The value of engine guards.

What is their value? Can we put a value on them? Lets see.
I accepted a new job this morning, and the temp went up to 50.
I need a hair cut. I know I'll throw the seat back on the bike and take it. Don't need a helmet its warm and I'm only going a few blocks. thats finally done, maybe I should get a lottery ticket, could be my lucky day. its so nice, and the little hair I have left feels good in the wind, lets take a little detour. lets take the long way around the golf course/park way home. 50 in a 30 zone just enjoying the ride, ok here comes the left 45 degree turn, its posted 15 and I've scarred myself at 40 on it in perfect conditions, better slow down. Looking where I want to end up after the curve, I don't notice all the sand until my front tire locks up. leaning left for a curve and having your front tire lock up in the sand makes everything go in slow motion. I remembered I haven't crashed like this since I took the motorcycle riding class, and the instructor was not happy with me. Now its my bike and I'm not happy with me. Bike hits the pavement, let go of the handlebars stupid, oh yeah thats better.Now we can both slide freely. Off the road and into the mud and rocks. Crap I forgot to hit the kill switch before I let go, didn't know the tire spun that fast going nowhere. Hit the switch, now how am I gonna pick this thing up. Think I'll start by picking up my cell phone. Ok now the bike, with the left over adrenaline the bike weight about 50 pounds. Felt like I could have lifted it over my head and thrown it in the ditch. Lets look at the damage. Engine guards are twisted, left floor board is folded up, mirror is at a funny angle, the final drive has a couple scratches. kick the mud and rocks out of the floorboard joint and it falls right where its supposed to be. readjust the mirror, start her up and driver her home. I must also mention that I have a set of river road leather bags on the bike that never even thought of folding up or caving in.

Lets see, the engine guard stopped the bike from falling to far letting me get out from under it. Or my foot could have been bent like the floorboard.
I have some scratches on the outside edge of my left leg and some on my knee.

Between the engine guard and the bags I was not injured as badly as I could have been. Priceless.
Listening to my wife and 2 of her sisters singing "slip sliding away". Priceless

If good things happen in threes! I got a job, I didn't get seriously hurt, and I could win the lottery tonight........woo hoo

congrats on the new job, sorry about the spill,,,if you win the lottery I'll be your best friend.. All kidding aside, great news on the job. Glad you weren't hurt any worse than what you detailed.

mark f

Good to hear you are ok. might have toput the engine guards a bit higher on my priority list!

Glad to hear that you turned out better than I did. I'd hate to razz you.

Muntz wrote:Glad to hear that you turned out better than I did. I'd hate to razz you.

Sorry to spoil your chance. I'll try and hurt myself better next time......

Jerry

Think that was the first thing to go on my bike and it's saved me a time or two, (first when I was t-boned by a bluehaired lady, second was when my foot found some oil in a parking lot). Just to think that spending the money for it would really make it worth it. Hope everything goes well for you in your new endevour, I'm still hunting for work down here and I am very surprised I haven't heard anything other then "We'll keep you on file for 6-9 months" B.S..

Unca Jerr
Glad to hear you nor the bike were hurt, congrats on the new job, ...... down south even .... lucky dog you.

Wish we coulda hooked up for a ride or two before you head out. Well Texas aint that far.

See you out there
Smokey

Yeah! Glad you're not hurt.
I have some. They saved me some scratches one time.
I was following my wife when she was practicing to ride her Virago. She took off down a really steep hill off a parking lot. I couldn't yell at her in time to prevent it. As she neared the bottom of the hill leading to busy traffic(reason I didn't want her to go that way) ,..she couldn't stop,paniced, hit a stop sign,(I swear) and fell over with her bike. Of corse it's all in slow motion. I stopped quickly,(on the steep hill) and put my kick stand down jumped off and ran down to where she was. I heard this scraping noise behind me, and it was my VTX leaning on my engine guard at about 45 degrees. No damage to mine, OR Wife and her bike. (Thank God). The way she went into that sign, it could have been WAY worse. and after we both calmed down, we rode home together.
She rides Much better now.