Excitement for bikers #641 -- The Fishtail

[Hitcher]

Also known as heartstopping moment number 641. Not recommended.

Yesterday morning it was drizzling on the Kaitokes and a bit wetter again on the Rimutakas.

Not knowing this, Mrs H and I mounted the ST1300 and headed up the Hutt Valley for a day's Walpoling around the Wairarapa.

Light drizzle made its presence felt at about Te Marua Golf Course with the road damp on top.

As we came up and over the summit on the Kaitoke Road, doing about 70kmh, the rear wheel fishtailed quite badly prompting thoughts of "Oh fuck, what next?" I didn't throttle right off and tried to keep the bike pointing straight ahead. I suspect luck had more to do with recovering this situation than any attempt by me to impart any measure of "control" on proceedings, but control was regained and on our way we went.

There was no sign of diesel or mud from the adjacent roadworks but the loss of traction could have been caused by dampness on a smooth tar patch or similar.

Needless to say, I took it very quietly indeed over the Takas, where the cloud was right down over the summit with visibility less than 10m.

Things brightened a bit on the Wairarapa side and steadily improved as the day went on.

After a bite of brunch, an underwear change and some valium at Martinborough, we headed up the valley through Gladstone and Masterton to Palmerston North via Mangamaire and the Pahiatua track. And then home via the Himatangi Block Road.

I hope that was the last adrenalin rush for a while. I have way too many strained muscles at the moment and am hankering for easier riding for the rest of the year.

[bane]

when you ride a bike, eternal vigilance is required... and at times a shit load of luck.
Glad to hear you kept it rubber side down.

[Gixxer 4 ever]

There was no sign of diesel or mud from the adjacent roadworks but the loss of traction could have been caused by dampness on a smooth tar patch or similar.

Needless to say, I took it very quietly indeed over the Takas, where the cloud was right down over the summit with visibility less than 10m.

.
Scary but you did it and had a good day. :sweatdrop Good on you. :spudbooge

[marty]

the power of the 1300.....

[MSTRS]

That sort of thing happens to all of us (sooner or later) and no doubt will keep happening. The time to worry is when the road curves away and you don't. Or when rear overtakes front. Perhaps the ST is a tad much for you? :whistle:

[merv]

Put it down to experience that roads are always the slipperiest when rain comes after a longish hot spell. All the fine films of diesel and crap just start lifting as the road wettens.

[avgas]

i like those....good fun em

[Zapf]

You can practice for that on the melted tar on SH22 if you want :)

[Two Smoker]

Glad no harm came to you and Mrs H :niceone:

Sounds like similar things to "Chasing Loosebruce in the wet on a GSX-R600" with the rear stepping out half a metre....

Or ZXR400 with shagged rear tyre, that goes from 8000rpm to bouncing off the rev limiter in literally a split second...

[Skyryder]

Know the feeling. Back slid out from under me just before Christmas near the Rakia Gorge. Must be a real bummer for the other H on pillion. Just not a nice feeling. Glad all is ok.

Skyryder

[ching_ching]

U da man!!! :headbang:

[StoneChucker]

Had the same thing happen in the wet a week or two ago. Must have given too much gas, or changed down too quickly cos the back wheel either slid or spun and the back started to slide out. Luckily a quick throttle off and grabbing the clutch sorted it out :Oops:

[Mongoose]

Lucky you Mr Hitcher, saving grace might be that you were not cornering and were "up-right" at the time?

[toads]

glad you didn't bin it Hitcher, My bike fishtails at the least provocation and I know how scary it can be when it does it. fortunately I haven't had it get me into trouble, but I take it slowly and can never really trust it because I haven't worked out what makes it do it in the first place.

[Hitcher]

Lucky you Mr Hitcher, saving grace might be that you were not cornering and were "up-right" at the time?
Whatever! I am most grateful for all factors that came to the rescue.

Putting Mrs H's sore bits in harm's way for a third time may have been pushing things a bit...

[Mongoose]

Whatever! I am most grateful for all factors that came to the rescue.

Putting Mrs H's sore bits in harm's way for a third time may have been pushing things a bit...

Oh yes, you were lucky in more ways than one! :yes:

[Motu]

I was fishtailing all day today - but I was on gravel with a good bike doing it on purpose.

But I got caught out a doozy - the roads were a mess,almost fresh gravel and it seemed the right hand wheel track was cleanest,so spent a lot of time on the wrong side of the road.The centre humps were almost too big to cross and once on an off camber right hander I rode on the verge to get away from the thick stuff.Daydreaming (not common) on a down hill right hander,I was in the middle of the road,as I normaly do,but missed picking up a ute coming the other way - I did a momentary lock of the front brake,a bad thing to do on gravel...fair shit myself.No problems,everything under control,but it was a big wake up call...I've never done that before in all my gravel road riding.

[Her_C4]

Geeze Hitcher :sweatdrop thank goodness you guys ok!!!

[Rainbow Wizard]

Putting Mrs H's sore bits in harm's way for a third time may have been pushing things a bit...

Mad you're not wrong there. Sure the first one was her own doing but you sure are running the risk of having to do the "in sickness" part of the deal a bit much ain't you Hitcher?

Stay safe dude (says he who propelled le Voxan onto one wheel at 180k). Bikers are such hippo critters aint they????

[Sniper]

Glad to hear that you came out ok. Sounds like you and Mrs H arnt having much luck on rides lately.

Could be time to see how the biker gods are?

[Pwalo]

Man I bet that was a really scary moment. I'm really impressed that anyone gets away with fishtailing a Honda 1300. Buy a lotto ticket.

[LB]

.
.
.
Glad you made it out of that one okay Hitcher.

We headed up the Taka's around 11am on Sat but turned round half way up cos the weather turned to crap (Hamish was test riding the MV1000). We went back up around 2pm when the road had dried, though it was still cloudy at the top and not overly warm.

.
.
.

[XP@]

http://www.roadsafe.co.nz/

[Hitcher]

http://www.roadsafe.co.nz/
Have they got a course on "recovery of the fishtail"?

[Biff]

Clean underwear anyone?

Pfffffft

[XP@]

Have they got a course on "recovery of the fishtail"?

Try the basic road survival course:
9:00am - How to verbally abuse cellphone users
9:15am (2 weeks later or whenever the front end is repaired) - How not to fishtail.
9:20pm (whenever the plaster casts / pins are removed and the insurance pays out) - How to fishtail with style.

[Hitcher]

Clean underwear anyone?
You say that now. But where were you on Saturday when I needed you?

[Velox]

They're pretty freaky eh? I did a major one up the Rimutakas in the wet with VTwin behind me. Not nice at all. Absolutely no idea how I saved it. Must be even worse with someone on the back, but at least the three of you (bike incl.) are all good. :niceone: