Close, but no cigar...

Almost had to start this thread on how to repair/replace my right-side fairing.

Christmas day, on my way to my sister's house for a family event. Full AGATT. Sunny, no wind, typical San Diego winter afternoon. I'm approaching a T in the road that I drive daily with a yield sign and plenty of visibility for traffic from either direction. Shifted my butt over and leaned inside for a right hand inside line @ 25mph.

End of the world as soon as I cross onto the T. Somebody has dumped a thin layer of sand and gravel that morning, probably as they made that same turn. The bike dips toward a low-side and I plant my right boot. Questionable tactic...as my right foot catches on the pavement, flies backward, and now I'm body surfing belly down on the seat, legs straight back, holding onto the grips by my fingertips. A true youtube moment. The VFR is freakin' still upright! (God I love this bike...) Pulled myself upright and spent the rest of the trip counting lucky stars.

Just a reminder to all of my friends out there, things change on the road real fast. I was too comfortable with my route and didn't follow my normal checklist for turns: Traffic-Road-Line. I mean, that turn was just fine yesterday!

Anyway, hope you all had a Merry Christmas and 2011 treats you well.

Dave

 

nice save my man, glad to see you and the bike made it out ok

 

That's why I always carry a spare pair of clean undershorts. You just never know.

 

By the way, Kenwood. Did you get your avatar from Michael Vick?

 

Some moments gently remind you why you should always be expecting a challenge to hold on to your bike - and your skin,

other moments shout it at you VERY LOUDLY...!

I know what you mean about loving the bike though. I'm new to it all, and I know without a doubt that mine has saved me from an ugly end on a few occasions already, where another bike just woulda spat me off...

Glad to hear you kept it SSU.

 

Better to be lucky than good, sounds like a helping of both in your case.

 

Thanks for all the well wishes folks! Merry Xmas!

I know that 25mph sounds slow, but as my instructor (40 years ago) told me, "Run as fast as you can into a brick wall. That's about 13mph." He also told me, "If ya got a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet..."

Yeah VFRnewbie, I honestly believe that had I been on the Nighthawk, there would have been a whole different end to the story.

And Knife, Ha! My avatar was a National Lampoon Magazine cover in the 70's with the caption, "Buy this magazine or we will kill this dog." Vick probably has a copy on his wall...

 

Several years ago there was a video of a racer doing that same thing. I think his may have started with a high-side. Pretty impressive at 100+ MPH.

 

Superman dat ho!

Nice save.

 

regaining equilibrium

this link may connect with the clip you are describing:
YouTube - Amazing Highside Recovery!!!

I don't think it's Rossi though there's one of him being as amazingly athletic in a recovery
Happy Nude Year All...
Sidesaddle

 

I could cut flat washers from my ass just reading that. Nice recovery. I hit a road snake in the rain at a high speed a while back and flexed the ol' rectal muscles and stayed afloat myself. I know your feelings.

 

Sheesh. From personal experience, I've put myself in hospital from just doing 40km/h around a corner & also ran through some sand/oil. I went down first & the bike hit (and rode ontop of) me. Doesn't take a lot of speed to cause serious injury. Your story sounds quite heroic actually.

 

I remember Randy Mamola doing something very similar:

YouTube - Randy Mamola Incredible 500cc Grand Prix Crash

 

hooooooollleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyy shit batman

 

You hadn't seen that before, Grasshopper? That's a pretty famous save in the bike racing world. If you were into racing in the mid 80's you knew all about that one...it's a classic. Mamola was always WFO...he had that "win or crash" mentality.

 

There is a time to know when to let go, glad you did'nt on this one, ataboy!

 

there's this video too... YouTube - Motorcycle save

 

Well, the world wasn't graced with my presence (heh heh, please read tons of sarcasm here) until 1982, so I don't think I was even old enough to know what motorcycle racing was at that point. I have seen a great many save videos, but I don't remember that one in particular. Even so, definately worth another watch!! True definition of never give up! Either that or "holy shit what was I thinking I shoulda just let go fer christ sakes!!!"

 

This one I belive I had seen before however, is that Rainey??