I don't like Motocross anymore!

[K Simmonds]

As a few of you know I had a nasty accident on a Moto Cross bike on the Saturday afternoon just gone

I was lucky, very, very lucky as it happens as what I landed on was as smooth as a lawn. Also I wasn't wearing a helmet!!! I had been all day and when on both the previous two bikes, oldish CR 250's. However we'd stopped to get our breath back and have a natter at a nice flat spot, a dry lake bed where we have a simple track around the would be shore line.

One of my mates said "have a go on my 2007 KTM 250 two stroke, it's a great bit of kit, loads more refined than those CR's". So as I was still really hot and sweaty I just jumped on without a lid to blast up and down the dry lake bed in order to get a feel for the bike. The thing was awesome, really easy to ride and FAST!! After I'd been up through the gears few times and got her to turn on the spot without putting a foot down I got a bit cocky and did one little jump over a small hump, went perfectly, so as another identical hump was coming up I went up into Third to do the same but slightly quicker.

I got it all wrong, put too much power down too early and was near vertical wheeling when I hit the hump. As I was falling off the back I panicked and instead of letting go I hung on and pulled the throttle flat out so the bike flipped itself and me right over. School boy error I know!! Thank God I managed to chuck the bike to one side as I was falling.

When I hit the deck and thought I was done for! I couldn't breath for over Three minuets and couldn't really move at all. Over the next few mins I managed to work out a position I could get a little breath in and after 20 min's coherent movement started coming back. An hour latter my mates had gotten me home, I was breathing a lot better as well as just about standing, still in what can only be described as agony.

Since then I've gradually gotten better, but I'm still very stiff and sore.

Never again, if I'd landed badly or on a rock I would be in a wheel chair now.

So this week KS Motor Services is closed, I'm just doing a few jobs on my own cars, very slowly and with lots of breaks as I get short of breath quickly.

[ian4455]

You're lucky as most Motorcross accidents end up with broken collar bone. I had a CR500 2 stroke a long time ago, mental machines ! The throttle cable had frayed inside of carb it stuck open, knocked down a gear not knowing this and i ended hiting a tree with the bike landing on my back. Cut badly on my hip and a fractured jaw. Started riding a trails bike after that !

[europeanme]

mountain biking is the preferred option as you are travelling a little slower!!....but can still cause grief....

have you been checked out by any medical bod's??....

get well soon dude!...

[Colesy]

Sounds nasty, hope you're feeling better soon.

[re2500]

Glad to hear your feeling a little better Kit. You looked a bit fragile on the weekend!
It is difficult after a scare to get back on, but im sure you will in time. after all it is good fun!!
My mate does competition motocross, he's had some nasty accidents but been saved by his gear.
Wear your helmet next time! and invest in a back protector, an arm or leg usually gets better but if you smash in your back our your head......

[K Simmonds]

have you been checked out by any medical bod's??.

Thanks for the good wishes people, no I've not been checked out by a Doc, I've broken ribs before all they do is prod you and tell you to take it easy.

Sat night I seriously considered going into A&E as I felt so bad, however I wasn't feeling any worse and figured that if it were something serious I wouldn't be improving. Also got my hands on some Nuclear pain killers that helped a lot.

Spent Sunday morning dosed right up gingerly helping James remove his headlining which went very well. By the afternoon I'd loosed up enough to attack the Corrado with G3 compound and a cloth, spent Three hours on her carefully cutting back the faded Red paint, took my time though and didn't really feel like I was pushing anything. Got that wrong, Christ did I know about it Monday morning!!! Could hardly move again.

Anyway today I'm getting about OK and am off the mega pain killers so I reckon I'm well on the mend.

[Thuppu]

One guy from Finnish BMW forum who also liked motocross: http://esca.1g.fi/kuvat/Tm+racing+25...urbing+images/

There is also another guy who got is much worse, but can't link the attachment pic here, need to be logged in on the forum. One thing of many was that the shinbone came through his scott motocross boot.

Like Ian, I also had a Suzuki RM-500 when I was young. Crached with it many times but never hurt myself badly... lucky?

[jogi730]

Good to hear you walked away in one piece. I would seriously suggest you get properly checked out though. There may be some underlying injuries which if not treated at an early stage can lead to some major problems at a later date.
Take care and rest easy.

[fish]

Is that finnish guys bike the sport-quattro version of a TM dirtbike then

[Thuppu]

You really should go to hospital and check that there is no injury anywhere. The Finnish enduro world champion Mika Ahola died few weeks after a big crash. He got a kidney injury or someting like that. At least so the rumors says.

[K Simmonds]

I know, I just hate hospitals and I'm not too keen on doctors. Feels like I have a couple of cracked ribs and a lot of bruising. I landed flat on my back, which is a little sore however my sternum and front ribs is where the pain is. Though like I said it's feeling a little better everyday. If I'm still this sore tomorrow maybe I should go and get checked out.

[pasbogdan]

Hope you will be fine.If you realy like dirt you will get on bike soon.
What do you think i am doing there at a friend of mine bike and why?

[K Simmonds]

Going to go for a chest X-ray tomorrow, keep getting stabbing pain and breathlessness. I'm sure I'm fine but you guys are right I should get checked out.

As for getting back on a bike. Yeah maybe, but with a helmet and body armour. It is dam good fun. Have to be honest, I prefer a well set up 125 over a 250, I can ride one of them flat out and most importantly with confidence. I used to compete at a respectable level at local Enduros on my old 1986 CR125, followed by my my 1994 model that I sold some years ago. Did a bit of trails as well back in the 90's on a Honda TLR 250 which was a joy to ride, though a little heavy being Four stroke. Of all my dirt bike that's the one I'd have kept and had to use now, fantastic machine.

[pasbogdan]

Try 450 EXC from KTM. Very forgiving machine(lots of torque at low revs) and also great power but only if you go full throttle.The SX fersion is much violent and suspensions to hard.Now i do not have my ktm anymore and i use a friend crf 450 cross.It is much to violent,stals instant if it is not reved enough,you work a lot with clutch,suspensions to hard...
Have you tried husqvarna 4 stroke?Talking you will forget pain

[K Simmonds]

Never ridden a Husky MX bike, (maybe the odd husky mature lady) A 450 wouldn't appeal to me, just too heavy, Four or Two stroke. I rode an import KDX 650 for a season and whilst I loved the grunt I hated the weight, great bike, nothing wrong with it as an Enduro tool, but I found that I needed He-man like powers to get it round MX track fast.


Give me a 2009 CR 125 anyday.