Blairos
23rd February 2007, 07:36
The sad news here, is that yesterday I binned my nice new Bandit...
The good news is I am OK - just a few bumps & bruises and a bloody sore rib.
The scene was this - Blairos coming around corner towards a one-lane bridge about 10K north of Makarora (sp?) - was a little too hot entering and got presented with a camper-van coming off the bridge.
I had 2 choices, either do a nice impersonation of a bumble-bee on the front of the camper van, or take the side of the road.
Speed was washing off but then i got into the loose chip on the side, and bang, front wheel went out from under me, and i slid for about 10 feet.
Thankfully the riding gear pretty much did its job, I made sure I was OK, stood up and the campervan guy came over to make sure I was alright.
I picked the bike up, and re-started it - then looked at what was broken..
Broken Clutch lever
Fairing all cracked/scratched
Broken gear shifter
Scuffed front guard
amongst the other things....
The bike is still rideable, its more cosmetic than mechanical.
Terbang and our mate Shane soon arrived - Terbang rode it thru to Makarora for me, and a good chap from the local Scenic flight outfit drove me there in his car.
After some makeshift repairs to the gear-change, and some duct-tape to hold the fairing nice and still, the trip will continue, and I will sort out the repairs when I get home next week.
The lesson I learnt?
Always expect the unexpected - this one was my fault completely due to being a little too fast, but it could have been worse...
Cheers
The good news is I am OK - just a few bumps & bruises and a bloody sore rib.
The scene was this - Blairos coming around corner towards a one-lane bridge about 10K north of Makarora (sp?) - was a little too hot entering and got presented with a camper-van coming off the bridge.
I had 2 choices, either do a nice impersonation of a bumble-bee on the front of the camper van, or take the side of the road.
Speed was washing off but then i got into the loose chip on the side, and bang, front wheel went out from under me, and i slid for about 10 feet.
Thankfully the riding gear pretty much did its job, I made sure I was OK, stood up and the campervan guy came over to make sure I was alright.
I picked the bike up, and re-started it - then looked at what was broken..
Broken Clutch lever
Fairing all cracked/scratched
Broken gear shifter
Scuffed front guard
amongst the other things....
The bike is still rideable, its more cosmetic than mechanical.
Terbang and our mate Shane soon arrived - Terbang rode it thru to Makarora for me, and a good chap from the local Scenic flight outfit drove me there in his car.
After some makeshift repairs to the gear-change, and some duct-tape to hold the fairing nice and still, the trip will continue, and I will sort out the repairs when I get home next week.
The lesson I learnt?
Always expect the unexpected - this one was my fault completely due to being a little too fast, but it could have been worse...
Cheers