Topic: Dropped my gz250

[Buckskin Bandit]

Soo... Yesterday was such a nice day that I decided to take Little Horse for my 30mi commute to the tech collage.  I took a route in to town that I wasn't used to, and when I got to the edge of town I thought that I was supposed to merge onto the highway there. Lo and behold, there was a light there, and it was red.  Now, I know that most of you here are experienced bikers, but I just started riding last summer.. Anyway, I grabbed the front brake, while doing about 30mph, and locked up the tire.

Bike slid out from under me, and I landed ungracefully on the shoulder of the road..  Managed to pick the bike back up, and ride it the rest of the way to school. (only had about 5mi left to go.)  Bike ended up losing a mirror, bent the handlebars, scuffed the front fender and tailpipe..  I ended up with a very sore arm and a skinned knee, though my jeans weren't even torn there..

[70CB750]

Happens to everybody.  One of my best ones was making a slow turn on gravel in a middle of country road crossing.  The bike went down so fast, haha.

Next to it was a bus stop full of people 

[flybox1]

Next to it was a bus stop full of people 

I'll remember to stand up and take a bow if it happens to me 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

It sucks but it does happen to everyone.

[Stev-o]

Consider it a lesson learned, glad you were not hurt worse.

Fix that bike and get back on your horse, soldier!

[70CB750]

Next to it was a bus stop full of people 

I'll remember to stand up and take a bow if it happens to me 

Actually I did, but my English failed me,  I just didnt know how to say it.

[Retro Rocket]

Next to it was a bus stop full of people 

I'll remember to stand up and take a bow if it happens to me 

Actually I did, but my English failed me,  I just didnt know how to say it.

Sh1t would have done....

[Buckskin Bandit]

Consider it a lesson learned, glad you were not hurt worse.

Fix that bike and get back on your horse, soldier!

I shall!  As soon as my arm works good again.. 

[Buckskin Bandit]

Next to it was a bus stop full of people 

I'll remember to stand up and take a bow if it happens to me 

Actually I did, but my English failed me,  I just didnt know how to say it.

Sh1t would have done....

Wow.. How embarrassing.  There was lots of cars going past me, but nobody stopped to see if I was ok.. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I was putting away some holiday decorations in my storage space in early January, when I heard a crash noise.  I looked up and one of my bikes had tipped over.  My better half swore she didn't touch it, but we all know bikes don't fall over on their side stands all by themselves. Still, I had to temper my reaction. 

[faux fiddy]

Happens to everybody.  One of my best ones was making a slow turn on gravel in a middle of country road crossing.  The bike went down so fast, haha.

I like to think of these events as rare anomalies.  Once the Halloween parade in a small town wasn't moving fast enough for me so I took an alley to get around it. Came to a blind intersection, a gravel and front braking and it happened so quick for the slow speed I as actually going. Could have just charged across but the fear of cross traffic got me.

Just a few nights ago I had the back tube valve stem come apart on a dt-50 and that thing was trying real hardtop get out from under me at about 30 mph.  I like to think I finessed my way out of any road rash or other damages to bike and rider, and got some good practice at knowing why to never having a flat again.

[parm94]

Glad you're okay!

[Buckskin Bandit]

Happens to everybody.  One of my best ones was making a slow turn on gravel in a middle of country road crossing.  The bike went down so fast, haha.

I like to think of these events as rare anomalies.  Once the Halloween parade in a small town wasn't moving fast enough for me so I took an alley to get around it. Came to a blind intersection, a gravel and front braking and it happened so quick for the slow speed I as actually going. Could have just charged across but the fear of cross traffic got me.

Kinda what happened to me.. Coulda shot the light, but... better to wipe out than get run over..

[jeffg]

I am a super sucky rider

I've had over 20 bikes, and they have all been down tons, except my gsxr 1k, f4i, & my current cb750 four. Oh, I only put my zx6 down once.

once I had to disassemble my whole bike down to just a rolling chassis. Then I chained and strapped the bike to my 3 rail, then inserted a 16' treated 4"x4" post into the frame. Then I got on the roof of my house to try and pry my bike straight, I had to it was brand new and I #$%*ed it up bad, bad. Oh I do have fat files of xrays at several hospitals.

[70CB750]

Guy I know, he rides Harley for a police department.  They had skill practise, it was raining and he had front wheel on the white line while turning and breaking.  He went down, broke his collar bone.

[Retro Rocket]

Guy I know, he rides Harley for a police department.  They had skill practise, it was raining and he had front wheel on the white line while turning and breaking.  He went down, broke his collar bone.

Yes, road markings and rain can be a recipe for disaster..

[RAFster122s]

Yeah, several places I have seen them use a heavy reflective tape glued to the road and heavy paint inside the markings, gotta be careful on those too.

Once had a sharp rock blow a tire and inner tube on my bicycle while commuting home after a long day at work. Ended up riding that one out but the rear got real squirrely before I could stop. Lots of body english to counteract the rim badly warping and breaking a couple spokes. Had to walk the bike home two miles after that.
At least it wasn't 90F by then, it had cooled down to 80 after reaching around 95F that day. I was living in Tucson, AZ.

[petercb750]

Golden rule when doing u turns, gravel or bitumen...do not touch front brake, rear only and ride the clutch (friction zone).
When braking on gravel in a straight line, light front brake, heavier rear brake....not always easy though in an emergency.

[Gene]

Consider it a lesson learned, glad you were not hurt worse.

Fix that bike and get back on your horse, soldier!

I shall!  As soon as my arm works good again.. 

Duct tape a splint to your arm and get going already . . . sheesh . . .

[RAFster122s]

I was riding a C70 Passport (70cc '81 model) in Tucson for a while and it was a blast. A lot of fun, except in the morning commute with everyone to the NW of me who were less than polite when passing me in the 40mph zone. (Really aggressive drivers). I went across town from where I worked one evening to visit Chick-fil-A and I was braking as I pulled into a parking spot and didn't even think twice about it. Hit a puddle with the front tire and stupidly I was in the middle of the parking space. I was using front and rear brake and the front immediately washed out. Off I came from the pegs and stood crouching just short of the puddle with my feet and the bike being so small I held it up as it laid over. Being a step through design I was able to do this without too much fan fair... 
Felt really stupid, but the bike was about 150 pounds and I'm 6' 4" and a bit over 250; so  I looked like a circus bear on the bike, think Sinbad and his MGB in one of his movies where he's looking far above the windshield motoring down the street. It was comical but, I enjoyed the 100mpg and didn't care what others thought. 


The 40mph top speed was slow to achieve but fine for most streets in Tucson in the city.  Climbing up Houghton from the NW at Broadway or further NW was a very slow going in 1st gear until I crested about 1/2 mile past Broadway near 29th street. About mile and half from the bottom of the hill near the wash.


So, pick yourself up...tape up the wrist if you need to or use a compression wrap and get out there and ride.

If the wrist or elbow bother you very long and ice doesn't do much for it you might have a slight fracture. Get it checked out if you have trouble using the arm after about 3 days.  Ice and a good anti-inflammatory, Aleve or Advil are your friends for a few days.


David

[jeffg]

I had my front wheel shift about 12" once, when in full lean doing about 80mph, on a road tar patch (road snake).

[Retro Rocket]

Golden rule when doing u turns, gravel or bitumen...do not touch front brake, rear only and ride the clutch (friction zone).
When braking on gravel in a straight line, light front brake, heavier rear brake....not always easy though in an emergency.

Yep, clutch and rear only on gravel, or in any 1st gear tight riding.  I've been forced off the road onto the dirt shoulder at over 100MPH, staying calm {while sh1tting myself} saved my ass, it wasn't easy though, changed the color of my underwear too...

[Buckskin Bandit]

Consider it a lesson learned, glad you were not hurt worse.

Fix that bike and get back on your horse, soldier!

I shall!  As soon as my arm works good again.. 

Duct tape a splint to your arm and get going already . . . sheesh . . .

Hey, at least I finished the ride into town.. got stuck in traffic and took 10-15 mins.. 

Got the bike out today, and my brother helped me look it over good.  I need a new mirror, and that's it.    Took it for a little ride, and even though my arm isn't up to riding my 30mi commute, it is doing a lot better.

Thanks all for your stories and advice! I shall keep it all in mind as I ride. 

[Stev-o]

If it's a stock mirror, I'll donate one to you.....

[Buckskin Bandit]

If it's a stock mirror, I'll donate one to you.....

Thanks to Stev-o!!    This forum is full of so many nice people!