Installation of Hondaline Engine Guards on 3rd Generation

[rjb/AKA Bob Barram]

Come on Jimmy none of that better rider stuff, you just got caught behind the cows and traffic and were trying to catch up.

[Curtis_Valk]

What Bob said, Jimmy...........we've covered this already.    If I had low sided on Hwy 16 like I almost did when I was throwing sparks, we wouldn't have even made it to the "threes" that day.  BTW, we still need to get together and ride some weekend!!    

Curtis

[Gloveberg]

you just got caught behind the cows and traffic and were trying to catch up.

Damn cows  

What I "should" have done what take my time catching up and not try make it all up at one time.  Ya know it's weird, I can think back and I swear I can remember every second of it like it was low motion:

"I can catch up"...."they should be just a couple curves ahead"......"man, this curve is tighter than I thought"...."hey, is that gravel? I need to stay out of that!"........."I'm in the gravel! SH*T!!!!!!"......"please let there be some grass to slide into!!!!...."damn these rocks hurt"......"hey, where's my bike?"......"damn I'm glad I have a helmet on"......"ok I've stopped.Where's the bike?"....."Oh man, this is bad"........"hey look, the people I passed a quarter mile ago.  Hmm, this is awkward"......"I hope Bob and Curtis come back to find me"........"Dammit, I'm screwed.  What a boneheaded move"........."Hey guys, guess what happened!"

[Gloveberg]

If I had low sided on Hwy 16 like I almost did when I was throwing sparks, we wouldn't have even made it to the "threes" that day. Curtis

THAT should have been the wake up call right there!!!

[Greg Cothern]

The important part Jimmy (and I know you know this) is that you are still here to understand what happened, why, and how to correct it the future!!!
I am just glad you are still with us to ride!!!!

[Curtis_Valk]

More seriously, I let my little faux pas rattle me enough that I made a much more critical error getting it back on the road.

I've been there too...........back in the 80's I was on my '75 Gold Wing and a fellow changed lanes into me.  I honked and kicked his door (don't know which one got his attention) and he went back into his lane.  I was rattled enough to blow the 4-way stop sign just ahead.  Luckily the pickup that was proceeding through the intersection saw me and stopped.

I always try to stop and collect my wits after any incident that might have diminshed my mental focus.

Curtis

[Len Averyt]

Had a friend of mine up the street. he got the bike bug from me. bought a Yamaha 600R something, crotch rocket for $2750. The weekend before buying it he went to the Training classes got his licence. Two days later turned a corner in city too fast, hit gravel, slid and did $1600 damage to the mechanicals of the bike. Twisted the front forks and risers. they were about 15 deg out of line. And did another $600 plus damage to the plastic body.

[Curtis_Valk]

Gravel in the curves has almost gotten me a couple of times.  By the time you see it, you usually can't do anything but adjust your line in the curve.  If it's all over the road, you're toast...........luckily I've been able to ride in the tire tracks cleaned out by cages in those instances.  Major pucker factor though.

Curtis

[Sledge Hammer]

... back in the 80's I was on my '75 Gold Wing and a fellow changed lanes into me.  I honked and kicked his door (don't know which one got his attention) and he went back into his lane.  I was rattled enough to blow the 4-way stop sign just ahead.  Luckily the pickup that was proceeding through the intersection saw me and stopped.

I always try to stop and collect my wits after any incident that might have diminshed my mental focus.

Curtis

Man, Curtis, that's quite an alignment of the planets you had there: encounter with oblivious driver followed right after by one with a driver on his toes.

I have to say that nothing has improved my driving skills and habits quite like taking up riding. I was never truly a reckless driver but I realized that riding was forcing a whole new level of situational awareness on me, and it is definitely a change for the better.

Mike

[Sledge Hammer]

Gravel in the curves has almost gotten me a couple of times.  By the time you see it, you usually can't do anything but adjust your line in the curve.  If it's all over the road, you're toast...........luckily I've been able to ride in the tire tracks cleaned out by cages in those instances.  Major pucker factor though.

Curtis

That got one or two guys in a group that one of my friends was riding with in Big Bend. My friend reported that everybody had their speed down to less than 30 mph, but in trying to dodge one patch of gravel and sand which surprised all of them as they came around a curve, at least one rider hit a smaller patch that caused him to lose it and scattered everybody else. The downed rider found himself in the path of an oncoming car. My friend reported that the driver seemed gifted with superhuman reflexes and skill because he was able to thread his way through the melee without hitting anybody as he brought the car to a stop.

I think the guy had sliders on the bike because he was able to pick it up and keep riding. May have saved his leg.

[Curtis_Valk]

I have to say that nothing has improved my driving skills and habits quite like taking up riding.

Yep, I now do "head checks" while in the car or truck.  I like this phrase:  "Mirrors can not say yes, only no".  (or something like that).          

Curtis

[Magnum Magna]

I like this phrase:  "Mirrors can not say yes, only no".  (or something like that).          

Curtis

I like it!