Righthander, country road, cow shit, munted Shiver [Archive]

Hitcher

25th July 2010, 21:13

Life is a sequence of moments. We make choices. We reap consequences for those.

Some of today's moments were spectacular. A sharp morning frost, resulting in both Upper Hutt and the Wairarapa being blanketed in fog. Near freezingly blanketed. Chilly but beautiful.

Good company, good food and good coffee at Tui's in Martinborough.

A Shiver greatly enjoying its new Road Attack 2s and the warm sun after the fog burned off.

Favourite roads. Mauriceville came and went. I was greatly enjoying the wonderful sweeping corners and the rare treat of a sunny winter's day. In my head I was penning a tribute to Herr Continental and his fabulous new tyres.

Shortly after Hastville I was rounding a righthander and noted the road was liberally festooned with cow shit, as country roads often are. I ran wide to avoid it, running out of seal in the process. Wet grassy verges are particularly unsympathetic to two-wheeled vehicles. Classic lowside. Fucking ouch.

Bye bye RH mirror. All manner of stuff bent and broken but the bike looking straight and complete enough to be rideable. Sundry componentry retrieved and stowed in or strapped to my tailbag. Vegetation extracted from crooks and nannies, riding apparel brushed down. Piripiri loves Velcro. I must write that on the back of a toilet door somewhere sometime.

So back out to SH2 and then south to Masterton at reasonable sedate speed because I no longer have an attachable helmet visor.

Stopping for gas at Mobil on the bypass, I note evidence of green alien blood, including on the RH leg of my riding trousers. Shiver not overheating, but I decide to keep a close eye on the temperature gauge for the return to Ngaio.

The hill was in great nick on the return home. Even with squiffy handlebars and no functioning rear brake pedal, Shiver and its Road Attack 2s coped with it effortlessly.

Safely home. Right ankle very sore. Major sulking going on. Phonecalls to make first thing tomorrow morning. Sigh.

Thanks to Great Mates and particularly to Mrs H for not smacking me around the head. I guess after nearly 25 years together she knows what works and what doesn't in that regard.

Thanks too for unsolicited offers of assistance in the form of a trailer from the Kiwi Biker Catering Corps in Greytown.

Did I mention that I was sore and sulking? So too is Shiver. Sorry about that Shiver.

Jantar

25th July 2010, 21:16

Damn, that sucks. Good to hear that your basically OK though.

Dogboy900

25th July 2010, 21:19

Bugger!

Glad you and Shiver were in a fit state to ride back.

Was over that way in the car with a trailer this morning, felt pretty jealous of the bikes going through. Looked like a good day to be out and about on two wheels :)

spacemonkey

25th July 2010, 21:19

Bummer mate.... at least your not seriously hurt. :yes:

Bikemad

25th July 2010, 21:20

bad luck man ..........gettin home under ya own steam in one piece is a good bonus though after such an event

sunhuntin

25th July 2010, 21:23

i dont know how you can take something like an off and make it into an amusing read. sucks about your bin, but im glad you are mostly ok and the shiver can hopefully be repaired.

its a pity they cant take dna from cow shit to locate the offending herd and then whoever was meant to be in control of that herd.

went for a ride to palmy today. encountered fog along the road by whangahu [or however the hell its spelt!] and then a herd of cows being shifted just outside turakina. wonderful owners had obviously kept them off feed for the shift, as i only saw one small pile on the side of the road.

Big Dave

25th July 2010, 21:25

Bike: Machine. They break. Fix it. And you've got all the numbers on speed dial already.

You: Commiserations. Get well soon.

Okey Dokey

25th July 2010, 21:27

OUCH! The Shiver won't feel any worse tomorrow morning and I hope your ankle doesn't, either...

Sorry to hear of your mishap.

crystalball

25th July 2010, 21:29

I heard on fb that someone binned off riding in the welly riders group as well today. sorry to hear about your bin as well.

nothingflash

25th July 2010, 21:34

Ouch - bugger. Could have been worse (says the obvious guy)...

FJRider

25th July 2010, 21:36

The sulking will end, repairs made, and life as you (we) know it WILL go on. YOU are still here are to see it ... so smile. Things could be a dam sight more serious ... (I hate biker down theads)

Decisions and choices are funny things .... right ONE day ... WRONG the next. Get it right, and life is wonderful. Get it wrong ....

Good to see you have posted ... a good sign.

doc

25th July 2010, 21:39

Major sulking going on. Phonecalls to make first thing tomorrow morning. Sigh.

The wait for parts will be a bigger sulk. At least it wasn't a speedo :msn-wink:

marty

25th July 2010, 21:41

was there a reversing Rav4 somewhere?

FJRider

25th July 2010, 21:42

The wait for parts will be a bigger sulk. At least it wasn't a speedo :msn-wink:

or a spark plug (or two).... :innocent:

Ocean1

25th July 2010, 21:47

Bugger.

Thought that fog was out to get me today too.

The foot, elevate it. Apply frozen peas if indicated.

The bike sounds mostly cosmetic, and for next time: those twin-wall handlebars don't bend so easy.

Hitcher

25th July 2010, 21:52

was there a reversing Rav4 somewhere?
Some people have good memories!

The wait for parts will be a bigger sulk. At least it wasn't a speedo
Looking on the bright side, this won't be a warranty claim, so the vagueries and malevolent disinterest of Aprilia New Zealand Ltd can be avoided. A myriad of genuine Aprilia parts are merely days away at realistic prices. The same goes for a replacement Shoei 3XL helmet.

or a spark plug (or two)...

Shiver will be rideable with new bars, a new RH mirror, a new radiator and a new brake pedal. Other munted components can arrive when they will.

Anyway, that's getting ahead of the process. First up will be the insurance assessor's opinion about what is practicable, realistic and affordable.

Hitcher

25th July 2010, 21:54

Apply frozen peas if indicated.

They keep bouncing off.

Ocean1

25th July 2010, 22:05

They keep bouncing off.

Hope you're taking notes.

2wheeldrifter

25th July 2010, 22:12

The best part about all this, is you can write about :)

FJRider

25th July 2010, 22:17

Some people have good memories!

dammit ....

sinfull

25th July 2010, 22:20

That shit sucks Hitch !

ajturbo

26th July 2010, 00:40

wow.. cow shit is not good...

glad you ok matey... and once you untie your wife's hands... you may well get the bash

Nasty

26th July 2010, 07:35

I went riding over that way this weekend (thanks to wannabiker and his loan of the multistrada) ... road was a little green down towards martinborough so was a little nervous as to if it was cow shit or the mandatory moss on the road.

I am glad you are ok ... the bike can be fixed .. you may take a little longer.

yungatart

26th July 2010, 07:45

Bugger! Damn!
Hope you are both back to normal very soon, in the meantime, enjoy your sulking. Wallow in it as if it is a great big warm bath, until it intergrates.:blink:

Mom

26th July 2010, 08:01

Shit happens :yes:

Poor Shiver, glad you are okish.

Crisis management

26th July 2010, 08:10

Sorry to hear about the off Hitcher and glad you're ok....makes for a good read on monday morning tho! Thanks. :innocent:

nallac

26th July 2010, 08:21

Bugga at least you're alive.

shit i hope you didn't damage the speedo...we all know how long it takes to replace em....

Is any one going to start a poll on how long it takes to get the required parts supplied?

shafty

26th July 2010, 08:29

Shit happens :yes:

Poor Shiver, glad you are okish.

Then you ride around it..............

bistard

26th July 2010, 08:30

Thats a Damn shame Mr Hitcher

MSTRS

26th July 2010, 08:32

Good and bad news all rolled into one.
Another step on your motorcycling journey...and to the learning curve, eh?

shafty

26th July 2010, 08:33

Bugger.

Good outcome.

Just remember the millions of great decisions/inputs before beating yourself up about one whoops.

You are someone who gets out there all year round. Occupational possible hazard.

Best wishes.

Swoop

26th July 2010, 08:43

Piripiri loves Velcro.
Why does that sound like a C-grade 80's movie for some reason?

Bummer Hitch'. Hopefully a speedy recovery/repair to both of you.

Urano

26th July 2010, 08:47

Mrs H should have told you to stop with those dangerous bikes and to get a safer vehicle.:angry:

...i've been trying the rsv4 yesterday, did you see it? :shifty:

happy you're ok, bike will be fine sooner than you, so don't be sad about her.. :niceone:

carbonhed

26th July 2010, 09:10

Right ankle very sore.

Voltaren FTW

Doesn't do anything for the sulking though. Unfortunately.

Bummer about the crash.

p.dath

26th July 2010, 09:11

Sorry to hear about your off Hitcher. Sounds like you'll be on the road again soon enough.

ps. I tried extra hard to make sure I spelled everything correctly.

vifferman

26th July 2010, 09:15

I'm sorry to hear about your 'off', Brett. I hope everything is sorted tout suite, and that there are no complications with you or the bike.

mashman

26th July 2010, 09:30

Glad you're in 1 piece and got home safely... if the bars off an RSV will fit, I may have some spare in a week or 2's time :)

NZsarge

26th July 2010, 11:01

Shit happens :yes:

Poor Shiver, glad you are okish.

Oh man! I was strolling through hoping no one had used that line but alas you bet me to it...

Sorry to hear about the get off Hitcher, 'tis the downside of riding country roads with all the extra drama you have to watch out for despite them being less populated and what's worse it's the kind of thing that can happen to anyone.... Btw, I hope you didn't get covered in the stuff.

Gremlin

26th July 2010, 11:21

I thought you really liked that bike?!

S'ok, no fairings, mucho cheaper to fix :yes:

HenryDorsetCase

26th July 2010, 11:21

Suck.

bet you're really feeling it today, not just in the ankle.

As for the bike, at least with the fantastic parts and backup service afforded by Aprilia NZ, hell, its probably fixed already........

dangerous

26th July 2010, 11:34

Life is a sequence of moments. We make choices. We reap consequences .the road was liberally festooned with cow shit, as country roads often are. I ran wide to avoid it, running out of seal in the process.
Farking cow shit, Id have done the best to avoid it myself, however and Im thinking this is the lesson to be lernt... like any other kind of debri on the road, IMHO do not ulter ride line prepear for impact (or splater) if you slide at least there is room for recovery out the other side.

Giant crap on the xmas tree Hitch, like your opening line says however its not always the case, put a sticky on the shiver and ya self good luck to you both with healing.. honest H Id thought you to old for this kinda shit (oun not atended ;)

ps: altho it wasnt the turds that put you down, aint there a regulation were a farmer is resposable to clean up after there cows?

Edbear

26th July 2010, 11:40

Doncha jes' hate it when that happens! Glad you're not too badly hurt. You must have clocked up a fair few k's on the Shiver by now?

Paul in NZ

26th July 2010, 12:08

Please be more careful in the future Mr Hitcher - you are far too nice a chap to get all bent up an broken...

merv

26th July 2010, 12:19

That certainly would have been enough to send a shiver up your Shiver (and your own spine) but glad to hear you are OK.

toycollector10

26th July 2010, 12:48

Glad to hear you're OK. Imagine if you had your knee down in the turn giving it the fang! Could have been a lot worse maybe?

ajturbo

26th July 2010, 13:52

I am glad you are ok ... the bike can be fixed .. you may take a little longer.

i was too polite to point out that he is getting old.....:shit:

grbaker

26th July 2010, 16:11

:gob: Bad luck... but at least the Shiver held together for the ride home.

Someone should vent this to ACC - wot percentage do the cows pay...?

Swoop

26th July 2010, 16:12

Glad to hear you're OK. Imagine if you had your knee down in the turn giving it the fang!
I'm sure kataflam will be along soon to explain how excessive speed was the cause here...

dangerous

26th July 2010, 16:30

Glad to hear you're OK. Imagine if you had your knee down in the turn giving it the fang! Could have been a lot worse maybe?
yeah the knee would be like a grader, man shit everywere over the bike and leathers... and the stink woooooooooooooooooooooooooow

one fast tl1ooo

26th July 2010, 16:34

O crap, Just what you dont want to see on the road. glad to here you are ok. :):)

SPman

26th July 2010, 16:40

Shit happens :yes:

Preferably not all over the road, though.......

Apply frozen peas if indicated.

They keep bouncing off.
you could try sticking them on with honey...

scumdog

26th July 2010, 17:09

Like totally bad shit due, bummer!

(And glad you're OK)

beyond

26th July 2010, 17:42

Man, that is some real bad shit there mate :(

Good to hear you came off okay though :)

Poor Shiver.

jimbo_on_travels

26th July 2010, 18:32

I've never lost traction on cow shit.. is it something you can easily slide on??

To OP - hope you get back on the road soon! :)

dangerous

26th July 2010, 18:44

I've never lost traction on cow shit.. is it something you can easily slide on??

To OP - hope you get back on the road soon! :)

sounds like old man Hitch tried avoiding it, that being what arsed him up... yeah proberly shoulda riden through it but if like me and cant stand the thought of poo drying on ya headers and scrubing till ya paint comes off...

blackdog

26th July 2010, 18:47

Glad you're alright hitch.

Big arsed steak tonight for revenge?

rastuscat

26th July 2010, 18:55

Low sided 10 days ago, my right ankle is pleased to have company i.e. yours.

Great that you are okay.

Let me know what colour the cows were, I'll go and chuck some stones at the cows down here that are the same colour.

Quasi

26th July 2010, 19:00

geez Mr Hitcher - that is not good news. I did the same ride yesterday north to south and spend the first 3/4 of ride zig zagging in and out of the afore mentioned cow shite. Was taking it cautiously as where theres cow shite, theres normally a cow, waiting to leap out at me from the bushes:sick::gob:

Damm nice cruisey road apart from that though.

anyway - at least not too much damage and glad the RA2's working for you. I extremely pleased with mine.

KoroJ

26th July 2010, 19:41

damn!

I take it Mrs H didn't slap you around 'cos inside, she was thankful that you were in the lead.

Toaster

26th July 2010, 19:49

Shortly after Hastville I was rounding a righthander and noted the road was liberally festooned with cow shit, as country roads often are. I ran wide to avoid it, running out of seal in the process. Wet grassy verges are particularly unsympathetic to two-wheeled vehicles. Classic lowside. Fucking ouch.

Oh the challenges of rural roads... I commute on them every day. Sorry to hear of your incident H.

banditrider

26th July 2010, 20:07

Not nice to hear Mr H! Plenty of time to have her all patched up for the GC I hope?

Hitcher

26th July 2010, 20:24

Not nice to hear Mr H! Plenty of time to have her all patched up for the GC I hope?

If Shiver's not ready, maybe Stu will let me borrow the Connie he's currently got in his shop...

piston broke

26th July 2010, 20:26

well shiver me timbers.
where is skatman to say it is all your fault.
hitch that shiver up till the shakes stop.
heal soon and well.

banditrider

26th July 2010, 20:29

If Shiver's not ready, maybe Stu will let me borrow the Connie he's currently got in his shop...

It should be up to the task...

Mully

26th July 2010, 20:41

Not good Hitch.

Hope you mend quick and the insurance company has better joy in getting the parts with some speed.

Winston001

26th July 2010, 21:27

Crikey Hitch, its enough to send a shiver up a fella's spine..... :D

Hope you are recovering and in a calm place. :innocent:

Looking at the bigger picture, just this afternoon my wife mentioned a chap she knew who'd dropped his exotic bike on some cow poo. Funny coincidence I thought.....??

:shit: You need to understand my wife has never even looked at KB or heard of our Hitcher....

Ah well, it is NZ after all - we're probably related.....:yes:

Owl

26th July 2010, 22:33

Man, that is some real bad shit there mate :(

Are you suggesting there is a nice type of shit?:confused:

Sorry to hear of your off Hitcher and glad you're ok!

Insanity_rules

27th July 2010, 09:48

Oh mate that sucks, but as a wise man once told me (I think it was you) any accident you can walk away from is (bare with me as I can remember the exact wording) a good thing. So by my estimation one you can ride way from is a pretty big luck stick to pull from the bag.

Hope you healing well.

Oh and welcome to the I dropped an italian bike cause of shit on the road club, members are you and me!

NZsarge

27th July 2010, 09:54

If Shiver's not ready, maybe Stu will let me borrow the Connie he's currently got in his shop...

Checked that out the other day, not too badly priced. Seems to be what they are on the market for at that milage.

spacemonkey

27th July 2010, 09:56

Oh mate that sucks, but as a wise man once told me (I think it was you) any accident you can walk away from is (bare with me as I can remember the exact wording) a good thing. So by my estimation one you can ride way from is a pretty big luck stick to pull from the bag.

So that was a lucky stick and not a shitty stick he just took a beating from then?? :blink:

Insanity_rules

27th July 2010, 11:06

So that was a lucky stick and not a shitty stick he just took a beating from then?? :blink:

I'd like to think one tip was shitty and one tip was lucky.

240

27th July 2010, 18:01

Bastard cow shit!! I brought a new Hornet 900 a few years back and on its maiden voyage it, (and me)got covered in fresh f@cken cow shit (also from the wairarapa) from head to toe!
Got home then i was up till midnight cleaning the new baby down whilst the whole time smelling like the outside of a proctologists glove!
Glad you are o.k though man just for revenge eat heaps more steak over the next week and you might get the bastard that got you!;)

toycollector10

27th July 2010, 18:34

Just think, if you had read Beyond's "zone" thread and been riding in the zone this wouldn't have happened!

beyond

27th July 2010, 19:02

Just think, if you had read Beyond's "zone" thread and been riding in the zone this wouldn't have happened!

Mate, how right you are :)

You may recall from that thread the part where I say it is like watching a movie and knowing the end. When in the zone you konw whats around the corner and could have swerved around the cowshit as you would know exactly where all the cowpats were and just threaded through them.

No offence Hitcher.... just taking the piss at someone trying to take the piss with me. :)

toycollector10

27th July 2010, 19:15

Mate, how right you are :)

You may recall from that thread the part where I say it is like watching a movie and knowing the end. When in the zone you konw whats around the corner and could have swerved around the cowshit as you would know exactly where all the cowpats were and just threaded through them.

No offence Hitcher.... just taking the piss at someone trying to take the piss with me. :)

I used to think you were just a well intentioned enthusiast.

Now I think you're just crazy. It's not Doctor Who, old son, you can't look into the future.

Have you ever had an off and been injured?

beyond

27th July 2010, 19:20

I used to think you were just a well intentioned enthusiast.

Now I think you're just crazy. It's not Doctor Who, old son, you can't look into the future.

Have you ever had an off and been injured?

The snapper are biting :)

For the record... yes... I am a well intentioned enthusiast and always will be.

Yes, when younger had many accidents, some really bad, some not so bad.

The above post was tongue in cheek as sometimes I like fishing.

sinfull

27th July 2010, 19:21

Mate, how right you are :)

You may recall from that thread the part where I say it is like watching a movie and knowing the end. When in the zone you konw whats around the corner and could have swerved around the cowshit as you would know exactly where all the cowpats were and just threaded through them.

No offence Hitcher.... just taking the piss at someone trying to take the piss with me. :)
Did you not see that movie the Jumper last night ! few more practise jumps and i'll have it sussed !

beyond

27th July 2010, 19:25

Did you not see that movie the Jumper last night ! few more practise jumps and i'll have it sussed !

I wanted to see that movie. Was it worth watching? If so I'll get the DVD.
be awesome when facing some bad shit like Hitcher to be able to jump to another time continum.

Katman

27th July 2010, 19:28

well shiver me timbers.
where is skatman to say it is all your fault.
hitch that shiver up till the shakes stop.
heal soon and well.

Well, since you're asking........

........he ran wide trying to avoid riding through cowshit.

Why not ride through it instead of having an accident?

Going too fast to avoid an encounter with the unexpected?

Or just didn't want to get cowshit on his bike?

sinfull

27th July 2010, 19:35

I wanted to see that movie. Was it worth watching? If so I'll get the DVD.
be awesome when facing some bad shit like Hitcher to be able to jump to another time continum. Well if your into action, shoot em up, bust everything while passin through town movies like me, well then ya may just enjoy it !
Thats two mondays in a row they had me applauding them (the TV wallies who insist on boring the hell out of me usually)

beyond

27th July 2010, 19:35

Well if your into action, shoot em up, bust everything while passin through town movies like me, well then ya may just enjoy it !
Thats two mondays in a row they had me applauding them (the TV wallies who insist on boring the hell out of me usually)

Sounds like me mate. Cheers :)

toycollector10

27th July 2010, 19:50

beyond

27th July 2010, 19:53

Don't change the subject to a movie review.

If it hurt when you came off your bike, didn't your learn a very simple life lesson?

I guess you're a real tough guy. Got back on the bike and back into the zone.

Yep, got back on the bike after I rebuilt it and straight back into the zone. Real tough? Nope. Hitting the road and other things hurts a lot. Something I would rather not repeat hence my desire to ride in the zone.

dangerous

27th July 2010, 19:54

Well, since you're asking........

........he ran wide trying to avoid riding through cowshit.

Why not ride through it instead of having an accident?

Going too fast to avoid an encounter with the unexpected?

Or just didn't want to get cowshit on his bike?

Ya tooo farking slow man... I already said that in my 1st post, if ya read between the lines LOL didnt want to offend or sound all wanky and rightous, Hitch even said as much in his opening line.

Katman

27th July 2010, 20:08

Ya tooo farking slow man... I already said that in my 1st post, if ya read between the lines LOL didnt want to offend or sound all wanky and rightous, Hitch even said as much in his opening line.

Meh, I don't mind offending - or sounding wanky and righteous.

I'm happy to play Excusebuster.

beyond

27th July 2010, 20:21

Anyone else here getting red repped and abused by our local killjoy and moron Katman?

As soon as someone says anything different to his tirade of do gooding and everyone else is an arsehole attitude, out come the red reps.

Mate, you are one pathetic little individual. Small willy syndrome I think they call it.

I just issued my first red rep in five years. Man it felt good :)

beyond

27th July 2010, 21:25

For those of you who think that things get a little tense when I post and Katman comes along:
I have tried on many occassions to offer the olive branch of peace but it always comes back poisoned with Paraquat, DDT and finished off with a good blast from a flame thrower.

I have in the past, always given him green when he has red repped me and made derogatory comments in the rep stats. He has never met me, never ridden with me inspite of being invited to do so and this time I finally gave him some red. Never done this before in all my time on KB but I'm sick of being put down everytime I post.

We all have the right to post on here without being treated like arseholes.

On with Hitchers post.

Katman

27th July 2010, 21:30

On with Hitchers post.

Indeed.

So who's fault was this accident? :scratch:

toycollector10

27th July 2010, 21:48

If you have an off, it's obviously because you can't anticipate the blah ,blah, blah.....

I saw one of Beyond's videos and it was helmet cam or something or other and he rocks-up into a corner and there's a lot of mud been washed down onto the road. And instantly (I'm in the zone, here) I'm thinking "shit, he's goner" But no.

He rides through it due to his superior Zone Experience.

Or maybe he just got lucky.

The last time I gave it the fang a riding error was pointed out to me (In the nicest possible way) by a co-rider and I took it on board.

So take in on board, Beyond.

Hitcher

27th July 2010, 21:56

So who's fault was this accident?

If Hitcher hadn't been there, he would have avoided the accident.
It Hitcher had chosen a different line or indeed taken his chances with the shit, an accident may have been avoided.
If Hitcher had been travelling at an even more sedate speed he may have had more options available.
If Hitcher had been more aggressive with his braking on an ambiguous road surface, an accident may have been avoided.

There were many variables in play here, some of which were in Hitcher's control. Other riders may have coped impeccably with these. Hitcher didn't. Hitcher is not making excuses.

Katman

27th July 2010, 22:00

Hitcher is not making excuses.

No. Up till now you've just been happy to quietly bathe in the excuses that others have blindly granted you.

A cry for sympathy thread - how typically Kiwibiker.

toycollector10

27th July 2010, 22:01

If Hitcher hadn't been there, he would have avoided the accident.
It Hitcher had chosen a different line or indeed taken his chances with the shit, an accident may have been avoided.
If Hitcher had been travelling at an even more sedate speed he may have had more options available.
If Hitcher had been more aggressive with his braking on an ambiguous road surface, an accident may have been avoided.

There were many variables in play here, some of which were in Hitcher's control. Other riders may have coped impeccably with these. Hitcher didn't. Hitcher is not making excuses.

Hitcher is a realist. A good post.