I had my back tire loose all air pressure 3 weeks ago. It immediatly flipped me over the top of the scoot. When i stopped rolling, it flipped on to the top of me. I suffered broken ribs (front) 3 broken ribs (back) and broken sternum. Plenty of road rash. I was lucky.
The dealer says the cause was from a after market stem light that I purchased from them. (Street FX Tire Technics) Valve caps that light up with L.E.D. lights for visability. If this was actually the cause, I highly suggest that you do not do any mod's to your rims or tires.
Lesson Learned!
No helmet, no gloves, T-Shirt, pants and sunglasses. On my way to work.
Happened so quick, you never know when, no matter how great of scooterrist you are.
Things out of your control do happen.
Last edited by Milehibuddy on Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Milehibuddy wrote:Lesson Learned!
No helmet,no gloves, T-Shirt, pants and sunglasses. On my to work.
Happened so quick, you never know when, no matter how great of scooterrist you are.
Things out of your control do happen.
I'm a helmet and glove absolutist. But that being said, I don't think wearing a helmet or gloves would have helped his ribs/sternum at all. In fact, ATGATT wouldn't have helped his ribs/sternum at all.
I put some red colored stem covers on my red Buddy and when I came out for a ride an hour later both tires were flat. I had screwed them down very tight but I guess there must be something different about Buddy stems. Just glad it didn't happen while riding.
Milehibuddy, I really hope you heal quickly. What a scary thing to happen. Thanks for the warning. I have a pressure reading valve stem cap on the front tire which lets me know when my tire pressure is low. I'll be careful to check it before each ride.
PasadenaSue wrote:Milehibuddy, I really hope you heal quickly. What a scary thing to happen. Thanks for the warning. I have a pressure reading valve stem cap on the front tire which lets me know when my tire pressure is low. I'll be careful to check it before each ride.
BTW, I went ahead and sent an email to the manufacturer just to let them know about my incident. There were no warnings or cautions on my packaging about usage.
I hate to mention litigation but you could have a product liability case here. Could be worth looking into just to get your medical bills paid and any time off of work you may lose.
Thanks skullmechanic!
The dealer said he was going to remove them from his shelves, still on them though. Hoping that they tell people from now on that they do not have the clearance for the Buddy's.
As far as a attorney, right now I just want to heel and get back to work and ride my new Buddy! http://www.flickr.com/photos/29599850@N04/
The same thing happened to Frankenscoot with a new rear tire and led stems on his Vino 125. Crashed, tore up his scoot and needs lots of repairs. Luckily he was wearing gear and escaped serious injury.
I put a brand of those things on my car a couple of years ago. (I know, I know ) The brand was Tireflys. On my way home from work one day the tire suddenly went flat. Took the tire to a shop, and they found no problem with the tire, and I am still riding on it. Seems that the Tirefly's weight causes a wobble and might have tapped on the valve stem pin and drained the air. Needless to say, they all went in the garbage.
This may be the most important moment of your life. Commit to it.
Really sorry to hear about your accident. Those kinds of stems are illegal in CA, I think, and probably are in other states, too, which is why they're for "off-road use."
Do you mind posting about this incident in our "who's crashed?" thread? We're actually tracking incidents and doing stats based on the reports there.
Heal up and ride safe!
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
Thanks sradwick,
I was going straight as a arrow!
I had just left a stoplight and was accelerating up to around 35MPH. Next thing I remember was the scooter flipping and coming over the top of me. The Denver PD said that the witnesses saw me going straight and it looked like the tire just blew?
It amazes me how quickly things can go wrong when riding. The most important thing is that it doesn't sound like you hit anything (like a car, a tree, or a light pole). That can hurt, believe me!
I wanted to get some for my scoot, but was told the LED kind are illegal for street use here in WA state. I'm glad I didn't get them - your accident sounds so painful! Broken ribs suck, hurt and take a long time to heal, so be careful with yourself during this down time!
"There are two means of refuge from the misery of life - music and cats."
- Albert Schweitzer
I just bought some of those "Gas Saver" things to put on the valve stems. Has anyone had an issue with those? After reading this post, I'm a little concerned.
Howard
Iron Butt Association Member Number 42256
Club - The Sky Island Riders.
Publisher: The Scooter 'Zine thescooterzine.com
Ill add my sympathies to those who have already posted Milehigh. Glad to hear you weren't even more seriously injured as it sounds like you high sided when your rear tire went. Love your new scoot it looks real sharp. Hope you heal quickly and thanks for the heads up on the valve things.
The best thing you can do to save gas is ride your Buddy in its stock form. It might be boring to you but is more dependable and apparantly safer. Just my 2 cents.
DennisD wrote:The best thing you can do to save gas is ride your Buddy in its stock form. It might be boring to you but is more dependable and apparantly safer. Just my 2 cents.
This will not only save you gas, but will greatly extend the life of your Buddy.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
coffeekittie wrote:I wanted to get some for my scoot, but was told the LED kind are illegal for street use here in WA state. I'm glad I didn't get them - your accident sounds so painful! Broken ribs suck, hurt and take a long time to heal, so be careful with yourself during this down time!
Thanks Coffeekittie,
Yeah the ribbies are a bit sore, but I am so happy that I have a new scoot waiting for me.
I am totally in good health just waiting on time to take it's course. Hey, I can type, see, hear, smell, walk, talk, life is great lets all enjoy the day!
Howardr wrote:I just bought some of those "Gas Saver" things to put on the valve stems. Has anyone had an issue with those? After reading this post, I'm a little concerned.
Howard
I do not know what they are, but if it goes on a tire, or valve stem, I learned my lesson.
I had some on the Harley with no issues. When I put them on the Vespa there was not enough clearance with the swingarm. Tore the light to pieces. I'm just lucky it wasn't the valve stem. No more dodads on the wheels for me. Sorry you weren't as lucky as me.
olhogrider wrote:I had some on the Harley with no issues. When I put them on the Vespa there was not enough clearance with the swingarm. Tore the light to pieces. I'm just lucky it wasn't the valve stem. No more dodads on the wheels for me. Sorry you weren't as lucky as me.
I wish they would of made a louder noise when they were hitting on something.
I had the Prima Exspansion Chamber on that scoot so maybe it was too loud? Never felt a vibration either? The cap did show wear on it that it was hitting though.
Thanks for your Thoughts!
I was going to put some of those tire minders that tell you if they're getting low. You put a stop to that purchase! Thanks. You might have saved my skin.
Howardr wrote:I just bought some of those "Gas Saver" things to put on the valve stems. Has anyone had an issue with those? After reading this post, I'm a little concerned.
Howard
I wouldn't use them. I had them on my Budd, and the back tire lost air, not badly enough to cause me to wreck, but it was scary. They are bigger and heavier than a regular valve stem cap and don't clear all the stuff inside the back wheel. When I took the one of the back, it had a big worn place in it that let the air out.
ECS
Yes, that is my scooter.
Yes, I wear a helmet and a FIRSTGEAR armored jacket.
No, I'm not embarrassed to be seen riding it.
Yes, that is an NRA sticker on the fender.
I really want to thank you for posting this. I was going to buy some heavier chrome valve caps for my scoot and now have decided to leave it alone. It sucks that we all had to learn from something tragic that happened to you, but at least take it as a lesson well learned. I hope you get better quickly!
Jessica wrote:I really want to thank you for posting this. I was going to buy some heavier chrome valve caps for my scoot and now have decided to leave it alone. It sucks that we all had to learn from something tragic that happened to you, but at least take it as a lesson well learned. I hope you get better quickly!
Thanks Jessica!
Sometimes it is so much fun to personalize our scooters. I ride alot at night with my work hours. I thought they would make me safer by the brightness of L.E.D. lights
Feeling much better, Doc gave me a release date back to work of September 1st !
I went to school in Winston-Salem. N.C. is a beautiful area to scoot!
) The brand was Tireflys. On my way home from work one day the tire suddenly went flat. Took the tire to a shop, and they found no problem with the tire, and I am still riding on it. Seems that the Tirefly's weight causes a wobble and might have tapped on the valve stem pin and drained the air. Needless to say, they all went in the garbage.
