Lesson No 1 for today.......

[Virago]

Rolled the Virago down the garden path and out the gate. A hard right turn down the footpath, front wheel rolls across the wet grass verge. Bike building up speed, grab the front brake, wheel locks up. One second later the bike is on its' side on the footpath. Too close to the garden wall, can't get leverage to lift the bike, have to get the wife to give me a hand. Curtains twitching up and down the street.

Damage: broken mirror mount, scratched chrome, sprained wrist, and severely dented ego.

Oops.........

[Skyryder]

Front brakes + wet grass = Bummer. This equation is much the same with back brake or too much throttle.


Skyryder

[zadok]

Sorry to hear that V.V. These things can be so easily done. :Oops:

Marty :ride:

[Ixion]

Bastige , that. Few things slipperier than wet grass. Very difficult indeed to brake on .

[crashe]

Bummer..... cant have the Virago's falling down now....
Tis not a good look.

[Zed]

Rolled the Virago down the garden path and out the gate. A hard right turn down the footpath, front wheel rolls across the wet grass verge. Bike building up speed, grab the front brake, wheel locks up. One second later the bike is on its' side on the footpath. Too close to the garden wall, can't get leverage to lift the bike, have to get the wife to give me a hand. Curtains twitching up and down the street.

Damage: broken mirror mount, scratched chrome, sprained wrist, and severely dented ego.

Oops.........That sucks! Sorry to hear it. :mad:

"Been there, done that" I'm sure many of us can say. :crazy:

[hondacmx450]

sorry to here that i did it to a mates bike 3 weeks ago getting it of my garage it got the better of me on gravel and over she went cought it be for it went down but it still sux it happen

[crazylittleshit]

Rolled the Virago down the garden path and out the gate. A hard right turn down the footpath, front wheel rolls across the wet grass verge. Bike building up speed, grab the front brake, wheel locks up. One second later the bike is on its' side on the footpath. Too close to the garden wall, can't get leverage to lift the bike, have to get the wife to give me a hand. Curtains twitching up and down the street.

Damage: broken mirror mount, scratched chrome, sprained wrist, and severely dented ego.

Oops.........

We've all done something alone the lines of this don't fell bad.
Just drink your sorrows away :drinknsin

[Wolf]

Accidentally: Front brakes + gravel twice, front brakes + grass + downhill slope (which I was attacking at an angle rather than straight down) once.

None of it was fun - bent handlebars and foot pegs, various abrasions, tattered clothing, broken wrist.

[inlinefour]

Dented pride but at least only minor damage to the bike and I trust you was physically unhurt?

[zeRax]

D: wet grass is indeed a powerful foe

[2_SL0]

Yep been there done that, prob will do it again some day. What sucks is you feel such a wally for doing it. Well I did.

[Ixion]

Anyone know WHY wet grass is so damn slippery ?

Dry grass has good grip - maybe not as much as seal but pretty good. Obviously anything's going to have less grip when wet, but why does grass become so *very* slippery. The effect is much more than seal , or gravel, or just about anything except hard clay, or some beach rock (and I think the latter is really a version of the grass case, because its the slime that makes it slippery)

You'd think that grass would be less affected than seal by water, because it can drain easier.

[XTC]

Need one of these..... :D

[thehollowmen]

Ouch!
Don't use your frount brake at low speed.
Seen the motorman course? he keeps drilling that in ... in a big way.

it 'pulls you to the ground like a magnet'
if you want a copy I have it the girls course on VCD somewhere...

[pritch]

Condolences. You've got me thinking. My route out of here is tight, it winds across the lawn through the shrubbery. Maybe I had better get the clippers out (or even the axe).

[Skyryder]

Anyone know WHY wet grass is so damn slippery ?

Dry grass has good grip - maybe not as much as seal but pretty good. Obviously anything's going to have less grip when wet, but why does grass become so *very* slippery. The effect is much more than seal , or gravel, or just about anything except hard clay, or some beach rock (and I think the latter is really a version of the grass case, because its the slime that makes it slippery)

You'd think that grass would be less affected than seal by water, because it can drain easier.

Its not the drainage that's the problem but absorption. One soil is wet (absoption) the soil particles lose adhesion under tension. Wheel locking up = weight tension.

Skyryder

[Ixion]

Its not the drainage that's the problem but absorption. One soil is wet (absoption) the soil particles lose adhesion under tension. Wheel locking up = weight tension.

Skyryder

But if you lock up on wet grass you don't (usually) see uprooted grass. You seem to slide OVER the grass. The grass itself looks "damaged" but not uprooted.

[Hitcher]

Slipperier than a vat of melted butter full of eels.

[Skyryder]

But if you lock up on wet grass you don't (usually) see uprooted grass. You seem to slide OVER the grass. The grass itself looks "damaged" but not uprooted.

There's grass slides and grass slides. Leaves have epicuticular wax crystalloids, that serve among other things as water repellent. Place water on wax and bike wheel on wet leaf....................etc

Skyryder

[eliot-ness]

Picture this. Eldery gent tootling along country road near Leigh. Cookin phat runs across road. Despite his vast experience and swerving wildly he still manages to miss it. Pulls on to narrow strip of gravel between seal and ditch and enquires about the health of his feline friend. After ascertaining it is indeed alright drops clutch. Back wheel slips off gravel into ditch leaving front wheel pointing skyward. Using great ingenuity he manages to wriggle bike around until both wheels are in ditch and bike is on it's side trapping right leg. Undaunted he wriggles some more and with great loss of skin frees himself, hauls bike upright and rides along ditch until he finds a way out. Goes on his way leaving one very puzzled cat wondering who the Cluck would take a Triumph off road on Bridgestone Battleaxes. Could have been worse. Might have scratched the bike.

Won't tell you his name. Some of you guys might take the piss out of m--him

[Waylander]

Yea the XV1100s arn't very light. Dropped mine getting it out of the shed where me and Hondacmx450 were working on it. Small door with a 3 foot drop or so about 2 feet away from the door. Anyway they take quite a bit to get back upright. Good thing I still go to the gym regularly. Though if it had fallen on me I probably couldn't have gotten it off without injury. So have ya got pics of the minor dammage? Wonder if you have actually mannaged to make it look worse than mine.:whistle:

[Wolf]

Picture this. Eldery gent tootling along country road near Leigh. Cookin phat runs across road. Despite his vast experience and swerving wildly he still manages to miss it. Pulls on to narrow strip of gravel between seal and ditch and enquires about the health of his feline friend. After ascertaining it is indeed alright drops clutch. Back wheel slips off gravel into ditch leaving front wheel pointing skyward. Using great ingenuity he manages to wriggle bike around until both wheels are in ditch and bike is on it's side trapping right leg. Undaunted he wriggles some more and with great loss of skin frees himself, hauls bike upright and rides along ditch until he finds a way out. Goes on his way leaving one very puzzled cat wondering who the Cluck would take a Triumph off road on Bridgestone Battleaxes. Could have been worse. Might have scratched the bike.

Won't tell you his name. Some of you guys might take the piss out of m--him
That's one hell of a "hypothetical situation", there...

[eliot-ness]

That's one hell of a "hypothetical situation", there...

Wish it was. The old skin don't heal like this modern stuff

[chickenfunkstar]

That sucks to hear.
At least the bike isn't too damaged.
Even better, ego's heal for free!

[Biff]

You slipped on grass?
Oh what an arse
Not you, the scene
The bike so clean
But now its bent
Not much, but yet
Another lesson one must not forget
When grass it wet
You can always bet
That for heavens sake
Don't touch that brake
As now you know
The bike will go
The curtains twitch
"Oh what a bitch"
You blush with shame
The blood does drain
But all the same
Those pills you take
Will compensate......

[Virago]

You slipped on grass?
Oh what an arse
Not you, the scene
The bike so clean
But now its bent
Not much, but yet
Another lesson one must not forget
When grass it wet
You can always bet
That for heavens sake
Don't touch that brake
As now you know
The bike will go
The curtains twitch
"Oh what a bitch"
You blush with shame
The blood does drain
But all the same
Those pills you take
Will compensate......
:killingme :killingme :killingme :killingme :killingme

Thanks for that Biff, you've brightened my day (I think).

[Virago]

Yea the XV1100s arn't very light. Dropped mine getting it out of the shed where me and Hondacmx450 were working on it. Small door with a 3 foot drop or so about 2 feet away from the door. Anyway they take quite a bit to get back upright. Good thing I still go to the gym regularly. Though if it had fallen on me I probably couldn't have gotten it off without injury. So have ya got pics of the minor dammage? Wonder if you have actually mannaged to make it look worse than mine.:whistle:
Nar, not near as bad as yours mate! Estimated speed at time of binning: 3kph. I tried to hold it up (hence slightly sprained wrist), but it was all over too quickly.

Damage is pretty minor, but heart-breaking for a "cruiser cuddler". Broke off the right side mirror stem at the thread, a scrape on the chrome "bug-eye" pod, and a slightly bent brake lever. Didn't bother taking photos. As I said, the ego took the biggest knock!

Being a short-arse, I haven't got the leg-spread to hold the bike up when it goes wrong like that. New respect for the weight now!

[Waylander]

Lucky you didn't do more than that. Parts are exphensive and hard to find.

[Zed]

Being a short-arse, I haven't got the leg-spread to hold the bike up when it goes wrong like that. New respect for the weight now!What is the 'wet' weight of your Virago shorty? :msn-wink:

[John]

What is the 'wet' weight of your Virago shorty? :msn-wink:
Think they are 220kg dry, not light.

I can vouch for them being heavy after helping trying to get one out of a ditch, I'd be screwed if I dropped one.

Bad luck on the drop its silly shit like that, that keeps us bikers on our toes all the time.

[Zed]

Think they are 220kg dry, not light.

I can vouch for them being heavy after helping trying to get one out of a ditch, I'd be screwed if I dropped one.

Bad luck on the drop its silly shit like that, that keeps us bikers on our toes all the time.Bout the same dry weight as my bike then. So yeah, it's heavy! :D

Btw John, are you protesting about something by not having an avatar??

[Waylander]

Basic weight on an 1100 is 239kg.

[Zed]

Basic weight on an 1100 is 239kg.What's this "basic" weight then??

[John]

Bout the same dry weight as my bike then. So yeah, it's heavy! :D

Btw John, are you protesting about something by not having an avatar??
no just trying to be inconspicuous :lol:

Waylander, is that dry?

[Zed]

no just trying to be inconspicuous :lol:I got news for ya - you stick out like a sore thumb! :bash:

[Waylander]

That's what it says in my manual. Have one for XV535 - 1100 from 1981 - 1999.

Give me a sec and I'll see about finding the wet and dry weights for ya.

Question for ya V=V, Do your pipes have a colection box where the center stand is? Or are they straight 1-1 all the way through?

Edit: Must be wet wieght cause dry wieght is about 221kg.


Here is a link for more specifications. (http://www.wemoto.com/library/bikes/japanese/yamaha/xv1100-virago-1990/index.php3)

[Virago]

What is the 'wet' weight of your Virago shorty? :msn-wink:
As Waylander said, it's not much below the 1/4 ton mark wringing wet.

20 something years ago I could deadlift 170Kg, I doubt I could do it these days, and have no intention of trying! Mind you, I was in the same body weight class as Precious McKenzie, he was deadlifting about 230Kg around that time!

These days the Virago is considered to be a middle-weight cruiser. I'd hate to drop one of the BIG cruisers if no-one was around to help!

I've sat on a Kwaka VN2000, I only just managed to get the bugger up off the side stand! :scooter:

[Virago]

Question for ya V=V, Do your pipes have a colection box where the center stand is? Or are they straight 1-1 all the way through?
My pipes are stock, with the collection box. Not the best sound, but at least I don't annoy the neighbours. Contemplating an upgrade to some nice slash-cuts, but they're bloody expensive I believe.

[scumdog]

As Waylander said, it's not much below the 1/4 ton mark wringing wet.

20 something years ago I could deadlift 170Kg, I doubt I could do it these days, and have no intention of trying! Mind you, I was in the same body weight class as Precious McKenzie, he was deadlifting about 230Kg around that time!

These days the Virago is considered to be a middle-weight cruiser. I'd hate to drop one of the BIG cruisers if no-one was around to help!

I've sat on a Kwaka VN2000, I only just managed to get the bugger up off the side stand! :scooter:

Yeah, but it's amazing the strength you can get if needed.

Chased a dog along the footpath one day (after discovering it shitting on my front lawn when I got home) on my old H-D, dog dived up a driveway and I went to take off for home - forgetting I was still in 3rd gear I sat and waited for a car to go past then let out the clutch, the bike shot forwards about a foot then stalled, I lost my balance and we both went over.

A quick look to see if anybody saw me, noticed a workmate appearing on the horizon so nothing for it but close my eyes and heave until (a) there was a roaring noise in my ears, (b) I saw sparks in my eyes and (c) the bike was upright!! Just in time to sit on my scoot and wave 'casually' at aforementioned workmate as he drove past ( and temple throbbed with a pulse far stronger than was good for me.
Ah, good old pride, amazing how you respond to it and what you can do when it's under threat!!

[Waylander]

My pipes are stock, with the collection box. Not the best sound, but at least I don't annoy the neighbours. Contemplating an upgrade to some nice slash-cuts, but they're bloody expensive I believe.

Ok then somewhere back in time my dad must have gotten custom pipes. Gonna keep them now and just get them re-chromed. Have slah cuts on mine.:niceone:

[Virago]

Ah, good old pride, amazing how you respond to it and what you can do when it's under threat!!
:killingme :killingme :killingme :killingme :killingme
The fine line between pride and vanity?

I think that might be post no 100 for me - do I get a telegram from the queen? :laugh:

[Waylander]

If you don't mind having stuff shipped from the states you could check Ebay for parts V=V. Just found this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4552222005&category=35591) and have seen heaps of other parts going for cheaper than shop price.

[Virago]

If you don't mind having stuff shipped from the states you could check Ebay for parts V=V. Just found this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4552222005&category=35591) and have seen heaps of other parts going for cheaper than shop price.
Nice looking speedo set - you won't even have to pull it apart to wind the odo back! :msn-wink:
Thanks for the heads-up, all I need really is a right mirror stem, I'll look locally before looking overseas. I might get lucky!

[Waylander]

Haha the Odo on that one has less miles on it than the busted one on my bike did. Anyway if you're talking about the knob on the side that's the tripometer. Use that to see how many miles I get out of then tank then just watch it when riding. You don't do that with yours?

Havn't seen anything on trade me or at wreckers for viragos, least not the parts I need so maybe you'll have better luck than me.