old - Fazer Owners Club - old
General => General => Topic started by: ChristoT on 27 December 2013, 06:22:10 pm
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As the title says... going to see a friend today, took the slip road off a stretch of dual carriageway, a sharp right followed by a sweeping left hander (this is France). I barely had time to register the bits of car on the road when the back end went, I ended up on me backside, and the bike went arse end first into the crash barrier. Got the bits together, and gingerly limped to my friend, who's going to help me glue it up in time for my ferry - on Monday. Not looking forward to explaining things to my parents, for the moment they just think I've broken down!! :'( :'( :'( Lots of plastic missing too, going to have a crap job with the fiberglass tomorrow.
Apparently, a BMW top & tailed himself there a few days ago, bits of him were still on the road, so it's known as a problem. I'm guessing in my case it was a combination of oil, shitty surface and knackered tyres. My bike will now need even more work: but I'm really broke, worrying about the security of my job, and dreading that my parents will kick me off bikes for life.
In short: I'm up shit creek, and the canoe is well and truly lodged in the effluent pipe. :'( :'( :'(
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That REALLY sucks Christo. Really sorry to hear it.
But here's the but...
Once is bad luck. Twice is REALLY bad luck. Three times means you didn't learn from the first 2! ;p
I don't want to upset you, but you have got to start riding to the conditions. That means both sides of the tarmac-rubber relationship. If you know your bike has issues, you should be crawling around. If your tyres were carved from a solid granite block and can't grip, you should be nursing it around every corner at the speed of continental drift. If you don't know 100% that you can stop between you and as far as you're going, then you're going too fast mate.
I saw a great video a while ago on YouTube in which a guy was saying that almost all the blame in any incident belongs to the rider. This is because we take our lives in our own hands and its ENTIRELY our own responsibility to protect ourselves from anything that could happen. Bad drivers? Notice them early and avoid them. Don't shout at them when they swerve into you!
OK, preaching over, really hope you're OK dude. Good luck with the mending. Maybe a few pics of the patched up zx?
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Hope you are ok
Please buy a car, tel your Mum and Dad, and if you were my lad i would buy you a focin car.
No tyre can grip bits of loose plastic.Debris on a bend can happen to anyone, a few weeks ago I was cranked over going around a right hand bend and suddenly right in my path was a wheel trim, I dont know how i missed it and I like to think it was an instant counter stearing reaction. I dont know what would of happend if I went over it.
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Hope you are ok
Please buy a car, tel your Mum and Dad, and if you were my lad i would buy you a focin car.
No tyre can grip bits of loose plastic.Debris on a bend can happen to anyone, a few weeks ago I was cranked over going around a right hand bend and suddenly right in my path was a wheel trim, I dont know how i missed it and I like to think it was an instant counter stearing reaction. I dont know what would of happend if I went over it.
Me having a bike is a status quo that's not changing any time soon: I can't afford a car, and nor can they afford one for me!
I reckon it was oil that did it for me, and while I may have gone in a bit hot to the first corner, the second was far more sedate.
This is the time to start cursing rare 1988 grey imports - spares hunt, ho!
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Christo thats really bad luck and i am glad you are ok.
BUT you have got to do something about this mate!!!
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Oh shit, Christo, what can I say?
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
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Knob
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Cable tie, the Madone des Motards is a huge bike meet in Brittany. Up to 30,000 bikers turn up to it! I'm hoping some English biker buddies from Uni will be joining me, and hopefully some Foccers will join too.
Think I'll give it a miss mate :)
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Sorry to hear it mate. There seems to be a pattern here though.
Here's an idea...
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Hope you are ok
Please buy a car,
Dont foccin tell him that. None of us will be safe :rollin
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Sorry to hear it mate. There seems to be a pattern here though.
Here's an idea...
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I've just registered with Interflora. What's ur favourite colour Christo?
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Sorry to hear it mate. There seems to be a pattern here though.
Here's an idea...
Excellent idea Nick. Buy that red car Christo it'll save you time and effort ;)
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You seriously need to check your riding out dude! None of us on here want you to be a 'statistic'!!!!! :eek
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French slip roads - notoriously scary slippy, when it's wet. I don't think I've ever driven round Paris in the wet, and not seen an accident. That must be over a dozen (wet) journeys. Their tarmac seems OK in the dry, but wet, dreadful.
Not that that helps now, just be more careful Christo, as others have said, we don't want you becoming a statistic...
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Christo - Sign up for Bikesafe or IAM or RoSPA or *something* before you stop being an accident statistic and start becoming a KSI statistic.
Please.
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Think you need to change the Madone des Motards to "turning up on whichever bike has survived my ownership"
Good to hear you aren't injured, but you really do need to start taking your riding more seriously. Perhaps use a local lamp post to try and knock some sense in to you - without the bike of course
Maybe a restriction of speed would be a good idea, more so than power... pretty sure you try to reach higher top speeds on your ZX-4 than I've attempted on the thou... and it has a somewhat larger amount of power on tap...
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Christo, Glad you are okay, but stop blaming road conditions,
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stop blaming road conditions,
What lew said.....
Being half French (I think I got that right, sure you will correct me if not), you should know damn well about the French tarmac (as per my previous post) - it can be foccing shit when wet. Seems to be (woah, am I on dodgy territory here or what) a French trait tho, given the tendency for parisians to throw their vehicles off the road with the slightest provocation. (yes I know parisians are a different breed, but I'm talking about the n104 here, not the peripherique).
Please, for focs sake, calm yourself down and learn (as per grahamm, get some training) to ride according to the conditions.
All of this meant, not to piss you off, but to keep you alive and with us. None of us want to read a post starting "this is Christo 's mum, I'm sorry to tell you... His funeral is..."
Punch pulled, nope - I don't need to read that post...
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Actually, Rich, I'm half English, half Dutch. But I digress...
In the past, the roads around here have been fine, hence my surprise. I suspect my ancient tyres didn't help, and mea culpa for not getting those sorted sooner. That's pretty high on the list now...
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Ah, plastic rubber... :wall
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Ah, plastic rubber... :wall
I said didn't help. And yes, knowing I had shit tyres, I should have been more cautious. However, there is an element of crap luck in there too, and I'm getting sick of things going to shit for me - both on the road and off it...
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I've just registered with Interflora. What's ur favourite colour Christo?
Should I just save people a lot of time, and upload a service sheet to the downloads section? :pokefun
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Actually, Rich, I'm half English, half Dutch. But I digress...
In the past, the roads around here have been fine, hence my surprise. I suspect my ancient tyres didn't help, and mea culpa for not getting those sorted sooner. That's pretty high on the list now...
Just out of interest since no one has yet asked, what speeds were you doing?
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Actually, Rich, I'm half English, half Dutch. But I digress...
In the past, the roads around here have been fine, hence my surprise. I suspect my ancient tyres didn't help, and mea culpa for not getting those sorted sooner. That's pretty high on the list now...
Just out of interest since no one has yet asked, what speeds were you doing?
I'd been overcooking it on the straight, probably went into the first corner at 80kms (that's 10 faster than the posted speed for that slip road), and I suspect I was down to 50kms when I lost the back end. I wasn't going fast at all...
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Actually, Rich, I'm half English, half Dutch. But I digress...
In the past, the roads around here have been fine, hence my surprise. I suspect my ancient tyres didn't help, and mea culpa for not getting those sorted sooner. That's pretty high on the list now...
Just out of interest since no one has yet asked, what speeds were you doing?
Ta :)
I'd been overcooking it on the straight, probably went into the first corner at 80kms (that's 10 faster than the posted speed for that slip road), and I suspect I was down to 50kms when I lost the back end. I wasn't going fast at all...
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glad your ok christo, hope the new year goes better for you
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glad your ok christo, hope the new year goes better for you
Ditto!
Thanks man, and you too!
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Give the guy a break, His love of bikes should be applauded.
bit of encouragement might not go amiss!
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So sorry to hear the news Christo - just glad to hear you're not hurt. I, for one, hope you stick with bikes.. Although maybe spend some time on something smaller?
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Give the guy a break, His love of bikes should be applauded.
bit of encouragement might not go amiss!
+1
You're certainly tenacious Christot!
Maybe we should start a "Buy Christot some Michelin PR3's" charity??!
Or maybe an IAM course would have more value?
I'd happily put a pound in the pot to keep you shiny side up.
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I'm guessing in my case it was a combination of oil, shitty surface and knackered tyres.
You forgot to mention lack of observation and due care and attention.
Really glad you are ok and live to fight another day but take some notice of the voices of experience, you need some training mate.
Only had one "proper" off myself and it fucking hurt.
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Give the guy a break, His love of bikes should be applauded.
bit of encouragement might not go amiss!
I think we are encouraging him? To get some training, so this shit stops happening... Nobody wants to see him leave the board (OK if we talk about you like you're not here, Christo?), we just want to see him safe.
(Well maybe suggesting a car wasn't so encouraging, but hopefully all can see that was just meant as a piss take?)
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(Well maybe suggesting a car wasn't so encouraging, but hopefully all can see that was just meant as a piss take?)
Sorry wasnt aimed as a piss take,
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I suspect my ancient tyres didn't help...
Glad you're Ok. As others have said, get some rider training. Learn to anticipate. Ride to your abilities and not the bike's.
Make sure your bike is in good working order. Dodgy tyres in poor condition (and/or at the wrong pressures) are a deathtrap.
Don't really know what else to say.
:eek
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Like I suggested previously, buy an trail bike. :)
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Or just a trike lol
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Give the guy a break, His love of bikes should be applauded.
bit of encouragement might not go amiss!
It's going to take more than 8 crashes to keep me off them buggers!
As it is, I already am on a smaller bike - it's a 400cc.
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Give the guy a break, His love of bikes should be applauded.
bit of encouragement might not go amiss!
It's going to take more than 8 crashes to keep me off them buggers!
As it is, I already am on a smaller bike - it's a 400cc.
:eek 8?!
I was thinking earlier, you couldn't really get much smaller than a zx400 for someone your size!
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Give the guy a break, His love of bikes should be applauded.
bit of encouragement might not go amiss!
It's going to take more than 8 crashes to keep me off them buggers!
As it is, I already am on a smaller bike - it's a 400cc.
:eek 8?!
I was thinking earlier, you couldn't really get much smaller than a zx400 for someone your size!
Sorry, I forgot one. Make that 9.
As per me falling off while bike was moving. If you class a crash as being at more than 30mph, then it's "only" 4. The others were handling fails. I can remember each one in detail though, I could put up a list (and the reason for it) if that's interesting to anyone. No two crashes are the same (well, two are, but they were slow ones!), so I sort of learn a lesson. Just not enough of one...
The curse of being 6ft 3, Nick... The VT250 I looked at was too expensive for what it was, no wind protection, and too bloomin' small!!
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Good to hear you're ok, but as other have said take it easy! Better to go into a corner 10mph slower than you could've done than 10mph too fast...
A smaller bike doesn't really make any difference imo, you can go into a 30mph corner way to fast on a 125 same as you can on an 1100.
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Good to hear you're ok, but as other have said take it easy! Better to go into a corner 10mph slower than you could've done than 10mph too fast...
A smaller bike doesn't really make any difference imo, you can go into a 30mph corner way to fast on a 125 same as you can on an 1100.
I crash embarrassingly often at 10mph... What does that say about me?
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"I crash embarrassingly often at 10mph... What does that say about me?"
Rather a lot!!!!!!
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dont worry mate. these things usually happen in threes!
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dont worry mate. these things usually happen in threes!
Gee, thanks. Only on two so far! God, it's been a bit of a shit year. At least I've got the Foccers who can sympathize (read: take the merciless piss)
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Only two so far?? I make it three????
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Only two so far?? I make it three????
Well, if you include the Fazer, it's 3 fast smashes, 6 (maybe 7) including the slow 'uns and 2 on the ZX.
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They're all "offs" and the idea is to avoid them. Stop kidding yourself. Pissing about on a field with a nicked C90 might not count, but you're riding a bike on the road now. If you drop it at walking pace, who's to say an artic won't come along and grind you to paste?
(Not suggesting you used to nick bikes and piss off over the fields with them! :lol )
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Only two so far?? I make it three????
Well, if you include the Fazer, it's 3 fast smashes, 6 (maybe 7) including the slow 'uns and 2 on the ZX.
Explained with so much pride :)
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character building is the way forward
and you have a lot ;)
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Relax your young and with all this experience it will make you a safer rider cause you will have learnt from your mistakes.......... .If you live that long
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They're all "offs" and the idea is to avoid them. Stop kidding yourself. Pissing about on a field with a nicked C90 might not count, but you're riding a bike on the road now. If you drop it at walking pace, who's to say an artic won't come along and grind you to paste?
(Not suggesting you used to nick bikes and piss off over the fields with them! :lol )
Funnily enough, my first bike was a 1971 Honda PF50 Amigo that I rode round the fields. Never came off him though... :rolleyes
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Christo, who is your insurance company they are obviously very understanding. A cat they say has nines lives, Christo please go get some rider training, you seem to be making light of your misfortune to a certain extent. Just bare this in mind though, how would you feel if you had an off and a car or truck swerves to avoid you mounts a pavement and takes out a load of school kids standing at a bus stop.
How about track days, as you would seem to want to ride hard, at least you would be under supervision and in the event of an off a few bumps and bruises.
Stay safe
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First of all I'm glad you are ok, I crashed my bike the day I passed my test, a totally noob mistake on a crud encrusted singal track road, I'm to long in the tooth to put my body through that again, I would advise you to get extra training, you say you are skint and have no money, if you land yourself in hospital for a couple of months after a more serious off where is the money going to come from?.
This is merely my observation to your current predicament. [size=78%] [/size]
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stop falling off
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'On that note, Kent fire bike team are doing ride skills day's at Brands Hatch for £50. This includes biker down refresher,basic first aid, slow speed control, classroom theory, a one to one ride out with an iams instructor and two 20 minutes track sessions.well worth the money and recommended for all abilities.
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'On that note, Kent fire bike team are doing ride skills day's at Brands Hatch for £50. This includes biker down refresher,basic first aid, slow speed control, classroom theory, a one to one ride out with an iams instructor and two 20 minutes track sessions.well worth the money and recommended for all abilities.
I'm assuming that's for riders ABOVE the fucking 33bhp limiter? I blame that thing a lot as well - I know how the bike can perform normally, and the bastard thing keeps holding me back. Infuriating. I reckon I'll be a lot calmer when the kit's out (and preferably violently destroyed to boot).
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'On that note, Kent fire bike team are doing ride skills day's at Brands Hatch for £50. This includes biker down refresher,basic first aid, slow speed control, classroom theory, a one to one ride out with an iams instructor and two 20 minutes track sessions.well worth the money and recommended for all abilities.
I'm assuming that's for riders ABOVE the fucking 33bhp limiter? I blame that thing a lot as well - I know how the bike can perform normally, and the bastard thing keeps holding me back. Infuriating. I reckon I'll be a lot calmer when the kit's out (and preferably violently destroyed to boot).
You need to blame yourself not external stuff. There's times when you can go quick but imo riding on the road is mostly about self preservation not going quick. Maybe you should get a track bike instead of a road bike if you can't change your attitude.
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I sometimes think this site should have a like button.
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It really sounds like you lack experience and have the wrong attitude, if you cannot exercise control and the ability to read the conditions on 33 bhp then you will have serious problems on anything above it. I have said it on previous posts, buy a trail bike and do some off roading. This does two thing, teaches control and how to read the conditions. I thought both my sons to ride off road and how to read the conditions first. When they began riding on the road they at least knew how to read the conditions. Both of them have had minor road accidents and have learned from them and when we discussed them they discovered they were caused by lack of concentration and complacency. Reading your accounts it appears to be the same and you have not read the conditions.
I am glad you are not hurt, but if you continue like this, without the benefit of advice from experienced riders or training I really fear for your life.
Believe me I speak from the experience of someone who came off his bike at 20mph and went under the wheels of an Artic truck which was driving behind me. The fact I am alive and can still walk has surprised many, me included.
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I sometimes think this site should have a like button.
Count this as like button pressed
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'On that note, Kent fire bike team are doing ride skills day's at Brands Hatch for £50. This includes biker down refresher,basic first aid, slow speed control, classroom theory, a one to one ride out with an iams instructor and two 20 minutes track sessions.well worth the money and recommended for all abilities.
I'm assuming that's for riders ABOVE the fucking 33bhp limiter? I blame that thing a lot as well - I know how the bike can perform normally, and the bastard thing keeps holding me back. Infuriating. I reckon I'll be a lot calmer when the kit's out (and preferably violently destroyed to boot).
Just a thought for a nickname change and career option to stop you being skint:
You should become a CRASH TEST DUMMY 8)
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He's already a crash dummy so not such a big step......
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'On that note, Kent fire bike team are doing ride skills day's at Brands Hatch for £50. This includes biker down refresher,basic first aid, slow speed control, classroom theory, a one to one ride out with an iams instructor and two 20 minutes track sessions.well worth the money and recommended for all abilities.
I'm assuming that's for riders ABOVE the fucking 33bhp limiter?
Don't know about that Christo but have just messaged the organiser with that question for you. If you are interested I will send you the contact details.
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Sorry to hear about your latest in a line of "misfortunes". If you can take a little time to analyse your own thinking & actions you will see its not about 33bhp restrictors, poor surfaces, unexpected objects in road, other road users etc. Training is about changing your thinking to improve your riding skills which appear to be very poor at present & certainly nothing to joke about on here or anywhere else for that matter.
Sounds harsh I know but theres so much unnecessary carnage on the roads often a result of drivers/riders making assumptions. Ride to what you can see, what you cant & what could happen round that next bend! Others have suggested off-road training to improve your observational/machine control skills. Get your riding assessed to highlight areas that require work-after all we want to continue to read your humorous posts-the ones that don't involve "Kamikazi" tactics. :eek
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To make you feel better. I have well over 9 crashes. But then again mine were spread over 30 odd years and, if you are still on a limiter, yours have been over 2.
But take heart, look at the guys in Bike racing. Many throw it down the road on a regular basis in the beginning. Then they realise they are doing something wrong and adapt and some even go on to be world champions.
So my advice like many others is to look at what you are doing on a bike and why you crash when others don't.(except me of course LOL)
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Christo, have just heard back from Kent fire bike team. Your 33 bhp restriction is not a problem. If you mention you was recommended from the fazer forum you will get special attention from Jim who will be looking out for you. If money is the problem I for one would be willing do donate some towards this. You've been lucky so far but you're playing an odds game which is ultimately stacked against you. Contact details are james.sanderson@kent.fire-uk.org ;)
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Christo, have just heard back from Kent fire bike team. Your 33 bhp restriction is not a problem. If you mention you was recommended from the fazer forum you will get special attention from Jim who will be looking out for you. If money is the problem I for one would be willing do donate some towards this. You've been lucky so far but you're playing an odds game which is ultimately stacked against you. Contact details are james.sanderson@kent.fire-uk.org ;)
Sounds interesting. What day is this?
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Tbh- I'm interested in this day out too but can't find anything on their website!
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I'd definitely be up for something like that. I'm going to pop my track day cherry in 2014, so this sounds like a good step towards it!
Maybe a FOC day out!? ( and group discount) :D
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Don't know about dates. Try checking Kent Fire Bike out on Facebook or emailing James.sanderson@kent.fire_uk.org A focu meet would be good when the weather gets a bit warmer and more predictable, if that's possible in this country.'
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If I can get the fairing fixed up decently, and good rubber on my wheels, I'm going to do a track day in July. When the restrictor's out, and the weather's better! :D
Nowt on their site, and a fair hike for me too. As I now HAVE to get new tyres (order of Mum, the parents have finally twigged a bike needs decent tyres. Still have to pay myself though... :rolleyes ), I'm losing over £200 before I start as I'm getting Pilot Roads again. And them fuckers ain't cheap.
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If I can get the fairing fixed up decently, and good rubber on my wheels, I'm going to do a track day in July. When the restrictor's out, and the weather's better! :D
Nowt on their site, and a fair hike for me too. As I now HAVE to get new tyres (order of Mum, the parents have finally twigged a bike needs decent tyres. Still have to pay myself though... :rolleyes ), I'm losing over £200 before I start as I'm getting Pilot Roads again. And them fuckers ain't cheap.
Surely if money is an issue cheap legal rated basic tyres would do the job just as well. especially since you suggest the restrictor severely reduces the bikes performance.
Why fit a Lada with lamborgini tyres :rolleyes
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To get this straight, you're complaining that you have to pay for your own tyres? What model of pilot road are you getting? Can save quite a bit of money now if you buy the twos, they're still good tyres and you won't exactly be able to stress then on a 33 bike!
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To get this straight, you're complaining that you have to pay for your own tyres?
Just complaining that they're quite happy to lay down rules without actually helping. Especially as I thought they were going to contribute to tyres as a Christmas present... :rolleyes
you won't exactly be able to stress then on a 33 bike!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... breath... hahahahahahahahahahaha.
Not seen the way I ride, have you? Tyre stress hasn't got all that much to do with ccs or bhp!!
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Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... breath... hahahahahahahahahahaha.
Not seen the way I ride, have you? Tyre stress hasn't got all that much to do with ccs or bhp!!
Very sedately according to you, 50-80kmh didn't you say. the stress of tyres comes from the oil on the roads and that focin 33bhp restrictor :rollin
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Not seen the way I ride, have you?
I think we've just found the problem! ;D
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Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... breath... hahahahahahahahahahaha.
Not seen the way I ride, have you? Tyre stress hasn't got all that much to do with ccs or bhp!!
Very sedately according to you, 50-80kmh didn't you say. the stress of tyres comes from the oil on the roads and that focin 33bhp restrictor :rollin
I was talking about cornering angles. On the dodgy tyres I currently have, a little = splat (well, loss of grip).
Elsewhere, it's how fast you brake / accelerate.
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Alternatively you'd make a great grave digger
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You don't HAVE to buy the Pilot Road tyres - there are cheaper alternatives and if your tyres are as bad as you say, then anything will be better... those perhaps a better mentality would do wonders for you as well ;)
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Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... breath... hahahahahahahahahahaha.
Not seen the way I ride, have you? Tyre stress hasn't got all that much to do with ccs or bhp!!
Very sedately according to you, 50-80kmh didn't you say. the stress of tyres comes from the oil on the roads and that focin 33bhp restrictor :rollin
I was talking about cornering angles. On the dodgy tyres I currently have, a little = splat (well, loss of grip).
Elsewhere, it's how fast you brake / accelerate.
Which on the FZS 600, are pretty crap to be honest - out of curiousity what's the maximum lean angle like on the ZX in comparison? Know on my FZS the footpegs are now the limiting factor, its one of the reasons I'm going back to a sports bike, as i imagine they'd be a serious hindrance on track rather than the occasional annoyance on the roads!
Will agree with you on the braking/accelerating front, but you've got a relatively light bike, with quite old brakes, and i'm willing to bet that they're not in particularly amazing working condition either, so you're not putting a massive amount of stress on the front tyre through braking.
With 33hp accelerating on a straight won't trouble most sports touring tyres now (although if yours are that old they will be a bit shit), even in the wet. Obviously at high lean angles in the wet then even on a 600 whacking the throttle fully open will often lead to a slide, but if you've not got the throttle control to control 33hp, then god knows what's gonna happen on a bigger bike!
For what it's worth, my riding style is a bit confused at the moment - was on bigger bikes for a couple of years which you do have to ride differently - you can't accelerate whilst leant over as easily, so it's often better instead of hanging around in the corner leant over to try and straighten the bike up, and then accelerate hard once the bikes upright. Been back on a 6 for a few months now which is changing that a bit as you can accelerate more once you're leant over, but I'm trying not to change that too much as it won't be helping me in a few weeks when I get back on a bigger bike!
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Whilst I understand that being restricted to a 2-3 bhp 50cc moped and 30mph is actually a more harmful law than good, I don't really understand your complaint about 33bhp restriction and why it would stop you getting training? Or how it affected your riding to contribute to the accident if that is what you were getting at? If not then sorry I got confused.
I think I am the same age as you and the 33 bhp time I did was absolutely no issue for me. I just took it for what it was, I accepted that I was on a bike that was only slightly powerful and had fun with that and made sure it didn't affect me soon getting onto a proper bike. I hate commenting on threads like this, because I feel like I'm tempting fate, but touch wood in my 5 years I am yet to have any sort of accident (knocked old bike over on the drive once or twice) and plan and pray to keep it that way. One of the greatest things I did last year with my Dad was a bike-safe course with the police. I can't rate it highly enough, the whole thing was about £40 I think and the amount I have gained from it is priceless. It's pretty much a taster of what advanced training courses are like. The police riders are excellent, they really come across nicely and have lots of helpful knowledge to pass on. It changed my opinion of them to be honest. They also watch you ride and highlight and rate things that you are doing well and more importantly need to improve. I also agree with others that riding off road can help with throttle control and not panicking too much if you lose the rear. Messing about with my mates DT125 in a field has probably saved me 3 or 4 times now on my own bikes on the road in some sketchy moments.
As for maintenance and money, I only work part time currently and fund the bike myself so understand that it is expensive. But you surely have a decent enough job to put aside £100-150 a month towards the bike? That is what I have been doing and over my year and a half ownership I have slowly been building it up to the standard that I want. Next on my list is a stainless exhaust FINALLY as the original may as well be papier mache. A few of my mates have been hard up and needed tyres and been recommended Maxxis tyres. They're a lot cheaper than the top brand ones and they seem to all like them, two of them reckon they're the best tyres they've ever had. Maybe it would be worth getting some of those for now?
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I've only heard good things about Maxxis tyres.
I'd happily chip in a Tenner towards some bike training for Chris.
I'm FaceBook friends with Kent Fire bikes so would consider doing one of their courses if timings were right?
Mickey
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Mickey - you can't have been listening to me then, had them on the Fazer and hated them! I'd prefer to invest in better quality, longer lasting tyres.
Having mentioned the Kent Fire Bikes course to Ma and Pa, they've very kindly offered to pay for it. So next step is fixing up the bike in time for that.
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You don't HAVE to buy the Pilot Road tyres - there are cheaper alternatives and if your tyres are as bad as you say, then anything will be better... those perhaps a better mentality would do wonders for you as well ;)
Google gives the rear tyre size for the ZX4 as 140/60 18 so that means a very limited choice of tyres and pilots aren't one of them. Bridgestone BT92 being the best if not only non-trailie choice.
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Depending on the date, I could be interested in this event as well :)
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May I ask a personal question Christo?.......How old are you?
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Mickey - you can't have been listening to me then, had them on the Fazer and hated them! I'd prefer to invest in better quality, longer lasting tyres.
Christo, youve only been riding bikes for 5 minutes, If I lined up 5 fazers with different tyres on Im pretty sure you wouldnt be able to tell me which ones were which. If you had any handling issues,judging by what ive been reading, they were probably down to you more than the tyres!!
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You don't HAVE to buy the Pilot Road tyres - there are cheaper alternatives and if your tyres are as bad as you say, then anything will be better... those perhaps a better mentality would do wonders for you as well ;)
Google gives the rear tyre size for the ZX4 as 140/60 18 so that means a very limited choice of tyres and pilots aren't one of them. Bridgestone BT92 being the best if not only non-trailie choice.
You're not bloody wrong there mate.
If he's lucky, the rim will be 4 inches and it'll therefore take a 150/60, so he could also get the BT-090 in those sizes.
To be honest though, probably be a lot easier looking to try and find a 17 inch wheel that'd fit in (I suspect ZXR400 would be minimal work), and then raise the ride height a bit to compensate!
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May I ask a personal question Christo?.......How old are you?
Pretty sure he may be the youngest foccer on the site - younger than me and I'm 23
I'll leave him to divulge his exact age if he so wishes...
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You're not bloody wrong there mate.
If he's lucky, the rim will be 4 inches and it'll therefore take a 150/60, so he could also get the BT-090 in those sizes.
To be honest though, probably be a lot easier looking to try and find a 17 inch wheel that'd fit in (I suspect ZXR400 would be minimal work), and then raise the ride height a bit to compensate!
Surely the easiest and probably safest option would be to just buy a tyre to fit the wheel rather than a wheel to fit the tyre.
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(http://silodrome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Reliant-Rugged-Robin.jpg)
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Not blaming maxxis AGAIN are we?
Well if I can put over 150hp through them, and edge a 190 tyre with full confidence, then there's bugger all wrong with them!
STOP BLAMING YOUR TYRES!!!!!!
I'm another one for getting you on either a bikesafe, or even better, an advanced course. You'll learn a hell of a lot (if your willing to learn).
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STOP BLAMING YOUR TYRES!!!!!!
If ChrostoT's tyres were new I'd agree with you, but in this case I remember him saying they were old, for which the rubber would have gone off and be more like riding on plastic wheels, as such tyres would be a factor in the accident.
However, knowing they were old he should have changed them the first day he had the bike.
So it's still all your fault ChristoT!
(I am glad you're Ok, and my original 'knob' post stands)
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Echoing others here, do an advanced course, it'd be so worth it.
I'm the same age as Deadeye. I did an IAM course a few years ago and it helped a lot. I've become a far better rider since. I ride 2up regularly and I do so in complete confidence in my abilities and the pillion's safety. The advanced course/rides will help in themselves but they also let you learn and improve after you've finished them.
I think it's £60 odd for membership and then factor in another £60 or so for the rides/course before taking the test. That's 5 or 6 rides lasting pretty much a whole day each. Worth the investment. Much cheaper than a lifetime of replacing broken fairings. Most of the observers/instructors I met fit the pipe and slippers stereotype but lots of them rode professionally and will be very good riders. When I first started, I was shocked by how fast they all were too.
Took a big crash, broken bones & a written off bike for me to start this and other training. Believe me, you don't wanna wait for that to happen. Plus, when other riders see you can ride they'll stop calling you knobhead and take you more seriously! :lol
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No we wont lol
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'On that note, Kent fire bike team are doing ride skills day's at Brands Hatch for £50. This includes biker down refresher,basic first aid, slow speed control, classroom theory, a one to one ride out with an iams instructor and two 20 minutes track sessions.well worth the money and recommended for all abilities.
I'm assuming that's for riders ABOVE the fucking 33bhp limiter? I blame that thing a lot as well - I know how the bike can perform normally, and the bastard thing keeps holding me back. Infuriating. I reckon I'll be a lot calmer when the kit's out (and preferably violently destroyed to boot).
Been following this tread with much interest and firstly I'd like to say that I'm glad you got away with this without any broken bones or other serious injuries.
I am, however, a bit shocked at your blinkered approach to blaming your crash on everything else other than yourself. In short you do need some form of training be it on a moped, 33bhp bike, or bike with more power. Blaming the bike for not having enough power is a bit stupid IMO. If you can't handle a bike with less power riding one with more power, and no training to tame your temperament will only get you in deeper shit in the long run.
No mater how fast or slow you ride the most important factors with regard to staying on is knowing how much grip you have with the road surface... be it wet or slippery, secondly it is knowing how to apply the brakes or the power to maintain that grip. I don't mean this to sound like I am lecturing you, I am just worried for you. You need to change your attitude. If you tyres are shit then ride accordingly. ie going to hot into a bend as you mentioned doesn't sound like you are riding accordingly. Missing or failing to see bits of debris in the road sounds like you are not planning ahead to take avoiding action or taking clues from what you see ahead. In short think and plan ahead. Know what the surface grip is like and know the limits of your bike.
The first time we road together you asked me what you could do to improve your riding. All of the above I mentioned to you. You mentioned you wanted to maybe do some racing and I told you that you would need to smooth your riding beforehand. Same applies on the road.
Get training. And until anything changes I think the Nickname 'Merve the Swerve' is gonna stick with you.
PS Don't mean this to sound harsh. I'm just seeing it from my point of view. I want you to be a better rider and have mastery of your machine. I don't like to hear of riders crashing. STAY SAFE.
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Mickey - you can't have been listening to me then, had them on the Fazer and hated them! I'd prefer to invest in better quality, longer lasting tyres.
Having mentioned the Kent Fire Bikes course to Ma and Pa, they've very kindly offered to pay for it. So next step is fixing up the bike in time for that.
I am very old and a little forgetful. You did and i promptly forgot. Now then, what were we talking about?
Mickey
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You're not bloody wrong there mate.
If he's lucky, the rim will be 4 inches and it'll therefore take a 150/60, so he could also get the BT-090 in those sizes.
To be honest though, probably be a lot easier looking to try and find a 17 inch wheel that'd fit in (I suspect ZXR400 would be minimal work), and then raise the ride height a bit to compensate!
Surely the easiest and probably safest option would be to just buy a tyre to fit the wheel rather than a wheel to fit the tyre.
Well usually yes, but the rear wheel size he's got is a very, very old odd one, and there's very, very few choices in that as noone has that size 18 inch wheels on a bike any more!
Only one I could find, apart from a bunch of shinko plastic jobbies were bridgestones rather old BT-092s, whereas if he swapped to a 17 inch rear as with every other modern bike, he'd have a huge choice of tyres.
Only difference really would be he'd then have to raise the ride height a bit to compensate for the smaller wheel, which is an extremely common mod on most older 400cc bikes (lot of the older Hondas had an 18 inch rear too as standard)
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May I ask a personal question Christo?.......How old are you?
Pretty sure he may be the youngest foccer on the site - younger than me and I'm 23
I'll leave him to divulge his exact age if he so wishes...
22 here! Have been riding for close to about half that now though :lol
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Why change the rear instead of the tyre?
You might get more choice but if you mess a corner the result will always be the same. Training on how to ride a bike to the limiys of yourself and the road conditions is the only answer. Either that or a sit down in a dark room a have an honesty session with yourself.
Btw. If you need a lot more lean angle than you get from a Fazer 600 then something is wrong. How many times have peeps been on a ride and watched the knee/peg/exhaust scrapers and then thought 'hang on, I'm going the same speed why aren't my pegs ripping up the road'. Lean angle is for the track, peg etc scraping is for the piss take.
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Christo's new bike. Pre wrecked
Mickey the p!ss taking Bastid
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I did an IAM course a few years ago and it helped a lot. I've become a far better rider since. I ride 2up regularly and I do so in complete confidence in my abilities and the pillion's safety. The advanced course/rides will help in themselves but they also let you learn and improve after you've finished them.
I think it's £60 odd for membership and then factor in another £60 or so for the rides/course before taking the test.
Just a small correction: Skill for Life is now £139 however this includes your IAM Membership, your Test Fee and you get a year's worth of RAC cover thrown in for free too.
You'll generally pay £10 or £15 for each Observed Ride to cover the Observer's petrol cost (they're volunteers, so don't get paid) and you'll need to join the local Group as well, but once you pass you'll be able to get a discount on your insurance.
You also get to go on Group Rides, attend Club Nights and similar events, depending on what your local Group Does.
You can find your nearest Group here. (http://iam.org.uk/iam-groups/iam-groups-directory/search)
Most of the observers/instructors I met fit the pipe and slippers stereotype but lots of them rode professionally and will be very good riders. When I first started, I was shocked by how fast they all were too.
When the Advanced Technique starts to click, you find that riding becomes a lot easier because you're looking further ahead, positioning better and have more control eg I've seen an Observer on a Pan keeping up with an Associate on a Blade through the twisties and making it look easy!
[Edited to add in the link that I missed out above!]
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Ah right, thanks for the correction, your description is much clearer.
My old group also offered a £60 course instead of paying for each ride but whether they do such courses will depend on the group.
Some of the events are very good, slow speed riding events, trackday events etc
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I'll chuck in a fiver. £2.50 per "FOCCIN!!!" contact lens ( unless of course there's a piece of shit on't road ..or gravel (hehe) ..or a merc.... Or a roundabout....Or a krrrrrrazy kristo swervin away frightening the shit out of fellow riders(read Foccers)..or god forbid ...an accident with another Foccer.... (I only say that coz he will probably kill himself or at least impair .... If that's possible..,himself...... Ahem...) then I'll want a refund. IN FULL.
RIP MATE
but please listen to ALL of the previous posts.
Especially the one above. Its gettin a bit of a habit.
Ya frog
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Haha, I forgot about that. A bloody frog, no wonder he can't ride. They're all frickin' mad.
Mickey
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I cant believe people on here are offering to pay for him courses and tyres, thread has gone from a facebook wall to a foccin charity do :rollin
Again take this as 'like' button pressed :rollin
Personally I'm starting to think this is a Jeremy Kyle audition.
If my mum continues to force me to fund my own safety it will come out of her housekeeping which I don't pay
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Pahahaha
*Like*
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There's been a lot of slagging in this thread (most of it deserved :lol) but I'm sure that plenty of ye handing out the slaggings only roll your bikes out of the shed a few times a year in perfect conditions and from his posts it seems like he's doing quite a lot of miles in all conditions so I think ye should remember that before sticking the boot in
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Christo,
Whereas I also agree with the comment from His Dudenesses,
The general consensus among all these posts if that for you own safety you need to get some rider instruction or advice from really good safe riders. Remember anyone can ride fast but the really good riders stop fast and to become a really good rider, first you need to be still alive.
Whereas you appear to be able to ride you do not appear to be able to read the road.
Sometimes accident shit happens, (my own a few months ago) but in your case a little to often which appears to point to rider inexperience.
I was hospitalised by motorcycle/car accidents twice in my first 3 years of riding over 40 years ago and even though they were not my fault a more experienced rider could possibly have avoided them. Why? simply because they would not have the trust I had in drivers and expected them to obey the rules of the road.
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There's been a lot of slagging in this thread (most of it deserved :lol ) but I'm sure that plenty of ye handing out the slaggings only roll your bikes out of the shed a few times a year in perfect conditions and from his posts it seems like he's doing quite a lot of miles in all conditions so I think ye should remember that before sticking the boot in
I ride about 22,000 miles a year in all conditions, have been riding for over 20yrs and my last off was some 15yrs ago.
Maybe I've been lucky orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I learnt a lot from other riders advice and my own experiences which I then sought to apply to my riding style.
I haven't commented on this previously because essentially all the slagging has been deserved in my opinion.......even down to the low speed off Christo had at a roundabout - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED ALL THE TIME.
Just for the records - I don't hang about, nor ride the easiest of roads......but ride within my limits/road conditions/bikes ability and read the road at all times. Christo needs to learn this fast before he becomes a number.
Having said that, top marks to Christo for acknowledging some of his errors and looking to take part in the riding experience day mentioned earlier. He knows he needs to improve so that's the first battle won.
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There's been a lot of slagging in this thread (most of it deserved :lol ) but I'm sure that plenty of ye handing out the slaggings only roll your bikes out of the shed a few times a year in perfect conditions and from his posts it seems like he's doing quite a lot of miles in all conditions so I think ye should remember that before sticking the boot in
I've been riding nearly every day in all kinds of weather for over 35 years. I have smashed up a few bikes in my time in my earlier years, probably for the same reasons as Christo, but then I went on to get training and later become a motorcycle instructor. Having done a few miles with Christo and seen his riding I do feel qualified to offer advice. As does Exupnut, Punkstig and a lot of others that have posted.
I am extremely concerned as he my take the tittle from my friend Dave as one of the UK's most prolific crashers (Ride Magazine).
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Like Mr Kartman says, I've ridden with Calamity Christo a few times and have enjoyed every mile, his exuberance for all things biking always put a smile on my face. I take the piss all the time he crashes and is ok enough to take it on the chin. I think the internet lets everyone know of his misfortunes easier than word of mouth would of done 20 years ago. All i can say is keep smiling young Chris and keep riding, just get those flipping tyres changed, anything new will do and seriously take on board any training you get this coming year
Mickey
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Like Mr Kartman says, I've ridden with Calamity Christo a few times and have enjoyed every mile, his exuberance for all things biking always put a smile on my face. I take the piss all the time he crashes and is ok enough to take it on the chin. I think the internet lets everyone know of his misfortunes easier than word of mouth would of done 20 years ago. All i can say is keep smiling young Chris and keep riding, just get those flipping tyres changed, anything new will do and seriously take on board any training you get this coming year
Mickey
LIKE :lol
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My comment about he should get a car was out of real concern for him, and a gut reaction of what I would be saying if he were my lad.
Everyone should lay- off a little with being too harsh, after all he didn't have to come on here to share his misfortune and may think twice about it the next time and so would miss out on the posts on here that will of been good advice.
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I understand and agree with the comment about a car. I learnt to drive first and had 3 years driving experience on the roads (with only one minor car park scrape) before I even got on a motorcycle. It definitely helps and it gives you a completely different perspective. If I ever have kids (pahahahaha) they will be on 4 motorised wheels before 2
As for thinking twice about posting his misfortunes up - I extremely doubt it. This is the 4th crash this year that he has posted and all the previous threads had the same piss taking involved. The majority of it comes from those of us who know him and have ridden with him so there hasn't been any cases of "keyboard warriors" being abusive :)
For the most part, he would probably be startled if a select few of us didn't take the piss... *ahem* Exup *ahem* :P
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One things for sure Christo may have invented a new newyear catchphrase.......
I'll now be entering the new year with 'oh fuck not again' imprinted on my brain :rollin
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The majority of it comes from those of us who know him and have ridden with him so there hasn't been any cases of "keyboard warriors" being abusive :)
I see 8)
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Like I said a few pages back he needs to change his attitude towards riding on the road and get some training. And like I said most of the slagging is deserved because it'll help him see where he's going wrong. All I was saying in the last post was that there's a difference between constructive criticism from experienced riders and from people who barely use their bike up on their high horse having a pop at him for the sake of it. This isn't a soap opera there is a lad that all this is being directed at. Maybe some should remember that before putting their witty little remarks up
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Last night I was standing outside the train station, on the public footpath waiting for a rail replacement bus to arrive. Waiting also was a female, another fella and the rail assistant.
The Fella having found out from the assistant that his bus was not due for another 5 minutes said out loud "great so I've time for a ciggie then, time for another cancer stick"
At this point I turned and said in a authoritative but jovial tone "no smoking on the platform"
He didn't get the humorous side either :)
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people who barely use their bike up on their high horse having a pop at him for the sake of it.
Has anyone done that? (Honest question)
I don't recall anything being like that and I'm too lazy to go back and read all the posts.
I agree in principle though :)
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I don't think they have, nope. It's all been based around "for focs sake, don't kill yourself, here's how I think you can take steps to avoid doing that".
There are people on here with lots of riding experience, combined, there's hundreds of years of experience, and they're all saying the same thing.
If just being right, is viewed as getting on a high horse, then I would question the sanity of the observer... People might say things in different manners, which might be to everyone's taste, but that doesn't make them wrong.
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If I can get the fairing fixed up decently, and good rubber on my wheels, I'm going to do a track day in July. When the restrictor's out, and the weather's better! :D
Nowt on their site, and a fair hike for me too. As I now HAVE to get new tyres (order of Mum, the parents have finally twigged a bike needs decent tyres. Still have to pay myself though... :rolleyes ), I'm losing over £200 before I start as I'm getting Pilot Roads again. And them fuckers ain't cheap.
You're not losing £200, you're spending it on tyres which aren't complete shit. They're consumables at the end of the day.
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I don't think they have, nope. It's all been based around "for focs sake, don't kill yourself, here's how I think you can take steps to avoid doing that".
There are people on here with lots of riding experience, combined, there's hundreds of years of experience, and they're all saying the same thing.
If just being right, is viewed as getting on a high horse, then I would question the sanity of the observer... People might say things in different manners, which might be to everyone's taste, but that doesn't make them wrong.
I agree.
firstly...I been ridin bikes 23 years 10 hours a day despatchin and I also know Christo very well. so I feel qualified. secondly... I will say he has a brilliant sense of humour and has the MOST enthusiasm for bikes out of anyone I have ever met. If u knew him like the lofo's do then u would all be happy to post some advice/piss taking because things like that don't upset him. we all take the piss and try to wind eachother up a bit on here and that's what makes this site so special because we do endeavour to meet up and talk about bikes/posts and av a laff about it afterwards. thirdly.....happy new year foccers :D
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I don't think they have, nope. It's all been based around "for focs sake, don't kill yourself, here's how I think you can take steps to avoid doing that".
There are people on here with lots of riding experience, combined, there's hundreds of years of experience, and they're all saying the same thing.
If just being right, is viewed as getting on a high horse, then I would question the sanity of the observer... People might say things in different manners, which might be to everyone's taste, but that doesn't make them wrong.
I agree.
firstly...I been ridin bikes 23 years 10 hours a day despatchin and I also know Christo very well. so I feel qualified. secondly... I will say he has a brilliant sense of humour and has the MOST enthusiasm for bikes out of anyone I have ever met. If u knew him like the lofo's do then u would all be happy to post some advice/piss taking because things like that don't upset him. we all take the piss and try to wind eachother up a bit on here and that's what makes this site so special because we do endeavour to meet up and talk about bikes/posts and av a laff about it afterwards. thirdly.....happy new year foccers :D
Love you too, you grumpy Foccer. :kiss
Points taken on board. Next rideout, you can follow me though! :lol :lol