VTR1000.ORG

Yes you guessed I did something stupid,

Had the nearest escape from coming off my bike today

Was on the Southport coast road and was doing about 60 coming up to some traffic and decided to slow down, accidently knocked right through the gears and probably into second and let the clutch out Well as you can probably guess the back end locked up good style. My bike snaked for what seemed to be an eternity (probably a few seconds).

Decided to stay with the bike and thank god just managed to keep her upright. Went off the road though into embankment just missing a wooden post. Smell of burnt rubber was rife.

Learned my lesson, could have been a lot worse if the car behind hadn't slowed down

Just got some new leathers too and thought I nearly put them to the test.

Not Bridgestone Kaz, but the sure saved my ass. Got a nice patch of worn rubber though!

You need a slipper clutch mate

Yep or possibly a less heavier foot, have to take the lead out of my left boot Mellis

I had little lock ups in the wet but nothing like you just explained.
Good to hear you stayed on though, theres been far to many this year already.

Why didnt you just pull the clutch back in?

I should have done that in hindsite Rich, but when it happens in a split second and the butt end is tryin to throw you off like a wildcat

Its due to inexperiance too, only been ridin for best part of a year. Still got a lot to learn. Nearly learned the hard way though

Chris

Glad you made it OK!

I found coming from an across-the-frame-four Suzuki with more revs and less torque it meant I wasn't sure what gear I was in on the VTR and did that lock-up thing a few times when approaching roundabouts/islands in what I thought was third, knocking it to second but actually it was first. Big jump between 1st and 2nd! Agggggggghhhhhh.
I fitted an Acumen digital gear indicator and that was a great help and still is very useful (plus it's a good 'boyz toy' gadget).

http://www.riderstation.com/DG8.php

I fitted a digigear indicator for the same reason - flying down the B1057 near Finchingfield with my mate on his CBR600RR behind. Decided to drop to second for a sharp bend - trouble was I already was in 2nd and the mirror filled with red CBR pretty quickly! Managed to click up into 2nd again and haul her over again so no damage done.

Jeez Louise!!!
Rev counter people. Don't be afraid to Use it.

Oh! and try letting the clutch our between every gear on the down shift.

Pete.l

I,m still yet to experience changing bikes(the storn is my first) and im kind of dreading it, I rode me mates R1 the other day and hated it. It was just so unpredictable next to the storm.

I tried my brothers CB600F at the weekend an old 1997 model it felt really weird kind of light and buzzy. It was deceptively fast though. At least on the Storm you feel that low down grunt.

I have rode my girlfriends TDM 900 a few times, but the high handlebar position takes some getting used to. I noticed the TDM really handel's well on twistys too.