Just had an off! :-(

I had a similar experience and carried on riding but a bit more aware, how about an advanced riding course?

IMO If it was a patch of black ice you couldn't really have done anything, hence try not to use the bike in these conditions. If its your only license then start thinking about getting a car license, you still would of slipped, but you wouldnt be hurt.

Kudos, my friend for riding in this weather in the first place. I chicken out most mornings and hop in the car at the moment. I'm most impressed that you rode to A&E and then rode home!! I wouldn't force any decisions too soon re riding. It won't be long before you're itching to get back on I bet.
Take care.

Originally Posted by Red Herring

That's a bit of a strange one. You've gone down on the right side going into a left hander, which means in effect you "highsided", only they generally happen on the way out of a bend on the power. The easiest way to do what you have done is to lock the rear up going into the bend. Is it possible you were going a bit quicker than you thought and maybe squeezed a bit more than you had planned? The bike would have gone a bit sideways until you either ran out of lock, or realized what was happening and came off the brake a bit to quickly causing the rear to grip suddenly and throw you over the top. It was pretty cold last night and compacted salt can be pretty slippery at the best of times so it wouldn't have taken much. Generally if there is enough diesel down to cause a proper crash you can smell it as well. All I can say in encouragement is that there will be a reason you came off, these things don't "just happen". Go back to where it happened and talk yourself through it again, I'm sure you're work it out. Good luck.

Thanks red herring. I thought perhaps this may have been the case, but both my toes were on the pegs, so I didn't use any brakes. Also I don't remember thinking I was approaching too fast, thinking I wasn't gonna make it or anything. The left hander was so minor, I don't even know how much I was leaning. I just remember losing it, trying to balance it out, then seeing it down on its right. I'm gonna go back there when I can walk and see if I can add anything to the story.

Originally Posted by metalmonkey

Opps sorry to hear about that dude, you will feel better soon and will want to out on the bike again. As already said it didn't just happen. I have had my bike slide, slip underneath me on cold tyres ect. Have you thouhgt about doing a bike safe course?

So your gonna need to fix the bike, well I have a garage at my new place as well...

Thanks for the offer mate. My bikes all good parked at an underground car park, although its communal.If working on my bike is not appropiate their, I may just let you know. Where abouts have you moved to?


Anyways, thanks a lot for the nice words everyone. Well already I've had a good nights sleep. The first morning is always the worst, and its been alrite and I'm looking on ebay for some parts to try and sort out my bike.

From what I've gathered, I need a new handlebar, front brake lever, rear brake lever, right rider peg, right sided fairing, and rear fairing/right indicator. Are there any good spare part websites other than ebay? As it is rideable, I would say my priority is right peg and right brake lever. I'm a relative noob, and the only tools I have are some spanners, and the tool kit under my seat. I guess this would be a good time to learn for myself, and perhaps install some crash bungs and a new sports handlebar. What kind of tools would I need to get to do all of this myself?

Also, I have just realised that my number plate came where the rear was damaged. How easy is it to replace a number plate?

Scary to hear about some of your black ice experiences. I didn't expect there to be any around central, so slightly confusing!

(ps beabert, Ive been driving for almost 7 years now, and can't imagine resigning to being just a cager again).

you will need some spannners ,plyers, screw driver, and allen keys. and tbh with what damage it is it will take about 1hr hth

Sorry to hear this, take it easy and get well.

I still have second thoughts about biking after my off, slowly rebuilding confidence and want to get back out there more but I know the weather (and the roads at the moment) are not conducive to this.

I slipped on black ice a month ago or so and my confidence atm is really low as i got the bike back yesterday im really struggling to reach the speed limits as im thinking the back ends about to go, and i was stupid enough to drop it in acceleration in a straight line.

gws and fix the bike up you will be back out on it in no trouble.

Same area more or less...

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Stu

Sorry to hear. I'd be surprised there was ice in the middle of London, possibly diesel.

GWS

I've revised my opinion after venturing out this morning (seeing how cold it was) and realising you must have done it middle of the night/very early morning.
I don't think I've had a problem with diesel (touch wood) but I have with ice and all you can do is hope you reach the far side of the patch before you go down.

Sorry to hear about your off, it's a good job you're not too badly hurt (or the bike - priorities!) It reminds me a bit of my (currently) only crash, when I rode a Honda Cub on a CBT. I'd been getting a bit too cocky and took a slightly wrong line into a corner, though not ACTUALLY too fast. And on bald tyres. Although I'd done the same corner every day for months, this time the back swung out to the right, I reacted and it swung left and then right again (fishtail) and slammed me down on my knee. I sorted the bloody scooter out over the next few days, and it sorted my attitude out a fair bit too. I'm not saying that it's down to bad attitude on your part, I've had no end of back and front end slides this winter, which mostly seem to be down to the salt build-up (and carp observation on my part). I can now see how lucky I've been not to end up in the same situation. I hope you get back into riding, you'd miss it if you didn't.