08-03-14, 08:48 PM
Finally got out on it for a proper ride on Dartmoor after refurbing the downpipes and getting my seat back. Was my first real test of the jack up kit too, felt good. Started on the button with no hassle at all, didnt even need choke after 5 or 6 weeks of not moving. I felt really confident on it with the new upgrades and nice exhaust sound, almost too confident... I had my first proper moment today on it. Was riding along one of my favorite roads on dartmoor and must have just been going too fast. I got to a corner that I had done earlier that day in the opposite direction, but it was a much sharper in this direction. Not helpful was there was a load of dodgy gravelly crap in the road. I panicked a bit, target fixated on a grass verge that I didn't want to hit then quickly snapped out of it and braked very firmly but carefully. I was lucky nobody was coming the other way because I went into the opposite lane. I lost the front wheel a bit in the gravel but somehow managed to manhandle the bike to keep it upright. I ended up with the front wheel just touching the verge, was very scary. I didn't know whether to be so angry at myself for getting in that situation in the first place or really happy for how well I managed to handle it once I was in it. Either way, nobody was injured and nothing was damaged so I will take it as a lesson learned. Glad the bike is back up and running and the weather was great today.