A wake up call

[ersterhernd]

Travelling with my 17 year old son this week, we passed this grim scene that occurred less than an hour previous. We were travelling back from Long Beach on Vancouver Island on our 900LT. Hope the riders involved make out ok.

Sorry about the photo quality, my son used a cell phone camera as we rode by.

-Ersterhernd


Links to the accident :
Westcoaster.ca - News - Port Alberni News - Motorcycle Crashes On Hump
Serious Non Life Threatening Injuries in Motor Cycle Accident

[McGrude]

Ouch! Yes I hope they are ok. "Serious non life threatening" sounds bad, but it could have been much worse. It says he was 61, I wonder if he's new to riding.

[ersterhernd]

"The Hump" is a long twisting hill that climbs to the east out of the town of Port Alberni, BC. There is a passing lane pretty much all the way up, with several blind corners as you ascend the slope. This time of year, lots of holiday travellers with trailers and motorhomes that are easily passed on the bike.

The particular corner that this accident occurred on was a sharper right curve, with trees on the right side to block the view of anything more than a few seconds up the road.

The bike involved had a crash bar installed, but we went by it too quickly to note any scrapes or marks on the roadway or barriers. There was a big puddle of something, I'm assuming gasoline or oil running from underneath the bike to the edge of the road, you can see it in the photos.

My wife is a nurse here in BC, and says that if the man was airlifted to Victoria, he's likely got neuro or spinal complications that need the specialized equipment of a larger hospital.

We had to sit in a traffic lineup for about 30 minutes, as the highways dept had both eastbound lanes closed. My stomach came up into my throat as we rounded the curve and saw the bike laying there.

Ersterhernd

[McGrude]

Originally Posted by ersterhernd

My wife is a nurse here in BC, and says that if the man was airlifted to Victoria, he's likely got neuro or spinal complications that need the specialized equipment of a larger hospital.

Ooof. I hope you all have a helmet law there in BC!

[pat0021]

Yeah its un-nerving to ride past a bike wreck. I have done that once and made for a crappy ride home. Hope they are both ok too!!

[Seadog1967]

Originally Posted by McGrude

It says he was 61, I wonder if he's new to riding.

Why would the 61 age equate to being a new rider??? Crap can happen to any rider any age any experience. Sometimes Sh*t happens that you have no control of no matter the skills or experience.
I hate seeing any kind of wreck but more so bikes well bikes and semi's. I hope the rider recovers ok.

By the way the only reason I asked about your comment on the age factor was cuz I'm 61 also.

[CTRider]

Originally Posted by Seadog1967

Why would the 61 age equate to being a new rider??? Crap can happen to any rider any age any experience. Sometimes Sh*t happens that you have no control of no matter the skills or experience.
I hate seeing any kind of wreck but more so bikes well bikes and semi's. I hope the rider recovers ok.

By the way the only reason I asked about your comment on the age factor was cuz I'm 61 also.

I think he was simply wondering if he was an older rider who had been riding for a good number of years or someone who got into it later in life.

It makes a difference in that an older rider combined with lack of experience would add slower reflexes to the learning curve. Let's face it, our bodies slow down a bit as we age. We can't physically react to things the way we used to. As a result, experience becomes more vital. Without it, we're limited simply to good judgment, and that often comes with experience...and the circle continues.

In addition, someone with many years of car driving experience may tend to feel more confident than they should when transitioning to a bike ("I've been driving for years and never had an accident" type mentality).

Also, safety courses tend to skew relatively young or middle aged. You don't see a lot of 60+ folks taking them (not that they never do, it's just rare). It begs the question of whether older riders that are new to riding are assuming they don't need to take a safety course. After all, they've seen it all, haven't they?

Finally, a lot of people get into activities after retirement they can take part in with a spouse, such as riding. Now you have an inexperienced rider with with slightly slower reflexes riding a larger displacement bike with a passenger. This isn't exactly stamp collecting we're talking about. Talk about getting a licking when you make a mistake...

I'm not trying to say older riders are unsafe, nor am I endorsing the idea that this particular rider was new to the hobby. It's just yet another possible reason for a single-vehicle accident involving someone who, at first glance, appears to be experienced, was riding a cruiser (a bike that lends itself to taking it a bit more easy) and riding with a passenger (usually an incentive to ride more carefully) rather than a kid on a rocket who finds himself having too much speed to burn off when he enters a curve too hot.

[McGrude]

CTRider,

Thanks. That was exactly what I meant.

[Seadog1967]

Originally Posted by McGrude

CTRider,

Thanks. That was exactly what I meant.

In the back of my mind I was thinking that but tend to get defensive when age is mentioned or in question. I also think the statement "After all, they've seen it all, haven't they?" shows the mindset of umm younger people towards older. We've seen a lot but haven't seen it all. LOL Some may come off with that attitude but I don't think the majority of seniors think that way.
Again as stated in other posts on subjects pertaining to seniors Everyone ages differently. We could say the mindset of the younger (younger to us) riders is that they think they are invincible etc. Well don't mind me. I'm getting overly sensitive to age related stuff (I still drive semi's and unload my truck. Not just a driver).

[McGrude]

Originally Posted by Seadog1967

Everyone ages differently.

My father-in-law is 70 and looks 50. My best friend is 45 and looks 30. Everyone does age differently.

[Seadog1967]

Most of the people I meet while I'm delivering don't think I look over 60 but then again my wife keeps telling me to act my age. Haven't figured out what that meant yet. LOL

[airforce1]

I'm lookin' at the photo of you and your bike and think maybe you look, ummm,
39?
"Enjoy your tour around the sun!"
t.

[Seadog1967]

Originally Posted by airforce1

I'm lookin' at the photo of you and your bike and think maybe you look, ummm,
39?
"Enjoy your tour around the sun!"
t.

LOL thanks. I wish I could remember 39. Then again it's a small photo hehe. I think it's all in attitude. You think you're old and can't do things then you'll look old and won't do things.