Gah, I f***ked up

[erik]

I had a minor off on Scenic drive today, right here (going towards titirangi, RH corner):
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=-36.928539,174.569428&spn=0,359.983456&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=-36.928611,174.569498&panoid=zHeUwkUYWcSkvfG-BMnSyA&cbp=12,311.28,,0,17.61

I think tiredness/lack of concentration resulted in me miss-judging the corner/road surface/my speed and I believe I lost the front end. It wasn't a case of "uh-oh, I'm going to fast, better brake", it was just going round the corner one second, then sliding down the road the next. The road surface on that corner is particularly dodgy and damp, but I should've accomodated for that better.
All I can hope to do better in the future is be more careful, particularly if I feel my concentration is starting to go.

The Bandit's engine casing is particularly vulnerable and once again cracked open, so I had to get my dad to pick me up in my van. Also broke the brake lever. I have a spare engine cover and lever, so once I've made sure there's no bits of gravel inside the poor old engine, I should get it going again easy enough.

I came off pretty much unscathed except for a bruised knee and a few scratches. It was a low speed crash. Last time I fell off on the road was in September 2006.

:argh::doh:

[jetboy]

Gutted to see it bleeding man :no:

Good to hear you're ok - today was unlucky for some of us!

[crazyhorse]

She looks abit sore. Good to hear you came away unscathed. Lack of concentration happens to us all, slippery roads just make it more of a challenge at the same time.

[ducatilover]

Bugger mate, I've done the same. It just happens, hope you get the beast going happy again

[PirateJafa]

You sure did fuck up - you lack of capitalisation is nigh on criminal.

On a more serious note, it's always sad to see a Bandit on the side of the road. Reminds me of my last real memories of my Bandit, also red, sitting on the side of the road after a highside that left it looking rather sad. :(

[Swoop]

Bummer Erik!

That can be a swine of a road at this time of year.

Hope she is fixed up swiftly.

[EJK]

Crikey to see the engine's open wound!

[p.dath]

Oh the poor bike. I can feel the pain.

[FJRider]

Its that time of the year when temperatures are up a bit, but the roads are not quite perfectly dry everywhere. A few seconds lapse of concentration ... But you are alive. And can be/will be riding again.... wont you ???

[erik]

And can be/will be riding again.... wont you ???
Of course! :)

[FJRider]

nuff said ...

[h_tron]

plus there is still plenty of slippery moss hiding round some of the corners out there plus the crappy surface which doesnt help:Punk:

[Big Dave]

Did you thank your dad properly?

[mowgli]

Was the frame slider damaged before the off?

[Leyton]

Awww :/ Well hope the engine is gravel free for you. That corner does look like ARSE!! all damp.

[erik]

Was the frame slider damaged before the off?
I think it was a bit, the bike has been down on that side before on the track at Taupo. That engine side cover is actually off a gsxr400 or gsx400, I think.

[Nagash]

Bugger dude that sucks...

Judging by the photos, you'reabout 100 metres from my house.. Would of made you a coffee or something if i'd heard it >_>

[Elysium]

At this time of the year it pays to be a nanner around corners like those. Good to see you're ok yourself, though I bet you were more concerned for your bike then yourself at the time? :niceone:

[YellowDog]

Looks a bit messy. Hope it's as easy as you say to fix. Good luck.

[Firefight]

glad ur ok Erik.

F/F

[SARGE]

time was it ??.. i went past there at about 4:15 .. sunstrike .. mossy corners and loose stone ..


loved it :love:

[OutForADuck]

Sorry to hear about your off... very glad to hear your ok.

I live up that way and try to avoid the road during winter (or colder months) it gets really slippery and mossy.

Your certainly not the first and won't be the last it catches out. I once was training a guy and following him into a corne, fairly slowly, I saw him go in but he wasn't there on the exit.. soon found him down the bank.... So quick so easy and he was not exactly "pushing the envelope".

Watch that road over winter guys!!!

[erik]

time was it ??.. i went past there at about 4:15 .. sunstrike .. mossy corners and loose stone ..


loved it :love:
It would've been around 5-5:30, I was returning home after riding out to Hellensville (same route there and back).

[CookMySock]

Did you thank your dad properly?Dads don't mind not being thanked extensively for this - thats just what they are there for. He will be more sad to see his young fella a bit down.

Good save, mate. Lesson learned, if there even was one to be taken.

Steve

[one fast tl1ooo]

good to see you are ok, the bike can always be fixed, hope you get it going soon as mate,

[rickstv]

Glad you're ok, make sure you get all the oil off that back tyre ay
Rick.:blink:

[Big Dave]

Dads don't mind not being thanked extensively for this - thats just what they are there for.

Steve

I'm a Grandfather. You're wrong - or taking the Puss - which is very good.

Dad had an equally miserable time - at least till he saw his kid was in one piece.

[SPman]

Bugger!
I hate it when that happens.
Glad you're OK Eric!

[mowgli]

I think it was a bit, the bike has been down on that side before on the track at Taupo. That engine side cover is actually off a gsxr400 or gsx400, I think.
Maybe consider adjusting it's position or length to provide better clearance around the engine.

[erik]

They'd have to stick out really far to provide crankcase clearance and I don't see how their position could be changed, they'd need to be lower. They do protect the frame and tank well enough.

I pulled the crankcase side cover off tonight and noticed on the top of the engine and radiator, it looks like it's got tar splatered on it. Initially I'd assumed it was just engine oil from my bike, but I think it must've been something else on the road. There's no way it was hot enough for the tar to melt, but maybe there was some oil on the corner or something? The old guy whose driveway I crashed in front of said that a Porsche had come off on that corner a couple of weeks ago also, but I suppose if it was oil on the road, it'd be unrelated since it would have washed away in two weeks. But the stuff on my bike looks like tar...