(Does it come with mirrors?)
You can get a mirror or two from your friendly local dentist, or his supplier. The stainless ones are realitively weather and vibration proof.
Some automotive parts suppliers even stock 'em for reading serial numbers on the backs of dashboard-mounted gauges and equipment.
Tunnel vision turned on and time stopped as I was going through the sequence in my mind: swing right leg back, get ready to bail, keep the bike off the left leg.
And then k-bang into the rear bumper of parked car.
A blank spot and then I'm standing in my cutoffs talking to a fella that ran up to me.
He takes one look, sits down and barfs.
What the ?
And then I feel wetness on my leg. drip, drip drip. hand to face, wet and red.
Looked in the parked car's side mirror.
Hmmm, big damn gaping hole in throat.
Stuffed my shirt into the red tunnel and pressed.
Hmmmm no jetting, can't be all that bad.
Looked at bike.
Must have been rear view mirror.
Walked to the pay phone on the corner and called Emergency.
Sat down with witness to calm him down.
Ambulance drive, nice crew.
Let me sit up and chat.
Asked EMT to give me the skinny.
He said bad, but not horrible.
Good enough.
Walked into ER.
Nurse gatekeeper says no.
I pulled shirt away.
She calls for gurney.
Next door neighbor on guney 80 yr old, kicked by horse.
We discuss cycles and critters until our turn comes up.
Waiting for plastic surgeon to get off golf course.
Nurse calls home.
Whoops, dad doesn't know I have cycle.
I'm 18.
Get off gurney for phone. Will explain all, I walked in, I'll walk out.
Still no pain.
Plastic man arrives.
Lecture on evils of cycles.
Some 70 odd stiches in face.
Later legs patched.
Bastid forgot to shave before gluing.
Sign promissory note to pay for care.
1966...just a tad under $800.
Pop arrives, drives me to my car, 58 XK-150 jag roadster,
Drove home. Thought about Doc saying, "another 10 or 12 mm, different outcome."
Sure did love the bike though.
Crap...Now car and cycle need repairs.