Nothing fancy..just dropped the bike and broke my leg in 7 places

2427 Views 31 Replies 19 Participants Last post by J-Dog, Feb 12, 2009

greenfield

Discussion Starter · Feb 11, 2009 (Edited)

Need new bars..just dropped the bike and broke my leg in 7 places

Sooo, long story short. 20degree night, cold asphalt and cold tires (Pirelli Diablo blah blah's), lots of salt in the nooks and crannies, and a car that pulls out in front of me from a parking spot without looking= tibia shattered in 6 places, and fibula fractured just above the ankle. I won't be riding until June, and even then, only after some rehab and strengthening of the leg.

My question.. I have an '07 nekkid, and among other things, I need to replace my handlebars because of the spill. There's nothing that I can find wrong with the stock bars, per se.. I have them tilted back toward me a smidge to lower the bars in my hands, which I like...and the ergos fit me fine, but I'm curious whether the naked crowd has any opinions on aftermarket bars. Do you have a favorite company/manufacturer? Do they fit well, are they comfortable, are there better options for aftermarket mirrors...etc? Can you guys show me some pics as well? I'd like to get black bars.

Also, from a "stop breaking the levers" point of view, any opinions on aftermarket hand levers? I see that some of them are folding levers, but do any of those actually fold up and save themselves in a low-side?

What about folding foot pegs brake/shifter?

I have at least 4 months before I get to ride again, but in the meantime my insurance company makes certain allowances for me to spend outside the price of stock replacement parts if I can live with dings and scratches and not make insurance pay for replacing damaged cosmetics.

Accidents happen, even when you've got your head on a swivel, but 20 degrees is a bit too cold to be able to fully rely on predictable tire performance.

Thanks for the opinions and the help.
I can't wait to ride again....it was over 70 degrees today. February in D.C. I hate life sometimes.

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1 - 20 of 32 Posts

spotch

· #2 · Feb 11, 2009

Yeah, it's funny how everything feels pretty normal running around town when it's below freezing until you actually *need* the traction. I pretty much decided to never ride below 40 degrees again.

How exactly did your leg break? Hitting the ground? Having the bike land on it?

jbswear

· #3 · Feb 11, 2009

That oughtta buff right out.

greenfield

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 11, 2009

Front tire fell out under me, and the ergo bulge on the gas tank hit my left leg like a sledge hammer coming down on plywood.

10,000 miles in 9 months with this bike... Rode to Ann Arbor Mich, in Dec. '07. NYC in Feb. '08 in 30 degree weather with driving rain and 40mph wind gusts, Asheville, N.C...up and down Virginia and western Maryland.

All that, and I bit it in the city.

herbn

· #5 · Feb 12, 2009

i broke my leg july 13 2008, it was sept before i rode again, like a mental case ,crutching up to the bike and riding with my knee brace on. I did some fairly long rides and walking to pay for gas at self service gas stations was something i probabely shouldv'e avoided,though it didn't hurt my leg in any permanent way. My break was a tpf, tibial plateau fracture, which involves the knee, i couldn't stand up in any hurry for bumps or any thing like that. I am suprizingly not in a huge hurry to get back on my SV this year even though i did new tires and damper rods/fork oil and brake upgrades, i still have to put fluid in the brakes,soon, soon enough, i am looking forward to some nice rides. i feel bad for your timing on breaking your leg,don't get back on to early; the closest i came to a possibly bad crash was at a time when i shouldn't really have been on my bike, i'm so thankfull that a car was not coming the other way , when i went a bit hot at a turn,and then got on the brakes,not cofident yet, fear is the mind killer. Check out "mybrokenleg.com" there are a couple motorcycle people on there fairly regularly, though it seems mostly for more severe broken legs,you may be able to pick up some hints on dealing with a bl.

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NextSV

· #6 · Feb 12, 2009

Sorry to hear about the injury. Glad it is something that will heal.

Nexus242

· #7 · Feb 12, 2009

Talk about Mr Glass eh!! Dood you need to drink more milk!!

nyc rugby

· #8 · Feb 12, 2009

Sorry to hear about your leg. Bust your ass in PT and you will get the best results possible, ask your therapist (not an aide or assistant) for extra exercises to do on your own if they don't offer first.

Not to harp on it, but this is exactly why I choose to stay off the streets until it gets around 40.

As for your handlebars, I'd suggest a set of 7/8" (so they fit all of your stock stuff) aluminum dirt bars. They come in a huge variety of bends/lengths/colors so you can get exactly what you want and the added thickness takes away much of the vibration that you won't need bar ends anymore which opens up more bar end mirror possibilities. My bars are Pro Taper in Carmichael low bend with about 1.3 inches cut off of each end. That's as far as you can go and have your perches line up correctly on that bend, they have a wide center section. They are a bit lower and wider than the stock bars and I find them very comfortable. The bars are much stronger than stock and have survived 4 knock overs so far with no damage yet. I added Pazzo shorty levers at the same time and have not had them touch the ground (broke a few stock levers in tip overs before I spent some money, my bike gets hit when parked occasionally)

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SDRider

· #9 · Feb 12, 2009

Sorry to hear of your crash. If you're going down, try to push the bike away from you...I know, it is easy to say but not so easy to do with your prized possession.

Anyway, I've heard good things about the SM bars (Suburban Machinery) and I got a chance to sit on an SV with those bars recently and they look and feel sweet IMO.

http://www.suburban-machinery.com/sv650.htm

atdrvn

· #10 · Feb 12, 2009

Sorry to hear about your crash and I wish you a speedy recovery.

+1 to SDRider:

I have an 07 Naked with SM1's. The SM2s are situated slightly higher, which might be slightly more comfortable but after getting raised footpegs and SM1's, it handles amazing.

Also, I believe ASV makes unbreakable clutch and brake levers.

DarkMatter

· #11 · Feb 12, 2009

pics of leg please. xrays will do.

spotch

· #12 · Feb 12, 2009

Did you have frame sliders installed when this happened?

Chilltake

· #13 · Feb 12, 2009

Ouch... GL with the leg man! I wish you a speedy recovery.

hatchetman240

· #14 · Feb 12, 2009

jbswear said:
That oughtta buff right out.

*wipes a tear* I love you, JB. Not in that way though.

@OP Sorry about your leg... the good news is if you will be riding by June you probably didnt spiral fracture that sucker. I assume they are putting at least one pin in?

Nexus242

· #15 · Feb 12, 2009

nyc rugby said:
Not to harp on it, but this is exactly why I choose to stay off the streets until it gets around 40.

Yet another reason why I love being in Florida. I don't have to risk life and limb after jonesing for 4 to 6 months of non bike riding. I'm not sure if some of you up north are crazy brave or just stupid when ya'll talk about riding once the temp gets above 30 degrees with the roads all messed up like that. I'd rather wait and be safe then taking that extra risk just to say I road my bike in Feb, I rock!

jbswear

· #16 · Feb 12, 2009

True, Jeff, but the roads here make it worth the sacrifice of some down time.

suzukisvnut

· #17 · Feb 12, 2009

The suburban machinery bars are probably great but they are also expensive. Here's what i plan on getting for my bike

http://www.whaccessories.com/Handle&...bar List.htm

Nexus242

· #18 · Feb 12, 2009

jbswear said:
True, Jeff, but the roads here make it worth the sacrifice of some down time.

Down time?? This guy will be lucky if he's able to ride by June or July and not walk with a limp before 2010 begins! But as long as I've been on SVR every new late winter/early spring season brings a rash of threads where riders go down on their first rides cause of the sand and salty residue left on the roads after the winters snow falls.

Rusty riding skills after 4-6 months off, unwashed roads filled with sand, salt and dirt left over from winter and the need to get out and the over powering need throw it into come curves will end with more riders going down in corners. I think all those factors over power a persons common sense.

jbswear

· #19 · Feb 12, 2009

Nexus242 said:
Down time?? This guy will be lucky if he's able to ride by June or July and not walk with a limp before 2010 begins! But as long as I've been on SVR every new late winter/early spring season brings a rash of threads where riders go down on their first rides cause of the sand and salty residue left on the roads after the winters snow falls.

Rusty riding skills after 4-6 months off, unwashed roads filled with sand, salt and dirt left over from winter and the need to get out and the over powering need throw it into come curves will end with more riders going down in corners. I think all those factors over power a persons common sense.

I hate to sound harsh, but those riders went down because of foolish decisions. The 'extended' downtime is their fault.

A person's common sense is never over powered. It's simply ignored.

Before you start your typical accusations of me riding a tall horse, I'll be the first to admit that I've ignored my better common sense many times. Occasionally, I've had to pay for it severely.

mullins7388

· #20 · Feb 12, 2009

Nexus242 said:
Down time?? This guy will be lucky if he's able to ride by June or July and not walk with a limp before 2010 begins! But as long as I've been on SVR every new late winter/early spring season brings a rash of threads where riders go down on their first rides cause of the sand and salty residue left on the roads after the winters snow falls.

Rusty riding skills after 4-6 months off, unwashed roads filled with sand, salt and dirt left over from winter and the need to get out and the over powering need throw it into come curves will end with more riders going down in corners. I think all those factors over power a persons common sense.

I live in Illinois and the roads arent all that bad when spring begins... usually a big storm aka a lot of rain wash everything out .. but rusty .. i could feel it a little the other day i was riding

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