After just 5 months of riding I finally laid her down for the first time. Ah, my beautiful 2011 Custom, all scratched up. I was going about 45 when some knucklehead pulled right out in front of me just as I was about to enter the intersection. There was nothing I could do. I slammed on the brakes and immediately lost control and went down. It's wierd cuz it happened so fast yet felt like slow motion. I remember thinking "this is really going to hurt" and "maybe I should have gotten a full-face helmet or at least one that cost more than $40". I bounced off my right side and felt my helmet smack the ground. I remember bouncing a couple times then sliding. As I was sliding, I looked up and saw my bike sliding in front of me with a shower of sparks arcing in the air. I remember thinking that it was actually pretty cool looking. I ended up sitting in the middle of the intersection for a little bit trying to figure out what just happened. All in all, the bike damage was minimal. Harleys are tough. All on the left side - rear turn signal, foot peg and shifter, left handle bar clutch and turn signal all ground down smooth and flat. The footpeg and shifter are bent, but the bike is ridable. I actually rode it home from the ER and have been riding it since. As for me, sprained right wrist and few bruises here and there. Although I wasn't going 90 MPH, I figure 45 would have been fast enough to do some serious damage. Maybe I got lucky. Maybe it was what I was wearing. It was only about 38 degrees so I had on many several layers of clothes, including snow pants, snow coat, and big poofy gloves. I was basically a giant marshmallow. Stupid idiots on 4 wheels.

 

Glad you are ok...bikes can be repaired more easily.

 

You just got your bike baptized.

 

"laid it down" ...that is a term used when you do it on purpose( dunno why )
what you did was as you said "lost control" then fell down.
I assume from your description that you didnt hit the car.

hopefully you will practice using the front brake where 80 percent of the stopping power is and dont lock up the back brake , and never ,never fall down in a panic stop again.

good to hear you are OK , and just minor bumps and bruises.
get back on that horse and ride it

 

5 months of riding and into a cage already! sure glad you are o.k.- amazing how lame those 4 wheelers ride. probably some mom on her cell phone, drinking coffee, talking on the phone and taking notes?~!
kinda why i have 3 lights on the front, really loud pipes and an extra loud horn. that and i expect all cages to be aiming for me.
the bike can be fixed or repaired... you cant. a memorable experience that only can be shared with those of us who understand!
... and i repeat: glad you are o.k. - and thats really all that matters

 

Glad your ok...bike can be fixed. All those layers sure do work well, eh? Now that ya got that one out of the way, get back on that horse and ride.

 

Glad you are okay. You should never lose control hitting the brakes.

Since you lost control and only have been riding 5 months, some questions:

1. Have you ever taken a safety/riding course?
2. Ever practice panic stops?
3. What would you do differently?
4. Could you have seen the car before it pulled out in front of you or totally obscured?
5. 38 degrees and no FF helmet?

 

Glad to hear that you're ok. Did you lock up the rear tire and go into a skid? I've done it a couple of times in emergency stops. Gotta get on that front brake like a previous poster stated. Best of luck, hope your bike gets fixed. Ride safe and watch out for those cars!!!!!

 

Good to hear you are in one piece, I was rearended a year ago and that really sucks because I never saw it coming. Keep your head on a swivel and always watch out for morons in cars.

 

Glad you're OK. Why I left the engine guard on when I got the bike even though I didn't like the way it looked. Great info on here about using the front brake only in a panic stop, never heard that one before. Does that apply if you ARE trying to lay it down?