IIRC, from photos, it may be a driveway that goes past the house to the garage. But I also think he said that, combined with a footpath, made a mini test track around the house.
Your stupidest crash?
- Horse
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
Even bland can be a type of character
Re: Your stupidest crash?
Stupid and most witnessed.
One sunny Sunday after a ride through the lanes of Warwickshire I stopped for a chat and fag in Stratford on Avon, on such days there was always a good collection of bikes along the riverside plus the throngs of tourists.
A classic ‘sun shower’ descended and I said my goodbyes to head home. Rounding the corner in front of the Pen and Parchment pub to pull away I wanted to make sure all near were aware of my presence and on the Vertemati with it’s open pipe a quick crack of the throttle usually worked. However I was rapidly and literally brought back down to earth as the rear tyre broke loose on the damp tarmac and elegantly looped around leaving me and the bike facing the wrong way on the floor in front of the crowds looking at the front grill of a BMW containing a family on a day out.
Multiple bikers and passers-by rushed to my aid and were surprised at the complete lack of damage on the Vert, but being a Supermoto it is essentially a dirt bike and they’re designed to crash and carry on.
The biggest problem was, all I wanted to do was make a quick exit but the bike was kick-start only (that went forward), very tall seat and not playing ball after lying on its side, so the finger pointing and stares caused much more personal damage than the actual off.
One sunny Sunday after a ride through the lanes of Warwickshire I stopped for a chat and fag in Stratford on Avon, on such days there was always a good collection of bikes along the riverside plus the throngs of tourists.
A classic ‘sun shower’ descended and I said my goodbyes to head home. Rounding the corner in front of the Pen and Parchment pub to pull away I wanted to make sure all near were aware of my presence and on the Vertemati with it’s open pipe a quick crack of the throttle usually worked. However I was rapidly and literally brought back down to earth as the rear tyre broke loose on the damp tarmac and elegantly looped around leaving me and the bike facing the wrong way on the floor in front of the crowds looking at the front grill of a BMW containing a family on a day out.
Multiple bikers and passers-by rushed to my aid and were surprised at the complete lack of damage on the Vert, but being a Supermoto it is essentially a dirt bike and they’re designed to crash and carry on.
The biggest problem was, all I wanted to do was make a quick exit but the bike was kick-start only (that went forward), very tall seat and not playing ball after lying on its side, so the finger pointing and stares caused much more personal damage than the actual off.
- Rockburner
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
With a blind corner at the entrance.Count Steer wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 2:29 pmIIRC RB has form when it comes to keeping impacts 'in the family'. Something like a head on, on his own drive, with his brother? Kudos!Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 2:10 pmAt least I didn't manage to ride into the back of his dad like he did.The Spin Doctor wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 2:03 pm
Top man. Photographic evidence is vital in cases like this.
(Must have been a long drive!).
That one hurt, a lot. (But now i know exactly what colour my femur is).
non quod, sed quomodo
- Yorick
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- Pirahna
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
A mate wanted to go on a Ducati test day with me as company. Ha asked and asked and asked and I reluctantly agreed, I usually have better things to do on a Saturday than ride bikes I have no intention of buying. The bike I threw down the road was a bright yellow 998. To be fair it wasn't particularly well set up and was great in a straight line but the 190 tyre on the back was a bit too much for it, the bike wasn't that keen on corners. Cost me a £1000 excess on their insurance.
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
Oh so many stories I could tell.......
But for top fuckwittery, twas on a very nicely tweaked TS125X. I'd just fitted a new tyre and gearing for a local LDT. Took it out for a test ride, just to make sure everything was ok.
Unfortunately i had done it in a bit of a rush and hadn't adjusted the back brake up properly. After a mile or so i found myself on my wheelie practice road. Short gearing and 25hp and 3rd gear.......oooooh a bit high, I'll just give it a dab, dab, stamp, fuck!
Had to do the trial with a riveted back mudguard and a gravel rashed arse!
But for top fuckwittery, twas on a very nicely tweaked TS125X. I'd just fitted a new tyre and gearing for a local LDT. Took it out for a test ride, just to make sure everything was ok.
Unfortunately i had done it in a bit of a rush and hadn't adjusted the back brake up properly. After a mile or so i found myself on my wheelie practice road. Short gearing and 25hp and 3rd gear.......oooooh a bit high, I'll just give it a dab, dab, stamp, fuck!
Had to do the trial with a riveted back mudguard and a gravel rashed arse!
- mangocrazy
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
Thankfully I've not had that many offs in my motorcycling life, but undoubtedly the stupidest was in my first year of riding.
Quelle surprise...
My first bike was a Honda C200, a 90cc OHV bike with a pressed steel frame, not the stepthru C90. I bought mine as a basket case and rebuilt it, and in doing so fucked up the gear change mechanism, so it would only change gear when the mood took it. It really pissed me off and so my mate offered to let me ride his C200, which was newer, in better condition and had an aftermarket screen, so I could see what a bike with a working gearbox was like.
Bad move.
The fact that I could now change gear reliably must have instilled a false sense of security/invincibility in me, as I was throwing my mates bike around the place with far more abandon than I did my own bike. Then it started drizzling with rain. No problem, I thought - carry on.
Then I remember coming up to a corner that clearly had a thin layer of mud on the tarmac. I also remember thinking - it'll be OK, just do it...
The next thing I remember is picking myself and the bike up and realising that I'd not only damaged the footrests and bars of my mate's bike, but also the screen of which he was so inordinately proud (I never really understood why). And that I would then have to go back and explain myself (and the state of his bike) to my mate.
Not one of my proudest moments...
Quelle surprise...
My first bike was a Honda C200, a 90cc OHV bike with a pressed steel frame, not the stepthru C90. I bought mine as a basket case and rebuilt it, and in doing so fucked up the gear change mechanism, so it would only change gear when the mood took it. It really pissed me off and so my mate offered to let me ride his C200, which was newer, in better condition and had an aftermarket screen, so I could see what a bike with a working gearbox was like.
Bad move.
The fact that I could now change gear reliably must have instilled a false sense of security/invincibility in me, as I was throwing my mates bike around the place with far more abandon than I did my own bike. Then it started drizzling with rain. No problem, I thought - carry on.
Then I remember coming up to a corner that clearly had a thin layer of mud on the tarmac. I also remember thinking - it'll be OK, just do it...
The next thing I remember is picking myself and the bike up and realising that I'd not only damaged the footrests and bars of my mate's bike, but also the screen of which he was so inordinately proud (I never really understood why). And that I would then have to go back and explain myself (and the state of his bike) to my mate.
Not one of my proudest moments...
There is no cloud, just somebody else's computer.
- Mr Moofo
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
Buell M2, new gearing, test round the local road circuit.
Quick right hander - peacock in the middle of the road -choice of going through a hedge, hitting peacock, or grabbing the brakes.
After a visit to A&E ( 3 hours)) and a flight to the US 2 days later, I realise "hit the fucking peacock" was the correct answer.
I was wearing a t shirt and light jogging trousers - it hurt. A lot
Quick right hander - peacock in the middle of the road -choice of going through a hedge, hitting peacock, or grabbing the brakes.
After a visit to A&E ( 3 hours)) and a flight to the US 2 days later, I realise "hit the fucking peacock" was the correct answer.
I was wearing a t shirt and light jogging trousers - it hurt. A lot
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
1985 RD125LC, Tram lines Douglas front during TT week, the cheers were great
- Noggin
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
My first TT. Been riding approx 6 months and had had the Blackbird for about 3 or 4 weeks. I really was fully aware that I had to make sure I could touch the ground on at least one side!!
Went to the marshals' point at the 11th Milestone which meant riding said Blackbird into a field. Kid on the gate pointed up and I looked at him with a big question mark hovering and he pointed again and nodded towards the up bit of the field.
So, as per directions, I rode up the field (proper up!) and turned level to get my left foot down and the bike fell away from me down the hill!!
Luckily it didn't go far, just down, no rolling. But absolutely no chance of me sorting that out. But all the other marshals had seen my error before I even stopped and were heading up to rescue me!!
Didn't ever live that down and marshalled for about 4 or 5 years for TT and Manx!!
TBF all my crashes have essentially been preventable or stupid and preventable. But for sheer stupidity (and total lack of cohesive thought), falling over in a steep field is the one!!
Went to the marshals' point at the 11th Milestone which meant riding said Blackbird into a field. Kid on the gate pointed up and I looked at him with a big question mark hovering and he pointed again and nodded towards the up bit of the field.
So, as per directions, I rode up the field (proper up!) and turned level to get my left foot down and the bike fell away from me down the hill!!
Luckily it didn't go far, just down, no rolling. But absolutely no chance of me sorting that out. But all the other marshals had seen my error before I even stopped and were heading up to rescue me!!
Didn't ever live that down and marshalled for about 4 or 5 years for TT and Manx!!
TBF all my crashes have essentially been preventable or stupid and preventable. But for sheer stupidity (and total lack of cohesive thought), falling over in a steep field is the one!!
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!!
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
A couple of times setting off with disc lock on …feels like somethings wrong but you only realise what as you hit the pavement …..
I’m lucky not to have crashed much - mostly low speed trying to get through gaps that don’t exist
I’m lucky not to have crashed much - mostly low speed trying to get through gaps that don’t exist
- ChrisW
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
Southport Beach Race 1986 or possibly 1985. I managed a good starting position mainly because I didn't understand the rules / protocol during the promenade through the town and ended up at the front of the final holding pen, next to factory riders who seemed as confused by me being there as I was.
Start went badly though and when I got to the end of the straight there was a queue of people waiting for the chaos to clear before going over the first hill. I just sort of went around them all and was probably in the top fifteen or so at the end of the lap. The end of the lap which had a jump just before the line. I figured I should try to be entertaining as there was a fairly large crowd, which I suppose I did as the bike back-flipped, without me on it, and we landed maybe forty feet from each other. It was a long walk back to the bike.
Start went badly though and when I got to the end of the straight there was a queue of people waiting for the chaos to clear before going over the first hill. I just sort of went around them all and was probably in the top fifteen or so at the end of the lap. The end of the lap which had a jump just before the line. I figured I should try to be entertaining as there was a fairly large crowd, which I suppose I did as the bike back-flipped, without me on it, and we landed maybe forty feet from each other. It was a long walk back to the bike.
- Bigyin
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
I did a similar as a 17 year old on my GS125 after my laces loop wrapped around my gear lever. Stopped at the traffic lights and went to put left foot down ….. oopsv8-powered wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 3:03 pm
I had very similar to this only a few weeks back - laces loop from the boots I was wearing had looped over the footrest guard, rolling to a stop and went to put my foot down and found I couldn't! Luckily nothing in front so managed to keep a little momentum and unhook myself.
Landed in a heap with bike on me and broke indicator and clutch lever …. Doh!!
Because of this I now include it in my CBT chat to the yoofs about why they should tuck their laces in
- Yorick
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
I always check mineBigyin wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 10:08 pmI did a similar as a 17 year old on my GS125 after my laces loop wrapped around my gear lever. Stopped at the traffic lights and went to put left foot down ….. oopsv8-powered wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 3:03 pm
I had very similar to this only a few weeks back - laces loop from the boots I was wearing had looped over the footrest guard, rolling to a stop and went to put my foot down and found I couldn't! Luckily nothing in front so managed to keep a little momentum and unhook myself.
Landed in a heap with bike on me and broke indicator and clutch lever …. Doh!!
Because of this I now include it in my CBT chat to the yoofs about why they should tuck their laces in
- Noggin
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
I refuse to wear footwear with laces on the bike simply because I really don't need anything so simple to go wrong!!Bigyin wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 10:08 pmI did a similar as a 17 year old on my GS125 after my laces loop wrapped around my gear lever. Stopped at the traffic lights and went to put left foot down ….. oopsv8-powered wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 3:03 pm
I had very similar to this only a few weeks back - laces loop from the boots I was wearing had looped over the footrest guard, rolling to a stop and went to put my foot down and found I couldn't! Luckily nothing in front so managed to keep a little momentum and unhook myself.
Landed in a heap with bike on me and broke indicator and clutch lever …. Doh!!
Because of this I now include it in my CBT chat to the yoofs about why they should tuck their laces in
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!!
- Taipan
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
I saw a stupid crash last night. It must have been gutting for the rider. I pulled into a middle lane and saw the bike ahead (BMW s1000 type I think), suddenly brake hard and tip over onto the lower side of a van. He seemed sort of stuck but managed to get himself out but then him and another guy struggled to get the bike up but did eventually. Van driver was asking if the biker was okay and a nonliveried Police car on blues and twos stopped and checked everyone was okay.
If you crash cos of diesel or low siding or something, that's one thing, but to get involved in a 2 or 3 way claim for falling over must be really annoying!!
If you crash cos of diesel or low siding or something, that's one thing, but to get involved in a 2 or 3 way claim for falling over must be really annoying!!
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Re: Your stupidest crash?
Glad to see I'm not the only one to have suffered side stand and disc lock incidents.
Not sure if my stupidest is this one viewtopic.php?t=5711 or the time I joined the Newhaven ferry queue on my new-to-me Pan and leant the bike against the side of an adjacent car, owing to sidestand amnesia.
Not sure if my stupidest is this one viewtopic.php?t=5711 or the time I joined the Newhaven ferry queue on my new-to-me Pan and leant the bike against the side of an adjacent car, owing to sidestand amnesia.