Modern Vespa

So I was pretty excited about working the holiday today- who wouldn't be at 2.5x pay, right? Well, as soon as I got away from the house it started to rain a little. I figured the roads would be pretty slick, but I didn't want to turn around to get the minivan because my wife would need it to go to family's house for Thanksgiving. After 30k total miles I've ridden in the rain so many times with zero issues, plus it's pretty much a straight shot from home to work. Needless to say, the ONE real curve a block away from work took me out. I was going slow- about 20mph- so about half my normal speed- and the front wheel acted like it had just hit a patch of black ice. Slip, wobble, drop. I went off to the right against the sidewalk and the LXV spun around to the left into the median. Fortunately there were no other cars around, except the lady that drove up as I was taking my helmet off who gave me a dirty look while she waited for me to get the hell out of her way and the ambulance that drove by the other way, most likely responding to an accident since scooters aren't the only vehicles that like to slide off the road in the first few minutes of a desert shower.

So, I shut her off, picked her up and moved her onto the sidewalk. I locked the steering wheel, only to discover that I couldn't unlock it because the steering had been knocked out of alignment. The only other damage is a 3" circle of paint scratches off the right rear and a shredded foot peg. So I started to hoof it to work and fortunately my coworker drove by and took me the rest of the way. We literally ran in once we parked, even though my hip and ankle hurt. Bad idea, but we did clock in right on time. Then after about four hours I was limping around and had to leave early as my foot and ankle were pretty swollen and any pressure was extremely painful. Counting myself lucky, especially since I have good medical insurance, including accident insurance. Also helps that the Etch A Sketching is going well and bringing in some extra cash- actually just sold one to Matt Bellamy! (Of Muse) Be safe out there, people! When in doubt, just take the car.

Limping aside, so glad you are ok and sorry to hear this has happened. Speedy recovery on the limp...

Sorry to hear of your spill, and I'm pleased you escaped without serious injury. It just goes to show, even if you treat corners with respect, they can still catch you off guard. Hopefully you have sustained nothing more than bruising and sprains to your ankle and foot. Wishing you well.


Andrew

Just a little bit of diesel fuel, gasoline, sand, coolant, or mud can put you down before you can react. Glad you are okay!

Yuck! I hope you and your scoot recover quickly.

I always hated working BF at Circuit City with the exception of the pay. The pay was worth dealing with the insanity, especially when you slipped from double to triple time and a half.

Thanks!

Thanks, Andrew. The question is how shaky will I be going through that corner once the bike's fixed? I'll tell you this, though- I won't be doing it inthe rain!

I'm glad you are ok. Scoots get scrapes, but are fixable. So, if it has not rained in a while, until all the crap gets washed off the road, yeah, it can be slippery. Wet leaves on the road are hell too. Be careful out there.

Glad to hear you're okay and good luck with the healing. Glad you're going to see the doctor - next time do it sooner! Keep us posted.

Glad it wasn't worse. Heal quickly.

I dread those circumstances you can't have quite enough control over....

Well if you are going down at least it wasn't a bad one. Heal well and get Melody's front straightened out.
Yes, you tense up a bit as you go through that intersection the first dispenser times but you'll get over it. Took me months to get past that tension crossing train tracks after my accident.

Sorry to hear about the spillage. Thankfully the damage to you wasn't worse, even though you are a bit bunged-up. It happens to the best of us.

Take it easy, get your ride fixed up and get yourself back in that saddle. The first few times through that intersection will be a further reminder to approach curves with caution.

I had a very similar low speed washout a couple of years ago. I was able to knock my handlebars back into alignment with just a fair amount of force and have had no issues since then. I did have my head bearings looked at just to be sure, and nothing was damaged.

Be sure to take a really close look all around your scooter and take pics of any damage. Also closely examine any riding gear you had on, especially your helmet. You may have knocked your head and not even realize it as it happens so quickly. Helmets are good for one impact and should be replaced. The interior foam collapses to absorb impact and loses the ability to protect your head in the future. And it's a good excuse to go helmet shopping

Glad to hear you're well. A little TLC and both you and the ride will be good as new.

Just a little front brake in those conditions can lead to an incident like you had.


Paul

One of the reasons i dislike linked brakes. Takes away rider control! Does not refer to this accident necessarily..

Update: Ankle's good. Scooter- not good. Had a lot more damage than I initially thought. The whole right side is badly scratched up, including the plastic ferring and the side of the floorboard. Leg shield is cracked and molding's shot. Mirror's all scratched up, and the muffler got scratched up. Headlight shattered, windshield scratched, and out of alignment with busted ignition/steering lock. All in all, insurance decided to total it and pay me $2,750, plus helmet and jacket. Not really happy about it, but looking at the bright side it's time to buy another Vespa. (Thread on that coming up soon.) It was a fantastic 6 years and 31,500 miles. Thanks everyone for your concern and well wishes!

And the front...

Sorry to hear about the bike getting 86'd, Etch, but really happy to hear you're faring better physically.

Your ordeal reminded me of my extremely low-speed lowside in snow last January - all of two blocks from home, sort of echoing your incident - which luckily left me unscathed and Melody with just a few scrapes along her belly - crash bars thankfully left the rest of her unscathed. The thing I look out for now is debris/fluids from the scads of years-overdue road reconstruction of the past year ("Your Increased Gas Taxes At Work"...at least we can see where the money's going this time) because all sorts of stuff can send you out of control with little warning. In the midst of all the road work, a crater of a pothole where the Asbury's main drag turns off onto my street, and I first discovered it a few weeks ago, at night, and I barely had time to make a proper evasive maneuver. I don't think that hole wold've necessarily taken me out, but I'm not too big on taking chances like that.

Keep us posted on your hunt for new wheels; the old one was really sweet.

Yeah, I might have to get some crash bars on the new one. They probably would've saved the last one.

Just watched the tow truck take her away. Sad and cloudy, like a funeral...