I finally went down the other day (Sunday (MotoGP day)). Here's how it happened:
Went out for a ride with my girlfriend, hit some of the nice roads around the Santa Cruz area. We were coming down Old San Jose Rd, and got held up by several slow moving cars in front, so I decide to myself "Why don't I just pull over and wait a bit until they put some distance on us?".
I see a nice gravel (alarm bell #1) turnoff coming up, so I slow down gradually and pull off the road. Or, that's what I was *planning* to do.
What actually happens is that I'm moving a little faster than I wanted, on account of the hot brakes and extra weight (my girlfriend on the back).
I hit the gravel going faster than I would have liked...only to see a large dip approaching! This is getting worse and worse all the time. I (gently, ooooohhhhh so gently) squeeze the brake a little bit, and prepare to hit the dip.
I hit the dip, think we might make it for a split-second, then the front washes out, and we're on the ground (left side).
I take inventory; nothing hurts, bike isn't on fire, girlfriend isn't screaming...okay, time for a closer look. My girlfriend (thank God) was totally fine, no torn clothing, no wounds, nothing. I had some minor rash on my left knee and hip (Damn jeans! I KNEW I should have worn the leathers!). Jacket and gloves held up like champs...oddly enough, so did the bike.
Damage to me: rash on left knee, left hip, bump on left elbow, wounded pride, healthy respect for loose surfaces
Damage to the GS: scuffed bar end mirror (CRG mirrors are TOUGH), torn left grip, scuffed left switch, snapped clutch lever (there's still enough to use), busted rear left blinker (LP blinkers are NOT TOUGH), teeny tiny crack in rear plastic (that actually may have already been there), and scuffed crankcase cover (which was already a little scuffed).
The bike wouldn't start, so I bump-started it, and rode us home. Lesson learned: don't be an idiot. pulling off onto gravel is NEVER a good idea.
Special thanks: srinath's handlebars, for not bending; my tank, for not denting or losing paint; my girlfriend, for cleaning my wounds and *not* telling her 3 older brothers to beat me up, and most of all, thanks to all the slow cagers out there, without whom i might never have thought to pull off into a gravel pit.
:thumb:
I can relate... At least you had the excuse of gravel... I dropped my bike with my wife on it and my only excuse was stopping short without straightening the handlebars... :oops:
The worst damage was to my pride...
Heal up. Glad you and you're girlfriend are alright.
Glad you and your lady are OK.
I did the same thing pulling over onto a soft shoulder last summer. For some dumb reason, I grabbed a handfull of front brake and--PLOP--right over into a ditch. A family driving by stopped to ask if I was ok; I believe I replied "Yes, if dumb is OK."
Almost washed out in a gravel parking lot a few months ago, too, about a mile from the prior incident. Darnestown, MD is cursed.
I turned off of a county road onto a gravel road to snap a few pics of my bike out in the countryside.
Short story long, there was some gravel out on the asphalt and as I turned, slightly leaned, the back end slid out a bit. Through some miracle I didn't do anything with the gas or brake, just steered into it slightly and rode it out. Still felt stupid though.
Major city intersection at night, 6 lanes each road, lots of traffic,
easy right turn from stop,
sand on asphalt from previous accident, :o
somehow maintaned everything and made it through while fishtailing, :dunno:
pulled over to side and stopped after getting through it, :?
stopped shaking in my boots, ;)
went on my way. :cheers:
Quote from: nspMajor city intersection at night, 6 lanes each road, lots of traffic,
easy right turn from stop,
sand on asphalt from previous accident, :o
somehow maintaned everything and made it through while fishtailing, :dunno:
pulled over to side and stopped after getting through it, :?
stopped shaking in my boots, ;)
went on my way. :cheers:
hahah I got a little fishy one day over powering the rear brake and nearly craped my pants, I can't even imagin at an intersection at night... :cheers: