Unfortunate before and after pics...

[FLTRI]

Of this weekends ride...

[d190]

You are typing...but where is the after shot of YOU...???

Dan, are all the pieces still in the right places????

[FLTRI]

Fortunately, that is not my bike. Unfortunately, it's one of my bests friends, Jeff...

Saturday was Jeff's first ride on his new to him 2003 Road Glide. The first picture is him rolling up to my house, with a big grin on his face. After we (three of us, all on 03 FLTRI's) ooohh & awed over his bike we decided to ride Northshore Road on Lake Mead. Jeff is very familiar with this stretch of road, as he works for for the water district, and this is his commute to work every day...

The first 15 miles were the perfect ride. I was lead, Jeff was rocking chair, and Russo was bringing up the tail. It was not coincidence we rode this formation. Russo used to race dirt bikes, and is an experienced rider. I ride for a living, and wanted to scan for problems ahead. Both Russo and I wanted the newbie between us to make sure he was safe. We figured put Jeff in the middle, I'll clear the path and Russo will watch Jeff to be sure he's not in over his head...

All was well, and Jeff was finding the line through the corners like an expert. We stopped him once and asked if he was okay. He said sure, this is fun, and I'm perfectly comfortable riding at this pace...

A few miles later, we entered right hand sweeper. Jeff crossed the center line, continued into the oncoming lane and rode his new to him Road Glide off the road into the desert at 50 mph...

We got him stabilized and a flight on Mercy Air. Jeff had surgery today. Two pins in the spine and a neck collar for the next three months.

The bike is probably totaled...

[txhawg]

Wow! That sucks. I am sorry for your friend Jeff. So, any idea what was going on with him? You mentioned newbie....was this his first bike? Was he just riding above his abilities or what?

[FLTRI]

No, not his first bike. He had a 1100cc Japanese something-or-other 20 years ago. Rode it to Sturgis back in the 80's...

But this was his first bike since then. He bought it from his brother as his 50th birthday present to himself. Took the MSF course and got his 'M' endorsement on his license. Called his insuance company and got hat part taken care of. Then he stood in line at the DMV for four hours getting the VIN inspected.

I even gave him a pair of my work gloves to ride with...

Kinda troubles me that both Russo and I were pushing him to go for a ride. His first ride looks to be his last...

[d190]

Was that the bumpy section of the road? or Target fixation? I remember a couple stretches of the road had would separate you from the seat pretty good...

Hope he heals....that is tough...doing the right things getting back into riding and takes a major dump...that is tough...

[FLTRI]

No, not bumpy at all. It's been repaved and widened since you and I rode it together. I suspect that he was set up wrong on the entry and tried to steer rather that ride. Russo told me that he was screaming, lean Jeff, Lean Jeff, LEAN JEFF!!!

He was riding so well, prior to the off course incident. The place he went off was not much of a turn, just a gentle right sweeper. Sugar & I rode it today to get a perspective. I'm still stunned that he lost it there. Speed limit is 50 and that is about what what were doing. You could easily negotiate the same turn at 80+...

I've got the backstage pass to the ICU tomorrow. Maybe Jeff will be able to shed some light on what the *F* happened...

[ms_tapestry]

Dang, I'm so sorry to hear about this. . .thoughts and prayers for a full recovery for your friend. . . :pray: Don't take guilt on yourself for this. . .each rider is responsible for their own ride. . . I went down on a corner riding with some friends. . .no way was it their fault and I felt bad for traumatizing them. . . target fixation, inexperience in what to do if you get in trouble, riding above your ability. . . maybe all of those things combined. I didn't give up though. I still ride and I hope your friend does the same if he wishes.

[aintgotnun]

More prayers for Jeff from Texas.

[Stoney]

Really sorry to hear about your friend. Prayers from here. Keep us updated as to his condition.

[polarbear]

Ditto from Kansas as well, prayers and good thoughts coming his way. Sure hate to hear of any rider going down.


Kenny

[Screamin' Eagle]

Positive thoughts and prayers headed Jeff's way from Middle Tennessee!!!!!! :pray:

[LouEvo XL]

We'll keep Jeff in our thoughts & prayers in Ky...

[Dinero]

I didn't want to open this one.

These things do happen--The Mystery Accident.

I just hate to hear about them happening to friends especially.

My best to Jeff.

[Mnhorsemom]

Thoughts and prayer for your friend and for you. Hope he mends quickly, and it certainly wasn't, in any way, your fault.

[tundra]

Prayers to Jeff for a quick recovery.

Sounds like it was just one of those things...dang.

[LiLBrudder]

prayers for a strong recovery!!!

[phreak]

Very sorry to hear about your phriend. I do hope he has a phull & speedy recovery.

[bluvet79]

We don't know Jeff but it seems he is like family to you which makes him family to all of us here at HDB. Please tell him we all wish him the best and we are praying for him.....
Please keep us posted on his status.....

Gary

[FLTRI]

Thanks everyone...

I just got back from the hospital. Jeff is doing very well considering it' 48 hours from the wreck, and 24 from surgery. He broke bone number 5 in his back, and it is now pinned to #4 and #6 to keep it in place. I don't remember if it's C5 or T5 or whatever, but it's basically the bone between his shoulder blades. He also has a "Laminate Fracture" to a neck bone. He is in ICU now,and should get moved to a regular room tonight or in the morning, discharge will probably be on Thursday...

After he gets home, he has to wear one of those neck brace deals that also attach to your chest. It basically keeps your neck and back perfectly straight. He has to wear it all the time he is vertical for the next three months, and a simple neck brace when he's in bed.

His wife, Ellen, is pretty much living at the hospital. Shook her up pretty badly. When I met up with her Saturday, the first thing she told me was "Don't tell me what happened, I don't want to know right now". She still has not asked... Today, Jeff started analyzing what happened, and she left the room...

Jeff is a control systems engineer, and like most engineers he is extremely analytical. On a humorous note, he said he had completed his cause and effect analyses while he was laying in the MRI...Here's what he came up with.

First, he lowered his visual horizon. Said he thought the turn was over. In fact, he was only about 3/4 of way through it. Started to drift left, and ran over the bots-dots center line. When that happened, he lowered his visual horizon more to see where the bike was on the road. Now, he makes the decision to ride the bike all the way across the oncoming lane, and stop on the opposite shoulder. Said he made this choice because he didn't want to be riding head on into oncoming traffic, and he didn't want to brake while turning. Once he got to the shoulder, he realized that the bike was still going left,and he had that Oh Shit moment when it left the road and started through the desert. He managed to keep it up for quite a ways in the dirt. His last mistake was seeing that he was going to hit a bush and grabbing both brakes. Front end locked up and tossed him off...

Attached pic is from the point he left the road, to where the bike landed. The bike was on it's left side after the accident, Russo and I stood it up after the helicopter left as it was leaking fuel...

[Rewind]

Wow!!!! That's some scary chit. I said a prayer for Jeff.

[ms_tapestry]

Thanks everyone...

I just got back from the hospital. Jeff is doing very well considering it' 48 hours from the wreck, and 24 from surgery. He broke bone number 5 in his back, and it is now pinned to #4 and #6 to keep it in place. I don't remember if it's C5 or T5 or whatever, but it's basically the bone between his shoulder blades. He also has a "Laminate Fracture" to a neck bone. He is in ICU now,and should get moved to a regular room tonight or in the morning, discharge will probably be on Thursday...

After he gets home, he has to wear one of those neck brace deals that also attach to your chest. It basically keeps your neck and back perfectly straight. He has to wear it all the time he is vertical for the next three months, and a simple neck brace when he's in bed.

His wife, Ellen, is pretty much living at the hospital. Shook her up pretty badly. When I met up with her Saturday, the first thing she told me was "Don't tell me what happened, I don't want to know right now". She still has not asked... Today, Jeff started analyzing what happened, and she left the room...

Jeff is a control systems engineer, and like most engineers he is extremely analytical. On a humorous note, he said he had completed his cause and effect analyses while he was laying in the MRI...Here's what he came up with.

First, he lowered his visual horizon. Said he thought the turn was over. In fact, he was only about 3/4 of way through it. Started to drift left, and ran over the bots-dots center line. When that happened, he lowered his visual horizon more to see where the bike was on the road. Now, he makes the decision to ride the bike all the way across the oncoming lane, and stop on the opposite shoulder. Said he made this choice because he didn't want to be riding head on into oncoming traffic, and he didn't want to brake while turning. Once he got to the shoulder, he realized that the bike was still going left,and he had that Oh Shit moment when it left the road and started through the desert. He managed to keep it up for quite a ways in the dirt. His last mistake was seeing that he was going to hit a bush and grabbing both brakes. Front end locked up and tossed him off...

Attached pic is from the point he left the road, to where the bike landed. The bike was on it's left side after the accident, Russo and I stood it up after the helicopter left as it was leaking fuel...deja vu. . . thank goodness y'all were with him. :Angel_anim:

[polarbear]

Glad to hear Jeff is mending, trying to keep a bike upright on sand is very difficult even at 20 mph let alone 50.


Prayers still being sent for his recovery, my Dad broke that same vertebrae and it took him at least 4 months to heal, course he was 80 then but still going.


Kenny

[Gymrat523]

good helmet, leather jacket and jeans, he was dressed better than I usually am, it sounds like it helped, glad he is doing better.

[Desert Angel]

Are there any updates or have I missed them?

Hopes and prayers he is healing and not in a lot of pain!

[FLTRI]

Jeff is at home, actually got out of the hospital a day early. He and his wife got a bed set up on the ground floor of his house as he can’t go up stairs yet. Always the engineer, Jeff couldn’t see the TV due to the angle of the neck brace. Attached a makeup mirror to the bill of a hat, and how he can see it; upside down and backwards, but he’s working on a fix for that, too…

He’s in good spirits, and the pain is not as bad. He’s still on pain meds; better living through chemistry is part of that…

His insurance company looked at the bike, and told him he doesn’t have the right catalogue(?) to do the estimate, and told him to get it looked at by a dealer. I’m gonna visit Henderson HD this weekend and see if they can do a home visit estimate…

The women in his life (mom & wife) pretty much told him his riding days are over. At this point he’s not arguing with them, and I doubt he will…

[ms_tapestry]

Some ride again, some do not. I respect his decision. I'm glad to know he's doing well. I have one of those makeup mirrors. I saw it from across the room the other day and it was upside down and backwards. :D Let me know what the fix is.

[FLTRI]

Some ride again, some do not. I respect his decision.

Absolutely, as do I…

His wife told him he can have whatever set of golf clubs he wants. Funny, because he would get an earful every couple of months from her after he added some new gadget club to his bag…:)

[kd5cqt]

Tell him by all means let the dealer go over the bike. The estimate the insurance guy tried to give me for my bike was so low that the dealer said it wouldn't even cover the paint needed. By the time the service department in Mobile got finished going over the bike (and they knew it well from before the crash) there wasn't too much on it they didn't deem needing replacement.
I read the analysis of the wreck, and it pretty much coincided with what I had originally suspected...that split second where your attention gets diverted often leads to disaster.
I, too, respect the decision to not ride again, but I sure do wish for him that it hadn't happened this way!

[Rewind]

I agree.............It's his decision to make. I hope his recovery continues to go well!!! Give him my best and tell him I'm praying for him and his family.