Came off :(

Nath · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Karma :

I went out for ride tonight, just to have a little blast round the country lanes. I was taking it fairly easy since it was bitterly cold and i wasn't completely sure that there was no ice on the roads. All was well until i got to a RoundaBout that i've been round a few times before. The last time i visited it i had ago at KneeDown, and managed to scrape the footpeg. There was hardly any trafic tonight and it's a big roundabout, so i decided to go for it. I didn't really push very hard, but it didn't feel right. I wasn't going very far past 30, wasn't getting much lean, yet it felt totally wrong.

Someone posted a photo the other day of KD with the bike barely leant over, so i decided that my best bet would to be hang right off, and see how it felt. I still didn't feel that happy, but i decided to really push my knee out and slowly increase the speed. I don't think i came very close to KD, although i felt the ground very close to my foot at one point.

However i somehow managed to push it too far and the bike slid out from under me. I was barely going any faster than i had been for the previous dozen laps, and i know i wasn't leant over as far as i've done in the past since the footpeg was yet to go down. I guess in the very cold weather there just wasn't much grip out there Sad

It was my own fault since i didn't feel happy leaning over, yet carried on anyway.

The bike slid a little way up the road, i didn't really go very far. Unfortunately, i wear my jacket with the sleeves over my gloves, since they wont fit the other way around. The right sleeve slid up my arm a little bit, and shredded the inside lining a bit there. It'll need repairing but it shouldn't be too much. The scuffing on arm, leg and boots was minimal, as i wasn't going very fast(30-35mph). My helmet didn't go down, so i think i got away lightly gear-wise. I do have a graze on my elbow, but that's all; Not really sure how that happened either, since i find it hard to believe that the jacket sleeve slid that far up my arm...

A few cars had just come on to the roundabout behind me. The front one stopped, and the guy shouted out if i was okay. I shouted back that i was alright, then went to the bike. Switched it off, and then picked it up without any problems(didn't feel heavy for some reason). I just got on, started it up and rode off the round about to stop in some kind of drive off the main road. The bike had stayed lying on its right hand side, but had spun around. However, it's CG125 so nothing major done. I'll need a new handle bar rubber for the right side as it's a bit shredded. The right brake lever will need a dab of paint on the end. The mirrors didn't brake which i thought was lucky, i just had to readjust them. There's a slight scuff on the brake pedal, which is unfortunately chrome, but it's minimal so i'll just leave that. The right footpeg will need a new rubber, and is also bent up, but not too badly so it will straighten no problem. The only real annoyance that there's a scuff on the end of the exhaust, which was in otherwise emaculate condition. It's a 2inch diameter circle, not in that noticable a position, but it's still annoying since apart from that the chrome on the bike is mint Sad

The bike is ridable now, and fixing it will be easy, but i was planning on selling it after New Year - I've probably taken about £100 of it's value Confused

I rode it home okay, and my dad didn't react too badly, especially considering that the leathers and boots are his since i've still yet to buy my own (though i did 'forget' to mention that i was deliberately pushing it trying to do KneeDown). I would say i've been fairly lucky that it wasn't a dangerous situation, and that the bike wasn't more badly damaged. Oh well, that's my first crash out of the way Smile

I just hope that when i get back out there, my confidence at cornering hasn't completely gone. After getting the footpeg down twice last week, i thought i'd cracked it, but obviously not.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

Jeez, it's everybody fall off week or something, me, you, yams.

I see your roundabout and raise you 2 ditches.

Unlucky mate, sounds like the damage to both you and your bike could have been worse.

Definately worth buying proper, well fitting kit.

And your bike seeming light will be the adrenaline pumping through your body, which is why your injuries will hurt more tomorrow...

Gaz

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Jrod · Page 3 Girl Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Karma :

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Git · Brolly Dolly Joined: 17 Dec 2003 Karma :

cg125, skinny hard tyres, cold road and a brave rider Thumbs Up

glad you are alive to tell the story.
nutter Laughing

mchaggis · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2004 Karma :

Just goes to show that CG125 and most of its derivatives are truly indestructable. Lowsided my CG copy twice, crashed it properly once and catapulted myself off it digging the footpeg into the verge at 5mph, and I've come off far worse than it has. The only major damage was a dent to the tank. Thumbs Up

That is until they're covered in plastic. I saw a CBR125 today at the NEC, and it was laughably small.

As for binning it, everyone does it eventually, be it on wet roundabout, gravel or just pushing too hard. So long as you don't hit anything, it's not a huge deal imo.

Just make sure you get back on and conquer the inevitable paranoia about leaning. Thumbs Up

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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush. Very Happy

stryker · Brolly Dolly Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Karma :

Glad to hear your ok, however: KD is a means to knowing how far over you have the bike. To this day I still can't figure why someone would want to purposely get a KD while not leaning. Sounds like an expensive game to me.

Guess your lucky that car was not too close behind you.
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Now what?