I was preparing the bike for a nice, long ride with my buddy (SV650S) throughout the Buffalo area. It was 74 degrees today since we're at the tail end of our Indian Summer, so when I rode 2 miles to my bank and to the car wash, I figured I could get away with feeling the sweet autumn air on my bare arms.
Yes, I know...stupid to leave the riding jacket at home.Everything was going smoothly. The bike was running great as always, and I was eager to shine it up at the wash since it's been stuck at school under a cover for the past 2 months. I pulled it into the bay, and proceeded to wash the bike. It came out beautifully, and I walked it out of the bay into the sun. I let it sit for 15 minutes to dry while I also took my shirt off and dab dried other more damp areas. I inspected the tires to make sure they were dry, and gave the whole bike a once-over to be sure that I wasn't going to slip-up from any residual water.
I put my helmet and gloves on, and started up the bike...kicked up the stand, and began to pull away from my spot. Next thing I know, as I'm easing into a small turn in the parking lot, the rear tire lets loose, and as I go down on my right side, my hand accidentally twists the throttle - sending the bike into a harder spin. I fall hard onto the freshly-sealed black-top and so does my freshly-painted FZR.
I got up and walked over to the bike to turn it off, but realized that I was in a little more pain than anticipated, so I walked away towards a grassy area. A guy cleaning his car at the wash ran over to make sure everything was ok. After a minute's rest, we stand the bike back up to survey the damage - nice rash all down the right side (fiberglass, brake lever, and exhaust).
Pissed, I got on the bike, gently bent the brake lever back down and slowly drove around to dry the tire off. I turned on the road to drive 2 minutes home when I realized that my arm was stinging pretty badly. I looked down to see a lovely patch of road rash and fresh sealer embedded in my forearm.
Luckily, I made it safely home, where I walked inside and looked at the damage to myself. By this time, my pelvis had really started to get sore and my arm was stinging something furious. I ended up going to an ambulatory center where the staff told me to wash out the sealer on my own (with mayonnaise???
). Then I waited for 3 hours for the doctor to tell me that I could get an x-ray if I wanted (for my pelvis), but that it was probably just sore since "it's such a strong bone." I'm no stranger to the medical field, and since I already had an idea that I was just sore, the doctor's indifference sent me out the door without waiting an extra 2 hours for an open x-ray machine.So, here I sit with a glass of wine that I picked up at this weekend's Oktoberfest, medicating my ailments.
I realize I was stupid for not wearing my jacket. And the bike WAS dry, except for the retaining water in my airtech R1 bellypan (that just happens to come without a drain hole for just such instances). When I took off, the water must have sloshed to the back of the pan, and poured over right onto the unsuspecting rear tire. Water+fresh sealer+motorcycle tire=painful day.
I hope everyone can learn from my mistake. Now there's a little more to fix this winter.
Cheers guys. 
