Hello from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, US

Hello fellow FZ/MT riders, or soon to be riders?

I appreciate this forum and will try to contribute where I can and stay in my lane(s) as much as possible.  I hope I will contribute at least as much as I receive from this group... I can hope anyway.  I have already had a positive experience purchasing some used rear indicator lights, Thank you sergio22 .

In October of this year I purchase a used 2017 FZ-10 with 5,300 miles on it, Graves 3/4 setup, FTECU flash with QS, Shogun frame sliders and rear OEM Spools, and passenger page delete.  Funny story, I drove 4.5 hours (one way) to buy it and find out the original owner bought and titled it in Latrobe PA, traded it in at a Pittsburgh area Harley Dealer and somehow made it's way to the 2nd owner in Bridgeport, WV.  Crazy how bikes move around.  Of course my previous bike was purchased privately as well and I drove 4.5 hours (one way) to Syracuse, NY... wondering if I have an issue...  

My previous bike was a 2006 Honda ST1300 (Black) and over the 8 years I owned and rode it for 30,000+ miles, I upgraded the suspension (Racetech springs and valves up front, and spring on the rear), Installed a Bazzaz Z-Fi controller and "self mapper" unit, manufactured an extra rear brake light, installed handle bar riser blocks, wired in 12VDC outlets, Radar detector (for safety monitoring, of course), swapped out foot pegs, installed and removed rear racks, Tailbags, Shad 50L TopBox, custom seat and a few more things I'm certain I am missing.

Anyway I was on my annual VA/WV trip with a group of friends and on the first full day winding through the mountains of WV, I panic brake as I'm screaming into a some what of a sharp left bend.  Now understand I've ridden this road, mountain twice a year for the previous 6 years.  I don't know the road like my neighborhood, but it wasn't completely foreign to me.  This particular bend had an unusually large gravel shoulder on the right side... I panic braked... (1st mistake), then I became fixated on the gravel shoulder (2nd mistake), mistake three was not turning my head and looking where I wanted to go before reaching the point of no return.  I was able to keep the iron steed upright across... around the bend of the shoulder as the ass end was trying to get ahead of the front wheel, until my front wheel met the edge of the shoulder and side of the mountain.  Alas there was no where for the front wheel to go, the front suspension compressed, the rear end swung around to the left violently tossing me about 2 paces away from where the bike landed on it's left side facing the opposite direction.  The first guy, EC, whom I was following got to me as I had just uprighted the bike from a completely horizontal position, wheels suspended in air... horizontally, and placed the bike on it's center stand.  The first thing he says, after confirming I was "ok", was how he "...saw the rear of my bike in his mirror".  After allowing the adreneline to reduce to a manageable level, all the guys in the group helped document the moment, review my errors and confirm I was not in any life threating danger.  I got back on the ST1300 and followed the group an 1.5 hours back to the hotel, through the most technical and best part of that days route.

That night I iced down my bruised and soar side, took some over the counter meds for the pain and a complimentary prescription pain killer from another motorcycling compatriot.  By morning I was still soar.. maybe more soar, but felt better standing than laying down.  As the group prepared to head to head out for more knarly twisties and two wheeled mental health therapy I call my wife to followup from the phone call the evening before.  She asks how I am doing and after I tell her I was feeling better then the night before, which was accurate... she proceeds to ask me if I was continuing my trip with the guys.  I still chuckle at that question.... I have a great wife.  I pack my gear and load up the bike to make my 4.5 hour ride home... which took about 8 hours...  Stopping more to give myself a break from every jarring bump in the road, traffic accidents causing 3 hour detour and riding was still tolerable, but the bumps and shifting around was becoming less tolerable.   Finally I made it home, sleep in the recliner as my side was no so soar I couldn't even lay down in my bed.

Next morning, I see the Dr., get X-rays and find out I fractured 1 (#7) rib.  Pain management and rest, Ice/heat, repeat.  Needless to day, it took about 3 weeks to really feel pain free.  I still have some discomfort when I lay on my back in bed, I'm guessing from tendons and tissues still healing in my chest.  Had my 3rd and final checkup since the accident and my Dr is very pleased with my recovery.  I am thankful for my health and healing process, there is no doubt my situation could have been much worse.

We all take the risk when we throw a leg over the saddle and head out on 2 wheels.  I had protective gear on, armored jacket, Kevlar reinforced riding jeans and gloves, and of course a full faced helmet.  Riding pants are the one thing I tend to not where all the time but always have some form of pants or denim jeans.  Fortunately I had good insurance coverage and even though they totaled my 14 years old bike over plastics, with the documented upgrades and receipts and apparel coverage, I was able to secure my, new to me, FZ-10.

I thought/wanted to purchase an FZ/MT-10 and knew it would be my next bike but I didn't expect to part with the ST1300 this way.  Here are a few Pictures for your viewing pleasure... maybe one not so much.  

















A couple pics from years prior:





Looking forward to getting to know the group,
Barry