EYESIGHT CHART BIKER CRUSHED BY CBR600

[birdinflight]

those of you who were at the bash last year will understand the significance of the eyechart. For those that weren't it was presented to me presumably as an aid in my riding skills, due to having hit the rear end of my Blackbird Riding partner, whilst not really riding very well on my NTV.

So now I have another dilemma. The thing is, since I started riding way back in 2000, the year in which I wrote off a CBR600 and a Citreon Xantia.....in the same moment. Oh and Fractured my pelvis too.

I then didn't ride for two years.

In 2003, I tried to rid the world of a titanium blackbird, but instead crushed my front end.........on the bike.

This year, trying out a CBR600 again. In one week I have.............broken the front fairing........slightly........popped out the amber indicator bit.......scraped the fairing.............not once but twice.

HOw?, well the first was after executing a perfect U turn, then leaving the junction, but dumping the clutch instead........not quite used to the biting point there. Bike falls over with me. Damage to the bike, but I am okay, if just a little pissed off.

Wednesday night, had a brilliant ride, I was so pleased, felt comfortable on the bike, and felt much more positive about riding it.

Last night....Thursday, decided to go out for a while, kitted up, bike ridden out of Barn, yes I said barn, parked on driveway. Approach bike, swing leg over, bike tips to the right and thats it. Under the bike my ankle taking the brunt of it. I was furious, nearly threw my helmet halfway accross the field.

Took gloves off, took jacket off and proceeded to attempt lift of bike, finally with pure adrenalin, hoisted it up. Not easy with a full tank!!!

Same damage as before. Except this time my ankle hurts big time. Wheel bike back to barn......how dedicated is that........then hobble inside. Ice packs, ibuprofen and a little visit to A&E today. Thankfully only torn ligaments. But it hurts.

So how did it happen, well the first mishap is obvious, the bike jerked with stalling and I lost my footing.

The second time..........well, this is the way I see it. The bike on the flat stands very upright on its stand, therfore, when I swing my leg over before I am even in the seat the bike is almost past the vertical. Once I have sat down no problem, can touch the floor perfect. If the bike is on a sloping surface, like in the barn, then thats just fine. It seems that by the time the bike gets to that vertical position, its the point of no return.

Now this has dampened my spirits no end. I am seriously wondering about my future in biking. Maybe I am wrong to do that, as I really love it. But I seem to be punishing my body continuously.

So go on, help me out with words of encouragement, disbelief, humour, witty or sarcastic remarks or even words of advice.............I am sitting still, as I can't move very fast anyway.............ouch :cry:

 

[Bob Pinder]

Stand back, take a deep breath and
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
start again!

One step at a time (no pun intended!), maybe have a bit of a break (few hours - couple of days?), give some thought to what gives you the most hassle?

Slowly, slowly and I'm sure you'll get there.

Taught riders who have had missing arms and legs (not the same person! and only one missing limb at a time!)

Think, apply and execute - sounds easy but it does come with practise.

PS Please tell me when you're out and about and I'll stay at home :blush:

So anything is possible :yo:

 

[osprey03]

Blimey BIF, talk about a comedy of errors, well at least you can still laugh !!!
Just keep at it, I'm sure you will master it very soon - 'suppose it's depends on how much of the bike remains though.

 

[nigs]

Don't even think about giving up.

Sounds exactly like my other half. Passed her test in Nov and brough CBR600. It's been on the floor twice now. Once doing a U-turn on a cambered road, and once on a really tight uphill left hand bend in Wales. I had to stop half way round, put my feet down and straighten the bike up - and someone else asked his pillion to get off before he attempted it!!

Keep on going - just get some mushrooms and a good supply of indicators and mirrors :} :}

Look on the bright side, at least you've genuinely got your knee down (send the sliders to Bert he can add them to his collection)

 

[Artemis]

Keep at it BIF. Go for borrowing someone else's bike though. I found at the school I went to last year that the sheer determination not to damage something that I did not own kept their bike off the deck on quite a few occasions. Mind you, that was about the only way I managed to impress the instructor, certainly didn't do it with my riding ability (or lackthereof). :blush:

Stilll learning, but at the ripe old age of 46 I've got an excuse for not learning too quickly! :yo:

 

[reefer]

dunno waht to say bif..least your not hurt to bad..only mentaly i spose
im sure everone has dropped a bike in a silly situation
i bought me first 350lc and was chuffed to bits with it..rode it into the workshop to show the lads and dropped the fooker trying to put it on the stand :bang:
are you sure your not having thease problems by being to tence when riding or pushing :} (sorry pushing bit kinda slipped out :bow: ) the bike?
i dunno what to say really, be a shame if you give up biking but on the other hand if its the sensible thing to do to live a little longer then thats a choice only you can make
some people as we all know shouldnt be driving cars..we have all seen it..and sadly some bikers shouldnt be on bikes either
if you do take the latter choice at least you have a bloke that you can go pillion with so all is not lost!
this isnt meant to be pisstaking btw in case it comes over that way :dunno:
id just hate to read a post where you wernt so lucky to hobble away from it as you really do give it a go
stay of fit a couple of weeks and treet it to a good clean and polish then take it out for a run nice and early on a sunday or something(less things to hit)..sorry slipped again %$fan and then see how you feel about it all
i think the good point here is at least you admit there is a small problem between rider and bike which is a damm sight more than most of us would care to admit too
take it easy bif! :beer:

 

[SILVERONE]

w;;v Keep at it, I think if we was all honest, we all had similar mishaps, when we first started out, the worst thing I found was if someone seen me do it, when most of us started (I assume) thier wasn't that much to bust/crack on a bike.
All your off's sound as they have something to do with miss-footing ?, I dont know how tall/short you are but if short may be a bike with a lower seat hight may be the answer ? as it seams like the bike gets the better of you once it starts to go over.
Perhaps some type of advanced training may help as well ?
are you going to the Bash ? if you are put ur name on bike as i dont want to park near you :}

JOKING APART KEEP AT IT,
put it down to experience, u have more than most :blush:

 

[Fat Bert]

BIF~~~

Do us all a favour - take up knitting!!












































































[only kidding before you all start!!]

 

[reefer]

are you going to the Bash ? if you are put ur name on bike as i dont want to park near you

that has gotta be the funniest one liner i have read for ages :}
that just has to be in the quotes forum :blush:

 

[birdinflight]

Well this is cheering me up!!!!!

As for you Nealy, take up knitting eh.........I didn't think anyone would go for that one.......... :cry:

Silverone, Not particularily short or tall, just average really but as Reefer suggests it could be alot down to tension. That usually disappears mostly after being out for half an hour or so.

Don't worry, shan't be riding to the bash!!!!!!!!!

Bob, yes you are right, deep breath etc. Not going to be riding for a week or so anyway with my ankle, and wondered if I should stay off it until I return from New Zealand, just incase

 

[RHINO]

BIF

Keep at it, i love to see chick with bikes as it shows they have balls (BOB PINDER knows a chick with balls too :f )....
You'll regret getting without, just have ya seat lowered by MELBOY and get ya feet on the floor. If that does'nt work then fit a side car and take LUMPY out for a spin if you can squeeze him in it. :-:

 

[Cyclops]

BIF

dont give up if you read though the forum you will see that loads of peeps have dropped their bike in daft ways. I would bet that lots more have done it but are too ashamed/proud to admit it.

If I can still ride a bike with one only leg working then I`m sure that you will sort it out.

I have nearly dropped me Rtrusty cruiser several times already.


And as for hitting another Blackbird up the arse end I refer you to Fat Berts episode last year, when the blind twot ran into mine.


Do not give up, just accept the fact that shit happens :k :k :beer: :blush:

 

[frenchuk]

Alison, don't want to tell you to keep riding as I would feel guilty if you got hurt - and don't want to encourage you to stop as I would feel guilty in case you followed it... The only thing I would tell you is, do what YOU feel is right, once fear and excitement have gone away. I hope you recover soon :k

 

[davet]

BIF Keep at it we have all had these little moments i have lost count of the times i have dropped bikes. here are afew of my ones.
dropped bike while parking forgot to put side stand down.
Dropped bike at traffic lights didnt put me foot downlol
And my personal fav get on bike ride away with disc lock on while at box hill $%3un

 

[birdinflight]

the annoying things is..........

as many of you know, I have done several track days, so my confidence is really not that bad!!!!!!

I suppose really its is down to starting on a new bike (to me). The other problem for instance getting another bike, a lighter one, is finances.

I really have very little money to play with. My NTV is not going to fetch much, certainly not enough to physically buy another bike. I dropped the NTV I think once fully from sitting, on a roundabout on a hill, same problem dumped clutch. I have 'saved' the Ntv several times when its slightly tipped. Its a very heavy bike.

The CBR, to me appears to just be a problem with getting on it. I really feel the stand is too long? that sounds odd but it does seem to stand very vertical. The CBR is of a similar weight to my NTV.

I have asked Derek about putting on the RS crash things, huge buggers. I feel that would at least save fairing damage on little drops. However, I am going to sort out this getting on and off once my ankle is a little better.

I have a Rapid Skills day at Llandow race circuit booked for a day in August, which will help me with bike handling skills.

You know the funny thing is my slow riding skills are top notch!!!!! I can ride sooooooooooooooooo slowly, less than walking pace on the cbr, so falling over before I even start the engine is a little irritating!!!!!!!

Also the other thing, is that the CBR is an old bike, it is not in very good cosmetic condition anyway. When DErek bought it quite a few years ago, it had been done up, the guy though had had a respray, hence the odd colour but it doesn't match in parts, also the paint is very thin. Fairings Derek can mend. So the bike itself is not brilliant, but mechanically is excellent.

I would hate to have a new bike just incase I did the same.

Anyways, my ankle is much better today, long time in bed, plenty of ibuprofen and arnica cream, so I am feeling a little better.

Just going to go out and saw an inch of the side stand

 

[Artemis]

Err, Clive

If the problem's the bike falling over when it's on the mainstand and you're getting on it (because of the hieght), then why not do it the 'proper' way: Kick down the side stand, stand beside the bike facing forwards and push the bike off the mainstand ensuring that you have pressure towards you and covering the brake with your right hand. The bike will move forward onto its tyres and as it touches down you apply the front brake gently, then allow the bike to come to rest on the side stand. Now you can mount the bike. This way as you mount the bike will be lower.

If you don't have a side stand then you can still do the same but will have to hold the bike upright after it's come off the mainstand, and mount it whilst holding it upright - a little more difficult but once you get the hang quite easy. Have somebody on the far side of the bike when first getting used to doing this.

Incidentally, this is the 'proper' way because it removes the extra strain put on the bike's stand that a rider mounted adds. I do tend to push mine off the mainstand whilst straddling the Bird (the non-'proper' way!) because I can stand clear of the bike in the process (having long legs), so don't add any extra weight.

Think you got the wrong end of the stick. The way I read it, the problem is the side stand being so long the bike is all but upright so catching it with a foot on the way over will start it on the downward journey. I have recently bought an old CBR 600 and noticed the same thing with it.
BIF, I think you've cracked it yourself, the junior hacksaw is called for :bow:

 

[tootyfluti]

See if you can get hold of a shorter side stand. I`ve got a spare short side stand but its for a suzuki gsxf( I`m a long legged person so have no need for it). If you or anyone else thinks it could be modified to fit you`re welcome to it.
Don`t give up though not unless you`re 100% sure thats what you really want.

 

[Supabird1100]

So yeah, I'd have to agree that a hacksaw's probably the answer.

Just remember to get a 'foot' or a piece of steel plate welded onto the 'hack-sawed' stand. Otherwise it'll sink into every soft'ish surface you park the bike on. :B

 

[birdinflight]

nevermind Clive.........

thought it was quite funny!!!!!

No hacksaw. I think it was where I parked it that was the problem.

However, we will still look into it. Have lots of options really, shorter stand, lower seat, and what i am going for is RG racing crash protectors.

I have decided to keep going and have treated myself to a second hand micron race can for ?35!!!!!!!! :blush: So I will have to ride it to enjoy it.

 

[mickyb999]

XV Virago

why don't you try a different style of bike to see how it is for you, something like a Virago may be good for you.Better a change in style than giving up :blush: :beer: :dunno: