First bike crash

[Phreak]

When did KB become so full of pussies.

Do you lot all bloody break out your tape measures and notebook from your anorak when you buy a second hand bike? Because you don't know for sure if that has been crashed do you, no like hell you don't, you give it the once over, you eye ball it, you check for play in the steering head and wheel bearings, you might even take it for a mother fuckin' test ride to see, if, fuck, maybe if it fuckin' rides straight. And if it don't you don't fuckin' buy it.

I guaran-fuckin-tee you that 99% of the time when anybody here has had an off, especially what sounds like a low side, that they don't go all "oh no, this all looks just fine but what if it's out by a degree and I just can't see it, oh no I better go and get some expert who's gonna take wads of cash out of my pocket to do all this measuring and shit before I even put my pussy ass on the seat", like fuck they do, they pick that fuckin' bike up, get on it and fuckin' see if it rides OK.

Check forks straight, check they compress and return, check seals are not leakin'.
Check alignment ok by eye or string.
Check head for any play.
Check front wheel.
Check rear wheel and swing arm for any play.
If you are really paranoid check front-rear unloaded length against known data (measure another of the same model).
Do all the basic safety checks that your WOF man is gonna do.
Then test ride it sensibly or get somebody to do it for you and see how she fuckin' goes.

Exactly what you'd do when you buy a used bike that you don't know the history of. Exactly what you'd do when you reassemble a bike.

Jeezus. It's the OP's choice to take advice he get's from complete strangers on the internet or not, but that's bloody fuckin' well what I would do, what I have done, and what I will bloody well do again.

AGREE... 10char.

[FROSTY:Me]

Hi OP.
I would suggest you make contact with a chap called alex Gee. from Norwest motor mechanix who has all the measuring equipment needed to see if the bike is straight. He also will be able to either sort it out for you or recommend the person to sort it out for you of it is a bit tweaked. Incidently its unlikely you have done much at all so don't panic.by the lack of grazing on the front fender tip but cracked it suggests the forks have twisted a bit.
Ok now regarding fixing your bike. First of all The instruments. Unfortunately they aren't available in NZ second hand .Econohonda had a casing from memory. Usually when they are written off the first bit to get munted is the instruments.
I ended up getting a slightly grazed set from a wrecker in Melbourne.For the record Instruments from ANY model Hornet 250 will fit but they have different information depending on the year.-Ie some had an actual temp gauge some a fuel gauge some an over temp light.
Also the wiring to the displays are a bit different -ie when plugged in it might light up the high beam instead of neutral. Thats easy to fix by swapping things around. So make a note of your setup -what the gauges do and don't have.-temp gauge etc before ringing anyone.
Incidently I did as a last ditch effort concider a VTR250 instrument set but the hornet one came up.
Regarding the handlebars. You could fit a set of trailbike bars (low rise ones) or try Action wreckers who sell aftermarket bars.
One trap for new players is that the Hornet uses little plastic pegs moulded into the switches. You need to drill 6mm holes in the bars. for these to clip into. But youll need to get the bars in the right place first and check where to drill the holes.
Looking at the pictures -The bars have already been replaced once and the tanks already had one repair already (looks like bog around the edge of the damage)

[raftn]

Thanks for all the responses and advice guys.
This has encouraged me to fix my hornet up rather than giving up on her.

I walked away from the crash with minor injuries. Bruises on ankle and back, splint on my thumb joint and hairline fracture on ribs. The ribs only hurt like a bitch when I sneeze or laugh out loud or when pressed on it so not too bad.

It was a group ride with few young guys like me. But they were experience and had bigger bikes. We went past Pukekohe onto open roads. I had fallen back in the convoy as these guys were really quick. I was struggling to keep up. They were quick, sharp and accurate with their turns. I mis-read one of these corners turning left and came around faster than I should have and there it happened...I realised how sharp the turn was. I braked hard! But there was enough momentum for the bike to swerve to the right across the centre margin. Lost control and we both came down on the other side of road and skidded across the gravel and into the bush. It was pin drop silence for a second.

You never break in a turn. You always break before the turn. Thats the basic rule! How did I forget that?
Riding on motorways and streets is nothing compared to open country roads. You have no speed signs and you only have one lane. When you're in a crash, theres no one but you and only you. You feel isolated. Its just you and the speed!

I should have used my own judgement. I shouldn't have been going that fast around the bend in the first place.
Im glad I survived that. Lucky I had my gear on, it took most of the damage when I slid across the road.

So what have you done to ensure you dont make the same mistake again? You you think you need more training? What gaurentee have you got that you wont do exactly the same thing next time you run hot into a corner?

[shanks]

Hi OP.
I would suggest you make contact with a chap called alex Gee. from Norwest motor mechanix who has all the measuring equipment needed to see if the bike is straight. He also will be able to either sort it out for you or recommend the person to sort it out for you of it is a bit tweaked. Incidently its unlikely you have done much at all so don't panic.by the lack of grazing on the front fender tip but cracked it suggests the forks have twisted a bit.
Ok now regarding fixing your bike. First of all The instruments. Unfortunately they aren't available in NZ second hand .Econohonda had a casing from memory. Usually when they are written off the first bit to get munted is the instruments.
I ended up getting a slightly grazed set from a wrecker in Melbourne.For the record Instruments from ANY model Hornet 250 will fit but they have different information depending on the year.-Ie some had an actual temp gauge some a fuel gauge some an over temp light.
Also the wiring to the displays are a bit different -ie when plugged in it might light up the high beam instead of neutral. Thats easy to fix by swapping things around. So make a note of your setup -what the gauges do and don't have.-temp gauge etc before ringing anyone.
Incidently I did as a last ditch effort concider a VTR250 instrument set but the hornet one came up.
Regarding the handlebars. You could fit a set of trailbike bars (low rise ones) or try Action wreckers who sell aftermarket bars.
One trap for new players is that the Hornet uses little plastic pegs moulded into the switches. You need to drill 6mm holes in the bars. for these to clip into. But youll need to get the bars in the right place first and check where to drill the holes.
Looking at the pictures -The bars have already been replaced once and the tanks already had one repair already (looks like bog around the edge of the damage)

Thanks Frosty!!! That info will be usefull! Appreciate it boss.

So what have you done to ensure you dont make the same mistake again? You you think you need more training? What gaurentee have you got that you wont do exactly the same thing next time you run hot into a corner?

Hey raftn,
Firstly I would be more careful of my speed and ofcourse braking before a turn.
Secondly I need to train for emergency brakings.
Thirdly, get full insurance.

[cheshirecat]

Thanks Frosty!!! That info will be usefull! Appreciate it boss.



Hey raftn,
Firstly I would be more careful of my speed and ofcourse braking before a turn.
Secondly I need to train for emergency brakings.
Thirdly, get full insurance.

Good luck, and with the Hornet. Riding within ones envelope is always being tested.
You might like these guys

[raftn]

Thanks Frosty!!! That info will be usefull! Appreciate it boss.



Hey raftn,
Firstly I would be more careful of my speed and ofcourse braking before a turn.
Secondly I need to train for emergency brakings.
Thirdly, get full insurance.

I despair.....

[shanks]

I despair.....

Hmmm..What do you suggest?