My first drop - already

[Sphinx]

Hi there

I bought a beautiful Honda VTR250 (year 2005) 2,5 weeks ago and certainly still very proud of it! As far as the weather is not to windy or wet I certainly use every second to go for a ride and have already 450 kms on it :yes:
Anyway I had a beautiful ride on Saturday - the first time on the motorway as well and I was happy as.....
And then we (I rode with another KB member) rode of the motorway into the turn right - line and then it happend: I started to lean with black beauty in the corne and leaned and leaned and leand till I kissed the ground! And I certainly knew that it would gonna happen in one stage but not after 2,5 weeks! And guess what I did (this is actually very emberassing for me already!) but I HAD THE NEUTRAL GEAR in when I wanted to turn right. :gob:
I mean how stupid does someone has to be to do that!?? I was convinced that I the right gear in it but that was obviously not the case grrrrrh! And I was sooo angry with myself I mean I would have understand it if I had dropped it during I rode or anything else but not like that!!!!!!!
And then I wasn´t even able to pick him up! But the car drivers were really nice, stopped ask whether I was fine and offered me to pick it up (thank god J did that for me). His (my motorbike is still a he ;-) muffler is a bit scratched but nothing else really happened. I am so lucky that he has these protection things on the side by the engine so there was no damage. I was the whole weekend quite annoyed but certainly didn´t stopped me from keep on riding :love:
But till that stage I had an amazing ride with heaps of big nice corners and it was just beautiful!!!
Oh and something else important: does anyone know where in Wellington are KB´s meetings are? If so I would love to go to them and it would be very nice if anyone could give me some information about it.

Thanks a lot :done:

[skelstar]

That sucks girl...well the first drop had to happen at some stage...dont let it deter you eh?

[toymachine]

Atleast it wasn't a real major for your first, annoying maybe, but hey...

I'm still yet to have mine...not looking forward to it. :dodge:

[lukelin250]

sorry to hear that but your a good lil battler for not letting it put you off. can you give me some info on those things that stopd your bike from getting damaged they sound good and might be worth my while chucking some on my bike. :rockon:

[MyGSXF]

Hi sweets..

Bugger bout your off girl!!! :thud: check out my link below.. & if it sounds good.. DO IT!!! :Punk: I couldn't recommend it highly enough!!!!!!


http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=38041


Jen :rockon:

[WarlockNZ]

I think the lesson here is ride to your abilities, we all like to chase the better riders, but the fact remains .. they can ride better then we can!.

Get to know your bike and take it easy until you do, once your know you bike and get a “feel” for what you can and can’t do on it .. then you’ll be ready to push your abilities and improve your skills.

That being said … sorry to hear you dropped it, but I’m glad to hear it hasn’t put you off riding … welcome to the wonderful world of two wheels of freedom.

[Shadows]

Check out the thread entitled TCWNR for a local ride.

[slimjim]

bugger, yea lesson's are found out the easy way, greater you're alright and bike is too,

[hellnback]

I wouldn't call it an 'off' exactly, more of a slight mishap!! Glad to hear the damage was minimal.
Can be quite frightening when you go to get on the throttle only to find there's no forward movment and the sudden rev of the engines gets the attention of everyone around.... bugger!

[Meekey_Mouse]

Hey,

Glad to hear you and Black Beauty weren't hurt :yes: This is quite a handy link...apparently it's a really good technique for picking your bike up, although I haven't had a chance to try it. I didn't know it when I dropped my bike.. would of saved a bit of trouble though :D http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html

Jas

[Ghost Lemur]

Don't beat yourself up too much Sphinx. We all learn through trial and error.

Count yourself lucky. Imagine the repair costs from your minor off if you'd had a fully faired bike.

As for the Welly Crew, pretty sure they still meet up Thursday evenings. Not sure where, but it's been posted about lots.

[Bend-it]

Hey Sphinx,

Good on ya for keeping going! My first bin was when someone cut me off and I jumped on the brakes and binned it. Now I know it's coz I didn't use the rear brakes at all, so the rear came around and threw me off...

Learn from it and improve! Go along to the TCWNR, great people and great ride... You can do it at your own pace as well...

[Bend-it]

Hey,
http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html

Jas

That's interesting... but the wide boxer engine of the bmw means the seat is still angled quite high up even when it's on its side. This might not be the case for other bikes, and if the seat's right next to the ground, how would you get your butt there to push it up?

[Ixion]

Squat down, with your back to the bike

That site actually shows a method that is non optimal. The chick is using her back to do the lifting, a good way to stuff your back up for the rest of your life.

When lifting a bike (or anything else) *don't* use your back. Squat , and use the strong muscles of your legs and thighs. Easier, and you don't risk stuffing up your spine.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I think the lesson here is ride to your abilities, we all like to chase the better riders, but the fact remains .. they can ride better then we can!.

.

I don't think hooking a false neutral (or for that matter neutral) would imply she's riding 'outside her abilities', nor 'chasing better riders'.

Even Chris Vermulen ended up in the gravel and on his head last Moto GP race when he hooked a false neutral.

[The Big J]

sorry to hear that but your a good lil battler for not letting it put you off. can you give me some info on those things that stopd your bike from getting damaged they sound good and might be worth my while chucking some on my bike. :rockon:

Crash Bungs

I'm not sure if Wgtn motorcycles fitted them or they were on the bike but they were a VERY intelligent addition. the bike has a scratched muffler and lost the hero knob out of the peg.

Edit: point being no unsightly paintwork scratches - protects engine

[gijoe1313]

Ahh well, at least you're okay and your bike is in riding condition! All good I say - sounds like you've reflected over the salient points and know what you did, all good!

Glad to hear you are still keen on riding and enjoying the taste of two wheels of freedom!

Btw, I binned on my 2nd day of riding at nana speeds! :innocent: Now you've got it out of your system, never have to worry about it again (much!) On ya!:rockon: :scooter:

[The Big J]

Just to comment in Steffi's defence here that she was saved from anything nasty happening BECAUSE she was taking it easy. I have changed to neutral several times and probably mmm 3 times, have only saved a fall by upper body strength. When you're off balance by something happening like that, I guess it's just a nasty way to learn how things go.

her attitude was great. thoroughly pissed off but after sitting down for 5 minutes, rode gently back into town.

I felt really bad. First time i've seen someone fall over who wasn't me!

[skelstar]

Well good on ya Steffi.
I only seem to find false neutrals when Im in the middle of dodgy passing manouvres...not cool. :)

[Drum]

...I only seem to find false neutrals when Im in the middle of dodgy passing manouvres...

For me its normally when a whole lot of girls are watching.......doh

[Ghost Lemur]

Squat down, with your back to the bike

That site actually shows a method that is non optimal. The chick is using her back to do the lifting, a good way to stuff your back up for the rest of your life.

When lifting a bike (or anything else) *don't* use your back. Squat , and use the strong muscles of your legs and thighs. Easier, and you don't risk stuffing up your spine.

What he said.

Also do some practice in the backyard on the grass. Lay it down, pick it up.

I'm a small week girly type guy and once you get the technique right (which I'm still working on) it's amazing how easy it can be (supposedly).

[lukelin250]

theres a thread on here somewhere that shows lots of easy manouvres for picking up a bike. even had photos of a small lady picking up some massive touring bike,so anythings possible.

[Grantasaurus]

At least it wasn't a write off like my poor ZZR. Doesn't take much, my crash was only at like 35-40ks...
Pity about the horse truck coming the other way.... that pretty much munted the bike.
Damn patch of oil or diesel on the road making me lowside it :(

[Sphinx]

Hi guys thanks a lot for your nice comments - I really appreciate that! Oh there is no way that this little stupid incident put me off from riding/ learning. How I said it before I knew it gonna to happen one day anyway and there is no point to be stressed out because that doesnt change anything. And how you guys said before you learn from your mistakes. And I won´t drive and lean again with black beauty without any gear - rides better with a gear :-) and I was never a fan from kissing the ground so THAT mistake will hopefully not happen again...
Well I went for a ride today because I didn´t ride since SATURDAY as the weahter was so bad. I really LOVE Wellington but man the wind sometims annoys me quite a lot! Special today. I rode along the coast and it was SO windy that I had to stop two times. It was even to strong (the wind) when I speeded up it just didnt work out for me. Still bugs me a bit because that just makes me to a better rider after a whil. But I gave certainly not up to ride in the windy wind and managed it without drop him again :yes:
I spoke already with Crasherfromwayback and he will show me the technice how to pick it up! That will be great (not that I planto drop it again :innocent: ) and necessary for me as well!
Wow it´s really interesting to read what you all have gone thru already! And thanks a lot for the "how to pick my bike up" and the recommedation about the test with Andrew and Lynn!

Well black beauty was an import from Japan and as far as I know were these protection things already there! Pete, please how do you call these good protection things on the side??
So I will practice very soon (in the grass where its really soft for black beauty) how to pick him up and I will let you know how I am going with it.
Oh well my dears I hope you didn´t fell in a sleep after reading my "quick text" :zzzz:
I will talk to you very soon and oh yeah: Thanks for the tip that the "KB catch up" is Thrusdays I will try to find more out so I can go to them!!! :Punk:

[Static]

full credit for taking it soo well and ur lucky for not gettin hurt. my first bin happened in the first week if me ownin my bike i emergency braked to avoid a car that pulled out 5m infront of me nd the bike stoped way faster than i expected and went through the windscreen nd over the handel bars, nice brused ribs nd the stupid car dident even stop. put me off ridin for a week

[Crasherfromwayback]

I spoke already with Crasherfromwayback and he will show me the technice how to pick it up! That will be great (not that I planto drop it again :innocent: ) and necessary for me as well!


Pete, please how do you call these good protection things on the side??


And God knows I've had more practice than most!!

Crash Bungs

[dickytoo]

And God knows I've had more practice than most!!

Crash Bungs


that's true, I've seen quite a few of his early ones!:clap: :rofl:

Can i borrow your training wheels, it seems like anthony could use them!

[McJim]

I've got a 2003 VTR250 - it has no crash bungs and has been dropped at low speed too - nice Celtic Runes inscribed along the exhaust but didn't suffer any damage to the paintwork, frame or engine at all. Don't know how necessary crash bungs really are on a naked bike.

Neutral instead of 2nd - easily done - you'll get to the point that you instinctively know there's no power on tap and will automatically flick your left foot into a gear to hold the bike up.

I will need to learn bike lifting technique for the day when I have a bigger bike. At the moment I just haul the VTR up one handed - the benefit of being a big bloke on a small bike eh?

[skelstar]

I droped my bike at 0km/h on my second day of ownership. The *very* slight scratches on the crankcase made a very good argument for crash bungs.

[Crasherfromwayback]

that's true, I've seen quite a few of his early ones!:clap: :rofl:

Can i borrow your training wheels, it seems like anthony could use them!

The only difference between the early ones you saw, and the ones I've had lately are I don't bounce as nicely as I used to.

Mate...if I had training wheels I'd not be falling off as reg as I do.

[dickytoo]

The only difference between the early ones you saw, and the ones I've had lately are I don't bounce as nicely as I used to.

Mate...if I had training wheels I'd not be falling off as reg as I do.

bloody anthony had a lowside at taupo. almost no damage at all except scratches and then he drops the bike putting on the front stand and smashes the screen! can you give him some lessons on how to use the front stand? pictures would be most helpful as well.:laugh:

[saul]

That is a bummer S

Glad to hear that there are a few of the lads down there willing to help you out lol:scooter: :yes:

[Sphinx]

Hi Saul my dear how are you? Havent heard from you since ages!!! How is "frog" ? :-)
Don´t tell it Sue otherwise she could tell it by two bosses and the will get very grumpy: They try already to put me off my bike (doesn´t work certainly lol). I hope that I can come soon up agaiin - don´t you have a bit work going on for me:-)

Crasherfromwayback thats true - I am sure that you could teach me heaps of things! I will come soon into your shop anyway

[saul]

Hi Saul my dear how are you? Havent heard from you since ages!!! How is "frog" ? :-)
Don´t tell it Sue otherwise she could tell it by two bosses and the will get very grumpy: They try already to put me off my bike (doesn´t work certainly lol). I hope that I can come soon up agaiin - don´t you have a bit work going on for me:-)

Crasherfromwayback thats true - I am sure that you could teach me heaps of things! I will come soon into your shop anyway

You cheeky minx lol errr spinx:yes: She is not called frog:innocent:

Don't worry that sort of news is for you to tell.:yes:

I am sure there is lot of things you can work on up our way.

Have a great weekend:scooter:

[diggydog]

well that sucks something as simple as not being in gear, i can under stand being annoyed, espeacilly when you've only had her for a few weeks.:rockon: :scooter:

[vamr]

Haven't had any bins yet, only a couple "oh shit..." moments. One was stupidly dropping the clutch at a corner causing the back to slide a bit. Instinctive counterstreer saved me there...phew.

[Leaf]

I droped my bike at 0km/h on my second day of ownership. The *very* slight scratches on the crankcase made a very good argument for crash bungs.

I did the exact same, trying to move it backwards out of the garage (which has a downwards incline)...wasnt too impressed with myself thats for sure!

btw first post for me :)

[The Big J]

Haven't had any bins yet, only a couple "oh shit..." moments. One was stupidly dropping the clutch at a corner causing the back to slide a bit. Instinctive counterstreer saved me there...phew.

I have had several 'oh shit' moments. Learning in Wgtn in Winter (or right now for that matter) steady rain and strategically placed manhole covers on blind corners always makes things interesting. Amazing how quickly you adjust to dodging them!

[Terminated]

btw first post for me :)

Welcome Leaf to KB

Sphinx, admire your attitude to your first 'off'. As a newbie these past six months I quickly discovered it is an easy trap to follow another rider before you have built up your skills. I was 'target fixating' on the number plate of the bike in front of me [read brother in law] it was my first day out and though in the quiet streets of Stokes Valley I rounded the corner and wound up on the opposite side of the road....there for the grace...no traffic was coming.

Here is the newbie training log I kept:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=30010

Focus on a few key things each time you go out for a ride by yourself and when you feel comfortable to join in with another rider, read mentor, you will gain a lot of good feedback.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[lukelin250]

yeah if your following fixatedly on someone and following too close ,,if they crash your gonnna crash,,oops, where you they go you go...