September 3rd, 2011, 05:35 AM | #41 |
User Title Free Since '12
Name: Floyd
Location: Barbados
Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): '10 Ninja 250R Special Edition Green Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 13
MOTM - Feb '12
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Including my near misses, of which there have been far too many over the years, my top lessons learned:
1. Don't override my stopping distance. If I can't see more than 66 feet in front of me, don't go faster than 40. If there is a potential hazard 35 feet in front of me, I slow down to 30. 2. Small increases in speed mean large increases in stopping distance. When in doubt choose safe over looking cool. 3. Never have sex with super hot race promotion girls on your ninja while doing hotlaps. Ok, that never happened but it would be dangerous. 4. Don't take for granted that my road will be a clean, hazard free surface, even if it was yesterday. If I can ride at 90% of the bike's potential on the track, dial it back to 50% on the street to account for unexpected things that don't happen on the track. 5. Similarly, never assume that a car is going to act rationally. Instead, ride with paranoia that every car is going to do everything it can to kill me. 6. When I am being chased by paparazzi because of how awesome and famous I am, be sure not to go through those tunnels under Paris at super high speed. No, wait, that was Princess Di, not me. Nevermind. 7. All the gear, all the time. 8. Analyze each ride for what went right and wrong. Keep learning.
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"Improvement makes straight roads, but the crooked roads without improvement, are roads of genius." — William Blake |
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September 3rd, 2011, 08:24 AM | #42 |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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+1000
I will add, always have a "noob" mentality. Always be ready to learn a new skill, a different way of riding or approaching a situation. Never close your mind off to new ideas and perspectives. When you think you know it all, you often lose it all. That in itself is the lesson I try to remember...
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
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September 3rd, 2011, 08:48 AM | #43 |
#squid
Name: nickypoo
Location: Five Guys
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Track dedicated 2008 ZX6R Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jul '16
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It hurts.
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September 12th, 2011, 05:49 PM | #44 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Aaron
Location: Gone riding.
Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 389
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What lessons have you learned from crashing?
Crashed once,got caught in the bike. I learned that it doesnt feel good to have your knee cap grinding against the asphalt. And the ninjette is one heavy mofo when it lands on your arse. |
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September 12th, 2011, 05:54 PM | #45 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Aaron
Location: Gone riding.
Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 389
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Quote:
Last futzed with by GeorgiaHooligan; September 12th, 2011 at 05:56 PM. Reason: mistake |
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September 12th, 2011, 08:33 PM | #46 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Cab
Location: Miami Beach
Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): Blue 10 250r Posts: 697
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duh.... I learned not to fall anymore.
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September 12th, 2011, 11:18 PM | #47 |
Milkshake Drinker
Name: Skippii
Location: Richmond, Va
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Orange DRZ400-S, 2005 Ninja 250 & Custom Thundercunt Dirt Chopper Posts: A lot.
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If you're the only person involved, pick up the bike and ride the hell away before any bystanders try to "help."
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"What a sweetheart."- ninja_sleeper to me |
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September 12th, 2011, 11:31 PM | #48 |
n00b
Name: Jorge
Location: Perris, CA
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Blue 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 581
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I learned to hold the bike by both handlebars when walking it somewhere and lean it towards you with the kick stand down
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September 27th, 2011, 07:55 AM | #50 |
is just ok
Name: Maria
Location: Pittsburgh
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: 24
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look more. lean more.
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September 27th, 2011, 08:46 AM | #51 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Djalma
Location: Curitiba-PR BRASIL
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki Ninja 250R 2010 - FI - Blue Posts: 90
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x2
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Ride = Street Race = Track |
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September 27th, 2011, 09:09 AM | #52 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Aaron
Location: Oregon
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r soon Posts: 75
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Quote:
A turtle plz give me the link to that tread I wanna read that lol wow I laughed so hard over that haha So to this date I have yet to have a crash(knock on wood) but I have had a couple of oh **** moments lol the big one is downshifting while leaning...not a good ideal. thought I was in 3rd on the bike really in second...dumping the clutch at 15 mph to 1st gear leaning...I didnt wreck but I needed some new tighty whiteys
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Getting a ninja 250 asap |
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September 27th, 2011, 02:07 PM | #53 |
Winging It In Life
Name: Umar
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250R; 2011 250R (sold) Posts: A lot.
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What have I learned? Wear as much gear as you possibly can.
The reason I say "as much as you can" instead of "ATGATT" is because I don't even have enough gear to be considered "ATGATT." I have enough to fit the "MTGATT" (most the gear, all the time) bill. I just need some body armor and riding boots. I should be good then. Right now, I just have a Scorpion EXO400 helmet, Scorpion gloves, Scorpion textile jacket (I need to switch to leather as soon as possible), & Alpine Star ankle high boots.
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2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (Bought - Apr 22, 2011; Sold - Feb 17, 2015) 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (Bought - May 01, 2017; Current) |
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September 27th, 2011, 08:10 PM | #54 |
The Black Widow
Name: Eva
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 189
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I've never crashed, but here are some things I've learned riding the streets of NYC:
1) Look where you want to go, don't fixate on anything... no matter what! 2) Always look for an escape. Especially when stopped at an intersection. 3) Ride how you feel comfortable, not to impress your friends or family. 4) Don't break while cornering. Slow down when taking an unfamiliar route or hitting a curve for the first time. Always expect the unexpected. 4) Look up the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Take the Basic Rider Course when starting out and the Advanced Rider Course when you feel comfortable riding. 5) Always wear all your gear, especially bright/reflective colors to be seen at night. 6) Respect cagers and accept that you are a minority on two wheels. Ride like you are invisible and everybody is out to kill you.
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The Venom List - For All Things Venomous!!! |
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September 27th, 2011, 08:12 PM | #55 |
ninjette.org member
Name: LOU
Location: Imperial County, California
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): GreenSE 09 250R Posts: 247
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Gravel is not your friend
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September 28th, 2011, 05:47 AM | #56 |
CBR? This is ninjaaaaaa!!
Name: Michael
Location: Victoria, Australia
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): '97 ZZR250 Posts: 40
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Dont ride above your limits.
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September 28th, 2011, 09:28 AM | #57 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Aaron
Location: Oregon
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r soon Posts: 75
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This one is true my intructor in my riding training class said you dont want IG "imbedded gravel"
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Getting a ninja 250 asap |
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September 28th, 2011, 04:56 PM | #59 | |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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Quote:
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
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September 29th, 2011, 10:40 AM | #61 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Marc
Location: Castaic, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 Goldwing, 1996 CR500, 2011 Ninja 250, 2009 Harley Heritage Softail, 1941 Suzuki Gerbil 250 Posts: 427
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Don't drive when tired. Dirt on the road is hard to see at night, especially on twisty mountain roads.
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I know there's a 7th gear here somewhere... Changing to 15T/41T, now I'll get that 7th gear, lol. |
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September 29th, 2011, 10:53 AM | #62 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Marc
Location: Castaic, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 Goldwing, 1996 CR500, 2011 Ninja 250, 2009 Harley Heritage Softail, 1941 Suzuki Gerbil 250 Posts: 427
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Quote:
#6 reminded me of another lesson.... Don't flip off cagers when they cut you off. I did this and he tried to ram me with his car, then followed me into a resedential area still trying to hit me. Fortunatly I escaped.
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I know there's a 7th gear here somewhere... Changing to 15T/41T, now I'll get that 7th gear, lol. |
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October 4th, 2011, 03:19 PM | #63 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Steve
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Moto Guzzi V11 LeMans, 2001 ZZR250 Posts: 38
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So are antifreeze (CBR125r) and sand (CBR954rr).
This has taught me (antifreeze) that when riding at night when the road surface is difficult to determine, make sure that you ride well within the limits of grip and leave lots of headroom to deal with a sudden unanticipated loss of traction. This has taught me (sand) that when riding on cold tires and cold roads early in the season, there is less grip and smaller things than you think can result in a loss of traction. Both have confirmed for me that quality gear and wearing it every ride can go a long way to preventing and lessening injuries. |
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October 8th, 2011, 07:08 AM | #64 |
CPT Falcon
Name: J.Emmett Turner
Location: Newnan, GA
Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.
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It never fails. Even years later, Yellow Jackets are intensely attracted to 2008 Candy Plasma Blue in the Fall. They appear instantly even when you stop for a moment.
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October 15th, 2011, 09:24 PM | #65 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Frugal
Location: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): Several Posts: A lot.
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Lesson#1: Grass has the same traction as ice.
Lesson#2: Gravel looks solid but the kickstand will still sink in it. Lesson#3: Never, ever assume drivers see you, though their mirrors and windows may lead you to think otherwise. I got hit head on by a driver in a truck who had a perfect view of me in broad daylight on a perfectly sunny day. Her first words? "Where did you come from?" She first saw me as I was bouncing off her hood... |
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October 16th, 2011, 07:16 AM | #66 |
Russian Ninja :)
Name: Andrei
Location: Ocean City, MD
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Triumph Street Triple R, 2009 Yamaha FZ6, 2010 Kawi 250r (sold) Posts: 335
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Ninjette is not a bicycle! Always put the sidestand down before dismounting
Dropped the Ninjette within first 5 minutes of delivering her home. Felt like an idiot. Hopefully first and last time.
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2009 Fazer (2009 Yamaha FZ6), 2012 Triumph Street Triple R |
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October 16th, 2011, 11:23 AM | #67 |
#squid
Name: nickypoo
Location: Five Guys
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Track dedicated 2008 ZX6R Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jul '16
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I never thought about it but I've come to realize that I sometimes don't put my kickstand down before dismounting. Wouldn't matter much on a bicycle though.
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October 16th, 2011, 09:35 PM | #68 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: David
Location: Florida
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: 357
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I didn't want to wear funky pants, but knee takes the biggest hit on your typical accident.
Having a passenger makes the bike much harder to control. Add trying to show off to have a little fun can spell disaster. Even though it's Florida, wear the damn jacket, knee pads would've helped, too. Adrenaline makes you feel like superman. Don't get up and do too much. You'll pay for it as soon as you lie down on a bed of some sort. |
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November 18th, 2011, 09:35 AM | #69 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Wyatt
Location: Jensen Beach FL
Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki Ninja 250R 2007 Posts: 3
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Don't do a walking U turn, just turn normal. Dont pull over and use the front break on grass when doing 20mph.
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November 21st, 2011, 10:18 PM | #70 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Bao
Location: Philadelphia
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 08 250r Red Posts: 61
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trolley tracks in the rain are really slippery ... lesson just learned :'[
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November 22nd, 2011, 12:31 AM | #71 |
RIP Alex
Name: Cuong
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 2
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Hidden tall curbs will catch you (your brake pedal) off guard in u-turns.
Close calls: 1. target fixation will mess you up in the middle of a turn or anytime while riding. 2. Focus on riding and not daydreaming. If you're tired, don't ride. 3. Painted lines and tar snakes offer no traction.
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HalfFast Racing Team Serving Greater Houston Area Riders:WFO Riders MotoHouston HPC CMRA Ride Smart Fastline Lone Star Track Days |
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November 22nd, 2011, 10:53 AM | #72 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Tim
Location: Connecticut
Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 HD Street BOB 2010 HD Roadglide Posts: 64
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rofl
Quote:
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November 22nd, 2011, 12:51 PM | #73 |
1/4 English, 3/4 Kick Ass
Name: Jeremy
Location: Dayton, OH
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Triumph Speed Triple 955i, '05 Suzuki SV650S(retired), '11 Ninja 250R(sold) Posts: A lot.
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Observe the road ahead for slick spots or things you need to avoid, but don't fixate.
Be on high alert Don't flip off truck drivers |
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November 23rd, 2011, 02:37 PM | #74 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Danica
Location: California
Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): None yet Posts: 25
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That I'm not perfect and I admit it. LOL
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November 23rd, 2011, 06:09 PM | #75 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Kevin
Location: Athens
Join Date: Aug 2010 Motorcycle(s): 1981 Honda Cx500 Custom, 2002 Ninja 250 Posts: 289
Blog Entries: 1
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Flare burning in the middle of the road as you enter a tunnel might indicate that there is a sheet of ice covering the road inside.
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"Rudeness is a weak persons attempt at strength." |
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November 23rd, 2011, 09:39 PM | #76 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
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Yup, that's one that would definitely stick in the mind going forward.
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Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
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November 24th, 2011, 04:43 AM | #77 | |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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Quote:
And ooh, that's a definite lesson to keep in mind. That would SUCK!
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
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November 24th, 2011, 10:45 AM | #78 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Kevin
Location: Athens
Join Date: Aug 2010 Motorcycle(s): 1981 Honda Cx500 Custom, 2002 Ninja 250 Posts: 289
Blog Entries: 1
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Tunnel closest to the top of highest point on road between Gatlinburg Tenn and Cherokee N.C. Freak snowstorm happened as me and my previous wife were camping in Gatlinburg Tenn. Had to go up mountain to get home. Snow began at higher elevations. Blizzard at top. I passed row of about 50 parked cars * including Ranger*. He hit siren and I kept going. I saw flare, but was frozen cold out of my mind. Hit ice right away and did a 180. I remember saying to myself... self your bike is going backwards. I put both feet down and made it about 20 feet before losing it. Somehow ended up standing on engine with one foot as I hit the wall 2 to 3 times. Wifes leg trapped under bike. She never hit wall, I don't know how. I was 19, 20 years old. To date worst wreck. Ended up ridng bike home.... still ride the bike 23 years later- owned same bike 27 years. Wifes leg black and blue. Ranger banned me forever for riding in Smokey Mountain Park.. too busy helping other wrecks to ticket me. Let me sit there for about an hour before he let us go. True story. I was just a kid, stupid mistake....educations can be expensive. Glad Ranger forgot me as it is one of my favorite roads
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"Rudeness is a weak persons attempt at strength." |
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November 24th, 2011, 01:06 PM | #79 | |
Nooblet
Name: Akima
Location: England
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '13
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Quote:
Were you surfing on the bike for a bit then? |
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November 24th, 2011, 01:24 PM | #80 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
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at @highpsiguy. Great story.
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Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
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