Minikin_Jo's Crash

[jpbear]

Hate to bump this thread with some not so good news. @Minikin_Jo had a crash yesterday . She has some injuries (broken shoulder) and is undergoing observaton by the docs. She could still post an update with one hand and will surely be back .. The bike is totalled..

Wishing her a speedy recovery..

[akima]

Originally Posted by jpbear

Hate to bump this thread with some not so good news. @Minikin_Jo had a crash yesterday . She has some injuries (broken shoulder) and is undergoing observaton by the docs. She could still post an update with one hand and will surely be back .. The bike is totalled..

Wishing her a speedy recovery..

Sh1t. Heal up Jo Start a new thread soon so we can send you lots of ninjette comradery and love to help you recover

[Alex]

Shoot, sorry to hear this. Heal fast, @Minikin_Jo !

[lgk]

i'll be praying for a speedy recovery.

please let us know how your doing minikin jo

[csmith12]

Best wishes and a speedy recovery!

[psych0hans]

Get well soon minikin

[dave42]

Ouch! Sorry to hear that; hope you get better soon!

[siebadn]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[jeff.roark]

Get well soon Jo.

[BlueHairSar]

This is from Greg, Jo's Hubby:

Originally Posted by Greg, Jo's Hubby

Jo was maneuvering a left hand curve at approximately 30-40 MPH. Partial way through the curve her left foot peg and shoe started scraping the ground. To keep her foot and leg from being pulled under the bike, she lifted/straightened the bike upright. This caused her to run off the road into the brush which she instantly prepared herself for. She successfully maintained control of her bike in the brush but upon reentering the roadway, the road curved to the right. She then jetted directly across the road way and into the woods on the opposite side.
She just barely missed a large tree as her and her bike landed about 20 to 30 feet into the woods.

Her injuries:
Broken/ shatter right shoulder/scapula in 3 places
Major bruising down the right side of her body
Minor head concussion.

We are ever so grateful she missed the tree as her injuries though extremely sad could have been much worse.

Heal up soon, darling!

[jaesun]

Oh man, I'm glad that this crash wasn't any worse and good thing someone was there to take care of you. Get better and how to see you soon.

[OCMagnum]

very sorry to hear that; prayers for a speedy recovery

[csmith12]

We would love to see you post up minikin. Your missed here.

[Minikin_Jo]

Thank you for the well wishes.

The accident was very scary. Was in the hospital 3 days and 2 nights. My right scapula is fractured in 3 places and shattered in the center of the fractures, like glass. I have a minor concussion and am still feeling dizzy and have trouble concentrating sometimes. I am swollen in areas on my right side, primarily my hip, thigh, shoulder and chest area. I have the most disgusting bruises ever on my hip and thigh.

My bike is totaled. I have no gear because they cut it all off me between the scene, ambo and trauma room. My helmet doesnt look too bad but the face shield did fall off at some point because when my husband got to me he said it was gone.

I'm not scared to ride again. I know the accident was totally unavoidable but the events that led up to it made me freeze and not react in a manner that could have saved me from this. I def wont ride until my shoulder is completely rehabbed and my concussion has cleared.

[psych0hans]

Originally Posted by Minikin_Jo

Thank you for the well wishes.

The accident was very scary. Was in the hospital 3 days and 2 nights. My right scapula is fractured in 3 places and shattered in the center of the fractures, like glass. I have a minor concussion and am still feeling dizzy and have trouble concentrating sometimes. I am swollen in areas on my right side, primarily my hip, thigh, shoulder and chest area. I have the most disgusting bruises ever on my hip and thigh.

My bike is totaled. I have no gear because they cut it all off me between the scene, ambo and trauma room. My helmet doesnt look too bad but the face shield did fall off at some point because when my husband got to me he said it was gone.

I'm not scared to ride again. I know the accident was totally unavoidable but the events that led up to it made me freeze and not react in a manner that could have saved me from this. I def wont ride until my shoulder is completely rehabbed and my concussion has cleared.

Hiya minikin, welcome back!!! So glad it wasn't any worse. I hope you heal up real quick and get back on two wheels again. Sending you some heal quick angels...

[jaesun]

It's good to hear back from you. Heal up, and we'll see you in the spring.

[Minikin_Jo]

Thank you

[jaesun]

Originally Posted by Minikin_Jo

Thank you

Is it too soon to come up with a list of suggestions for replacement items?

Black Friday is coming up!

[Minikin_Jo]

Originally Posted by jaesun

Is it too soon to come up with a list of suggestions for replacement items?

Black Friday is coming up!

What do you mean?

[jaesun]

Along with a new bike, you're going to need new gear.

[Minikin_Jo]

Oh yeah, definitely. I'm going to wait until Spring and see what new designs/styles come out. Nothing was out this year I liked.

First I need to heal up. Don't know yet if I'll need surgery on my shoulder, then I need to rehab it. Don't know if my dizziness from my concussion will be gone by then. Have heard its different for everyone. Some a few days, some a whole year to get better.

[Minikin_Jo]

Made a new photo album in my profile and added pics into it.

[ddrmanxbxfr]

Take care of yourself. It's great that you were wearing full gear. Definitely helped in there.

When you comeback to motorcycling, take your time, go at your pace and I'd say don't try to follow the others (if you're in a group ride) in case you overcome your own driving abilities... and the last have fun

Else hum, what about doing some basic track lessons ? That would probably teach you how to take in the curves and understand that body positioning makes a whole lot difference in a turn...

[Minikin_Jo]

Track may be helpful but is not an option. I live too far from a track (out of state) and cannot afford a track bike, trailer, etc.

[ecsiders]

Glad you're okay and healing with a good attitude of getting back on a bike. This makes me think I need to convince my wife to raise her bike up some. I lowered it 4" for her because like you she is short(fun sized - 5'1"). On my ZX10 I can barely touch but I like the twisties!!! Good luck on healing and maybe you can move into the new 300 if you decide to get another bike??? It is fuel injected and much improved over the 250. Something to think about while you heal...

[Minikin_Jo]

@ecsiders

I've already decided I will get the 300.

I was leaning into the left curve when I felt my peg & shoe scrape the ground. Nothing unusual but I just a tad lessened my lean a bit which made me go a little straighter but the curve was still there so I went back into a lean but it only made it worse because at that point I had less road to turn on. Tried to lean more just to roll with it but my foot scraped so bad I was scared it would be pulled back and under the bike. Was just my initial thought. Told my husband I was going to run off the shoulder a bit into the grass a sec. I ended up staying in the grass and rode parallel to the street a good 100 ft at least. But I really mentally braced myself to crash at that point, I remember the grass was tall so wasn't expecting to get thru it. When I made contact with the street again I was so relieved and my husband reassured me I did good I kept control of the bike. Next thing I know I was heading straight for the trees. I remember him yelling at me about trees and I froze up. I didn't even slow down or try to stop I barreled full speed into the woods. I did aim between the 2 trees I saw at least.

I had no idea how I was running parallel then crossing the road when I kept my bike straight. It wasn't until the next day my husband said as soon as I hit the pavement the road curved to the right. I totally didn't even notice. But then again, it all happened SO FAST. Yeah, I can describe every moment in detail as if I had time to think about it but this all occurred in a matter of seconds. It doesnt take any time at all to cross the street on foot. Imagine crossing the street at 40 mph.

[Minikin_Jo]

I shouldn't have gone as fast as i was going. I'm sure your wife will be fine if she remembers to take it easy on curves. I would've been ok had I at least let go of the throttle some in my turn but I was trying to be more aggressive and push myself more than usual. I didnt speed up but I maintained my speed and I probably shouldnt have. I wish I had reacted as I was heading to the woods I wouldve had time to emergency stop but I didnt. I froze and didnt let go of the throttle, try to break, pull in the clutch, nothing.

[jpbear]

@Minikin_Jo

Can you point out the place on Google Maps?

[Panda]

Super glad this story has a happy ending and you're ok.

[Minikin_Jo]

No, because I have no clue where we were but Greg said I did this. Its not exact but you get the idea

[Minikin_Jo]

I am sure I entered more closer to that little intersection and exited just at the very tip of the beginning of the right curve.

[Jiggles]

Wow Jo, that's crazy. I was also in a situation where I couldn't dress myself and let me say that **** is just damn embarrasing. But hey at least you can walk I see a lot of people in physical therapy with shoulder injuries, that's going to be a long recovery until you are 100% but even with a little motion and strength back you'll find you can do a lot of things.

If you can, try to exercise the muscles in you arm, just some simple tightening of the muscles is all thats needed to keep the muscles from deteriorating. Check with your doctor first to make sure its safe of course. The less muscle you have to regain come PT time the quicker you will recover. If I had been tightening the muscles in my leg I would have had a major jump start in my physical therapy

[jaesun]

That area by Point of Rocks is one of my favorite places to ride. I was actually planning to go through that part of Frederick County on Thanksgiving morning/early afternoon.

This other video came out in early October. This GT-R also had speed and lean issues on Ballenger Creek.

Link to original page on YouTube.

[LoneRonin]

Originally Posted by Minikin_Jo

You're absolutely right - I do not understand at all why the driver/rider has anything to do with the bike's performance. If you put a professional Nascar driver behind the wheel of my Chevy Cruz Eco it's not going to make my car faster.

Maybe not on a straight, but as soon as you guys are on a track where skill comes into play he'll slap the **** outta you in the same car.

Same concept applies to 250's. On the track I was passing supersports in the corners because of my superior skills, yet they would slap the **** outta me on straights.

Going fast in a straight line is no indicator of skill, anyone can put the pedal to the metal or pull back the throttle...

Your picture shows you're definitely the type that's only good in a straight line...how the hell you went off on that slight bend I have no idea.

[algs26]

Originally Posted by Minikin_Jo

Track may be helpful but is not an option. I live too far from a track (out of state) and cannot afford a track bike, trailer, etc.

Heal up fast and get a nice new 300.

Is this near you (related to the book):
http://www.totalcontroltraining.net/index.html


I'm a big proponent of closed course training. I guess after doing autoxes and track days in my car, I'd like to feel as comfortable at the limit (especially if reached unintentionally) on a bike as quickly as possible. Not so that I can go blasting through the twisties but to increase the margin of safety at normal speeds. Just food for thought from a guy who doesn't even have a bike yet.

TotW2 clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...yUTnlDw#t=670s

[LoneRonin]

Unless you're a tard you'll never ride as hard on the street as you do on track. Especially if you don't plan on hitting the twisties. You can be a perfectly adequate street rider without going to the track...Ask all the cruiser guys that have been at it for years.

[tuan3742]

read through the entire thread and was surprised to hear you about your accident. i'm glad to hear it wasn't worse. can't wait for you to join the 300 club ^^

[siebadn]

@Minikin_Jo
It's good to hear you are intact for the most part and aren't afraid to ride again.

I also want to thank you for posting the pic of your helmet. I have a Speed and Strength helmet as well, but I had never seen any crash tested photos or reviews. I have always wondered how well it would do.

[akima]

Hello Minikin_Jo. I know you've had concussion, so maybe much of what you have said has been mangled in your poor concussed brain!... but... I want to point out some things which you've said which I think you should think about.

Originally Posted by Minikin_Jo

I would've been ok had I at least let go of the throttle some in my turn

I'm not a cornering expert, but I read a lot about how to do it right. I really don't think you should be thinking about letting off the throttle in the turn... especially as a nooblet like myself. I think skilled riders in here might decide to decrease their speed in the first half of the turn, but for us: it makes a lot of sense to shave off your speed before you get to the turn. This is why: Braking and turning are both things that use grip. You've only got a limited amount of grip. As soon as you start turning you quickly start using up your available grip. If you brake during a turn you risk using too much grip and causing the tyres to slide. It's worse than just that. When you brake, you transfer weight to the front wheel (even if you are using the back brake). The ninjette, like many sports bikes, has more grip on the back wheel. So really you want to be gently accelerating through the turn to keep the back wheel loaded and the front wheel lighter. This makes it less likely the front wheel will slide away.

Bottom line: unless you are very skilled rider: don't brake while you are turning at speed. You either take the corner without braking (best option), or if that isn't possible (ie because the surface is to slippy or the corner is too tight for your speed and you're likely to scrape metal) then you have no choice but to stand the bike completely upright and do an emergency stop. One or the other.

I'm sure if anything I've said there is wrong then it will be corrected by someone who knows more than me ( @Alex @alex.s @gfloyd2002 @ally99 etc)

Originally Posted by Minikin_Jo

I didnt speed up but I maintained my speed and I probably shouldnt have.

I don't quite understand this comment but I don't think you should have the word "probably" in your sentence. It's really cheap in terms of time and price to learn how you should be riding. Two popular books in here are:
Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough
twist of the rist 2 by keith code

Read them!! As noobies to riding we are in much more danger of really hurting ourselves than the more experienced riders. We can change that though by learning from the experienced riders. Reading books like those can give you knowledge that might otherwise take you decades to gleam from other people.

Originally Posted by Minikin_Jo

I know the accident was totally unavoidable but the events that led up to it made me freeze and not react in a manner that could have saved me from this.

Was the accident really unavoidable? I doubt it.

One reason I started riding when I was previously too scared too, was because I realised that motorcyclists have way more control over their ride than at first it might seem. The majority of motorcycle crashes don't even involve other road users! It's just motorcyclists making noobie mistakes. Learn how to ride properly and you can already massively reduce the risk of getting hurt.

It's fun learning riding skills too! Cars are boring imo: it's like 80% car 20% driver skill. Motorcycles are flipped around! It's more like 80% rider, 20% bike. We are part of the machine!! The best modification you can make to a ninjette, is to upgrade the rider. Improve your health and your riding knowledge and your ninjette will work much better

Originally Posted by Minikin_Jo

I was leaning into the left curve when I felt my peg & shoe scrape the ground. Nothing unusual

If I remember correctly, people were discussing with you that your bike might have been lowered too much. It's simple physics that the more you lower your ninjette, the less it will be able to lean before something touches the ground.

I don't have a solution for you because I know you are quite short concentrated awesome ... but I guess you should consider that you can't take corners as fast if you have lowered your bike.

One thing you could learn, is how to move your weight around on the bike in order to keep the bike more upright while still getting the same turn radius. Keith Code's book explains that. It's hard to do properly though. But maybe you'll be better at it than me! You don't have to practice it at high speed. You can move your weight on the bike in corners, even at really low speed to experiment... though it will look pretty ridiculous!

Originally Posted by Minikin_Jo

It wasn't until the next day my husband said as soon as I hit the pavement the road curved to the right.

Concentrate!!

Anyway. I hope you heal up to full health and learn from your harsh experience.

-Akima x

[Jiggles]

The squirrels that don't get ran over are pretty damn smart and articulate