Take it carefully on the road over winter

**Viking01** · 14th June 2010, 15:01

Was off to work at 7 on the Honda this morning. While the roads in the hills above the Hutt were damp, I was taking it very carefully. A gentle bend in 2nd gear about 35km/hour, and then BANG - I'm lying on the road with the Honda on top of me. No warning whatsoever. More damage to the Honda than me, but a bit upsetting to have my pride and joy with gouges in the fairings and engine casing. All repairable. I'm a careful person, but this happened in a flash. Take it carefully out there over winter.

**st00ji** · 14th June 2010, 15:19

so what went wrong?

**AllanB** · 14th June 2010, 15:22

Originally Posted by st00ji

so what went wrong?

"and then BANG - I'm lying on the road with the Honda on top of me"

Hondas are gay - that's what happened!

OK - I take the piss, bad luck and sorry to hear of your spill. It is a timely reminder to keep our eyes on the road.

**Blinkwing** · 14th June 2010, 15:34

Probably went over a smooth spot or wet patch in the road. Sucks when that happens.

**BMWST?** · 14th June 2010, 15:55

was a rare day in welly.Really heavy frost even some trace of ice on the road near our place.The hutt valley would have been worse.

**Viking01** · 14th June 2010, 16:52

To answer an earlier question what happened, I have no idea. It was a gentle bend, and tracked the line I normally do (where the chip is coarse and gives better grip, avoiding the manhole covers). Conscious that it could be more slippery this morning - and proved it right. The thing is that the roads looked no different from normal (slightly damp). The wife works out at Porirua, and she said the over-bridges were white with frost. Talked with a mechanic from the Lower Hutt Honda dealership who lives over in Wainui, and he said it was wicked out there this morning. Even when coming back up the Normandale hill this afternoon at 1:30pm, I encountered a car which was slewed sideways across the width of the road.
All I can say is 'Bugger'.

**pete376403** · 14th June 2010, 17:38

Originally Posted by BMWST?

was a rare day in welly.Really heavy frost even some trace of ice on the road near our place.The hutt valley would have been worse.

Ohh yes!. Turned on to River Road from Whakatiki street at about 40km/hr in the work van, initially the front wheels sledged sideways for a bit, once they gripped then the back of the van slid around. Interesting moment.

**Trudes** · 14th June 2010, 18:19

There was ice all over the roads around here this morning, I'm surprised there aren't a crap load more of these threads from Welly folks after this morning. Bad luck mate, glad you're ok though.

**blackdog** · 14th June 2010, 18:30

left stokes at 6am this morning was white everywhere. had a lady at wk said her son slid off the haywards and the car was a write off.....

**Spearfish** · 18th June 2010, 21:10

Just a question or two for those in the know.
If your ride is used as a commuter do you change tyre types for winter?
Is the difference really that much better between types, considering what surfaces are usually giving some problems?

**OutForADuck** · 18th June 2010, 21:15

Ice or Diesel? Two of us were taken out round back of Taupo over the long weekend.... both of us went down faster than you could blink and we also were taking it easy.

Turned out to be diesel on the road in our case, floating on the rain!!!

Good to see you are ok dude.... harder to fix the body that bolt new bits on a bike.

**Gibbo89** · 19th June 2010, 00:06

Originally Posted by Spearfish

Just a question or two for those in the know.
If your ride is used as a commuter do you change tyre types for winter?
Is the difference really that much better between types, considering what surfaces are usually giving some problems?

interesting question, i'm sure if people could afford it then they might have extra sticky tyres for winter?

i also wonder about tyre pressure, some believe that its good to have softer tyres to have more tyre on the road in the winter. i reckon this makes the bike feel unstable and makes me more nervous about bailing on the bike. so i check the pressure regularly on my tyres...

**miloking** · 19th June 2010, 01:30

Originally Posted by Viking01

Was off to work at 7 on the Honda this morning. While the roads in the hills above the Hutt were damp, I was taking it very carefully. A gentle bend in 2nd gear about 35km/hour, and then BANG - I'm lying on the road with the Honda on top of me. No warning whatsoever. More damage to the Honda than me, but a bit upsetting to have my pride and joy with gouges in the fairings and engine casing. All repairable. I'm a careful person, but this happened in a flash. Take it carefully out there over winter.

Where were your frame sliders that day, at home? I dont see a reason on having nice bike without them! (even for the chance of bike falling over in a garage)

**carver** · 19th June 2010, 11:10

you need to ride faster, riding like a pansy will always have bad consequences

**BMWST?** · 19th June 2010, 11:31

Originally Posted by OutForADuck

Ice or Diesel? Two of us were taken out round back of Taupo over the long weekend.... both of us went down faster than you could blink and we also were taking it easy.

Turned out to be diesel on the road in our case, floating on the rain!!!

Good to see you are ok dude.... harder to fix the body that bolt new bits on a bike.

diesel is almost as slippery as ice...i reckon the op slid on a bit of black ice,a rare occurence in welly