Boxer engines and rider injuries

Post by **bmwdean** » Thu Jan 26, 2017 3:16 pm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25793434

This is very interesting. My story would support that finding.

About a dozen years ago, I was riding my BMW R100RT (boxer engine) south on Mission Road south of Tucson, Arizona, USA. It was a two-lane road with a 50 MPH (80 km/h) speed limit, and I was riding about that speed. Coming toward me was a roofer driving a pickup truck and pulling a hot-tar trailer. Just before reaching me, the left wheel came off his trailer at a closing speed of something near 100 MPH (161 km/h). I had no time to react. The wheel plowed into my left exhaust pipe and cylinder, throwing me off the bike, which was totaled. Were it not for that cylinder, it would have hit my leg to devastating effect. As it was, I suffered a broken right ulna from being thrown to the roadway.

At the time I realized that the left cylinder had saved my left leg, which was undamaged.

BTW, I was wearing full leathers and a full helmet at the time, for which was also thankful.

guest2360 · Post by **guest2360** » Thu Jan 26, 2017 3:51 pm

On a recent tour one of our group on a 1200 RS , when putting down his side stand slipped and the bike dropped pinning his ankle under the cylinder.  You can't win em all.  He just ended up limping for the rest of the week.

Post by **Bradyman** » Thu Jan 26, 2017 5:35 pm

Thanks for sharing the article!  Nice unintended benefit of owning these wonderful bikes.       
And I'll take the limp

Post by **fatnfast** » Thu Feb 02, 2017 6:13 pm

Not an RT, but my 1150gs after an 'old dear' accelerated out of a side road as I passed (she told Police she had pushed the accelerator instead of the brake by mistake). Without a doubt those big sticky out bits saved my leg from serious damage:

Re: Boxer engines and rider injuries
Her car didn't do so well....

Re: Boxer engines and rider injuries