KLR's don't like ice!!

[SWSportsman]

Often heard the old adage that there are riders who have gone down and those than are going to go down, but I guess wishful thinking had me believing I could escape. Well, after 50+ years and around half-a-million motorcycling miles my turn came around yesterday.

Left my house at 11AM at approx. 24 degrees, all bundled up and enjoying the sunshine. After traversing some of my favorite roads I decided to head over to Hot Springs and have lunch. I was getting hungry, so stopped off at Ferguson's Store at Fines Creek and had some beef stew and cornbread. Those mountain women sure can cook!Back on 209 for a while, I decided to take a right on Baltimore Branch Road, an interesting ride that gets up to some pretty good altitude. I guess that was my biggest mistake of the day. The road surface was just about perfect,but there was some ice in the ditches. I rounded a gentle curve and the shade revealed a fairly long downslope. As soon as I rounded the curve, I could make out ice on the road, but I was right on it by then. As soon as I hit the ice, I instantaneously low-sided. I landed on my left side and rolled over onto my back. I soon caught up to and passed the skidding bike, which was headed for the ditch on the right, while I was unknowingly headed for the left which was a steep drop off. I was sliding along on my back fairly free of friction and actually slid about 100 feet before stopping in the brush at the edge of the road. My mindset was one of disbelief. One second motoring along and the next on my back!

It was fairly non-traumatic, and looking back on it, I think that ice might me the best of all surfaces to fall down on. Very little friction. My gear held up well. Was glad that I had my Joe Rocket jacket and First Gear overpants on, both of which have armor in the good places.

The most difficult part of this fiasco turned out to be getting the bike up again, due to the ice all around it. Finally broke up enough of the ice with a phillips head screwdriver to gain traction for my boots. Damage isn't too bad......lost the plastic on the left side by the radiator. Scratched up the front fender and the left hand guard. Jammed the gear shift lever up against the engine case. I was able to bend that back out enough to make it home. Glad it didn't break. Gonna order a Dual Star and keep the OEM for a spare. The thing that seems potentially the most troublesome is that the mounting tab on the radiator (lower left front) dented the first column of fins in about 1/8 inch. No leaking, so I assume she'll be okay.

I'm okay, but pretty sore today......like I went a couple of rounds with Ric Flair! What could I have done differently? I think it was pretty unavoidable. Maybe I could have taken a different route and avoided the altitude. Or maybe just stayed home. But then a lady near here stayed home one night instead of going shopping with her grown children because the weather was bad. She played it safe and what happened? A mudslide destroyed her home and killed her.

Sorry this is so long, but I felt like telling the story to fellow motorcyclists. It was pretty mild as crashes go, and for that I am grateful. Nevertheless, it was a significant event for me.

And yep, I have the nerf bars on order! Actually ordered them a couple of months ago.......still waiting.

[SWSportsman]

Oops! Just saw the "klr on ice" thread. That's what I needed......studded tires! Sure doesn't work very well with the stock ones.

[Brad]

Well you came out of it both physically and materially pretty good it sounds like and statisically you were well over the bell of the curve. So the good news it that you are now back to the starting point.

The last numbers I saw showed that the average motorist can expect a collision every 6.8 years, and with each additional year that the odds double. Good on you for beating the odds for so long!

[mirage642]

Glad to hear you come out "ok". I would take bruised and sore anyday over road rash or hittting.

The last tumble I had was in '85 on my first bike. Best learning experience I ever had. 70K later I still love to ride. I've been pushing my luck on the ice but so far the bike has been predictable and no washouts.

[SWSportsman]

Brad, I've heard it argued that your "odds" are actually the same each and every time you go out, regardless of how many times you have done it before, except of course for the factors of training and experience gained. Statistics are peculiar things.

i dont like ice even when im in the 4wheeler.no more ice for me with the scoot.

[SWSportsman]

Same here Dale!

[Brad]

Originally Posted by SWSportsman

Brad, I've heard it argued that your "odds" are actually the same each and every time you go out, regardless of how many times you have done it before, except of course for the factors of training and experience gained. Statistics are peculiar things.

Your right stats are funny things, the odds of a collision happening any given day are the same but the odds that you WILL have a collision is as I mentioned, or at least about 2 plus years ago when I was doing collision analysis, now doing statistical stuff to generate design level engineering numbers for roadways, that is when I do go to work. These two day work weeks are going to kill me.

[SPOFF]

Originally Posted by Brad

The last numbers I saw showed that the average motorist can expect a collision every 6.8 years, and with each additional year that the odds double.

This will be my 20th season since the last mishap. I think experience lowers the odds. I go entire seasons without as much as a close call. As for ice, the first winter I had my license (back when Nixon was president) I managed to slide to a stop pinned under the bike a couple of times. Ouch! I don't go out below freezing. It's not worth it.

[ironbrewer]

I went out today. It wa 60 degrees. I was riding up some four wheel drive roads on forest service roads norht of Boulder Colorado and came upon some serious ICE. I just turned around and road some other roads.

[SHRIKE]

Originally Posted by ironbrewer

I went out today. It wa 60 degrees. I was riding up some four wheel drive roads on forest service roads norht of Boulder Colorado and came upon some serious ICE. I just turned around and road some other roads.

Where do you live ??? Ice at 60? You are kidding right?
What is the ambient pressure in your town? :lol2:

[Camas]

Glad you're OK. It is a good feeling to know that your riding gear is ready cause you never know when it will happen. I don't buy "odds". It's gonna happen when we least expect it. As for whether to ride or not, I figure you ain't promised tomorrow so you best live today like it was your last and get out and do what make you happy.

[MD_KLR]

Bugger. been there, hated it, trust me it gets better.

Aw Ra Best
Mark

[Stability]

It's a small world, I took my KLR up 63 & then onto 209 up to Hot Springs the day before. I was lucky with the ice & didn't have any problems.
In fact I'll probably fire up the Ducati or the KLR tomorrow if the weather is good. I'm glad to hear that you're OK. Maybe I'll run into you one of these days. There are 2 or 3 local KLR guys around. I live in Leicester, not far from Maggie Valley.
One other thing, I have been impressed with my Joe Rocket Ballistic, I wasn't cold at all.
I think this weekend should be good for riding, I have to go back offshore for 3 weeks on Monday so it's now or never.