[ST] Re: Honda 954RR

["jay levine" <levine98@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think the Honda is a great bike! Super light, unbelievable brakes (see(see 
story below about my crash), great value for the money (I got mine for about 
500 below retail), and reasonable ergos compared to any other bike in its 
class, except the Aprilia Mille R.

I bought mine June 1st to use when I was on work related travel in 
Albuquerque NM (I live in Minneapolis but travel down to Abq every other 
week for the next year). Insurance was very high though, about 3 times what 
I pay for the Sprint ST--the insurance lady told me the average owner 
profile is someone between 18 and 25, rides too fast without equipment, ends 
up road kill 4 times out of 10 (not that I have anything to bragg about--45 
years old, riding thirty years, and still crashed mine in the first week of 
ownership<g>).

How I Spent My Summer:

My Honda 954RR was one week old when I decided to join a group ride in 
Albuquerque NM for a Sunday ride up Sandia Crest (9,500feet above sea level, 
fourteen miles up a very tight and twisty road).

We made it up to the Crest as a group in about 30 minutes.  After peeling 
leathers and telling tales, we suited up again and exited the parking lot to 
head home.  I chose to take last position due to my unfamiliarity with the 
road (I'm from Minneapolis).

About 1 mile down the road, I passed the bike in front of me at about 50mph, 
unaware that there was a hair pin turn coming up.  I apparently hit the 
brakes, locked the wheels and the bike I went down (I say apparently because 
I have no memory of the accident).

I skidded down the road for approx 50 feet before entering the turn, then 
high-sided when I hit the shoulder of the turn.  Upon high-siding, I slammed 
into a small solid rock facing that stood between me and 8,500 feet of 
nothing.

The resulting injuries were as follows:

1. Concussion and brain contusion
2. Broken left pelvis (split in half)
3. All ribs on my left side broken
4. Collapsed left lung
5. Five broken lower vertebrae
6. Most of the bones in my left foot broken.
7. General ill feeling all around since in 30 years of riding I've never 
really been hurt!

I woke up 11 hours later, with no memory of the accident or the helicopter 
ride I took to get to down the mountain (darn). I never saw the bike again; 
the insurance guy, bless his heart, handed me (well, my wife) a check the 
very next day for total cost of the bike minus 32 cents per mile (like I 
said, the bike was only a week old!).

Take Care, and wear your gear (mine saved my life).

Jay

>From: "Manuel Gonzalez" <mito_lawman@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: Levine98@xxxxxxxxxxx
>Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 15:14:53 -0600
>
>Jay,
>
>Did you ever post to the list the details of your accident on the 954RR?  
>If so, I must have missed it.  I have been considering buying a 954RR 
>myself.  I don't want to re-hash bad memories, but if it isn't too much 
>trouble, could you give me your take on that particular bike?  What did it 
>cost you to insure that bike?
>
>I currently have a 2001 BRG ST, carbon fiber pipe, speed 3 tune, (soon to 
>have the 18 tooth sprocket).  I was perfectly happy until I got on Thomas 
>Emberson's TL1000S.  I threw a leg over the 954RR at the motorcycle show a 
>year ago but haven't been able to locate a Honda dealer that even has a 
>bike to offer test rides on.
>
>Sorry to hear about your having to sell your ST.  If I didn't already own 
>one . . . .
>
>Thanks,
>
>Manuel Gonzalez
>Plano, Texas
>2001 BRG ST


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