I've always heard the saying that "there are 2 types of riders: those that have laid their bikes down and those those who haven't laid their bikes down, yet."

Yesterday I got to join the first group...
Just proceeded through an intersection when the line of cars in front of me slowed down quicker than I was ready for. Hit the brakes a little too hard and they locked up, and I laid my bike down on it's left side. And of course it was the day that I had just decided it was just a short trip to run a couple of errands and it was just warm enough to not go ahead and wear my jacket and I had rushed out of work, locking up my helmet inside...

Good news: only a handful of stitches to me head where it bounced on the pavement and some nice road rash on my arm and hands. A few other scratches and bruise, and a major bruise to my ego and PO'd at myself that it happened.

Better news: only broke the shifter peg off from the slide, a scratched up clutch lever, scratched up left mirror housing and broken mirror.

Ironic twist: one of the errands was stopping by the tag office to transfer the bike title into my name and get my new tag.

Funniest moment: my 4.5 yo daughter, after I told her what happened-
"You fell on the road?"
"Yes, honey."
"Next time fall in the grass. It's softer."

Dat's my girl...

 

Congrats? Glad you're ok.

 

you gonna ride without a helmet again ???

 

I didn't know Nighster front can lock up, I was thinking it's not possible with single rotor.

 

Damn! Was for the post about the helmet.............

 

I certainly hope I don't make that stupid choice again... At least for myself.

 

Ouch. I have been riding a very long time and like you are "in the club" but it happened with of course my first bike, when I was 18. The good news, I have not repeated the feat. Well, IMO the track does not count. : ) So hopefully you'll join the "once is enough" crew now. Glad you are ok, bikes can be fixed, hard to put brains back into a broken head.

 

Mine was just a few months ago on a sharp, right-hand curve in Virginia. I don't want to do it again.

A note about helmets. I understand that in the majority of crashes, the greatest protection occurs when you go from the sitting upright position to hitting your head on the pavement. In other words, a 4 1/2 to 5 foot drop. You don't have to be going far and fast to need one.

Glad you are okay.

 

MrTheatre, it is possible to stay up even with locked up front. It requires some practicing. I do not know the real circumstances of your incident indeed. Maybe laying it down was a wise decision.

 

ROFLMAO...
It was one of those choice moments... But I seriously doubt wisdom was a part of it!

Thanks for giving a positive thought to it!