Stupidest thing you've ever done to your bike?
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I now check the rotor nut every time the primary is apart. About ten years ago mine backed off, parted the chaincase to instantly evacuate the primary and crushed itself on the chainwheel. Because I didn't carry a spare at the time I pushed the bike 10.7 miles home against needless resistance, having forgotten to back off the rear brake cable to compensate for unladen conditions. That was the only time the Combat got over 70 mpg.
Pushing against the brake would have been an understandable oversight had not the same thing happened thirty years earlier.
During the Biafran War I was cruising back to Jos after a weekend at the Yankari game reserve. On the Benue Plateau the 650SS seized up solidly at about 80 mph--the back tire left a 3-inch strip 100 feet long on the tarmac before I realized what had happened. Ten miles from home I pushed the Norton up hill and down dale across the Escarpment, fighting the rear brake every inch of the way--it took all afternoon.
At last report that 650SS--with a hand-wound stator and Triumph pistons--is still terrorizing the indigenous fauna somewhere in Francophone Africa
Tim Kraakevik
kraakevik@voyager.net
'72 Combat, '74 RH10 850
Pushing against the brake would have been an understandable oversight had not the same thing happened thirty years earlier.
During the Biafran War I was cruising back to Jos after a weekend at the Yankari game reserve. On the Benue Plateau the 650SS seized up solidly at about 80 mph--the back tire left a 3-inch strip 100 feet long on the tarmac before I realized what had happened. Ten miles from home I pushed the Norton up hill and down dale across the Escarpment, fighting the rear brake every inch of the way--it took all afternoon.
At last report that 650SS--with a hand-wound stator and Triumph pistons--is still terrorizing the indigenous fauna somewhere in Francophone Africa
Tim Kraakevik
kraakevik@voyager.net
'72 Combat, '74 RH10 850
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Oh brother Tim, you just reminded my of my own sweating endurance on dragging brake I over looked after running out of gas or having a flat.
And one really stupid event that crashed Ms Peel upside down not once but Twice. When she broke her axle I strapped RH side to adjuster to ride 30 mile hwy and city in rain to truck rental. Only truck available had deck like 5 ft off ground, so got out it steep ramp, which I knew I could just ride right up after raw woods practice on logs- rock ledges in creeks, but what didn't know was
as power let off the axle shifted enough to apply rear brake, so right as I cut power at lip of truck Peel just stopped short, to balance an instant like Willey Coyote then toppled to ground taking out some bar instruments and one of the hard bags. Thinking I was just too chicken to hit ramp fast enough to clear
the lip, I got set up again, against my buddy Wes advice to just hand load her.
so even hitting ramp 2nd time as groin tightening rate, soon as I cut power so not to run through far wall - she stopped short, hesitated an instant for error to sink in and took out the other hard bag and bar meters...
And one really stupid event that crashed Ms Peel upside down not once but Twice. When she broke her axle I strapped RH side to adjuster to ride 30 mile hwy and city in rain to truck rental. Only truck available had deck like 5 ft off ground, so got out it steep ramp, which I knew I could just ride right up after raw woods practice on logs- rock ledges in creeks, but what didn't know was
as power let off the axle shifted enough to apply rear brake, so right as I cut power at lip of truck Peel just stopped short, to balance an instant like Willey Coyote then toppled to ground taking out some bar instruments and one of the hard bags. Thinking I was just too chicken to hit ramp fast enough to clear
the lip, I got set up again, against my buddy Wes advice to just hand load her.
so even hitting ramp 2nd time as groin tightening rate, soon as I cut power so not to run through far wall - she stopped short, hesitated an instant for error to sink in and took out the other hard bag and bar meters...
Started off from work, a mile out, the rear tire goes flat. I am about 5 miles from home and at first, I sit all the way up front to get less weight on the rear and it rides pretty good. Remembering I had done about the same distance with a flat front on my RD400 by sitting all the way back, I think I can make it without any problems :roll: After about a mile of rather smooth running, the tire jumps out of the bead and starts flapping from side to side. Since I was past the point of no return in my head and too dumb to call for help (no cell phone anyway) I make it home. The tire ripped the speedo cable off and broke the speedo drive gearbox. Fortunately I could fix the speedo drive, but it still cost me a new cable, a new tire (it was way past due) and a new tube.
Jean
Jean
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Jean you lucked TF out that the tire coming off the rim didn't cause the rear to try to pass you. There is not enough fork range of motion to cross up enough to save you unless so freaked out you make more range by breaking off the fork stop by adrenaline muscle reaction and sealed tight sphincters!
Ah jeeze louise Chris, not as stupid as some of us are capable but we didn't get caught is all. Will have to take the loss but might lower or remove some the charges by an expensive lawyer.
A few years ago on SV650 I came to intersection with extra lane in middle but double yellow lined, with a Slow pu truck between me and another rider in 55 mph zone, so I went around the pu at 45 mph and fell in line with 50 mph traffic but trooper saw me and I've long ago officially surrendered my driver license, so he impounded bike and put me in jail. I knew better than have a bike in my name so my brother retrived it next day but cost my lost of work and fines, so I look around more before I act up. W/o dr. lic I don't get ongoing hits on insurance rates and in fact got a few $100 reduction this year - since no ticket reports show up on data bases : ) Costs did set me back a year getting Trixie recovered and still ain't attended to goat killed SueVee650
Ah jeeze louise Chris, not as stupid as some of us are capable but we didn't get caught is all. Will have to take the loss but might lower or remove some the charges by an expensive lawyer.
A few years ago on SV650 I came to intersection with extra lane in middle but double yellow lined, with a Slow pu truck between me and another rider in 55 mph zone, so I went around the pu at 45 mph and fell in line with 50 mph traffic but trooper saw me and I've long ago officially surrendered my driver license, so he impounded bike and put me in jail. I knew better than have a bike in my name so my brother retrived it next day but cost my lost of work and fines, so I look around more before I act up. W/o dr. lic I don't get ongoing hits on insurance rates and in fact got a few $100 reduction this year - since no ticket reports show up on data bases : ) Costs did set me back a year getting Trixie recovered and still ain't attended to goat killed SueVee650
hobot said:
Steve, I did spend a few miles trying to keep it in line because the back was always trying to go past the front, going slowly was the reason I did not break more things :roll:
One time on my Commando S two up the rear suddenly went flat at 60 MPH, I managed to stop without any mishaps, but we were miles from any service station. The solution was to take off the rear tire and ride on the rim in the grass until we got to a gas station where someone was gracious enough to bring us a tube from a motorcycle shop after a few hours of waiting. Either I was stronger then or tires are much stiffer now because I took it off with the bike's tools, something I can't do now.
Jean
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Ah so Jean very cleaver safety solution I will keep in mind, remove the dang tire!
I can ride out flats now if I know that's what happening but not sure I could ever ride out a tire off the rim at speed again. I add my stupidity was I could see the bead not seated evenly around rim but didn't look that bad to my novice mind, not no more thank you.
I can ride out flats now if I know that's what happening but not sure I could ever ride out a tire off the rim at speed again. I add my stupidity was I could see the bead not seated evenly around rim but didn't look that bad to my novice mind, not no more thank you.
caddy chris said:I got you all beat.
Driving way to fast down an industrial street. Didn't see the cop. Suspended license. No insurance.
Automatic impound.
One month. $1750.
Had prelim hearing today.
Charges:
Reckless driving
exhibition of speed
Suspended license (dui)
no insurance
speeding (20+ over limit)
Probation violation
Sentence if found guilty:
10 days
$6350 fine
Anyone know a good lawyer?
holy sheeeeeet!!!! $8k just goes to show dui's are more about making money than getting people safe.
yeah some people, but only about 1 in 4 is warranted. They keep lowering the limit and raising the fines/punishment to get more money. There is statistical proof that these do nothing to lower dui deaths/accidents. Unless you've been through it most people just don't know. I could go on and on about how unfair the system really is, but i'll save it
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Caddy, you'r a baaad boy.
Good luck.
Speed cameras are a big source of revenue over here as well.
Biult up area ( subburbia ) used to be 60 kph (35mph), then it got dropped back to 50, unless otherwise signed posted.
Now, here in S.A. we have Local Councills being allowed too make their own limit, usually 40 kph, AND their own bloody Speeds cameras.
It's not fair, you don't know what speed you are supposed to be doing.
We got permanent cameras set up on the Interstate Highways to take photos of Trucks so they (Road Transport Authority) can
check to see how long between photos', to check your average speed, and of course you hours on the road.
Sorry.. no more raving.
What was that Cop show........ Hey be carefull out there.
AC.
Good luck.
Speed cameras are a big source of revenue over here as well.
Biult up area ( subburbia ) used to be 60 kph (35mph), then it got dropped back to 50, unless otherwise signed posted.
Now, here in S.A. we have Local Councills being allowed too make their own limit, usually 40 kph, AND their own bloody Speeds cameras.
It's not fair, you don't know what speed you are supposed to be doing.
We got permanent cameras set up on the Interstate Highways to take photos of Trucks so they (Road Transport Authority) can
check to see how long between photos', to check your average speed, and of course you hours on the road.
Sorry.. no more raving.
What was that Cop show........ Hey be carefull out there.
AC.
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Didn't mean to spoil the fun.
Didn't mean to spoil the fun.
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