Joined
·
427 Posts
First off let me set the stage. It was a nice spring day, temp 72F and the sky was clear. I was at hour three of a nice five hour ride, having already had my lunch stop and hydrated.
Scooter: I was riding my JCL 257cc scooter, giving the Burgman a well-deserved rest. 26,500 miles, plenty of experience with this ride, it is no Hayabusa, and I know it. Nice tires all around, Sport Pilot on the front, new (2000 mile old) SC 2C in the rear.
Road: Highway 135 at mile marker 79, and well-traveled but technical road in Indiana, well known in the riding fraternity. This was only my second time on this stretch, and the first with this bike.
Speed 45 to 50 MPH estimated, about the pace I had been riding all day.
Here are some photos to help support my poor writing skills. These are re-enactment photos ?
This scene shows the incline, which I wish I had paid more attention to. The grade is quit steep.
[attachment=0:12xcemdp]SteepIndlineSigh.jpg[/attachment:12xcemdp]
Next photo, I start to realize an adjustment is needed. Note the first curve warning chevron. That is where I started my skid. There is a hard point on the left of the scooter for the side stand. It is a known issue and I have filed it down over 1.5 cm before this incident.
[attachment=1:12xcemdp]StartofCurvemorelean.jpg[/attachment:12xcemdp]
Photo three, just right of the yellow are two long scrape marks. These were caused by my side stand mount point; they are over 2 meters long and deep. What happens next is my line into the corner is altered due to the metal contact with the road. The bike loses rear wheel traction and I shift my weight upright slightly as a natural reaction. Now is when the stinking thinking that kills most riders kicks in. “Dang this is going to hurt”. “Will they every find me?” Luckily I had time to kick in my plan.
[attachment=2:12xcemdp]MarksinRoad.jpg[/attachment:12xcemdp]
I recently taught my teen age daughter to ride. Gear up, know your ride, and practice for the worst to get the best outcome. My key phrase, which took over for me in this event was “Never give up”. I thought of her and my teaching and acted on it.
This is my, it is going to hurt photo. My weight distribution on the bike is wrong, and if feels like the corner is sucking me in. We all know that feeling eh.
[attachment=3:12xcemdp]DoSomthing.jpg[/attachment:12xcemdp]
This is my, never give up, full counter steer photo. I was right of the white line when doing my recovery. Notice the nice patch of extra pavement, thank you DOT.
[attachment=4:12xcemdp]FullCounterSteerRecovery.jpg[/attachment:12xcemdp]
I have long since quit riding to the limits of my abilities, but I know what a bike can do, and have seen plenty of riders, just ride off the road to pain. “Never give up”.
I have since filed down the remainder of the side stand mount, about 3mm more, and will make further riding adjustment for this bike. I have had a total of one low side in over 30+ years of street riding (rain). But numerous slides, skids, and whoops, in the dirt. Dirt riding skills have saved my bacon more than once. Be safe all and ride on.
Thanks for reading.
Scooter: I was riding my JCL 257cc scooter, giving the Burgman a well-deserved rest. 26,500 miles, plenty of experience with this ride, it is no Hayabusa, and I know it. Nice tires all around, Sport Pilot on the front, new (2000 mile old) SC 2C in the rear.
Road: Highway 135 at mile marker 79, and well-traveled but technical road in Indiana, well known in the riding fraternity. This was only my second time on this stretch, and the first with this bike.
Speed 45 to 50 MPH estimated, about the pace I had been riding all day.
Here are some photos to help support my poor writing skills. These are re-enactment photos ?
This scene shows the incline, which I wish I had paid more attention to. The grade is quit steep.
[attachment=0:12xcemdp]SteepIndlineSigh.jpg[/attachment:12xcemdp]
Next photo, I start to realize an adjustment is needed. Note the first curve warning chevron. That is where I started my skid. There is a hard point on the left of the scooter for the side stand. It is a known issue and I have filed it down over 1.5 cm before this incident.
[attachment=1:12xcemdp]StartofCurvemorelean.jpg[/attachment:12xcemdp]
Photo three, just right of the yellow are two long scrape marks. These were caused by my side stand mount point; they are over 2 meters long and deep. What happens next is my line into the corner is altered due to the metal contact with the road. The bike loses rear wheel traction and I shift my weight upright slightly as a natural reaction. Now is when the stinking thinking that kills most riders kicks in. “Dang this is going to hurt”. “Will they every find me?” Luckily I had time to kick in my plan.
[attachment=2:12xcemdp]MarksinRoad.jpg[/attachment:12xcemdp]
I recently taught my teen age daughter to ride. Gear up, know your ride, and practice for the worst to get the best outcome. My key phrase, which took over for me in this event was “Never give up”. I thought of her and my teaching and acted on it.
This is my, it is going to hurt photo. My weight distribution on the bike is wrong, and if feels like the corner is sucking me in. We all know that feeling eh.
[attachment=3:12xcemdp]DoSomthing.jpg[/attachment:12xcemdp]
This is my, never give up, full counter steer photo. I was right of the white line when doing my recovery. Notice the nice patch of extra pavement, thank you DOT.
[attachment=4:12xcemdp]FullCounterSteerRecovery.jpg[/attachment:12xcemdp]
I have long since quit riding to the limits of my abilities, but I know what a bike can do, and have seen plenty of riders, just ride off the road to pain. “Never give up”.
I have since filed down the remainder of the side stand mount, about 3mm more, and will make further riding adjustment for this bike. I have had a total of one low side in over 30+ years of street riding (rain). But numerous slides, skids, and whoops, in the dirt. Dirt riding skills have saved my bacon more than once. Be safe all and ride on.
Thanks for reading.
