So I wrote my first bike of . . .

[Charlie]

Hey Str8, bummer about the crash, but great to hear your ok and in high spirits.
Still havent gotten out to ride with you guys yet, look forward to meeting you and now your NEW bike!!!
Take care and recover fast!

[campbellluke]

Actually, yes. You are out of line.

Funnily enough, the first time I met Str8Jacket was that very night, and that was before she'd got into bikes. Next time, can you count to ten before saying or writing something like that to someone who's just lost their pride and joy?
Ta.

I probably counted to two hundred. I was reluctant to post considering safety is probably not the priority of many here. Am I wrong to show concern?

I wish Str8jacket a very safe return to motorcycling.

Maybe I am soft on safety of something. While bikers all over the place crash. My 5 year old policy of "if I ever crash a road bike I quit" stands.

[Ixion]

I probably counted to two hundred. I was reluctant to post considering safety is probably not the priority of many here. Am I wrong to show concern?

I wish Str8jacket a very safe return to motorcycling.

Maybe I am soft on safety of something. While bikers all over the place crash. My 5 year old policy of "if I ever crash a road bike I quit" stands.

Whilst I also am very committed to bikers not crashing, and safety is always my priority, I do think a policy of "one crash and give up" is unduely harsh.

Some crashes happen because of sheer bad luck - wrong place wrong time. Others are a concomitant of inexperience.

More important than the fact of crashing , if no serious harm be done, is the attitude of the crashee. Those who think it funny, or something to boast about, or who cast about for something to blame (" what prat left that gravel there ? And why was there no sign to warn me ? ") are indeed best advised to give it away whilst they are still alive.

But Ms Str8Jacket's response is much more mature - accepting that she made an error of inexperience. Such a crash may be considered an unwelcome, but educative experience. I do not see any reason why she should consider giving up motorcyling because of it.

Even the best and safest rider may crash eventually. The law of averages catches up. Thing is to work on making eventually a very long event.

[snuffles]

what a shit that was, got stood up by my mates, and went riding with a few strangers I picked up at Caltex............then she write s of her bike and makes me wear a fluro jacket for 2 hours................ well you cant always get it right!!!!!!!!!

see you back soon

[Lou Girardin]

One of our customers gave up riding because his mate crashed, no serious injuries though.

[jazbug5]

I probably counted to two hundred. I was reluctant to post considering safety is probably not the priority of many here. Am I wrong to show concern?

I wish Str8jacket a very safe return to motorcycling.

Maybe I am soft on safety of something. While bikers all over the place crash. My 5 year old policy of "if I ever crash a road bike I quit" stands.

Oh, I see- it was concern for safety. This being the internet, things can come across differently than the way you intend them to.
My interpretation of your comment was that you were being smug and unhelpful; a bit like telling a freshly tumbled kiddie they'd better give up trying to walk since they're so crap at it, and would maybe be better off staying in a push chair. (And that you yourself never made one mistake while learning to walk yourself, and will probably never fall over at all...)

I think you'll find there are a lot of nanas on here (myself included); okay, a lot of people come across as if they don't care about crashing, and there have been more than a few debates about why that is. However, as Ixion says- Str8jacket ain't one of them, and I think she's been amazingly calm about the whole thing. Anyway, not to worry, it was only a comment- I'm sure you're a decent enough person, and I hope you have a great weekend and have good weather for riding...

[skelstar]

...and makes me wear a fluro jacket for 2 hours....

Oh come on, you were putting that jacket on before your bike had stopped!

[badlieutenant]

LOL you so wanted to wear the fluro bro!!!

[Uncle B]

I didn't manage to take many photos as I was helping the paramedics and trying to keep Str8 Jacket calm.

Once again VTWINs tow and rescue service was called into action.

Please note that this service will be unavaliable during the summer months as I will be out riding....thank you

[Dafe]

Actually, yes. You are out of line.
That's about the least helpful thing I've ever seen someone post about someone else's bin. She hasn't been riding that long, and unfortunately she learned her lesson in such a way that wrote off her bike.
I had a lowside on a GN in gravel early on in my riding career (shhhh BadL!) but was fortunate enough to
a) not write it off (through luck),
b) be relatively unhurt (barring a couple of stitches) and
c) have supportive friends whose helpful comments helped me understand how it happened.

Funnily enough, the first time I met Str8Jacket was that very night, and that was before she'd got into bikes. Next time, can you count to ten before saying or writing something like that to someone who's just lost their pride and joy?
Ta.

I agree too!

I was riding home to Naenae this week, Glorious weather, through the quiet back streets and as I was taking a corner at around 20 kph, the whole bike just slid sideways. It was on its way down and luckily regripped and came back. The cause of this was loose gravel left by workmen working on the roads. As it turns out, I pass about 6 corners like this on my way home. I've now written to the Hutt council who now have a works order in place to have the corners swept clear.
Anyhow, Binning a bike can happen at any time and without any expectation and even whilst you're riding safely. If I'd binned my bike in the above situation, I would be spewing because it really wouldn't have been any of my fault.
Str8 is a new rider, low experience and thus always more prone to making a mistake.
Big Ups to "Str8 Jacket" for her determined attitude.
I've heard Str8 has asked VTwin to give her some safety riding lessons, I've got a mate picking up a 250 in the next few days who is also looking for some safety riding tips.
These people are proactive and have the desire to learn, even if by mistakes, they want to know where they went wrong and where their safe limits lay. Thats why in my eyes, they are fine hoping back on the saddle.

Some people on this thread have mentioned "That you're not a real rider till you've crashed seven times" Those are the ones that should invest their interests in a bicycle. Because if they got themselves a car, they'll probably kill some unfortunate motorcyclist.

[LB]

.
.
Sorry to hear this Str8jacket. Glad you're (relatively) okay.
.
.

[Gremlin]

ooh, what a bugger, but at least you are safely on the mend, unfortunate about the bike, but they can be replaced.

I reckon I have had two offs similar to what you describe, and within 3 days of each other. First tip would be to keep 100% focus on the road, bike, environment etc and not let your mind wander. I reckon that caused problems for me both times.

The second problem I have identified was the automatic learner response to brake when we detect things are going wrong. This is exactly what we don't want as it does the complete opposite of what we are trying to achieve.

Mad Boy has touched on this, but the braking makes the bike stand up (and head straight). If you are able to override your instinct to brake (I'm still trying!!) and instead tip the bike into the corner more, then thats how to avoid a potential crash.

Try practising this around quiet roundabouts or long curves: Start to run wide and try to induce a little panick into your head. Then force yourself to tip the bike in more and travel round the corner.

Eventually the hope (well mine anyways) is to make it an automatic response. Ask aff-man. He was following me on the second off (very slow one though) and he said that instead of tipping like I should, I seemed to head straight off the corner

[crashe]

Good pic's VTwin....

I see the 'laughing gas' was working...
Gee I am impressed with the medic's cutting off the jeans...
both at the same length....

Since the bike is being written off does anyone need any GN250 parts...
As there is some good stuff still on the bike...

Str8jacket you rest up and heal... and go out and get another bike...
The lads and gals down in Wellington with help you out with riding tips...

Heck we are always learning as we all will make a mistake no matter how long we are riding for. As road conditions are always changing.

[Zed]

Maybe I am out of line. But if a GN is too much for you maybe you would want to take up a larger interest in cars?

Yes I can confirm that - you are out of line with that comment!

[avgas]

dont feel so bad boss - ive written off every bike ive owned, one way or another.
Atleast u have your limbs, and most of all you life. Just keep laughing and joking and another bike will come.
Stew