Completed first road trip, with some Irish luck!

[patmahoney]

Hey all,

Just got back from my first road trip, I went up to Dexter Maine from Southern MA about 260 miles each way. Thanks to Mac, Tomm and Radco for your advice. The ride was great despite the fact I went down up in Newport ME, got too busy looking for a road sign and let the wheels go into a deep rut in the road. I went to turn and the bike kept going straight, I took her out of the lean and applied the brakes but was not able to stop before hitting the curb which I went straight up and over. Luckily for me the roadside was a nice plush lawn, when the bike got on the grass the rear end fish tailed around and the went into a slide on its right side. We both slid about 30 feet, remarkably neither the Nomad or myself suffered even a scratch. Two of the headlights popped out of their rings which I was able to put back in after borrowing a screw driver from a local mechanic, removed the grass clumps stuck in the crash bars and she was ready to go. I had some grass stains and damage to my pride, but otherwise fine.

One thing that amazed me though was not one car stopped to see if I was OK. A couple of guys that were at the Tim Horton's, one of whom has a Classic, came over they were amazed at the lack of damage.

Have to give credit to Margaret, even after hearing what happened she was still willing to hop on for our first two up ride later that same day. Which went well, we ended up doing a little over 100 miles around the area, would have done more but rain limited the riding time.

[dogdoc]

Wow, what a ride patrick. Glad you and the bike are unhurt. Ride Safe,

[bobhamlin]

What does not kill you makes you stronger. (Conan the Barbarian?)

Nothing like the occasional incident to remind you of your mortality and where your attention ought to be. Just think-- you won't have to ponder the statement about motorcycles, "It's not a question of if you're going down; it's a matter of when."

The crash bars on the Nomad are excellent. I restored my bike from a salvage and was amazed how little of the rest of the bike was damaged apart from the part that hit (?a curb?) head-on.

[cactusjack]

I guess I must have missed the "luck" part. Was that when you did a face plant in the grass?

[Yellow Jacket]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I guess I must have missed the "luck" part. Was that when you did a face plant in the grass?

I figure the "luck" part was no damage to the body or the bike after doing the face plant.

Sort'a reminds me of the old saying that pilots use, "If you can walk away from the landing it was a good landing, if you can reuse the equipment it was a great landing!"

[patmahoney]

Originally Posted by Yellow Jacket

I figure the "luck" part was no damage to the body or the bike after doing the face plant.

Sort'a reminds me of the old saying that pilots use, "If you can walk away from the landing it was a good landing, if you can reuse the equipment it was a great landing!"

One I am lucky it wasn't a face plant, felt like the Nomad and I were sliding into second. Two I was sliding on a soft surface with no trees or poles or other immovable objects. Three I was able to walk away with nothing hurt but my pride.

To me that is lucky

[psychocycle]

You're one lucky kawaboy...

[markusmaximus]

Luck or random event, glad to read all is well.

[ringadingh]

Sounds like you got off really easy this time. I didn't know that they have Timmies down there, I heard that they just opened some up in NY city a week or two ago.

[johnb]

Glad you were able to walk away and your bike is OK. Man..... how quick things can happen when you are distracted.

[tazfl]

Like others have said, I'm glad you were able to walk away from it with no damage to you or the bike.

[schoeney]

You should by a lottery ticket right away!

How many places can you leave the road without hitting something?

Congrats on your good fortune.

[nomad561]

Glad things didn't turn out any worse than that for you. Live and learn.

[patmahoney]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

Sounds like you got off really easy this time. I didn't know that they have Timmies down there, I heard that they just opened some up in NY city a week or two ago.

First one I have ever seen, the guys I met said that it is the hang out for local riders. I went by it a handful of times over the weekend and there were at least 6-7 riders hanging around every time.

[bobhamlin]

Originally Posted by PatrickM

... and let the wheels go into a deep rut in the road. I went to turn and the bike kept going straight, I took her out of the lean and applied the brakes but was not able to stop before hitting the curb which I went straight up and over.

I can't locate it right now, but doesn't Dan Lund have a video about this? I don't think it is a curb, though. I think it involves a bridge abutment over a pit of rattlesnakes.