Laid it down today (or, it laid ME down)

Greased clutch and brake cable, put cables back on levers. Rode it and thought all was well.

Decided to play hooky from work, thought it was tough to push out of the garage. Rode very tough, while in residential, I thought I'd better turn around, something is terribly wrong. On the turn, the front wheel decided to stop dead. I went off the bike and bike went down. Thank G** I was going slowly.

Bike landed on left side, fairing caught the brunt, so did engine guards. Broke front left signal.

As for me, definitely cracked a rib or two, shoulder hurts but prolly isn't broken because I can move all parts <ouch>. Hand to foot, elbow, wrist, leg, all very sore. Considering the alternative, I am just embarrassed and sore, not dead (or worse).

Was wearing jeans, light gloves, helmet, leather jacket due to weather.

Worst was calling wifey, she came got me, I got tools, disengaged brake cable, rode it home. Seems to ride okay, turning left feels funny but all looks well.

Please advise:
Front brake cable, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? I worked on it for another hour and can't get front wheel to freewheel. It rides, but wheel has brake tension, and cable seems shorter than before greasing it. Did it shrink? With fairing it's hard to assess, but I can get to most of it with a little effort.

Any signs of damage I should look for? All looks well, fork probably twisted as one of the two front disks was hotter than he**. Can it twist at low speeds, any other damage ideas?

Anyway, thought you'd like to know. Sharing good with bad with a little stupid helps us all in the long run.

 

Hey dude,

Glad you're ok. Banged up, but ok and alive.

I'm curious to see what the resolve will be.

 

did you try adjusting the cable on the brake perch?
Undo the locknut, screw the adjuster in a bit, tighten locknut.

If one of the rotors was hotter than the other, you might have a sticking caliper on that side... brake pressure should be even.

 

glad you are ok. still sounds like a lot of hurt tho. makes me wonder how bad it would be to go down at "real" speed.

very interested in what went wrong. hope you heal up quick.

 

my brake cable gets pulled or the side force on the front wheel causes my front wheel to 'seize up' when im at full left or right (i dont remember) lock...

also check to make sure the caliper floats on the float pins. when i first did the brakes on my maxim about 20 years ago, i didnt even know it was supposed to be a floating caliper and the new pad were rubbing the rotor something fierce...

thats where I would start...

 

this is where I would start as well and then check the MC to make sure the piston isnt sticking there...

 

An admission of stupidity.

Background: With the fairing, it's very difficult to see the master cylinder, etc. Based on your inputs, I found where the control cable ends, down behind the fairing. It was out of position, with a very long screw driver from the bottom whilst (that's for you brits) looking down from the top I was able to pop it into its position -- a collar where the cable houses. Bingo. Cable grew another centimetre (that's for you aussies). Still brake tension on the disks, although MUCH less.

Bad move: By way of reading some archives on this site, along with the advice given to me by the guy who saw me crash -- a fellow rider -- who helped me get the bike up, I decided to unloosen (that's for you South Dakotans) the brake bleed nipples. Fluid emitted from both. When I went to tighten the right side, the dang thing immediately broke off. The remaining half is down there enough not to leak.

When I went to tighten the left one, it feels cross threaded, and gets real hard to tighten. With lessons learned from the previous nipple slipple, I decided not to tighten further until I admit my goof to you all. I can't get it to where it won't squirt fluid, and the head is rounded from some prior owner -- honest!

I hope to be able to tap the remaining screw and get it out, and maybe get a couple new nipples (stop it).

If anyone has a fairing with the frame mounted master cylinder, I would love your input as to where to begin. Meanwhile, the moral is, it's all my fault. A simple cable mis-relocation results in my not being able to ride without proper brakes, and prolly now need all new fluid, etc.

A crash and sore body and bad shoulder that could have been avoided. Lesson learnt (that's for any member from any country that uses that spelling).

This is truly an international group. We're a lucky bunch for the hosts doing what they do. Thanks.

 

It just occurred to me. Maybe the bleed nipples on my bike were the wrong ones. Hmm. Well, the next ones will be correct!

Thanks again.