Sun was shining, roads dry, should have been perfect for a impromptu mid day ride out and test the new OE high screen. Headed south on the country back roads, less than ten minutes in and a car backs straight out into the road without stopping, just managed to swerve round it and miss the on coming car without soiling my leathers. Had to pull up further down the road and have a ciggy whilst the adrenalin receded and my legs stopped shaking before I went back and knocked on the door but there was no answer. Decided to carry on with the ride but I was no longer in the groove and decided to head to the A14 for a quick high speed new screen test then head home. Got up to speed and pushed on quite hard enjoying the lack of wind blast the new screen was providing and fcuk me someone swings out in the fast lane right at the side of me, no indication, no hesitation or warning. Stupid dolly with a mobile phone stuck in her ear. I swear I felt the front of her car on my knee. As you can imagine I gave her a cheery wave as I spat my heart out of my mouth. That’s it. I had had enough and not wanting to tempt the "third light" I skulked home at walking pace wondering if I am just getting to old for this shit. I hope I feel different in a few days but just now wild horses wouldn’t get me back on that bike, I didn’t even wash the flies off, just shut the door and walked away. L said, your back early had a nice time, Yes thanks I said as I closed the toilet door. I didn’t see any point in worrying her.
Just a bad day at the office. Have a beer, watch the footie and chill. The blade will have you smiling from ear to ear next time!
Shame these sort of days seem to be more often...... I mean almost everytime I go out now, you have to be so switched on now ! Glad you are OK
Yup .Just oneof those dayz Freedom ,however note your start time and perhaps you will agree (the worse time to be out even in a car) just come back from walking the dog .dry roads no traffic nothing ! so imagine if you was out now ,see new game just pick your moments.
your alive mate and the bikes ok so put it down a bad day and crack on tomorrow..................................................
Good philosophy mate. If it starts to go wrong, Murphy gets on the pillion and it rarely gets any better, best not try and ride out the juju. Remember, the light at the end of the tunnel may be a flamethrower.
Keep that chin up freedom. You did the right thing in heading back. Sometimes you just get those crazy days when all seems to be after you. Try let things chill a little and think of all those good runs, I'm sure you will soon perk up again and be back to loving the bike again.
Come on David it's not that beautiful black blades fault get back in the garage and get them flies cleaned off! Jokes aside we understand how you feel, we have all had days like that your home safe that's the important part of your story!
Fookin wuss. Lol, seriously mate, as others have said, and as you already know, mother fate needs no tempting. Glad you and the blade gt home in one piece. Ride safe dude, or at least ' a bit careful'.
I think it was just one of those days.. got some lovely footage of a van pulling out on me, i saw him, i just didnt expect him to stop dead in my lane after pulling out haha, i am not going to post this one online as it shows me in a less than ladylike manner , i did what you did and slowed down, pulled over, saw the lighter side of it and carried on. I think i had more trouble because of my now unplugged headlights... maybe i might take the headlight covers off and go back to being visible lol
Thanks everyone for putting everything into perspective, but don’t mind admitting Sunday really shit me up. One close call is more than enough, but two in one ride was just too much for my brain and splinter to cope with. I didn’t sleep well Sunday night, what Lucifer laughing in my head and a nagging contemplation of selling up and moving onto a “midlife crisis 3” project involving slippers and pipe. Went to see my kids yesterday evening and they asked if I had used the Auto Glim bike cleaning and polishing kit they brought me for my birthday. When I told them I was thinking of selling up, but not why. The youngest said “NOOOOOOO don’t do that I haven’t even been on the back yet”. The older who has a wiser head on his shoulders said “can’t say I am sorry to hear that”. So without knowing it they were no help and we carried on watching the footie. During the long drive home the oldest phoned me and said he had seen the look on my eyes when we talked about the bike and what was up. He don’t miss a trick that one. I told him the truth. He commented that only you can decide what’s right for you but can I have your Rolex. Little git! LMAO… Today’s another day. A decision has been made….Make a will…. and stop stressing about what happened on Sunday, clean the bike like I always do. Ride it again and I will know…..Grin or bin. Ken. Never gave the ABS a thought but your right, braking and swerving don’t mix and as far as I know but cant remember the brakes didn’t lock up. It a no brainer for me. Worth every last little penny. Mel. I always ride on main beam but if some isn’t looking I don’t think it will make any difference. But every little helps I guess, having said that I am not planning on wearing hi viz any time soon. Phantom. I have enough bad days at the office as it is. But get your point. Shameless. Weathers bad enough as it is. I keep going south to the sun fella. Giv. Timing is everything, good job your wife is so forgiving. I normally go earlier before the idiots have got out of bed.
With more and more traffic on the road picking the right time for a blast to miss animals and Joe public is not easy, getting that time when the roads are clear to blast 150+bhp superbike is not an easy task in the south... Take yesterday my girl was crossing the pedestrian stripes at Tescos when woooosh some little bint near runs her down half way across, I ran up to the lights to tap on the windows for a word and she gave me a dirty look and sped off! Bastids..... I'm lucky I have many styles of bikes to hand and I pick what one to ride depending in the time and place, I just sold my Zip50 scooter as too many road rage incidents with me and other car drivers were going to end up with me dragging someone off into the never never...they treat you like shite on a scooter so I just got myself a 2012 TDM900 and I am loving it big time, eats up traffic and you can ride for 250miles on a tank of gas to get away from the rat race down round me.... Stick with it mate and save up for another scoot to get your revenge on the traffic when your forced out with all the blind nutters in cars and vans.....
I always remember a letter published in Bike magazine from a few years back, from a bloke in NZ. He mentioned that he was always getting asked why he did something so dangerous as ride a motorbike and wasn't he scared of what could happen. His reply was: "I'm not scared of dying. I'm scared of not living." which struck a chord with me and sums up one of the philosophies I live by. Obviously there are other factors to consider if you have kids or other dependents, but if they're old enough to look after themselves then it becomes less of a factor. You only get one life, so why not make the most of it while you can?
Definitely not going north,dire weather on the Island, the ride from the ferry at Liverpool to home in Wiltshire was a mare last friday night, M62 couldn't see a damn thing due to rain/spray, M6 15-20 mile queue lane splitting all the way in a line of bikes, traffic cleared, surface water warnings. Dried just north of Brum and then high wind warnings, blown across lanes a couple of times, finally 5 miles from home it threw it down. Waterproofs worked , boots worked, water ran down into my gloves cold and soggy for 200 miles......I'm going to the south of France and Spain next year..........No1 son says the same.....Mike
Panic over.........went for a quick ride yesterday evening, was a bit nervous at first but soon got into the flow and returned with a grin on my face. Thank god I was just acting like a big fraidy cat . Sorry boys and girl’s mint 2011 not for sale quite yet.....now where did I put that Panigale brochure
