The KB rideout bin curse strikes again

**El Dopa** · 23rd January 2005, 13:46

Well, got up and out this morning to the novice ride, met up with everyone fine...and then got lost almost striaght away out of he carpark (that's the last time I follow SPMan).

So rode with Bestfun and SPMan down through Maraitai and then on to Clevedon to try to hook back up wih the main group. Just outside Clevedon, Bsetfun pulls over the check her bike, and I pull up behind to check she's OK.

Have a quick chat, take my sunnies off while we're stopped, put them on the tank in front of me.

We decide to push on into Clevedon, and see some of the group sitting by the roundabout. I realise I'm no longer wearing my sunnies and that they must've fallen off the tank as we pulled away, so I go back to have a look for them.

I'm a little bit on edge, slow speed, staring at the verges to try to pick out where we pulled over. Then I see them, sitting in the gravel at the side of the road. Go to pull over. The gravel is slightly deeper than it looks, and I'm going slightly faster than I should have been. Result: Bike lies down on it's side for a rest.

I pick myself up and check myself over. I'm absolutely fine - some abrasions to my left glove palm and the left knee of my armoured leathers, and the bike came down on my right ankle, landing on my boot, which is undamaged (hey kids, always wear your gear!). I pick the bike up: bent stearing head, bent gear lever, left indicator f******, left mirror gone.

Just as I'm wondering what to do now, along comes a guardian angel on a triumph rocket 3 (not a KB'er, yet). He follows me as I limp into Clevedon, where we hook up with another new KB'er whose user name has slipped my mind (Mike, anyway) who has been having problems with his GN, and is acting as a tail end charlie as the rest of the group have gone.

No worries, says Mr Guardian Angel, I live over there. Come and have a drink and we'll load up the truck and give you a lift back into town. So that's what we do. Mike entertains us with some piano playing whilst Guardian Angel and son load my bent bike onto their truck, and he then gives me and my scoot a lift back into town.

So, Mr and Mrs Bernie of Clevedon - Your generosity is humbling. Thankyou more than I can say, you have affirmed my faith in Humanity and Kiwi's in particular.

So, some minor repairs needed. Hopefully no damage to the front end/steering head, which I'm most worried about (and will get properly checked). I've had a short ride since, and everything seems to be going ok, if not quite as happy as before.

Moral of the story:

1) always wear your gear.
2) relax and don't get agitated when riding, or you'll end up trying to cut a metaphorical corner, and it'll end in tears.

A pity, as I was having a great day up until then.

P.S. the sunnies were fine.

**Slim** · 23rd January 2005, 14:21

Glad to hear you've got the gear & that you use it.

Fingers crossed the steering head doesn't turn into a major, but you might be able to pick up mirror and/or indicator through a wrecker for not very much.

Thanks to your Guardian Angel too. It's one of the benefits of being a minority on the road - as a group we're still small enough to actively look after other motorcyclists, whether we know them or not.

**erik** · 23rd January 2005, 15:17

Sorry to hear that! With such a big group, it's easy for people to get left behind/lost. I was one of the people that turned right and went straight to clevedon rather than going around maraiatai. I'm glad it wasn't too major.

Good to hear you had some helpful people come and give you a hand

**FROSTY:Me** · 23rd January 2005, 15:31

said GN250 left here a few minutes ago -for a quick blast round the block--hmm methinks problem isn't fixed yet.
Most important dude--you are ok.
do ya want a hand straightening her out?/

**Holy Roller** · 23rd January 2005, 16:10

One has to watch that gravel
Did the same thing infront of the Mrs and her friend but only a low speed turn and what do you know the bike decided that it was tired, nothing damaged tho only my pride. Certainly pays to have the right gear on. The bike landing on ones leg can cause much pain and sadnesse especially if the muffler is hot.
What a great weekend for a ride and have I been on one

**Skyryder** · 23rd January 2005, 16:33

Easy how little distractions cause so much agro. I can remember filling up the tank on a hot day and petrol bubbling out from the cap. I had taken off my gloves and put them on the back seat. Sorted the problem and forgot to put on my gloves. This was in Alexandria. Went back to get gloves but someone had picked them up. Got a new pair from the local farm bike shop. Cost me sixty odd dollars. Small change in the grand scheme of things I know. Still a lesson learned then and today.

Skyryder

**Posh Tourer :P** · 23rd January 2005, 18:04

Sorry to hear about that. We waited a while for you at Clevedon, and then decided you weren't coming back..... Even saw Mr Rocket Eleventy-One riding past too....

Good to hear that you were ok and that Mike found you in the end.....

**Quasievil** · 23rd January 2005, 18:18

Well yes ALWAYS wear your gear, but I failed miserably today, I rode into Hamilton to check out some stuff got into town and was dripping in sweat, thought fuck it Im riding in my T Shirt, and did so ! very bad, I rode particulary carefully and MAN IT WAS GOOD !!!!!

**Waylander** · 23rd January 2005, 18:20

should have said somethin bout bein in hamz today man might have mmet you somewhere

**El Dopa** · 23rd January 2005, 19:13

Just need to vent and say that 8 and a bit hours later, I am still extremely freaked out that at the exact moment I was thinking 'hmmm, what do I do now?' a bloke rides up and sorts absolutely everything at the drop of a hat.

On the biggest production bike currently available, too (but what else would a guardian angel ride?).

I mean, c'mon, you couldn't make that up.

**Roadrash** · 23rd January 2005, 19:35

Don't worry bro happens to the best and worst of us but sounds like it worked out well go you, hope you have better luck next ride.

**SPman** · 23rd January 2005, 22:44

Glad you're OK. We were wondering long and hard about what was happening and BF was going to ride back from Kawakawa Bay to find you - but, being the selfish barstards we are, we carried on! Sorry about the detour - well, it was a nice twisty road, and I only killed 1 Pukeko out of the 3 that tried it on!

**Zapf** · 24th January 2005, 00:37

hay El Dopa good to hear you are ok ish. sorry to hear about the side, I low sided a scooter in some sand in thailand wearing summer weight trouser and shirt with no gloves... not fun.

So guess u learnt now when ever you see loose surfaces, be very very very careful.

hopefully the bike is not too hard to fix, sounds bad for a lowish speed bin.

**shandawg** · 24th January 2005, 06:21

Shit sorry to hear about the bin mate!

Hopefully the bike is ok, glad to hear you are!

**erik** · 24th January 2005, 07:47

Originally Posted by El Dopa

Just need to vent and say that 8 and a bit hours later, I am still extremely freaked out that at the exact moment I was thinking 'hmmm, what do I do now?' a bloke rides up and sorts absolutely everything at the drop of a hat.

On the biggest production bike currently available, too (but what else would a guardian angel ride?).

I mean, c'mon, you couldn't make that up.

Cool, isn't it? Whether it's just coincidence or something else, life does some cool things sometimes.

It's nice 'cause it balances out somewhat all the shit that happens...