A wee spill on SH16

**dawnrazor** · 22nd May 2006, 10:40

And unfortunetly it was me.

Outside wellsford, going up hill, right-hander, into the sun and GRAVEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Came into the corner too close to the LHS of the road off line, the corner tightened up, I saw a lot of gravel at the side of the road, backed off everything, feathered the brakes and straightened up, and would have been fine, except I hit a patch of kitty litter at about 5KPH!!!! lost the front and ended up in the ditch. AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH. Missed a sign post by inches.

Gear all held up well, although it wasn't much of a test, nothing hurt except pride and ego. Was impressed by the bike though, mirror folded in, some scratches, indicator came away like its meant to and I was able to re-attach it and it works, fairing is scratched up, but not badly, hopefully can be repaired for reasonable expense, anyone reccommend a good fairing doctor?.

This is my first spill in 8 yrs and if it means another 8yrs before another then I'll take it and say thank ya. Thanks also to the guys in the ute that stopped and pulled me out of the ditch and made sure I was okay and found my indicator. I guess they got a shock to come around the corner and see me in the ditch wrestling the bike.

Took it pretty handy on the way back to the city though, but everything handled okay, although I was brake shy!

Its funny though, I had been pushing it earlier and had made it through all those road repairs and had slowed down and was taking it easyon approach to wellsford. Actually I think I might have relaxed to much and had brain fade or something, but either way I found myself in a bad place, might have made the corner if I had committed, but then it would have been a hell of a lot worse if I had hit the gravel at speed, so I reckon I made the right decision.

The really odd thing was, the only reason I went out was because it was such I nice day but I had this sense of forboding before I even left the house, probably nothing but then again.

Taking into account the ultimate toll SH16 has taken on bikers these last few weeks, I consider myself exceptionally lucky and humbled by the experience, this posting may well have been from a hospital bed or something much worse.

**DemonWolf** · 22nd May 2006, 10:54

Glad to hear you are alright dawnrazor and that the bike isn't too worse for wear either.

Negoiating gravel at low speeds on sport bikes is certainly a mission and requires 100% concentration (or so I find)... I most certainly dont like gravel at all.

Hope the repairs aren't too costly for ya.. post up some pics of the damage?

**Blackbird** · 22nd May 2006, 10:59

Originally Posted by dawnrazor

And unfortunetly it was me.

.....fairing is scratched up, but not badly, hopefully can be repaired for reasonable expense, anyone reccommend a good fairing doctor?

.

Pleased to hear you're ok. When I had a similar slow speed "off" and ended up with a scratched fairing panel, Reflections at Glenfield filled the scratches and resprayed it. Total cost was $400-$500 from memory but the job was flawless.

Good luck

Geoff

**dawnrazor** · 22nd May 2006, 12:08

Will post some pics later.

So fairing repairers do they source decals as well? or will i need to get them myself?

**Blackbird** · 22nd May 2006, 12:18

Originally Posted by dawnrazor

Will post some pics later.

So fairing repairers do they source decals as well? or will i need to get them myself?

You'll have to source the decals yourself from your local dealer (one you can actually trust to order them for you!). Mine took about 10 days to arrive and Reflections put them on for me. I don't know about your Gixxer but the Blackbird had small decal variations based on year and colour. The one I actually received was slightly different but it's impossible to tell without a really detailed look at both sides.

**Switch** · 22nd May 2006, 12:54

Hope you build up your pride and ego fast

hope it wont cost too much to get the bike fixed too

**dawnrazor** · 22nd May 2006, 13:48

Originally Posted by Blackbird

You'll have to source the decals yourself from your local dealer (one you can actually trust to order them for you!). Mine took about 10 days to arrive and Reflections put them on for me. I don't know about your Gixxer but the Blackbird had small decal variations based on year and colour. The one I actually received was slightly different but it's impossible to tell without a really detailed look at both sides.

Thanks for that, just off to colemans now for a chat and see what they think!

Heres one thing though my boots and knee, hip, elbow and shoulder pads all took athe impact and saved me from any gravel rash. Phew.

**dawnrazor** · 23rd May 2006, 11:18

pics as promised

well it could have been worse

looks like decals and a respray are the way to go as replacement fairing is crazy money.

off to reflections now for a quote.

will report back later.

**Sniper** · 23rd May 2006, 11:20

Bugger mate, glad you came out OK though

**Blackbird** · 23rd May 2006, 11:41

Originally Posted by dawnrazor

pics as promised

well it could have been worse

looks like decals and a respray are the way to go as replacement fairing is crazy money.

off to reflections now for a quote.

will report back later.

A good case for the fitment of crash bobbins to protect your investment in future! I've fitted them to mine.

**sAsLEX** · 23rd May 2006, 11:45

chicks dig scars so why are you going for surgery?

**N4CR** · 23rd May 2006, 11:48

Sucks mate... saw you yesterday when I was leaving colemans, damage ain't too bad just need some paint loving, didn't look like any cracks.

Better luck in the future (been there done that...).

Poor baby

**dawnrazor** · 23rd May 2006, 13:26

Originally Posted by Sniper

Bugger mate, glad you came out OK though

Thanks man.

Originally Posted by Blackbird

A good case for the fitment of crash bobbins to protect your investment in future! I've fitted them to mine.

Don't think they would have done much good in this case, but will getting some as soon as, fairings are expensive.

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

chicks dig scars so why are you going for surgery?

Yeah but, its look like pooh

Originally Posted by N4CR

Sucks mate... saw you yesterday when I was leaving colemans, damage ain't too bad just need some paint loving, didn't look like any cracks.

Better luck in the future (been there done that...).

Poor baby

Cheers...pain in the ass is what it is, although it could have been worse.

So all told this little spill is going to cost $750 to set right, well actually that still leaves some scraps on the back of the mirror, lever end, bar end, front fender and heel plate of end can. Going to have to leave those for the moment.

Top guys at reflections, they seem to be all over it and gave me a keen quote I reckon, will keep yous up to speed.

Anyone got any advice for fairing and nose cone removal? As in best practice, order, tips and tricks etc And anyone reckon I can still ride with the nose cone off (small trips obviously), I'm guessing not.

**Fatjim** · 23rd May 2006, 13:56

Again "bugger" is the best word for the job. Sorry to hear it mate.

As for the gravel rash, talk to Dover, he's the expert on removing it. I hear he even has a second bike for when the first is getting resprayed.