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Well, I have waited awhile to share this experience, first because I was in so much pain that I couldn't even think motorcycles for awhile. Second, because I wanted to share some thoughts on crashing in a way that MIGHT be helpful to someone, somewhere.

My experience was on a race track. I was running my last day of the track season and was running real, real well. Too well for my own good. Bottom line is that I low sided at pretty high speed and got the opportunity to share with you what that is like.

If you are inclined to read further, I will share the
1. How
2. Why
3. What was the outcome
4. What did I learn

I have always found "debriefing" after someone's crash to be enlightening. That info has saved me from crashes I am sure.....but not this time.

1. How
I was riding very well that day and had my track prepped Yamaha R6 running literally at the limits, lap after lap. It was so fantastically exhilarating it is difficult to describe. To get to the point that I knew every nuance of that track (I had run over 500 laps there), had my braking and roll markers honed, the bike running great, etc, etc, was SO satisfying. I was running at the limits of traction and could feel the whole bike and the tires "do there thing" and just flow. BUT I made a big mistake. I was running behind I guy I have done Freddie Spencer school with twice. He is good and fast. He was on his MV Agusta F4 and would get away on the straights, but I would run up on him in the turns. I decided I needed to not chase him so hard on the straights because I would run up too close in the turns and there are few real passing zones on this particular narrow and technical track. Apparently, I didn't leave enough space because as I came toward the apex of turn 1, bike leaned over, knee down and at the point where I NEEDED to open the throttle, there he was AHHHHH. So the moment I rolled off the throttle I thought "oh, that was a bad idea." Even before the front loaded, I knew...... the front went away, I went down on my shoulder and then slid probably 100 ft as my beautiful R6 slid then barrel rolled. I got up, waved to the flag worker and then realized I was injured.
2.Why (see above) You gotta know when to NOT roll off the throttle. I did it anyway because it was the momentary instinct against running into another rider. I was probably still 20 ft behind him, but when the bike is leaned at max. lean angle and going about 75 , you have less margin for talking yourself out of instinct than when the bike is upright. It was MY fault. No question about it. Too much competitive instinct that prevented me from just slowing down for half a lap and making for more room? Too much exhilaration from finding such a good rhythm? Whatever......my decision, my pain.
3. Outcome
I fractured my left scapula (shoulder blade). I was fortunate to NOT tear my rotator cuff, but it was bruised badly. I highly recommend NOT having this injury. It is now 5 weeks today and I still have a fair amount of pain. I was back to work in two days because IF you are gonna to be stupid, you gotta be tough. I could not operate ( I am a surgeon) for a month, so THAT was painful. SO it is costing me more than bike parts and a trashed helmet and leathers, as you can imagine. My psyche was bruised and battered, too. I operated for the first time in a month, yesterday. It hurt. It in no way compromised my doing what I was doing (I would never do it if I thought it would compromise a patient) but it certainly affected my pleasure of performing surgery and my fatigue after a few hours in the OR. I think it will take another several weeks before I feel close to normal.
4. What did I learn
Lots. First, good friends are very easy to identify in these circumstances, vs. those who you thought were good friends; they quickly indentify themselves as friendly aquaintances, only. Second, kindness is such a powerful thing and there is too little of it in this world. Third, pain is a character builder only for about a week. Then, it is worthless, exhausting and sucks the color out of life. Fourth, and this is important for ALL riders:
Good equipment is worth GOLD!!! I can't say it enough. I have posted alot on helmets and armor. Man, did it save my hide that day. My Arai RX7 helmet is trashed. I mean really trashed. But I did not even have a headache. My Vanson race leathers are trashed. The entire left shoulder and arm leathers are thrashed.....the leathers are scary to look at. BUT, they did amazing things for protection. The whole weight of my body going about 75 mph landed on my shoulder and I slid for at least 100 ft. over tarmac, grass, gravel (not the nice kind) rocks, more tarmac; I slid then rolled and tumbled once or twice. Had the fantastic armor NOT distributed the forces widely, I can't imagine how messed up I would be right now. I had NO injury or even bruising on any other are whatsoever. The leathers are trashed all along the back and there are two leather tears, mid back as I slid over larger rocks beyond the run off area. Not a single back pain, as the back protector did its job. The Alpinestars carbon fiber armored gloves are trashed, but not a single hand or finger scratch or pain.

So, is the inconvenience of armored gear worth it even for street riding? You better believe it. I had all high end race gear on because I was on a track going fast on purpose. But it reinforced how much different the outcome would be with vs. without REAL protection.

Now here is the most amazing part.

I get home, in severe pain and humbled and embarrased and depressed. I say to my wife of 19 plus years "I am done. I will just get rid of the bikes." You would expect her to smile right? WRONG. She said "look, you are clearly in no state of mind to even start thinking about this right now. If you want to decide not to ride on the track, great. It puts you closer to the edge of crashing. BUT, what the hell are you gonna do when you recover? Start riding your bicycle again so you can REALLY get injured or killed? What are you gonna do? Start skiing again and have a career ending hand or wrist injury like some folks we know? Just have your buddies help you get the bikes winterized, store them for the winter and decide what you want to do in the Spring. You better get on Ebay, because it looks like you will need some parts for fixing the track bike." I must have looked like a deer in the headlights after she said that. Plus, she is cute as hell.

Finally, if you ever get injured, a good Physical Therapist is worth more than gold.

So at the moment, I will rebuild the R6 as a race bike and likely sell it in the Spring. I will keep the 1200GS for riding. I will sell the FZ1 now that I am back to having a boxer. I will keep the dirt bike to ride with my son on trails.

There is the summary of the experience of my crash, from the inside. Hope it is helpful to someone, somewhere, sometime. I still can't post pictures here, but if you want some, email me and I will send them so those of you who know how to post pics direct can do it. I have some on the track. Pics of the wrecked bike and gear will be ready soon.

Bones

Thanks Bones for taking the time. I am doubtful I would be able to communicate my crash a subsequent 2 hospital stays as well as this.


Heal well my friend.

A true buddy said to me:

"I don't know anyone who has a bike who has not taken a spill." Up till that point I was the only person he knew. I joined the smashed rib club with him at last. "We get back on them because they are part of us".


btw, your wife have any sisters?

Motorcycles can be the most fun things on earth, but boy they can punish mistakes severely, out of all proportion to the actual error half the time.
What did make me nod along in aggreement though was your wife's reaction.
In March '97 I had gone out for a ride on my K100RS to a nearby town to check out a local dealership. At an intersection a car waiting on a side road (I was on the main road and had right of way) pulled out on me. The K had ABS but for that to be of any use you need to have time to hit the brakes. I didn't . I hit the damn car smack on the front wheel, must have "braced myself" for the impact because I ripped the bar mounts clean out of the yoke. Cutting a long sad story to its essentials I woke up in the gutter 60 feet down the road, having landed at the feet of an off duty nurse who was tending her garden, and was carted off to the local hospital with a compound fracture of my right leg and sundry other more minor cuts and bruises.
The Police called my home and my 14 year old son managed to pass a message to my wife who was out shopping. Linda dropped the groceries and raced over to the Hospital.
Outside the ER dept she met the Policeman who had been first on the scene and trying to re-assure her, he said that I was going to be OK but that the K was totalled.
So, there I am. Lying strapped to a trolley with my head immobilised in this big collar thing, my face streaked with dried blood and the most indescribable pain in my leg. Counting the tiles on the ceiling and wishing the F*****g pain would only stop, even for a second.I was, I told myself getting too bloody old for this, and there would be no more bikes for me, ever.
I actually recognised Lindas' footsteps across the ER floor and she bent over into my sight line and said "Don't worry about the bike, we'll get you a new one with the insurance money"
Plainly she knew me better than I knew myself
So treasure that wife of yours Bones, there aren't many like her about!
Si

Bones,

Thanks for taking the time to write that. There are so many pithy nuggets of wisdom in that piece I'm going to print it out, frame it and hang it where I can read it every day.

you have less margin for talking yourself out of instinct than when the bike is upright

good friends are very easy to identify in these circumstances, vs. those who you thought were good friends; they quickly indentify themselves as friendly aquaintances, only

pain is a character builder only for about a week. Then, it is worthless, exhausting and sucks the color out of life

Heal well, heal quickly, and keep that woman. She's a rare one.

Bones...

I had no idea. None, other than the fact you have not been in touch for a while... I just thought you were busy as hell with your schedule in surgeries (for others).

Funny... With all the correspondence we have traded on riding, racing, technique, preparation, etc. over the past few months, it wasn't that long ago I was thinking about you, and remembering that old adage:

"There are only two kinds of motorcycle riders - Those that have fallen, and those that are going to..."

And I was wondering what your reactions would be the first time you had a *BIG* get-off on the track... That is always an often life-turning moment. I can't tell you the number of times a really big crash, and resulting injury, made me think of quitting... Like when I broke my back back in 1983. I have also fractured my shoulder blade, and broke my collar-bone in seven places and dislocated my right arm to go with it (back in 1972...). Two surgeries to correct all the damage, so I can understand a bit about how you feel...

Experience can be a harsh, unforgiving teacher... Many of her lessons are brutal, but you obviously have the right attitude to get the most from her disposition at its nastiest.

One thing I can tell you is that the memory of the pain will fade... in fact, fade faster than anything else involved. Any mistake you made will torture you far longer, as in telling yourself "What if I had done this...", etc. I learned the hard way not to beat yourself up on that... Let it go, too. Otherwise you end up over analyzing your riding *WHILE* you are doing it, which is the wrong time.

When you get back on the track, let yourself go back on "automatic", and save your conscious mind for doing the tactical and strategic decision making necessary on the track - or the street and dirt. Don't waste a thought on "I don't want to make that mistake again so I should be doing this..." It clogs the path, log-jamming your synapses into near paralysis.

Folks, I have seen a couple of pictures of Bones' wife, Kristin, and I can tell ya' she is *DAMN CUTE*, so he doesn't exaggerate there. I am now even more in awe of her given her reaction to your crash, Bones. You are, indeed, a lucky man on that score. I have never found a woman like that, which probably explains why I'm not married any more...

Take care, Bones... And if there is anything I can do for ya', you know to let me know. You were a great comfort to me during my Dad's horrible illness, and you helped me through that more than perhaps you will ever know. Anything I can do for you while you are banged up would be my pleasure... I'll try to give ya' a call this weekend.

Do wish you had let me know, though... Now I feel bad not being there for you sooner.

Cheers!

Dallara

Hey guys,
Thanks. I am just hopeful that some nugget of my experience will prevent some crash that someone makes. For example, I would be rich if I had a dime for everytime I hear a "debriefing story" on a crash on the streets where the rider had the right of way. It is so common. That fact alone has just heightened my sensitivity on that issue. I don't even think about it anymore and just take for granted that I NEVER have the real right of way when riding. There are certain types of intersections that I just won't make a left turn through regardless of whether I am riding alone or with someone. I am sure of at least two potential crashes that those things saved me from.

A few other things about that day of my crash.
1. Karma. The previous time I was there the weather wasn't perfect, but in a full day of riding there were NO crashes for any of the three groups, seven sessions each. A few ran off into the grass, but no crashes. This particular day the weather was outstanding. There were 12 crashes that I know of, including mine. It was one of those days that just felt "weird." The interesting thing is that I actually could have been killed that day, but not on the bike. I was climbing over a chain link fence to deal with a power cord for my tire warmers. Coming over the fence my jeans got caught and I came flying down headfirst towards concrete. I thought I was going to hit my head and would die. Somehow I twirled before hitting. Crazy. It should have been a sign. The funny thing is that one of my friends was there and I call him my guardian angel. When he watches me ride, takes pics or video, I somehow always feel like everything will be OK. He fell asleep in the van just before my session and so, wasn't there when I was riding. He was in the pit area. He says he failed me. Who am I to argue? We have laughed about that.

2.The friends "thing." One of my close friends really does feel very negatively about motorcycles in general. He certainly hasn't been very interested or supportive of my riding. But when I called to tell him what happened (embarassed to call him, too), he was great. He expressed only sorrow about what happened, asked if there was anything he could do, and did some things that really were helpful. THEN he said "hey, please don't beat yourself up about this. Things happen. " Indeed. But coming from someone who could easily say I told you so, it was so nice to hear the important stuff. As mentioned, kindness is so underrated and so powerful.

3. My wife who is fantastic in so many ways (as described in my previous post) was probably close to wanting a divorce today. I was counciling her from the drivers seat on how to park the family car loaded with kids in a parking garage. She expressed being uncomfortable with the garage because the ceiling was so low in there. I said "well, we haven't scraped the roof on the last twenty or so crossmembers we have passed underneath, so it is doubtful we are going to have a problem now. And, is there a specific reason why we are parking at an angle?"

Testosterone apparently prevents proper blood flow to certain speech centers in the brain. It also makes us think certain things are funny that those without testosterone don't find so funny. Go figure. I thought it was funny. She didn't. Can't really blame her, though.

One more thing: the line I put in my original post "If you are gonna be stupid, you gotta be tough" is from one of my buddies who coined that, post crash. My favorite quote of the year. It is posted in my office. Ark, you have to add that to the list, for sure. It is SO useful.

Dallara...thanks so much for all your input on so many things. I will look forward to catching up sometime soon.

I mentioned photos. My email is [email protected] for those who like to tinker with all things on the computer. Once I get the digital camera out to the storage area, someone will want to see pics of the helmet and leathers, I am sure. Meantime, I have riding photos downloaded.

Thanks guys.

Bones

Thanks for the post. I can think of a few times over the past year when one of your well thought out & written posts have given me some great info.

Get better.

On being critical of your wife's parking, I think sometimes women are just not in the mood to be criticized, & no matter how inane or silly the critical comment, it is a huge mistake to have made it. Other times, she could care less.

Bones,

Hope you continue to heal and feel better. I think it is great that you shared this experience. I'm not good at talking/sharing my screw-ups. We all can benifit from this story.

Bones - sorry for your crash. A friend of mine suffered the same injury in his first crash in 40 years of street riding last year. He agrees with your assessment of the pain.

I have read many "debriefings" but yours was one of the most informative. Thanks for sharing and heal soon.

I had rotator cuff surgery on a Thursday, went to work on Monday (using the computer mouse left-handed), left work to go to the Doc on Tuesday without telling him I had already gone to work. When can I go back? Two weeks, he says. Ok, then back to the office I went!

Stupid or stubborn? Who knows?

I think I speak for all when I say that your posting has help all to be better and safer riders buddy! I can wait to read how it when in your FIRST DAY BACK AT THE TRACKNEXT YEAR!
ralphie

Bones -

Great to have you back on the board! These online communities are only as good as the people who post on them, and you certainly help make this a great place.

So sorry to hear about your crash. You know, I am on the track frequently (going out tomorrow, in fact) and these things happen. I try to minimize the chances of it happenning with: protective gear (the best I can get), training (it aint cheap, Keith Code style), and attitude. The thing I always, always tell myself is "Track day is not race day!" It is my mantra. When someone goes by me in a squidly manner, I just let them open it up because, well, "track day is not race day". (NB: Not that many people get by me ) I'm not saying I don't mix it up a little bit from time to time, but I have also been known to pit and go back out to avoid people who are doing other than what track day is for - "tuning and testing".

It was great to read your candid account of the crash, and I wish you the very best in recovery and in future motorcycling endeavors - but most of all, keep contrinbuting to our online community!

Bones thanks for letting us know about your crash...I've had similar injuries including a total separation of the a/c joint.

Trying to sleep is a bugger..just as you nod-off you go to roll over and wake up in serious pain.

Were your gloves the new ones with the small finger and next small finger sewn together?..glad you had good gear.

Any pics??... ..yeah we're a sick bunch....don't worry even Rossi crashes...hope you're feeling better soon.

btw...Did you see that nutter in off-topics crash in the nude...you gotta laugh..

DJ

Wow, Bones...welcome back to the board but I'm really sorry to hear of your crash & injuries.

Thanks for the analysis, the tips and the pearls of hard-won wisdom...they are worth a lot. And it says a lot about you that you would take the time and effort to share all that with us in the spirit of helping keep brothers & sisters safe. Thanks again for that.

Your wife sounds like a real sweetie and, yes you are a lucky man. Me too.

I was riding bikes and jumping out of airplanes when I met Betty so she was "warned" from the get-go, but through the years she really has had to pay too much and be too understanding & supportive too many times.

She has a really strange way of showing and/or dealing with the unique stress of seeing her husband, once again, flat on his back in an ER. She laughs! And giggles like a 14 year old girl! This is entirely contrary to her usual sympathetic, helpful, nurtering, kind nature. The first couple of times it kind of pissed me off but then I came to expect and understand it.

Once I hit a tree HARD on a Hare Scrambles bike had smashed my foot between the tree and a footpeg mount while still 4 ft. in the air from a jump. I was convinced my foot was at least broken. My buddy got me home and Betty took me to the ER. All during the exam and X-Rays she was all smiles and giggles while I was hurting like hell! When the Doc told her nothing was broken she broke out in a long, hardy laugh you could hear all over the ER. I know they all thought she was a nut case but I knew she still loved me and was just concerned & relieved!
She cried and apologized all the way home which just made me love her more.

Anyway, sorry for your pain and all the trashed gear and damaged bike. I hope your recovery is quick, complete and relatively painless.

You are a class act, Dr. Bones!

Mmmm!

Sorry to hear of your get off! I guess you can now get one of Lance's $80 helmets to replace the Arai!! Hey, at the Texas Rally this WE in Galvaston there were helmets for sale for $20 - you should have told me and I could have got one for you!!

Those are the kinds of experiences I class as being, "mugged by reality...". Or, what Paulo Freier, a South American writer said, that we sometimes ...." suffer from an absence of doubt..." So, what I learned and was remined of from it was, the need to remain vigilant to possibilites - particulary "when in the zone" and one is inclined to relax those antenna.

Not related to your story was another amusing incident I had yesterday. I cruised with 8 HD friends to Galvaston. The route was through some nice TX 40 mph marked twisties I know well. For those who know me here, I will overtake the the 'ride captain' and enjoy the ride for that section ( Taking those corners at 50 is not fun!) and then wait for them to catch up later. We stopped after about 20 miles later for them to rest their cruiser rear ends. One HD rider I dont know well, decked out in his finest costume, came up up to me. We got talking when another friend asked how fast I had gone (My cycle computer had logged 98 - out of one corner) and continued to say how well the 50R's handle (He having ridden my bike.) The other fellow with a sneer then asked, " Well, then why was your other BMW totalled if they handle so well?" I enjoyed my short reply, "It was a Harley rider on it!"

Thank you for relating your experience, as well as all the others on this board. Not only the relating, but the colorful, insighful exchanges buried deep inside the text relating to riding, conveys the worth of thinking riding and the focus on that. One of the differences between riders and bikers.

Thanks for sharing Bones. Great take home messages and pearls brought to life. Good luck with your recovery.

Kevin

Acacia:

I guess you can now get one of Lance's $80 helmets to replace the Arai!!

The point of the article and all those scientific tests was that those particular helmets performed as well or better than the expensive ones... duh. Your quote only points out that you are gullable to fancy marketing, which I wouldn't brag about.

P.S. Bones, glad you'll recover!

Lance,
I dangled to hook out there and you bit!

Bones:

That was — I don't know how else to say it — a powerful post. Thanks.

I am so glad you're pretty much O.K.

Take care.

George

Bones - incredible post. Thanks for sharing such a painful experience that we can all learn from. You have a great wife!

Guys,
Thanks, again, for the kind words and wishes for speedy recovery. It is coming slowly, but fortunately, steadily.

Your posts would suggest that my posting on my crash has imparted some bit of help to others. That is all I could have hoped for. For that, I am pleased.

Re questions

I was wearing Alpinestars GP Plus gloves. All their race gloves have the pinky and ring finger webbed together to prevent the dislocated pinky fracture. The GP plus, included. This was not an issue in my case.

I will do my best to get out to where all my gear and bike is next week so I can post some pics.

Indeed, my wife, if nothing else, is cute and has one hell of a sense of humor....she has put up with me for 22 years. I suggest that requires either a sense of humor or plain stupidity. And she isn't stupid.

Finally, the crash experience always provides additionallearning on what the limits of bike performance capabilities exist for a given bike and given set of circumstances. My R6 made about 130 hp at the crank as it was set up. It weighed 350 lbs as it was set up. In other words, it was fast. I was on good tires, I used tire warmers, the suspension set up was good. The track was warm ( measured it with an infra red thermometer and it was between 85-90 degrees on the surface). The crash was do to MY actions. I really couldn't have been on a better bike. And I wasn't going that fast in terms of overall speed. It wasn't gravel. It wasn't a deer. It wasn't oil or antifreeze on the road. It wasn't a car crossin the center line. It wasn't leaves on the road. It wasn't a puddle.

So what am I getting at? I am getting at this: a bike like the 1150R (or the 1200GS I currently have that replaced my 1150R) is beyond great for real world riding. A bike like any of the modern sport bikes are totally useless on the streets. IF you are a good rider, you can keep up with anyone on any bike in real world riding if you are on your R. YOU will decide how fast you want to ride around blind corners, etc. There is a limit to traction under any circumstances and we can all exceed that limit very easily.

I always said that riding on the track made me feel less compelled to ride faster and harder on the street. That has certainly been reinforced, now. What I loved about the 3 BMW bikes I have owned so far has been enhanced now, even further.

Ride safe, y'all. Thanks again for the kind wishes.

Bones