First bin ever (riding since 1984)

**YellowDog** · 28th March 2009, 19:15

Having been riding since 1984, I was quite surprised to suffer my first ever bin. It would be nice to know exactly went wrong so I could learn from it but is just happened in an instant.

I had just moved off from a standing position onto the roundabout (top of Tawa Drive by SW17 Albany Motorway exit). There was a lot of traffic and I moved off at a reasonable pace. I was in first gear accelerating gently and leaning into the bend (like I do every day). I guess I must have fully let the clutch out by this time. The bike went down in one movement. Bar end to the ground and I saw the back wheel overtake me. I did my best impression of ‘Swan Lake’ in an attempt to avoid being hit by cars. Amazingly from my initial bang on the ground I stood and was dancing on my feet whilst slowing. I then hit the top of my thigh on the ground as I fell over. If there are any idiots reading this who still think it is OK to ride in shorts and T-shirt, think again. The bike was ahead and facing towards me.

I am pretty sure that no one hit my bike wheel causing this and the only explanation I have is that I must have hit a patch of oil on the roundabout. Without traction control and whilst accelerating, the wheel would have spun out of control, which is what appears to have happened. After getting help to move the bike onto the grass I had a good look around. There was so much traffic that it was hard to see.

One of my biker friends doesn’t think it is a big deal and as one of the hazards they regularly have to suffer with town riding. Apparently less than 4 bins a year is pretty good going? I can’t get my head around this and hadn’t anticipated hitting the ground without something more obvious occurring.

I can’t pretend that it hasn’t shaken me up because there was nothing out of the norm from my daily ride. If I was aware of a mistake I had made to cause this, then I feel a lot more comfortable about the situation. I will certainly pay more attention to look out for slippy substances on the road.

Constructive comments will be appreciated, particularly over expectations of hitting the ground on a semi-regular basis?

**Ixion** · 28th March 2009, 19:28

Well, one off in 25 years is pretty good. I've managed a bit longer than that. So, maybe you better be real careful around 2034.

A totally unscientific assessment suggests that good riders tend to have an off about once every 20 years, give or take.

I agree, it's a worry when a safe rider goes down without any discernable reason. IME oil you tend to feel it slide .

Sometimes, maybe there isn't a reason, just one of the Biker Gods decided to piss on you. Me, I wouldn't get too hung up about it.

**The Pastor** · 28th March 2009, 19:35

Originally Posted by Ixion

Well, one off in 25 years is pretty good. I've managed a bit longer than that. So, maybe you better be real careful around 2034.

A totally unscientific assessment suggests that good riders tend to have an off about once every 20 years, give or take.

I agree, it's a worry when a safe rider goes down without any discernable reason. IME oil you tend to feel it slide .

Sometimes, maybe there isn't a reason, just one of the Biker Gods decided to piss on you. Me, I wouldn't get too hung up about it.

you lasted more than 25 years with out falling off? you bloody liar. What about all the times when you speed while drunk? not to metion all those wheelies, just admit it ixion, your a hoon

**piston broke** · 28th March 2009, 19:49

long ago, 4 times a year would have been about right for me.
now once every four years is too often.
it's been more than a decade now,let it be two decades or so more,i hope.
well done going so long without dropping a bike

**Ixion** · 28th March 2009, 20:08

Originally Posted by renegade master

... What about all the times when you speed while drunk? not to metion all those wheelies, just admit it ixion, your a hoon

They were on two strokes, that doesn't count. 'under the influence of two smoker smoke' is a valid excuse for anything.

**rainman** · 28th March 2009, 21:36

Originally Posted by YellowDog

Having been riding since 1984, I was quite surprised to suffer my first ever bin.

Well, that sucks, mate. I assume from your post that you're all OK?

I haven't had a bin since I started riding again, and it was a long time before that when I had one at all. I often find myself wondering when it's going to be "my turn" but switch back to deciding it ain't gonna happen. That's all we can do, I guess - decide to avoid falling off, ride to the best of our abilities, keep learning... and if/when we're unlucky, hope it's only a little bit unlucky.

How's the bike?

**discotex** · 28th March 2009, 22:56

Don't let it get to you mate. Just take what you can from it and keep moving. We all make mistakes from time to time. Usually we get away with it and with 20+ years crash free you're obviously doing something right. Hope ya not too banged up!

My thoughts that might help.....

Pretty unlikely you'd hit oil or diesel with the rear but not the front and you'd be able to see it easily in the aftermath.

To me it sounds a lot more like cold and/or worn tyres + lean angle + too much gas = crash.

Your description gives the impression you were trying to get into the roundabout in a hurry so that seems a likely explanation.

**YellowDog** · 28th March 2009, 23:15

Originally Posted by rainman

Well, that sucks, mate. I assume from your post that you're all OK?

I haven't had a bin since I started riding again, and it was a long time before that when I had one at all. I often find myself wondering when it's going to be "my turn" but switch back to deciding it ain't gonna happen. That's all we can do, I guess - decide to avoid falling off, ride to the best of our abilities, keep learning... and if/when we're unlucky, hope it's only a little bit unlucky.

How's the bike?

I'm fine thanks to pretty good in built armour. Just a bruise on my thigh that is responding well to an ice pack.

The bike has a nasty graze (just one). It is on plastic, so I can easily remove the panel and get it repainted. I recon $150 will do it!

The bar end weight took the impact and has bent up 90 degrees. There are also a couple of minor scratches on the exhaust cover.

After getting it off the road and assessing/considering my options, I quickly realised that the bent bar end weight had locked the throttle twist. The few tools I had were not really sufficient. After jamming a screw driver in several times, I managed to bend it back enough to unscrew it. Pliers would have been useful.

The damage to both me and the bike is extremely minor and I was very lucky.

Thanks for your kind words.

**quickbuck** · 28th March 2009, 23:16

My thoughts.
Well, it was most defiantly a surface adhesion issue.

I mean, you have been riding so long that you do many things subconsciously.
So even if your bike gave a splutter causing it to fall you would have naturally countered for that, and know it happened.... or not. Regardless you would have saved it.

I would say it was something slippery on the surface of the road. As opposed to cold tyres. Even cold tyres would find traction.

Now, don't know the round-about BUT they are notorious for accidents.
There may have been one earlier where a vehicle dumped its antifreeze.

We are all quick to blame oil and diesel, but that green liquid it as slippery.... and less visible I reckon.

4 Bins a year.... Far too frequent. Might have been acceptable if I includes all the bins I had before I was 15...

**YellowDog** · 28th March 2009, 23:29

Originally Posted by discotex

Don't let it get to you mate. Just take what you can from it and keep moving. We all make mistakes from time to time. Usually we get away with it and with 20+ years crash free you're obviously doing something right. Hope ya not too banged up!

My thoughts that might help.....

Pretty unlikely you'd hit oil or diesel with the rear but not the front and you'd be able to see it easily in the aftermath.

To me it sounds a lot more like cold and/or worn tyres + lean angle + too much gas = crash.

Your description gives the impression you were trying to get into the roundabout in a hurry so that seems a likely explanation.

I know pretty well what the bike can do and hence my bewilderment at this unexpected bin. Of the bike's/my capabilities, I would estimate that my manoeuvre was around 50/100. I had waited patiently for a suitable gap in the traffic and then moved out fairly swiftly; but you have suggested something here that I had not even considered. Yes the tyres were stone cold. I had only travelled around 200m after being stopped for almost 5 hours.

Thanks for that. Feeling better already!

**YellowDog** · 28th March 2009, 23:38

Originally Posted by quickbuck

My thoughts.
Well, it was most defiantly a surface adhesion issue.

I mean, you have been riding so long that you do many things subconsciously.
So even if your bike gave a splutter causing it to fall you would have naturally countered for that, and know it happened.... or not. Regardless you would have saved it.

I would say it was something slippery on the surface of the road. As opposed to cold tyres. Even cold tyres would find traction.

Now, don't know the round-about BUT they are notorious for accidents.
There may have been one earlier where a vehicle dumped its antifreeze.

We are all quick to blame oil and diesel, but that green liquid it as slippery.... and less visible I reckon.

4 Bins a year.... Far too frequent. Might have been acceptable if I includes all the bins I had before I was 15...

Yes Quickbuck. There was definitely something slippy on the road and hence the rear wheel slid past me. And yes I do know the bike well. I was accelerating smoothly so I wouldn't factor in jerky movements as being a contributary factor. If my tyres were warm, I suspect I would have achieved some grip as the bike passed the slippy stuff and made contact with dry road.

Thanks for your comments.

**discotex** · 29th March 2009, 10:11

Originally Posted by YellowDog

Thanks for that. Feeling better already!

Good stuff YD. Glad to hear you weren't hurt badly!

I reckon you can say you've solved this one and that it was mostly the stone cold tyres

You'd be surprised how little grip a stone cold tyre can have. I know I've been caught out a few times at the roundabouts near home now that it's cooling down again

**fLaThEaD FreD** · 29th March 2009, 10:27

As a one year virgen to two wheels and only 24 days to go till my full,I read comments from posters and absorb all of them. I've had one bin early in my riding time and got steelwork to remember it by......It hasent put me off but tought me shitloads.....thanks from me as well.

**Robbo** · 29th March 2009, 10:56

Yep, i'd also say that you have hit a patch of something slippery on the road. Glad you have'nt done too much damage to the Tiger so i guess it's only your pride that has taken a knock. Could have happened to any of us.
Cheers