First fall

Mirey · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 30 Aug 2014 Karma :

I had my first fall today. Wasn't bad, and not really too sure what happened. I was just going round a roundabout - not too sharp or fast.

Some really cool sparks came off the exhaust cover (YBR 125), and the hand brake bar is bent quite a bit - I'll try bending it back, else I'll have to buy a replacement I guess.

Fortunately, there seemed to be no damage to anything - not even my jeans. I do have a bump on my leg where the jeans have a little rivet thing.

A lady stopped to, and a guy with a Harley jumper came and asked if I was alright. Nice to know some people will stop.

I think I need to replace my back tyre, it's slid out a number of times now. I'm just trying not to as it took me a while to get my front wheel inflated after changing it.

https://i.imgur.com/9y7jNiCl.jpg

RhynoCZ · Super Spammer Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Karma :

Welcome to the club, I guess. Smile

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'87 Honda XBR 500, ~~'96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1~~, ~~'90 Honda CB-1~~, ~~'88 Kawasaki GPz550~~, ~~MZ 150 ETZ~~
~~'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI~~, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

FlightRisk · Spanner Monkey Joined: 08 Jul 2014 Karma :

I think I remember from my CBT being warned that roundabouts attract diesel. I know I had an interesting little slide about when I booted it down off one driving a cage the other week.

Least you're ok. Thumbs Up

I would just buy a new lever, metal doesn't really like being bent backwards and forwards too much, it could get brittle. Clutch I might risk it but you don't want your brake lever to snap. (I'd cheerfully bend one to get home though.) Not expensive are they?

What's this rear tyre of yours? Decent brand? Got tread on it?
Were you braking or on the power or what?
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Honda CB500S

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Urgh, roundabouts.

Slow, upright, try and stay in the vehicle tracks.

Is this a newish YBR? We have had several folk bawww about the OEM tyres.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

Wednesday Biker · Spanner Monkey Joined: 11 Sep 2014 Karma :

The tyres that come on the YBR are pretty bad.

Wednesday Biker · Spanner Monkey Joined: 11 Sep 2014 Karma :

The tyres that come on the YBR are pretty bad.

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :

Mirey · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 30 Aug 2014 Karma :

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :

5k miles and you may find the tread in the middle of the tyre is significantly less than the outside.

ie a quick visual check in the morning and you might think there is loads of tread left, but it's all on the last 10mm either side of the edge.

41psi might be a touch high.

During the summer I went 26/39, during winter it was 25/35. With topbox + 16st 6ft1 lard arse.

The ME22's are great tyres, good fun in summer, and very useful when we had the floods. Thumbs Up

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

On little tiddlers, I find 30/30 the be adequate, did on the KH, CBR and Varadero. Only increased rear to 34 for pillions. Try those pressures.

Mirey · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 30 Aug 2014 Karma :

Ame · Nova Slayer Joined: 12 Oct 2014 Karma :

if that lever [surprising!] didnt snap then,straightening it now might just do for it.
Id change it because if it doesnt after straightening,it could possibly do so as you ride,at a really inconvenient time
Take care mate,good to see you are good and that people came to help Thumbs Up

talkToTheHat · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Feb 2012 Karma :

Best chance of getting the lever straight is to take it off the bike, clean it, get it hot (but don't melt it) with either a gas torch at a pinch stick it in a hot oven. Handle with oven gloves or similar and straighten in a vice with jaw protectors that aren't rubber (scrap wood works). Less likely to snap, but it's like £5 for a pattern one so don't waste too much time or money on it.
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Bandit. does. everything.

Nash GT · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Sep 2014 Karma :

I'd replace that lever sooner rather than later, is not worth the risk fella
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Suzuki GSF600N

Mirey · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 30 Aug 2014 Karma :

Yeah, new handle came today. Only cost £5. I have just noticed there is black marks near the screw whole - should I put some grease there on the new handle? (I just pulled this one out and put in the new one)

https://i.imgur.com/wZ6XP2R.jpg

Janza · Derestricted Danger Joined: 23 Sep 2014 Karma :

I bought my first bike yesterday, fell today the reason being that I was a complete idiot and left the steering lock on.
Landed chest first and in quite a bit of pain now. Despite looking like a complete fool I want to warn any new bikers out there; remember to unlock the steering lock.
I must admit that suddenly biking seems a lot less fun, that asphalt is very hard! Sick

Ame · Nova Slayer Joined: 12 Oct 2014 Karma :

[quote="Janza"]I bought my first bike yesterday, fell today the reason being that I was a complete idiot and left the steering lock on.
Landed chest first and in quite a bit of pain now. Despite looking like a complete fool I want to warn any new bikers out there; remember to unlock the steering lock.
I must admit that suddenly biking seems a lot less fun, that asphalt is very hard! Sick

[/quote]

Dont give up mate,all it is is a learning curve.You wont do that again for sure!
And dont forget,best thing is to climb right back on board,or asap if you injured badly.
I think everyone must of come off in their early days! Me?I did something even more daft,like snatching at the bloody front brake in CBT... Thumbs Up

CG Sam · Crazy Courier Joined: 08 Apr 2013 Karma :

I tried to pull away in neutral on my CBT, realised, but for some unknown reason I didn't release the throttle and dumped the clutch after selecting first. That was my first off.

The other was a minor one on a roundabout, back just slipped on some diesel or oil, being half asleep instead of relaxing like I've done before and keeping loose and a neutral throttle I tensed right up and snapped the throttle closed. Sliding across the road was the result. Lesson? Don't ride half asleep!
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CG125, SV650S, CBR600F, GSXR600 SRAD

James83 · Crazy Courier Joined: 10 Apr 2013 Karma :

Janza · Derestricted Danger Joined: 23 Sep 2014 Karma :

James83,
yes! Seems like very poor design,especially when the owners manual goes on and on about the importance of making sure the lock is on, but not reminding to turn it off as well!
And yes...It is a cheapo Chinese 125cc...

talkToTheHat · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Feb 2012 Karma :

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Just to second the recs for metzler ME22s - great tyres.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

BravoCharlie · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Jun 2012 Karma :

Hellbrandt · L Plate Warrior Joined: 04 Aug 2014 Karma :

Your lucky with your first fall that only thing broken is the lever.

I had my first fall about 7 weeks ago when i was turning at a t-junction, target fixated into the corner and accidentally applied throttle as i panicked a little when i realised i was cutting it too fine and tried to break a little to turn up. Resulting mess was me hitting the curb and going flying over the handle bars, breaking my wrist in two places and looking like a giant idiot in the process.

When i look back at it all i can do is laugh, shake my head and feel a little embarrassed, but i cant wait to get back out there! Defo know how to take a corner now haha

Lucky_Lock · Derestricted Danger Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Karma :