Reminiscing Past Accidents

[Zed]

During October of 2004 some of you would remember that I wrote off my 2000 model CBR600F going down Mangawhai Rd on a KB ride. To this day I'm still unsure whether to blame it on the road surface, the Avon sport touring tyres I had fitted, or just my bad corner line, but either way the front just slid out from under me while I was on a fairly good lean. I later found out that this specific corner had claimed 8+ motorists in the 12 months prior! Thanks again to Speedie (Speedmedic) for coming to my rescue, phoning for a trailer, and escorting me back to his mates house at Wellsford. I shall never forget your kindness.

So today whilst I was on another KB ride we happened to go down Mangawhai Rd (probably the 10th time i've been down it since my accident) and coincidentally KBers Mr & Mrs Maha-man had chosen to station themselves with a video camera just passed that same very corner that took me out! So I've provided a link here to Mahas short vid (3.7 meg) of me riding through that infamous corner today, but coming down instead of going up like I was the day I binned.

Oh to reminisce.

[inlinefour]

One thing my biological father did before we parted our ways was allways to get me to go back to where I have had a bin and try to figure out why it had happened. Turns out it was a threapeutic thing to do as once I had figured what I'd done wrong and it brought clousure to the incident. Fortunately I have not had a bin for awhile (touch wood) as I don't push it anywhere as much (nana riding?), although the bikes I ride these days I'm sure could cope with it. After seeing your Fireblade in person I see a rather impressive bike and pray it never ends up in the same situation, as I do mine. I guess reflecting on past incidents can also be helpfull. By not forgetting bins, hopefully we can also avoid more in future, although sometimes no amount of being carefull can avoid the inevidible...

[Zed]

One thing my biological father did before we parted our ways was allways to get me to go back to where I have had a bin and try to figure out why it had happened. Turns out it was a threapeutic thing to do as once I had figured what I'd done wrong and it brought clousure to the incident.

That's true. Yesterday I encouraged a fellow KBer to face her fears and ride up a road she was reluctant to ride on because of an accident she had on it last year. She survived unscathed this time around and I think the therapy worked to a degree.

After seeing your Fireblade in person I see a rather impressive bike and pray it never ends up in the same situation, as I do mine...

Ditto.

[erik]

There are a few corners down SH22 way that I'm quite cautious of.
One of them is one that I binned on. Then there are a couple that other people have binned on on rides I've been on, and one on Ridge road that's just easy to accidentally cross the centerline (an S-bend near the top).

[SuperDave]

Never will I forget that damned corner on Remeura road near the dairy just past Meadowbank shops. Then again, it was't the corners fault, my sidestand just happened to become very well aquainted with the tarmac and then myself shortly afterwards. Learnt the hard way not to leave a stand down but that was on the FXR almost two years ago when I was a real newbie.

Video looks cool Zed

[Skyryder]

Good post Zed. I think we should do that not only with our riding but our posts too. After all a bit of retrospective thought in all that we do is the path to self improovement.

Skyryder

[DEATH_INC.]

Ah yes, I remember that day well Zed.
There's this corner on one of 22's offshoots that claimed a different rider about 3 rides in a row, not muppets either, the first is very experienced.

[muzz]

Just had a look at that vid and if you dont mind me saying Zed, keep off the white line mate, it will take your front end out from under you quick as, speacially when wet. Ride safe.

[750Y]

it looks to me like camber may be playing a part with that corner.

[bugjuice]

ahhhh.. that'll buff out..
guess you've come a long way since then
could have hugged that corner a bit tighter tho

[Maha]

Jeez Zed.....should have told us to stand and shoot on the upside of the corner, could have got a more realistic view of what happened in 04'...

Mrs Maha always had trouble with that corner when she had her bike (heading north) but now doesn't have to worry so much as she is tucked in behind me....

[NinjaBoy]

Recognise that corner and always wondered if it would catch anyone out. 'cause it's long and open I can see someone wanting to open up on it.

Yes... you've come a long way since then

[Mental Trousers]

I shall be going back to teach turn 1 @ Pukekohe raceway a lesson sometime in the not too distant future. This time I'll be well aware of just how hard Puke is on tyres.

[onearmedbandit]

Never forget riding the corner that took my arm for the first time after the accident. Ride it often now, and always remember that day. No regrets but.

[terbang]

My Mrs (Rachey) and I still shudder as we drive past Hetherington road, where we both ended up flailing down the edge of the road, after an overcooked corner during a gentle sunday ride on our 1200 Bandit..!
The words "snow grit" also break her out into a cold sweat as she has flashbacks of planting her Ginny into the front of a Nissan on Banks peninsular. The vision of seeing the soles of Rachey's boots, as she flew headlong over the top and the sickening thump of Nissan being impaled by Suzuki, remains clearly etched into my memory.