What I learned on NOV24, 2007

[Jake '53]

It's a hard lesson. Glad you're still with us.

[Gene Smith]

Thank you all.

[Gene Smith]

The parts of the bike that survived, the engine, and frame, all else was badly damaged. Something else I did not relise is that motorcycle insurance covers the motorcycle and any outside property damage. Not medical. That is a seperate policy all together. All told my medical has acumilated $86000 and still rising. Thankfully I am in the Marine Corps and they are taking care of me.

[usmc88fan]

At least you are ok! We'll have to ride sometime....minus the drinks!


Blackmore

[mrblanche]

Sure glad you had on what gear you did have.

It would be nice if your experience would change someone else's practices, but everyone thinks, "It won't happen to me."

[A2rider]

I wish you well, I'm glad you posted the pics. They speak more than anything you will ever utter to wearing gear. But as was stated, people think it won't happen to them. It happened to me, I'm glad I had gear on.

Please take care of yourself, and I hope you can ride again.

[Gene Smith]

Originally Posted by usmc88fan

At least you are ok! We'll have to ride sometime....minus the drinks!


Blackmore

You up for a small ride Sat?

[likearock4x4]

Originally Posted by Gene Smith

Reconstructive knee surgery on my left knee and an ACL replacement on my right.

For all those that think it is ok to ride in shorts, Take a good look, I was wearing ICON denim/kevlar riding pants. Not upset with the company though. At 100+mph anything outside of leather wouldn't hold up. Cudos to JOE ROCKET textile jackets, and a special thanks goes out to SCORPION helmets.

Imagine how bad it would have been in shorts or even regular jeans.

Good on you for wearing gear, and thanks again for sharing.

I'm glad you have your medical covered. The bill for that would never get paid off if you didn't.

[Wgirl]

Originally Posted by Gene Smith

The parts of the bike that survived, the engine, and frame, all else was badly damaged. Something else I did not relise is that motorcycle insurance covers the motorcycle and any outside property damage. Not medical. That is a seperate policy all together. All told my medical has acumilated $86000 and still rising. Thankfully I am in the Marine Corps and they are taking care of me.

Ouch, ouch and one more ouch. Glad you learned your lesson and you are in one piece, sort of. I see a lot of women riders & pillions here in SoCal that don't wear proper gear in the summertime. Usually just a tank top, shorts & flip flops, they should really look at your pics.

[Gene Smith]

Originally Posted by Wgirl

Ouch, ouch and one more ouch. Glad you learned your lesson and you are in one piece, sort of. I see a lot of women riders & pillions here in SoCal that don't wear proper gear in the summertime. Usually just a tank top, shorts & flip flops, they should really look at your pics.

Some lessons just have to be learned the hard way.

I have also posted those pics with the Base Motorcycle Safty in a class that we give. We realy have a good class going on here at the base. No motorcycle rider can ride on the base without an Experianced Rider MSF card. ( Exception) Marines are given a one time temp pass good for three months while waiting to take the coarse but after the Basic coarse. This includes all ranks and civilians aboard MCAGCC.

[Wgirl]

Originally Posted by Gene Smith

Some lessons just have to be learned the hard way.

I have also posted those pics with the Base Motorcycle Safty in a class that we give. We realy have a good class going on here at the base. No motorcycle rider can ride on the base without an Experianced Rider MSF card. ( Exception) Marines are given a one time temp pass good for three months while waiting to take the coarse but after the Basic coarse. This includes all ranks and civilians aboard MCAGCC.

It's great that you are putting your bad experience to a good use. I lived on a army base and pretty much same rules apply there. I'm from germany originally and laws are much tougher there too to get your MC license. Young riders have to start off small before they can ride a bigger bike. I see some kids here barely streetlegal with big crotch rockets.

[Gene Smith]

Well, other don't agree with me, but I think than when these young/ inexperianced/ immature riders get to feeling confident that they need to take their bike to the track, take the class, join the slow group, and see had bad f****d up they realy are

[Kawasaki ZX600r]

MAN!!! that had to be awfull to go through. Glad you are doing ok and still alive. Were you really running 9.5KRPM and 100MPH??? I hope you feel better soon.

[texrider]

Originally Posted by Gene Smith

Some lessons just have to be learned the hard way.

I have also posted those pics with the Base Motorcycle Safty in a class that we give. We realy have a good class going on here at the base. No motorcycle rider can ride on the base without an Experianced Rider MSF card. ( Exception) Marines are given a one time temp pass good for three months while waiting to take the coarse but after the Basic coarse. This includes all ranks and civilians aboard MCAGCC.

The military I recall from the seventies would have a crashed/DUI guy out the door, with a general discharge in hand. You seem lucky that things have changed.

Had you attended the base course, before the wreck?

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Gene Smith]

Originally Posted by Kawasaki ZX600r

MAN!!! that had to be awfull to go through. Glad you are doing ok and still alive. Were you really running 9.5KRPM and 100MPH??? I hope you feel better soon.

Keep in mind that this was a ZX14. I was down shifting from 4th to 3rd so the RPM shown is during the high end of third. It was nothing for this bike to hit the rev limmiter in first at 110, 2nd at 135 ( and still bring the wheel off the ground shifting at 110mph), 3rd at 155, 4th at 186mph and limmited. with 5th and 6th still not used. This bike was the gentliest beast know to man.

I think of this bike like my wife. Soft, smooth, beautiful, easy, BUT with this EVIL, Kneiving, just all out bust your balls ride.

[Gene Smith]

Yes, I did attend the coarse and stupid moment of relaps, and I only got convicted of Wreckless driving. A dry offence.

[Greg in ND]

Originally Posted by fretbuzz

Glad you survived and learned. The fact that you are man enough to post this so others may learn from your mistakes says a lot.

Those are truely some horrible injuries, and I pray they will heal up soon. Just want to thank you for maning up to your mistake to try to teach others that drinking and riding do not mix. Thank god you had your helmet and gear on..

[captaintoad1]

when will you have the rest of your surgery or have you had it already?

[Gene Smith]

Thursday Mach 13 is the last of my scheduled surgeries. Not realy looking forward to it. Either way this is going to be my last few months in the USMC cause the extent of my injuries is going to put me out medicaly. Six months of recovery time and then hopefully medical retirement will be my future and not not medicaly seperated. There is a big diffrence between the two. Twelve years of active service under my belt.

[captaintoad1]

wheres home originally? and good luck wiht the final surgerys keep us posted