the knee.

Knowing what I know now, if I had a trike kit installed, I wouldn't have gone down. I would have slid into the intersection a few feet, but that's a lot safer and easier to deal with. Gotta love that the helmet, Tourmaster Intake 2 jacket, snow pants (for cold, not snow), and boots did their jobs well. Nothing could have saved me from the broken bones given how the bike landed on my leg (600+ lbs not including me) hitting bones side-on = no contest.

Still, I'm itching to get back on it. If I weren't still in PT/rehab, I'd have taken it for a spin already but not during the brutally cold weekend last week.

Glad to be back here though.

Now, I'm considering a TowPac InstaTrike B kit so long as it'll work with my awesome DennisB hitch. If not, I may consider a Voyager Trike kit instead. Heck - for $200 extra and a 1.5 hr drive, they'll install the InstaTrike B kit. I'll even let 'em take pictures for advertising...


KB

Ever considered ABS?? Sorry about the leg.

I'm so sorry about your accident. I had one very similar to it, on newly wet roads - hit an oily spot. Ironically, I was on my way to take the MSF safety course at the Navy Base here in Norfolk!

A nice young sailor helped me dig the scooter out of the mud it had planted in at the side of the road after sliding quite a ways. Unlike you, I did a high side, and ended up sliding on my belly behind the scooter, a lot better than being under it, apparently. I had my Aersotich suit on, and it did its job. The only damage to it was a tiny pinhole below the knee, and I was hardly hurt at all. I can't imagine what my skin would have looked like, if it had slid across all that asphalt. I rode on to the class and got through the day with my banged up scooter, and a wrist that got more and more painful as the day wore on (finished the second day with it wrapped and taped, loaded up on Advil).

Like yours, my scotter had about 2600 dollars worth of damage. The insurance company talked about just totaling it, but ended up fixing it (The damage was mostly cosmetic, and the frame was not bent, so I wanted to keep it).

I am much more careful on mine now when it rains, and I decided to put better Metzler tires on it before my stock tires were really all the way shot. It was a good move, I don't think I would have gone into the skid with the Metzlers (and my ride and gas mileage improved too!). So, if you decide triking it is not a workable solution, your tires might be another option to consider.

I hope your leg heals up. Work hard in rehab, and they'll get things back right for you. Side note - when I had shoulder surgery several years ago, the PT exercises worked really well for me - the surgery fixed the bone issue (AC joint) - but something else we added later really sped up my recovery - deep tissue massage. It helped get the soft parts of me to work better with the bony parts, and made my shoulder as good as new, got me more mobility in the shoulder!

Sorry to here about your injuries. 2 years ago I dropped my swing 3 time in one day due to 2 knee replacement, and bad shoulders,and short inseam ,I dropped my swing at a stop sign,once with my pillion. I made the decision to install a trike kit { Trigg trike was my choice and after 25k kl of riding my trike ,I have no regrets.I have no more fear of falling,and I find it more relaxing.My 2 wheel riding is over for me but at least I can still ride . Good luck on choosing a trike kit, get well soon. 

Sorry to hear about your adversity. Hope you heal well.

KB, I'm still looking for the bad news. Scoot is fixed and you're on the road to recovery. Sounds like good news to me. Of course I'm not the one with all that metal in my leg. Best wishes for a quick recovery.

john grinsel wrote:

Ever considered ABS?? Sorry about the leg.

Sure, but that would mean a new bike (since retrofitting ABS is just as expensive as a new ride). If I do that, knowing what I know now, that will probably be a Can-Am Spyder and not a Silver Wing. Don't get me wrong - I love my Swing, but three wheels are usually safer than two in a skid. The bigger bike is also better for other reasons too. A trike kit is a lot cheaper and makes me and my wife happier too. ABS wouldn't keep me from falling. The trike kit won't prevent skidding. I am choosing the intermediate trike kit to keep me upright and gain the benefit of not having to put my feet down when I stop.

Thanks for the well-wishes everyone.

I'm hoping to be back on it late next month after I get the additional wheels added if rehab continues as well as it has.   

KB

Get well soon....

As long as you are telling us about it, it's good news. Even better that you are itching to get up on your steed again. That's a sign of hardcore riders, when you fall off the horse, you catch him and get on again. Wish you a speedy recovery.

I am sorry to hear of your accident. Hope you will heal well and be back to riding soon. Accidents do happen even to the best of riders. Let's face it, we are vulnerable at all times even in a car. I lost my son ten years ago to a m/c accident. Before he left for the trip my wife was very concerned for him. Well, it happened. He told his mother, "Oh mom! When it's my time to go, I am ready!" I miss him but I still ride at my wife's contesting. It may happen, but I have to have trust in "my Lord" he will keep me safe. Life does not always go the way we want it to. Just ride and be as careful as you can be. We all take chances and we get by with the choices we make. But, we may be next. Who knows. If we did everything in life that is a little dangerous, with apprehension, we would not even go out side. Life is for the living! Living a full life is how great men become great!

Check out Super Trike kit/ ebay motors.About $1,800 shipped.Seems decent,but haven't researched a lot....also on youtube. Get to healin'/ get to wheelin',  Big Train

Trikes with the exception of Spyder are a tip over looking for a place to happen----in addition how many of the kits offer changed front end trail? Steering damper? There are some kits that look like training wheels. Can SilverWing drive line really handle extra load over long haul.
Sidecar such as Texas sidecar might work-----but there is skill involved in safe operation. Me, I rode sidecar outfits for 40 years so have some knowledge.----3 wheelers, I did have 2 Messerschmitt KR 200. one used, one new----they were pushers but still inclined to raise inside wheel---but with top and heater warmer than bike in winter.

Notice no US Bike magazines has ever performance tested a trike conversion-----would probably expose their foul if not dangerous handling.

Only HD offers factory trike and it has altered trail and parking brake and I am sure it is tippy----see old servicar......when I was in high school, local cop used to chase with his Servicar 45----my/our rubber band fork 125's could out run and out corner him.....and these were really slow. He never caught us and did lots of inside wheel in the air, even at slow speeds. Be Careful.

I have a Grinnall trike conversion of a BMW bike, it has independent rear suspension and a special fork yoke (triple tree?) to avoid the handling problems. I guess that this would be very expensive and/or difficult to apply to the SWing.

Whatever you decide... good luck and get well fast. Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

Best of luck to you with your healing. And others have gotten a trike and really like them. It was good that the firefighters were across the street too. Please keep us informed of what you do.

john grinsel wrote:

Trikes with the exception of Spyder are a tip over looking for a place to happen----in addition how many of the kits offer changed front end trail?   Steering damper?  There are some kits that look like training wheels. Can SilverWing drive line really handle extra load over long haul.
Sidecar such as Texas sidecar might work-----but there is skill involved in safe operation.  Me, I rode sidecar outfits for 40 years so have some knowledge.----3 wheelers, I did  have 2 Messerschmitt KR 200. one used, one new----they were pushers but still inclined to raise inside wheel---but with top and heater warmer than bike in winter.

Notice no US Bike magazines has ever performance tested a trike conversion-----would probably expose their foul if not dangerous handling.

Only HD offers factory trike and it has altered trail and parking brake and I am sure it is tippy----see old  servicar......when I was in high school, local cop used to chase with his  Servicar 45----my/our rubber band fork 125's could out run and out corner him.....and these were really slow.   He never caught us and did lots of inside wheel in the air, even at slow speeds. Be Careful.

Wow - what an eye opener. Typically, I ride slower than most others but you bring up some great points. If I go with TowPac, I may let them do a factory install to help me make sure I get it right. Even with the Voyager kit, it sounds like it could be challenging.

I guess the main thing I need to remember is that trike riders like me should still lean into the turn to keep the wheels firmly planted (and tracking) on terra-firma.

Thanks for the call-outs, John. Any other (pseudo-)trike tips?

KB

It took me 5 to 6. hours to instal my Trigg trike kit. 3 hours to do it if you are free of joint pain. 10 t0 15 minutes to remove and reinstall once the belly plate is lined up ,it stays lined up.I have 30 k kl on mine in one year.the wheel bearing are life time warranty to the original owner of the trike.

Sorry to hear about all the bad luck and broken bones...I took my first real ride from Miami to the keys. I got up on the turnpike to about 75mph, man my B@lls were in my throat thinking about how far before US1.
Once I got down to the keys I was pretty well off. But riding this 14" front tire scares the hell out of me. My 2009 does have abs but lets hope I don't need it.... I had a little trouble on the 7 mile bridge as the wind was pushing me a around a bit...
Need to make a few mods to the bike to see if this is the bike for me.. Hopefully it is, or the next stop might be the bigger 2013 burgman 650..

The Burgman tires aren't all that much larger looking, not to me when I had a SW and B650 parked in my garage. The wheels on my BMW 650GT are only 15" too. So far it's handled well in gravel and a bit of sand as did my SW. As far as how fast those wheels spin, it's not all that much more rpms than a lot of the smaller cars. I've never felt much at risk riding my SW, B650 or C650GT at 100+mph for short distances, all three were smooth and steady, no wobble indications, no wandering, just a bit more wind and engine noise. Considering I'm coming from years of Goldwing riding I really find these machines excellent on the highway, not as smooth on rough roads as a 1000lb GW but other than a bit less plush ride they are satisfactory to me for serious touring.
I took a test ride on a Can Am spider a year ago and wouldn't want to go very far on one of those. They aren't as stable on the road, in my opinion, as a two wheel bike. They wander and even use power steering which is an indication about what kind of effort it takes to control them. A more normal single front wheel trike just doesn't do it for me either, I'd miss the big sweeper curves on the highway or back roads too much. If I couldn't stay on two wheels I think I'd go to a Porche Boxter or some such.

BTW - There are two kinds of riders. Those who have dropped their bikes... and those who lie about it.

@exavid
You bring up some good points.. The silver wing is a great machine no doubt about it. I can ride for 2-3 hours at a time without stopping or feeling tired. I'm sure within time I will be zipping down the hwy doing 70-80 without any issues. So what made you change up to BMW? What do you like? What do you miss about the swing?

I went to the BMW after a Burgman because I was worried about the problems with the Burgman and Honda doesn't import the new Integra scooter in the US. I would have gone with one of them because I still think Honda makes the most reliable bikes out there.

FWIW, if you compare actual tire diameter, the Burgman and the Silverwing pretty much have exactly the same diameter - just different rim diameters, but the Wing uses a taller tire (which should handle potholes better than the "larger" rim Burgman. I'm sure there are lots of good reasons to pick a Bergman, but tire diameter isn't one of them.

I've owned lots of cars with 12, 13, and 14 inch tires FWIW. You can go over a 4x4 quite easily with the Swing's tires. You can't do that on plenty of cruisers with 18, 19, or 21 inch tires!