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204 Posts
put the helmet in a glass case over the fireplace to remind you why you need to get out there and ride every day to get past the beginner luck glad you made it out
Road bike + gravel = OW! My head..
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524 Posts
Any chance of a pic of said brain saving lid? Thanks in advance.
Thanks for your kind comments, guys 'n girls. I'm all better now and ready to jump back on. It's the strangest thing but coming off in a decent accident has actually made me feel more confident about riding. (Not invincible, I'm not THAT stupid).. just that I feel I can deal with more thing and am less worried. (I can say this as I'm still bikeless 
)
My helmet
You can see that the only real damage to it is just behind the visor and just below the visor along the jawline. The marks don't show up very well because the undercoat of the helmet is almost the same as the graphics but they're basically dimples (I assume pressure dimples). There's no scrapes or slide marks. It's not very dramatic.
It's definitely getting replaced with a pink or "girlie" one. I think it adds to my visibility as we don't seem to have heaps of girls on bikes over here. Plus, little kids wave at you at the Servo. :smile:
)My helmet
You can see that the only real damage to it is just behind the visor and just below the visor along the jawline. The marks don't show up very well because the undercoat of the helmet is almost the same as the graphics but they're basically dimples (I assume pressure dimples). There's no scrapes or slide marks. It's not very dramatic.
It's definitely getting replaced with a pink or "girlie" one. I think it adds to my visibility as we don't seem to have heaps of girls on bikes over here. Plus, little kids wave at you at the Servo. :smile:
Joined
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524 Posts
Thx for the pic, hope you get to ride again real soon!
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624 Posts
:biggrin:
Just a quick update:
My bike is officially a write-off. They can repair her, she's mechanically fine but it's not worth it financially for them to repair her fairings, muffler, etc. I cried all the way home, which was a bit stupid as I was driving at the time (don't want ANOTHER accident).. and couldn't stop crying for nearly an hour. I didn't realise how attached I'd become to her.. my little baby girl.
They're paying me market value which is way above what I paid for her, which should cover what I had to spend on her after I bought her.. and I should get reimbursed for the remainder of my registration which is nearly all of it. So with any lucky I will be able to buy another zzr.
Basically, I will be back to square 1 with my bank balance and looking for a bike.
Anyone else feel a bit distraught with their bike being a write-off? I know it's only a bike and I know I should be thrilled I walked away from it and I am. I'm just upset that she was so broken.
C.
P.S. I was sobbing my heart out and sent a distraught message to my friend saying my girl had been written off. He sent one back saying "Oh no! That's terrible! Now we'll have to think of more names." .. I love friends, sometimes they know exactly how to pick you up.
My bike is officially a write-off. They can repair her, she's mechanically fine but it's not worth it financially for them to repair her fairings, muffler, etc. I cried all the way home, which was a bit stupid as I was driving at the time (don't want ANOTHER accident).. and couldn't stop crying for nearly an hour. I didn't realise how attached I'd become to her.. my little baby girl.
They're paying me market value which is way above what I paid for her, which should cover what I had to spend on her after I bought her.. and I should get reimbursed for the remainder of my registration which is nearly all of it. So with any lucky I will be able to buy another zzr.
Basically, I will be back to square 1 with my bank balance and looking for a bike.
Anyone else feel a bit distraught with their bike being a write-off? I know it's only a bike and I know I should be thrilled I walked away from it and I am. I'm just upset that she was so broken.
C.
P.S. I was sobbing my heart out and sent a distraught message to my friend saying my girl had been written off. He sent one back saying "Oh no! That's terrible! Now we'll have to think of more names.
" .. I love friends, sometimes they know exactly how to pick you up.sorry to hear that the bike is totalled, but your ok and thats the main thing!Just a quick update:
My bike is officially a write-off. They can repair her, she's mechanically fine but it's not worth it financially for them to repair her fairings, muffler, etc. I cried all the way home, which was a bit stupid as I was driving at the time (don't want ANOTHER accident).. and couldn't stop crying for nearly an hour. I didn't realise how attached I'd become to her.. my little baby girl.
They're paying me market value which is way above what I paid for her, which should cover what I had to spend on her after I bought her.. and I should get reimbursed for the remainder of my registration which is nearly all of it. So with any lucky I will be able to buy another zzr.
Basically, I will be back to square 1 with my bank balance and looking for a bike.
Anyone else feel a bit distraught with their bike being a write-off? I know it's only a bike and I know I should be thrilled I walked away from it and I am. I'm just upset that she was so broken.
C.
P.S. I was sobbing my heart out and sent a distraught message to my friend saying my girl had been written off. He sent one back saying "Oh no! That's terrible! Now we'll have to think of more names.
The next cool thing is you are getting more then what you paid for the bike - thats awesome.
The question you have to ask yourself now is - did you feel good on the bike if so then get another one just like it.
I said it once and ill say it again, if there is a course you can take i would suggest taking it especially with the extra money from the bike being totaled.
Once you get a new bike youll become attached to it and you may almost forget the 1st one
good luck!
Kenny
Joined
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524 Posts
One of lifes great mysteries, the intangible connection between rider and bike. That connection is truly greater than the sum of the parts!!
Only time and another bike will heal this wound I'm afraid. Better start looking!!!
Only time and another bike will heal this wound I'm afraid. Better start looking!!!
Joined
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114 Posts
Damned Taswegiens!
Glad to hear you're okay!
As a fellow rider, Aussie (although at present am travellin about the world am in Riga, Latvia), I LOVE Tassie. Been there a few times, up the sidling and other places, raced at the plains as well, broke the lap record for Proddie bikes way back in errr.. Well, a long time ago.
Spoke with Robbie Phillis the other day, Wally Campbells old race mate, haven't seen Mal since errr, a long time ago,
Have mates in Launceston, Deloraine, Caveside and other places..
Hope to be down there again sometime soon, after I complete the world wide journey. Should be back home in Brissie about early November.
Anyways, enough of the rant about myself and the travels..
LOTS of riders down in Tassie, damned fine bunch of peoples too, from my experiences there.
Get well soon and of course, grab another decent brain bucket.. They do an amazing job of saving that which is atop your shoulders!
Cheers, Travellin Tod.
As a fellow rider, Aussie (although at present am travellin about the world am in Riga, Latvia), I LOVE Tassie. Been there a few times, up the sidling and other places, raced at the plains as well, broke the lap record for Proddie bikes way back in errr.. Well, a long time ago.
Spoke with Robbie Phillis the other day, Wally Campbells old race mate, haven't seen Mal since errr, a long time ago,
Have mates in Launceston, Deloraine, Caveside and other places..
Hope to be down there again sometime soon, after I complete the world wide journey. Should be back home in Brissie about early November.
Anyways, enough of the rant about myself and the travels..
LOTS of riders down in Tassie, damned fine bunch of peoples too, from my experiences there.
Get well soon and of course, grab another decent brain bucket.. They do an amazing job of saving that which is atop your shoulders!
Cheers, Travellin Tod.
Thanks for all the support, guys. You're the best. I went bike hunting today and feel good about getting another ZZR. I saw a lovely one today too, very pretty.. sounds great with its custom exhaust.. I just have to wait for the insurance cheque to clear. :icon_frow
Seriously, though. I think as soon as I get a bike and start riding regularly then I should start meeting new people.
I have a new lid now. I've noticed the $100 difference in price between my old one and my new one straight away. My new one doesn't fog up. I was wandering around the house with it on (don't ask) and it didn't fog up at all. Was very impressed. With my old one it was .. "Oh GOD!!! Traffic lights..will have to stop. Ok, brake, change down, quick as you can flick your hand up open the visor without dropping the clutch.. oh, it's gone green now.. throttle back on.. ****, ****, ****.. it's cold and windy.. change up, don't drop the clutch, shut the visor quick.. ARGH!! A bug got in.. ****, ****, ****".. EVERY traffic light. Where's the shaking-her-head smiley thingy???
I don't really know any other riders in Tassie. Actually, that's a lie. I live in Launceston and I know my friend on his GPX, and I know the guy I work with who rides a scooter. That's it. A bit sad really. I've been into lots of bike shops and made conversation but they're not really all that talkative. Short of accosting random riders (which I think I'll do if the opportunity presents itself), I'm finding it hard to meet people. Of course, I've been riding all of about 5 weeks, the last 2 of which have been bikeless. A lot of the clubs seem to have open rides most weekends, it's just a case of knowing someone to get an invite. Of course, I don't know how I'd feel about riding with a fully licenced rider. I'd feel so guilty about them having to babysit me on my L's. I've been invited on the monthly scooter ride. That should be fun, apparently the group ranges from little 50cc scooters to an R1 and K100. Most of the scooters wouldn't get over 80kph anyway so I don't have to worry about being an L plater. :-D
Seriously, though. I think as soon as I get a bike and start riding regularly then I should start meeting new people.
I have a new lid now. I've noticed the $100 difference in price between my old one and my new one straight away. My new one doesn't fog up. I was wandering around the house with it on (don't ask) and it didn't fog up at all. Was very impressed. With my old one it was .. "Oh GOD!!! Traffic lights..will have to stop. Ok, brake, change down, quick as you can flick your hand up open the visor without dropping the clutch.. oh, it's gone green now.. throttle back on.. ****, ****, ****.. it's cold and windy.. change up, don't drop the clutch, shut the visor quick.. ARGH!! A bug got in.. ****, ****, ****".. EVERY traffic light. Where's the shaking-her-head smiley thingy???
P.S. Let me know when you're coming down. Maybe we could do coffee or a ride. I'm sure I will have ventured down the sidling by then. There's always Elephant Pass pancakes too.
Joined
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114 Posts
On one condition!!
One thing, I'll look for my mates numbers, get you in touch with him and his mates - baby-sitting is not what it is considered.. It is ALWAYS great to get a new rider out with experienced ones.... The real rule on group rides is maybe one or two will go for it over a place like the sidling etc.. But overall, you'll stop and go at the pace of the slowest rider in the bunch.. Common sense and safety prevail, so you'll never be alone.
On the subject of write offs, well, I guess when I first went racing, I "wrote the bike off - IN MY MIND), so that I wouldn't be thinking about it whilst racing.
A few years after the racing thing was done, me and my nice near new 1991 ZXR discovered a nice, 150m long, 1m wide slippery patch of diesel on a dark evening road. The bike seemed to just keep on sliding on the slippery stuff, even after I was standing there, watching it just keep on sliding - right into some oncoming traffic.
Luckily the guy who collected it head on, punching it off the side of the road was a quick minded Solicitor.. So when I came running up, telling him I was the rider, there was no-body attached to the bike he just hit, he was able to settle straight away, with the knowledge that he hadn't done harm to any person.
I lost a little bit of bark off my arm (no jacket on a short ride into town), plus some off my palm, which I stuck into the road whilst sliding down the bitumen on my arm and it got a bit hot The gloves in those days aren't as good as the ones now, so they ripped and the skin did the job.
Anyways, about the bike, like I said, after being around them for a while and seeing people get hurt, you soon get over the bike attachment factor. Well, I did anyway. They can be replaced, limbs and other bits, such as a life of pain, or the loss of life, are much worse than some metal and plastic being written off.
Besides!! Look on the bright side, now you'll soon have a new baby to play with and enjoy.
After another 10 bikes, all that remains are the great memories of the miles gone by under the wheels of time and tires..
Cheers you..
Aussie Tod.
Leaving Latvia Wednesday now...
Have fun and there's no place like home to break in a new helmet!!! :lol:
Love to, but on one condition! We leave the XXXX and Jimmy Boggs beer talk out of the conversations, lol.P.S. Let me know when you're coming down. Maybe we could do coffee or a ride. I'm sure I will have ventured down the sidling by then. There's always Elephant Pass pancakes too.
One thing, I'll look for my mates numbers, get you in touch with him and his mates - baby-sitting is not what it is considered.. It is ALWAYS great to get a new rider out with experienced ones.... The real rule on group rides is maybe one or two will go for it over a place like the sidling etc.. But overall, you'll stop and go at the pace of the slowest rider in the bunch.. Common sense and safety prevail, so you'll never be alone.
On the subject of write offs, well, I guess when I first went racing, I "wrote the bike off - IN MY MIND), so that I wouldn't be thinking about it whilst racing.
A few years after the racing thing was done, me and my nice near new 1991 ZXR discovered a nice, 150m long, 1m wide slippery patch of diesel on a dark evening road. The bike seemed to just keep on sliding on the slippery stuff, even after I was standing there, watching it just keep on sliding - right into some oncoming traffic.
Luckily the guy who collected it head on, punching it off the side of the road was a quick minded Solicitor.. So when I came running up, telling him I was the rider, there was no-body attached to the bike he just hit, he was able to settle straight away, with the knowledge that he hadn't done harm to any person.
I lost a little bit of bark off my arm (no jacket on a short ride into town), plus some off my palm, which I stuck into the road whilst sliding down the bitumen on my arm and it got a bit hot
The gloves in those days aren't as good as the ones now, so they ripped and the skin did the job.Anyways, about the bike, like I said, after being around them for a while and seeing people get hurt, you soon get over the bike attachment factor. Well, I did anyway. They can be replaced, limbs and other bits, such as a life of pain, or the loss of life, are much worse than some metal and plastic being written off.
Besides!! Look on the bright side, now you'll soon have a new baby to play with and enjoy.
After another 10 bikes, all that remains are the great memories of the miles gone by under the wheels of time and tires..
Cheers you..
Aussie Tod.
Leaving Latvia Wednesday now...
Have fun and there's no place like home to break in a new helmet!!! :lol:
Joined
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932 Posts
Just checked your picture, O my can you imagine, those "chunks" missing along the jaw line probably saved you from years of pain and cosmetic surgery. Smart girl to use a good helmet.
^^^
+1
Lately, I've noted that my alternate upper body gear - simple jacket and simple gloves - don't get much use these days. It just doesn't feel right being out on the road without the extra protection my Stage 2 and SP-1's provide. Even on the hotest days, I keep on going back to them. Sweat can be washed off. A serious injury cannot.
I have one friend who noted that maybe I shouldn't be in a hobby in which I carry such bleak outlook on my safety, his personal interpretation of my selection of gear. My counter - it's a reflection of my love for my hobby. If I fall, for whatever reason, I'll be able to return for another ride.
So glad your okay. Let us know when you and your new bike are back on the road.
Joined
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655 Posts
And the big whack above the visor pivot point probably saved her months of relearning how to tie her shoes and calculate tips.
So while my original lesson of "road bike + gravel = doesn't go too well" still stands, I think I understand more about why I had my accident.
Last week I had another accident. The exact same story as before only this time I was at a set of traffic lights, turning left, ran wide, collected the kerb and landed onto the bottom of the mall in the middle of town. So I narrowed it down to my cornering from a standing start. Now I was taught to keep my revs high-ish and just ease the clutch out which I've been doing, or so I thought. It seems I've only been doing this in a straight line. I've been sitting here thinking about both accidents and have come to the conclusion that my initial takeoff is fine but as I get to about mid-corner I'm just dumping the clutch, which is landing me in the middle of my powerband thanks to my high-ish revs. Suddenly I have loads of power, I panic, ease off the throttle, run wide and suddenly find myself up the proverbial creek without any paddling apparatus.
I came to riding as what I would consider a fairly capable driver.. but only a driver of automatic transmission vehicles. So I've never had to learn the finer art of gears and the clutch. I understand how it works but putting into practice is something else. The bike has been repaired and my bruises have healed so, as soon as the weather stops being so rough, I'm hitting the carparks to learn to feather the clutch at slow speeds.
I should have known better after my first accident. I knew I should have spent more time in the carparks doing what I felt I needed to but instead I listened to what my friend/riding buddy wanted to do (I am not blaming him) and wanted to practice. I always knew I should be riding for me and within my limits but now I understand it.
So there's several lessons learned now.. but I'm sick of learning them the hard way. I've enquired about private tuition and looks like the best I can get is $100per hour but I think it should be worth it.
Last week I had another accident. The exact same story as before only this time I was at a set of traffic lights, turning left, ran wide, collected the kerb and landed onto the bottom of the mall in the middle of town. So I narrowed it down to my cornering from a standing start. Now I was taught to keep my revs high-ish and just ease the clutch out which I've been doing, or so I thought. It seems I've only been doing this in a straight line. I've been sitting here thinking about both accidents and have come to the conclusion that my initial takeoff is fine but as I get to about mid-corner I'm just dumping the clutch, which is landing me in the middle of my powerband thanks to my high-ish revs. Suddenly I have loads of power, I panic, ease off the throttle, run wide and suddenly find myself up the proverbial creek without any paddling apparatus.
I came to riding as what I would consider a fairly capable driver.. but only a driver of automatic transmission vehicles. So I've never had to learn the finer art of gears and the clutch. I understand how it works but putting into practice is something else. The bike has been repaired and my bruises have healed so, as soon as the weather stops being so rough, I'm hitting the carparks to learn to feather the clutch at slow speeds.
I should have known better after my first accident. I knew I should have spent more time in the carparks doing what I felt I needed to but instead I listened to what my friend/riding buddy wanted to do (I am not blaming him) and wanted to practice. I always knew I should be riding for me and within my limits but now I understand it.
So there's several lessons learned now.. but I'm sick of learning them the hard way. I've enquired about private tuition and looks like the best I can get is $100per hour but I think it should be worth it.
Joined
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16,915 Posts
Yikes!!!! I've not seen this until now. My initial thought was that $100 per hour seems high, but then I remembered you are not in the US and I don't know the conversion rate, so I can't say if it's good or not. I'd say the ridelikeapro video would be a great investment.
In any case, I'm glad you're OK, and are willing to learn. Good luck on the lessons, and the learning.
In any case, I'm glad you're OK, and are willing to learn. Good luck on the lessons, and the learning.
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