I'm still broken

[BaldRider]

I haven't been around in a while and I figured I'd say why.

I've been dealing with my broken clavicle for 7 months. The orthopedic surgeon sent me to a different trauma surgeon a few weeks ago and I go in for an MRI Wednesday. The bone healed funny and now they are going to have to re-break it and fix it with plates and screws.

Booger is sitting in the garage still broken and I haven't fully surveyed the damage yet. I haven't edited what little I have for a cannonball video, either. All my bikes are rotting away in the garage.

I'm hoping I am able to get back to riding (or at least wrenching) before Summer is over.

 

[dmonkey]

Ouch. I hope the surgery and recovery go well for you.

 

[BergyPatty37]

@BaldRider Sorry to hear about the accident and complications you are enduring. Hope that everything goes well, and that you are mentally doing ok too.

 

[tumblingdice54]

Broken clavicles are no fun but they do get better eventually. You will be out and enjoying your ride sooner than you can think! All the best

 

[Chinjab]

Sorry to hear about that - get well soon

 

[BaldRider]

Broken clavicles are no fun but they do get better eventually. You will be out and enjoying your ride sooner than you can think! All the best

That's what the doctor said 7 months ago. Now its healed...wrong. Doctor #2 thinks he can fix it. Best case scenario, I can ride again by July.

 

[bukwessul]

I haven't been around in a while and I figured I'd say why.

I've been dealing with my broken clavicle for 7 months. The orthopedic surgeon sent me to a different trauma surgeon a few weeks ago and I go in for an MRI Wednesday. The bone healed funny and now they are going to have to re-break it and fix it with plates and screws.

Booger is sitting in the garage still broken and I haven't fully surveyed the damage yet. I haven't edited what little I have for a cannonball video, either. All my bikes are rotting away in the garage.

I'm hoping I am able to get back to riding (or at least wrenching) before Summer is over.

I was hoping you would return. I enjoy your take on things.
Sorry to hear about funky bone healing. Odd as it is, it's kinda amazing.
Looking forward to your recovery.

 

[Dual Sport Doug]

I found your YouTube channel a few months ago after buying my 125. I watched a bunch of your videos leading up to the Scooter run, then wondered what happened since there weren't any more videos.

What was the cause of the unscheduled dismount during the ride?

 

[BaldRider]

There were a lot of factors contributing to me failing to complete day 3. The short version is that I highsided and broke my fall with my right shoulder. If I ever get around to making my cannonball video, I'll give all the details.

 

[BaldRider]

What was the cause of the unscheduled dismount during the ride?

Since it is taking so long to publish the video (just started the outline today), I decided to make a blog post about it. If you want some spoilers, you can read that here

 

[dmonkey]

Thanks for sharing your story, the good and the bad. I'm interested to hear about the engine rebuild that was mentioned if there are more details. Once you're back in the saddle, a scooter trip with your wife sounds like a nice alternative to the type 2 or 3 fun of the Scooter Cannonball Run.

 

[BaldRider]

I vaguely remember the conversation. I think it was a bike with a BBK that they had to rebuild.

 

[BergyPatty37]

@BaldRider Read your blog. Sorry to hear about the situation and continued pain you are dealing with.
I briefly thought about attempting the cannonball, but I don't think the extreme competitive nature of it is appealing anymore to me. High risk, low reward, plus a lot of unknown riders around. Id rather just do back roads and enjoy the ride without feeling like I have to complete xxx miles today. That is when mistakes happen and people get hurt unfortunately.

 

[bukwessul]

BaldRider, last year I stumbled onto your blog. Because I have an older Ural and you were very generous about explaining and providing pictures I started following your blog. After reading more blog posts it appeared you had a similar take to living a life of your choosing.
It wasn't a surprise that you too liked scooters and were planning on riding the cannonball. Something I've been interested in for a while.
I was more excited for the race than I had ever been and I admired what you did to compete. Family, wife, van, bike, all of the planning and preparing was honestly compellingly captivating. I really admire how you set your mind to it and went for it!
When the accident happened I felt really bad for you. I wasn't worried about the broken clavicle as much as I was concerned about the mental/emotional hit. Falling is harder as we get older, not just physically.
It was great to see your post and return. I sense the same spirit is there, just a little more circumspect.
I wanted to wish you well on your health and thank you for enlarging my world. I followed you onto this site and have had a very enjoyable experience reading about other people's experiences,insights and interests. Heck, I may even get a monkey or a trail someday.
I would not have experienced that without you as an inspiration
Cheers!

 

[G19Tony]

Get well soon. My bike are rotting away in the garage too. I have a CFMoto 800 with 12 miles on it. I just don't have the interest anymore. I have a CFMoto Papio that I may sell, along with the 800. I'll be keeping the CT, I rode it in the 23 Cannonball and made it across the country. I'll never sell it. I'm going to keep my ADV160 also. I have to get the recall done, and I will ride it in the 27 Cannonball. All bikes have dead batteries and have been sitting for awhile. I'm trying to work as much as I can before I retire in 27, to plus up the ol savings account a bit.

 

[BaldRider]

I would not have experienced that without you as an inspiration
Cheers!

I’m glad somebody got something out of it. I mostly scream into the void.

Get well soon. My bike are rotting away in the garage too. I have a CFMoto 800 with 12 miles on it. I just don't have the interest anymore. I have a CFMoto Papio that I may sell, along with the 800. I'll be keeping the CT, I rode it in the 23 Cannonball and made it across the country. I'll never sell it. I'm going to keep my ADV160 also. I have to get the recall done, and I will ride it in the 27 Cannonball. All bikes have dead batteries and have been sitting for awhile. I'm trying to work as much as I can before I retire in 27, to plus up the ol savings account a bit.

I had the dealer do a full service and install new tires on my Goldwing prior to the cannonball. I keep saying that, if I don’t put a ton of miles on it, I’m going to sell it. Same thing with the Ural. That one was actually up for sale but didn’t get any traction and my wife suggested we keep it since they aren’t made anymore. We’ve even given up trying to sell the van I specifically bought and outfitted to support the cannonball. Just no buyers out there.

I couldn’t sell Booger if I wanted to.

I may be talking myself out of ‘27. I enjoy the prep and planning that goes along with the cannonball but the rigidity of rules, route and expectations set by someone else are a bit oppressive to me. I often set my own rigid expectations but those are my own. That’s probably why I’ve always been a solo rider. I have already promised my wife a trip to Japan or Thailand next year, anyway. Two major endeavors in a year is difficult.

With Dave no longer wanting to do all the heavy lifting and no one else stepping up, I don’t have a lot of confidence the event will occur in 2027. Maybe they will end up skipping a year and coming back to even-numbered runs in 2028.

 

[Dual Sport Doug]

I enjoyed reading the whole series on your blog website today. Thanks for the recent post that explained everything.

I too am getting really turned off by going to certain big events that claim to be "easy routes". I attended one in 2024 down in Caliente, NV that claimed to be a n event suitable for bigger "adventure" bikes. It was far from easy, nor was it what I'd classify as a route for big, heavy Adventure class bikes - unless of course a person was an ex rally racer used to riding mach 2 through a sand wash on a 400lb ADV bike.

 

[G19Tony]

I’m glad somebody got something out of it. I mostly scream into the void.

I had the dealer do a full service and install new tires on my Goldwing prior to the cannonball. I keep saying that, if I don’t put a ton of miles on it, I’m going to sell it. Same thing with the Ural. That one was actually up for sale but didn’t get any traction and my wife suggested we keep it since they aren’t made anymore. We’ve even given up trying to sell the van I specifically bought and outfitted to support the cannonball. Just no buyers out there.

I couldn’t sell Booger if I wanted to.

I may be talking myself out of ‘27. I enjoy the prep and planning that goes along with the cannonball but the rigidity of rules, route and expectations set by someone else are a bit oppressive to me. I often set my own rigid expectations but those are my own. That’s probably why I’ve always been a solo rider. I have already promised my wife a trip to Japan or Thailand next year, anyway. Two major endeavors in a year is difficult.

With Dave no longer wanting to do all the heavy lifting and no one else stepping up, I don’t have a lot of confidence the event will occur in 2027. Maybe they will end up skipping a year and coming back to even-numbered runs in 2028.

I agree with you that the cannonball is a bit stiff, even though they say they aren't. In 23, I didn't try to get all the points. My plan for last year was to just go direct to the mandatory points, and forget the rest. Didn't someone get killed last year? I just wanted an excuse to see the country on a bike.

 

[dmonkey]

Yes, #776 Seadog was struck by a truck and died during the 2025 Scooter Cannonball.

The pace of the event (in the context of riding a small bore bike), number of participants, technical route segments, and reported injuries have been some factors that have kept me from signing up for one. I'm incredibly impressed that the organizers put on an event for 250 registrants in 2025. The long distance motorcycle rides I've accompanied were chaotic at around 100 motorcycles on the same route making the same stops.