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easter85
12-03-2006, 06:32 PM
December 1, 2006


Aerostitch Repairs
Aerostitch / Riderwearhouse
8 S. 18 Ave. W.
Duluth, MN. 55806

Dear Scott,

Managed to fall off of my classic 1978 BMW /7 yesterday which really destroyed the motorcycle which I have had since new for nearly 30 years. Why couldn’t I have been riding one of my other motorcycles that I don’t care so much about. This is the 1st time in 41 years of riding that I have ever been down on the street. This was my first motorcycle accident of any kind.

I am sending you my 1 piece Roadcrafter Suit which has a cut in the right rear lower panel where the hip pad goes. I bought this suit from you in 2001. I think that is the only damage although please look it over and repair anything you find.

I want you to know that I didn’t receive so much as a scratch from my accident. The suit held up and did its job perfectly. The only reason I am sending my Aerostitch to you is for a 4 inch cut in the hip pad area to be repaired. The abrasion it received is minor considering what it went through and I don’t think it will hurt the performance of the suit in future. But you look at it and decide.

I’ll tell you what happened even though I am sure you have more testimonials than you need. Yesterday November 30th, 2006 here Victoria, Texas at 6:00AM the temperature was about 70 degrees with a cold front expected to arrive before Noon which would bring the temperature down to about 30 degrees by the next morning. I decided to go for a ride because it might be a while before the weather warmed up again.

I checked the weather radar and the radar was clear of any rain or bad weather. I intended to ride over to a little town about 35 miles from where I live named Yoakum, Tx. for breakfast. The back road to Yoakum is a curvy 2 lane without much traffic.

When I left Victoria it was still dark. About 6:00 AM, still dark, I came to a sharp, marked at 25 mph, S curve. I was probably going about 35 miles per hour. I have been through this curve many times at 50 mph when I wanted to enjoy the curve; but today I was just riding and watching for deer. There had not been any fog, dew, or rain drops on my windshield and the road was bone dry.

When I turned into the curve, as I saw later at daybreak, it had showered right in the middle of the curve. So, the curve that was dry then turned wet at about the apex. At the speed I was going I had plenty of traction for dry; but not for wet conditions.

The next thing I knew I felt the front tire going out from under me and then I was on the ground on my back sliding hanging on to the handlebars. My first thought was I wonder how hot this suit is going to get from sliding. The next thing I knew was that I was laying off the side of the road in the ditch. I was wearing a cotton t-shirt and a cotton flannel long sleeved shirt under the Aerostitch and a pair of blue jeans so although the suit warmed up while sliding it by no means got hot.

It was pitch black and after I took a physical inventory I had a little trouble getting up. The only thing that hurt was my right ankle. I was wearing a pair of “Cruiserworks” Cruiser Touring Boots which by the way are excellent ultra waterproof boots that have taken me to Alaska and Canada more than once. I apparently instinctively had put my right foot down to try and kick the bike back up as I was going down which didn’t work this time but managed, later revealed in X-rays, to give me the equivalent of a bad sprained ankle. I also had on a new HJC full face DOT / Snell approved helmet which is now scratched up including the face shield.

Somewhere along the way while hanging on to the handlebars the motorcycle apparently dug in and began to flip yanking the handlebars out of my hands which later in the day gave me very sore chest and shoulder muscles. The motorcycle in one of its rolls took out a single pole highway sign with the top of the fuel tank. There is a deep imprint of the highway sign pole across the top of gas tank from left to right.

The motorcycle looks like it exploded. The flipping tore off the left saddlebag, tail trunk, and destroyed the Luftmeister fairing. The right peg is twisted and the wheels no longer line up. Anything and everything in that motorcycle including the tool kit under the seat was thrown out on the side of the road.

I walked up to the road and a nice fellow in a pickup truck stopped and loaned me his cell phone so I could call my wife. I think this mans name was Chuck Watson. Although I told him I was OK he stayed with me until help arrived. Later, thinking about it, I really appreciated him staying there. I wish I knew how to get hold of him so I could thank him.

My wife called my brother who also rides and they came out in his pickup truck with a motorcycle ramp. By now it was daylight and seeing the condition of the bike we left it in the ditch for a wrecker to pick up later. My wife found my cell phone laying the grass by the highway.

My son James who is 31 years old and doesn’t ride came by the house last night and told me: “Dad I will never in the future make jokes about that funny looking riding suit you wear.”

I appreciate your help Scott and want to thank all of you at Aerostich again for manufacturing such a quality product. What really could have been a bad experience turned in to an interesting experience.

I’m a believer.


Sincerely,



Robert Easterling

Victoria, Texas


Update: Sunday December 3, 2006

Went back out this afternoon to where I did the "get off". Found my cell phone cradle, GPS mount, helmet chin air deflector, CE Bailey protective headlight cover, cigarette lighter that goes in 12 volt port, an aluminum oil funnel in a plactic zip lock bag with paper oil funnels. Didn't find any gold coins though.

Feeling a lot better. My wife already has me polishing "brass" for Christmas.

Screamineagle
12-03-2006, 07:15 PM
December 1,





I apparently instinctively had put my right foot down to try and kick the bike back up as I was going down which didn’t work this time but managed, later revealed in X-rays, to give me the equivalent of a bad sprained ankle. I also had on a new HJC full face DOT / Snell approved helmet which is now scratched up including the face shield.










Robert Easterling

Victoria, Texas


Update: Sunday December 3, 2006

Went back out this afternoon to where I did the "get off". Found my cell phone cradle, GPS mount, helmet chin air deflector, CE Bailey protective headlight cover, cigarette lighter that goes in 12 volt port, an aluminum oil funnel in a plactic zip lock bag with paper oil funnels. Didn't find any gold coins though.

Feeling a lot better. My wife already has me polishing "brass" for Christmas.


Bob,
I am surely glad you are not hurt worse. That instinct to put your foot down got me two years ago. I had just turned a corner in town, still in first gear and ran into a place where someone had spilled diesel fuel. The bike started to go down and I did what you did. I got two plates and six screws in the ankle. My bike wasn't even wrecked, just scratched.

Thank God you still in one piece.

BradfordBenn
12-03-2006, 07:26 PM
Glad you are okay :clap

easter85
12-03-2006, 07:50 PM
Thanks.

I've saved them before that way but it was always at a much slower speeds and usually on dirt. It's just an automatic reaction. Probably not to smart at higher speeds. Not much time to think about it.

Motor31
12-03-2006, 09:56 PM
I'm glad you're ok. Crashing is scary isn't it.

There are 3 kinds of motorcycle riders.

Those that have crashed.

Those that are going to crash.

Those that are going to crash again.

Heal up and get riding again. :thumb

PacWestGS
12-03-2006, 11:04 PM
Glad you are OK Robert.

Makes me feel better about spending the $$$.$$ on a 'Stich and other good riding gear.

Russ

Was your cell phone in a pocket or somewhere else???

easter85
12-04-2006, 07:04 AM
It started out in the fairing's left pocket. Sunglasses in a case in the right pocket. Both on the side of the highway when it was over.

riderR1150GSAdv
12-04-2006, 08:23 AM
Glad you're fine and were wearing the right kind of gear :thumb

SNC1923
12-04-2006, 09:21 AM
Thanks for sharing this near-tragedy. There are many impressive aspects to your story, but for me it's: "This is the 1st time in 41 years of riding that I have ever been down on the street. This was my first motorcycle accident of any kind."

Serves as a sobering and powerful reminder. Sure glad you're OK.

username
12-04-2006, 09:51 AM
easter85,

glad to hear you're ok, and thanks a lot for posting your letter. it's terrible to hear that your bike was destroyed, but it is wonderful to hear that you were up and walking around after the crash.

those weird micro-rain showers have surprised me before too, thankfully not in a curve!

do you wear the stich in all temperatures, or do you switch to mesh gear at some point?

folks - keep your cell phone on your body - in the event that you're not as fortunate as easter85, and you end up lying in the ditch in the dark with injuries, you'll want to be able to call for help.

PacWestGS
12-04-2006, 09:54 AM
It started out in the fairing's left pocket. Sunglasses in a case in the right pocket. Both on the side of the highway when it was over.

I throw mine (cell Phone) in the tank bag when I'm going to be around other people that will most likely call EMS for me, but when I'm going out somewhere solo or remote I try to always put it in my jacket pocket just incase I get separated from the bike. Just a thought / tip...

Is the bike repairable or is it done?

Sure glad you are alright though, bikes are inanimate objects of our desire and replaceable, you are not replaceable to your family. Good luck in the future your odds have improved 50% for the next 41 years…

Russ

easter85
12-04-2006, 12:59 PM
I hate to say it but here in South Texas it gets so hot in June, July, and August it would be probably be dangerous to wear the Aerostich. I do switch to a Joe Rocket Phonix Jacket in the summertime; but it fells like I am not wearing any protection at all compared to the Aerostich.

Really what I do is almost quit riding during the summer months except for very early in the morning or trips out of our area. It just isn't any fun for me to be that miserable. A person really needs two places to live. Somewhere warm in the Winter and somewhere cool in the Summer. California probably has the best weather year around; but there are just to many people and traffic out there for me.

We have about 8 wonderful months for riding. But in the summer the closest place to go get cool where the traffic isn't to bad is in Ruidoso, New Mexico which is about 700 miles and at an altitude of 8,000 feet.