Labor Day weekend myself and two friends headed out for our last ride of the Summer season. We headed Southeast from Salt Lake. Our destination for the first of 2 nights was Cortez, CO. Left 7 in the morning, a little overcast but no rain. Made it over the pass on UT Hwy 6 with no problems. The 4th most dangerous road in the country by the way. Got to Moab with no problems.
After leaving Moab we went South caught Hwy 46 going East into Colorado, 46 turning into CO Hwy 90. Started riding towards some serious rain clouds. No problems we have done this too many times to count. Hit the LaSalle Mt pass to go towards Montrose, rain started coming down bad about 4 miles inside CO. We stopped and geared up and the rain started to slow down. We started up again and were in some serious switch backs. I was bringing up the rear my two friends in front. We were going down a slope into a 180 turn. I just geared down looked up into the turn and saw the lead bike slide and high center the rider went off and slid into the guardrail. I'm telling you now if you haven't seen someone wreck their bike I hope you never have too. I have seen a lot of motorcycle accidents with my job, but never have witnessed one myself. Big shock! I thought my friend was dead. Stopped our bikes ran up he was moving, thank God. He was wearing his helmet. This saved his life, because the mark on it showed his head impacted the rail. In the end he had a fractured ankle, 4 ribs and a vertabrae in his back.
We couldn't have been further out in the middle of nowhere. I was able to get 911, but this is a freak out. After I made the 911 call I had no service for 3 hours after that call up on the mountain. Thedeputy and Trooper that came to the scene told me they couldn't believe Igot a signal. Someone must have been watching out for us.
Couple thingsI can say: Harley makes one hell of a machine. His '03 Roadking wasn't totalled, but had a lot of outer damage. These bikes can take some punishment. Took 2 hours for a wreaker and 2 hours totransport my friendin the ambulance to Grand Junction. NoLifeflight with the weather. My friend knows his mistake. Remember don't break into a turn, especially if its wet conditions. When you on the road wear that helmet, it saved his life. Everybody out there ride safe!

 

I'm glad your friend lived and will mend.

Yep, it can be a dangerous hobby.

 

ouch

 

Ya Like He Said Ouch, But thankfully he's alive[:@]

 

After having a wreck of my own and having a friend die of a head injury I only ride with a helmet. The helmet would have saved his life if he would have had it on.

 

I have a helmet. It mainly rests on the wall in my garage. I do wear it, when I know I will be on th interstate, but that is it.

Glad your buddy will be okay. Is he still going to ride? Seems he is not the type to give it up, just wondering. Be safe.

 

He's lucky there was no oncoming traffic. My uncle hit a guard rail and rolled out into the road, in front of an oncoming car. The car was what killed him. The car kept right on going and never reported my uncle down, 10 miles between towns, downin a canyon.

 

Glad to hear your friend OK.

I never leave home without my cover.

 

wet corners and braking hmmmm not a good idea. glad to hear he is ok.

 

Sorry also to hear. Most of us know what not to do...., but IMO I can see how it can happen. You are already in a corner and realize you are carrying to much speed, then in wet weather or if we then realize there is loose gravel in the turn, we (me) then lose faith that your tires will hold more lean angle.... to we try to drop some speed and touch on the brakes....