glad you made it through okay alex! good luck with the build too! hollar when you need help

Wow this thread has had some action in the last two days! I have been so busy at work I have been keeping up with the new posts but haven't had time to make any replies.

Like I said this is my 5th year riding, and this bike makes me feel like a complete nub. I'm going to be perfectly honest and just say that in the last several years I have had absolutely no protection beyond my trusty Icon Mainframe helmet... I just never felt like I needed to be wearing any, but I was also "just" riding around on cruisers. Luckily I have also never gone down on any of my bikes, but as the saying goes:

"There are two types of riders. Those who have gone down, and those who are about to and don't know it."

While I certainly don't ride around in fear of what might happen, purchasing this bike has completely changed my attitude on safety. I want to push this bike to its limits, but I don't feel I can do so without properly protecting my ass. Someone on this board recommended STG (http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/StoreFront.bok) and I have also learned a shit ton about gear from just watching their video reviews.

I was in the market for a new helmet however (Icon is chipped, cracked vents, shield spidering, and I have dropped it twice now in the garage from 5+ feet to concrete...) so I started digging and found a very interesting review about helmet safety standards. Mainly about the controversy that is placed on the SNELL rating versus say a DOT or ECE rating. A VERY interesting albeit lengthy read, skim as necessary:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

Alex I really hope you do order up a copy of that book, I got it on Amazon along with Total Control: High Performance Street Riding by Lee Parks shipped to my door for $32 total. I have barely touched Total Control but it looks to be a good read from the quick skim I gave it upon arrival. Having only read the first 60 pages of Twist and I would have paid twice that for this book alone.

This video has a similar theme as to what Code discusses in the book in much more detail mind you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxYiWOJ59Vg&feature=related
"The most important thing is that the back wheel keeps spinning and never locks."

BGordon did you add just in time for this thread or what?

Again concept versus practice... not saying "you should have known how to not crash!" lol

Hub - That video of the guy in the rain is just F'ing nutters!!!

Alex wrote:

I only have 1.5 years so I'm quite a noob =) BTO16 are BattleAxes right?

Rook wrote:

1.5 years just like me. You know, i read an interesting post a while back about what experience level riders crash the most. Turns out the guy who has ridden for 2 years learns the bike pretty well and thinks he knows it all but finds out different more often than those with less experience. The total greenhorns are too afraid to try anything radical and the experienced riders learned how far to push it. I'm in favor of both of us graduating into the experienced rider category.

Very interesting reading indeed, and it makes sense. Five seasons on the road and I think I am still in the amateur rider classification, which might be part modesty and part keeping my head from getting too fat and pushing myself beyond my limits. I have just begun a new chapter with this bike and although I feel my basic skills are solid I just want to keep learning more and more.

I love how Hub talks about counting his crashes on his toe's, bravo mate that is the attitude I hope to always have! No shame, all glory, happiest are we who persevere for greatness I say!

IKeys wrote:

Hub - That video of the guy in the rain is just F'ing nutters!!!

Yeah watch at about 28 second mark and it looks like the guy is actually intentionally steering way too tight, pointing the bike off the track in anticipation of drifting to the outside. Now that is just amazing when you consider the speed he is going. I would look like such a dweeb on a dry track next to that guy.

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/14/2009 @ 10:57 PM *

Boy, I hate when that happens. I mean the part about crashing just after blowing past a car! Then when the guy stops to see if you're OK you really feel meek.
I just did about the same thing 6 months ago on my ZX6R so, Alex, don't feel like the Lone Ranger. I was feeling good getting a little more radical with each turn and then I saw it......gravel! I tried to straighten out into a field but still had too much sideways momentum. It's fummy. After auto reactions and you've done all you can do, you have time to think a lot of thoughts while waiting to land.
My Doc gave me an open Rx for pain killers a long time ago. I need to put a sticker for Norco on my fairing.
Good luck puttin' it all back together Alex. It can be a lot of fun if you ignore the cost. You're only going to miss the uncomfortably hot riding season.

You can't argue that, Hub, I'm sorry. Good try, though. Why, I think you missed the point, Alex. How about we point some spikes out of a rim and now brake on the dirt. We took the tires out of the scenario.

I agree, you need to scrub off 5mph for argument sake; now tell me if you need tires or a right hand we now stop on the dirt road 5mph faster/slower?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2wuEdfW9Wk

Skool-U is step pit UP! You are not a grad chew it till you've eat'inn dirt/tarmac/cement/burns/broken parts/PAIN INN DAY Universal LOOP!

Being a new member I know this was a year ago, the speed of the accident. can vary a lot to the outcome in" Pain cost" ! My first big accident was in 1985 @ 23 years young,on my CBX750F My dad had just died, I stupidly tried to see how fast I could get around this "S" bend I entered it @ 155kms (r/h) then on my flip (L/H) there were 3 boys with small stones thrown out in front of me all the time I had, was to say ( O SHIT ) the result was only a skin graft to my left knee and minimal damage to my bike. Now 25yrs later on to my new accident.the 14/6/2010. I was 5 minutes from home,( and now with hindsight, the week before my wife felt the rear end feel odd,She didn"t tell me that she did not want me to go for a ride that day!!!!!, she said wear your armoured pants!!!!!!, I said no its warm enough,! Then two thirds through the ride I waved 7 bikes passed me.! we were riding in the Adelaide hills, At the next town we went past the 7 bikes parked their, we turned off left at a "T" & stopped, my mate wanted a smoke, I said to Dave my bike feels good r/h turns but scary when turning left.He replied the rear tyre looks to be nearly f..d ! Dave then turned off 10 min from home,Then only 5 min from home I was going down the main street in town just before a intersection only doing 40 kays in a 50 km zone I glanced in my L/H mirror (By this time I was two car lengths from an old tray top ute front of me ,it stopped dead on the spot ! I tried to turn hard left, & again all I said was said O Shit", All can remember is hitting him in the rear left side of his tray, then seeing a cop stood next to me, and a off duty nurse,my femur came through my leg. Now I am off the road for 6-9 months, but as I said before the speed of the accident may vary "HEAPS" but the outcome can also vary!

AC/DC ROCKS

* Last updated by: bean07 on 10/29/2014 @ 11:08 PM *

OUCH< Bean. You really busted that thing up. You even have screws in your patella. Looks like your docs did some amazing work.

G'day rook; your spot on mate, there were 4 surgeons + boss they took five hrs. to complete. 2 days post surgery this doc walks up and unvelcroed my splint then replied your not allowed to go home after 7 days, I said who are you? he replied i'm the boss and your lucky we spent 5hrs rebuilding your leg with 20 fractures and a shatted patella,there was fluid under the (special) dressing, you can loose your leg any time in the next month, you need a nurse to sterile/dress it for a month! I replied my wife is a nurse, he let me escape after 10 days.now Providing my bone shows healing by this September 1, I'll know if I need a bone graft, or I'll be another 4weeks to start rehab, no one believes me I can, but I'm hoping October 1. I'll be walking and riding my Big RED ZX1400 AGAIN !

* Last updated by: bean07 on 8/10/2010 @ 4:31 AM *

Shit Bean...glad yer okay now.Yer leg's gonna be fine seems to me.Bike doesn't appear too smashed up.Heartbeats...that's all there is on a 14.Things happen SO QUICK.I always try to be thinkin ahead.There are times that are actually kinda scarey...I'll be cruisin along...three or four cars will pass me goin the other way...I'll "snap out of it" and realize "what if ONE of those cars had crossed the center line?"You know,in that instant,I would be gone and waking up in eternal life.Kinda sobering really.VERY glad you are still with us and determined to ride some more.Get well Bro and stay safe and heal up!

I've been very fortunate...I choose to believe that my GOD has a reason for me being here...otherwise...I think I'd been gone a long time ago.Wrecked my new 14 at 1500 miles....major damage to everything but the frame and mechanical parts and wheels.VERY lucky.But had there been in that second a car coming the other way....I definitely would have been done.Happens all the time.It opened my eyes to the reality of just how serious riding a bike(especially one like ours)is when "out there" blastin around thinkin I'm indestructable.What a hoot!Only takes one second to change everything.Again...glad you're okay and not damaged up top.

"Oh SHIT"...yep...my words EXACTLY just before the big BOOM.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 8/10/2010 @ 1:06 AM *

Thankyou for reply blue07,yes we pay for the privolege ! you blink your dead,The knowledge and mateship I recive from this site helps me look forward to the next day. PS.To everyone a POISITVE MIND is a healthy mind

* Last updated by: bean07 on 8/16/2010 @ 6:06 PM *

Ouch..... hang in there man

Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. Oscar Goldman

Thanks willix4; If I told you that at 48 soon all my injuries over the last 32yrs. at work an play (flatout stupidity, boiler/maker,dirt/bikes,hyposonic sport/bikes, pubs) then you would know why I had a nick/name from teens to twenties, all though now I'm embarrased to say ! when my new wife first phoned wear I worked 1986,she asked ! Can I speak to my hubby Stephen!! the office woman replied O you mean SUICIDE !, I have allways pushed my luck in life to extreme levels, and allways will, Thanks again

last year down mt gambier picture showing the southern coastline of South Australia

* Last updated by: bean07 on 8/20/2010 @ 10:06 PM *

JUST transfered from mobile phone

* Last updated by: bean07 on 8/18/2010 @ 12:49 AM *

Ouch! -bg

Yeah! at the time got morpine seen stars every where, thanks bg. feeling good now lookin forwood to be riding again!

Bean, Chicks dig scars. Thats what my dad told me growing up anyways. Heal up quick

Hooooly crap... wow this is it - I'm having sliders on my next bike before I ride it. Not bulletproof, but fuck, better metal broken in my bike frame than metal in my leg.

Sorry to see this, bro :( Glad you're alive and getting better. On the bright side, I'm sure most people will have some robotic parts within 100 years - you're just a progressive thinker!

G'day thank you; you are all dead right, september 1,after 12 weeks i will have the 3rd xray,to see that my 20 fractures is nitting, if it is then I can have rehab after october 1,(nearly 4mnths after acc.) then if it is not nitting after(sep/ 1)I have to have a bonegraft opperation,this means I start all over back to "0" then this process will start again, 6-9mnths off ! I'm glad I have this forum to keep me from going insane , laughter,learning,tall stories,burbon and ++++ is all I NEED,THANKS ALL for a fun time. bean07 !

* Last updated by: bean07 on 8/20/2010 @ 1:58 AM *

heathum ,alexthenub an all I used to think scares were cool but the amass of scars now since primary school nearing 35 + is now regrettable as I used to think when 15 by time I hit 40 they could just put new "bionic bits" in me. There not there yet! but are damn bloody good at fixing me since . Nadene said to her nurse friend yesterday Sarah look at beans scares now! there his best "yet"!!!!!! so ya right mate "chicks really do like scars".

JUST transfered from mobile

Shit that’s going to leave a mark. Looks like they needed several doctors and a few carpenters

Yep ! eccept I'M a boilermaker! the carpenters could have put thicker flatbar in there so I could be riding soooooona ha ha we have to laugh ! there is no gain whithout the pain! thanks again though all the feedback from the club is great fun!

* Last updated by: bean07 on 8/20/2010 @ 4:06 PM *

Geez Bra....that's way narley!Glad ya didn't lose yer kickstand there!20 fractures....OMG.Nevermind.Wohoo! Friggin zx's get some payback alright.THAT's why I always treat my baby affectionately,and let er have her head when she wants.

hey blue07 I'm looking forward to telling my future grand/kids a funny tale ! So when the going gets tough, The tough get going ! ha

* Last updated by: bean07 on 8/21/2010 @ 2:22 AM *

HIP HIP HIPE RA Yes !! Gunna get my big red zed back today finally wo hoo ! YES !!!!!!!!!!!!oh yea excellent yes yes yes!!!!!!!! Now it's off to the dyno yes yes f==in you buewdy yeh

* Last updated by: bean07 on 8/27/2010 @ 11:19 PM *

HELLS BELLS !!!!!!!! you would not belive this if it was not true,ten minutes from dropping my zx to the dyno, we get a phonecall,dad i'm trapped under my bike i've had a stack !! LUCKY ONLY BRUISES AND PRIDE AND $$$$$$

CHRISTALMITY shit look at next comment !!!

* Last updated by: bean07 on 8/29/2010 @ 10:26 PM *