I nearly crapped my pants...

[Badger8]

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. After about 2 and a half months of riding, i finally had my first brown trousers moment.

Went for an evening cruise through whitford to clevedon via twilights, been gettin the itch all day but had stuff to do.
So all was well, nice cool evening, lovely scenery, good fun through twilight as per usual.

Coming back from whitford, up the final hill as you come to the roundabout at the back of botany. Come around the left hander, had let her roll down to about 70, then gently applied the brakes. Squeezing up more as i stood her upright out of the left hander, felt the weight shift forward a bit more as came over the top of the crest and SSSSCCCRRREEEEEECCCHHHH as the back end decides to lock up and go for a dance. Luckily my instincts were okay and i let go of the brakes, had a mini tank slapper sort of thing goin on, but somehow managed to ride it out and keep her shiny side up. luckily there was no traffic on the roundabout, so i just rolled through and kept going.

No damage to the bike, and just a slight pulled groin and good ol' jelly legs for me. Biggest problem i had riding home was holding her steady when stopped at lights, legs were pretty shaky. Took a couple of tries to hoist my leg over to get off her once i got home, heheh. Luckily no brown patch in the pants when i took my gear off

Just thankful this didn't end up a 'noob down' thread. At least it only served as a stern warning that i need to work on my braking more.

Keep it safe out there everyone!

[RC1]

good to hear your ok, you will have more of those moment for sure

[Stromble]

Nice one..! recovery that is, glad to hear you kept it upright..

I had a similar incident on a ride up towards Helensville, needed to take a right after exiting a long left bend, applied a little too much of the back brake a locked the wheel, I swear at one point the rear end was at 45degrees to the front wheel which was still straight. Seriously thought the bike was sliding out from under me, then everything seemed to go in slow motion till I released the brake and went with the flow, fortunately I kept the bike upright, but ended up crossing the onto the wrong side of the road to do so, good job there was no oncoming traffic..

But yes, lets say the 6metre skid on the road wasnt the only skid...

[Badger8]

Nice one..! recovery that is, glad to hear you kept it upright..

I had a similar incident on a ride up towards Helensville, needed to take a right after exiting a long left bend, applied a little too much of the back brake a locked the wheel, I swear at one point the rear end was at 45degrees to the front wheel which was still straight. Seriously thought the bike was sliding out from under me, then everything seemed to go in slow motion till I released the brake and went with the flow, fortunately I kept the bike upright, but ended up crossing the onto the wrong side of the road to do so, good job there was no oncoming traffic..

But yes, lets say the 6metre skid on the road wasnt the only skid...

oh heck yeah, she got a fair old angle on alright... hence the pulled groin muscle (is starting to hurt more now the adrenaline is going away). my body stayed in line straight behind the handlebars (my weight lifted off the seat as i braked over the crest, probably what made her skid in the first place), and my right leg was still over the saddle out at about 45 degrees. not quite sure if i pulled the back end in, or pulled myself over onto the saddle again, but it was a fair old yank on the muscles up the inside of my leg.

Oh well, important thing is it's not gonna stop me getting back out there and doing it all again!

[RantyDave]

came over the top of the crest and SSSSCCCRRREEEEEECCCHHHH

The stock tyres on a GN are shocking. Do yourself a favour and get some more - I don't think they're too much for ones that size (sportsbike tyres cost a fortune, but that's a different question). Honestly, you won't believe the difference.

Well done for not shitting yourself.

Dave

[Grub]

Well done Badger, you may not know how lucky you were. It sounds like you have the shit Chinese tyres on and in a perverse way, that's what probably saved you binning. You were about to have a high-side, yup the one you keep hearing about.

The high-side happens when at the point where the arse of the bike was out to one side the tyre refinds its grip and bites. Next thing you know there's a big flick and you're flying through the air heading for a broken arm or collar bone or both.

Probably why that didn't happen is that Chinese tyres don't grip ...

[Badger8]

The stock tyres on a GN are shocking. Do yourself a favour and get some more - I don't think they're too much for ones that size (sportsbike tyres cost a fortune, but that's a different question). Honestly, you won't believe the difference.

Well done for not shitting yourself.

Dave

Yup, been advised i'll definitely need to change em before winter, but it may just happen a little earlier now!

Well done Badger, you may not know how lucky you were. It sounds like you have the shit Chinese tyres on and in a perverse way, that's what probably saved you binning. You were about to have a high-side, yup the one you keep hearing about.

The high-side happens when at the point where the arse of the bike was out to one side the tyre refinds its grip and bites. Next thing you know there's a big flick and you're flying through the air heading for a broken arm or collar bone or both.

Probably why that didn't happen is that Chinese tyres don't grip ...

Yeah, i thought i was gonna high-side for sure, was surprised when i was bracing for the flick and it never came. back found its grip gradually and the front end threw a wobbler as the back came into line again, next thing i knew i was rolling in a straight line again wondering how the hell i pulled that one outta my butt.
Someone up there likes me apparently

[Steam]

Badger, you know about how you should be doing most of your braking with the front brake eh?

[Badger8]

Badger, you know about how you should be doing most of your braking with the front brake eh?

indeed, and i do. hence i was surprised as all hell when the back end went out.
i think it was the fact that as i came over the crest under brakes i shifted forward, hence my fat ass worth of weight was all of a sudden further forward on the pegs as opposed to half way onto the pillion seat. plus as mentioned, cheap chinese tyres with no grip didnt help.

[Steam]

Cool, just making sure. I didn't know about that for about 6 months after I got my learners.

[smoky]

Well done Badger, you may not know how lucky you were. It sounds like you have the shit Chinese tyres on and in a perverse way, that's what probably saved you binning. You were about to have a high-side, ...
Probably why that didn't happen is that Chinese tyres don't grip ...

Wicked logic mate – how crap tyres saved the day!!! The irony of it.
But I’d rather have tyres that don’t get me in trouble to start with

[Badger8]

Cool, just making sure. I didn't know about that for about 6 months after I got my learners.

Hahah, yeah, no worries mate, i know you meant well It's a very easy one to do as a noob, i found myself doing it to start with. have got a lot better at controlling both throttle and brake with right hand, so not relying on the back brake like i used to. (of course that wasnt so bad when i was doing 20k in 2nd gear up and down my quiet little street, but could easily have become a VERY bad habit )

[Badger8]

Wicked logic mate – how crap tyres saved the day!!! The irony of it.
But I’d rather have tyres that don’t get me in trouble to start with

indeed!
the stock rear on the GN also seems to have a rather square looking profile, but that may just be my eyes playing tricks on me. Definitely gonna be looking for some new rubber before long.
Anyone out there wanna help a noob out and recommend a good rubber store? (no sexual innuendo intended... )

[skidMark]

you were using the rear brakes why?

[Badger8]

you were using the rear brakes why?

The brakes are generally the preferred method for decelerating the bike
Using both brakes, guess i applied the rear a little harder than i should've in the situation.