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I managed 6 race weekends w/out highsiding my bike or even damaging anything other than a stock clip-on... Then today, on a Sunday cruise leaving a friends house I go and flip the bike side over side going about 35mph??? Here's what happened (and I realize pics would make this thread worth something, but don't have any right now):
I told my wife I'd meet her for dinner and had an hour or so to kill out on the bike, so I stopped by my friend Gary's house to talk racing for a bit. Gary used to race and has won nationals and stuff and used to do really well up at loudon in the 80's, so he has all kinds of trophies, framed pics, and a few racebikes in his basement which I've never seen until today. I was getting all kinds of good advice for the next time I'm on the track like lines, and throttle to brake to throttle transitioning, and set up stuff. He got me all pumped up, and I watched moto gp this morn so even though I don't ride hard on the street anymore, I ended up getting a little over-enthusiastic when I left his house, got on the gas a little hard taking the right hander off of Gary's street, and my cold rear tire came round and then caught traction throwing over the bike. I tumbled, the bike tumbled and almost landed on top of me, and when all came to an end my bike's plastics were scuffed up and broken, my rearset was bent in, my clip on was bent, both mirrors broken off, the passenger seat ripped, and some other minor scuffs and broken pieces. I only suffered a few scrapes and a sore wrist, but after Gary and his family came running around the corner to see if I was alright, I managed to ride the bike to the restaraunt, eat dinner w/my wife and kids, and then ride home. I'm more embarassed than anything because it was such a stupid crash, but I learned that these things can happen when we least expect it, so protective gear is most certainly a necessity even on the most mundane of rides. Although I can't say I was covered in full protective gear, I was pretty smartly dressed for riding, and it saved my ass... just not my ego!