[Boatzo]

Gretchen and I took a Sunday ride yesterday and when we got close to home, I pulled in for gas. After filling up, we left the pumps and headed toward the exit, a pickup truck started to back out in front of us and I had to brake pretty hard to keep from T boning him. Down we went, it started to go and I couldn't hold it with both of us aboard. We both fell off the right side. Gretchen landed on her knees and I on my right elbow. We are OK, she is a little stiff and I have a sore foot (don't know why).

The LT is scuffed a little, the mirror is scraped, the Darius foot board is broken, and the chrome strip on the side case is scuffed. We drew quite a crowd at the gas station and lots of offers to help get the bike upright and checking our condition which was nice. The guy in the pickup stopped, ran over to see if we were OK but never said sorry or anything like that.

When we got home, I told Gretchen that we would not ride 2 up anymore. I am 68, she is 72 and we are just not as agile as we should be. I have to admit that I am always extremely tense when we are 2 up and although she loves to ride with me, I think it is best to quit. I don't ride long distances anymore and am going to sell the LT. I can still have lots of fun solo on my Triumph which is much better suited for the kind of riding that I now do. Short trips to town to have coffee with a bunch of old farts and to the store.

I am in the process of connecting a sidecar to the Triumph and hopefully Gretchen will ride in it, she says not, but the dog will go anytime.

 

[RickMann]

I'm sorry this happened to you. It's scary, especially with your bride on back. Maybe this was just an unfortunate accident and it's not time yet to go solo. I guess I just wanted you to know that other's have felt that helpless/guilty feeling. This is a good place to share that.Take care.

 

[lesn]

Sorry to hear about your escapade.
This is exactly why I attached a Hannigan sidecar to my lt. At 72, riding is a bit of a chore with a heavy bike like these are, besides that, the rig is a whole lot more visible to others on the road.
Best of luck to you both.
Les

 

[nickbtx]

My heart goes out to you and your wife and I'm glad to hear that neither of you were seriously injured. I understand the concern about having your wife on board and it's something I think about it EVERY time my wife is behind me.
Nick

 

[JPSpen]

OK Bill, Calm down, Step away from the LT..

There's not a reason you can't ride two up on a lighter bike..

I got rid of my LT because it was just too much almost all the time...

When we go on the Rt it's not an issue at all...

Perhaps your wife would like a Spyder.. My wife loves hers and rides solo now...

John

 

[fpmlt]

Sorry to hear you went down. I'm only guessing that even a younger man would have gone down in the same circumstance, so don't go beatin' yourself up.
I was going to suggest the same as John - a Spyder. Last year when my legs both went numb, first thought was my bikes, and decided I'd get one. Got feeling back, so never had to decide. Day's comin' though

 

[powwow]

Bill, so sorry to hear of your mishap, but glad everyone is alright with just some bruises. Agree with previous posters that your age had nothing to do with what happened and I suspect the result would have been the same for any of us.

I love my LT, but have started considering whether a lighter bike would be more fun overall. My SO and I love riding with her on pillion, but we really don't do as many longer trips as we used to do. Haven't made a decision yet, but starting to think an RT might fit my current needs and riding style.

 

[dfinazzo]

Takes a smart man to recognize when it is time to move on for whatever the reasons -
glad to see your turning point was uneventful. And it sounds like you have a scaled down risk plan!!

Hope I am as fortunate as you when my time comes . . .

 

[BecketMa]

Wheeew!

Glad to see you both are OK.

Those funny lookin three wheel things look like fun.

Best from Gorham ME
Bob

 

[hallzee]

Glad you and Gretchen are fine. Have fun, no matter what your safer hobby may be!

 

[Gizmo1137]

Sorry to hear about this, glad you are both OK. Best of luck and enjoy whatever your new passion might be.

 

[L_Rudy]

Wow Bill, so sorry to hear this. I hope you two recover quickly. I actually just gave up a lighter bike (F800ST) for my LT so my wifey can go along. But, I do wish I would have kept the F8 for shorter one-up riding! Instead of a trike, have you considered a lighter bike? Of course, after the LT, what do you do for comfort!

 

[wa1200lt]

Aw crap Bill! As mentioned earlier the same thing would likely have happened to us younger fellers. These big scooters are anything but light but they sure are fun to ride. Bottom line is you have to be comfortable with what your chariot. If the Triumph is the answer then it's a good choice and a lot of fun to boot!

Be safe out there!

Loren

 

[Boatzo]

Thanks so much to all for the replies and kind wishes. Just a few comments to put things in perspective: I worked my way up to the LT from smaller bikes over the years, the last bike was an RT which I rode for a long time and on average put many many more miles on than I do on the LT. My bride tried riding pillion on the RT and said "No Thanks". Size does matter . I know age isn't a real big factor, but physical condition is and although I am in pretty good shape, I do not have the strength and agility that I used to. Gretchen is not in the best shape and I am just not going to put her at risk.

We sat on a Can AM and didn't really care for it, same for a trike but never rode either so I cannot be very objective. I made the decision some time back to try a sidecar and after a lot of research and help and advice from others, (particularly Loren), I decided not to connect it to the LT, it just didn't look like a good match. So I thought of getting a different tug and spotted the Triumph. I am about 50% complete on the installation and looking forward to trying that. If that doesn't work out, we will try something else, except I WILL NOT, get a horse :histerica .

Thanks again all,

 

[Foiler]

I too am glad you are both OK. Maybe a ride like this?
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/mcd/2614749163.html

 

[mechanic]

Sorry about your acciddent. Thank god you two are ok. Don`t feel bad about the misshapp. Even a younger person would go down on that situation. I must say there is nothing like the way this bikes love curves and feel on the road, think hard before any changes PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE.

 

[Roamrider]

We sat on a Can AM and didn't really care for it, same for a trike but never rode either so I cannot be very objective. I made the decision some time back to try a sidecar and after a lot of research and help and advice from others, (particularly Loren), I decided not to connect it to the LT, it just didn't look like a good match.

Bill,

A few random comments to various things noted in your post. I've owned one sidecar rig and am putting another together. I participate in an on line sidecar community, the Internet Sidecar Owners Klub, which is a yahoo group administered by Claude Stanley, a true genius in sidecaring. If you've not discovered them yet, check them out at: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/SCT/, and if you wish, sign up for their on line email discussion group. There are a number old hands at assembling sidecar rigs there who are very generous with advice, as well as numerous owners of about any bike-car combination you can imagine. They're a wealth of knowledge on rigging and operating sidecars.

I'm currently assembling my rig using a GL1500 Wing because a) I got the Wing rather cheap and b) it doesn't require a subframe like the LT does. However, the LT does make an excellent chair hauler and numerous examples of superb rigs are out there. If my budget allowed for my rig to be professionally assembled, I'd build it around the LT. But the fun of any properly rigged sidecar is worth the effort, what ever the bike and car chosen. I hope you get your Triumph based unit together successfully and have a blast with it.

I have one friend, an older female experienced rider, who developed orthopedic issues that made it painful to support a two wheeled bike at stop signs. She bought a nice, used LT, had Hannigan do their trike conversion, and loves the resulting rig. Pricey, but quality workmanship indeed. LT based Hannigan trikes (and sidecars) are really quality setups. But they are not cheap.

I've ridden a standard CAN-AM Spyder. It's a well engineered unit but the riding position isn't comfortable for everyone. The newer touring version has a much more comfortable riding position for the operator and passenger. But the unit is somewhat expensive.

You're certainly not alone in needing to move away from a heavier two wheeled bike. LT's are fantastic motorcycles, but none of us can change the laws of physics, and as we all inevitably grow a bit older, gravity and age do what they do.

Good luck!

JD

 

[Razmataz]

Bill, I hope you don't leave us. I've enjoyed reading your posts.

 

[Boatzo]

Thanks Denny, I am not planning on leaving and I am not in a big rush to get rid of the LT. Just sticking with my decision to not ride 2 up anymore. I am kinda like John Spen though, the LT is just too much most of the time.

Jeff, thanks for the comments. I have talked to Claude Stanley and he was very helpful. As for Trikes, Can Ams, and Hannigan installations of side cars, that is just not in the budget. I got a great deal on the Triumph and the hack installation is pretty straight forward. I am looking forward to getting it all together.

BTW, Gretchen and I are driving the cage up to your FEST Saturday, see you then.

 

[Roamrider]

Jeff, thanks for the comments. I have talked to Claude Stanley and he was very helpful. As for Trikes, Can Ams, and Hannigan installations of side cars, that is just not in the budget. I got a great deal on the Triumph and the hack installation is pretty straight forward. I am looking forward to getting it all together.

BTW, Gretchen and I are driving the cage up to your FEST Saturday, see you then.

Bill,

I'm doing the same as you....putting together a rig that I can afford. I got a '92 high mileage GL1500 for really cheap and got a Friendship III with Wing mounts for a fair price. I'm just waiting for the time to assemble the rig. I will splurge the roughly $1k for an EZ Steer triple tree when it's time. If budget weren't an issue I'd have Claude put my FIII car on my LT. Maybe someday.

Sounds like the weather's gonna be fine for Morton's Open House on Saturday...cooler but with the rain gone. I'm usually crazy busy that day....but please say "hi". Melissa Holbrook, author of The Perfect Vehicle...What it is About Motorcycles, and more recently, The Man Who Would Stop at Nothing, which is about the really exceptional LD riders, including John Ryan, will have a seminar. John will be here as well. I've known him for a long time and he's both crazy and a legend in the LD community. Should be a fun day.

Take care....

JD