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Italianjob
02-02-05, 10:13 PM
As the title would suggest, I just had my first off tonight. Nothing major, but it still scared the sh*t out of me!

Was returning from work at about 8:30 tonight :riding: and roads were dry as it hasn't been raining for aboout a week in Edinburgh. As I approached a T-junction I see a car coming from the right, touch the front brake to give way and... next thing I know I'm lying on the tarmac looking at the bike sliding down the road :shock:
I wasn't doing more than 15mph but the bike must have slid for at least 10 metres and it all must have happened within 5 seconds! Picked up the bike expecting to see the fairing in pieces and indicators hanging off but was amazed at how little damage it had suffered. The R&G crash bungs absorbed most of the impact :D and the only damage was a broken brake leaver and a scuff on the new Scorpion can.

As for me, I'm fine, only a bruise on my knee as I was wearing jeans. Most of the damage is probably psychological, as I was riding well below the urban speed limit and there is little if nothing I could have done to avoid slipping on a patch of diesel as the tarmac felt as if it was covered in soap. It's just one of those things you accept when you ride a bike, you just don't think it will happen to you.

I also wonder if the tyres were to blame... I'm running a D220 on the front and a Metz Z6 on the rear :-k

Take it easy out there!

K
02-02-05, 10:15 PM
Glad you're OK and the bike wasn't too badly damaged.
Did the approaching car driver see your situation and stop at all?

Cronos
02-02-05, 10:20 PM
If it was diesel you've really got no chance. Glad to hear it was only a minor off and you're not too damaged.

Maybe a timely reminder that jeans and bikes ain't a good combo. [-X

Italianjob
02-02-05, 10:21 PM
The driver stopped to make sure I was alright. She must have seen me falling off and the bike sliding towards her car and she looked more shocked than I was! A few more people stopped after I had put my hazard lights on and a bloke came out to say 'you jammy basta*d!' after seeing how little damage the bike had suffered :laughat: and gave me his contact details in case I wanted to take any action against the council for the state of the roads.

bluebell
02-02-05, 10:22 PM
Glad you are o.k

jonboy
02-02-05, 10:44 PM
It's always nasty to fall off, whatever the circumstances, it's part of biking it seems. Nice that you're okay and the bike was almost unscathed - put it down to experience ;).


.

northwind
02-02-05, 11:15 PM
Where was it? No such thing as a good crash, but if there was you've just had one from the sounds of it... Diesel or even some lighter oils can just drop you with basically no warning, if you get a big enough patch, doesn't sound like there was anything else you could have done.

Wouldn't blame the tyres, certainly not the mismatch... Don't think that's an especially good pairing :D but it wouldn't cause your front to lock unexpectedly. Though IIRC, D220s are s***, non?

Depending on where the scuff is on the can, you might be able to pop the rivets off and turn the endcap over to hide the damage...

Italianjob
02-02-05, 11:42 PM
I came off at the end of Strathearn Place, where it joins Church Hill in Bruntsfield. Here'a a map of the place:

http://www.redsplash.com/ims/pic.php?u=1646m0HAz&i=13174

You can still see the scratches the brake lever left on the tarmac!

Will post pics of the bike tomorrow.

Scooby Drew
03-02-05, 01:58 PM
Glad to hear that you are ok. Take it from one who knows, after a couple times you just get up, wander over to the bike, pick it up as if nothing has happened and ride off...

northwind
03-02-05, 03:12 PM
Hang on, you're not my brother Ian's mate who rides a K4 and works at the Church Hill Theatre are you?

It's always quite funny seeing the aftereffects of your riding isn't it? There were two massive black lines on Liberton Brae a while back, one where I slid the rear on my way into the side of a car (gently) and another where I spun it up while leaving the scene :)

jungleboy
05-02-05, 09:44 PM
Yep I've seen the copper K4 which is normally parked up behind the wall at Churchill Theatre. Is that yours mate?

Italianjob
07-02-05, 07:51 PM
No, that's not me. :D I've got a blue SK4

I live in Bruntsfield and pass through Church Hill to get to work.