First accident.

[Matariki]

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later on the road.
I'm just glad I didn't get hurt but my confidence did.

I did a very silly thing, I drove around without realising that I left the choke out. I came up to the large roundabout on opaki road where I slowed down to make sure traffic wasn't coming my way, I realised I could go but then I heard the engine die. I flooded the eingine, I tried to push the back away from oncoming traffic as I did that I tipped over taking the bike with me. No one got out of their car to help me, feeling stupid I picked up the bike and tried to start it again. It wouldn't. I started to panic.
Eventually I had to put my bike on its stand and ask the person behind me to hold off traffic while I got the bike off the road. He wasn't happy with the idea.
What suprised me and hurt me the most was how many people just drove around me, beeped at me and not stopping to ask if I was ok or If I needed any help. Eventually when I got my bike off the road another motorcyclist drove up to see if I was ok. I was very grateful that he stopped and asked if everything was ok. Sensing my embarresment he said not to worry, "Its accident's like that, that makes riding fun. If it were safe all the time it would be boring."
Unfortunalty I did not share his sense of enthusiasm. I got the bike started again with his help and drove off.

The lesson I learnt was never drive with the choke out and always check your bike throughly before hoping on and don't expect anyone to come to come and help you.
I counted around about 7 cars drove past me before I had to stop one and ask for help.

Anyone else here done anything stupid like that?

[Latte]

I stopped at an intersection where 2 cars had nose-to-tailed, after asking if everyone was ok I tried to start the bike and leave (my bike is a kick start) . After about a minute a guy pulled up in the lane next to me and said "your kickstarts down" - I had left it in gear and pulled the clutch in, being lazy. Turns out the bike won't run when in gear with the kickstart down, no matter how many times you kick it, or what expletives you use.

[neels]

Anyone else here done anything stupid like that?

Sort of.

I have on a couple of occasions throttled off for a bend, and as the bike continued on it's merry way realised the choke is still out. It's interesting trying to slow it down, steer it around a corner going a bit quicker than you normally would, and reach down to push the choke in all at the same time.

Now I use the choke to start, and basically as soon as its up to speed push it back in.

[Maha]

Most will have had something like that happen....
Dropping your bike? yeah you are not alone there.
Routine: Start bike with choke, put gear on, close choke.
People not stopping?....idiot pricks, I guess they have never been in a situation where they could do with a hand.

Dont let this little saga dampin' you spirits, its a bastard when it happens but its something you will look back on a laugh about.

I dropped my Yamaha while parking (forgot the side stand opps!), I was on one side of a parked car and Mom was the other.
She could hear me but not see me.....Like a good Captain I went down with the bike.

[steve_t]

I'm quite surprised. Most guys are keen to help a damsel in distress. Oh well, chalk it down to a learning experience. Now that you've done it, you (hopefully) won't do it again. Glad you're OK

[Sentox]

What suprised me and hurt me the most was how many people just drove around me, beeped at me and not stopping to ask if I was ok or If I needed any help.

Welcome to the road. Your accident might as well be a deliberately planned impediment as far as most people are concerned. The universe revolves around them, and it's very annoying when someone doesn't get the memo.

Chin up though. Seems like everything worked out. Any damage to the bike?

[kiwifruit]

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later on the road.

That is a worrying attitude.

[one fast tl1ooo]

Get back on and ride,,,

[Sentox]

That is a worrying attitude.

I said something similar after my crash. I certainly never believed it would happen beforehand, but crash I still did. Going out onto the road expecting an accident isn't the best idea, but waxing philosophical while picking up the pieces can take away the sting. So long as you learn from your mistakes, anyway.

By the same token, when does a positive outlook transition into over-confidence?

[blackdog]

That is a worrying attitude.

anyone who thinks they will have a lifetime of motorcycling without incident is deluded.

by being aware of the fact that it can happen gives us the opportunity to prepare, and minimize the impact when the unforeseen does occur

[kiwifruit]

You're right, what was i thinking. There are only 3 certainties in life: Death, tax and binning it.

[Matariki]

Any damage to the bike?

No damage to the bike. I was lucky.

[Mudfart]

i said that in previous posts, as my 2 older brothers have ridden all their lives and said your definately gonna come off at some point.
i had the shit mocked out of me and got some negative bling for it!.
If you want people (guys) to stop and help you, being a female, take off your helmet!, then guys will line up to help you.!!

[scooute]

Fellow Gn rider I am glad you are Ok, and the bike too.. good news is youll have to do a whole lot more than that to put a ding in her...! for future ref, choke only to start give her 30 seconds (maybe more in your climate) to warm and get oil over important bits then choke in before you leave, protects your bike and you,and saves the inevitable memory lapse, most of us have been there in one form or another! As for the traffic, some of them barely know how to help themselves... kudos to the rider who stopped to help! chin up and off you go! Ride safe

[Mom]

Anyone else here done anything stupid like that?

Well not quite but you know I established a routine early in my riding and I almost never dont follow it. Turn key on, pull out choke, start bike. Zip up jacket, put helmet and gloves on, push choke back in. Swing leg over and raise the side stand, select gear and take off. Sometimes you have to wait till the engine is properly warm between stages, but essentailly nothing changes each time I get on my bike.

I have been in Masterton a bit, it surprises me to hear that the traffic are so inconsiderate to someone stalled.