250 ride bins - 05/08/07 (Auckland)

[Donor]

Today, I saw my very first rider bin right in front of me.

And it scared the shit out of me.

I've seen a lot of accidents AFTER the fact, usually when surrounded by my big white bus and surrounded by senior medics who can usually help me avoid killing people, but today it was in the middle of nowhere, it as a KBer, and it freaked the living shit out of me.

The following 2 or 3 bikes traveling with horizontal riders didn't really help either.

But what happened after the bin/s was sheer fucking magic.

Wet, soggy and smelly bikers, stopping and lending a hand, inquiring into the welfare of the binners, and making short work of eventually scraping three sad bikes into the driveway of a highly charitable farmers estate. (I'll be taking some choccies out sometime this week...)

A former biker jumping in a wagon and hauling 2 sad bikes back to Chez Donor for inspection/storage. (Box of beer coming HIS way)

Now THIS is what KB is about to me.

We can talk shit about how the place is falling down, oh woe is us, blah blah bullshit waffle etc...

But the spirit we know of KB, is still there, always has been and always will be.

I got to help a few people out, and the best thing is, I know that if I were the one in need, others would not hesitate to offer their services.

You guys and gals rock.

Ride safe folks, and good seeing some new faces today.

Nigel.

[Maverick]

Today, I saw my very first rider bin right in front of me.

And it scared the shit out of me.

I've seen a lot of accidents AFTER the fact, usually when surrounded by my big white bus and surrounded by senior medics who can usually help me avoid killing people, but today it was in the middle of nowhere, it as a KBer, and it freaked the living shit out of me.

The following 2 or 3 bikes traveling with horizontal riders didn't really help either.

But what happened after the bin/s was sheer fucking magic.

Wet, soggy and smelly bikers, stopping and lending a hand, inquiring into the welfare of the binners, and making short work of eventually scraping three sad bikes into the driveway of a highly charitable farmers estate. (I'll be taking some choccies out sometime this week...)

A former biker jumping in a wagon and hauling 2 sad bikes back to Chez Donor for inspection/storage. (Box of beer coming HIS way)

Now THIS is what KB is about to me.

We can talk shit about how the place is falling down, oh woe is us, blah blah bullshit waffle etc...

But the spirit we know of KB, is still there, always has been and always will be.

I got to help a few people out, and the best thing is, I know that if I were the one in need, others would not hesitate to offer their services.

You guys and gals rock.

Ride safe folks, and good seeing some new faces today.

Nigel.

Bravo Nigel, you can be my TEC anyday.
It was a bad situation, a dangerous blind corner, and series of "misplaced" fast bikers approaching unaware of the accident ahead, it could have been much much worse.
Thanks to all those that helped in any way or form today,

Mav :cool:

[Leong]

Yes it is a dangerous corner at the best of times and especially with the varying grip today.

What I don't understand is why those 2-3 guys binned at the scene of accident.

Surely seeing a few fellow bikers standing at the side of the road would alert you to the possibility that someone had binned...... and that one should slow, and given we KB'ers are supposed to help out our fellow motorcyclists, and be prepared to stop...

[gijoe1313]

I only got to hear of details and eventually pieced together a small jigsaw puzzle... but Donor gave me the skinny on the sitrep..and crikey :gob:

The potential for so much of a SNAFU into a TARFU was there... :no:

Big ups to all those who rendered assistance, the patience and shuffling around of resources to help those in need is what I love about biking. We all know how easy it could be "there go I, but for the grace of..."

Just heartily relieved that no-one was seriously injured and that a safe ride back home was managed by one and all.

It was a ride that had just about all the drama I could stand today. Thanks to those who stepped up once again and took charge and gave leadership. :niceone:

Let's all play safely out there okay? :sweatdrop

[Kittyhawk]

I was on ATNR once and I was riding 2 up and we were traveling over 100km/hr. The rider in front had 2 up and their pillion fell off in front of me.

It's scary shit I know! I was cms away from hitting him as he rolled down the road in front of me. Not a nice scene, as for bins, yea been out riding with the occasional 250 and its fallen over in front of me.

Well done for being there when other kbers needed ya! *hug*

[HungusMaximist]

Today, I saw my very first rider bin right in front of me.

And it scared the shit out of me.



Was this during the Maverick ride?

[Donor]

Was this during the Maverick ride?

Yes... yes it was...

[gijoe1313]

I recall on a 250 ride way back earlier last year where I had to help deal with two incidents, I know the feeling Donor is talking about and I give thanks that both were minor and both riders have gone on to ride safely and sucessfully. Heaven knows I've experienced it first hand myself!

A really good thing for the newbie 250 riders learnt was that it does happen - but that there is a very supportive camaraderie among bikers to help out whenever one of our brethen gets into trouble (or I would like to think so).

I know the people I have met personally have taken on-board the ATGATT messages and they choose to do what they want (I am guilty of it too!)

I just wanted the new riders to learn about their rides, the feelings they experience and the various ways NZ roads can change conditions dramatically. And I wanted them to do it safely.

To those guys who had an accident, I hope it doesn't put you off - it's a learning experience. To those who helped out - good stuff. And to everyone who wanted to ride and support those new learners, that's paying it forward and good on ya! :niceone:

[jrandom]

Was this on 16? Which corner was it?

[gijoe1313]

Was this on 16? Which corner was it?

You'll have to ask Donor for the perzact location. I wasn't there 'cause I was TEC for the quicker/medium group. I want to ride back to that location and check it out and give the local farmers a thankee kindly for their assistance.

[Donor]

Paparimu Rd, about 5km past Camp Adair after Hunua...

[gijoe1313]

Paparimu Rd, about 5km past Camp Adair after Hunua...

Feel like a little pootle to that spot armed with a trusty camera, a box of choccies and biscuit selection today?

[xwhatsit]

I recall on a 250 ride way back earlier last year where I had to help deal with two incidents, I know the feeling Donor is talking about and I give thanks that both were minor and both riders have gone on to ride safely and sucessfully. Heaven knows I've experienced it first hand myself!
You wouldn't be talking about me there, little Jimmy? :)

I concur with what you're saying, Donor. I crashed on a Maverick 250 ride three days after I got my licence -- I hadn't been on KB very much longer. Not only did I suddenly have hordes of bikers checking me and my bike over, making sure I wasn't going to keel over with shock, but Justin took me back to his place where we straightened out some of my bike and he lent me a pair of gloves.

A couple of days later Quasi was having a glove competition `who deserves my gloves the most -- bring out all your hard luck stories', so I posted up a photo of my tattered hands. Quasi ended up giving me a prototype cordura jacket and pants, leather trou, back protector... still in excellent service today.

You know before I started riding I had no idea that sort of generosity existed. I mean I knew people did stuff like this in isolated cases, or maybe a long time ago; but so many people looking after each other? It blew my mind.
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[babyblade250rr]

i agree, Kb'ers are great and supportive people almost like a second familiy getting back into motorcycles and joining up with this crowd has been one of the better life decisions i have made!!

ooh i'm getting all emotional hope i don't cry!!:crybaby:


but seriously thanks guys!!!

[gijoe1313]

You wouldn't be talking about me there, little Jimmy? :)

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I wouldn't be naming names! Heck, anywhere you've been, I've done it already! :pinch: So at least I know what it feels like :sick:

And yeah, you got the biker spirit in you alright youn'un! :msn-wink:

[steved]

Seeing someone bin in front of you is a bizarre experience. Total shock (what the hell are they doing/WTF is going on?!?) and then a sudden realisation that you have to get your mind back on the job before you follow them off the road!

[BigRed2007]

yeah tell me about it ......

a huge learning curve ??

[McJim]

First bin I witnessed was on a 250 ride about this time last year coming through the twisties into Kawakawa bay from Orere.

I was TEC and backed off to give the guy in front plenty of room (I know I lose concentration when someone is close behind me). He high sided spectacularly and I felt sooooo guilty.

Still can't understand why I felt so responsible since I was a long way behind him.

Another time I narrowly missed a stray cow as it bolted out of undergrowth at the side of the road only to see my mate hit it.

Again I felt terrible.

And then the week after I was going alon Twilight road with a friend on a 250 and he didn't show up at the far end. Went back to find his bike 5m down a gully and him grinning like a maniac.

All of these were on 250cc or less. Riding a 250 doesn't make you less likely to have an accident but it does reduce that speed of the impact when it happens which is why it allows all the people whose bins I witnessed to walk away from the accident.

[MSTRS]

First bin I witnessed was ...
Riding a 250 doesn't make you less likely to have an accident but it does reduce that speed of the impact when it happens which is why it allows all the people whose bins I witnessed to walk away from the accident.

...my darling wife. She was on a 250. She was travelling at under 45kph. She did not walk away (in the literal sense).
Binning any bike, at any speed, takes a combination of factors. And the seriousness of the result is often a matter of luck.
The fact of someone being on a 250 does not mean they will be going slow - there are 250s out there that will top 200k with ease, even your 'average' 250 can hit 150+. It is the rider, not the bike, that determines the speed....

[El Dopa]

Bravo Nigel, you can be my TEC anyday.
It was a bad situation, a dangerous blind corner, and series of "misplaced" fast bikers approaching unaware of the accident ahead, it could have been much much worse.
Thanks to all those that helped in any way or form today,

Mav :cool:

It was a very nasty situation, and handled extremely well by you.

My cap is doffed to you, Mav. You can be my wingman any time.

I was one of the 'fast' bikes approaching at a reasonable pace, and got a fucking nasty shock. Lucky my front stoppers are mint.

If I may make a suggestion for future ref:

I'm going to start carrying a fluro vest stuffed down my jacket. The very first thing i'll be doing if a situation like this arises again, I'll either be running down the road waving it at approaching hoons, or chucking it at someone else and telling them to run down the road and wave it.

[Jeaves]

First bin I witnessed was on a 250 ride about this time last year coming through the twisties into Kawakawa bay from Orere.

I was TEC and backed off to give the guy in front plenty of room (I know I lose concentration when someone is close behind me). He high sided spectacularly and I felt sooooo guilty.


ahh what a day it was , the old RG and myself still bear the scars . Glad you were there though Jamie to scrap me off the road :niceone: . Still it was a painful lesson that i learnt real quick and have been incident free since :Punk: