Phantom 540 - Accident - Roll over

[Motavar]

My saddle bags were secured okay with two velcro straps and one regular belt strap under the seat.
What you see is a 36 inch by 18 inch duffle-type bag sitting on my passenger seat secured with bungies. I'm guessing one of the bungies failed and flipped the bag to the side and back.. then got sucked in. They were secured really really tight. Maybe too tight or the end popped off, not sure.

I'm the example for others that hard saddle bags or passenger luggage with a sissy bar or bolt down appears to be a better choice. The setup did really well for hundreds of miles but I guess I chose the wrong type of support. Double Velcro , belt staps, bolts, etc would have been a better choice. Lesson learned for others.

Heading out to see the Spyder for myself.
I posted a few pics of my helmet on flicker in the second post

 

[BajaRon]

The gear limited your injuries but the helmet save your life.
Note: if the victim is not breathing, take off the helmet and perform CPR. Otherwise, the helmet is only to be removed by a physician or EMT.

Good luck with that! Bystanders actually can do more harm than good and it happens all the time. From moving the person (several times) to giving them something to drink. They mean well but leaving someone alone until expert help arrives is usually the best thing a bystander can do.

 

[NancysToy]

Bungees

As you have learned, bungees are notoriously unreliable, and give way with no warning. The best cargo straps I have found are the Helen2Wheels Super Pack Straps, the Rok Straps, and the Piggyback Anchor Straps.

 

[bruiser]

Truly God is good. Between Him and the gear...
Bet you're sore today. get well soon, and keep us posted.

 

[Cyclist922]

Thank you for sharing this. I've been slipping on ATGATT recently and your post has made me stop and think.

Your vivid description brings home the fact that no matter how experienced we are, our control
of the situation can vanish in a heartbeat.

 

[Smokinspyder]

Glad to hear the injuries arent going to be to long term, or serious. Well any injury is serious but you know what i mean . Glad to have you back with us . Heal quick spyder brother !

 

[wyliec]

I'm glad you made it through such a harrowing experience and were able to share some excellent advice.

 

[Gimpy Girl]

So glad to hear your not injured more than you posted, and that you were still around to post! Heal quickly- good thoughts are with you!

 

[Nor-Cal Spyder]

Glad to hear you are OK. Every time I hear a story like this I think about waking up in the morning and think today is going to be a great day, and then it all changes. The next time you think about buying something you really want or doing something you want to do I think, do I really need it
or do I really want it. Just remember none of us know whats in store for us today, so if it doesn't hurt you or your family financially, go for it because no where does it say you get to live to tomorrow. In the big picture your time here is not even a blink.

 

[TicketBait]

The gear limited your injuries but the helmet save your life.
Note: if the victim is not breathing, take off the helmet and perform CPR. Otherwise, the helmet is only to be removed by a physician or EMT.

Just learned something, glad your ok, even though your helmet was removed.

 

[Questions]

You are one lucky man!! Glad to hear you are okay.

 

[SpydherLuv]

Glad you're ok....This is an excellent example of ATGATT.

Scotty, here is a sticker for your helmet...
http://www.helmet-stickers.com/xcart/search.php?mode=search

 

[SteveMac]

Very glad you are OK, well OK considering the alternatives.

Get well soon, and hopefully the insurance works out to where you get a nice new :ani29: and get back to happy rYding.nojoke

 

[vampyregirl]

Glad to hear you're ok!!! Your Guardian Angel was definitely working overtime on that one!!!

I just put a couple of bungies in my frunk last week. Haven't had to use them for anything, and not sure I want to now!!!

Hope you heal quickly. Keep us informed!!

 

[Paula(Butch2025)]

I wish this was printed in large letters on every helmet ever sold. Nothing is scarier than the thought of someone removing your helmet after an accident.

:agree: we did ride with a couple in Maggie Valley that had stickers on the helmets that said not to remove helmet without medical advice...or something to that affect. I think I will look for some of those.

So very glad you came thru this amazingly well. Take care, Paula

 

[GASpyderLady]

WOW -

Glad you are able to be with your loved ones- those first hugs will always be in your memory. Whatever decisions you make about your future riding remember time gives perspective. I had a life threatening health event almost four years ago. I have gone from afraid of/for my own life (and not living because of it) to a Spyder owner. My friends think I am NUTS! Just today as I was leaving a friends house, as i put on my mesh jacket with pads she remarked that it was too hot out for that ...I have aways been a full faced and jacket rider. Your story has reminded me it is time to add pants to my gear! Better jacket also.
Glad your external injuries will heal soon - here is to your health!:cheers:

 

[JJRider]

The information and detail that you have provided about your accident is incredibly valuable. Thank you so much for sharing. I feel that it will help many riders with safe riding gear as well as how we all carry and strap stuff on. Very thankful you are doing OK. Thanks again!

 

[bikeguy]

Wild ride. Really glad you are mostly okay. They say everything happens for a reason. I was just looking at the pics of your gloves and, though they are somewhat the worse for wear, just imagine what your hands would look like without them. The reason that I was interested in the gloves in particular was that I rode about 75 miles this afternoon without mine. My mind was on other things and I just flat forgot them. Was about 5 miles away from home when my wife reminded me that I was bare handed. Didn't go back to get them but you can bet that next time I will. Thanks, and really glad you came through a bad situation with a minimum of injuries.

Cotton

 

[Insy]

Atgatt

Anytime you can walk away from a bike prang is a minor miracle. The odds will always be against you. The wearing of the best gear you can afford is not negotiable. Wearing a rated full face helmet is a no brainer. In my experience ATGATT will not neccessarily prevent broken bones but what it does do is keep all your skin on your body. Broken bones heal a lot faster than skin grafts. If you are happy to have a flap from your buttocks attached to another part of your body then by all means ride around wearing a T shirt and shorts. If not ALL THE GEAR ALL THE TIME. Period.
Seriously glad that you walked away with everything intact except your gear.

 

[TwinPeaks]

OMG what a ride, no pun intended. I'm glad that you are ok. Sounds like God isn't done with you yet. I just shake my head when others laugh at me dressing out in full gear for rides. I would rather be a little warm then possibly dead. People trying to help, can do real damage by removing your helmet after a crash/skid. The first thing their brain tells them to do is "get the helmet off", ugh. Cagers don't realize how tight that helmet fits (a real helmet). I have large orange stickers on the front of all my helmets that say "Do not remove if breathing, helmet must be removed by medical personnel only to prevent further injuries". I got mine from a motorcycle injury lawyer, he gives stuff out all the time (he rides a bike all the time). I think I've seen the stickers at shows with all the other sayings. You can probably get them on line also. I consider the sticker part of my riding gear.