Crashed!

[Danny-Boy]

Hi.

Writing this will hopefully be a bit of a warning to other newbie's, and help me think it over.

Last Sunday I rode from Blenheim over to Nelson, actually about 30min past Nelson. It was the longest ride I have done, having only just got my resticted, and only gone about 100km in one day with lots of stops. I planned to have a couple of breaks, ( have driven it many times) but in the end was late leaving, so only stopped once for about a minute to stretch. The CBR250 went well. and on arriving in Nelson I was still feeling fine pushed on.

I was fine untill I was about 500m from my destination. I forgot that I had been concentrating for almost two hours by now. My mind must have switched off for a second because I suddenly was in a gentle left corner without being ready. I panicked and started to brake, even thoughmy mind told me to look through the corner and turn. I went straight, across the road, and onto the verge, and, doing about 20-30km/h into the ditch (full of nice long, soft grass) almost parrallel to it. Bike flooded, cracked fairings, sore ankle, very lucky. ( Actualy I think God was watching out for me!) Later I rode back to Blen carefully, with about 3 stops.

If I had been alert the corner would have been no problem. Lesson; know your limits, take frequent stops, practice emegency stopping and turning more! Nothing worth posting about, But:

On Thurday, after work, I felt like a ride. Got out the GSX-R250 I had brought off a mate not working and am doing up. It is now running fine. I head out for the open road, reminding myself to stay alert to avoid a repeat of Sunday. After abot 5min, am behind an old ute who is doing about 90km/h. after about a min we come to abit of straight, with a gentle Left corner before it. as we approch I change down and start to speed up. The ute starts to indecate left and pulls over a bit, I indecate right and pull out. the bike accelerates more than I am expecting and, still in the final part of the gentle corner, I instantly loose confidance and throttle off. My only thought is to slow down. I brake as I drift to the Right of the road, I know what is going to happen, and see there is a fence there, no ditch, so brake harder, the front hits some gravel on the right sholder ond is gone, Im thrown left. I was still doing at least 90Km/h, and land on my left shoulder, and slide/rolldown the road.

My mate was following behind on his 150, he and the ute stop. I was able to get off the road then fell down. Rang home and picked the pike up with a trailer. My left sholder of jacket torn down tho thefoam pads, helmet visor broken and helmet badly gouged, jeans torn in several places. Bleading on my legs slightly and sore sholder. Again very lucky. Bike is broken mirror, foot peg, fairing badly cracked, part of frame from seat back bent.

If I had throtteled off, looked through the corner and turned I would have been fine. I was unfamiler with the bike, and was to used to rideing at 70k, so panicked when it felt to fast.

It is going to take me a couple of months to buy a new jacket and helmet, and I might get some of those Draggin Jeans. The GSX-R250 is needing a bit of work too. I am going to have plenty of time to think, and am wondering about my lifespan if I continue. I definatly will need some pratical training!

[Slyer]

It sounds like you're stepping out far beyond your means.
Take it easier and in smaller portions while you gain experience and kilometres.
Walk before you run etc...

[ducatilover]

It sounds like you're stepping out far beyond your means.
Take it easier and in smaller portions while you gain experience and kilometres.
Walk before you run etc...

Pretty much as he says.
That's a shit learning curve, but you got off lightly
Take it easy mate, best of luck with future riding.

[Slyer]

I know it first hand, too. I attempted to ride from Hamilton to Auckland on the day I got my very first bike and ended up screwing up right near the end of the trip. It seems you only have so much concentration available and when it runs out you fuck things up.

[2wheeldrifter]

Well I would get some good reading material... such as Twist of the wrist books.. and go back to the basic's... you have been lucky mate.

Anyone in your area you can ride with?

[trailblazer]

that is one reason i disagree with the 70kph rule. I am still on my learners although i could have got my restricted ages ago and i have never followed that rule. I always ride to what i feel is comfortable and don't push outside my limits. Only time can make you a confadent rider so when you are back on 2 wheels just take it easy and try not to panake. Remember practice makes perfect.

[tigertim20]

yep, back to basics. Start agin. Look into whether or not there is a mentor in your area, and as someone else mentioned, get a copy of twist of the wrist.
Find a big open area (like the Riverlands industrial estate) in the evenings or weekends when theyll be deserted.

If the higher speed stuff is messing with you a bit, find quiet, open STRAIGHT areas where you can get up to speed, cruise at 100k+ for a bit, then slow down, and go in a straight line back. get used to how it feels at higher speeds that 60/70km, because the handling DOES change.

sounds like you have an idea of where the weaknesses are in your riding, now you just have to find a place where you have the room to practice the things you arent great at without feeling rushed.

Got pics of the damaged bikes?

[chanceyy]

as others have said .. but also would give the draggin jeans a miss, invest in good leather with protection.

[Dogboy900]

Bugger!

It will come with time and practice, just be cautious getting there. Definitely do a course and if you can some time on the track with an instructor.

Are you able to claim the bike gear on insurance? Even if your bike is not insured claims for gear are normally done on house and contents, could get you back on the road faster.

Glad you are not badly hurt!

[Genie]

OH the nasty corner thingy shit thing that happens when you panic and your brain fixates on one point....been there done that but, I'm lucky I didn't wipe out. Why? I think because I gave my brain a damn good slap and changed my focus. My first biggish ride up hte Lake, yep, left-hand bend and ooopsies, I'm over the right hand verge. No traffic, fortunately and indeed a very big wake up call. I've watched the twist of the wrist, it's helpful to say the least, also slowing down and well, heaps more practice.

I went out last Friday and had a really good look at my approach to the left-hand bend, how I execute the turn and exit. Interesting....changing your thought pattern may help and learning not to panic.

All the best with riding and take care.

[Taz]

Get a car. Seriously. Some people are destined to ride and some aren't.

[NordieBoy]

Get a car. Seriously. Some people are destined to ride and some aren't.

Even that eyetalian guy, what's his name? Rosie? Is deciding he keeps crashing and it's not for him and maybe cars would be safer...

[Subike]

Sorry to hear of your mishap
two important lessons learnt though.
The most important IMO. is don't try to do a long trip in one hit.
You do need rest breaks. Your riding at a full on body concentration
you are consuming energy and fluids at a high pace.
you can become dehydrated without knowing it,
your concentration will wane slowly as you tire so you do not realize you are only riding at 50% reflex ability after a time.
Your judgment of corners become lazy.
you fall off
you die!

As for corners, there are three parts to any corner ,
entering a corner at the right speed
accessing and following the safest line through the corner (not the fastest)
watching the vanishing point to know when to turn out of the corner.

Practice at a pace you are comfortable on a quiet twisty road with different shaped corners.
Set your self a speed limit , and ride the road till it becomes slow in your judgment of the corners, It will probably take 3 return rides.
Pick the speed up a little and start again. your confidence will grow.
Do this till you understand your bike, its natural urge to right its self, the amount of brake pressure you need for slowing down or stopping. You get to practice an emergency stop each time you turn around if you want to.
You get to practice tight u turns where a differing set of rules apply in regards to brakes, clutch, handle bar control.
What the vanishing point, apex and roll-in means for cornering will become apparent as you practice.
Read "Twist of the wrist" or a similar publication before you start if you can.
Never be afraid of asking more experienced riders for help.
As you have done here.
These are my opinions, and do not reflect or dismiss the opinions of others on this forum.

[crazyhorse]

Good to hear you are ok, and things like this are all part of learning

[MSTRS:Me]

Subike is on to it.
I would add a couple of things tho.
Correct lane position as you approach a corner.
Use your engine/gears to control your speed. Brakes are last resort, or for stopping.
Proper gear on your body.