Just Joined the "I Walked Away From It" Club

[Bulldozer Dawn]

Noting your age.  What about a suzuki Van Van.  Upright riding position, big comfortable seat, and very forgiving set up.

 

As for starting to ride at 70, disregard the naysayers.  You are never TOO YOUNG to start anything.

[Bulldozer Dawn]

Just now, USPatriot said:

Hit by a semi truck that ran a red light. The day they took the pins out I was riding again. Nothing was left of the pcx. Full riding gear full face helmet and riding jacket. My big insurance settlement 120,000 baht plus 40,000 for pcx and all bills paid including taxi rides for 3 months My arm was amputated held on by the skin, I'm pretty close to 100% with my arm 1.5 years later. It still hurts after working all day.

 

Any chance you could tell us what the total of your medical bills was.  There are a lot of threads running at the moment about insurance.  You obviously had a serious injury, would be very interesting if you could tell us where you were treated and what the resulting bills were.

 

I wish you all the very best for your recovery.

[Headgame]

12 hours ago, Rdrokit said:

If you are looking for a new bike you owe it to yourself to check out the Stallions dealer. I will be 70 next month and bought a Stallion Scrambler 400. Great bike. Engine is based on the old Honda XBR 500 single which is a big single with 4 valves. The new Stallion version is fuel injected. Very light for a medium size bike at 160kg. If you think a 400 is too big a bike they have some really nice 250cc bikes. The 400s which they have 2 models are around 117,000 and the 250s start around 75,000 baht. Here is a pick of my 400 and a photo of one of there 250 bikes. Very old school retro look.

 

Hmmm, more great suggestions.

Thanks, Headgame

[Headgame]

21 minutes ago, Bulldozer Dawn said:

Noting your age.  What about a suzuki Van Van.  Upright riding position, big comfortable seat, and very forgiving set up.

 

As for starting to ride at 70, disregard the naysayers.  You are never TOO YOUNG to start anything.

Good one. I will check out the Van Van,

And yes, I feel great and will continue to not act my age. 
It's been a life long motto.

Cheers.

[Headgame]

48 minutes ago, USPatriot said:

Hit by a semi truck that ran a red light. The day they took the pins out I was riding again. Nothing was left of the pcx. Full riding gear full face helmet and riding jacket. My big insurance settlement 120,000 baht plus 40,000 for pcx and all bills paid including taxi rides for 3 months My arm was amputated held on by the skin, I'm pretty close to 100% with my arm 1.5 years later. It still hurts after working all day.

 

Thanks for your post and sharing your story.
Certainly a harrowing expereince. Nothin more to say. I admire your grit.
Back on the bike at the first opportunity. You're a stud.

Be safe.

[Rdrokit]

10 hours ago, Bulldozer Dawn said:

Any chance you could tell us what the total of your medical bills was.  There are a lot of threads running at the moment about insurance.  You obviously had a serious injury, would be very interesting if you could tell us where you were treated and what the resulting bills were.

 

I wish you all the very best for your recovery.

Can tell you about my accident. Went down in a curve at about 70kph. Safety gear took most of the shock but as I went down on my right side initially my right knee took most of the impact. Burned right through my padded riding pants (now I wear clip on knee pads). I would post a photo of my knee but many of you might get sick. It looked like chopped meat. Had a lot of dirt in the wound. Since I was hours from home I went to a local hospital where they cleaned the wound and put 9 stitches in my knee. Also gave me pain and antibiotic pills. 2 days later my leg swelled up, got a fever and had chills. The wound had gotten infected as  all the dirt had not been cleaned out. Went to St. Mary's hospital in Korat where they took out the stitches and cleaned out the wound twice a day for 10 days. Pumped me full of intravenous antibiotics for the 10 days. Total cost of the hospital stay for 10 days was 75,000 baht and my Thai insurance paid the whole amount. The insurance cost me 52,000 baht a year and covers up to 800,000 baht, no deductibles.

[Nickymaster]

I have a VanVan 125 and it's the most comfortable riding position and seat ever!! I really like the bike. 125cc is enough for around town. If u go on small trips you can go for the 200cc.

 

 

 

[Headgame]

10 hours ago, Rdrokit said:

Can tell you about my accident. Went down in a curve at about 70kph. Safety gear took most of the shock but as I went down on my right side initially my right knee took most of the impact. Burned right through my padded riding pants (now I wear clip on knee pads). I would post a photo of my knee but many of you might get sick. It looked like chopped meat. Had a lot of dirt in the wound. Since I was hours from home I went to a local hospital where they cleaned the wound and put 9 stitches in my knee. Also gave me pain and antibiotic pills. 2 days later my leg swelled up, got a fever and had chills. The wound had gotten infected as  all the dirt had not been cleaned out. Went to St. Mary's hospital in Korat where they took out the stitches and cleaned out the wound twice a day for 10 days. Pumped me full of intravenous antibiotics for the 10 days. Total cost of the hospital stay for 10 days was 75,000 baht and my Thai insurance paid the whole amount. The insurance cost me 52,000 baht a year and covers up to 800,000 baht, no deductibles.

Thanks for sharing. It sounds incredibly painful.
Am I right that your pants did not have knee armor?

Regardless, good plan to have added clip on's to your riding gear.

 

I'm reluctant to say that your story makes me feel better about my close call but rather it just highlights how life can change in a nano second.

 

Good to hear you're recovered and still riding.

Stay safe.

Headgame.

[Rdrokit]

2 minutes ago, Headgame said:

Thanks for sharing. It sounds incredibly painful.
Am I right that your pants did not have knee armor?

Regardless, good plan to have added clip on's to your riding gear.

 

I'm reluctant to say that your story makes me feel better about my close call but rather it just highlights how life can change in a nano second.

 

Good to hear you're recovered and still riding.

Stay safe.

Headgame.

The pants did have knee armor but the impact torn the stitching out where the armor was sewed in. If I didn't have the knee armor the impact would have probably tore my knee cap off and broke some bones. Never, never ride without safety equipment. I had an armored jacket and a very expensive helmet on that probably saved a lot of my body. Had to replace the helmet face mask where it scraped on the road.

[USPatriot]

22 hours ago, Bulldozer Dawn said:

Any chance you could tell us what the total of your medical bills was.  There are a lot of threads running at the moment about insurance.  You obviously had a serious injury, would be very interesting if you could tell us where you were treated and what the resulting bills were.

 

I wish you all the very best for your recovery.

I was taken to a private hospital in bowin for 3 days then to siracha to see a specialist. My first bill was 75,000 baht and my second bill was 210,000 my shoulder surgery was in sriricha. Nice rooms too.

[Headgame]

13 hours ago, Rdrokit said:

Can tell you about my accident. Went down in a curve at about 70kph. Safety gear took most of the shock but as I went down on my right side initially my right knee took most of the impact. Burned right through my padded riding pants (now I wear clip on knee pads). I would post a photo of my knee but many of you might get sick. It looked like chopped meat. Had a lot of dirt in the wound. Since I was hours from home I went to a local hospital where they cleaned the wound and put 9 stitches in my knee. Also gave me pain and antibiotic pills. 2 days later my leg swelled up, got a fever and had chills. The wound had gotten infected as  all the dirt had not been cleaned out. Went to St. Mary's hospital in Korat where they took out the stitches and cleaned out the wound twice a day for 10 days. Pumped me full of intravenous antibiotics for the 10 days. Total cost of the hospital stay for 10 days was 75,000 baht and my Thai insurance paid the whole amount. The insurance cost me 52,000 baht a year and covers up to 800,000 baht, no deductibles.

Forgot to mention but that insurance was a bargain.

Wish I was young enough to get a great policy like that.

BTW, those hospital rooms do look very nice.

Hope you don't see them again.

[macknife]

2 hours ago, USPatriot said:

I was taken to a private hospital in bowin for 3 days then to siracha to see a specialist. My first bill was 75,000 baht and my second bill was 210,000 my shoulder surgery was in sriricha. Nice rooms too.

 

 

You said the truck driver ran a red light. Why did you have to pay anything?

[USPatriot]

14 hours ago, macknife said:

You said the truck driver ran a red light. Why did you have to pay anything?

He thought he killed me even know we both had insurance I had to pay the bill and get reimbursed.

 

4 months later I was reimbursed.

 

I was told you can not go until you bill is paid. So I paid it.

 

3 trips to the police station to negotiate with the insurance companies. They said they would pay and 2 months after the final deal they paid. Excuse after excuse one week you will be paid. Oh it is a large amount takes 30 days. Oh it is going through the system. Oh should have in one week on and on. The commander of the police in bow in was top notch helped me a lot and came to see me 3 times in the hospital, my wife's cousin was killed the night of my accident so I told her to stay there with family ill be ok.

[bangkokairportlink]

Happy that you are fine, but I always wonder why people, especially older men, feel the need to drive a bike.

 

I had big bikes in the west but it's too dangerous here, so I quit. Why should I take the risk to lose and arm or leg in a country where I could even have a 24 hours personal driver ? It's just my opinion, but I feel less stupid having my body complete.

 

Wish you the best.

 

 

[bangkokairportlink]

On 6/11/2017 at 10:46 PM, Bulldozer Dawn said:

Noting your age.  What about a suzuki Van Van.  Upright riding position, big comfortable seat, and very forgiving set up.

 

As for starting to ride at 70, disregard the naysayers.  You are never TOO YOUNG to start anything.

 

What about driving a CAR ????

 

Really, feel so pity for old men on bikes.

 

 

[GreasyFingers]

45 minutes ago, bangkokairportlink said:

Really, feel so pity for old men on bikes.

If you ride a bike, anywhere, you will drop it sometime (possibly many times) through no fault of you own so the OP was just typical. The slides generaly do not hurt you, it it is the sudden stops that do the damage. got my bike license when I was 17 so have no pity for me, because I still enjoy a bike ride verse driving a car (except when it is cold or wet).

[papa al]

You don't have to be crazy idiot to ride,

but I've found that it help a lot.

[eeyang wah]

1 hour ago, bangkokairportlink said:

Happy that you are fine, but I always wonder why people, especially older men, feel the need to drive a bike.

 

I had big bikes in the west but it's too dangerous here, so I quit. Why should I take the risk to lose and arm or leg in a country where I could even have a 24 hours personal driver ? It's just my opinion, but I feel less stupid having my body complete.

 

Wish you the best.

 

 

Agree with this sentiment except even after 8 years here I still haven't found a single driver that I would trust with my family's lives! Safest option has always been self-drive.

[williet98248]

Same thing happened to me  few years ago.  Oil, light rain.  I hit the deck while the bike took off and joined 4 other bikes already in the guard rail at the bottom of the hill.  No injuries but I had enough and sold the bike a few weeks later.  Haven't missed it.

[Rdrokit]

1 hour ago, bangkokairportlink said:

 

What about driving a CAR ????

 

Really, feel so pity for old men on bikes.

 

 

I take much better care of myself since I got older as when I was young I thought I was unstoppable. When I was younger I rode in denims and a beanie helmet. Now I ride with armored pants & jacket, boots and a full face helmet. I also drive much slower than I use to as my reactions are slower.

 

Something I read kind of sums it up, " When it comes to being too old I believe it’s best to let your body tell you, and not wait for your friends to hide your keys. IF riding is a pain, or you’re a danger to others on the road, then it’s time to pull the pin. IF you find yourself carrying on a twenty-minute discussion with a fire hydrant, that’s a good sign your eyesight is going. IF you hit a bump and there’s a crunching sound from your body, and not from the bike or the road, that’s a body check (being cashed). IF your bike spends more time down than up, and lastly: IF it’s no longer fun to ride, then it’s probably time to turn in the keys."

[matador007]

On 11/6/2017 at 11:22 AM, USPatriot said:

Hit by a semi truck that ran a red light. The day they took the pins out I was riding again. Nothing was left of the pcx. Full riding gear full face helmet and riding jacket. My big insurance settlement 120,000 baht plus 40,000 for pcx and all bills paid including taxi rides for 3 months My arm was amputated held on by the skin, I'm pretty close to 100% with my arm 1.5 years later. It still hurts after working all day.

 

 

Thanks, and sort of no thanks for sharing.  You truly are the walking dead...

Enjoy your 2nd life, thats how I would consider it after surviving such.

[Grumpy Duck]

On 6/9/2017 at 9:53 PM, Headgame said:

No offence taken.

I agree that starting earlier would have been preferable but my reality is, I started at 70.

I have discovered another passion later in life and for that I'm grateful.

I'll keep riding.

I started riding in about 1967 or 68, I owned several bikes to include a '47 knuckle head chopper. I never had a MC accident until I moved to the land of blue hair specials, AZ. In 1983 I dumped 3 times on different bikes. The last I was not wearing my brain bucket. I flew over a car and woke up the following day in a hospital. I was a wise ass and told the nurse I was ok and could check myself out. As soon as I stepped out of bed I went strait to the floor. The real sad part of the story was my baby disappeared when I got out of the hospital. The impound lot the cops said it was taken to had no record of receiving it. The moral of the story is they are called accidents for a reason. The fraction of a second taking a second look at the girl bending over in a short mini skirt is enough to end it. And be warned, she is likely wearing shorts under the skirt, 555. 

[Damrongsak]

I worked as a mechanic at a Suzuki dealership in the U.S. 40+ years ago.  One of the guys was big into motocross.  He had a Husqvarna 250, maybe later a bigger one.  Then he got one of those then-new Suzuki 400 cc MX bikes, the one with about zero flywheel.  He used to say if you didn't crash a couple times whenever you practiced, you weren't trying.  I saw him in a race one time.  Have you ever seen a guy ditch a bike just before a corner and try to run along side at maybe 35 miles per hour?   Cocaine was readily available locally back then, but I think the guy was just naturally wired - or crazy. He came back from his first weekend outing on that Suzuki and all the rear spokes were shaky loose. 

[USPatriot]

10 hours ago, matador007 said:

 

Thanks, and sort of no thanks for sharing.  You truly are the walking dead...

Enjoy your 2nd life, thats how I would consider it after surviving such.

Trust me I do.

[thaiguzzi]

15 hours ago, bangkokairportlink said:

 

What about driving a CAR ????

 

Really, feel so pity for old men on bikes.

 

 

yawn...

Is that the time? Must find my slippers and teddy bear and make my cocoa before beddy buys.

[straylight]

Recent post on FB from my nephew in the US: Whenever a child admires my bike, especially a very young one, I always take the opportunity to preach the helmet. It's a very sacred responsibility.

[Headgame]

17 hours ago, bangkokairportlink said:

Happy that you are fine, but I always wonder why people, especially older men, feel the need to drive a bike.

 

I had big bikes in the west but it's too dangerous here, so I quit. Why should I take the risk to lose and arm or leg in a country where I could even have a 24 hours personal driver ? It's just my opinion, but I feel less stupid having my body complete.

 

Wish you the best.

 

 

Not sure what you mean by a "need". How about just because I choose to ride.  
I choose to assume the well known risk of riding in Thailand.
 

You made another decision. 

That's ultimately what life is all about- - choices.

 

Thanks for the best wishes.
Cheers, Headgame.

[Headgame]

20 hours ago, Rdrokit said:

I take much better care of myself since I got older as when I was young I thought I was unstoppable. When I was younger I rode in denims and a beanie helmet. Now I ride with armored pants & jacket, boots and a full face helmet. I also drive much slower than I use to as my reactions are slower.

 

Something I read kind of sums it up, " When it comes to being too old I believe it’s best to let your body tell you, and not wait for your friends to hide your keys. IF riding is a pain, or you’re a danger to others on the road, then it’s time to pull the pin. IF you find yourself carrying on a twenty-minute discussion with a fire hydrant, that’s a good sign your eyesight is going. IF you hit a bump and there’s a crunching sound from your body, and not from the bike or the road, that’s a body check (being cashed). IF your bike spends more time down than up, and lastly: IF it’s no longer fun to ride, then it’s probably time to turn in the keys."

Great set of rules to ride by or not, as the case may be.

[chris2004]

I had a similar accident last Christmas. After 40 years of riding I thought I was experienced enough to avoid accidents. Wrong. Can happen to anyone, anytime. Now given up riding. Too dangerous here in Thailand.