My second bin in three weeks. [Archive]

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Chisanga

25th February 2007, 17:34

I went down on Twilight Road today, same corner as MR GiJoe but luckily I didn't fly off the cliff.

Cornering at a medium pace on a tight left hander I found a car halfway on my side of the road, now I swear that he actually hit me but no evidence of car damage on my bike. Somehow I went down, I didn't hit the brakes and i'm trying to figure out what happened. Ended up right on the edge of the cliff, another metre and the bike and I would have gone down.

This has really freaked me out, I have considered myself a safe rider and was enjoying a fantstic day with Chickadee, Draco and McJim before this.

I'm not going to do anything rash like selling my bike but having two 'incidents' within a short space of time has me thinking hard.

Damage to the bike seems minimal, big scratch on the tank which sucks and scratches on engine and frame.

Glad to be wearing my new Quasi leathers as I took quite a hard hit on my left elbow and the leather looked after me, just a bit sore from the impact and now I have a nicely scuffed up knee slider too.

And no the car in question did not stop to render assistance, I can't believe he didn't notice me going down so must have scarpered cause he/she knew they were on my side of the road.

Thanks to Chickadee who was with me at the time (Curse of the Scottish Rider's Wife?) and looked after me and gave me an escort back home, sorry that you burnt your hand :(.

Cheers to the old couple who stopped and the old gent I thought was going to have a coronary helping get my bike back onthe road.

More thanks to McJim who bashed my gear shift back into shape and gave the bike the once over again and Draco who offered encouraging words.

Apologies to all drivers from Whitford to Howick who were delayed driving behind me at slow speeds.

And if the two learner bikers who passed me on Twilight are on this forum, please remember a true biker stops or at least checks to see if they can be of any assistance.

I have a lot to think about.

Trudes

25th February 2007, 17:40

Oh man!! Very glad you are ok, sounds like you got a bit lucky really! It's great to hear you had a group of helpful riding buddies to help you back on your way:scooter: . Hang in there buddy.:sunny:

Kam

25th February 2007, 17:41

jtzzr

25th February 2007, 17:43

Sorry to hear mate , F@#K the cage that didn`t stop and the two learners as well for that matter , I hope you are all good and the hornets in not too bad a shape either . Went over Twilight this arvo ,didn`t see any signs of a bin but there were broken branches on one of the left handers going down.

sunhuntin

25th February 2007, 17:49

often not a lot a learner can do to help. were you up and around when they went by, or still hanging off the edge? if i could see you were being attended to, id keep on going. not much point cluttering what [im guessing] seems to a fairly twisty road.

either way, glad things werent too serious. might pay to avoid that road for a while.

Chickadee

25th February 2007, 17:53

Glad you're not selling your bike mate. Hands feeling much better thanks (burnt it on the exhaust trying to help steady the downed blue beast when we were lifting her up). At least it and you didn't end up in the gully - yowza that would of hurt A LOT!

It was a great day and ride - take away the good from today, and remember that at least we had folk stop and help, you're okay and the bikes okay. I was glad to see you riding her home even if slowly. Put it down to experience - shit happens. You were riding well today by the way (until the car on your side of the road nearly collected you on that corner).

Relax and count the lucky stars for guardian angels

Chickadee

25th February 2007, 17:55

yungatart

25th February 2007, 17:58

Sheesh, that's a bit rough mate!
I'm glad you are ok!
Lucky you were with that "scottish" rider and his lovely wife - I think they are very experienced at helping out at bins these days..
Take care and take your time to think, before you make any decisions.

Minnie

25th February 2007, 17:58

Hi Chisanga

sorry to hear you're having such a bad time of late, glad you are ok to tell the tale and you had nice friends to help you out, two bins in such a short space of time will no doubt give you a huge shake up , but hope you keep up the riding, throw us a pm if you wanna head out my way for a practise on some quieter roads........:yes:

MSTRS

25th February 2007, 18:04

Take heart, young fella! You must be a "proper" biker now - obviously your skills allowed you to avoid a much worse fate!

kave

25th February 2007, 18:07

I was the other learner that went past, I was really keen on turning around, but was unwilling to try a u-turn on the twisties with no view of traffic in either direction, plus seeing a large 4wd and two bikes parked up on what seemed to be a very small grass verge I felt that another two bikes would be more of a hinderance than a help. I was still thinking about turning when the ambo went past, and that was the deciding factor for me to continue onwards. Hope all is well for you.

N4CR

25th February 2007, 18:14

i don't know how the **** people crash on that road but yeah if a car is halfway over that might be a 'slight' problem.. it's not the most l friendly road though.

and yeah if i was there and you were being looked after i woulda chased that **** in the car and made him stop.. grrr

Crisis management

25th February 2007, 18:17

Glad your ok Chisanga (and Chickadee). One of the facts of life about motorcycles is they don't do gravity defiance very well......so get used to the concept, but try and avoid it as an option.

Twilight road is tight with variable surfaces and very crowded with bicycles, cars and us. Expect problems.
Maybe keep of it for a while, it can be really nasty?

Your nerves will recover, just take your time and build up your confidence, I still have to after I have "one" of those moments and I've been crashing for 30 years.

Look after yourself!

Gremlin

25th February 2007, 18:20

Cornering at a medium pace on a tight left hander I found a car halfway on my side of the road, now I swear that he actually hit me but no evidence of car damage on my bike. Somehow I went down, I didn't hit the brakes and i'm trying to figure out what happened. Ended up right on the edge of the cliff, another metre and the bike and I would have gone down.
target fixation? no offence, but I think those that consider themselves safe, do ride at a slower speed... nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't give you many oh shit moments, making you exercise your skills.

might want to find a car park, and practise braking while exiting a corner etc, and taking a tighter line, while cornering.

Leong

25th February 2007, 18:27

Mate, thats just bad luck that it's happened within 3 weeks. Twilight is a difficult road because of the blind corners. I suspect you were "surprised" when you saw the car on your side of the road and that was enough to upset your line thru the corner such that you lost control. Easy to do!! Only thing you can do is reduce speed to a slower pace when you have limited visibility around the corner so that you have enough time to react if say there's gravel on the road or a car coming the other way. It may make your riding slower when in a group riding situation especially on a 250, but may save your life. (If and when you get a bigger bike, it will be easier as you can make the time up on the straighter bits.) Save the medium/fast pace for corners where you can see all the way around! Just my 2c....

McJim

25th February 2007, 18:30

I had a fantastic day's ride - we'd come back a different route - if only we'd known you were behind us - I echo what N4CR said - I'd have been after the nutter like a shot.

Glad your bike is still straight - the scrapes are just a bit of street cred eh? ;) one day you'll look as scruffy as me..well maybe not quite that bad :rofl: gimme a shout if you need moral support to get back out there on yer bike.

Donor

25th February 2007, 18:42

Bloody good to hear a bit of scuffage is the worst of it mate.

Don't think this is going to get you out of the inaugural Rosey ride though!

zeocen

25th February 2007, 19:00

Glad to hear you and the bike are still in working order.. don't worry about the scratches, it just means you've become part of the "uh, I was running away from this tiger.." club. :)

I've only done Twilight a few times, the manic drivers on there keep me away now... them combined with blind corners are just not good. Once you get back some confidence and some open twisties you'll get the bug again!:rockon:

Donor

25th February 2007, 19:12

You know, I've never done Twilight on a bike, and to be honest, it scares me in a cage.

I'm gonna spank it tomorrow. Teach it some manners. :spanking:

KLOWN

25th February 2007, 19:13

did you get the rego of the car? make and model? see if you can't track the fucker down and break his legs

Chisanga

25th February 2007, 19:28

did you get the rego of the car? make and model? see if you can't track the fucker down and break his legs

Unfortunately no, about all I saw was that it was yellow or gold and heading for me

M1CRO

25th February 2007, 20:12

...having two 'incidents' within a short space of time has me thinking hard...
Think about what exactly? Need a hand? There are alot of people around who have the experience (and care) :yes:

Chisanga

25th February 2007, 20:17

Think about what exactly? Need a hand? There are alot of people around who have the experience (and care) :yes:

In the 'heat of the moment' I briefly thought about stopping riding, but that is not possible... ina short space of time I found I really enjoy it and met some awesome people.

This sounds obvious... but I don't like crashing and I know it's going to be on my mind for a while now when I go out riding, i'm not from the "10 foot tall and bulletproof" school of bikers... I know it can happen again and i've been lucky not to be more seriously hurt in the bins i've had.

I'm not a crap rider, I think i'm pretty ok for my experience. I'm just shook up after what happened and really don't want to let it happen again.

Rebooking on RRRS might be the first port of call.

I don't know what else i'm just ranting on now :)

Thanks for your kind words... it's appreciated at times like these

zeocen

25th February 2007, 20:22

You've got a handful of people who I bet are more than willing to go out on slow paced rides with you if you need to build your confidence up! I don't mind going for a slow ride and sucking in the scenery, infact.. it's what I mostly do! (Unless I'm trying to not be shown up by a certain ZZR.)

There's no rush, just hop on and enjoy is what I do!

Disco Dan

25th February 2007, 20:24

In the 'heat of the moment'.

I'm just shook up after what happened and really don't want to let it happen again.

That sucks dude, hope you get back on the horse again soon!

M1CRO

25th February 2007, 20:28

I'm not a crap rider, I think i'm pretty ok for my experience. I'm just shook up after what happened and really don't want to let it happen again. Rebooking on RRRS might be the first port of call. I don't know what else i'm just ranting on now :) Thanks for your kind words... it's appreciated at times like these
Stating the obvious - but no-one likes the minties moments.. You know where we are if you need to vent or take some positive action.. RRRS is on 18th Mar :)

Cheers
Chris

McJim

25th February 2007, 20:33

Flick M1CRO a PM - he's the reason I'm a just a shite rider and not a totally completely crap rider.

The most important thing at this stage in your bike skills development is not how you ride normally or how you corner it's how you react when something really out of the ordinary happens. We all need to practice the ol' countersteering swerve, the emergency stop etc.

For example coming out of Kaiaua I had a Ute coming towards me and then perform a right turn across my path when I was a mere handful of metres from him. Nowhere to swerve to coz the vehicle blocked the entire road so had to grab a handful of brake and uttered some famous Scottish phrases. Once I got that off my chest I pootled on my way and forgot about it until I got home. Could have been me writing about binning....

FROSTY

25th February 2007, 20:34

glad you're ok--Um have a lil squizzie at the underside of ya brake lever.-I betcha theres a bit of gold paint on there

Disco Dan

25th February 2007, 20:39

glad you're ok--Um have a lil squizzie at the underside of ya brake lever.-I betcha theres a bit of gold paint on there

...lol, should try riding with piece of coal between your cheeks.... at least your'll have a diamond when you have a 'minty moment'. :dodge:

McJim

25th February 2007, 20:41

...lol, should try riding with piece of coal between your cheeks.... at least your'll have a diamond when you have a 'minty moment'. :dodge:

So that's why there was a funny smell from your fireplace? :sick:

Ixion

25th February 2007, 20:47

,,
This sounds obvious... but I don't like crashing and I know it's going to be on my mind for a while now when I go out riding, i'm not from the "10 foot tall and bulletproof" school of bikers... I know it can happen again and i've been lucky not to be more seriously hurt in the bins i've had.

Well done, and welcome. You have just graduated to the world of genuine bikers. And I confidently predict that you will be one of the few still riding in 20 years time.

You have learned the most fundamental lesson there is in motorcycling.

A bit of a shake up and a few scratchs on the bike is a small price to pay for insight that will quite certainly save your life in years to come.

Now, get back on the bike, and ride through that corner again. And again . And again. Until you sneer at that corner.

gijoe1313

25th February 2007, 22:36

Well done, and welcome. You have just graduated to the world of genuine bikers. And I confidently predict that you will be one of the few still riding in 20 years time.

You have learned the most fundamental lesson there is in motorcycling.

A bit of a shake up and a few scratchs on the bike is a small price to pay for insight that will quite certainly save your life in years to come.

Now, get back on the bike, and ride through that corner again. And again . And again. Until you sneer at that corner.

Now that's some great advice :yes: I did exactly that when I biffed my bike over a bank :innocent: And have done it again and again and again. I don't sneer at the corner though :sweatdrop karmic backwash and all!

Glad to hear you are okay and that you have had some time out to reflect and think about the sequence of events and all!

avgas

25th February 2007, 23:02

that sucks mate. hope the bike and you heal quick

McJim

27th February 2007, 19:52

Now that's some great advice :yes: I did exactly that when I biffed my bike over a bank :innocent: And have done it again and again and again. I don't sneer at the corner though :sweatdrop karmic backwash and all!

Glad to hear you are okay and that you have had some time out to reflect and think about the sequence of events and all!

The irony is that we're talking about the same corner here - only Chisanga didn't quite make it as far as the Ponga you got wedged in :rofl:

Maha

27th February 2007, 20:05

Hey dude

Sorry to hear about the bin, I was one of the 2 learners who went past.

To be completely honest, the two of us were having a nice easy mosey up the now legendary Twlight rd to see what the fuss was all about, and almost flew off on the exact same corner!

We were both a bit shellshocked and contemplating turning back around when the ambulance flew past.

Apologies from the both of us, the L plates are there for a reason :bye:

I was the other learner that went past, I was really keen on turning around, but was unwilling to try a u-turn on the twisties with no view of traffic in either direction, plus seeing a large 4wd and two bikes parked up on what seemed to be a very small grass verge I felt that another two bikes would be more of a hinderance than a help. I was still thinking about turning when the ambo went past, and that was the deciding factor for me to continue onwards. Hope all is well for you.

Good on you guys for sticking ya hand up. Takes a mature mind to own something after a wee bit of a bagging....no harm and all is good. Clear explanation on the reason why you didnt stop, 10/10 guys *bling* to you both

skidMark

27th February 2007, 20:27

I I echo what N4CR said - I'd have been after the nutter like a shot.

the difference is n4cr would have caught up :dodge: hehe only joking mate..

gijoe1313

27th February 2007, 21:21

The irony is that we're talking about the same corner here - only Chisanga didn't quite make it as far as the Ponga you got wedged in :rofl:

That's cause Chisanga isn't a plonker-gittus-maximus like me! :o He had a better reason than me ... I did a total no-brainer and ended up trying to plant Hondaberries and taking impromptu flying lessons all in one! :doh:

Poor little ol'Hornet, has a plonker for an owner .. :sick: :shutup: :love: :innocent: :rockon: