Oct 23

And the award goes to…

motorcycle Add Comment (1)

So, today I rode the bike up the hill to go see a client. Get done there, and turn to go home. I headed toward the truck route, and as I get there, I decided to take West Road down the canyon past the skating rink.

I zipped down through the canyon, enjoying the hairpins, despite the fact that I was in too low of a gear coming out of one (it’s a longish sweeper and whilst I started in in a good gear, I slowed down too much on the output end). Anyway, I come out of the canyon, and decided to take the quasi-legal dirt connector that goes past the big water tank and ties into the ski hill road. I had never gone down it from this direction before.

I putted down the crumbling asphalt, and made my right turn to the rutty road that goes around the water tank fence, avoiding the water filled rut to my right. I turned to the left, and started up a somewhat loose slope, very rutty road. I was down in the bottom of the left rut, and I wanted to get up out of it. I turned the front and aimed it up and onto the center of the double track, and gave it a little juice to get up there. I was partially up when the rear slid back down, which I should have known it was going to.

I turned back to the right, hoping to center up the bike back down in the rut, but it was too late, not enough speed. The bike tipped over to the right. I threw out a leg, hoping to catch it, but I was not strong enough, and down she went.

The bike sputtered a few times and died. I got off and stepped back, looking at what I could do about it. I got some good footing, and stood the bike up. This was kind of difficult due to the rut. I put out the side stand, and eased it onto it, making sure it would hold. The bike was up.

I surveyed the damage. The left hand guard and the turn signal had taken the brunt of the impact. The hand guard was scuffed and scratched, and most of the turn signal was littered about in pieces on the dirt to the side of the bike. A broken bulb stuck out of what was left, dangling from the turn signal stem.

There were a few scratches on the plastic, but they should mostly be able to be buffed out, somewhat. The clutch lever felt funny, but it was not damaged (most likely the whole mount just got scooted down somewhat). No damage at all to the crash bar, but I expected that, due to where the bike dropped.

So, there it is. My first drop that resulted in damage to my bike. It had to happen eventually, and I’m really not all that upset about it. Just need to get a new turn signal and away I go.

I took State 4 on home. The ‘ol girl still turns in 100mph no problem, and the steering feels just fine, so I don’t think there was any lasting damage. I think I just need more dirt practice on the bike, to learn better what to do in those interesting situations. Now, mind you, I’ve ridden that road probably 3 times prior, but all times going the other direction.

Anyway, whatta day, right?