June 15th, 2012, 06:36 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Christine
Location: Vancouver
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition Posts: 26
|
1st crash, new rider. Gravel is bad. :(
On Tuesday I was out on an afternoon toodle in an area I wouldn't normally ride, ever. I was travelling around by the airport looking for a park that you can sit at the end of the runway and watch planes fly over. Anyway, I didn't really know where I was going and was going at about 80km/h down the roadway and up ahead I spotted the parking lot where this park was. I geared down and slowed down to about 40km/h... the parking lot was gravel but it looked pretty hard-packed and I thought I would be ok... Well I braked using by fronts and rears (more front than rear obviously) and I totally lost control of the bike. It was crazy, I knew to be cautious of gravel but I had no idea it was this bad. And the gravel was deep. There was zero traction. I slid into a wooden pole that designates the entrance to the lot and tore up my left fairings, including my left turn signal, then dropped the bike on the right side and tumbled off. I was so freaked out and jacked with adrenaline as soon as I fell off the bike I turned around and lifted it (totally wrong) and started to cry. I saw the fairings tear open before my eyes and knew it wasn't good... you guys understand, I freaking love this bike.
I was able to ride it to the claim centre after I calmed down and it is totally sound mechanically, the damage is all cosmetic. I went to my local Kawasaki dealership and they set me all up. They put on a turn signal so I can ride it in the meantime and ordered the fairings and fender from Kawasaki. Nonetheless, holy crap gravel is crazy ****. Live and learn I guess. |
|
June 15th, 2012, 06:40 PM | #2 |
Nerd
Name: Chris
Location: Tujunga
Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ducati Hyperstrada Posts: 672
|
Stuff happens! Don't let it get to you just make sure you learn something from it. Fix er up and call it a lesson learned!
__________________________________________________
It doesn't LOOK that steep. But you can go first... |
|
June 15th, 2012, 06:42 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Laurence
Location: Bangbuathong Thailand
Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): Green 2012 Ninja 250SE and a Yamaha fino scooter (my wife's really) Posts: 355
|
Glad your ok the bike can be fixed
I have been riding for almost 30 years on and off and gravel still makes me very cautious you just have to be smooth in all actions try to brake with your rear only and be ready to put your feet down the front and rear brakes can and will lock very easily.
__________________________________________________
Be safe ride smart .....a dumb rider is a dead rider |
|
June 15th, 2012, 06:50 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Sean
Location: Middle TN
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250r (sold) / '03 CBR 600RR Posts: A lot.
|
Dang, that sucks. Is watching planes something you like to do, or just looking for a spot to chill? J/w because I'm a student pilot and find it fun to sit in the parking lot at the park right next to the airport.
|
|
June 15th, 2012, 06:59 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Christine
Location: Vancouver
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition Posts: 26
|
I think planes are fascinating. I love to see them fly over close. The power and how something so huge can gets into the air is absolutely fascinating to me.
We used to sit at the end of runways when I was a kid. My dad was an air force brat and grew up around some pretty cool airplanes, so i think it's inherited. |
|
June 15th, 2012, 07:06 PM | #6 |
Daily Ninjette rider
Name: Hernan
Location: Florida
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16
|
It is very good that you didn't hurt your left hand or knee.
When something compromises the friction between those little patches of the tires and the road, our control over any motorcycle becomes very unfamiliar. Sand, oil, gravel: all produce the same effect.
__________________________________________________
Motofool .................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí |
|
June 15th, 2012, 07:15 PM | #7 |
Ambrosia.
Name: Jaymie
Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1974 Honda CB550K0 W.I.P. Posts: A lot.
|
Front brake is a huge no-no on sand, gravel, dirt, etc.
__________________________________________________
Life's better on the Mountain. |
|
June 15th, 2012, 07:19 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Ed
Location: San Diego
Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250R (SOLD - 2/16/2013) Posts: 492
|
Glad you're OK, and thanks for the heads up on gravel since I haven't had to ride on anything but pavement yet.
You could have gotten the fairings cheaper from other places, but if you can afford the Kawa ones, then good deal. I'm going to go ahead and blatantly leghump here: If that's you in the picture make sure you always wear a helmet, not only to preserve that beautiful mug of yours, but also to keep you from distracting the rest of us squids (and by "us" I mean "me") I was in Vancouver the summer before the last Winter olympics and fell in love with the place and with every girl I saw, nothing but beautiful people there. I stayed in the Hostel in Jericho Beach. P.S. Fly Navy!
__________________________________________________
Mods/Add-on list: DanMoto Jisu, Snorkel delete, Shimmed needles, K&N Drop-In filter, T-Rex frame sliders, Shogun swing-arm spools, CBR250 Rear Hugger, Buell XB Pegs. DIY polished rim lips |
|
June 15th, 2012, 10:18 PM | #9 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Christine
Location: Vancouver
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition Posts: 26
|
That is my photo. I have a good Arai helmet, not to worry, and thank-you!
I know that that front brake is a no-no on gravel, believe me, I do! I'm so new and I know the majority of the stopping power is in the front, so I think hitting the front brake was purely force of habit :/. I went for a ride tonight and made a concentrated effort to use my rear brakes more often. I feel pretty stupid about making such a dumb error. |
|
June 15th, 2012, 10:41 PM | #10 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Ed
Location: San Diego
Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250R (SOLD - 2/16/2013) Posts: 492
|
Quote:
__________________________________________________
Mods/Add-on list: DanMoto Jisu, Snorkel delete, Shimmed needles, K&N Drop-In filter, T-Rex frame sliders, Shogun swing-arm spools, CBR250 Rear Hugger, Buell XB Pegs. DIY polished rim lips |
|
|
June 15th, 2012, 10:56 PM | #11 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Jono
Location: Memphis, TN
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Triumph Street Triple, 2009 KLX250SF, 2003 Suzuki SV650S (Sold), 2006 Ninja 250 (Sold) Posts: A lot.
|
Mmmhm. I kinda like riding on gravel....
|
|
June 16th, 2012, 12:13 AM | #12 |
Nooblet
Name: Akima
Location: England
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '13
|
Aww, sorry to hear about your accident Christine. In another thread, I remember reading about your excitement to get home to your bike after work.
Like you said though: live and learn. I ride on gravel every almost every day. It's just a matter of getting your speed low before you hit the gravel, only gently use your back brake and don't lean the bike far over. |
|
June 16th, 2012, 07:44 AM | #13 | |
Daily Ninjette rider
Name: Hernan
Location: Florida
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16
|
Quote:
It is not great for the tires but it is excellent practice to learn the limits of the bike in low friction conditions. Any gross deviation from vertical becomes unstable.
__________________________________________________
Motofool .................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí |
|
|
June 16th, 2012, 08:02 AM | #14 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Christine
Location: Vancouver
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition Posts: 26
|
Once I get more confident I'd love to do that Mystery School in California to learn to slide in gravel and such, I think that would be rad! I admire people who are good at all surfaces and road conditions.
Thanks for all the kind words. |
|
June 16th, 2012, 12:10 PM | #15 |
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
|
Sorry to hear that Christine. Hubby and I take dirt and gravel roads often. The keys to remember are:
Rear brake ONLY...no front. Stay loose. The bike/bars will want to move along with the gravel. Let them. The bike will correct itself and the more you try to fight with the bars, the more upset the bike becomes. Gripping the tank with your thighs allows you to keep your upper body looser so the bike is happier (and when our bikes aren't happy, we're not happy!) Hubby's first accident was on gravel too. Hope you feel up to tackling gravel again one day. Take a break from it for a while, but to really be comfortable on a bike, learning how to ride in different mediums is an awesome exercise, so don't give up gravel completely!
__________________________________________________
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 |
|
June 16th, 2012, 01:49 PM | #16 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Martin
Location: Slovenia
Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250R (FI) Posts: 169
|
important thing is that you are OK
i almost have accident due to gravel today too... almost 180° and very long turn, was going about 90 km/h.... and suddenly i spotted some gravel in the middle of the turn... i didnt brake, fortunately first tire just slipped a little... and i was like keep on riding |
|
June 16th, 2012, 02:55 PM | #17 |
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
|
congratulations, christine. welcome to the club.
i find sometimes in loose dirt or gravel the bars want to go in a direction you dont want them to go and you kinda end up giving a lot more steering input than normal... but i think most of the time that can be attributed to not enough gas. which usually means you need to slow down sooner so you can be on the gas through the low-traction area
__________________________________________________
|
|
June 17th, 2012, 09:15 AM | #18 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Christine
Location: Vancouver
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition Posts: 26
|
Thanks again to everyone, what a great forum this is, seriously. Everyone is so nice and supportive!!
Cluck: Because of the drop on the right side, the tailpipe was scratched a bit.. The adjuster with my provincial insurance corporation (ICBC) said "that tailpipe might start moving this into write-off territory" and I said I did not want to write the bike off if all the damage was cosmetic. He said he'd let me know. When I took the bike to Kawasaki and they communicated with the adjuster all the cost of the fairings and the front fender plus the drop damage (handlebar-end, the end of the brake lever, the tailpipe) it actually would be a write off. I said not to worry about the tailpipe, so they gave me a $180 cheque for "appearance allowance" to fix the tailpipe myself. I will use that money for frame sliders. So the short answer is: this bike was technically a write-off as per ICBC standards. The fairing damage is extensive, and ALL my fairings (including the front part below the windshield and the front fender) will be replaced except the R side. I kind of get a brand-new bike. My deductible is $300. I got crazy insurance coverage, I'm no dummy. |
|
June 17th, 2012, 11:23 AM | #19 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Thomas
Location: Montréal
Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R Special Edition (sold), 2017 CRF250 Rally Posts: 384
|
Quote:
Glad only your pride was a little bruised... Will you try to find another 2009 Special Edition? I think it's in the top 2 of my special edition list... The first one being the 2011... |
|
|
June 17th, 2012, 04:44 PM | #20 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Christine
Location: Vancouver
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition Posts: 26
|
And today, me and a friend were out for a ride, parked our bikes to go for lunch, and when we got out, someone had knocked both our bikes over. So now the other fairing is damaged too. I'm basically, slowly building a new bike, FML.
|
|
June 17th, 2012, 05:03 PM | #21 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Joe
Location: NJ
Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250R, 2007 Husky TE 250, 2002 KTM EXC 250r Posts: 217
|
Wow, you got some bad luck going...someone hit them with a car?
__________________________________________________
|
|
June 17th, 2012, 05:04 PM | #22 |
ninjette.org member
Name: hayden
Location: pompano
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2003 ninja 250 Posts: 77
|
Thats fvucked up. Did you have frame sliders?
|
|
June 17th, 2012, 05:07 PM | #23 |
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
|
WTF? Assholes!
__________________________________________________
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 |
|
June 17th, 2012, 05:37 PM | #24 | |
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
|
Quote:
For example, on using the back brake -- your instincts are completely right on pavement. Don't overlearn the lesson about relying on the back brake more -- you really should be using your front brake almost exclusively. Just not, as you learned, if you aren't in a complete straight line on gravel (or loose dirt).
__________________________________________________
"Improvement makes straight roads, but the crooked roads without improvement, are roads of genius." — William Blake |
|
|
June 17th, 2012, 05:46 PM | #25 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Christine
Location: Vancouver
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition Posts: 26
|
Quote:
@2003ninja: LightTech Frame Sliders are being installed with the new fairings on the earlier claim. They aren't on yet, unfortunately. Last futzed with by shadepixie; June 17th, 2012 at 05:58 PM. Reason: Add info |
|
|
June 17th, 2012, 05:55 PM | #26 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Christine
Location: Vancouver
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition Posts: 26
|
Quote:
|
|
|
June 18th, 2012, 10:59 AM | #27 |
One Loyal Fox
Name: Rahul
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250R (RIP), 2011 ZX-6R Posts: 869
|
Sorry to hear about your series of unfortunate events
I also got my bike beat up after leaning too much in gravel (didn't look at the road surface through a turn), though not nearly as bad as yours. Glad you are okay! Sucks that someone hit your bike though on top of everything..seems like respect and morals are hard to come by these days. |
|
June 18th, 2012, 11:04 AM | #28 |
Nooblet
Name: Akima
Location: England
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '13
|
@shadepixie: I relayed your two incidents to another girl at work who rides: a big cringe appeared across her face. We have sympathy for you.
|
|
June 18th, 2012, 01:31 PM | #30 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: E
Location: 818 but i rep 516/631/718
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 GIXXER 600 Posts: 381
|
sounds like a string of bad luck... it gets betta!!
in the spirit of interweb leg humping... damn, your hot!!
__________________________________________________
"You see it's not the blood you spill that gets you what you want. It's the blood you share, your family, your friendships, your community. These are the most valuable things a man could have." |
|
June 18th, 2012, 11:45 PM | #33 |
Jigglin' your Jiglets
Name: Sean
Location: San Jose, Ca
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 1
MOTM - Apr '13
|
Akima uses squirrel feet
weirdo
__________________________________________________
If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs |
|
June 19th, 2012, 12:17 AM | #35 |
Jigglin' your Jiglets
Name: Sean
Location: San Jose, Ca
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 1
MOTM - Apr '13
|
__________________________________________________
If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs |
|
June 19th, 2012, 12:54 AM | #36 |
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.
|
Consider leaving the replacement fairings off for a while.
|
|
June 19th, 2012, 07:12 AM | #37 |
ninjette.org member
Name: CalvinAmI
Location: La Vergne, TN.
Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): '09 Ninja 250r [RED] & '06 Ninja 250 [WHITE] Posts: 162
Blog Entries: 1
|
There is only ONE way to get over all this misfortune...
and that is to post in the thread below (with tons of pics and poses...) Girls on Bikes ROCK!! (ladies, post your pics here) ...therapy... ya know. |
|
June 19th, 2012, 11:31 AM | #38 | |
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.
|
Quote:
|
|
|
June 19th, 2012, 11:52 AM | #39 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Jon
Location: Newark, De
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.
|
You have really bad luck. I always try to park my bike in plain view of EVERYONE! If you can't park it in plain view, park it off the street. Sorry to hear about everything hun, Hope you and your bike are ok!
__________________________________________________
http://www.facebook.com/groups/DeMdNjPagrouprides/ I live my life a quarter mile at a time! Who is affraid of the big bad jiggles???? LOL |
|
June 19th, 2012, 01:57 PM | #40 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: James
Location: Winston Salem N.C.
Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 :) Posts: 253
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
[crash.net - WSBK] - WSBK Rider of the Year vote: 1st | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | December 29th, 2013 06:10 AM |
Bad driver & bad rider. Guess who gets hurt... | akima | Videos | 27 | July 12th, 2013 12:26 AM |
[crash.net - WSBK] - WSBK Rider of the Year vote: 1st | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | December 30th, 2012 07:00 AM |
[crash.net - MotoGP] - MotoGP Rider of the Year vote: 1st | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | December 31st, 2011 05:50 AM |
[crash.net - MotoGP] - MotoGP Rider of the Year vote: 1st | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | December 31st, 2011 12:30 AM |
|
|