I wrecked it today!

I give myself a dumbass award today. I'll tell you about it, but first, the backstory.

I took a little ride today to my local Triumph dealer. I test drove the Speed Triple, and while I liked the power curve, and I already knew I liked the looks of it, I decided the seating position doesn't suit me. At least, the stock position.

While I was there, I stopped into the BMW dealership next door and test drove the R1200R and the F650GS. i loved the handling and the power of the R1200R, though I was surprised at the vibration at idle. The F650 did surprisingly well, and seems like an able commuter bike, which would suit me well. I think the BMW "Beak" front end is fugly, however.

As I was riding the third bike, the F650GS, it started to rain. I didn't mind much. Came back to the dealership and talked dollars and cents, monthly payments, etc. Took his card and told him I'd check with "the minister of finance" and get back to him. Very low key ... they must hear this every day.

On to the dumbass award...

Back onto my own bike, the rain still falling gently. A 20 mile ride back home through city streets. Coming up to an intersection, I faced a red light. I moved into the right turn lane and glanced to my left as I braked gently to a stop. I was going maybe 20 mph.

Fwoop. Suddenly I'm on my right side, my bike grinding to a stop on its side. What happened?

My right leg pinned under the bike. The woman behind me stopped her car, got out and ran toward me. "Are you okay?"

A sharp pain in my right side, where my elbow jabbed into my ribcage when I landed. "I'm okay."

"It's leaking!" she yelled, "It's leaking gas!" She sounded frightened, ran back to her car, and left. Afraid it was gonna blow, I suppose.

I freed my leg from under the bike and stood up.

A remembered Skert's lesson on lifiting a bike, and began to pick it up. A man stopped his white Humvee behind me, hazards on, ran to me and helped me pick up the bike. He caught it as I lifted it, ensuring it wouldn't topple over when I righted it.

We looked over the damage.

Driver and passenger pegs on the right side mangled. Mufflers scratched a little on the right side. My new levers were unscathed, as was the grip. The windshield was scratched, and the brackets bent. The handlebars are cockeyed -- when I'm driving the bike straight, the handlebars are turned slightly to the right.

A cop stop and asked if I was okay, asked what happened. I said I slipped on an oil slick, pointed it out to him. He asked if I was okay, I said yes.

Cranked the bike for about a minute. It started. I imagine it was flooded at first.

Rode the bike home, without event.

Further inspection shows a goose-egg on my elbow, no broken bones. My helmet smacked the pavement, so I'll be buying a new one. Right shoulder of my leather jacket scuffed

I Just offer this as a reminder ... watch for oil slicks in the rain. I know this, I am always extra careful in the rain, but in a moment it got away from me.

Be careful out there.

I'm thankful it didn't happen on the test drives ... I plan on going back and test driving other Triumphs in the future -- a stupid stunt like that might've blacklisted me.