Topic: Dumped my chop today!!!

[Lumbee]

...well, it had to happen sometime...been riding for 10 years and hadn't done it yet, so I guess it was time. So I go over to visit a buddy on the other side of town and after shoot'n the chit for an hour or so the clouds start to roll in. So I take off to beat the rain home (10 miles). Get a few miles down the interstate and the rain starts. Keep driving or find shelter? Its saturday afternoon and I got nothing to do, so I'll get off at the next exit and park at the gas station and get some lunch. Take the exit, and as I start to turn into the gas station... BAM! The next thing I know the bike is laying on my leg and I'm sliding on the asphalt.

 

Yea, I can laugh, nice road rash on the elbow, and burn on my right leg (from the exhaust, had shorts on). Funny thing is this. There happen to be a Baton Rouge PD behind when this happen. So he immediately hits his lights when I go down, and just sits there so I don't get run over. It takes me a few seconds to get the bike off my leg. I finally get the bike up and push it into the gas station parking lot. He pulls into the parking lot, and I'm waiting for him to get out and give me a ticket or start asking where my brake light, and turn signals all that stuff is. So I gather myself, and the next thing I know I look up and dude is gone! Gee, thanx for making sure I'm OK!!   

Actually I didn't mind, like I said my bike is not exatly "legal", so I'm just glad he blocked traffic for me til I got out of the road...

Oh, and lesson learned...EASY on that front brake in the rain. Maybe this will be motivation for me to finally get my rear brake mounted...

[mrbreeze]

Damn Lumbee...sorry to hear that.Good to hear all is good and hope you start thinking more in the line of riding gear,but hey....who am I to say???It's not my skin getting ripped.Glad you're OK! Also was a lucky break not getting hassled about the bike from the man.

[cbjunkie]

sometimes the cops in the dirty ole south are good for something...sounds like the guy sympathized with you just enough to let you get your manliness on and pull yourself out of it.

sorry to hear about the bike - is there much damage? (to the bike?)

[Lumbee]

...bike was only left with a few battle scares.  Scraped the right grip, and the points cover, and dented the headlight.  Everything still works OK though.  I tighted everthing up when I got home, so I think all is good.

[nickjtc]

Just a couple of reminders, fellow forum-goers:

The first few minutes after it starts to rain, especially if it hasn't rained for a few days or longer, are the worst time to be on two wheels. All of the crap that has accumulated on/in the surface of the road gets flushed by, the rain and creates a film that can be slicker than snot on a doorknob.

At low/slow speed use the rear brake only.

Safety nerd, out.

[Lumbee]

...yep, thats what got me Nick, and thats MC 101, and thats how it went down, it was just a slight drizzle.  The deadly combinaiton was using the front brake (I swear I just tapped it) and turning as the same time...it was like I was on ice!!!

[Rocking-M]

Hey Lumbee, glad you only got a little road rash and the bike wasn't  banged to bad.
Get that rear brake working now ya here!

[eldar]

See I brake like normal in rain. Never had any thing bad happen. I drive slower though and never hit the brakes hard. Using only the rear has caused me more issues than the front. It is better since I replaced my rear shoes though.

[ProTeal55]

Shorts + Rain + No rear brake = 
Glad to hear u are ok.
Hook that brake up !

[Terry in Australia]

Choppers, due to the C0fG moved further towards the rear actually benefit more from the rear brake than from the front, ask any Harley rider and they'll agree, with all that weight at the rear and not much at the front, a front brake is next to useless and only good for dumping you on a wet road. Hook up a disk on the back Lumbee, and you''l probably never use your front again. Cheers, Terry.

[ElCheapo]

sometimes the cops in the dirty ole south are good for something...sounds like the guy sympathized with you just enough to let you get your manliness on and pull yourself out of it.

sorry to hear about the bike - is there much damage? (to the bike?)

This is problably why he did not ask if you were ok. He let you recover your manliness in private. Bruised pride sucks

Hope all heals well.

[Chris Schneiter]

I HATE rain! and am probably the worlds biggest pussy when it comes to it!  I tend to downshift slowly and let the bike slow me down...Even though I'm bad in rain, a few years ago, I was riding with a few friends down in Ohio. It was raining drops the size of dinner plates! We were turning left into our motel, and my friend Del and I had both slowed down gently with little braking, and had our turn signals on...then all of a sudden, there was this incredible scraping sound, and there goes our friend Jeff, sliding past us on the pavement! He had used both brakes! Yeah, and Del and I were in shorts and no helmets! Jeff had a full face, and leathers on! He must have planned on dumping!

[jtb]

Glad YOU'RE OK, Mark.

[dusterdude]

put some pants on mark!!!