OzSTOC Member injured Bike accident

[Diesel]

OK PJ and Steveo - time for another 'bike n rider' health update for your OzSTOC fam.

What's the latest on your health, your bike's, and the insurance/ legals that have unfolded?

Cheers, Diesel

[STeveo]

Hi Diesel,
             I'm just about fit again (as I will ever be with Arfur Riotus) although a few bumps remind me I'm not quite there yet. Bike is back on road and as good as I'm going to make it for now. Only insurance I claimed on was for a new windshield, so got a better one to suit my height. Would like to go to the NSW RTE, but 8hrs from here and I'm still not confident enough to go that far. Did a short run to Dorrigo last weekend and stayed overnight, all good except for the white Hilux with screeching tyres on my side of the road around a blind right hand corner (unbeliveable to be in the wrong place and time twice) who missed me but of course didn't stop. I had to stop and take some deep breaths before I could continue. Has made me very cautious on blind right handers, open ones no worry. Will be out again for a planned ride to Walcha in a fortnight and maybe some midweek runs if the weather is good.
How are you doing Nh478m?

 

[Nh478m]

Hi guys,

Getting there but as for everyone else in this predicament, just not quickly enough!

Shoulder is spot on, the left leg is getting stronger with aggressive physio and ultrasound to break up all the gunge still in there from the burst muscles. The ortho surgeon now reckons all will be well for riding big bikes again so that's brilliant.

The neck is the only limiting factor now. Had another load of images done last Thursday and at last the healing has started and can be seen. The neuro surgeon reckons it'll be October though before my neck will stand a helmet again. (going to be an Evoline 3 this time)

Anyone know where you can get supplies of patience from?!

PJ

[Diesel]

Thanks Steveo & PJ - obviously we're all glad things are progressing as well as they can be under the circumstances.

PJ - were you surprised at the extent of your injuries and healing time, given the relatively low speed impact - and even though you had ATGATT? Are you changing/adding any armour or anything?

STeveo - flamin 'ell - TWICE??!!!! - You sure you're not really riding in USA with that many others on the 'other' side?

Thanks both for the updates - we like to hear +ives from -ives.

Cheers, Diesel

[Brock]

PJ,

You need to start an exercise program to strenghten those neck muscles. Start by wearing a plastic icream bucket on your head for ten minutes a day ( I suggest eating the ice cream first) and work up to an hour. If you can stand the ridicule, you are more than ready to get back on the bike with a proper helmet

 

[Nh478m]

Sorry but the ice cream would have to be still in the bucket before I did that!

Yes to be honest I was shocked by how serious damage to both me and the bike was. Looking at the damage the bike sustained you'd be forgiven for thinking it happened at twice the speed. Even the V-Stream was split and the cops couldn't find a part of the left pannier that was more than 2" square! Only plastic I know but still...

Adhering to the ATGATT rule meant that despite injuries, there wasn't a singe break in the skin which really helped prevent any infection so at least that was never an issue.

Right, where's the vanilla flavoured?

Take care on the blind ones Steveo - glad you're mending too.
PJ

[Nh478m]

Hi Guys,

Dave Roper has reminded me that an update on recovery, etc is well overdue. Sorry and I hope Steveo is coming along too.

Hopefully my final meet with surgeons is on Monday. I'll be driving then for the first decent length of time then in to the airport for work after that for the first time in a long time.

On Friday (tomorrow) we're checking out a 'Wing' for sale up in Elgin just in case that's what SWMBO wants but my money is still on a CGR ST sometime in the next couple of months once the neuro guy says I can put a helmet on again.

Meantime the RV and a wee special car I built in 1990 are our motoring enjoyment modes so from next week they'll really be getting a bashing until I order the bike - whichever it turns out to be. Both vehicles were tested today and both passed with zero advisories.

Hopefully all the legal stuff is going to complete soon then we can just learn any lessons and get on with life.

Having roundly abused my body over the years (no Dave, not that either!) I've had many periods recovering from injury and damage with one or two of them lasting nine months or so away from work but I can honestly say this one has seemed to be the longest. Perhaps at my time of life I need to concentrate more on smelling the roses at last instead of seeming to always be rushing from one thing to the other!

I retired at 50 then started working again at 55 and now at 60 SWMBO finally suggested the other day that maybe we need to retire properly as life seems to be getting shorter. One more year will do it I think.

Anyway that's the epistle for now.

Take care out there.
Regards to all.
PJ

[tj189]

Nice to hear that it is all coming together for you PJ 

[Nh478m]

Right, that's the decision made!

It's another ST1300 for us.

The 'Wing' up in Elgin was nice but I damn near cried when I saw the nearly new 13 standing next to it and when I sat on it, wow!!!

So, another few weeks and it'll get ordered or the hunt will be on for one in the right colour.

Nice to know where I'm going at last.

PJ

[Brock]

 

[royst1100]

  good to hear

[Poppy Dave]

Great to hear Paul.

[Diesel]

Nice one PJ - we KNOW you WON'T regret this decision.

Brock.... you can get your fingers off the "delete membership" keys now! Phew!   

I hope your son unbolted as many farkles from the old one as possible.

Cheers, Diesel

[Streak]

Woo hoo! 

[Brock]

Brock.... you can get your fingers off the "delete membership" keys now! Phew!   

I wouldnt to that to a man down....

I would have waited a few days till PJ was up again, wait two more weeks the dump him.....

[Nh478m]

You do get a better class of insult on the Oz site than on the UK one!

[Biggles]

We Convicts were always the smart ones.

Steal a loaf of bread and get free passage to paradise (compared with UK weather).  What's not to like?
You've got a feed and a permanent holiday!

[Nh478m]

That's it!

Went and bought a 2010 model in Candy Glory Red.

Picking it up Monday in Northampton. It's got 18k on it but is in gorgeous condition and after all, that's what they're built for.

All the farkles are ordered and nursey is getting ready to be a garage widow again for a while!

Can't ride it for another two or three weeks but a wee test ride around the dealer premises (just to check the clutch and throttle you understand) is ok.

Feel like a kid again waiting for Santa!

What am I going to do for the next five days?

PJ

[Streak]

That's fantastic mate! Good to hear back in the saddle!

[Poppy Dave]

Great news Paul......................


4 more sleeps and you can unwrap it. Don't go peeking, it'll spoil the supprise.   

Dave                                                             

[Shiney]

Awesome PJ
Glad to hear the good news
But where are the photos of the new little bundle of joy

[Shaun]

Be careful. Motorcycling is tricky enough when your body is 100%. Ease back in, the nurses don't miss you THAT much! :)

[Nh478m]

Soon as we're back up North with it on Tuesday I'll take a couple of photos. Straight after that it's two weeks of putting the deep inside mods on it while one mirror and the Smuggler are resprayed. Previous owner dropped something on the mirror housing! Only mark on it.

Bad news is while motoring down here with the trailer to get the bike, the RV gearbox popped a couple of synchro rings for fifth so I'm having to hold it in gear at speed. Oh well, that's life.

How's Steveo doing?

PJ

[STeveo]

Pretty good thanks PJ. Bike back together and have done a few short runs, but still very nervous on blind right hand corners. Shoulder 99%, ribs still remind me they are there sometimes. Getting ready for the overnight to Inverell.  :) Glad to hear that you are getting back on the road. The time spent away from the bike drags and nobody can help with the withdrawl symptoms. Enjoy the new bike. 

 

[Nh478m]

Got it!

Drove the RV with the trailer behind for 17hours to get back here at 2am Tuesday and it poured with rain almost every inch of the way. Fifth gear has gone altogether so it was a slow slog - the RV is now in the shop being fixed so we can get away this weekend.

The bike is really nice. Soon as we got it home, the bodywork came off. In the process of loosening every fastener I can reach and then replacing what I can with lubricated stainless items. If I leave carbon in they are properly lubricated before they go back in.

Seems in pretty good order and so far I only needed to heat one fastener to ease it out.

So far the full depth fender extension is on, the rear shock protector is on, the stebel is on, the under mirror light brackets are on, the hellaFF75s are stripped for wiring up, the radiator guard is on, the V-stream is on, the highway blades are on, motovision headlight bulbs are in (they do make a difference)!

Enjoying every farkling minute and it's a lot faster and easier this time around.

Front glimmering LEDs and the electro pods for the rear brake lights are here for fitting. Bar riser is here. Chassis protection pads are here. Gear indicator should be here Friday. Badges are ready. Grip pads are nearly on -they are a bugger to get on. Lever socks are on. Armrests are here. New seats are here. Ram mounts will go on tomorrow including the WSO GPS Unit fastened to the right pannier top. Tailbrites are here. Travel badges are here. Side reflectors are here but i need to make make the rear brackets yet. Power outlet for left pocket is here but leaving all the electrical connection stuff for one big session. Intercom is here.

Need to get the topbox spoiler and high level brake light ordered next.

Looking good but I was so childishly impatient to get started I forgot to take photos.

Trying to not lose too many brownie points by limiting garage time to a very frustrating minimum.

PJ