Laid her down today...

[Xavias]

Well, I had a frightening experience today... My girlfriend and I were coming back from lake Michigan when I go to get off the highway when it happens. I knew we were going a bit too fast for the ramp so I hit the brakes a bit harder than normal and started to lean for the turn. Halfway through the turn I knew we weren't going to make it, so I straightened the bike out, applied both brakes, cut our speed by half, and then we hit the dirt. I made sure I low sided it, and she slid off. Both were wearing ATGATT, with the exception of her shoes. Luckily we were on dirt, so we got away with a couple scratches, a skin deep cut on her knee, a few small scratches on her helmet, and a dusty bike with no rear tail lights. (Found those, though). So her friend picks her up and I ride back toward home. About 20 miles in I stop to call her and because I need to settle down before I go into shock.  I called my parents and had them come pick me up. 45 minutes later they were there, and my dad starts to ride my bike back toward home. We followed in the car closely because the brake light wasn't working. (Tail light was though). About 3 miles in, the lights go off, and the engine dies. Crap. After troubleshooting for about 20 minutes, we decide the best course of action is to... Push it... Ugh. So my dad looks it up, 3 miles from my brothers house! Yes, almost done with this day. 45 minutes of pushing later and we pull it into his garage. I want to shower and sleep.

But seriously, I'm really thankful to get out with both of us unhurt and hopefully a running NH....

Pics to come after we pick it up this week.

Time to order some new turn signals!

[coffee_brake]

Aw, so glad you're here to tell it!


 

[AmericanClassic]

Glad your both alright.

Its probably something simple with the bike, but you probably weren't at the top of your troubleshooting game.

[NightHawked]

Yea you probably don't want to do that again. And with all that you still can say you were lucky.

[Xavias]

Thanks you guys. I'm sure its something simple too. All connections needed to be gone over anyway.

Nighthawked, I don't want to do that again, in fact, I don't really ever want to ride two up again if I can help it. My girlfriend is okay with that, and she doesn't hate me for what happened!

I wish I could get a job going around to all the Harley riders and telling them why they should wear armored jackets now... Not a single scratch on either of our upper bodies! And full face helmets.. next investment will be riding pants, though... My jeans ripped from the top of the in-seam to the knee... Quite embarrassing!

I'll probably be asking a few questions around here to get my bike back to tip top shape, so patience would be appreciated.  (Not really worried, though. Everyone here is so helpful!)
Unless I decide I'm done for the season. That might happen, if the problem is a doozy. If that's the case, ill be ordering a few this after I get it running.

Things that were domestically damaged:
Front fender - large scratch.
Exhaust pipes -  was scratched up a bit because the final few feet it slid on pavement.
That's it, I think.
I'll be ordering turn signals for it too. Unfortunately, I only plan on having this bike one more season, so its a moot point to spend too mug money on it.

[Puppysnake]

That sucks. The fact that you're both okay is most the important thing. It doesn't sound like the bike will be too hard to fix up.

Both were wearing ATGATT

Doesn't sound like either of you were. If you're wearing jeans, that's not ATGATT. And her shoes. And it sounds like she wasn't wearing protective pants either?

Not trying to rub salt in your wounds, it just sounds like you need a bit of an education in terminology. ATGATT = ALL The Gear, All The Time, emphasis on 'all'. Many people think it only consists of a jacket, helmet, and gloves. It also consists of riding pants and boots. If you're missing one or more of those, you're wearing SOTGATT: Some Of The Gear, All The Time (I just made that up.   )

[JordanA]

Glad you're both alright.  There's no need to swear off riding two up... just write it off until you're more experienced.

Your riding style should change when you have a passenger, IMO.  Your #1 priority should be the safety of that person, and your riding style should reflect that.

[geemann]

Glad you're both alright.  There's no need to swear off riding two up... just write it off until you're more experienced.

Your riding style should change when you have a passenger, IMO.  Your #1 priority should be the safety of that person, and your riding style should reflect that.

+1


Also, look into kevlar riding jeans.  Some of them even have padding in them.

cheers,
-g

[wjlafrance]

550 brother from across the lake!

I was going to say something along the lines of "Nighthawks can be replaced, you and SOQS can't", but it's a 550.. 

For your lights, check this out. If they don't have good prices, at least you'll find the part numbers for further googling.

Good luck getting it back up and cruising. 

[happycommuter]

I knew we were going a bit too fast for the ramp so I hit the brakes a bit harder than normal and started to lean for the turn. Halfway through the turn I knew we weren't going to make it, so I straightened the bike out, applied both brakes, cut our speed by half, and then we hit the dirt.

You may have mentioned it in the past, but what is your training? Some of the these decisions were clearly not the best.

My understanding is that when realizing one has gone into a corner too hot, to 'look, lean, and believe' and leave your comfort zone by learning what the tires can actually handle.  Disrupting steering geometry midcorner is not advised unless speed is way and as a last resort. 

Straightening up for hard braking is correct, but I think MSF teaches to stand up hard, brake hard, then immediately get back to negotiating the corner and not running off the road.  I will say that it was wise to avoid riding shortly thereafter, particularly with a spooked passenger, as the risk of a follow-up crash is high when one is in this state of mind.

Hopefully you're not assuming this scratched helmet will be fixed with a sticker.  Feel around the inside and you may discover the foam permanently pressed in on one side.  That means the helmet has done its job and won't be doing it again. 

[ariwhiteboy]

Hate to hear about this...take the above advice to heart though. 

[FearThis SC]

Glad that you are OK   

Ride Safe....

[hppants]

Sorry to read about this - but real glad I can read about this from the victim.

I stop to call her and because I need to settle down before I go into shock.

With my off still fresh in my mind, I can relate to this.  I was not able to ride home, even thought the bike was up for the task.  My thoughts would not allow me to concentrate safely.

Any chance the bike ran out of gas?  Maybe some leaked out during the off, and you had less in the tank than you thought?

[Thegunshow]

Depending on what you need for parts, there is a pretty solid looking parts bike on Ebay right now that resides down in Michigan City,IN.  Not too far from you:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130548901352&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123

Nice backrest and rack on it too.

[gammer]

Glad you are ok. +1 for being (almost) ATGATT.

When you get back on the bike practice doing your braking before you corner. Even more so when you have a passenger.

One thing I learned when racing (motocross) was to do all your braking before you corner/turn. (you should actually be accelerating or at least coasting through a corner). Even now, when I have a corner or turn that isn't smooth, its because I had to hit the brakes through it.

Good luck with the repairs!

[Xavias]

You may have mentioned it in the past, but what is your training? Some of the these decisions were clearly not the best.

My understanding is that when realizing one has gone into a corner too hot, to 'look, lean, and believe' ...

Hopefully you're not assuming this scratched helmet will be fixed with a sticker. 

My training is the MSF class, and about 4 months of riding (3000 miles or so, with maybe 300 miles of riding 2 up).

I agree that my decisions may not have been "the best" possible decisions to make, but they were the best I could come up with at that instant. 

I felt the inside of my helmet, and the padding is all fine (no scratches on it, either)  but was not able to check hers.  I'll have her do it today or tomorrow.  I'll probably owe her a new helmet anyway. (Who would want to wear a scratched up one, right?)

550 brother from across the lake!

I was going to say something along the lines of "Nighthawks can be replaced, you and SOQS can't", but it's a 550.. 

But the 550 can be "repaired"! 

Doesn't sound like either of you were. If you're wearing jeans, that's not ATGATT.

You aren't rubbing salt in the wounds.  It's true, we both had a jacket, gloves, helmet, and I had boots.  Not ATGATT.  This small oversight will be fixed by the time I get the bike up and running.

Your riding style should change when you have a passenger, IMO.  Your #1 priority should be the safety of that person, and your riding style should reflect that.

Very true, and I honestly wish she wasn't on the back. 

Also, look into kevlar riding jeans...

Will do, thanks for the tip!

[JB1290]

Glad that you and SOQS weren't seriously hurt. If nothing else, you learned a very valuable lesson on what not to do when riding not only solo but with a passenger.

It sounds like you don't have alot of experience riding (solo or 2 up). No disrespect intended but, I personally woud not allow a passenger on my bike for about a year and a half of solid solo riding after I got my 1st bike. When I have a passenger, I ride like a old man because my passengers life is in my hands. I never wanted my passengers injuries or death on my conscience if I caused a crash due to the way I was riding or from my lack of experience. Riding solo is one thing but having a passenger completely changes the way a bike handles. This in turn, changes how you need to approach turns, stopping and avoiding cagers that want to kill you.

Again, I'm happy to hear that both of you are Ok and the bike is fixable. Hopefully, she will get back on the bike with you in the future.

[Bumblebee]

Post pictures of the jeans you were both wearing. Too many people think jeans = armor. Jeans actually = tissue paper.

We followed in the car closely because the brake light wasn't working.

Don't do that. To heck with the cops and rules. Maintain a safe distance as if it was any other motorcycle. You had a crashed motorcycle and a round of poor judgement going on at the time. A major failure on the motorcycle and the cage runs over the motorcycle causing a bigger problem than a lightbulb that doesn't work.


Did you let go of the front brake as the wheel left the pavement or did you keep holding the brake? Dirt with a front brake will put you on the ground quick. Dirt skills, even if it's just dirt roads, will improve your ability to handle off road excursions.

[DesignFlaw06]

Too little too late I'm afraid, but you have my number and I'm close by with a truck and trailer if you ever need help again. I'll do what I can. Glad you're alright.

Get her back up an running so we can go for that ride we've been talking about!

[SirSeanSean]

Wow, glad to hear that you guys are ok. I guess you wont know until you get to look at it again, but how is the frame and forks?   

[Zeheeba]

Your story has inspired me to order some riding pants for my gf asap.  She wears jeans also which bothers me.  Time to change that...  I've very happy to hear that you are both alright.  :)

[Xavias]

Post pictures of the jeans you were both wearing. Too many people think jeans = armor. Jeans actually = tissue paper.

We followed in the car closely because the brake light wasn't working.

Don't do that. To heck with the cops and rules. Maintain a safe distance as if it was any other motorcycle. You had a crashed motorcycle and a round of poor judgement going on at the time. A major failure on the motorcycle and the cage runs over the motorcycle causing a bigger problem than a lightbulb that doesn't work.


Did you let go of the front brake as the wheel left the pavement or did you keep holding the brake? Dirt with a front brake will put you on the ground quick. Dirt skills, even if it's just dirt roads, will improve your ability to handle off road excursions.

Jeans were okay, save for a small hole in hers, and an already existing hole in the in seam of mine, that got bigger when I stretched it out to get back on the bike.

It wasn't just a "follow him closely" type of thing,  it was a go 10 mph with flashers on and the bike probably 30 feet in front of us.  We also had his cell phone hooked up to his bluetooth headset in his helmet and we had him on speaker to tell us when he's slowing down.

I did let go of the front brake, more for fear of high-siding the bike than anything.  I kept my foot on the back brake, though.  The dirt was also rough stuff.  I've learned a TON of lessons from this.  But one more lesson is: Let's go have some fun on the dirt! ;)

@JB1290,  I definitely agree now.  She wants to ride so badly, but can't afford her own bike yet, so the solution was for her t o ride with me.  But we already agreed that we won't do it again for a very, very long time. 

@DesignFlaw06 - I totally forgot about that.  I might just give you a call next time.  (even though it will never happen ever again, right... right?)  I'll let you know so we can go for that ride!  (You probably know a few more places to go than I do.)

@sirSeanSean - Frame and forks are good from the 20 miles I rode it on the highway.  Drives as straight as it did before.

@Zeheeba - That's the reason I posted the story.  It's not a "poor me" or anything like that.  It's a "I was fortunate to not be seriously hurt and I believe the riding gear I was wearing really saved my skin (literally)" type of story.

[wjlafrance]

I just looked into turn signals, since I'm needing one also. The site I linked earlier lists each component, and the one I need is "BASE, TURN SIGNAL", 33401-MB1-003. That brought me here, showing that the same part number is used on the 1983 VT750C, CB1000C, CB550SC, CB650SC and CX650C. Searching the bay for "1983 cb650sc turn signal" yielded favorable results. 

Good luck again, and again, glad you're safe. :)

[Bumblebee]

I did let go of the front brake, more for fear of high-siding the bike than anything.  I kept my foot on the back brake, though.  The dirt was also rough stuff.  I've learned a TON of lessons from this.  But one more lesson is: Let's go have some fun on the dirt! ;)

Actually if you hold the front brake on dirt, you're not high siding anything. It'll just wash out under you and slam you against the ground.

Take it easy on the dirt until you know what you're doing. Street tires don't like dirt.

[Xavias]

Good news is, I just ordered these (along with some new turn signals) today!

Can't wait until they come in and my dad and I get my bike back up and running right! :)

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/40/29939/ITEM/AGV-Sport-Solare-Vented-Pants.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch