My first off...

[Aaron]

Well more like a fall really...

Coming home from another night of unsuccessful poker I was approaching the Riccarton Road roundabout, (two lane, I'm in the left one) on Deans Ave going south to north.

The roads were wet, was still raining lightly when I approached the roundabout, now about 5-6 meters away is a huge white arrow, and being in the left lane the road cambered down towards the gutter... see where I'm going :(

Long story short I didn't crash so much as fall, (was doing sub 20, probably sub 15), basically what happened was the front wheel went out from under me, the bike and I fell to the right, landing on my elbow (thank you kevlar armour), and hip...

To give an impression of how fast I wasn't going, when it was all over the bike was less than two meters from me :angry2: Hence, no crash, but fall.

I tell ya what, it happened so quick, I was 12" off the road before clicking what had happened.

Damage to bike: lost right indicator, right mirror stick bent back a bit, rear brake lever curled perpendicular to the engine, little ding on the exhaust and some fairing damage. Rode her home, good as gold.

Damage to me: levis held up to the fall, will be a good bruise though. Interestingly I've lost a bit of skin off my elbow (through the jacket and sweatshirt)... must have been a goodn' and I'm thankful to the jackets elbow armour, without that I could have been looking at a fractured elbow for sure.

Summary: Good fall to learn some valuable lessons at not too much of a cost. (I don't think). No one saw it, but those that drove past afterwards could probably work out what had happened :whistle:

Dead lifts and squats paid off when getting the bike up in record time :2thumbsup Very lucky there was no traffic, giving me time to assess myself and the bike before trying to clear the road. Personally I think the conditions were favourable (aside from the rain causing the whole thing anyway), but the road was tarseal, and wet, allowing me to slip 'n slide and more importantly not too rough a surface for the bike.

Anyways, driving to work tomorrow, hopefully score an indicator and be back on the road Friday, (If I can walk, leg has stiffened up somewhat while typing this).

(Guess I'll be heading over the crashed bikes thread now :brick: )

[BNZ]

Hahaha, bugger mate. Rule no 1. If its wet and shiny, stay the f&*$ away from it! Hope it doesn't set you back too much moolah!

[gav]

Glad you're OK, but with your name it was only going to be a matter of time.....

[bugjuice]

that sux dude! You'll be surprised how quick the adrenalin kicks in and helps you pick the bike up... My bike is 165kgs at the lightest, and I managed to pick it up when I once dropped it, by myself..

Hope the damage to you isn't too bad (you'll feel it in the morning) and hope the damage to the bike isn't too expensive!!
Live n learn, that's all you can do! Just don't do it twice (or more) like some people around here!!

[inlinefour]

Probably to most of us at some stage. If you have not had an off then your the sort of person who does not like to push it to the limits. :whistle:

[Krusti]

Write 300 times.....wet paint on road is slippery......You will never look at an arrow the same again... You poor bugger... pisses you off I bet.

May it be your last :rockon:

[dangerous]

bugger dude, that roundabout can be a slipery bugger due to the amount of traffic that flows through it, dust, rubber, little rain and some paint isent a good blend....... did the same as you at that age, only I used the Bishopdale roundabout. :whistle:

[750Y]

ratshit dude, glad to hear you & the bike were ok.

[GSVR]

Hahaha, bugger mate. Rule no 1. If its wet and shiny, stay the f&*$ away from it! Hope it doesn't set you back too much moolah!

I agree its the wet and sticky things its ok to go down on. With consent of course!

Speaking of low speed offs. I jumped on my bike in central Wellington and rode off with a D-Lock attached to the front rotor. Very embarrassing.
I was distracted and my mind was on other things than my D-lock.
Just broke one indicator.

[TonyB]

Sorry to hear that Aaron. Bet you're pretty sore today.
That white paint is like ice when its wet. Dunno if you've ever driven/ ridden from Hokitika to Wanaka, but you know how they paint "one way bridge" on the road before a one way bridge (funny that), well nearly one covers the whole lane.....and is painted on a corner. Must be bloody interesting when is raining.

[Pwalo]

Bad luck mate. Those road markings seem doubly slippery after it's rained for the first time in a while, and it's damned hard to save a front end lose no matter how good you are.

Put it down to experience. Take care in the wet.

[ManDownUnder]

Write 300 times.....wet paint on road is slippery......You will never look at an arrow the same again... You poor bugger... pisses you off I bet.

May it be your last :rockon:

It does raise an interesting point though... how hard would it be to make paint that actually allowed a little traction too?!?

I mean... lemme see...
1/2 bucket of Paint
1/4 Buckey of medium grade sand.
Shake well till dissolved
Apply to road and bake in sun for 2 hours
Remove cones

Hell - I reckon the contractors could get that right...

[FROSTY]

bad luck dude--but ya learned something thats the big thing.

[Monsterbishi]

Speaking of low speed offs. I jumped on my bike in central Wellington and rode off with a D-Lock attached to the front rotor. Very embarrassing.
I was distracted and my mind was on other things than my D-lock.
Just broke one indicator.

I have a perfect way of not getting caught out like that on my bike, I always park with the front tyre facing inwards to wherever, so I have to roll backwards before riding off, if I've forgotten the lock, it'll just stop me gently, so no fall...

[vifferman]

It does raise an interesting point though... how hard would it be to make paint that actually allowed a little traction too?!?
A lot of it is special paint, with a low-sheen finish. Even so, it's often more slippery than asphalt or coarse chip seal in good nick.
If this particular arrow is not non-slip, I'd complain to the council, as it's a road hazard.

[Ms Piggy]

Glad you & the bike are both ok, those wet slippery roads were got me the 1st bin I had...and stomping on my rear brake to hard.

The loss of skin on your elbow could be due to friction. Get some Arnica onto the bruise and keep riding :niceone:

[Aaron]

Thanks folks. A quick look over in the light of day shows not too much damage at all, hopefully come tomorrow all that will give it away is some light fairing scratches.

As for me, I actually feel better this morning than last night, hip is pretty sore though :(

Hasn't put me off riding in the wet, bring on winter :headbang:


did the same as you at that age, only I used the Bishopdale roundabout. :whistle:
I use this one on the way to work, push the limits a bit because it's so nicely cambered... but good fun :2thumbsup

Well off to source an indicator.

[TygerTung]

Bad luck dude! Lucky you wern't going faster though eh?

I probably won't have that problem though, because my bike has drum brakes all round!!! Front brake is next to useless, so the back brake is a bit better, so you just lock up the back wheel when braking hard and drift along the road.... Ahhhhh so relaxing!

[bear]

I have a perfect way of not getting caught out like that on my bike, I always park with the front tyre facing inwards to wherever, so I have to roll backwards before riding off, if I've forgotten the lock, it'll just stop me gently, so no fall...

You can also get brightly coloured coiled cables that go from the d-lock to the throttle, reminding you a lock is in place. Look a bit gay but should prevent riding off with the d-lock on.

[Aaron]

You need to perform a cost benefit analysis on whether it's more gay to have the cables or drop the bike 5 meters out on the road. I vote the latter.

Re the indicator, $92.00 ex NZ, coming Wednesday so not a bad night out really.

Would rather it hadn't happened but it's probably good to get these out of the way before I get the GSXR-750.

[GSVR]

Re the indicator, $92.00 ex NZ, coming Wednesday so not a bad night out really.



And Suzuki parts are meant to be some of the cheapest.

I did two indicators, gearshift, rearset and a fairing panel december last year.
Won't tell you what it cost as I'm trying to forget.




You can also get brightly coloured coiled cables that go from the d-lock to the throttle, reminding you a lock is in place. Look a bit gay but should prevent riding off with the d-lock on.

My solution was to throw the D-Lock away and get a solid chain and lock.
That way I can put the chain though my helmet and/or jacket.

Only thing I think D-Locks have going for them is their size.

[dveus]

Re the indicator, $92.00 ex NZ, coming Wednesday so not a bad night out really.



Thats the very reason I glued mine back together, still works and at $92 I may as well wait til I really destroy the thing.

[Biff]

Sorry to hear about your bin Aaron. Those nasty lessons can be a right pain , literally. Glad your ok though, and good on you for the positive mental attitude.

I'm thinking of starting up a new company selling spare bits of pride, confidence and ego, for all those people who've need some or even dented or lost theirs.
I think I'd make me a millionaire by this time next year! I'll be my biggest customer.

[**R1**]

Sorry to hear about your bin Aaron. Those nasty lessons can be a right pain , literally. Glad your ok though, and good on you for the positive mental attitude.

I'm thinking of starting up a new company selling spare bits of pride, confidence and ego, for all those people who've need some or even dented or lost theirs.
I think I'd make me a millionaire by this time next year! I'll be my biggest customer.When u open for buisness?? i'll take one of each.:stupid: , can i have my own account?

[vifferman]

Re the indicator, $92.00 ex NZ, coming Wednesday so not a bad night out really.
You could fit a pair of aftermarket ones for less than that. Mind you, it's still cheaper than some; the ones for the VTR were $165 each, despite being basically 'parts bin' items fitted to all kinds of Hondas. Luckily, the one I broke popped back together again, with a bit of work and some judicious de-muntering.

[madboy]

Would rather it hadn't happened but it's probably good to get these out of the way before I get the GSXR-750.You're gonna go from a GSX250 to a GSX-R750? Are you nuts?!

My g/fs GSX250 was like a scooter compared to my FZR400, and the FZR is a scooter compared to the 636, and I can't say I've ridden a gixxer 750, but I reckon that'd be a pretty good step up on that again... the 250 to 750 would be like moving from a Harley to a motorcycle! :whistle:

Oh, and by the way, bad luck on the bin but good to see no harm done :drinknsin

[Aaron]

Thats the very reason I glued mine back together, still works and at $92 I may as well wait til I really destroy the thing.
Hmm... maybe I'll pop down after work on the off chance it made it into the gutter and is still intact. It's a poorly lit roundabout and I couldn't be bothered searching for body parts :(


Sorry to hear about your bin Aaron. Those nasty lessons can be a right pain, literally. Glad your ok though, and good on you for the positive mental attitude.
Thanks Biff Baff, glad to see that you're ok too after yesterdays spill.


You're gonna go from a GSX250 to a GSX-R750? Are you nuts?!
That's the third time this week I've been called a nut, what gives?!?

By the time I can affort the GSXR I hope to be 73% of it's total weight, that should slow it down :D

I don't know about other 250s but this one does have a bit of stick, for it's weight and mine she still goes.


Oh, and by the way, bad luck on the bin but good to see no harm done
Cheers dude :)

[Lias]

the 250 to 750 would be like moving from a Harley to a motorcycle! :whistle:


Yeeeeeowch. Give that man a saucer of milk :-P

[Dr Bob]

good to see you are no longer a novice. The lessons will undoubtabely continue, especially when your centre of gravity is still high. Getting a fast sports bike that is very light will open you up to the same sort of slow speed paint slip, it's the price you pay for 'light'. My underpowered heavy bike with a low seat is far more stable on wet, and gravel for that matter. But when I was starting off I had a cb125, and I weighed 110kg, I came off at roundabouts and the such some 9 times until I slammed into the side of a jag. I bought a cx400 that was water cooled and probably heavier than most 750's these days - it was probably the safest bike I have ridden.

[Wolf]

It does raise an interesting point though... how hard would it be to make paint that actually allowed a little traction too?!?

I mean... lemme see...
1/2 bucket of Paint
1/4 Buckey of medium grade sand.
Shake well till dissolved
Apply to road and bake in sun for 2 hours
Remove cones

Hell - I reckon the contractors could get that right...
Mate of mine at work was surprised when I told him that the road markings are dangerous - he had assumed that the paint was gritted for traction. I said: "Nah, that'd be fucking intelligent"

The low sheen paint vifferman mentioned is still not good enough, it needs to be gritted or something - like they do on concrete steps.

Ungritted paint is just their quaint little way of justifying the ACC screwing us blind with levies - if the paint didn't cause so many accidents, they'd have less convenient "supporting statistics" to flash around.

It's really bad on some Dorkland streets where they seem to have painted dotted lines for every possible route through the intersection - screw being leaned over in the wet on some of those corners, a couple I looked at looked about 50% shiny (supposedly "low sheen" but lethal anyway) paint.

[woody68]

Dos'nt help when it's 20 layers thick.
We got lots of melted tar spots on the roads around here the GPZ spins up big time on those.
You drop it down a couple to pass a cage and all you do is start to fishtail.

[gav]

Anyone remember some of the older GP's with Barry Sheene (rip) going ballistic about white lines on race tracks? esp in the rain? One of his favourite hobby horses, "dunno why they race on them, should be sandblasted off, in my day we wouldn't have raced blah blah blah (esp if it was a wet race)"

[saiko]

Bad luck Aaron, the 'ol white paint claimed me too many years back, & I've had a car skid on them as well. It's probably woth looking for the indicator, even if it's broken the parts could come in handy.

[onearmedbandit]

I don't know about other 250s but this one does have a bit of stick, for it's weight and mine she still goes.

Dude, you're going to have one very big smile on your face after you ride that 750 if you feel that way about your 250. Oh yeah.