Never, ever let a co-worker have a quick spin on your bike.

[SonicTheHedge...]

The PA at my place found this one out, after she offered a run on her GSR600 to one of my speed-freak co-workers.
He'd never ridden before (*facepalm*), so she gave him a quick primer on controls and let him go.

To his credit, he managed a couple of laps of the car-park before he tried to hit 2nd and it all went wrong. He fluffed it, panicked, hit the throttle, and hit the kerbside in quick succession, leading the PA to bury her face in her hands and wail "I can't watch", the gathered crowd of techies to think "We knew it was all going to end in tears", and me jogging over to the incident to kill the bike.
Somehow the machine managed to jump the kerb without battering its belly on the concrete, and then just dug into the grass as it went down. The "rider" pretty much hit and bounced - was fine if somewhat sheepish.

Total damage - one bent 'shroom, a little cosmetic scratching, and at least two people having learned something of a lesson. My only regret is that the facility CCTV system wasn't sharp enough to catch it.

We'll throw this guy at a CBT course next time, I think, and see if he bounces...
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Previous: '00 G2 Bandit 600 Naked. Now: '08 BMW GS Adventure.

[Odie]

I think the fraise is "oh pooh".
Pity about the cctv
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You are so ugly when you were born the doctor said "I?m gonna drop it, if it falls is a rat, if it flies is a bat."

[pwntifex]

What a fucking idiot.
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the warped one: This is a follow up from the thread 'my willy hurts'

[SonicTheHedge...]

[Essex_Mike]

Both of em, I'm glad ive not been stupid enough to let anyone go out on my bike who has never ridden before .

Bet the owner of the bike feels like a twat now
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CBT - Passed - 14/07/2006 Theory - Passed - 19/08/2006 A2 test - Passed -19/07/2007
Previous Bike - Suzuki EN125
Current Bike - Suzuki GS500F

[Andy C]

oh dear, shame you didnt manage to get any pics of the event
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99 RS125 --> 02 SV650s --> 03 Speed Four --> 92 RXS100 --> 93 CB400sf --> 01 CB600f Hornet

[akaDAVE]

That was only ever going to end in tears.

I've seen a similar situation involving a moped. It inevitably ends with the novice tearing accross a car park, panicking, full throttle, legs trailing behind on the ground until ditching it against a curb.

I'd blame the owner of the bike, they should know it's a bit trickier than it looks!
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GSXR600

[pwntifex]

[akaDAVE]

Nasty. I bet that's the last time she's gone near a moped!

It seems to be the case that when you panick/freeze the throttle gets pinned.
I've done it myself when I first tried riding a mini off road bike and quad with one of those thumb throttles.

it's madness letting a total novice on a 650cc geared bike, if they don't simply drop it they're likely to get up to danger speeds very quickly.
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GSXR600

[kawakid]

To be fair, the first time I ever rode was in my college car park many years ago (18 years ago).

To be fair I had a car license, but that was it.

It was some geared Vespa type thing with a 175cc engine, I managed to ride it across the car park without crashing.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[edd]

I made a similar mistake once, but its a lesson learnt.
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Bluespark Automotive - Diesel Tuning for Performance and Economy

[Mark312]

Embarrassed to say that I remember my dad 'having a go' on my neighbours 50cc moped. He was wearing shorts, t shirt and flip flops. He said "How hard can this be?" or words to that effect, before he opened the throttle. The straight line was ok, but when he tried to turn he realised how hard it was for a novice, and scootered across the road horizontally!
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Currently Moto Guzzi 750 Strada, Moto Guzzi V35 Florida, previously Honda CB125T, RD250LC, RD80MX

[veeeffarr]

I nearly smashed a Honda VT125 Shadow through the french windows in our living room.

Flatmate egged me on to have ago (I lived with loads of bikers, and they were always persuading me to get one... Didn't like em a couple of years ago... Love em now )

I sat on the bike, and he explained the throttle.

I should've really asked where the brake was... I revved it up to redline and dumped the clutch... Didn't think 125 cruisers could wheelie.... LOL

[Psychonaut]

A mate of mine got a Ninja when I was in my early 20's I went to see it. He asked if I had ridden before and I replied only a Honda 90 around a private field. He then asked me if I wanted a go up and down the street. I said no at first but gave it to peer pressure, he never told me how much acceleration I would find from the twist of the throttle.....
Thankfully it was a straight road and I didn't come off I just remember shitting my self with fingertips bearly grasping the bars. Maybe one of the reasons I never bothered with bikes till my 30's (subconsiously).
The only person that riden my bike is my brother (he's been a biker for best part of 25years) I've certainly learned from my experience
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Prev CBR600RR (06) Orange/Black
CBR1000RR (09) Repsol
Now Ducati 1199 Panigale

[lllN30lll]

surely one of the techies recorded it on their phones, would make a good youtube vid
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Turbo R1
CRF450R

[SonicTheHedge...]