August 17th, 2011, 05:04 PM | #1 |
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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What lessons have you learned from crashing?
In the midst of all this crash-talkin', let's all share something we've learned from our crashes!
I learned that my bike DOES have a lean limit. I also learned to watch the mountain corners for dips in the road...pesky bottoming out suspension! Oh, and my 0 mile per hour drop, I learned as a brand noob (probably my 2nd or 3rd ride out by myself) not to try to back up going up a steep driveway, especially when there's a slight curb to back over!
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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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August 17th, 2011, 05:16 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Justin
Location: Central NJ
Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R SE, 2009 Triumph Daytona 675 Posts: 334
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I learned that you can never be too cautious when it comes to gravel/loose dirt on a road.
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August 17th, 2011, 05:18 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Peanut
Location: Senoia, GA
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): Green 2013 ZX-6R Posts: 723
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I learned that a new set of tires for every race is cheaper than straightening out the frame.
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http://www.simplysurrealphotography....es/peanut2.png |
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August 17th, 2011, 06:24 PM | #5 |
Sexy Beast
Name: Mat
Location: Tampa
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R, 2006 ZX-14, 2012 Ducati Monster Posts: A lot.
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dont follow so closely... they WILL brake check a bike... even on a highway
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August 17th, 2011, 07:19 PM | #6 |
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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Oil is slippery.
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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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August 17th, 2011, 07:20 PM | #7 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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wasps can/will attack you at a stop sign
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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August 17th, 2011, 07:39 PM | #8 |
CVMA/AFM #72
Name: Tiffani
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r (Racebike), 2015 FZ-07(Tourer), 2001 KX65(LOL bike) Posts: A lot.
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Painted lines don't offer that great of traction.
I actually learned a ton from crashing (Not that I would recommend it -_-). Having video got me some much appreciated critiques from the guys here about the importance of line choice, and that helped me pinpoint my biggest mistakes so I wouldn't make them a second time. And it made me read Twist of the Wrist II, which taught me I was pretty much doing everything wrong from body position to throttle control, and it made me slow down and take corrners much more methodically. AND it made me realize that if performance riding was my aim, the canyons were not an okay place to do it. .... In actuality, crashing worked out surprisingly well for me. I don't want to do it again, but I'm glad my wake up call didn't kill me |
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August 17th, 2011, 07:43 PM | #9 |
CVMA #74 WSMC #750
Name: Nemesis
Location: On the track
Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): All of them Posts: A lot.
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I've learned I've invested more money fixing the bike than what I paid for the bike brand new.
Crashing sucks pho sho but gad dang is the bike fun to ride! |
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August 17th, 2011, 07:56 PM | #10 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Blake
Location: Burleson TX
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250r Posts: 27
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August 17th, 2011, 08:10 PM | #11 | |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Quote:
Oddly enough, I have scuba dived with sharks without incident. Go Figure
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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August 17th, 2011, 08:43 PM | #12 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Hyon
Location: Northern Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Green SE Posts: 574
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August 17th, 2011, 09:04 PM | #13 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Jonathan
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 Posts: 398
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From the same crash:
- sand sucks - don't ride past your limit - slow the (*&^*^ down
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From here...to everywhere! |
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August 17th, 2011, 11:27 PM | #14 |
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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I have learned that a literbike can NOT keep up with 200, 250, and 350cc bikes. Try to keep up, and you will crash.
(When those bikes are dirt/dualsport bikes and the ride is through rivers, mud, and rocks.)
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"What a sweetheart."- ninja_sleeper to me |
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August 18th, 2011, 12:14 AM | #15 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Ken
Location: Indio, CA
Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Kawasaki EX250 "Yoshi", '99 Kawasaki Concours "Grace", '06 Concours "Belle", '06 Yamaha YZF600R "Slick" Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 3
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Always wear gloves.
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< ATGATT > Sweat you can wipe off, Road rash you can't. HEY!! Unregistered!! Does your bike have a name? |
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August 18th, 2011, 12:17 AM | #16 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Max
Location: san marcos
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 09 ninja 250 Posts: 131
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hospital bills are expensive
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ride it like you stole it! |
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August 18th, 2011, 12:31 AM | #17 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Edd
Location: Los Angeles-CALI
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 SE Pearl/Ebony Ninja 250R Posts: 376
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August 18th, 2011, 12:52 AM | #18 |
ninjette.org member
Name: \(O.o)/
Location: australia
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 250 Ninja Posts: 19
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1. If it looks wet, treat it as though it is. Don't assume it's dry.
2. Don't ever drift off in thought and forget what you are doing. Riding requires 100% of your concentration, a lapse in thought will result in something stupid happening. |
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August 18th, 2011, 01:07 AM | #19 |
CVMA #74 WSMC #750
Name: Nemesis
Location: On the track
Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): All of them Posts: A lot.
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August 18th, 2011, 05:08 AM | #20 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Alex
Location: michigan
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r Posts: 784
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definitely +1. When i lowsided it was because a guy cut me off in the rain. i had to swerve and my front tire slid out while braking. however, due to falling and sliding, i didnt even think to look at the guys plate...he clearly saw that he made me fall and he just drove away...
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August 18th, 2011, 09:25 AM | #21 |
Smoker
Name: Bob
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): Guess.... Posts: 556
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Gear does not gurantee you will not get hurt. IE, you can still very easily break bones, but it sure goes far in reducing or eliminating road rash!
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August 18th, 2011, 11:56 AM | #22 |
ninjette.org member
Name: United States
Location: Annapolis, Md
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 09' 650 R Posts: 16
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That despite what the ground has been telling me in our conversations, IT WILL NOT BE FORGIVING.
The ground is a damn dirty liar. |
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August 18th, 2011, 11:57 AM | #23 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Alex
Location: michigan
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r Posts: 784
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August 18th, 2011, 12:08 PM | #24 |
ninjette.org member
Name: United States
Location: Annapolis, Md
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 09' 650 R Posts: 16
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August 18th, 2011, 12:19 PM | #25 |
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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Back to topic....
__________________________________________________
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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August 18th, 2011, 02:02 PM | #26 |
Russian spy
Name: Julia
Location: Gainesville, FL
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250R Posts: 48
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To get the thread back in the right direction:
-NOT to fixate on a side of the road with this "I think I'm gonna hit it oh **** oh **** I think I'm gonna hit it" running through your head. -Look into the turn! omg why wouldn't I. -SLOW DOWN on 90 degree turns on the roads you've never ridden before! -Bike is NOT as heavy laying on top of me as I thought it would be. -Learned that my mom has heard of the term "squid" when she used it while lecturing me on riding outside of my abilities >.< So much from one crash |
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August 19th, 2011, 06:34 AM | #27 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: L
Location: WI
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '09 250R, '13 CBR500R Posts: 709
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-always look thru the turn
-don't ride beyond your comfort -crashes suck cuz you gotta fix your bike! |
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August 19th, 2011, 08:02 AM | #28 |
That rider dude.
Name: Eric
Location: Orlando, Fl.
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 White Ninja 250 SE. Posts: A lot.
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August 19th, 2011, 08:55 AM | #29 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Hyon
Location: Northern Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Green SE Posts: 574
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August 19th, 2011, 05:04 PM | #30 |
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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We sure have all learned a lot the hard way! Another lesson I learned the hard way was not to brake while the bars are turned when stopping. Oops. Rear brake is ok to use while the bars are turned. Front brake is quite a no-no!
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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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August 25th, 2011, 12:00 PM | #31 |
Russian spy
Name: Julia
Location: Gainesville, FL
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250R Posts: 48
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Last night i had an opportunity to apply what I've learned from my recent crash to avoid another one.
i was coming off interstate at 70mph. I was following my friend thinking that it was a different exit. The one i was thinking about has a nice straight ramp for about a quarter of a mile, and I was planning to slow down there. Unfortunately, we were at a different exit...When i saw the name along with recommended speed of 25mph, my heart sank. This exit's ramp literally wraps around itself making it a VERY sharp turn that is also surrounded by metal guards. I grabbed the brakes which locked at my front wheel...and here I am, sliding for the guard mentally preparing myself. I don't know how my brain managed to think so much in such a short period of time, but I suddenly decided that I was not going down. i let go off the brakes, let the bike recover itself, and was good to go |
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August 25th, 2011, 12:07 PM | #32 |
Wartown, USA
Name: Bryan
Location: Warner Robins, GA
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R SE, 2007 Ninja 650R, and assorted other bikes Posts: A lot.
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1. Dont touch the front brake when on loose gravel.
2. Unmarked Speedbumps in the dark suck. 3. If the rear end gets loose, stay on the throttle. |
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August 25th, 2011, 12:23 PM | #33 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Kurgan
Location: Texas
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): '09 Ninja 250R Posts: 265
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My lesson I learned from crashing my first 250R was that tar strips on the road are evil, and so are Progressive Insurance monkeys....
I was going around a downhill left hand turn, and both the front and rear tire rode across the tar strip while the bike was leaned over and the whole bike slid a foot to the right....while leaned over....my eyes almost popped out of the helmet and my stomach dropped out. So I straightened up and tried to slow down, but there wasn't enough straight road left to do that, so I ended up going into a shallow ditch. That wouldn't have been too bad....except for the 4 foot wide tree growing at the end of the ditch. I was full on both brakes but still hit the tree around 15mph nose first. Ended up breaking the right mirror off, cracked the nose in half, broke the front fender in 3 pieces, bent the fork tubes, and bent the crap out of the left mirror with my leg as I went up over the tank and into the tree myself sideways. The bike was surprisingly still ride-able at that point. I was more pissed than anything and spent the next few minutes swearing nonstop at myself, at the tree, and at the idiot who laid tar strips in the middle of an off-camber downhill left hand turn. And yes, I had that "Days of Thunder" moment just before the crash when the line from the movie went through my head...."awww ****, this is gonna hurt...". The padding in my jacket saved me from a broken left arm/shoulder, there's a nice scratch in my helmet, and I had bruises down the inside of my legs. The Progressive Insurance monkey faxed me a list of parts that needed to be repaired.....half of which weren't from the 250R at all, things like mirrors from a ZX14, and a 4 carb bank from the ZX6R.....he tried to undercut me and screw me out of a new bike at every possible turn until I asked to speak to his boss. That's when I finally got a decent settlement offer from them. |
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August 25th, 2011, 11:24 PM | #34 |
Done here.
Name: -
Location: Track
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): - Posts: A lot.
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Don't help ducks.
(learned from Skippii's thread) |
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August 26th, 2011, 12:08 AM | #35 |
wat
Name: wat
Location: tustin/long beach
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14
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bwahaha. unless its THEduck... well even then his latest video is kinda scary. heehuck!
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August 26th, 2011, 12:04 PM | #36 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Jason
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250r Posts: 80
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August 26th, 2011, 12:22 PM | #37 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kevin
Location: Oklahoma City
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300SE Posts: 47
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As an aside: I keep my broken parts on my workbench as a constant reminder of what can (or did) happen. Seeing them before every ride helps me get my mind 100% focused on the ride.
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August 27th, 2011, 02:47 PM | #38 |
ninjette.org member
Name: KT
Location: Left Coast
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 1 of them Big Four Posts: 84
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1.) stupid hurt......alot...
2.) protect the bike, you heal, your bike doesn't... 3.) don't repeat the same mistake, make new one.... but yea..bottom line is ...crashing sux... |
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August 27th, 2011, 04:42 PM | #39 |
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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Um, the bike is a $3000 hunk of metal, plastic, and rubber dude. You don't heal from all injuries. If you think you're invincible, that could be a problem for you on 2-wheels.
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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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August 31st, 2011, 05:53 PM | #40 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Chris
Location: New York
Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, 2006 Suzuki Boulevard C50T Posts: 90
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Agree 100% with:
Boosted139! "I learned that you can never be too cautious when it comes to gravel/loose dirt on a road." Volnaya "Bike is NOT as heavy laying on top of me as I thought it would be." and gt_turbo "crashes suck cuz you gotta fix your bike!" On my own... If you're really worried about a specific problem, it will eventually get you! (Damn, I should've swept up that gravel at the end of the block that I cursed at everytime I went by it...on my bike and in my truck! - I knew it would get me...and it did.) |
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