Whoops Lesson Learned

[JohnL]

Spent an hour yesterday cleaning the PCX, including tyre shine , looked really shiny until today.

I thought I would go for a spin round the big block, only reached the first right hand bend, leaned into the corner and down I went. Absolutely nothing on the road to cause it so I can only blame the tyre shine.

Sitting here typing, with my left knuckle swelling beautifully, bark off both my knees including the titanium one, more bark off my right arm and knuckle, and sore ribs. Seeing my doctor in half an hour for a check up, but no real damage to me and not much to the bike.

I rode round the smaller block after the fall to check if the bike had any real damage, and also to make sure I hadn't lost confidence. I guess my lifetime of cycle racing and falls meant the shock factor isn't too bad.

My next test is when my wife gets home from shopping and sees me. Wish me luck.

[relic]

look good feel good-not
just hose the bike off next time
shiny -why?
hope you heal quick and don't get too much flack from the wife

[honkerman]

Yeah...sorry you're hurt, but now you know, never shine motorcycle tires. It's ok on car tires, but cars don't tilt to turn.

[WhiteNoise]

Oh no no no, I'm not reading this am I? Why oh why John? Ok, so this is one of those times when you ask yourself, "what the hell was I thinking when I sheend up me tires?" But, Shite happens right? Sure it do.
We live and we Still Learn.
I'M RELIEVED TO READ THAT YOU'RE OKAY and Hope your wife responds the same (well...at first anyway)

Message here: NO tire shine folks! Soap and a good rinse. Tis all.

Good luck at the Doctor John and Feel better in and out. Glad your scoot faired well.

[Jge64]

Did you spray it on or use a tire applicator?

[JohnL]

Thanks all for the kind words. As I frequently say "you can't help dumb", and I'm living proof of that.

My wife and my lady doctor are still laughing.

My doctor said "it's so unprofessional to laugh, but she still did.

The nurse also laughed and asked was it time I gave up the bike. My answer was NO.

All three are lovely ladies, who understand my approach to life.

Now sporting a compression bandage on my left hand, and an appointment maybe tomorrow for an Xray.

I'm waiting a day to see if the swelling goes down. A previous off on a race bike resulted in my wrist in plaster for 6 weeks only to be told afterwards that there was no break. Too much swelling for a clear picture, and my wife really doesn't want to have to baby me for that long.

[you you]

Did you shine the tread area or just the sidewall?

[kramnala58]

Sorry to hear of your off. Glad that you are not worse off than you are.

It happens so quickly and easily. I have had only one incident like that. Pulling into a spot I always park in, I was laying with my foot stuck under the seat before I knew what happened. One second I was riding along merely and less than half a second later, I was on the ground. We were having some construction done on the building and a fine layer of dust had settled on the concrete that was already very smooth to begin with.

I trust you will heal well.

[GeorgeSK]

While not as serious, I used some vinyl dressing stuff on my seat the first year I had the scoot. It looked mha-valous! First ride with the Admiral, nearly lost her, and even I was sliding around on both braking and acceleration. It took the better part of the summer before it wasn't a hazard for my wife.
So many things seem like a good idea....

[Jge64]

most dressings have to be buffed off to make them non-slippery. Then they become a matte finish and just look new. A dressing that works that is non-slip, and would work on the tires and not give you any problem, (as long as you didn't coat the tread) is Poorboys Natural look. Cheap and good stuff. 303 works too, but requires a few buffs....

Now you get a dressing that you spray on, that's got lots of sling, and you're gonna be in trouble.

[alx123]

Glad to hear your safe JohnL.

Keep away any oily substance on parts that needs friction to operate properly (seats, tires, brakes)

[homie]

Opps! didn't notice this was a crash post John Thank goodness it wasn't any worse, no tire shine for me anymore. Used to put a little on the sidewalls but if caught in the rain would probably make its way onto the contact surfaces and have the same result. I know this won't keep you off the scooter for long, look forward to reading when you get back out there.

[homie]

Keep away any oily substance on parts that needs friction to operate properly (seats, tires, brakes)

It's and odd thing about the saddle on a sport bike, and I'm not sure how others use the saddle to handle turns and lane changes but for me personally I don't want a tacky seat. I do put things that keep the saddle slippery and use that motion a LOT to make lane changes and merge on the expressway. I don't trust the blind spot enough to not twist and look. I removed the number 18 aftermarket seat from the PCX shortly after testing it because it cradled my butt too well and I felt like my visibility was hampered. Might just be me so I'm willing to entertain some criticism on the subject of slippery and cradled saddles.

[Bash On!]

Glad to hear it wasn't worse, John. Seems like you lost some "bark" there--what were you wearing??

[DailyRider]

Oh dear, that sounds like something I might do in a spacy moment
(Ooooo, that looks so nice and not even thinking)

I'm glad if there's no major damage.

[you you]

I can just feel a string of angst posts. If only you'd worn fluorescents you would have been safe from Gods wrath.

Well done for making a dickhead mistake, posting about it and then laughing it off.

If I had a hat I would doff it.

[JohnL]

I actually wiped the shine on with a rag to avoid getting it on the tread area. Never occurred to me that I leaned the bike that far over when cornering. I may have a future in motorbike racing? Do you think?

Had a rough night until a took an endone. Main pain now is my hand and rib area. I think the handlebar may have given me a jab. Off for an xray as the swelling hasn't gone down in my hand.

Apart from that it's a beautiful sunny day, but I don't think I'll mention going for a ride to my sweet bride. Well not just yet

[JohnL]

Glad to hear it wasn't worse, John. Seems like you lost some "bark" there--what were you wearing??

Full reinforced jacket with kevlar inserts, full face helmet and normal jeans. I can't buy kevlar jeans that fit. Luckily neither jacket or jeans actually tore through, so my minor flesh woulds don't have gravel in them. My kevlar reinforced leather gloves have damage to the knuckle area, but still wearable.

Just to round the day off, as I completed my recovery short ride I went past a police camera unit and was doing around 70kph in a 60kph zone.

I think that's called a dickhead double.

[alx123]

gloves could've saved that knuckle(or not). But yeah, who wears all the gears when just riding around the block?

[alx123]

Keep away any oily substance on parts that needs friction to operate properly (seats, tires, brakes)

It's and odd thing about the saddle on a sport bike, and I'm not sure how others use the saddle to handle turns and lane changes but for me personally I don't want a tacky seat. I do put things that keep the saddle slippery and use that motion a LOT to make lane changes and merge on the expressway. I don't trust the blind spot enough to not twist and look. I removed the number 18 aftermarket seat from the PCX shortly after testing it because it cradled my butt too well and I felt like my visibility was hampered. Might just be me so I'm willing to entertain some criticism on the subject of slippery and cradled saddles.

I'm not quite sure how your'e built Homie, but i can surely turn my head easily for a visual check without moving my butt around when sitting on the scoot.