Well i suppose it had to happen eventually...

[insolentminx]

This morning I decided to take the bike to work.
I live in East London and work in West London. I usually get the London Underground to work and it takes about an hour and a half door to door. I can sleep on the train and it's usually nice and cosy.

But this afternoon I'm going to a biker friend's funeral. He didn't die on the bike, he died of natural causes, but a group of us are gonna ride in procession with the funeral parade on our bikes. I've got half the day off but i would have to leave the office really early to go home, get the bike sorted and head to the funeral home, so i figured I'd come into work on the bike and head straight there from the office.

Well, the weatherman predicted fog and although it was a little foggy it wasn't too bad, but there was a slight frosting on the road.
I live at the top of a not-so-steep hill, so i was being very cautious when i came down it as the road was shimmering in places. I felt my back wheel slip a little so i slowed down even more to about 5mph...
Our road leads onto quite a busy main road. I knew ice wouldn't be an issue on that road as it gets lots of traffic and it wasn't cold enough for the ice to last long.

As i came to the last bend in my road (it's such a gradual bend it doesn't even qualify as a bend really, just a kink in the road), i didn't touch the brakes, didn't touch the throttle, i just leant her ever so slightly just like i always to do guide me around the bend and the next thing i know i'm on my right side and the bike's on top of me!!

The right peg bent up on it's spring like it's supposed to. The right mirror had folded in slightly, but the engine guard was doing it's job nicely. Keeping the bike off me and off the road. I easilly slide out from under it and felt how slippy the road was underfoot. Picking the bike up was so much easier than i ever imagined even with the icy road, it just lifted up nicely (must be all my gym sessions paying off!)

I brushed myself off, got back on and carried on with my journey into work.

It took about 10 minutes less to come in by bike, but i don't think i'll be making a regular thing of it. Traffic was a pain and i was filtering through it all for the majority of the journey.

When i got to the office i noticed a nice long scrape down the lower pipe, adding to the scrapes i collect when leaning over at roundabouts... and part of the metal bracket under the right footpeg had ground down a little. That's it. No other damage whatsoever. No scrapes on the engine bars, no nothing.

I think i'll get a slight bruise on my knee when the hypercharger hit it as i hit the deck, but that's about it.

Moral of the story. Don't ride in ice... and if you have to, only go in a straight line.

[Flash]

Holy crap Steve, you got your moneys worth out of those crash guards alright, good to hear you are ok too.

[insolentminx]

cheers Flash!

yeah, they definitely saved my:
tank,
hypercharger,
handlebar end,
mirror
& right leg.

not bad for £120. God knows what the damage would have been otherwise. I guess i've just gotta accept that the pipes are gonna be collecting scratches now!

[Baitis]

Ouch, luckily you'll only feel some discomfort tomorrow. I need to look into guards, 26degF riding in this morning.

[therogue]

If you're gonna drop it, That's the good way. Glad you're ok.

[c_law23]

wow, close one... glad to hear you and the bike made it out with minimal damage.

[ozyran440]

Glad to hear you made it through this one well! Sounds like an engine guard is a good investment.

[wyfapres]

Glad to hear both you and the bike only had slight damage. God knows you don't want a dent in your tank like some other dum*** I know Gotta get me an engine guard

[rbentnail]

Good to hear you and your baby came out relatively unscathed. It could have been so much worse.

[CheriAnn]

OH STEVE!!!!
My heart was in my throat as I read through your story!!!
I am SO HAPPY that you are not hurt very badly. I'm also happy for you that your bike held up good and the crash bars did their job!!!

You are TOO NICE a guy to have anything bad happen to you!!!!!

[NCDave]

Dang....sorry to hear about the upset. Glad you're ok and not any worse for the wear. At least you have something to do during the winter now.

[kevcustom]

oooowwwchhhhh!!!! steve....... Well at least the bars done there job m8

Glad your ok though...... damn the ice weather....

[FL Vulcan Rider]

OMG dude! That is crazy! I'm so glad that you are ok. You are soooooooooo lucky man. $500 pipes are worth a lot less then a broken leg or worse! Just think... you could be in the hospital right now man. Good thing you have engine guards! Makes me feel like they aren't so bad after all. I'm gonna keep mine on now.

[Dethbed]

Oh man that sucks. I mean, I'm def glad to hear that you are for the most part unhurt, like it always could have been worse, but it always could have been better... Like not going down at all. Glad you're okay man.

But at least you know that your bars are doing their job! I have yet to go down, I can't even imagine how scary that is....

Whew.

ALSO glad there wasn't a ton of damage... Man that bike is a beaut I think I would've cried.

[tricker]

glad your ok

[cmptrmn.1]

Wow, Steve. Glad you're OK. Even in a straight line, I think I will avoid ice.

[insolentminx]

thanks all!

my ride back from work to the funeral went well.
there was a really good turn out and there were 10 of us bikers there too.

After the ceremony we went to a pub and on the way there i nearly had another spill!! Damp road this time, well at least it looked damp, might have been a bit icy... this time was a left turn and i felt my left peg grind the road, which very rarely happens. Managed to keep her upright though, much to the amazement of the rider behind me.

i think i'll stick to riding when there's no chance of ice.... gimme torrential rain anyday!!!

washed the bike when i got home and surveyed the damage. the scrape doesn't look good but it's actually quite hard to spot. Might try and polish some of it out. Can't seem to get a decent picture of it.

Thanks for all your comments!!

I'd highly recommend engine guards!!!

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by insolentminx

thanks all!

my ride back from work to the funeral went well.
there was a really good turn out and there were 10 of us bikers there too.

After the ceremony we went to a pub and on the way there i nearly had another spill!! Damp road this time, well at least it looked damp, might have been a bit icy... this time was a left turn and i felt my left peg grind the road, which very rarely happens. Managed to keep her upright though, much to the amazement of the rider behind me.

i think i'll stick to riding when there's no chance of ice.... gimme torrential rain anyday!!!

washed the bike when i got home and surveyed the damage. the scrape doesn't look good but it's actually quite hard to spot. Might try and polish some of it out. Can't seem to get a decent picture of it.

Thanks for all your comments!!

I'd highly recommend engine guards!!!

I'm just wondering Steve. I hear you always talking about how you drag your pipes and pegs a lot. I know you lean really really far and stuff. I've never personally dragged my pegs let alone even my pipes. I have never had a need to lean that far on my cruiser. That's awesome that you like dragging your pegs and all.... but..

What were you thinking leaning like that on ice?!?!?! That is insane. From now on I'm gonna call you evel knievel!

[Flash]

Originally Posted by insolentminx

When i got to the office i noticed a nice long scrape down the lower pipe, adding to the scrapes i collect when leaning over at roundabouts... and part of the metal bracket under the right footpeg had ground down a little. That's it.

I think his bike is lowered thats why all the pipe scraping....

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by Flash

I think his bike is lowered thats why all the pipe scraping....

I'm almost positive Steve didn't lower his bike though. Unless he didn't tell us.