You've gotta be shitting me... again!

[kneescraper]

Well off to work I go, happy as larry with a short leg.

The son waves good bye as a putt putt out onto the main road, I bring on a little throttle. Bikes doing around 3,000rpm and then all I hear is sliding metal and plastics. Before I get up, my heart sinks and I a tear drops from my eye., its happened again.

I get the bike up and push it back over the road to my house, sons in tears...he doesnt know what to think and my wife is running to me with a shock horror look on her face. I check over the bike, lucky I had the fairings off, some marks on the engine casing and a broke front brake lever.

What Ive learnt from this is how even the smallest fall can affect your family, I was going slow but still fast enough to fuck my knee up..but still the look on my sons face was enough to break the hardest mans heart.

Reason for the slide; brand new rear tyre, still had the grease and shit on it.

2 drops in 2 months, its tough on the ego to say the least!

[NZsarge]

That rough man! sorry to hear 'bout that. Was it wet? As you said lucky I guess the you did'nt have your fairings on.

[NZsarge]

It's also bad news you youngin' had to see that, poor fella.

[BarBender]

It's also bad news you youngin' had to see that, poor fella.

Thats it right there.
You may need to do some work on that.

Hows the wife taking it??

[Chickadee]

Don't feel jinxed, I had 3 things happen to me in a short space of time, you get over it with time. Sorry to hear you buggered your knee and family were watching and of course upset, no one likes to see family, let alone anyone on a bike hitting the deck.

May the rest of your riding be uneventful!

[yungatart]

Beware the new rubber!
I'm sure you have learned your lesson on that one.
Tis tough when your family see you drop it, I felt really bad when hXc and Mstrs saw me go down...I was more concerned about them, than my own broken bones.
Ride safe, dude!

[kneescraper]

It wasnt wet...

Yeah Im going to sit down with the young one tonight and have a good talk, he saw it all happen, he watches me everytime I leave so it would have came as a real suprise to him

He loves bikes more than I do so I really hope this doesnt put a damper on this.

I feel like shit, its smacked my confidence in riding back big time.
Live and learn I spose.

[007XX]

It wasnt wet...

Yeah Im going to sit down with the young one tonight and have a good talk, he saw it all happen, he watches me everytime I leave so it would have came as a real suprise to him

He loves bikes more than I do so I really hope this doesnt put a damper on this.

I feel like shit, its smacked my confidence in riding back big time.
Live and learn I spose.


Man, I'm really sorry to hear your trouble.

My son is the same as yours (albeit a bit older), but at the end of the day, they are surprisingly resilient to ups and downs....More than we adults!
Just explain to him that falling is part of the learning process and make sure you appear very calm about it. He will be accepting of it as long as he feels that you are.
He will very likely bring the subject back from time to time
but just to get further reassurance, so be free and honnest about the whole : "it's ok, it happens, but I am ok now" discussion.
Far too often nowadays, our children are too protected from seeing the consequences of taking risks, and therefor don't know what to expect....and fear the unexpected!

Take comfort in knowing that you are showing your son NOT to be afraid to get back on that bike and it will motivate you to get back in...

At the end of the day, fear is healthy...it keeps you alive!
Just don't let it rule you or stop you from living!

Hope I helped with my ranting....and that you don't forgo riding because of a couple of bad moments.

All the best!

[kneescraper]

Thanks so much 007XX, your so right and has given me ideas on how to deal with it. Your suggestions make alot of sense, I didnt think about the points you have bought up.

I want him to feel ok when I leave the house to ride to work as biking is such a big passion of mine and his. But with the PC world we live in I just thought it was best to protect him from seeing what happens when things go wrong. Your post, 007XX has make me think more about this subject.

Cheers guys!

[Macktheknife]

I

I feel like shit, its smacked my confidence in riding back big time.
Live and learn I spose.

Ummmmm really?
You have lost confidence because of making a mistake most riders make at least once?
Maybe you are being a bit hard on yourself; you screwed up, it happens. Sometimes it happens a lot, but the only way you can take this kind of experience is to look at it, analyse what you did wrong and how to fix it for next time.
Doing this process in front of your family shows them how to deal with their own mistakes and experiences that don't go to plan and empowers all concerned. It lets them know that you do not expect perfection in anyone including yourself, and that you can take the knocks and not lose your courage.
It also gives kids in particular a really good model for learning and dealing with shit when it (inevitably) comes their way.
Good luck and sorry to hear about the spill.

[kneescraper]

I delt with the fall real bad, I swore and got angry at the bike and my self in font on my son. This is the bit that I am pissed off at my self about.

I did think the tyre would be slick-ish but never thought it would be enough to slide out and cause damage.

Thanks so much for the positive feedback, one needs peoples thoughts when when one goes through their first few drops.

Cheers guys and gals..

[007XX]

Thanks so much 007XX, your so right and has given me ideas on how to deal with it. Your suggestions make alot of sense, I didnt think about the points you have bought up.

I want him to feel ok when I leave the house to ride to work as biking is such a big passion of mine and his. But with the PC world we live in I just thought it was best to protect him from seeing what happens when things go wrong. Your post, 007XX has make me think more about this subject.

Cheers guys!

You're very welcome, anytime mate.

[Trudes]

Geeze that's some bad luck!! Glad you're all relatively ok though!:scooter:

[F5 Dave]

I always clean off a new tyre, some are slicker than others from the mould release compound, maybe some clean their tyres first, but the slicker ones look better on the shelf.

Light wipe of brake clean or meths will take off slippery stuff (don't go silly with the stuff or some of the crazies will post how it will make your tyres vaporise & cause 3rd WWar). Then I use a cheapo sander to dress off the tyre. Makes the tyre bed in quicker.

Maybe I'm paranoid, but I hate that new tyre feel until bedded in. . . Except in the dirt, new tyres every time would be heaven.

[marty]

my first experience with a new tyre was a front one, on a busa that i was taking for a test ride from a bike shop.

they were brave :)

[Brian d marge]

what am I doing wrong then

My son sees me fall off and shouts " daddy did oh nooo " the wife check s , then returns to what ever she is doing !

Stephen

[The Stranger]

I have had 14 different rear tyres in the last 20 months, 13 of which presented no problems. With one I had a very similar problem. It really was one out of the box.
As mac says, it happens to us all.

As a matter of interest what tyre was it?

[kneescraper]

Yeah Im heading home after work to get some light sandpaper and scuff it up. The thought of it giving out at a higher speed gives me the hebbie jebbies, whats the proper way of beeding in a new tyre BTW...just clean it and give it a scuff up then ride or are there better ways?

The tyre is of Maxxis brand...dont know what model of Maxxis!

[avgas]

Sounds like the crash has actually done you a little good.
Need to take it easy man. A bike will tell you if you are being over-confident or cocky.....well before you think you are.
Us guys have a horrible concept - the whole "She'll be right".
It doesn't apply with bike boss - I just about slid both me and the missus once under a bus, dropped it at about 10Kph.
Scared the shit out of me. But reminded me of one matrix thought:
"Do you think there is grip on that tarseal?"

[The Stranger]

Yeah Im heading home after work to get some light sandpaper and scuff it up. The thought of it giving out at a higher speed gives me the hebbie jebbies, whats the proper way of beeding in a new tyre BTW...just clean it and give it a scuff up then ride or are there better ways?

The tyre is of Maxxis brand...dont know what model of Maxxis!

I have no idea how best to scrub in a new tyre.
I now head for the nearest rough chip seal and just take it easy from side to side - do a few runs progressively faster. I figure the rough chips will pierce the release agent and give you near as damit consistent grip from new.

Were you on rough or smooth seal when you binned?

The tyre I binned on was an Metzeler, but it had been sitting around for a while and I suspect that was a contributing factor.

[kneescraper]

It has taught me so much more, it taught be stuff I didnt even think to think.

Its all about learning and this has taught me about motorcycle maintance and how to treat new tyres etc.

Im dreading tonight, Im not good at these father to son, life talks. It needs to be done...thanks for all the kind words...however if any of you have ideas on talking with kids about these things..please voice them.

[SARGE]

every time you start that engine. you search your memory banks and bring up the look on your kids face when he saw you go down..

then go for your ride ..

[ManDownUnder]

Man - just be honest about it with your son.

You feel bad you fell off, and you'll try your hardest to not do it again. You know it worries him that you ride - and you you don't like coming off either. Arrange to ring him when you get to work or wherever so he gets to learn that you made it, instead of only ever heariong when you didn't.

Tell him you're improving and working on it. You're practicing...

Re scrubbing tyres... I have no idea - I just ride carefully till the shine's well and truley gone off them

[kneescraper]

every time you start that engine. you search your memory banks and bring up the look on your kids face when he saw you go down..

then go for your ride ..

Gezzz, I wouldnt go for a ride if I did that, I see your point thought Sarge..good way for one to slow down and think about how Im riding etc.

:)

[The Stranger]

Man - just be honest about it with your son.

You feel bad you fell off, and you'll try your hardest to not do it again. You know it worries him that you ride - and you you don't like coming off either.

Arrange to ring him when you get to work or wherever so he gets to learn that you made it, instead of only ever heariong when you didn't.

Tell him you're improving and working on it. You're practicing...


I was just going to suggest going with "everyone dies, HTFU"

[Maha]

HTFU"


Hairy Tight Firm Underwear??

[ManDownUnder]

Hairy Tight Firm Underwear??
Hairy tights for underwear (it's an excess of pubes and lack of undergarment that combines for a special thrill)

[nudemetalz]

Ah ya poor bugger. New tyre with glossy finsh can be deadly.
The RF will soon be a naked bike at the rate ya going ;)

[FROSTY]

Bedding in tyres is easy nowadays--BUT sounds like you have one of those korean plastic tyres. Might pay ya to do a lil gravel burnout
Literaly find a lil bit of gravel/sand/dirt at the roadside and light up the back end. Itll scuff all that release stuff for ya pretty quick.

[Maha]

Hairy tights for underwear (it's an excess of pubes and lack of undergarment that combines for a special thrill)

I like a Man who likes the way it feels....DownUnder...:innocent:

[kneescraper]

Bedding in tyres is easy nowadays--BUT sounds like you have one of those korean plastic tyres. Might pay ya to do a lil gravel burnout
Literaly find a lil bit of gravel/sand/dirt at the roadside and light up the back end. Itll scuff all that release stuff for ya pretty quick.

I always thought Maxxis was a good brand, they make awesome offroad tyres so Ive read..:)

I have no problem with doing a gravel burnout...hehehe great fun! Its now rainning so I have to ride home with a slick rear and wet roads...errrr.

[NighthawkNZ]

Reason for the slide; brand new rear tyre, still had the grease and shit on it.


New rubber and cold tyres... cold dampish morning not a good mix...

I usually like to get 20 odd kms on a new tyre before I will start trusting it and doing the hard corning... (and the on a nice day)

[scorpious]

Don't feel jinxed, I had 3 things happen to me in a short space of time, you get over it with time.



On the topic on jinxed, My friend has had 11 punchers in 2 months. Every time a nail in the wheel. Im starting to think someones got it in for her lol

[NighthawkNZ]

On the topic on jinxed, My friend has had 11 punchers in 2 months. Every time a nail in the wheel. Im starting to think someones got it in for her lol

dang... I would start thinking that too... :scratch:

[Bass]

I always clean off a new tyre, some are slicker than others from the mould release compound, maybe some clean their tyres first, but the slicker ones look better on the shelf.

Light wipe of brake clean or meths will take off slippery stuff (don't go silly with the stuff or some of the crazies will post how it will make your tyres vaporise & cause 3rd WWar). Then I use a cheapo sander to dress off the tyre. Makes the tyre bed in quicker.
.

I have had reasonable success by cleaning the tyre with laquer thinners until the rag comes away clean.
It's not that great for the tyre - mostly acetone - but it evaporates so quickly that any harm done is minimal.
However, it is an improvement but not a cure.
The mould release agent actually penetrates the rubber to a slight degree and the only way to drive it out is to get the tyre properly warmed up.
So clean the tyre by all means - you WILL get rid of most of the problem - but still treat it with respect for a while.
I have tried sanding it as well but have never detected any difference from just a clean.
Using this method, I have never had a pucker moment with a new tyre.

[SARGE]

I always thought Maxxis was a good brand, they make awesome offroad tyres so Ive read..:)

I have no problem with doing a gravel burnout...hehehe great fun! Its now rainning so I have to ride home with a slick rear and wet roads...errrr.

get yourself a set of these and go the outrigger!!!

[pritch]

Somewhat over three years ago I was cycling home and was passed by a Blackbird pulling out of the dealer. First corner he came to he was being soooo careful, I thought I'd be pedalling around there faster than him. When I got there he was sitting in the roadway with the Blackbird lying beside him...

Yup, he had just had new tyres fitted.

When I got my Hornet it was probably about three months before I would even go that route. I do it daily now but I do it on tip toe so to speak... And I'm really carefull on new tyres. Scared careful!

[kneescraper]

WOW I didnt even stop to think a new tyre would cause such trouble...of course this is how we all learn. Im so grateful Ive learnt this on a cheap-ish bike and not on a new one..

Dropping a blackbird ehhhh that would hurt...

[ManDownUnder]

oooooo yes!

I dare say more than one new bike has met an untimely end as it rode out of the shop on new tyres. One of our own did just that if I recall rightly... leaving Colemans on a new GSXR1000.... power down, traction gone and nice new paintwork got liberally rubbed along the tarmac.

Not good for the bank account or the ego...


WOW I didnt even stop to think a new tyre would cause such trouble...of course this is how we all learn. Im so grateful Ive learnt this on a cheap-ish bike and not on a new one..

Dropping a blackbird ehhhh that would hurt...

[SARGE]

Somewhat over three years ago I was cycling home and was passed by a Blackbird pulling out of the dealer. First corner he came to he was being soooo careful, I thought I'd be pedalling around there faster than him. When I got there he was sitting in the roadway with the Blackbird lying beside him...

Yup, he had just had new tyres fitted.

When I got my Hornet it was probably about three months before I would even go that route. I do it daily now but I do it on tip toe so to speak... And I'm really carefull on new tyres. Scared careful!

i sold a brand new " Busa at Colemans.. the pretty black and purple one

it was raining slightly when the owner came to pick it up andd he had decided to forgo the insurance i had offed him because he paid cash


they had recently painted a new yellow line down the street in front of the shop...

wasnt pretty..$6000 damage .. 4 metres off the showroom floor

edit .. there seems to be a trend from leaving Colemans bwahahahah

[Skyryder]

Not much I can say that has not been said. But just a couple of tricks from an oldie. I always run new treads down a lower pressure than reccommended. Not much just a couple notched down. Just gives a little more grip on the road. Do much the same winter riding. Just down a tack or two. Used to be a common trick when I first started riding years back.

Don't hear much about this now days. Everything is so technical and perfect.

Skyryder

[gijoe1313]

Ahh sorry to hear about that Kneescraper - just to commiserate with you, I decided to chuck my bike off a corner and graze my knee to appreciate how you feel! :o :doh: :eek5:

Actually we never plan our rides and think "looks like a good day for a bin/low-side/high-side/accident" :no: We accept the risk, plan for it by always maintaining our vigilance and ATGATT, etc. al - and still we end up on our arse!

I know you'll do the right thing by having the proper talk and attitude towards it - live and let learn right? Just make sure he sees you learning, appreciating and getting on with what you enjoy doing! :yes:

[kneescraper]

Hey guys and gals,

Well I had a sit down talk with the young one, he wanted a big long hug and he understood everything I said which was awesome. He understood that its just a part of biking and it will happen. Things are much better at home now, I shall see how things go when I leave for work tomorrow.

I bet there are some real funny (now, not when it happened) storys involving new tyres and bikes...:)

Best thing thats gona come out of this is a full body massage from the wife...ca ching!

[kneescraper]

Wheres the bling then Joe? hehehe

Yeah cant wait for the rub down...ohhhh lala.. my leg aint gona be the only think thats going to be stiff tonight. No matter how good its going to be, I never want to drop my poor Riffer again. It needs a cuddle and a kiss...poor little thing. Dam Coden does strange things to me!

[xgnr]

Ya gotta hate new tyres... They are an arse. Guys at the bike shop were at at pains advising to take super-dooper care for the first 100km or so.

Few months ago picked up a fellow biker that had run outa gas (poor bastard pushing this gxs in the damn heat ) just south of Dorkland. Gave him a ride to a petrol station and I know he thought I was being a nana rider UNTIL we had a we had a wee slip slide due to the very new tire on some shiny fukin tar .:gob:

Explained the 50km tire and he understood very well what the deal was and we both cursed the rubber gods :yes:

All safe and sound but don't trust that tire 100% (esp in the wet with shiny melted tar):nono:

[McJim]

Whenever I've had new tyres the fellas fitting them have always stressed how dodgy tyres are until they're scrubbed in. They are full of anecdotal stories of how many people have binned their bike within sight of the shop.

I like the idea of dropping a psi or two as well - that sounds logical to me. Might try that next time.

[Joni]

Kneescraper - I have removed all posts not related to your thread.

Sorry to hear about you dropping the bike... again... :innocent:

Be safe.

[kneescraper]

hehehe all good Joni, life rides on.

[inlinefour]

Kneescraper - I have removed all posts not related to your thread.

Sorry to hear about you dropping the bike... again... :innocent:

Be safe.

Who is to decide what is related? All I'm doing is relating my experience to Kneescraper's. really whats the point??? :shutup: So back onto the topic it goes (whatever that means), sorry to hear about ya off also Kneescraper...

[Brian d marge]

i sold a brand new " Busa at Colemans.. the pretty black and purple one

it was raining slightly when the owner came to pick it up andd he had decided to forgo the insurance i had offed him because he paid cash


they had recently painted a new yellow line down the street in front of the shop...

wasnt pretty..$6000 damage .. 4 metres off the showroom floor

edit .. there seems to be a trend from leaving Colemans bwahahahah

Same here I was a mech when the VFR came out ... at least my guy got to the end of the drive way !!!!

Stephen

[kneescraper]

Hahahah agreed IN4, cheers mate :)

Its all love in KB

[Monsterbishi]

When I'm in a hurry with a new tyre, I just take steel wool with me to the shop, a quick scrub of the tyre to take the shine off it, I baby it home and then give it some abuse going up and down my (gravel) driveway, gratuitous wheelspin for the rear, pulsing lockups for the front.

Looks crazy, both at the shop and on my driveway, but it gets the tyre ready for daily use in under a hour.

[kneescraper]

When I'm in a hurry with a new tyre, I just take steel wool with me to the shop, a quick scrub of the tyre to take the shine off it, I baby it home and then give it some abuse going up and down my (gravel) driveway, gratuitous wheelspin for the rear, pulsing lockups for the front.

Looks crazy, both at the shop and on my driveway, but it gets the tyre ready for daily use in under a hour.

Heheheh sounds like great fun, do the stones not damage the tyre some what? Also if I tried that I would prob end up on my arse. :)

[Monsterbishi]

I wouldn't recommend it to inexperienced riders, I've had 15 years of seat time to perfect it :-)

The loose gravel basicly does a more thorough job of what the steel wool does, pulls the oils/graease off.

[kneescraper]

I see, well I think I will leave it for a few years. I can do a gravel burnout ehehehe. Strange that Ive never heard of the problems with new tyres before, real interesting ways to rid the problem too :)

[Monsterbishi]

Most good tyre shops will remind you about needing to break in the new tyre when they give the bike back to you, after a few years it becomes ingrained so even if they forget to mention it, you remember instead.

[kneescraper]

Well I can tell you, it's ingrained into my brain, albeit small brain....dropping ya pride and joy does that to you!!!