(Almost) Only Damaged My Pride

CaptainPlatypus · March 16th, 2014, 07:14 PM

I fell Friday night, on the way home from a beach bonfire (yes, in March. It's socal. If you're jealous, just move here

). I'd just gotten on the bike, I was making a right turn, there was sand I didn't see in the dark. I felt the front start to wobble and slide, so I straightened up and slowed down, which cleared things up - at which point I made my second mistake, dropping back into the turn. Front tire noped its way right off the pavement, and my right knee and right front turn signal took its place. Smashed the lens on the turn signal, but my knee's fine - I hurt it worse on the ice rink last week (yes, in socal. If it was 70F or higher year round where you lived, you'd want an ice rink too

).

I made two big mistakes - not seeing the sand in the first place, and trying to turn again when I'd already felt unstable. I had plenty of room left, about eight feet, before I left my right-of-way, and another twelve or so before I actually hit anything (I was the only one on the road). If I'd just gone an extra bike length before I tried to turn back in, I probably wouldn't be posting this.

Still, I got a replacement lens for less than $7 including shipping, so all in all, a relatively cheap lesson. Ride safe and smart, guys.

Yarhj · March 16th, 2014, 07:29 PM

Great to hear that the only thing you bruised was your turn signal! Almost the same exact thing happened to me in a parking lot last year -- skinned my knee a bit, broke the turn signal lens, but otherwise none the worse for wear!

Also, I got a smile out of your front tire noping its way off the pavement =).

Motofool · March 16th, 2014, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainPlatypus

I fell Friday night, on the way home from a beach bonfire............so all in all, a relatively cheap lesson. Ride safe and smart, guys.

It is very hard to detect fine sand at night.
There is always sand on the road when some day-time-wind has blown over a bank or dune.

dcj13 · March 16th, 2014, 07:34 PM

Glad to hear you're not hurt. Thanks for sharing your experience so we can learn vicariously rather than the hard way.

Finesse · March 16th, 2014, 08:05 PM

thank god I live in DC where instead of sand on the roads in march we have ..wait........ ummm........ snow .............

greenaero · March 17th, 2014, 08:58 AM

Sand and fine grit can be very slippery, I'm glad you were'nt hurt too bad and that the damage was pretty light also. Another reason I'm not a big fan of riding at night.

March 16th, 2014, 07:14 PM	#1
CaptainPlatypus ninjette.org member Name: Eric Location: Los Angeles Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): '86 Honda VFR700 Posts: 173	(Almost) Only Damaged My Pride I fell Friday night, on the way home from a beach bonfire (yes, in March. It's socal. If you're jealous, just move here ). I'd just gotten on the bike, I was making a right turn, there was sand I didn't see in the dark. I felt the front start to wobble and slide, so I straightened up and slowed down, which cleared things up - at which point I made my second mistake, dropping back into the turn. Front tire noped its way right off the pavement, and my right knee and right front turn signal took its place. Smashed the lens on the turn signal, but my knee's fine - I hurt it worse on the ice rink last week (yes, in socal. If it was 70F or higher year round where you lived, you'd want an ice rink too ). I made two big mistakes - not seeing the sand in the first place, and trying to turn again when I'd already felt unstable. I had plenty of room left, about eight feet, before I left my right-of-way, and another twelve or so before I actually hit anything (I was the only one on the road). If I'd just gone an extra bike length before I tried to turn back in, I probably wouldn't be posting this. Still, I got a replacement lens for less than $7 including shipping, so all in all, a relatively cheap lesson. Ride safe and smart, guys.

March 17th, 2014, 08:58 AM	#6
greenaero Motorcycle Hypermiler Name: Vic Location: Livermore CA Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): 1999 & 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R's Posts: A lot.	Sand and fine grit can be very slippery, I'm glad you were'nt hurt too bad and that the damage was pretty light also. Another reason I'm not a big fan of riding at night. __________________________________________________ 235 MPG Hypermotorcycling to a better tomorrow
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

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March 16th, 2014, 07:29 PM	#2
Yarhj ninjette.org member Name: Will Location: Atlanta, GA Join Date: Feb 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 (2001) Posts: 135	Great to hear that the only thing you bruised was your turn signal! Almost the same exact thing happened to me in a parking lot last year -- skinned my knee a bit, broke the turn signal lens, but otherwise none the worse for wear! Also, I got a smile out of your front tire noping its way off the pavement =).

March 16th, 2014, 07:34 PM	#4
dcj13 Participant Name: Dave Location: South of Seattle Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): '94 K75 std Posts: Too much. MOTM - Aug '15	Glad to hear you're not hurt. Thanks for sharing your experience so we can learn vicariously rather than the hard way.

March 16th, 2014, 08:05 PM	#5
Finesse ran when parked Name: Katie Location: DC/MD Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot. MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14	thank god I live in DC where instead of sand on the roads in march we have ..wait........ ummm........ snow .............