Crashed the bike today.

After I put in the new battery and let it charge on idle for 10-15 min. I decided to take it out for a little spin. I came to a stop sign on my street and had to take a left; I may have throttled too much but I don't know exactly what happend(there's also some gravel at that stop sign) but it felt like I couldn't turn the handlebars, can't remember exactly what happend next but the bike landed on top of my left leg and the windshield/fairing is busted to hell.
I'm a little shaken to tell the truth, not without good reason I suppose, with a few good scratches and a fat lip. The bike only has some cosmetic damage to the clutch lever and of course the fairing. I'm shaken but what kind of biker would I be if I didn't get back on it, right? You live and you learn.
Any tips, thoughts, comments are welcome.

 

Glad to hear that you are ok. Gravel can be a bitch sometimes. I go through this one intersection on mornings when I take the back way to work and I could swear there is this little roaming patch of gravel that is out to get me.

 

I did the same thing pulling out of my driveway on my old Xs400, little patch of grave was just enough to drop me, luckily i kind of just walked off the bike and stayed on my feet, and my highway pegs hit the ground and prevented any damageto the bike, but it freaked the hell out of me.

My adviceget back on and keep riding

 

WHoa , doors open 8O . comment=your a idiot and shouldent be on the road!

Tips= Next time you feel like a ride go and hit the dirt somewhere , you have bush tracks out there? , go find em and practice on the dirt , spend all day or until tired and keep practicing until you get it right.
Get it right is , doin wheelies , front brake lockups , sideways sliders under power , rear brake lockups and all that stuff , practice braking at speed and get to know what the limit of traction is , do take offs at different rpms ect ect..

Start slowly and stick to one thing at a time and try not to go over the limit and drop it.

And if you'd like a scare sometime come out here and you'll see when on the dirt roads someone goes faster on the dirt on a road bike than on the road , as there is no chance of getting booked for speeding as the po lice ai'nt on them [yet] .legal 100k on road 120k+ on dirt = fun.

 

OUCH! Kinda rough on him don't you think HooNz?

He's got a good point though. Practice riding where you can get some experience with gravel, bumps etc. AND where you won't get run over when you make a mistake.

Also, if you haven't taken the MSF I highly recommend you stay away from cages until you have.

 

Let me get his right.You stopped at the stop sign or you went thru it?If you were going kinda slow and grabbed your front brake that could have caued you to spill,I try to avoid using front brake on lose stuff like gravel,dirt,wet leaves and sand.glad to hear you aren't hurt bad.Took me 2 days to wreck my xj.Broken collarbone and road rash is what i got and $$ bills $$ from the doc.

 

HuH , i ain't using psycology , the guy implies the bike rides one and i think it should be cleared up that ONE rides the bike.

To say that one does not know what happened implies the bike had control.

He knows what happened and just to let it be known that real idiots whilst uniformed are a waste of time , i spent time.OK

Enjoy that dirt..

 

Yea, I'd say that was a bit rough but I'm not in the habit of taking every strangers opinion to heart. If I had some dirt to practice on I would, believe me. But my roads are 30mph side roads, I'm out in the middle of the day while kids are in school and most people are at work(no school buses, few cars parked along the side of the road). I've been sticking to 20-25mph, early breaking, etc.
I'm not a total idiot, I've been trying to focus my energy on a few things in particular, I just have nowhere else to practice other than these smaller side streets. I have no trailer to take it to the middle of nowhere, no parks, no land, no dirt bike, etc. I'm making do with what I have. Gotta start somewhere. I do see your point, but even most brand new car drivers shouldn't be on the road.

 

Yea but you're dick. No need explaining something to an individual who has already made their own conclusion both personal(though this conclusion is rather UNEDUCATED)and when it comes to skill, this was my second ride. Get lost jerk off.

 

So get a grip on it.

 

OOPS , the bike that is , what a world thos p__fs have created.

 

I have no problem with the way you look at it, it's probably the way I'd look at it too. Just a new rider that's all, with a new experience. I plan on "getting a grip on it".

 

That's the problem with the land of 10,000 lakes, not much dirt to ride in :lol: .

Seriously though, If you haven't taken the MSF do so at your earliest opportunity. Probably tough to find one in MN right now, but make sure you are on the top of the list come spring. It could save your life.

I have nearly 10 years dirt bike experience. I learned more in a 20 hour MSF course about how to handle a bike than I did all those years in gravel pits.

 

Well damn good for you and i'll except your apology too , treat that machine as your own personal DEATH machine until you control it , so learn how it will not do you in ie:control , then be ready to learn on who/what else out there will/might [other road users] , out of control.

As you see i ain't a sales person. I Ride 24hrs 7 days.

 

Yea I've been considering it seriously, I wasn't going to because I've heard good things and bad things about them depending on how an individual learns best.
Not a whole lot of dirt to ride in out here unless you know someone with some land, which I personally don't. I wouldn't mind getting on a dirt bike though.

 

They will put you on a small bike. You will probably feel like your knees will rub your ears.

They will run you through exercises that seem very unnatural. You'll wobble, you'll jerk, you may even drop the bike. They will press you to go faster, lean more, stop harder. They'll want you to do 90 degree turns that you think would be tight on foot. You will ride figure 8s in a box so small it seems impossible. You'll weave through offset cones at incredible speeds.

In my case, it poured rain through most of it. I actually appreciated the opportunity to try wet pavement on someone elses bike and without traffic.

If you're like me, right now that 750 seems big and a handful to control.
After the class you will get on your bike and it will feel like an extension of your body. You will bend it to your will without even thinking about it, and you will be able to focus on the traffic and the road. Oh, and you will have about 1000x more fun too.

 

This guy comes on here and admitts too all that he made a mistake out of inexperience and you call him a Idiot!! what do you mean you shouldnt be on the road? who the f**k are you? were you born with a motorcycle strapped to you ass, you started rididng at some point and dont tell me that you never dropped or dumped your bike cause you`d be a liar hoonz.

and dont tell me that your biker or rider of the year cause you ride on dirt roads cause you aint. have you read some of your latest post hoonz?? you got some nerve calling other people idiots!!!!!!

 

OU812didntU , Maybe you should eat another ole girl , i musta had a different type , yaknow a free one.

 

Fighting on the xj forum dam??Taking the piss??.Lets try to be adults here.

 

OK; everyone calm down. So you put it down-no biggie. Bikes are repairable and you've got the off season coming up. You can probably find a new fairing on eBay over the winter.
First; You should ABSOLUTELY do the basic rider course (BRC). I did it two years ago with my son and I learned a ton of things I thought I already knew; and on their 250cc enduro to boot. It was a blast! I humbled myself a few times and left a much stronger rider once I opened up my mind to what they were saying. In fact, I was so impressed I signed up for the experienced rider course (ERC) and took it last June on one of my own bikes. Again; by the time I finished I was doing things I'd not readily try on my own.
I read a lot. There are some excellent books out there. Some I can recommend are Proficient Motorcycling (David Hough), More Proficient Motorcycling (Hough)- two of the best books on street technique I've ever read. I would go so far as to call them MUST READS. Total Control (Lee Parks) and Twist of the Wrist (Keith Code) are also very, very good. This is an excellent winter off-season activity on those cold nights. It keeps your moto-mind working.
Riding dirt is a fantastic skill builder; not everyone has a dirt bike available, nor the place to use it. In lieu of that, try BMX riding in the dirt. The priciples are the same.
What you can do to make yourself a better rider;
1) Get the gear. If you're not already using full gear, get it. You've shown yourself there is a need for it, regardless of how much experience you have. It can save your life. Don't skimp. Buy the best you can afford; even if you have to borrow.
2) Ride. Often. When you're new, I recommend riding every day. Even a short ride after work begins to pattern your muscle reflexes and response factors. Plus, it allows you to take short, controlled jaunts in less-than-perfect conditions (wind, drizzle, dusk, etc.) Then you can go home and review what you've learned. Keep notes and review them.
3) Eliminate risk factors. Don't do long/extended rides when conditions are less than acceptable. Don't ride during heavy traffic times (i.e. rush hour) or when the sun is in your eyes. In this fall weather beware of deer crossing the roads.
4) It's better to ride by yourself, rather than in groups of more experienced riders; here's why. Newbies usually end up last and are struggling to keep up with the group. This leads to pushing too fast through corners, riding to fast for conditions and testosterone contests. Ride your own ride, at your own pace.
5) Find a parking lot. Set up cones. PRACTICE your straight-line HARD braking, figure-eights,swerves, etc (all the things you'll learn in BRC.) Practice until it becomes second nature. Practice until you know what that machine will do before it does. Practice it often.
6) Enjoy your ride, but as Hough tells us in More PM, treat each ride like a combat mission. There are people and obstacles out there that will kill you if you let the. DON'T LET THEM. You need to be on the defensive....ALWAYS. That lady in the mini van with the kids didn't MEAN to kill you; she was correcting her kids and talking on the cell phone. No matter; you're dead and she's sorry. Don't let it happen.
Don't let this discourage you. Get out there and master that machine. And ride safe!

 

Snitchesgetstitches: I'm very relieved to hear you came out of this experience none the worst for wear. Better the bike than you, it is replaceable, your hide is not.

CaptainKirk: couldn't agree more with your write up and advice. Nicely done. Snitch, good advice there.

HooNz: There you go again, we haven't quite gotten tuned into your lingo buddy so please be a mate and spell it out for we unenlightened folks (reads: ME). I'm sure you meant well enough but the "idiot" remark seemed to be entirely a poor choice.

Beanflicker: Agreed, this one got out of hand. Let's all try to keep this forum clean. Vulgarity is hardly at home here and I'd like to keep it that way.

OU812: I'll PM you.

 

Snitchesgetstitches, everyone drops a bike. It sounds like the only thing hurt is your pride. So don't get too worked up over it.

Keep practicing. Trust the bike to do the right thing when you hit some gravel or tar snakes. It wants to stand up, let it. There's a lot of truth in the "when in doubt, gas it" saying. Also, don't brake while you're leaned over in a turn, unless you know exactly what you're doing and how the bike will act.

So, keep riding, and buy the book "Proficient Motorcycling" while you're waiting on the MSF class.

 

PS: It's not a "crash" if the bike is still ridable! When you really crash, you'll know it.

 

first you need to figure out what you did so you don't do it again
turning left and fell on left side, i suspect the back end spun to the right and you did a slow lowside,while doing a little gravel burnout
maybe try oiling up the clutch cable, and then do some starts and stops in some wet grass
10 or 15 feet is all you need see what it feels like when the wheel spins or locks up no front brake!

 

It's no bad thing to have someone teach you clutch control, throttle control etc,etc. But it's the things you can't be taught that you need to learn to stay alive and sometimes the only way to learn is to fall off, it is wrong to pillory someone who falls off we have all done this, so if your lucky then you will get up a lot slower and a lot wiser to what may have happened, if your unlucky then you may never get up again. This guy has learned one painful lesson,there will be many more, as there will be for all of us because this is what we do,we ride bikes, if there was no risk then we would do something else just as dangerous , would'nt we.

 

Shake it off brother, stuff happens..

 

I was hit from behind while sitting at a red light a few months ago. It was dark out and raining and I was wearing my bright green reflective vest. It really shook me up but, I used the experience to figure out what I could have done to keep it from happening again. Now I always check my mirrors when coming up on a light and when I stop I watch the car coming up behind me and keep my hand on the clutch until they stop. You live and learn and keep adding to your skills on the bike. Good luck and be safe!

 

I'll jump in and say that all of us have been there. I tought myself to ride, and admit that it was not without incident. You have the right attitude by reflecting on the situation, getting back on, and trying to make it right the next time. Sometimes "the hard way" is how learning sticks with you (speaking from personal experience). Consider yourself lucky that you didn't end up in the hospital, or worse....the bike totalled! Don't let your ego get you down, it has happened to all of us. Now that you're on the forum you can get tips to fix everything and get right back out there. Cheers!

 

Just be glad you didn't do it on a brand new bike like I did! (And I'm still sitting here with bandages on my road rash...)

As for Hoontz's post, my only comment is don't let someones posting style obscure the good advice they may have to offer.

 

My dad and several uncles taught me to ride at 16 on a variety of bikes all wearing side cars and there were several lessons I learnt very quickly.

No 1. Don't wave to the girl you've been trying to get your hands on while riding down the road because your german uncle, behind you on the pillon, will knock your silly bleeding head off.

No 2. Don't touch the spark plug while the engine is running so as to impress your mates with your knowledge of bikes, especially while pulling away.

No 3. Don't offer a big girl (and I mean a big girl) a lift up a long steep hill on your clapped out 125cc BSA Bantam, cause you'll feel a right Wally when you tell her to get off and walk.

No 4. Don't sit in the gutter moaning when you drop the bike unless you have broken yourself, get back on and try again.

No 5. Don't get caught behind the bus your old girl is on because she will have hysterics and kick your arse when she get's into work (I was an apprentice at the firm my mum worked for).

Faighaigh.

 

Now thats some good advice faighaigh, and remember stay away from big girls while on a 125cc

 

XJchoppa.

I wish I had stayed away from them then, thank goodness my dear lady wife came along and helped me find the path to rightousness..

Faighaigh

 

If you live in Minneapolis, I highly recommend riding to a cementary and spending a couple hours taking their car-free twisties are low speeds until you're comfortable.

My first couple rides (about two weeks before taking the MSF Basic Rider Course) were in Lakewood Cementary. Find one of these in your area. The bigger, the better.

 

Lead a very colorful life by the sounds of it Mick! Guess I'm convinced not to wave at girls now!

 

Ok, I'll go easier on you than Hoon did.
I've been riding for about 30 yrs, one day I went to the field where my kids were dirt bike riding and told them to get home for dinner, did I mention that I rode over there on my wing?
Well, I turned around on a hard packed dirt road and was barely moving when I shifted to 2nd gear. there was a patch of fine gravel on the road and I dumped my bike, %&^#$@()*, BOY WAS I Pi$$e%, well it was the off season, and my back tire was pretty worn from a year of hard riding, I intended to change it in the spring......
tore my bike up pretty bad and I bet I wasn't going over 15mph!

Well the moral of this story is, don't forget to respect the bike.

Hoon said it best, it IS your personal death machine!!!

Take the class and always ride like everyone is out to kill you (including yourself)
YOUR SAFETY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!!!!

Now get out there and BE CAREFUL!
and if your tire is worn FIX IT or dont ride it!
dont be a dumb *&* like I was!!!

 

Well well well, I go away for a couple of weeks holidays and all the fun starts :lol: :lol:

Some very interesting points made here that I think require thought.

Rider did something stupid and came of. Rider error due to inexperience. Idiot? Well idiot and stupid do go hand in hand. :wink: But you are a tough bugger Hoonz. :lol:

I'm guessing snitches pulled the front brake too hard and the front wheel went elsewhere.

Ease off on the front brake while learning. It's for emergengy's and straight line braking only when your learning.

Learn to read the road. Especially when cornering. Keep away from the centre of the road(oily) and not too close to the curb(littered with debris)

Riding a bike is one of the hardest things to master. Every second you ride you need to be aware of a dozen thing at the same time.
Eg:
The traffic ahead
the traffic behind
every driveway and intersection you pass
the road condition ahead
the road condition around the corner
kids behind parked cars
animals near the road
that pothole that wasn't there yesterday.

The list goes on but the reality is you need to be aware of EVERYTHING going on around you when you ride and be prepared for things before they happen.

And a little comment for all those out there that claims this happens to everyone!!!!!

Stop assuming. If you binned YOUR bike you made an error!!! Don't assume everybody has made an error! The only assuming that you should do is assume every car you see is going to pull out in front of you.

I've been riding for thirty plus years and have NEVER binned a road bike!! And if I bin it tomorrow cause I said it then watch out.

Respect your machine
Know It's/your limitations BEFORE you exceed said limit.


And before you all jump on the bandwagon and accuse me of being a granpa rider think again.

Wheelspin = Fun. I'm the guy that will veer a little to the side where the dirt is so I can practice my "controlled" slide on that dirty piece of bitumen.

I take risks all the time but they are always calculated risks, not spontaneous risks.

Riding a bike can be second nature to some people. To others it's something that must be learned.

If you don't feel 80% comfortable on your first ride then your second ride should be with an instructor on a course.

Don't scrimp with your life. Pay for protection.

Hmmm, Should I get my flame suit out for protection now? :lol:

 

Hey Goon so where did you get off to on vacation?

Get out and ride?

Take the family to Wally World?

Wish I had time for the ol vacation thing

 

Nah,No riding. Was school holidays and took the kids on whirlwind trip to the centre of Australia. Visited Ayers Rock and Coober Pedy.

Did 6300Km in two weeks (approx 2000Km off the tarmac) and had a ball. An average of 400Km per day can be a bit ofa test on the family relationships but everyone had a good time.

All this was done towing the caravan as well. 8)

Got tohave your holidays mate, Lifes too short not to enjoy it. :wink:

 

http://curezone.com/forums/troll.asp

 

Informative link HooNz, though I'm not sure why you posted it.

 

HG, why on earth would you want to visit Coober Pedy? Nothing out there but rocks and miners. Gotta get you out to Perth or something.

 

Cos it's a fascinating place Robert. Full of mystery and history. Wasn't a planned stop but a breakdown and blown tyre laid us up there for a couple of days.

Agreed, it is a nothing town but the way of living is amazing. Imagine carving your house out of rock and living in a constant temp all year round.

Plus a bit of fossicking for opals never goes astray. :wink:

 

Find any? Saw a wonderful documentary on Pedy back a few years ago and was struck on how bleedin rural it is out there. Nice to pick up pretty rocks but the night life must be dead as horseflies in January (our January mate, not yours).

 

H.G. I didnt really coment back on the vacation because I had not idea where it was that you went.
Kinda like if I told you I went to Laughlin for holiday. (big gambling mecca on the Colorado river)

Hope the vacation was great inspite of the flat tire.

Next spring were hoping to take a week up at Oak Creek.

I'll send a picture

 

That question could be deemed baiting , and one is not supposed to answer a troll. :?

 

your first lowside can be a very sobering experience. most accidents happen to experienced riders (4-6 years experience I think) because they loose their fear of operating the bike. I personally think it's good to have a healthy respect for risks you take when you ride and any experience you can get to prepare you to handle a crash is invaluable. Take riding lessons, even if you don't think you need them. I've been riding dirt bikes since I was 8 and I still learned a few things after taking lessons.

I've laid down my share of bikes too. Here's some tips that I've learned from experience with them:
1) Don't brake, if you break, the bike will stand up and you could find yourself in a highside.
2) try to get your feet out from underneath the bike. motorcycles have much more momentum than you, and it's no fun being dragged down the street because your foot is caught in the fender.
3) be ready to take a gas shower, gas will typically spill out of the tank and carbs
4) get your bike and your ass off the road as soon as possible unless you're seriously injured

after you get the bike up check it for damage, it may run choppy and appear to leak oil. Usually this isn't oil, when a bike lays down gas from the carbs can spill over into the air box and mix with all the crud in the air filter. Air boxes are not water tight so the dirty gas will drip for a few hours.

 

i just realized i typed "don't break", i meant, "dont' release break" because this will allow the bike to regain traction and stand up.