I lowsided (again) and I'm on the verge of selling my K4 :(
 

right now, i feel like something worse will happen if i continue on the sv.

earlier this year, speed and my lack of skill cost me a broken wrist and 3 months in a cast. repaired bike but i'm thinking now i should have sold it then.

lowsided on the track as well, i was fine, bike needed replacement parts.

and now this time, sat with some friends, braked, front hit a pothole and when she bounced down, i was on my ****. scraped hand, and my knee is suffering but nothing broken.

en route home, the front calipers seized on the motorway. ****ing fun that was :(

mechanically she's fine. the front end has been replaced already, incl. the wheel.

i have 0 confidence in my bike at this moment. as i said, i have this nagging feeling that if i get back on her, something worse will happen and i do value my limbs etc!

she'd be good for a trackbike or to streetfighter (fairing is repairable this time around, had to replace it after my first off).

really don't think anything will change my mind. something easy and less suicidal like a fzs600 suits me (have driven a few and compared to my sv are **** easy to drive)

just ****ing annoyed and depressed. love my bike to bits but i'm not feeling the love back anymore.

i4 seems to be calling me

Re: I lowsided (again) and I'm on the verge of selling my K4 :(
 

Sorry to hear of your troubles. A bit confused about your final solution though - from my (admittedly limited) experience, I would have thought that the SV, being a twin, would be easier to ride that an i4.

Re: I lowsided (again) and I'm on the verge of selling my K4 :(
 

Swap you a cb1 for it.....

Re: I lowsided (again) and I'm on the verge of selling my K4 :(
 

Try the for sale section on here, otherwise Gumtree is pretty popular

Errm, no, lot easier throttle response on an IL4. Not that an IL4 will make any difference to lowsides or locked front brakes, only the rider will change that.

Re: I lowsided (again) and I'm on the verge of selling my K4 :(
 

have you had any extra training? be it IAM, Polic Bike safe course or anything of the alike

Re: I lowsided (again) and I'm on the verge of selling my K4 :(
 

so you crash it, then crashed it again, then the brakes "suddenly seized" ? is that right?

I've seen some pretty poorly maintained brakes but rarely in such a state they would spontainiously "lockup".

either you have a significant problem with the bike or you're just riding far faster than your ability allows, changing you bike is an expensive way to address the first and won't do anything to solve the second :smt102

You either need a good mechanic to check the bike (which I'd hope you do even if you sell it) or an experienced rider to reveiw your riding with a realistic appraisal and guidance on training (bikesafe is a good start).

Cheers Mark.

Re: I lowsided (again) and I'm on the verge of selling my K4 :(
 

i'd be inclined to say its not a change of bike you need more likely a change of your riding style-why not book some refresher lessons and take it from there-and regards your calipers-get into a routine of servicing them regularly rather than when they need it.

Re: I lowsided (again) and I'm on the verge of selling my K4 :(
 

ahh beaten to it by Rictus

Re: I lowsided (again) and I'm on the verge of selling my K4 :(
 

Some good points above. It's much better to slow down and work on your riding skills, then the speed will naturally come back. And make sure you have a decent mechanic as mentioned.

The other thing I might suggest, without knowing your situation, is are you hanging around with the right crowd. i.e. it's very easy to start following other riders into corners at their speeds. I got caught out a few times doing this and quickly learnt to ride my own ride.

As for potholes, sh!t happens sadly. Don't let it get you down. I know another rider on here who bent a wheel in a pothole he'd been riding around for weeks!

I'm guessing you're under 21 as you're bike is restricted according to your profile? You seem sensible enough based on the fact you realise you're not indestructible. At the same time we only get good with experience which only comes with time. So just take it easy and work you're way up. A bikesafe course or extra lessons might help. Or with the track day you mentioned, do one with some added training. I went with Rapid Training and grabbed an instructor for a session, worked wonders. To low side on your a track day, you must have been really giving it some, trying to get your knee down maybe? Take your time and it will come naturally (I'm told). Another guy I know on here has done 6-7 track days and still not managed it.

Anyway, lots of speculation there but keep your chin up, get the bike serviced and then take it easy. Practice makes perfect.

Re: I lowsided (again) and I'm on the verge of selling my K4 :(
 

Feeling the way you do it sounds like you aren't riding in a relaxed manner. Ive been there and as soon as you start riding with a tense body and negative thoughts it just starts to go wrong.
I suggest maybe a few slower rides on your own and get back to thinking about basics.

A few months after my test I started having trouble cornering, I was coming in too fast and braking too hard causing the bike to stand up and go in a straight line. All it took was a 5 minute chat from my trainer who told me to get off the brakes, use engine braking to slow and only accelerate once in the corner.
I tried it and it made a huge difference. He also made me tell myself out loud to relax, which also helped, I didnt realise how tense I was getting. Its something I still do to avoid getting 'death grip'!!
If you can afford it then maybe some advanced training will help. And get your bike checked by someone in the know to put your mind at rest that all is well with it.
If you set out thinking somethings going to go wrong, then thats whats likely to happen.

Good luck, KJ x