RE: Engineering 101 - Was:[ST] New Member

["David Pullen" <dpullen@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I sure hope it warms up (or dries out for us in the NW) soon so there will
be more talk of actually riding these bikes.

Ok, how about an insurance-related riding post with a tie-in to some
physics...

So, I was riding my '03 ST in to work yesterday morning, taking a slow right
hand turn coming to a stop sign, when I hit a patch of black ice.  Needless
to say, the bike went down, me along with it.  Fortunately, I wasn't going
more that 10-15 MPH, and it was a "clean" low-side; just a few bruises and
some achy muscles.  The bike just slid on its right side for a few meters.
Much to my dismay, however, the bike is only barely ride-able; I was able to
limp home (not far), but with a missing rear brake lever, broken right foot
peg, and bent handle bar on top of the expected damage to plastic parts.
I'm very surprised at how easily some of these components broke.  Is this
typical?  What should I expect at higher speeds?

Anyway, called my insurance (State Farm), and they said no worries, take it
to the dealer, have them write up an estimate, the adjuster will be down to
take pictures and write a check.  We'll see what this does to my rates, but
I'm impressed with how quickly they got the claim process started.  In fact,
the adjuster called me within half an hour of reporting the incident to my
agent.

Now the physics tie-in; my wife, upon hearing of the accident, asked me "How
is it possible for your leg not to be crushed under the bike?"  My response
- - I'm not sure.  I don't remember pushing off or recoiling; in fact, I don't
really even remember going down.  I just remember being down and wondering
why my bike was sliding off in front of me.  I _do_ remember the sound of my
bike sliding; almost as bad as the sound of the drill in the dentist's
office.

I also don't recall seeing any posts about people going down and being
trapped under their bikes, so it seems like it is uncommon.  Anyone care to
post a theorem on the physics of a low-side?

Thanks,
  - Dave

Soon-to-be repaired '03 ST in North Georgia
Trying desperately to get the sound of grinding plastic and metal out of my
head... :(



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