Former Alabama governor hurt in Alaska motorcycle crash

Anchorage Daily News ^ | June 27th, 2011

[skeptoid]

Former Alabama Gov. Bob Riley has been injured in a motorcycle accident near Fairbanks. Riley's former chief of staff, Dave Stewart, said it happened Sunday afternoon on a dirt and gravel road near Fairbanks. It was raining, and the former governor "had to lay the motorcycle down" to avoid losing control, Stewart said Monday. Stewart said Riley was being treated in a Fairbanks hospital for several broken bones and a punctured lung. He said doctors expect Riley to make a full recovery. Former Alabama first lady Patsy Riley and Riley's son, Birmingham lawyer Rob Riley, were planning to travel to Alaska this week to be with the former governor. The Alabama Republican was on a long planned cross-country motorcycle trip from his hometown, Ashland, to Alaska.

[skeptoid]

Former Alabama Gov. Bob Riley

[skeptoid]

I checked “auto excerpt” but the entire article posted.

[Rebelbase]

Palin’s fault.

[HiTech RedNeck]

“Had to lay it down” ha. He fell.

[OB1kNOb]

....had to lay the motorcycle down to avoid losing control.....treated in a Fairbanks hospital for several broken bones and a punctured lung....."

Good thing he didn't lose control......

[corkoman]

Thats indeed a long-distance ride. What a drag to get hit with bad road and weather condditons and have to dump your ride.

Here is a link to someone's solo ride to Alaska:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=483109.

It’s a guy who rides a BMW R1200GS from Cleveland to AK and the adventure he had.

What an adventure. Hope Riley is OK.

[Rinnwald]

"had to lay the motorcycle down" to avoid losing control.

That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.

"He had to soil himself to avoid crapping his pants"

I've had oldtimers tell me that "knowing when to lay it down" was a valid skill to learn. Balderdash! Keeping the rubber side down on the road is almost always the best option.

[Blue Jays]

HiTech RedNeck, you are precisely correct.
As he was sliding along the roadway...after allegedly laying it down...he certainly was no longer in control.
His spokesman could have opted for, "Former Governor Bob Riley experienced an unfortunate motorcycle accident. We understand he will make a complete a full recovery."
Sheesh!

[JoeFromCA]

I admire the guy for undertaking the ride. I’ve ridden in 47 of the lower 48, plus Europe and Central America—over 200,000 miles total. You do not lay down a motorcycle to gain control or to save yourself from a worse crash, although that’s what the oldtime Harley riders used to claim they did when they lost control. I wouldn’t blame the governor—the riding conditions were probably horrendous. I’d blame the press guy for just not telling it like it was.

[Gator113]

“had to lay the motorcycle down” to avoid losing control.”

LMAO.... I’ve been a biker since 1972. I started riding Harley’s in 2000. Many of the bike trips I’ve been on are around 6 to 7k miles. The longest trip took 30 days on the road, was cross country, and came to over 9,000 adventurous miles.

YES, if you think you need to “lay the bike down” you have ALREADY lost control.

Laying a bike down is not a skill, it’s a crash. LOL

Now, dropping a bike.... I did that once,... it’s very embarrassing. LOL

[Sea Parrot]

Palin’s fault. Waiting for the LSM to so state...1..2..3....

[Bedford Forrest]

If he was riding an Ultra Glide or something else large he may well have had "engine protectors" - we called them crash bars in the days of my yute. In which case the bike should be OK. Tape up your ribs and press on, Guv.

Gravel and rain, eh? It's always a b*tch when you see your saddle bags passing you on the starboard side. That is usually a sign that [a]you have departed from controlled flight and [b] your ribs and collarbones are going be very sore.

[Sea Parrot]

Best options are not always available, so plan B is activated.

I have had to lay a couple bikes down, and both times it sure beat the alternatives.

[mongo141]

Horse Sh!t, As a former Motorcycle Safety Foundation Instructor with about 50 years hanging on to the bars and some flat track and R/R time that is BS, He just dumped it! Due to lack of seat time, Proper training, Inattention, too fast for conditions etc, etc! If you haven’t fallen off before you are living on borrowed time until you do! I have been on my nose enough to know...

[flowergirl]

my brother made the ride from Denver to Alaska... rode thru the whole state, the roads in places in Alaska are really bad..of course due to the climate.But the photos he took
while there made me want to see Alaska more than anywhere else in the world! he too rode a BMW

[Gator113]

I too would love to see Alaska from my Harley. I still have my Road King Classic, but I am 62 now with too many health issues, and I recognize that I shouldn’t make the long runs anymore.

I hope to tow our Airstream camp trailer on a visit to Alaska... it won’t be the same fun as it would be on a bike..nothing is for me, but it should still be fun.

As for the bike, at least I have the memories, wonderful memories. ;>)

[Eska]

We live up on the Yukon, where it comes in from Canada. You'd never imagine how many people, all kinds of Euros too that ride bikes through Alaska. They all tell me how nice the mnts & country look; kinda normal to me after all these years; no thoughts of ever leaving either. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else actually.

And we have been getting all kinds of rain over the last couple weeks here in the interior.