| Author | Message | ||
     Brineusaf |
To start off this, just so everyone knows, I took delivery yesterday of my new 2006 XB12Ss (Black), and had about 100 miles on it before this ride today. Rode with my friend (R6) to the Hooters (only one in Germany) for a burger (we all know what we went for), but anyways; the ride there was awesome. Got there... stared at the girls, and offered them rides (some said sure, but we'd have to wait until after the rush, I'm not very patient). After eating and talking with a few other bikers we went over and started getting ready to leave. Well, this is when things went terribly wrong. IT is around 9 I think, We mount up (he is in leathers, I am in Joe Rocket Jacket/Gloves/Ballistic 5.0 pants/KBC/Joe Rocket Boots) and pull out of the parking lot towards the street. While we are waiting to pull out I motion for him to go first, which might have just saved his life. He goes, I follow; about 50-100 ft out of the parking lot i hear a noise.... very very loud squeeling.... and then I can feel the bike begin to go sideways! I look down very quickly at the rear brake... no problems there... the bike continues to go sideways... WAIT, I look again and I notice something... I now have jeans on my legs! Somehow, I think it is from driving in the PA snow, I managed to keep the free front inline with the drastically sliding rear enough to avoid a highside. While applying the front break abruptly in the moments when I had the bike almost straight. I am not going to lie, I was very impressed that I didn't go down, and better yet, that I was able to keep it upright and squeeling to the side of the road.  I just sit there on the bike for a moment and catch my emotions, then I look behind me to see how far the tire had been locked up, I would say a good 100-150 ft. I was moving... when it locked... under acceleration even, although I cannot state a speed because I honestly don't know. By the time I dismount and put down the kickstand my friend rolls up and is like WTF are you doing... until he see's the black lines in the road, the it changes to wtf happened are you ok. I just flap my jeans at him, and he immediately knows. After pushing multiple attempts just to pull the pants out (they was only their 2nd ride) to no avail... we just sat there and stared at it. Me laughing hysterically... at how I just threw 100+ $ out in the trash. We tried everything when a german biker riding a yamaha (don't know what, and i didn't care at the time) pulls up to lend a hand. Kinda funny, we communicated through hand gestures, pointing to the bike and moving out hands, damn language barrier. Anyways, the pants; with foam armor, were wedged between the belt and the tire ( not rim), the armor was jammed (with ring of keys and small flashlight in pocket) at the bottom of the bag right behind the exhaust. The three of us tried to pick the bike up and set it down on a steel bar to try to force the pants back out... but it didn't work. Damn are these Vtwins heavy. So after much excuses as to why NOT to, I pulled the kershaw and began hacking away at the brand new 140$ pants  . Still after cutting most of the armor out and cutting the wait off of them thhey still wouldn't budge, I figured it was my keys or the flashlight caught on something. We even deflated the majority of the air out of the tire to try to manipulate it. NO luck there either. After about and hour... I got pissed and just gave up. Put on my helmet and told the guys to move aside. Inserted key, waited for fuel pump to stop. Pulled bike upright (off stand) pulled in front brake, revved it up, and dropped it. Needless to say the pants came out, or what was left of them. The guy commented on the sound of the bike, saying "gooood goood, while giving me a  ". I pick them up and they look like they had just been through hell and back,parts melted, parts jagged from me hacking away in hesitation. I grabbed my items out of the pockets to find the flashlight (gerber) slightly bangged up, and one of my keys broke in half. The german kindly leads us to a gas station where we try to figure out the equivilent of a "bar" to PSI.After much debate I just pointed to his rear tire... and then pointed to mine, and said "SAME", he understood and shrugged his shoulders and gladly did it. We shook hands, I praised him for helping; at least 20 other bikes went by and no-one else even slowing down to ask if we were ok. This guy didn't just ask, he immediately pulled up, left his bike running (to shed some light) stripped of his gear and immediately dug into the situation. Anyways... after inspecting what was left of the pants I think the zipper malfunctioned and the wind blew the cheap velcro apart (closes outside the zipper), but I could be wrong, as what I inspected were just the sad remains of my 2 RIDE OLD PANTS! Well, as a safe reminder to everyone else, make sure you check and check everything again before you ride off. I know I zipped the pants, in fact I was complaining while zipping them over my jeans about how I wish I would have just bought regular riding pants. Don't check just the bike, check everything that is going to be on the bike, that includes the rider, and/or passenger. AMAZINGLY ENOUGH FOR SOME REASON I DIDN'T ZIP THE JACKET TO THE PANTS (8IN ZIPPER)! I do not know how it ripped so easily from my waist, but I am glad that it did, as to not have pulled me off. I was lucky to keep the bike upright, and to not have done any harm to anything, myself or other pediastrians. If my friend would have been riding behind me in our normal formation I could only imagine what would have happened. We spent a good 20 minutes inspecting the bike after removing the pants and reinflating the rear tire. I drove back over where it had locked up and was amazed at the length of the mark... and then proceded to brag to my friend about my superior riding skills. What happened was more like a very sadly-controlled, decelerating, sticky 100+ ft. power slide, on concrete... with a 2 day old bike with just over 100 miles on the Odometer  . With an Audience of young hot European women staring at me, wondering what was going on... after I brought it to a stop at the curb they clapped. I don't know why , I needed more relief than a simple applause...they could have been used as a gopher or something of the like! I discarded the pants, since they wouldn't fit in my tail bag, but was wishing I had my camera! If anyone wants some proof I can try to go back there tomorrow and take some pics of the mark on the road, I prefer not to though, just to prove my authenticity. To satisfy some questions after returning to base to the gas station for an air pump, I noticed that what I think was 2.1 BAR ( or something like that) was only 4 PSI over the recommended. I could tell it was too much though, as the ride was a little more rigid ( didn't adjust suspension yet, am going to in the morning). Anyways, I was sooooo happpppppppyyyyy! That I didn't hurt anything or anyone. All I could hear in my head was my wife : " you better be careful, our baby needs you (holding baby in arms)" while I reassured her of my safety (this was right before leaving for the ride, obviously). Being so happy I bought a tire gauge and threw it in my tail bag, along with my scarred flashlight. But that's not all. Being a true buelligan I could let this get the best of me. So on the ride to the parking garage by my buddy's dorms we crossed a road that looked had quite a "hump" in it, with only one car on the other road and it being quite a ways away I gave it a little bit more than usual gas while cresting the road and soared into a great wheelie, which I passed my buddy on before setting it down (20ft)  . After that we continued on the road, and I noticed the car turned towards us behind us. I motioned for my buddy to accelerate away, as to avoid any trouble if something was as I suspected it. To my intuition it was what I had suspected and SP Cruiser tailgating me, had he seen my little "acceleration technique" or not? Nevertheless I didn't panic, he got pretty close to me, I tapped the brakes a few times, and pointed to my mirrors; he backed off, but followed me until I pulled into the underground parking.. at which point I waved gleefully! At the end of the day my friend praised my quick thinking ( while I praised still having a perfect machine and all my bones in original condition ), the sounds of the exhaust (stock),(especially under bridges) and the torque and the speed of the bike. Don't get me wrong, his bike is faster at speed (he has aftermarket exhaust, stacks,and maybe come computer mod); but I will take him any time my tire isn't locking from a standstill to a 20-30 mph roll-on, for a short distance. I try to keep it short so I still be victorious. However he rolled-on the throttle on the autobahn at an undisclosed speed and all that was left there was me... and his exhaust notes. I will say though I did not feel unsafe at all at the upper level of the recommended break in speed (  ), a dampner would be nice, and I will be buying one, but it isn't all that needed if you apply the correct techniques. My wife asked what took so long, and I told her the truth ( as I should anyways), but she was half asleep by the time I walked in, and hopefully she will forget by morning, and assume the bike isn't any more dangerous than she already does. I, not sure if anyone here does; politely thanked my bike for obey the input it received, verbally... as i patted the fuel frame. If someone is going to advise me to get some axle sliders.... Daves has them enroute, as well as frame pucks. As for pants, my jeans will do for now. My wife will not go kindly for me throwing more cash at things for the bike. In closing, while holding my 3 week old daughter; would like to state that I wasn't messing around when this happened, and am willing to stand behind everything said in the above text, except for the going to Hooters for a burger statement. Hope someone can benefit and learn from my near disaster... which would ease the hole left from the pants in my pocketbook. Oh, and I love the exhaust note from the stock pipe, I can only imagine the Spec Ops..., sorry Kevin; but until I get a "military discount" I cannot afford the drummer. Sorry for the length, but wanted to explain everything thoroughly. | ||
| Hogs |
WOW... I think Hogs, I , have too much time on my HANDS after reading all of THAT...! | ||
| Brineusaf |
Ha, I know I made it very long. My apologies! | ||
| Diablobrian |
I'd replace the pants as soon as you can, and make a habit of tucking the pants into the boots. That's the best way to avoid a repeat of the incident.  | ||
| Brineusaf |
Thanks, but the boots I wear aren't really boots, they just come over the ankles barely. The pants were very strong, I don't think I would have had a scratch on me if I went down wearing them. For now, until the wife lets me buy more; I am stuck with jeans. | ||
| Diablobrian |
In that case I'd actually invest in good boots first. A pair of Sidi on roads, some b2s or better yet vertigos, or anything equivalent. Avoid anything with laces on the outside. I know I know I pound the drum for good equipment, but I have very strong reasons. I have a wife and 3 kids. I'm alive today because I always always wear my gear. I'd rather sweat than bleed. I did 6 years in the Navy I know how tight things are being a married enlisted man. I understand that sacrifices have to be made, but it should be easier to justify an expense that will more than pay for itself the first time something goes wrong. Look at it as cheap insurance because that's exactly what it is. | ||
| Stretchman |
Get some flight boots. They are good enough, and they are cheap at uniform issue, IIRC. Stretch | ||
| Brineusaf |
Just so you's know, I'm not wearing "tennis shoes", although they kinda look the part.  They are very good fit, feel very secure. They cover the ankles, but don't go much further up. I worked today, so I wore my work boots (steel toe issue), and they seemed a little bulky. I'm going to see if I can talk to Equipment Manager into issuing me a new pair, and I'll try to get a different style and see how they work out. I might just buy armor for under my jeans in time. Diablobrian- I know what you mean, my wife doesn't mind my buying it, she understands the protection. I am slowing beginning to get the money together to buy another pair. It'll just take a little time. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Good, I just wanted to make sure that performance upgrades are made to gear before they are made to the bike. I see too many people put off buying gear because of the expense, while buying new performance parts for the bike. I guess it's just a case of different priorities for some. Thanks for giving me the chance to expound on the virtues of good gear. | ||
| Microchop |
Glad to hear you're OK!! Good riding. I had something similar happen on my old Interceptor. I was in town and as I rolled to a stop sign, the bike mysteriously slid to a stop. When I went to go, the thing just stalled. It took a few tries before I realized something had jammed up the sprocket. Whatever it was, it was all cordura (nylon) like a piece of a backpack or something, and the rear wheel was looked up solid. After much feudal work trying to free it up (in the street, with nobody stopping to help,) I too used the "rev the wee out of it and drop the clutch method." Boy did that backpack go down in a blaze of glory. It smoked like a burnout once the tire freed up. It damaged the chain cover a bit, but I had a spare to put on once I got home. I guess I'll leave the belt guard in place on my XB12s | ||
| Brineusaf |
Diablobrian- Yeah, I see what you mean; in fact I would think everyone has seen that at least once. The only thing I have purchased for the bike so far is frame pucks, axle sliders, airbox mask, and headlight grill, and bags. All after I purchased my riding gear. The bike needs protection too before I start to throw performance upgrades on it,which won't happen for a long time. Microchop- than d*mn cordura is strong stuff, I think my pants had some of that in it, along with elastic, and foam armor. In my case at least someone stopped to help, regardless of whether or not we could communicate efficiently, he stopped nonetheless. And was a great help. Good gear is a must for anyone who has something/someone worth living for. |
