Just back from France

Just got back from Alsace an hour ago. Some fantastic roads out there with some real hair raising bends. We did 650 miles in the first day alone and had originally planned to do 400!! The SV took me by surprise as i did expect to have more pain in my wrists and backside than i did....i have fallen in love with the bike all over again and have decided to keep it after all. I thrased the hell out of it and threw it all over the place and it kept me safe....until i decided to get my knee down.....as well as my hip and my shoulder. Basically i went way to fast into a bend on a road joining a dual carriageway.....ended up hitting some gravel and the front went down....bike and me slide across too the divider barrier but lucky for me there was no vehicles passing at the time. Bro was behind me and comes running over....picks me up and the bike and gets us to the side. French drivers all stopped to offer help and right through the trip i found they go out their way to let you pass.
My gear saved me but have a huge swollen knee, brusing to my hip and shoulder and all very sore and cuts and some road rash were my leather jacket road up and grazes caused by friction from the aramid material in my Hood jeans. Bike needs new lower fairing, mirror, indi, front fairing, clutch lever, gear lever, bar end weight and hand grip. Insurance job me thinks as it needs the geometry checking as something is not right.
My first proper off and i did it in France. I think the worse part was when we set off this morning to do the 300 mile trip home.....boy did that hurt!
Oh well....the trip was brilliant despite the lil incident and thanks to those who suggesta road or 2. The favs were the N415, D417 and a few smaller roads which i am sure the others will remember. If u can.....get to the Alsace region. Great place to gain some experience and of course throw your bike down the road
Defo going back again sometime but right now need to nurse my wounds.
Will add a few pics in a few days.
Ride safe guys

Oh man, you weren't meant to throw it down the road !!! I did say "keep it safe".....

I hope you sort yourself out PDQ. That D417 is something special isn't it

Glad to see you still enjoyed it though.

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shame the off tarnished the trip.. but you are safe and well..

and ok to doit all again..

and keep it upright this time

gravel..!! its a bugger

Unlucky fella.

Just a general question here...do you think there could be a tendency to start to push one's own envelope due to perhaps a little complacency when clocking lots of miles on the one trip? Only TC3 and others that have suffered the same, could answer that in honesty.

Throwing the bike down the road was not part of the plan but at least it happened on the way back. A local mechanic got out some tools and sorted out the gear chane lever so i could ride it and he was a real top block....went all the way home to get his drill....rides a GSXR himself so knew about bikes.
Now to answer you Peter. I learnt a lot on those super tight bends and kept taking them a bit faster. I was pushing myself really hard and was prob over confident due to the previous 2 days and i took the bend faster than my ability could cope, with. Bottled out and did the classic mistake of hitting the brake. Bike stood up and hit the gravel and down i go. A classic no no and i am pretty annoyed with myself for screwing that up so bad. Bruv tells me i took so many similar bends perfectly.....all part of the learning process i gotta say. Hopefully someone will learn from this and wont make the same mistake....ride within your ability
At the end of the day i am here to tell the tale and as for the bike...may be my pride and joy but it will be good as neww in a few weeks i hope....time to test out the Ebike repair services

[anna]

TC3 glad to hear you had a good time .. sorry to hear about your off but lets hope that ebike get you up and running quickly so you dont miss out too much on this summer weather!

Originally Posted by Peter Henry

Unlucky fella.

Just a general question here...do you think there could be a tendency to start to push one's own envelope due to perhaps a little complacency when clocking lots of miles on the one trip? Only TC3 and others that have suffered the same, could answer that in honesty.

Maybe. I think also the insanely smooth French roads may have something to do with it too. Some streaches are like parts of a race track

Glad you didn't get to experience French hospital food

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

Maybe. I think also the insanely smooth French roads may have something to do with it too. Some streaches are like parts of a race track

Now that is definatly true

Has to be said that in the main, French roads are much better quality than over here. BUT.... They do tend to put 90 + degree bends after long straights, which often tighten as you go round them.

No matter how confident you are getting (and sorry, I don't mean to preach...) if you don't know the road and cant see the exit of the bend, ride it like it tells you in the manual...

We have all made the same mistake, some of us end up in a heap and some of us get out unscathed, it goes with the hobby.

Just pleased you had a good time, and the Alsace is a fantastic area to ride and is only 1 day's ride away from Calais. Everybody should go there at least once...

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