BravoCharlies first road trip - with crash pictures!

[BravoCharlie]

So after passing my test last month, i got to thinking.

I had got the bike for freedom, yet i've sat in Glasgow since my CBT last october.

"Time to get out" thinks i.

"i'll take it easy, go to ayr" thinks i. "but i'll ask BCF Scottish section First"

it was suggested i go to Glencoe, which seemed like an excellent idea! so off i went, leaving at 09:15, 45 minutes behind schedule as it was still pretty dark. headed to the petrol station for a fill up, then it was time to head for the A82, was going to be a straight forward route up to crianlarich, then some twisties etc. etc. to Glencoe.

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0530.png

quick petrol stop: https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0531.jpg

found these horses on my search for loch lomond
https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0532.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0533.jpg

Loch Lomond
https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0534.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0535.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0536.jpg

Then shit happened.

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0538.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0539.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0540.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0542.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0543.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0544.jpg

https://i1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii639/bravocharlie1/IMG_0545.jpg


slipped on some gravel on my way to Crianlarich, back end went and i went flying towards a crash barrier. managed to pull the bike out the way of the barrier and we went sliding down the road. 2 excellent guys came out their cars and helped me to my feet.

overall, bikes bashed, think one of my brakes have seized.

I've got road rash on my arm, both hands are swollen around my thumbs, and my hip and back is pretty sore too!

up until that moment though, it was probably one of the best experiences of my life, driving through the highlands through the rocks etc. etc.

sorry if it isn't the greatest of write ups, but its my first one, im sore, hungry, and motherfucking tired!1
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[Davie Thistle]

.....................ahh furfugsache kiddo!

glad your ok.
was going to say to you when you posted were can I go,
was goin to say Carbeth then hame!

but I didny want to spoil your excitement!
wish I had now!!

just not the weather to be doing the long rides!
far too cauld wet & damp.

I went round the block the put ma bike away!!

Get better asap!


____________________
It took me 35 long years to work out that because I was angry it didn't mean I was right.
https://www.hoc.org.uk/join/index.html

[noobRider]

Aww shit. I feel for you. Hope some karma makes up for it a bit
____________________
Licence: Nov 2012, Bikes: Suzuki GN125, Moto Guzzi Strada 750, Triumph Sprint ST 955i x 2
AnPhonEh: I need plans, I need contingency plans also, I need back up contingency plans

[pepperami]

Shame your trip had to be spoilt , but dont let that stop you from giving it another go.
Possibly when the weather improves a touch?.

Went to Scotty land twice this year (both short trips) and loved it.
The weather up there is something else and always has to be taken into account when there (why the hell am I telling you this ), even if it`s earlier in the year.

Try keeping the black hoops on the black strip next time

Get well soon and much more importantly, get that bike fixed!
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[DaveH]

Sorry to hear that. Hope you've got painkillers and ibuprofen onboard.

Bike doesn't look too bad, was it the lochside road? - hate that one and always try and avoid that at all costs!
____________________
https://www.timhastingsracing.co.uk/

ZX7R & ER6F

[GreyFox]

Eeeep, sorry to read about the spill mate. I've had a few wobbles on that stretch before, but thankfully the 'Dero doesn't have the grunt to slip badly on that stuff.

Roll with the punch and learn from it, although I haven't dropped a motorbike yet, I was pretty regular stacking on my old mountain bike, whether it was on hillside or kerbside, and you just need to get back in the saddle pronto or the confidence suffers.

Anyway, now you have that story about the the fireball-death-smash to impress the girlies with!


____________________
2005 Honda XL125 V5 Varadero - Current bike

[UnspeedySam]

Sorry to hear about the crash. I hate gravel almost as much as I hate oil/diesel spills! With experience you will get better at seeing gravel in the road and avoiding it/going over it slowly/in a straight line. I'm not saying all these things are avoidable but you will crash less because of it.

Anyway, best of luck healing yourself and bike. Hope it doesn't cost you too much!
____________________
Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[BravoCharlie]

cheers guys,

yeah i fully intend on a trip back up in the summer, as well as down to the lake district. im determined to get the bike on the go within the next 2 weeks, i worry if i leave it too long i wont get back on it!

will need to learn how to fix my brake lever and possibly unseize the brake itself!

I'm pretty impressed i made it out that far in the weather, it was such fun though!

cheers again,

Barry
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[Diddylord]

hi sorry to hear about the off.

with regards to the brake i had damaged like that to my rear brake leaver and putting i knew leaver of sorted it to it might be something to do with that.

Hope this helps
and enjoy Scotland in the better weather next year.

[BravoCharlie]

[recman]

Bugga, unlucky fella.

Looks like the bike slid a few yards.
Still, its not dead and neither are you so -

Nice place to have an off, btw.

[BravoCharlie]

Haha! Admire your optimism! Cheers mate, yeah i am definitely taking the bike back in summer!
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.

[mapex]

nae luck kid
____________________
www.soundclick.com/foursticks

[Jambon]

Recognised the bike from the 'Show us your bikes' thread.
Sorry to hear about the crash, I, like i guess most of us, hate gravel.
Sounds like the experience hasn't dampened your spirits though
____________________
Honda XR 125L / Kawasaki ZXR400 / Kawasaki ZX-6RR / Aprilia RSV 1000R Factory

[ocatoro]

unlucky buddy. chin up though, youre ok, and the bike looks reasonable shape still.

get it sorted and get back on the road soon as
____________________
CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[RONSTER]

Glad to here ur ok and no u must a been excited to get out but really think it was bad advice to head up t glencoe without someone a bit more experienced ...it's a great popular run in beta weather but fir someone to pass their test in September and head up their in the cold wi the roads full a shit is a bit stupid and could easily ended up a lot worse....if yer bike just for fun then fix it polish it relentlessly and leave it to march or April ...believe me the experience will be worth the wait,,,,, cheers
____________________
Life is for Living....having fun..and no regrets!!!!! black 600 gixxer...white gsxr 1000...Bmw s1000r

[GreyFox]

Sorry to dig an old thread up, but experience has very little to do with it. I'm still on L-plates, yet managed Glasgow to Cromarty and back again, in poor conditions, without "a more experienced rider" to show me the way, on roads I had never ridden before. No spills. The route I recommended BC to take (after he asked me) was based on scenery, not technical challenges. The condition of the roads were explained to him at the time.

The issue was surely a combination of pushing the rider's personal skill limits a bit too far and some bad luck, no?

Or should we all have to follow someone else around on our bikes until the forum judges us to be of significant experience...(though reading this very forum, many of our "experienced" brethren seem to spend more time sliding than riding)?

Was he really "a bit stupid" for riding in those conditions? Slinging your leg over a bike is a stupid decision we all make routinely, but most of us make it back alive each time, sun, sleet or snow. Any judgement that he was a wee bit stupid reflects badly on all of us, particularly those who choose to ride year round; most of us do it to increase our skill level and experience through facing challenges that a brief summer commute cannot provide.

So to the general gist of RONSTER's post, I respectfully disagree. BC made a wee mistake, paid for it, and hopefully has now become a better rider as a result. He wasn't stupid, he just pushed his luck a wee bit too far....! We all do it, and we'll (probably) all get bitten at least once for it.
____________________
2005 Honda XL125 V5 Varadero - Current bike

[Zero]

How dare someone ride the A82 without ten years experience?!

But only on either a GSXR or CBR.

And then only on sunny weekends and bank holkiday


____________________
'01 Suzuki GZ125 - scrapped
'91 Kawasaki GT550 - given away
'95 Honda VRX400 / '08 Yamaha XT660R - current bikes

[rac3r]

Awesome! (apart from the crash)

Been riding ~3 years and definitely need to do a proper trip out of London (further than Essex/Hertfordshire! )
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[radicalrabit]

Just read this old thread.. that was a really shite end to what was otherwise a great trip ,.,,,I really do know how tee'd off you feel because it happened to me on the VF1000 not that long ago .... Dead straight road just powering away up the hill past cars and a guy on a push bike and wham Head hit the deck and that god awful sound of plastic ad the bike goes skittering up the road..... Really sorry for you but glad there doesn't seem to be more than cuts and bruises,,,,

Shame about the bike too because even getting it patched repainted and generally mended the bike is just never the same after going down the road .
____________________
VF1000 F2F, BLACKBIRD with carbs, 2nd VF1000F2F just need somewhere to go now..

[mivster]

Hope your ok and heal quickly
And get your bike sorted ready for summer
____________________
"I'd rather be riding my motorcycle thinking about God than sitting in church thinking about my motorcycle."

[BravoCharlie]

Cheers guys,

And this is an old thread mivster, the bikes now properly fixed but I've just spent £664 on the bike with more to go as its had a lot of neglect from previous owners, i had to Push it to the garage yesterday thanks to a fuel problem but we got it sorted!
____________________
Current: Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator
Past: Suzuki GZ125, Kawasaki GT550, Kawasaki GPX600R, Honda vrx400,Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Suzuki SV650 K5
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.