The wife had a small bin

**disenfranchised** · 29th July 2009, 09:36

She was having to merge lanes, car beside her (cop apparently) was slower than she expected, so she dabbed the brakes a bit, while still turning slighly, and the front wheel washed out....it was that horrible stormy Thursday night last week, so the roads were pretty wet.

It's pretty similar to how I had my one and only bin sometime last year.
I expect we're not the only people to do this.

Luckily she didn't hit anything, and is basically fine.

The bike almost looked fine too...the ZZR fairings were cracked, but still complete, and the gear lever got a little bent, but got bent back fine.
If we weren't insured we probably wouldn't have bothered repairing anything...but we are.

So the repair costs totalled $6.5k on a bike bought for $4.5k about 2 years ago....obvious write off.
The wife is happy, cause she was sick of the pink colour.

So there should be a pinkish ZZR coming up for an insurance sale soon....it's in great condition. Maybe a cheap bike to race in that new 250 twin class.

For a replacement, the thought is for her to sit her full, and buy a larger bike, that will probably be cheaper.
She likes the full faired sports bike style, and doesn't like the idea of something really old.
I've taken a look around, and thought maybe a VFR400

Any other ideas? We'll have around $2k left from the insurance after the remaining finance on the old bike is paid, so could proabbly stretch to around the $5k mark.

**boomer** · 29th July 2009, 09:38

tell her to buy a bigger bin

**Mschvs** · 29th July 2009, 09:50

Looks like it's blowjobs all week for you my man

**ital916** · 29th July 2009, 09:58

How do you wash out the front whilst dabbing the brakes while basically going in a straight line......Im glad she is alright but are you sure that the whole story, you sure she didnt panic grab the brakes?

Not being a dick but Im sure others will agree, you can ride in hideous rain, on slippery as roads, get on the brakes and not wash the front.

Just curious.

**The Stranger:Me** · 29th July 2009, 10:14

Originally Posted by Drider87

How do you wash out the front whilst dabbing the brakes while basically going in a straight line......Im glad she is alright but are you sure that the whole story, you sure she didnt panic grab the brakes?

Not being a dick but Im sure others will agree, you can ride in hideous rain, on slippery as roads, get on the brakes and not wash the front.

Just curious.

Random guess here.
Jap import with 10+ year old tyres, the crapiest suspension of any bike ever produced, now put an inexperienced rider in the mix and you have a nice little recipe for disaster.

**rachprice** · 29th July 2009, 10:29

Yeah I did similar just under a year ago....pouring down with rain, peak traffic on wellignton motorway
Didnt help that my head set bearings were fucked (an experienced rider jumped on and could instantly tell but it was all i had ever ridden and I couldnt tell that anything was wrong), crappy front tire and tire pressure was quite low...

(yes I know very naughty)

She also maybe grabbed the brake a little more than she thought! (also what I did)

Learnt a few lessons from that one!

**p.dath** · 29th July 2009, 11:43

I would definately go for the option of buying a bike for when she has her full licence. She would probably want to upgrade anyway.

You'll notice you get better value for money when you go over 250cc as well, because so many people want 250cc bikes.

I would skip the 400cc, and go straight to a 600cc. I think you'll get the best value for money this way - and even more fun.

**Brett** · 29th July 2009, 12:17

It happens easily, when new rider panics they will grab a large handful fo stopping services and then hold on. It takes a little while to develop the skills that allow you to override the natural instinct to brake and to release the brakes so that the wheel grips again, same thing in a car.

**CookMySock** · 29th July 2009, 12:57

Originally Posted by Drider87

How do you wash out the front whilst dabbing the brakes while basically going in a straight line......

I have seen a big slide (remained upright!) at 80k on a wiiiide sweeper. In the dry you could do 140k around that corner, but 80k and no touch on the brakes at all was enough to freak something out really bad.

I'd agree that tyres are a big part of it. I couldn't bear to have shit tyres on my bike. Unless it's the hack bike, splash out for the michelin pilots and be done with it - pricey but they last for eons, and so so secure in the wet.

Glad she is fine. Definitely would recommend something with more boogie available - much safer with a somewhat experienced rider.. Get one with stuffed tyres, and then sort that problem and then keep it.

Steve

**disenfranchised** · 29th July 2009, 13:40

Originally Posted by Drider87

you sure she didnt panic grab the brakes?

She probably did....if she "realised" that the car beside her was travelling slower than she thought, then she was probably already halfway changing lanes into it. That would be enough to cause a panic grab.
It being a cop maybe doubley so

Originally Posted by p.dath

I would skip the 400cc, and go straight to a 600cc. I think you'll get the best value for money this way - and even more fun.

Any suggestions on what...in the fully faired, not to old category.
I saw a niceish looking FZR750 on trademe which was priced perfectly for the payout we'd be getting. But I suspect it's older than the wife will be willing to ride, and I'd be dubious about her stepping up to a 750...especially an older less regulated engine.

**Maha** · 29th July 2009, 13:46

Love the title...is 'The Wife' something like...'The Table'? or 'The Cat'?

**The Stranger:Me** · 29th July 2009, 14:55

Originally Posted by Maha

Love the title...is 'The Wife' something like...'The Table'? or 'The Cat'?

Not sure, what do you do with the table or the cat maha?

**Maha** · 29th July 2009, 15:30

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Not sure, what do you do with the table or the cat maha?

'The Table' is for holding things like Keys/paper etc, anything you dont want on the floor. 'The Cat' gets fed in the morning, sleeps most of the day so reasonably boring. Putting the word 'The' in front of the word 'Wife' is labeling her an object....like 'The Microwave'..(please dont make me explain that

)

'My Wife' is how it should read.

**Buckets4Me** · 3rd August 2009, 12:54

so The wife CRASHED The BIKE is not PC enough for you ????

how about

The other half
or that #$%$ (then again you got a good pay out)

and who says it's His Wife and not the one next door

think I would label her to if my wife broke any bike

glad she is ok and not hurt
and also good to hear she is getting back on the horse

go for a bigger bike