Well they say everybody goes down eventually, today was my turn. :(
I had just gotten my new Progressive springs installed, and hit the road for a ride. Finally we have some nice weather around here.
I was about 5-6 miles into my ride, everything was going well. The new springs are nice, the bike moved over some familiar bumps much more smoothly.
I get to a stop sign and get ready to take a right. I start moving, lean into the turn, start to acclerate through it, when the front wheel just slid right out from under me. I was only going about 10 mph. The bike slid to a stop. It seemed like it happened in an instant. I was right up on my feet. The engine was still running, so I shut it off, pulled the bike back up, and walked it over to the shoulder.
The damage: broken front brake lever, scrached up muffler, and the pulse generator cover is pretty scratched up. The "Suzuki" logo on the cover also got torn off. I found it on the street, it's about as thick as aluminum foil. So now there's a 1" or so diameter hole right in the middle of the cover. The bike started back up fine and I was able to make it home ok.
I came away unscathed, other than a bruised ego. My Joe Rocket Atomic jacket got a minor scuff on the right arm, and my Olympia glove got a tiny tear, but the draggin jeans, boots, and helmet are all clean. I went down right onto my right arm but it's fine.
Anybody know what the deal is with the pulse generator cover? It's got this hole in it now, but as best I can tell all that was covering it up before was this really flimsy Suzuki logo piece. I'm sure it's not good to have a hole like that. Any tips on fixing it up?
That's my story. I think I either leaned the bike over too far too fast, or I was a victim of a slippery new tire. Got a brand new Metzeler on the front, it had about 20 miles on it. No loose debris or oil on the road.
I hope to get a new lever tomorrow and be back riding soon.
jeff
You write:
Quote from: Jeff PThe new springs are nice, the bike moved over some familiar bumps much more smoothly. I get to a stop sign and get ready to take a right. I start moving, lean into the turn, start to acclerate through it, when the front wheel just slid right out from under me.
Is it just me, or does this sound alot like spotswood_suzuki's crash last August (
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3840):
Quote from: spotswood_suzukiI put in the Progressive Springs this morning... Took it out for a ride to see the difference and they felt great..went my normal route. I came up to make a right turn, slowed, leaned and gave it some throttle like everytime before and the next thing I know I am sliding on the ground
Eerie similarity! Let's be careful on the first few rides with the new springs, everybody (front or rear). Maybe treat them carefully like you would burn-in new tires.
here is my reasoning..
with teh front stiffer.. the front stays put while the power given thru the turn starts to slide..
the rear starts going ahead of the front and instant lowslide.
I suggest getting a Katana shock out back. I did that along with progressives so i did not see any problem.
weird, the GS is the first bike i have ever riden that was SUPER Forgiving on steering issues. From Pushing in a turn to a mild lockup while leaned over it has never been a drill instructor of anysort.
Save for the 5 mph lowside at bank parking lot, front wheel just fell away left me quick steping.
i wouldn't worry too much about the ignition rotor cover (foil piece that fell off) You could get some JB Weld and bond it back into place. Either that or some sort of industrial strength glue.
Adam
PS - I went down today too, but it was at probably 80-90 mph at the Streets of Willow. Luckily, I walked away unscathed thanks to proper gear (one-piece suit held up pretty well. The bike looks salvagable as well, surprisingly enough.
man, everyone is crashing left and right. :o
luckily, everyone is coming out alright.. ::knocks wood::
scary stuff, everybody going down, but the new tyres are indeed pretty slippery. takes a good 100 km to ride that conserving stuff out of them
Yes, it is exactly like my lowside last year....amazing! As for the suzuki emblem, I just taped off the silver suzuki part, sprayed it with some black paint and epoxy'd it back on. Getting ready to go outside and get the bike out for the first ride this year :cheers: Glad to hear you are okay...I must have done something to my thumb when I went down and it took almost 2 months before it felt right. I guess the moral of the story is.....when ever you make any changes to the bike, take it easy for awhile.
Wayne
Thanks for the replies everybody. I got a new brake lever yesterday, and the shop ordered a new suzuki logo thing. I would have kept the old one, but it was pretty torn up.
A couple more questions: I think I'm gonna use a dremel to smooth the scratches on the generator cover down, then repaint it so it doesn't look so bad. Any tips on a good paint to use?
After looking at the bike some more, I think the handlebar got slightly bent too. The right grip seems a little closer and angled in a bit more than the left. Anybody know a good source where I could get a replacement? thanks
jeff
Hey ive done the same, with same damage. Wot i did was got new lever indicator and emblem. Got some metal filler and filled the scratches and sprayed it with enamel look heat proof barbecue paint, the scothbacking on emblem is shaZam! so ya hev to glue it on otherwise itl fall off. I used simple araldite as its heatresistant enough. And then i polished the scrateches out of exhaust wiv my industrial polisher i nicked when i was working as a stainless steel polisher in holidays. As for handlebars, if their not clipons just buy set of renthals.
Hope ur not to shook up, ive done it on both side, consider engine and exhaust bars!! Ya learn from ur experiances and learn how to not fall next time!!
I have a set of the stock handlebars (off a '96) that I can send you for the cost of shipping/packaging...e-mail me if you're interested.
Your lucky that you just wore through the igntion rotor cover. My slide destroyed the entire cover, the rotor itself, and sheared the heads off the bolts that hold on the rotor and the extension off the crank. I spend this afternoon breaking drill bits and cursing as I worked the busted bolts out with a screw extractor.
I guess it's time to think about getting some stronger covers.
Adam
I installed the new brake lever and took a quick ride yesterday. Went back to the scene of the crime, no troubles this time out. Felt good.
Quote from: ash999Got some metal filler and filled the scratches and sprayed it with enamel look heat proof barbecue paint,
Funny you mention the barbeque paint. I've got a can of that sitting in my garage and was thinking it might do the trick. It's a flat/matte finish, while the bike has more of a gloss to it, but it'll probably work in a pinch.
Gonna have to pick up some new dremel bitts :)
jeff
same thing ALMOST happened to me last night. hit a patch of gravel in the parking lot, front wheel slid out. heart skipped a beat, but i put my foot down and kept the rubber side down. scared the bejesus out of me.