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2003 Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom - K.I.A.

My V-Strom after a wipeout on SR20 mile post 127.5 on Sunday May 21st, 2006.

Thank you to everyone that expressed their concern and support.
It did make me feel better to know that there are friends out there that care.

I am ok aside from some slight abrasion on the right shoulder.  The 1stGear riding gear did its job.
The bike on the other hand is another story.  Speaking of a story, here is my version of what happened.

Coming down SR20 between mile post 127-128, about 0.2 miles from the metal grated bridge.
John, a fellow rider, was in front following a car.  Then there was a truck (something like Dodge RAM 1500) pulling a big 5th wheel.
I was next in line with some other cars behind me.  The posted suggested speed limit was 35 MPH.  The traffic was flowing at around 35-40 MPH.
I was riding in the left side of the lane along the double yellow line.  As I leaned my bike to negotiate a right hand turn my bike
wiggled (gave me a sensation as the front tire suddenly lost traction and it felt as I will drop).  That freaked me out since I did
not expect anything remotely close to that.  I brought the bike upright and that made me cross the double yellow and started going towards
the shoulder.  I leaned the bike back to try and get it back into the lane but by that time I was already near the shoulder.  The shoulder
was covered with sand/gravel and I refrained from braking, just kept leaning slightly and hoping to beat the turn.  Well, the turn beat me
and at 25+ MPH I went into the ditch.  My front wheel got caught in some type of a hole and the bike stopped on a dime throwing me off of it.
I tumbled, twice I think, and got right up undoing my helmet and throwing it on the ground.  I was angry at myself that I did not handle this better.
The front wheel of the bike got crushed from the force of the whole bike on it.  Well, see it for yourself.

None of the cars that where in that traffic group stopped.  Every biker that passed stopped, got off their bike and offered assistance.
Park Ranger came by and started the whole accident mess.  Called in a State Deputy who wrote me a Negligent Driving Second Degree ticket for $538.00.
I am contesting the ticket since I feel that there was nothing negligent about my incident.

 -Radek

 Update: Ticket was dismissed

See the gear damage click here.