Tested motorcycle safety gear...

[MNs10]

...on my way to look for reptiles this morning. (I do some volunteer work for the UofM)
It's really hot here and I needed to get out on the prairie at early light this morning before it was too hot for the herps. On my way I was thinking I need to be extra careful due to it being prime time deer movement. I rounded a slight curve and a big doe came out of the woods at a full run. I hit the brakes but there was only time for about eight or ten feet before impact. I hit the deer at probably jsut under 50 miles an hour. At impact I did a super man over the bars. The bike did an endo and landed on my left ankle as I/we were sliding...check out the boot. The helmit has an impact mark but little rash.

My right heel is black and blue and my left shoulder has a big 'egg' on top of it. A minor burn on my left leg (no idea how that happend). A dime size patch of skin missing on my wrist and another one on the back of my shoulder. I rode the bike back home despite the advice of the EMT's on the ambulance. The adrenaline got me home. I'm sore but I will heal. The deer didn't make it. The bike has minor damage and will be an easy fix. It was the wr, not the S10.

Take a look at my gear:

Imagine if I had been wearing a tee shirt. I had no idea the jacket was that bad until I got home.

A couple interesting things: I had no idea what happend for several minutes after the crash. It came back real quick and with extreme clarity. I remember hearing the rear tire howl...the tires make a distict sound when at the limit and the sound is different at lockup. So I'm pleased I used the brakes up to snuff. I remember seeing that doe's right eye wide open in a panick right before impact. I don't remember hitting the ground but I remember thinking to pull my hands up and roll.

Oh well, time for new gear.
Be safe riders...

 

[creggur]

Glad you're okay! Another testament for ATGATT. You never know when something like this might happen.

 

[Venture]

I'd say that jacket doesn't owe you a dime. Glad you're ok.

 

[justbob]

What jacket is that ?
It was better than a t-shirt but not the level of protection I would expect from a textile protective jacket.
Looks it suffered abrasions, tears and seam failures too.

 

[MNs10]

Glad you're okay! Another testament for ATGATT. You never know when something like this might happen.

Thanks.

I'd say that jacket doesn't owe you a dime. Glad you're ok.

I agree, and thank you.

What jacket is that ?
It was better than a t-shirt but not the level of protection I would expect from a textile protective jacket.
Looks it suffered abrasions, tears and seam failures too.

The Jacket is Mesh tex from first gear. I think it is an earier model than the current one though.

The outer shell is completly gone in some areas and worn to the padding on the left elbow. The seam area seperated on the left shoulder as the threads wore out on their 'ride' down the pavement. It should be noted that the road is tar and chip...not friendly stuff and I slid on it quite a distance. I doubt it helps that I'm 250 pounds...that makes for some friction. The one dime size abrasion on my shoulder isn't bleeding, it's more like a small burn. Really, to me, it doesn't matter what the jacket looks like, it worked on about a nasty a surface as you can throw at it. I have my skin and the only bandaid is on my wrist. The EMTs said something to the effect of ''what a difference it is when we roll up on a motorcycle wreck and the rider is wearing gear''. -Not to preach, I think everyone can make their own decisions. My dad still wears shorts, t-shirt and no helmit. I just thought I'd share my 'ride' this morning.

This jacket is fairly low end and not as good as some other stuff out there but it's great for hot weather and it did it's job. I will replace the jacket with the same.

Oh, today is my birthday. How is that for a b-day present.

 

[jajpko]

Glad you are ok. Hitting a deer at 50mph is not fun no mater how you look at it.
I also wear a first gear mesh jacket in the summer and from what the pictures show, the jacket did it's job. You can't ask for more.
Sure, there are better jackets for a lot more money. The thing is, if you are not comfortable, you will not wear them.

Ride safe ::001::

 

[justbob]

Glad you are ok. Hitting a deer at 50mph is not fun no mater how you look at it.
I also wear a first gear mesh jacket in the summer and from what the pictures show, the jacket did it's job. You can't ask for more.
Sure, there are better jackets for a lot more money. The thing is, if you are not comfortable, you will not wear them.

Ride safe ::001::

The Firstgear mesh jacket is only a 250 Denier, thats about as light as you can get. Most jackets are at least 400 Denier. The mesh jacket I wear for hot weather is a 600 denier and 1600 in the impact areas and is very comfortable and very breathable. Its a Tourmaster GX Air and was purchased for under $100 as a closeout item.
I have crash tested some gear myself and would prefer not to do that again but if I do I hope to be wearing gear that will do its intended job.
You are correct, the gear must be comfortable or it will be hanging in the closet and not protecting anything.

 

[MNs10]

My left heel is black and blue, the big toe and left side of my arch has some color and my shoulder is black and blue. I can put more weight on the left foot than I could yesterday night and movement in my shoulder doesn't take my breath away anymore. But man I am sore today. When I move I can feel every muscle, even muscles that shouldn't have had any impact damage. Just breathing has muscles from stomach to back singing. Getting out of a chair requires planning. I've lifted weights since the 80's and It feels like what happens when you severely overwork a muscle group, only it's most of my muscles...The left side of my head felt sore this morning when I woke up so I went to the garage to do a closer inspect on the helmet. Yikes, my mellon smacked the road much harder than I thought.

Still, I feel very lucky.
Be careful out there.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I VERY much appreciate seeing what gear works and what doesn't so THANK YOU.


Glad you are even able to recover after such a hit.
::008::

 

[Raven757]

Glad you walked (rode) away!
But Dude, do yourself a favor and go to the hospital and have that head looked at. If you're O.K. then great, but if you've got internal injury it's better to treat it sooner rather than later.

-All the Best to you.

 

[TommyBwell]

Glad to see you made it through okay. Based on your condition it sounds like your gear did it's job. Doesn't look like it wants to do it anymore though.

 

[BadKarmaPa]

Nice post, thanks. Many of us spend a notable amount of money on gear not knowing if the stuff will actually help all that much, and hopeing never to test it. Tar & chip ya say? WOW, I would not expect mesh to do so well. Re-afirms that ever penny I spend on riding gear is worth it.

A good ride is any one you can walk away from.
A great ride is when you can walk away AND still use the bike again.