Who's Crashed? [Crash Reports]

[krysbrezinski]

AHHHHHHH!!!! oh my gooooooosh!!! im very glad i was alone in my office when i read this.

so you WERE wearing a helmet? i'm guessing just a half or 3/4? what made you freak out to make you grab your brake? i'm intrigued.

Oh, yeah--I would never ride without a helmet. I'm not suicidal. It's not a full-face, though--coming from Seattle to Boise, I was worried about how hot it gets here during the summer, and didn't want to be dying every afternoon in a full helmet. It's a 3/4.

I just felt like I was going too fast; I got skittish and grabbed for the brake to try to slow down a bit. As my landlord's motocross-racing 12-year-old son keeps reminding me, I should've just leaned more into the turn. Oops.

[kmetta]

1. Buddy 125 seafoam
2. inexperience? 12:00
3. i think i over-reacted to/under avoided sand
4. Road rash on chest, shoulder and arm. Sprained ankle and bruises
5. Full Headlight assembly, and scratches to the entire left side
6. To be determined
7. Permit
8. scheduled..but no
9. Yes(for ten whole days!)
10. 35 BMPH
11. 2 blocks

[pugbuddy]

krysbrezinski, glad to hear you're doing better. Dental injuries can be horrible! Good to hear you keeping a positive attitude!

Road rash on chest, shoulder and arm. Sprained ankle and bruises

Hey Kmetta, glad you didn't break anything! Were you wearing any protective gear?

[ericalm]

I've altered question 7 to include info about rider experience. This is increasingly important due to so many new scooter boom riders crashing. Ouch.

Q7 now reads: "7. How much (weeks, months, years) riding experience does the rider have? Does the rider have a motorcycle permit, license or neither?"

Thanks.

[ericalm]

I've altered question 7 to include info about rider experience. This is increasingly important due to so many new scooter boom riders crashing. Ouch.

Q7 now reads: "7. How much (weeks, months, years) riding experience does the rider have? Does the rider have a motorcycle permit, license or neither?"

Thanks.

[Dooglas]

I just felt like I was going too fast; I got skittish and grabbed for the brake to try to slow down a bit. As my landlord's motocross-racing 12-year-old son keeps reminding me, I should've just leaned more into the turn. Oops.

Amen brother! Listen to that little kid. Most noobie crashes are caused by braking or swerving after entering a turn too fast or likewise while crossing an area with a poor surface (loose gravel, sand, oil, rail, etc.).

You'd have heard about all this (and practiced most of it) in an MSF course.

[mudpiglet]

1. Which Buddy (50/125) was crashed? Color?
I crashed my 150 St. Tropez

2. Was the crash due to rider error? What time of day did it occur?
Yes...embarrassingly it was.

3. Could the crash have been avoided? What will you do differently next time?
Could have easily been avoided. A little less throttle, a little more break, maybe if I hadn't panicked?

4. Was the rider injured?
Yes, road rash is about it though.

5. What was the damage to the Buddy?
minimal before the tow truck company dropped it off the truck on the freeway....

6. Cost of repairs, if any?
unknown so far

7. How much (weeks, months, years) riding experience does the rider have? Does the rider have a motorcycle permit, license or neither?
neither, 1 day of experience

8. Had the rider completed the MSF course?
nope

9. Was the rider the scooter's owner?
yep

10. How fast was the rider going?
10-15 mph?

11. How far was the rider from home? 15 miles

[jrsjr]

5. What was the damage to the Buddy?
minimal before the tow truck company dropped it off the truck on the freeway....

Ouch, that hurts every time I read it. I'm glad that you were not injured. Hope the towing company takes care of you and you are back on a Buddy soon.

[bushbaby]

1. Which Buddy (50/125) was crashed? Color?
- Cream 125

2. Was the crash due to rider error? What time of day did it occur?
-I'll take partial responsibility, but that pit had a steel plate on it the next day, so someone knew it was unsafe. Dusk.

3. Could the crash have been avoided? What will you do differently next time?
Probably. DO NOT HIT BRAKES WHILE IN A TURN.

4. Was the rider injured?
Scratches. Bruises. Soreness. Self-care proved successful.

5. What was the damage to the Buddy?
Scratched panels, tailpipe, handlebar grip, brake lever assembly, rear view mirror snapped off. Chrome speedometer frame popped off, but snapped back into place. My automatic starter, which hadn't been working for several weeks, worked like a champ after the wreck.

6. Cost of repairs, if any?
All told: $1500. Insurance covered all but my $250 deductable.

7. How much (weeks, months, years) riding experience does the rider have?
Rode for 2 months/1000 miles (commuter, 40miles/day round trip) last autumn before my first Buddy was stolen. Had ridden my replacement (thanks, Progressive, again) almost 500 miles this spring before the wreck, which took Buddy off the road for almost the whole month of May.

Does the rider have a motorcycle permit, license or neither?
I am licensed to ride.

8. Had the rider completed the MSF course?
I completed the course last October.

9. Was the rider the scooter's owner?
I am. Yes.

10. How fast was the rider going?
Probably around 30-35 MPH.

11. How far was the rider from home?
3 blocks. I rode the Buddy home that night and had it towed into the shop the next morning.

Anyone interested in photos can see them here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lamontikon/ ... jXJhiKlbNI

I'd be interested in anyone's opinion of what I should have done with the presented hazard. The photos illustrate it pretty well, but basically, a diagonal, curb-deep gouge across a whole lane of traffic directly outside a large construction site. Once I was in it and realized how deep it was, I was unsure what my front wheel would do confronting the other side. My solution was to turn so that my wheel would cross it at a right angle. Unfortunately, I also panicked and simultaneously hit my brake or I may have made it out.

Keep your wheels on the pavement, riders!

[jrsjr]

I'd be interested in anyone's opinion of what I should have done with the presented hazard. The photos illustrate it pretty well, but basically, a diagonal, curb-deep gouge across a whole lane of traffic directly outside a large construction site. Once I was in it and realized how deep it was, I was unsure what my front wheel would do confronting the other side. My solution was to turn so that my wheel would cross it at a right angle. Unfortunately, I also panicked and simultaneously hit my brake or I may have made it out.

I looked at your photos. If it's any consolation, I don't think there's any way that anybody, no matter how skilled they were, could ride a Buddy across that. In fact, my first thought when I saw it was that it's a nearly perfect motorcycle trap. The angle and depth of the lip on the far side of the pit are such that it's almost certain to throw you. I hear you about trying to hit the lip square on, but it would have thrown you straight over the handlebars even if you had. The only possible way you could have avoided a crash would have been to go around that mess. Sorry. After seeing your photos, I think you're lucky not have been seriously injured. Those roadworkers didn't do you any favors.

[ericalm]

I'd be interested in anyone's opinion of what I should have done with the presented hazard. The photos illustrate it pretty well, but basically, a diagonal, curb-deep gouge across a whole lane of traffic directly outside a large construction site. Once I was in it and realized how deep it was, I was unsure what my front wheel would do confronting the other side. My solution was to turn so that my wheel would cross it at a right angle. Unfortunately, I also panicked and simultaneously hit my brake or I may have made it out.

I suppose the obvious answer is avoidance—when approaching a hazard, slow down enough to be able to evaluate it and take necessary action before you're in it. But I would also think that most of us would assume that if a construction crew created something so dangerous to 2-wheelers, it would at least be much more clearly marked. Unfortunately, I have seen a number of construction/utility sites where similar things have been created. The lesson then would be to take it slow when approaching. That's a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking there, though.

Once you were in the pit, I'm not sure what you could have done to get out of it safely. Simultaneous braking and swerving is unfortunately the cause of many crashes and it's a hard instinct to overcome. You have to commit to one or the other (or one followed by the other). I don't know how well that would have served you, as this looks like a recipe for some kind of crash. In that situation, chances are I would have ridden straight through. Maybe I'd have had time to slow down. Maybe not. And maybe it would have resulted in a more severe crash.

[7eregrine]

OMG you were IN that gouge??? That's a 2 wheeler eater alright! Glad you're OK!

[Groovealufagus]

On a motorcycle, you could have maybe slowed just before entering it, let off the brakes, then accelerated through it and gotten over the hump. On your Buddy, geez, avoidance would have been the only sure course of action.

[chancerbeans13]

In Jacksonville, if anything as simple as a pothole in the road causes damage to a wheel, body, etc. The city has insurance to repair the damage. Most people are just not aware that they can get in touch with them and file a claim. In this case, you should be able to get your scoot fixed by either the city or the crew that left the gouge in the road. Glad your ok.

[EP_scoot]

I agree. That is a perfect trap. Maybe you would have made it if you would have sit way on the back and give it gas as your front wheel approached the edge coming out of the pit. But, that is deep. From the pictures it looks like it was to the rim of the wheel or maybe a bit more.

One good thing you have is that you took pictures. I would contact your insurance company and see if they want those pictures to try to collect their money from the construction crew. I am pretty sure that a steel plate should have been put in place the moment the hole was there and someone forgot.

Good thing you did not get injured more severely !

[bushbaby]

Thanks for your input, everyone. You're actually making me feel pretty good for getting out of there as lucky as I did. As for the avoidance issue, one thing I didn't mention in the story is that the gouge was located on a short flat area on a larger hill. It was invisible until about 25 feet from it. A trap indeed, and well-conceived!

I actually did offer the pics to my insurance company, but they didn't seem very interested in them. They said they very rarely see the city compensate for damages, but after reading all your opinions, I'll approach them again. Maybe they'll have more luck than they thought just from my description.

[MarsR]

Holy mackerel! I wouldn't want to hit that in my car, let alone on my scooter! Glad you are ok.

[anndelise]

Slightly Off Topic: Can we have a "Close Calls" thread that has similar questions, including what we did to prevent it from being a crash, or what we can do the next time the situation occurs?

[ericalm]

Slightly Off Topic: Can we have a "Close Calls" thread that has similar questions, including what we did to prevent it from being a crash, or what we can do the next time the situation occurs?

We can. All it takes is for someone to start one!

[Smuddpie]

cop decided he wanted to go after a car going in the opposite direction. He leapt from his spot at the side of the road and cut across 3 lanes of traffic right in front of us and a truck in the lane next to us, just missing us both!!

So glad you made it out OK, EBee. Unfortunately, last summer a motorcyclist was killed very near my house in extremely similar circumstances. Four lane road, rider in left lane, cop in right slightly ahead of rider. Cop sees speeder traveling in opposite direction and decides to flip a U to get him, killing the motorcyclist. I don't know if the motorcyclist was riding in his blind spot, but still a rill bone-chiller.

[scootbedo]

Frist time rider on buddy 50cc. I was getting so familiar with my scooter i lost controlled and ran into fence while braking and pulling throttle at the same time. So embassed. Taking me sometime to get back on my scootbedo. I am scared. I may be close to AARP but i will get back on it ASAP. Help me with curves and stoping please

[Dooglas]

Frist time rider on buddy 50cc. I was getting so familiar with my scooter i lost controlled and ran into fence while braking and pulling throttle at the same time. So embassed. Taking me sometime to get back on my scootbedo. I am scared. I may be close to AARP but i will get back on it ASAP. Help me with curves and stoping please

50cc or not, you are really a candidate for the MSF course. Please take it before you hurt yourself. Ride safe, have fun.

In the meantime, download and read MSF Scooter Riding Tips and perhaps Proficient Motorcycling. You will find lots of information and good recommendations for practical exercises.

[don'tmesswithmyscootscoot]

1. Which Buddy (50/125) was crashed? Color?
2. Was the crash due to rider error? What time of day did it occur?
3. Could the crash have been avoided? What will you do differently next time?
4. Was the rider injured?
5. What was the damage to the Buddy?
6. Cost of repairs, if any?
7. How much (weeks, months, years) riding experience does the rider have? Does the rider have a motorcycle permit, license or neither?
8. Had the rider completed the MSF course?
9. Was the rider the scooter's owner?
10. How fast was the rider going?
11. How far was the rider from home?

1. 125 Sunset Orange
2. Truck turned across my lane, right in front of me. 9:30 p.m.
3. The more I think about it the more I feel that I could have braked "smoother". More squeeze, less "OH S***!" With that being said, it happened so fast. He pulled across and it was over.
4. I went over the handlebars and slammed my body into the front of the truck. Luckily he was slowing to turn, so he wasn't going as fast as he could have been. I spent the night in the emergency room, not because I was particularly hurt. They were just real slow. I am still sore. My lower back is stiff, I am sure I bruised some ribs (can you do that?!) and some road rash.
5. Ring around headlight is broken. Some scratches on the left side. Center stand is broken.
6. Too soon to tell. Hopefully the other drivers insurance (he was a city employee, driving a city truck)
7. One month. I have the motorcycle "endorsement" on my license. It really feels crappy being yet another statistic for the books. I spent the first week supplementing my joy rides with time in the parking lot trying to learn to "quick stop". I spent the majority of the night in the ER feeling like a fool. Running the situation over and over and over again in my mind. It has kind of shaken me. But I can't wait to move to Denver and get enrolled in the MSF course out there. They actually have one for scooters in particular!
8. See end of number 7.
9. Yes
10. 30 mph
11. 1 mile

Like I said before, I feel like a complete puttz. I thought I was doing so great. I was wearing my goofy construction workers vest, with the reflective strips, I upgraded the turn signals (not that they would have helped in this situation). I guess I got a little cocky!



Wow. After reading this, it is obvious I posted at 3 a.m.!

[louie]

sounds like a scarey incedent. hope the soreness goes away quickly.

ribs have meat so i guess you can bruise them.

[weaseltamer]

ribs have meat so i guess you can bruise them.

as someone who has dislocated ribs several times i can tell ya a couple things: 1. ribs aren't meant to more any more than normally required to maintain breathing 2. they sure f**king hurt if anything else (besides breathing) happens to them, i'm usually sore for at least a week, even if i get the dislocated one returned quickly. sometimes dislocation feels like a 90lb weight on your chest, making it hard to breathe. remember: "don't panic"

[glenngillaneduggin]

Thanks for the info y'all. I am the one who posted the last crash story. Somehow last night I screwed up my old name (don'tmesswithmyscootscoot) so here I am all anew.

glenn

[okc beer buddy]

1. Which Buddy (50/125) was crashed? Color?
2. Was the crash due to rider error? What time of day did it occur?
3. Could the crash have been avoided? What will you do differently next time?
4. Was the rider injured?
5. What was the damage to the Buddy?
6. Cost of repairs, if any?
7. How much (weeks, months, years) riding experience does the rider have? Does the rider have a motorcycle permit, license or neither?
8. Had the rider completed the MSF course?
9. Was the rider the scooter's owner?
10. How fast was the rider going?
11. How far was the rider from home?

1. The original Blue (formerly black) 125.
2. Not due to rider error; 3:45 p.m.
3. Not sure how it could have been avoided. A car decided to change lanes just as I was passing them; I had nowhere to go but down. It happened on a 6-lane (3 in each direction) divided street. The car kept going, never even hitting the brakes. It did return shortly after, though.
4. see pics to follow. (WARNING: they are a little graphic)
5. Still waiting for an appraisal, but pretty bad. (see pics)
6. Still waiting for appraisal; local shop thinks it's totaled.
7. Riding solidly for 2+ years without incident, plus some dirtbiking as a teen; have license.
8. No MSF course taken.
9. Yes
10. 45 mph (posted speed limit).
11. about 8.5 miles.

I was not wearing any protective equip., other than a helmet and goggles (always). I had on blue jeans, and a short-sleeved polo. Now my wife has started wearing a jacket on her Buddy, just in case. We will be getting some armor and good riding gloves soon. We do have some mechanics' gloves, and Dickie's jackets, but usually only wear them when it's cold. I guess that'll change, too.

I have a pretty bad taste in my mouth after the accident. The investigating officer did a lousy job of gathering information, didn't even give the other person a ticket. He actually asked me for what I would have him give her a ticket. Can you believe that?! And a female witness told me, as well as the officer, that when the car had pulled away, a male driver got out of the car; when it returned, there were only 2 women and a small child. But, since the officer didn't see it for himself (he arrived at the scene after the car had returned), he told me that it was just my word against theirs..... Anyway, I'm healing, just waiting on the insurance claim process so I can (hopefully) get a new scooter soon.

[n00b4life]

Wow.

Glad to see it wasn't worse.

Being the n00b, I don't want to make a bad first impression by getting all preachy, but please take the MSF course. I'm not going to say that your accident could have been avoided, but if it could have been avoided, the MSF course may have given you the knowledge to avoid it.

So much depends on things like choosing your lane position to make yourself more visible and knowing where you're going to go, if something goes wrong before it goes wrong. The MSF course covers much more than just how to ride and the rules of the road. It has saved my ass more than once and it even saved me in my car.

Last December, I was on my way home from work and traffic on the highway stopped. I stopped. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw the front end of the car behind me dive down and saw smoke pouring from the tires as he skidded right for me.

I threw the car into 1st and shot into the grass just as he skidded to where I had been, stopping within inches of the bumper of the car that had been in front of me before I moved.

I have no idea what would have happened to me and my car, if I had not moved and I don't even want to think about what would have happened if I were on a motorcycle.

I checked my mirror and got the hell out of the way, because of habits I developed from taking the MSF course.

My instructor was adamant that EVERY motorcycle accident could have been avoided. I won't go that far, but I know I have avoided a lot of them because of that course and, knock on wood, I haven't had a wreck yet.

[scootbedo]

1. Which Buddy (50/125) was crashed? Color?
2. Was the crash due to rider error? What time of day did it occur?
3. Could the crash have been avoided?
4. Was the rider injured?
5. What was the damage to the Buddy?
6. Cost of repairs, if any?
7. Does the rider have a motorcycle permit, license or neiher?
8. Had the rider completed the MSF course?
9. Was the rider the scooter's owner?
10. How fast was the rider going?
11. How far was the rider from home?

My wife crashed her Buddy.

1. Pink 125.
2. Yes, 3 pm
3. Yes
4. Minor injury to her finger (tendon damage)
5. None
6. None
7. Rider had motorcycle permit (has since obtained Motorcycle endorsement)
8. Not at the time
9. Yes
10. Less than 10 mph
11. 1,000 feet

She was reluctantly wearing a helmet at the time. When she felt her head hit the ground she lost her reluctance. She was very lucky as she landed on grass and was going pretty slow.

Good lesson learned without serious physical harm.

[ericalm]

scootbedo, looks like you're having some problem with quoting and replies. I can help! Send me a message using the "pm" (private message) button at the bottom of my post.

okc beer buddy, damn sorry to hear about your scoot and your injuries. If the driver didn't get a ticket are they still "at fault" as far as insurance is concerned?

[okc beer buddy]

okc beer buddy, damn sorry to hear about your scoot and your injuries. If the driver didn't get a ticket are they still "at fault" as far as insurance is concerned?

Well, my insurance company is "like a good neighbor".... They told me they don't really need the police report to determine fault.

[curlyred]

1. Which Buddy (50/125) was crashed? Color? Pink 125
2. Was the crash due to rider error? What time of day did it occur? Yes...around 8pm
3. Could the crash have been avoided? What will you do differently next time? Yes. I turned my head sharply to look at my DD, she was yelling at me. I don't quite know how I did it, but fell over on my right side.
4. Was the rider injured? no, but my DD got hysterical anyway
5. What was the damage to the Buddy? Minor cosmetic scratches that buffed out, and one minor scratch that didn't.
6. Cost of repairs, if any? $0
7. How much (weeks, months, years) riding experience does the rider have? Does the rider have a motorcycle permit, license or neither? Around 2 months experience, permit
8. Had the rider completed the MSF course? Not yet. Anxiously awaiting the opening of online registration, since they are sold out through July.
9. Was the rider the scooter's owner? Yep
10. How fast was the rider going? maybe 5mph
11. How far was the rider from home? Around 50 feet. I was practicing weaving drills out front of my driveway.

What a dork.

[ericalm]

curlyred,

Sorry to hear about the spill. Glad you're not injured (and that the Buddy's relatively okay).

DD = designated driver? Um, something else?

[curlyred]

DD-"dear daughter".

Sorry... I belong to another forum and it's become habit over there..

[ericalm]

DD-"dear daughter".

Sorry... I belong to another forum and it's become habit over there..

That's good. I couldn't understand why you'd be riding with a designated driver. "Uh, maybe she left out the part about being slightly tipsy..."

[r0sa]

beer buddy, thank goodness you didnt break any bones.
your scrapes will heal, looks like u need to snip away the extra skin that got brushed off of your palm

USE NEOSPORIN!

[jrsjr]

BUMP for new crashers...

[MikieTaps]

BUMP for new crashers...

bubbles?

[memo57]

1. Which Buddy (50/125) was crashed? Color?
2. Was the crash due to rider error? What time of day did it occur?
3. Could the crash have been avoided? What will you do differently next time?
4. Was the rider injured?
5. What was the damage to the Buddy?
6. Cost of repairs, if any?
7. How much (weeks, months, years) riding experience does the rider have? Does the rider have a motorcycle permit, license or neither?
8. Had the rider completed the MSF course?
9. Was the rider the scooter's owner?
10. How fast was the rider going?
11. How far was the rider from home?

I fell over taking a right hand turn. As best as I can tell I hit a storm grate which in turn caused me to turn the handlebar very sharp - then I fell.
1. 150 Pamplona
2. Probably; 6:30 in the pm
3. Probably; take that corner slower next time
4. a little; my right hand still kinda hurts when people try to shake hands
5. little scrape on the silver part of the headlight cover, a bit of paint off the right brake handle and small scratches on the side by the passenger foot rest
6. not repairing really
7. 3 months; 1500 miles; license
8. nope
9. yep
10. maybe 5mph
11. 3 miles away

[Dooglas]

2. Probably; 6:30 in the pm
3. Probably; take that corner slower next time

Glad you weren't hurt seriously. Now for the tough love part. What is this probably stuff? Who else would be at fault? Time to get serious about this safety stuff. MSF and good gear real soon. Ride safe, have fun.

[OKBubbles]

Bubbles

1. Which Buddy (50/125) was crashed? Color? Baby Blue 125
2. Was the crash due to rider error? Yes
What time of day did it occur? 3:30 pm
3. Could the crash have been avoided? Yes
What will you do differently next time? Make sure I have enough clearance to avoid parked cars when turning in parking lots
4. Was the rider injured? No - I fell onto the pavement, but was wearing boots, jeans, mesh jacket w/armor, gloves & helmet
5. What was the damage to the Buddy? Broken frame, steering cowl, brake levers, headlamp, etc.
6. Cost of repairs, if any? Totalled
7. How much (weeks, months, years) riding experience does the rider have? First scooter, purchased 5/14/08, crashed 7/10/08. Ridden 946 miles
Does the rider have a motorcycle permit, license or neither? Motorcycle license
8. Had the rider completed the MSF course? Was scheduled for 7/18-19/08
9. Was the rider the scooter's owner? Yes
10. How fast was the rider going? minimal -- just started from full stop, travelled maybe 8 feet
11. How far was the rider from home? 4 miles

I believe the damage is so great because I hit the spare tire mounted on the rear of a H3, and the rubber "grabbed" the plastic cowling while the scooter was still trying to go forward. The frame was levered between the two forces.

This was completely my own fault, misjudged distance and turning radius. I was probably not as attentive in a parking lot as I am on the road -- complacency did me in.

[pugbuddy]

Oh man, Bubbles! Sorry to hear you crashed! But I'm glad you're ok.

Replacement Buddy on the horizon? I hope so!

I guess the weekend ride is off now....

[ericalm]

Very sorry to hear about this Bubbles! Glad you weren't injured—sounds like your gear did its job. We like having you here, so I hope you can replace the Buddy.

I have found parking lots to be some of the most dangerous places to ride. People drive too fast, are in a hurry to get to spaces, there are a lot of blind corners, cagers turning without looking, and of course all those cars and SUVs that don't see you while they're backing up.

Let's be careful out there, folks.

[kazoo]

You ain't kidding! And you can forget about Black Friday.

I have found parking lots to be some of the most dangerous places to ride. People drive too fast, are in a hurry to get to spaces, there are a lot of blind corners, cagers turning without looking, and of course all those cars and SUVs that don't see you while they're backing up.

Let's be careful out there, folks.

[rondothemidget]

1. Which Buddy (50/125) was crashed? Color? Powder Blue 125
2. Was the crash due to rider error? What time of day did it occur? No... oil filter loosened and lots of oil splattered on rear wheel causing me to fishtail in a turn and fall down go boom. Around 5pm
3. Could the crash have been avoided? What will you do differently next time? No. I will definitely do more frequent safety checks!
4. Was the rider injured? Slightly... bruised back and right knee.
5. What was the damage to the Buddy? Minor cosmetic scratches on right side and catalytic converter plate.
6. Cost of repairs, if any? $0
7. How much (weeks, months, years) riding experience does the rider have? Does the rider have a motorcycle permit, license or neither? Have had motorcycle license for 30 years. Riding since I was around 10.
8. Had the rider completed the MSF course? No. They didn't offer those in the 1970s.
9. Was the rider the scooter's owner? Yes
10. How fast was the rider going? Around 20 mph
11. How far was the rider from home? About a 1/2 mile.

[Dooglas]

2. Was the crash due to rider error? What time of day did it occur? No... oil filter loosened and lots of oil splattered on rear wheel causing me to fishtail in a turn and fall down go boom. Around 5pm
.

Had the bike been serviced by a dealer or by you - or is this an example of a loose filter from the factory that was missed during predelivery check-out?

8. Had the rider completed the MSF course? No. They didn't offer those in the 1970s.

They do offer it now and it is worthwhile for any of us. I know what I'm talking about as I've been riding scoots and cycles for more than 40 years.

Glad to hear you're mostly okay. Ride safe, have fun.

[farrellcollie]

I just bought a green 125cc buddy. I had signed up for a MSF course in OCtober - but reading this thread has made me rethink the timing and I am now taking it the first week of August and will not start commuting on scoot until I have taken the course. Thanks for probably saving me from myself. I really wish the classes around here would let you take them on the scooter itself instead of a motorcycle.

[rondothemidget]

Thanks for the advice Dooglas. I am going to sign up my wife and son for a course so I might add my name to the list.
I changed the oil at 200 miles and tightened the filter with a wrench. I put a light film of oil on the filter gasket and I'm assuming it sealed properly since I had over 100 miles before today's loose-filter caused accident and I checked for leaks multiple times since the oil change. I let the oil drain for a long time and measured 900cc of oil, then incrementally added the oil, continually checking the dipstick, so I don't think it was overfilled. A post accident Internet search session showed me this has been known to happen with the Buddy. There is a thread now in the Modern Buddy forums.

[jrsjr]

2. Was the crash due to rider error? What time of day did it occur? No... oil filter loosened and lots of oil splattered on rear wheel causing me to fishtail in a turn and fall down go boom.

Dude, that's not funny! There's no such thing as a class to teach you how to deal with that because there is no such thing as a way to deal with it. The history of motorcycle racing is marred with serious accidents caused by exactly what you describe. If professional racers can't do anything with that, nobody can. That's why every race sanctioning body requires that oil filters be safety wired.

4. Was the rider injured? Slightly... bruised back and right knee.

Whew! I glad you weren't badly injured. That must have been gnarly to be riding along and have the back end start fishtailing. I hope you and your Buddy recover and are back on the road soon... with the oil filter securely cinched down.

[Dooglas]

I changed the oil at 200 miles and tightened the filter with a wrench.

You probably read that a couple of other folks have lost an engine when an oil filter came off while they were riding and they didn't notice until the engine seized. At least you avoided that outcome.

Have you picked up on the Genuine Scooter requirement that the first servicing needs to be done by a dealer in order for the warranty to remain in effect. Something to think about.