Tuesday, August 14, 2007

As an experienced asphalt surfer...

...I am trying to picture the kind of interface with a safety barrier this guy must have had, to sever his leg below the knee yet leave him in control of the bike.

Must've hurt like a sonovabitch when he came to a stop and toppled over on the unsupported side. Let me tell y'all, there's no sensation quite like exposed broken bone ends on pavement. It'll wake you right up.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

The only thing I can think of is more of a slide that a impact. From my own experience DOT does not spend one extra minute knocking the corners off of those things.

theirritablearchitect said...

That description, bone ends meeting pavement, about made me wet myself.

Jay G said...

My only guesses are either linked braking system (doubtful on a sportbike, but this is also Japan, where they have models not released stateside) or that he used the front brakes exclusively due to the pain.

And my leg hurts just thinking about it. And I rode in today...

Anonymous said...

OWWWWW!
Thad

Anonymous said...

It said he only noticed it when he next stopped. Maybe he fell over when he tried to rest on his right leg.

Anonymous said...

They drive on the left side of the road in Japan, so I'd wager motorcyclists there support on that side too.

The only thing I can think of is hitting an exposed metal ege on the very beginning of a guardrail-type barrier; lower legs are attached in such a way that blunt force or vertical force won't do much to remove it quickly, but horizontal or diagonal shearing or twisting force certainly could.

Maybe heeling over taking a sharp turn that was slightly misjudged?

NotClauswitz said...

Really-really tight chaps might keep him from exsanguinating (and noticing), which would indicate a Harley rider - who's been taught never to use the rear brake and steers with his ass and not by weighting footpegs like a ricerocket rider.

Jay G said...

"which would indicate a Harley rider - who's been taught never to use the rear brake"

Because it locks the rear wheel if you look at it wrong...

-Jay, who is going to have to replace his rear wheel soon...

Anonymous said...

Although the Japanese drive on the left, most of them are still right-handed (and I presume, right-legged).


Word verification: winwo

Anonymous said...

Had a friend on a Harley get sideswiped and forced against the guardrail on a bridge in Phila. Stays upright, but his foot feels cold. Looks down, sees the toe of the boot has been sheared off(upright rail mount). Stops the bike, and starts hobbling back. Cop stops and asks why he's walking, proceeds to loose his lunch when told he's going back to get his foot. Dumb cop then tosses him into his unit and heads to the hospital, minus the severed portion. This, of course, eliminates the possibility of reattaching it. Walking without toes is a wee bit awkward, especially for someone 6'6", 280lbs.

Tam said...

"Because it locks the rear wheel if you look at it wrong..."

You need to get that looked at.

Jay G said...

Heh. My gift for over-dramatization strikes again. No, I need to work on downshifting and applying the front brake rather than just pulling in the clutch and stomping on the rear brake pedal.

I did the same thing on my Honda Magna. PICNIC - Problem In Chair, Not In Chopper. :)

Anonymous said...

*shrug* It's only a flesh wound.