Katiepie graduates

[javawocky]

...I'm not so thrilled about your jumping back onto that R6 to ride down south (I have my reasons) but fully support your decision.

Not quiet sure if you are referring to R6 or getting on a bike for such a long ride in Katies current state or both.

If its the R6 then we need to have words as 600 are pussycats until provoked

For myself I have two concerns for you, Katie. The 600 can be really uncomfortable for a perfectly healthy and fit person on a long ride - you may be in for a world of pain.

Going by yourself - reckon you are better going with a small group or at least a buddy to watch your back (pun intended) so you don't push yourself to hard. By that I don't mean speed I mean distance, without taking brakes when you needed it.

BUT, this is your goal, so whatever you do we are behind you

[Quasi]

Hey Java - its wonderful to see all this support and concern for our mate, but our Katie is the most sensible person I know, she wont be putting herself at risk, and she will have friends queuing up to watch her back when she is ready to roll again.

[Edbear]

Unfortunatly it's the doctor thats the problem, not ACC. The said I was fine to go straight back to full time work on the same day as the halo removal. Can't drive but apparently good to go thanks to my previous job title. I'll soon be leasing with my private GP rather than the hospital so hope they can see I'm no where near up to full strength yet with next to no energy.

Apart from that, gotta get back it when I can. Bugger sitting round home all day every day for much longer. Too bad about the pain or lack of movement - I want to earn an honest living again

Ummm.. You are, love, you honestly deserve your current income. You're no slacker by anyone's measure!

Listen to your body, though, as if you push it too hard too soon it will push back. It's 14mths since my accident, now, though only 10mths since the surgery and I'm finally getting to the point of being able to work more than a couple of hours a day. Still, I am waiting now for the specialist's report to get back to my Case Manager for review of where to go from here.

Especially with your neck, you're going to have to be very careful, it'll take some time to build your muscles up again. Patience is hard to learn when you've been so full of the zest for life, I know, but do it once and do it right and you'll have no regrets! Give yourself a hug from the Bears!

[Gone Burger]

Thank you all for your scrumptious support. It means the world to me and I know I can get there.

In regards to the R6, please be assured I made sure the frame was fine and straight before buying it back. A dear friend has been the mechanic on it for me, and I ran everything past him before making me decision. He would never allow me to buy something that would be unsafe, or undoable for me. So i thank him greatly for all his efforts, and look forward to progressing from here.

And for that long ride I am planning, the MAIN reason I brought the R6 to begin with was for the comfort for me on it. I am small, it is small and the riding position was the least painful for me out of the many that I tried. I need to lean forward off my tailbone to prevent to lower back pain I was having. And my neck would hurt greatly in an upright position due ti having to hold it still against the wind. I also travelled down south last year with a friend on his R1, and one of her 636 and over the 4 days of riding these two both convinced me I can also manage that ride position over long distances. It seems that my body fits so much better on this angel. I can understand your concern for me getting back on this. One for comfort with my neck, and two because I crashed on it so soon after getting it. I will just quickly say now that it was NOT the bike nor my riding style that made me crash. I will not go into it further, but I know for a fact that if I was still on the M50, I would have still crashed, and I would definately not have been lucky enough to walk away.

And for the long trip, I know this will be huge pressure on my neck with my current injuries, even in 5 months time. But I am confident I can do it, taking regular breaks along the way wearing a neck brace for added support. The reason to do it solo? It has been hinted that when I begin riding again, I will be a liability to join my friends on their trips South. So I do not want to burden anyone with thinking they need to take extra caution with me nor feel they can't ride their own ride because of me. As the gorgeous Quasi said (and she knows my riding best out of many) I am sensible and will NOT BE TAKING ANY ADDED RISKS. I will be riding very gently, at a pace much slower than I may have in the past, stopping as often as I feel the need to. And if it doesn't feel right, I will pull the plug on it straight away.

This is my goal, and my doctor, physio and myself all think I can be ready in time to do so. I have much hard work ahead of me, but I know I can get there, and will need your support along the way.

Love to you all - bloody top bunch of folk right here. I need to figure out how on earth to make that trip possible, when I will be taking on a new job well before then I hope, but perhaps its my time for a lucky break? Who knows. Let the hard work begin now, and my smile couldn't be bigger.

[Oblivion]

Don't worry hun, everyone will understand that you are only starting to get used to it again. You will get to as good as you were with time. When you make it down by yourself, you'll have a bigger smile than you do now.I can guarantee that.

Ride safe and ride strong.

[caseye]

Anyone who hints that a recently injured and returning to motorcycling, rider is a "liability" and should ride solo on a trip like that lacks any sense of pride! and or comradeship, never mind responsibility to a fellow rider.Especially if they know anything of you Katiepie.
Katiepie, I'd ride with you anywhere, particularly for those first few trips and in particular on an epic journey such as you're planning to make.
To literally go it alone is seriously not a good idea.
K, boys/girls time to step up, I live in Dorkalnd so the chances of my actually being able to ride anywhere with Katiepie are pretty slim.
However I'm picking that there will be no shortage of willing and experienced hands who would do the same.
What you choose to do is up to you but I for one would not want to see you riding that far first time up on your own.
Nor even if you were perfectly fit and experienced to hell an gone on that R6.Riding any distance on your own is automatically putting yourself closer to harms way than it is necessary to be.
Looking forward to seeing the pic of that nice shiny better than new R6, K.
Go for it girl.

[Paul in NZ]

Anyone who hints that a recently injured and returning to motorcycling, rider is a "liability" and should ride solo on a trip like that lacks any sense of pride! and or comradeship, never mind responsibility to a fellow rider.Especially if they know anything of you Katiepie.

I'm sorry - I'm confused? What are you saying exactly?

[sinfull]

The reason to do it solo? It has been hinted that when I begin riding again, I will be a liability to join my friends on their trips South. So I do not want to burden anyone with thinking they need to take extra caution with me nor feel they can't ride their own ride because of me..

Absolute bollocks ! Just the opposite would be more the case !

If you'r planning a Burt Munroe trip all good, but if not, you would be most welcome to postpone your trip and join a bunch of scoundrels and scoundrelesses (I say this tongue in cheek, as you well know we're all gentelmen) on a two week trip in Feb/march covering the entire south !

Group riding does not need to entail riding on each others back wheel, but can offer great support for each and every rider, who can ride their own ride, at the pace they choose ! Everyone knows where we'll be stopping and no-one gets left behind !

Motorcycling is not just riding a bike, it's how you roll while off the bike too !

[Spearfish]

The joys of bike restoration....and personalising slightly...

Nothing demystifies the source of all that noise, vibration and visceral stimulation than digging deeper than dipsticks or air cleaners, reaching elbow deep under the shiny bits to fettle its guts.

With all the help katie has on tap and her own determination the only thing in the form of advice could be(?)- get a drum of good hand cleaner and leave it by the laundry tub and never underestimate how well a domestic dishwasher can clean parts.

Pics and posts a given?

[Paul in NZ]

Bike restoration also involves digging deeply into ones wallet.... sigh....

[Gone Burger]

Bike restoration also involves digging deeply into ones wallet.... sigh....

Ah but with aftermarket parts this is much much much cheeper for me to do, rather than try and buy a similar bike. Can't get a loan now on a new bike without the old job, so if I want a bike at all, this is the only way for me to do it financially.

[White trash]

Ah but with aftermarket parts this is much much much cheeper for me to do, rather than try and buy a similar bike. Can't get a loan now on a new bike without the old job, so if I want a bike at all, this is the only way for me to do it financially.

What luck that you have such great friends in a Yamaha dealership then eh

[Crasherfromwayback]

What luck that you have such gay friends in a Yamaha dealership then eh

Sorted.

[Gone Burger]

What luck that you have such great friends in a Yamaha dealership then eh

Me have friends? Na - I only have friends for one reason on here remember? AND NONE OF YOU ARE GETTING THAT! Just saying

Yes Jimmy, sure going to need help along the way, and will be in touch when I get going as I dearly would love to keep some of it genuine. But thanks to the mass expenses of my injuries and rehab along the way the budget is small but doable. Most definately more doable than trying to buy another bike. That would be another year away, so this option will not only be GREAT fun, but something I can manage and try to get on my feet with.

[Paul in NZ]

Ah but with aftermarket parts this is much much much cheeper for me to do, rather than try and buy a similar bike. Can't get a loan now on a new bike without the old job, so if I want a bike at all, this is the only way for me to do it financially.

Sweet as...

Even though I'm on record as not really being a fanboy of this - I'm willing to kick in some skin and we could raise some funds to help out if ya like? Movie night at Parrot n Jigger with raffle? I can provide everything including a horrible movie with hot chicks n motorbikes n stuff....

You bike shop types would kick in some 30 year old stock that hasnt sold for a raffle right? You know those old gauntlets with the white safety bits?