Roadcarvin

Main menu

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Magazine Sections
      • The Front Page
      • Blogs
      • Events
      • News and reviews
      • Photography Equipment
      • Photos - All-time popular
      • Photos - Latest additions
      • Photos - Recent popular
      • Recent popular pages
      • What's New
    • All-Time Popular Content
    • Recent Additions
    • Recent Popular Content
  • Motorcycle Equipment
    • Motorcycle Equipment Reviews and News
  • Photo Gallery
    • Browse the Photo Gallery
    • All-time popular photos
    • Recent additions
    • Recent popular photos
  • Polls
    • Roadcarvin Magazine Polls
  • Roadcarvin
    • Contact Us
    • Site map
    • About Roadcarvin Magazine
      • About us
      • Advertise on Roadcarvin
      • Photo Hot Linking Guide
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
Home blogs Michael Curry's blog

The day I nearly lost my leg

Reading a blog entry on HarleyThoughts.com about a gruesome incident reminded me the day I came within inches of losing my right leg.

It was 1980. It was late on a Summer Saturday afternoon. I was 20 years old, full of the dumbass fearlessness that so often accompanies youth. I was riding a 1969 Harley Shovelhead. I accelerated quickly from an intersection on a busy main drag, leaving the rest of the cars behind. I wasn't racing, but I was moving along faster than the rest of traffic. I wasn't wearing a helmet—this was long before California eliminated that choice.

Advertisements - Story Continues Below

Roadcarvin.com does not review or endorse the advertisers appearing above.

Up ahead, a late-70's full-size American car pulls a left turn in front of me from the opposite direction, apparently trying to enter the parking lot of a popular Italian restaurant. No problem, I think to myself. He's got plenty of time to enter the parking lot before I get to where he is.

Ah! If only things were that simple! The cage driver comes to a dead stop just before entering the driveway. He's not blocked by anything. He just stops. And looks at me. Watches me as I approach at 40 MPH. The entire lane is now blocked.

Now, this wouldn't have been a problem, except that the brakes on my bike weren't the greatest in the world. Completing the nightmare: I can't go around him, because there is a six-inch high wide concrete center island blocking my escape to the left. I don't want to swerve to the right side, because he may start moving forward again, and I'll be in a bigger mess.

Jamming on the brakes, trying to bring the speed down while moving as far to the left as I can, I approach the car. There's about 18 inches between the back bumper of the car and the center island, and I try to squeeze through. I'm still doing about 15 MPH as I pass by the car. The corner of the car's rear bumper neatly shears off my Hog's right rear shock absorber. Diving over the bars, I go down for a tumble, rolling along the center island. I come to rest some thirty feet beyond the impact site.

To my surprise, I'm relatively unhurt, besides minor road rash on my arm. I look back, and see that my Hog has nearly removed the rear bumper from the offending car.

The police show up quickly. An ambulance arrives. I'm in decent shape, but they want to make sure I don't have any major unseen injuries and they don't want to miss an opportunity to lecture me on motorcycle safety. I'm whisked away to a nearby emergency room. Nothing wrong besides the gravel in my arm.

Pay attention!: ....because you know others won't...
Pay attention!: ....because you know others won't...
Later, when I read the police accident report, I found out that the car's driver was drunk, well over the then-generous legal limit. I'll never know why he stopped and just stared at me. I really don't care, anyway. I learned a valuable lesson. People do really strange things. You can't always predict what they will do. You will be caught by surprise.

So you see, I count my blessings that I did not lose the use of my leg. To this day, I can still close my eyes and see, with crystal clarity, the bumper of the car passing within mere inches of my right leg. I still have the tattered leather jacket that bears silent witness to my stupidity and carelessness that day.

Motorcycling is an unforgiving activity. Mistakes (regardless of who makes them) can cost you dearly. Please: pay attention. Watch the road. Don't get distracted. Your life, the lives of others, and the peace of mind of your loved ones depend on it.

Author: Michael Curry /// submitted on August 22, 2009 - 10:10am.
Filed Under
  • "Know Thy Enemy"
  • Accidents
  • Cage Drivers
  • Defensive Driving
  • Defensive Riding
  • drunk driving
  • Essays
  • Michael Curry's blog
  • Add new comment

Related features

  • Another cage-related motorcycle fatality
  • Choosing sportbike or sport-touring motorcycle tires
  • Tucked In
  • The Sunday Morning Ride
  • You Too Can Join a Motorcycle Gang

Current Poll

Recent Comments

way to go harley you… I am not agree with you... I… Buell Motorcycles.… May be the biggest flop in… I'm just no fan of it, no… New 2011 Vivid Black FXDWG… trade in…

About the author

Michael Curry's picture

Author Name
Michael Curry

Author Bio

Michael has been riding street motorcycles since 1975. He's owned and ridden everything from Hondas to Harleys with a preference for spirited sport-touring riding.

Michael is a Roadcarvin.com co-founder and serves as chief editor, scribe, staff photographer, and other things.

View full user profile

Feeds and Subscriptions

Syndicate content
more

Featured Photo

2009 Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals - Matt Hines Wheelie
Mat Hines launching the Vance & Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Latest Photo

2011 IMS - Harley Girls
Harley-Davison girls at the 2011 IMS show in San Mateo, California.

Subscribe by e-mail

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Add to Google
Locations of visitors to this page

What's New

Our latest articles

2011 IMS - Harley Girls

2011-2012 International Motorcycle Show Schedule

The Progressive International Motorcycle Shows kicks off the season this weekend in San Mateo, California November 18th - 20th.

Read the rest »
CargoLoc 84060 Motorcycle/ATV Cargo Net 15 inch by 15 inch by 6 hooks

Must-have gear: Bungee cargo net with adjustable ABS plastic hooks

I've used these on my bikes for years. I keep a couple under the seat, in the storage compartment of the rear cowl.

Most cheap ...

Read the rest »
Captain America - 1942 Harley Davidson WLA Liberator

Captain America Rides A 1942 Harley Davidson WLA Liberator

TWO AMERICAN ICONS REUNITE TO SALUTE THE FORCES OF GOOD Harley-Davidson® and Marvel Studio’s Captain America Join Forces to Defend Freedom

On July 22, Marvel Studios releases ...

Read the rest »
More new stuff »

Popular Articles

What other people are reading right now

1930 Indian motorcycle

2008 Suzuki Motorcycle Models

According to roadracingworld.com, Suzuki has announced changes to the 2008 motorcycle line-up, including 14 new or revised models, including the Hayabusa GSX1300R, B-King GSX1300BK, and GSX650F.

The Hayabusa is reported to have a 12% increase in power output which equates to 195 horsepower. The frame is revised and a sturdier ...

Read the rest »
2008 Triumph Daytona 675 - Neon Blue

2008 Triumph Daytona 675

2008 Triumph Daytona 675 2008 Daytona 675 Updates

New bolder decal on side farings Gold, anodized top nut Improved headlight design for increased performance Two new colors for 2008, Neon Blue and Jet Black

The Daytona 675 was the first 3-cylinder super sports middleweight and has been very highly rated in this extremely competitive class. ...

Read the rest »
2009 Honda Interceptor - Right Side - Black

Do characters in the "Wild Hogs" movie represent typical Harley-Davidson buyers?

* Yes. But don't tell anyone I said so. * No way! * Wild What? I'm too damn busy riding to watch a movie!

Read the rest »
More popular articles »
Many photos on this site were taken with a Canon EOS 7D, Canon EOS 50D, or other other Canon digital cameras.

Site Map

Use (accessing site content) indicates acceptance of our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use - Roadcarvin Info and Credits

Roadcarvin™ Magazine Contents Copyright © 2005-2013 Michael Curry's Exodus Development, and 3D Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication or reproduction prohibited.