It's old news, if it's news at all. But TV's Craig Ferguson, host of CBS's "The Late Late Show" recently gave details of his Harley Davidson V-ROD crash, in England. He's an experienced motorcyclist, and owner of an Indian motorcycle. But apparently on a visit to England several years ago, he rented a HD V-ROD, and wrecked it.
He mentioned the accident on his show recently, when the topic of cracked ribs came up in conversation.
In his words, "The Harley V-ROD doesn't like to turn." Then, apparently thinking better of disparaging the product of a potential sponsor, he said, "Okay, it was my fault."
"I was going around a corner and I turned, and the bike didn't. I broke three ribs and my collar bone. And it was springtime in England, and I discovered I had pollen allergies. Let me tell you, sneezing with broken ribs is a good way to invent new cuss words."
Like a true comedian, he turned his misfortune into laughs for the audience. And like a true corporate guy, he deflected the produce defamation into self-deprecation, for the sake of the corporations involved.
The cracked rib discussion appears at about 4:45 into this segment on YouTube.
But if truth be told, I think he's right about the bike. Following my own test drive of the V-Rod last year, I didn't give it points for handling or comfort.
Of course, Craig rightly also blames himself. Shame on him, as a rider on an unfamiliar bike, for putting himself into a position where he was outside his skill level. Next time he jumps on a rental, I bet he'll make allowances for the differences in the handling and performance of the bike. He'll be careful!
Good clip. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about getting to know a bike before pushing it very hard. That bites a lot of people, thinking that they all handle the same.