First Ride on my 83' (Copied as originally posted on the Honda V4 site)

[v65infla]

That I laid her down?     Yep. 

http://s1133.photobucket.com/albums/m586/v65infla/First%20Ride%20on%20Storman1/?albumview=slideshow

I am posting in this in the main forum and taking the public humiliation so others will learn from my stupidity.  I have been riding various kinds of bikes off and on for the better part of 36 years and I have been trained and certified as a police motorcyclist.  I am no where near the best rider or the fastest that I know but my point is that I have a ton of riding experience.  Other than some slow speed drops in the police motorcyclist course and one in my driveway right before the FGT, this is my first "Crash" on a road bike.  Many on a dirt bike but that is a completely different animal. 

First and foremost I am fine and as the pic's show, I have a raspberry about the size of a 50 cent piece on my right knee and my neck and back are a little stiff which isn't all that uncommon for me anyway.  I will see my Chrio tomorrow and he will have me straightened out in a couple of visits. 

The first reminder here is ATGATT!!!  (All The Gear All The Time for those that don't know)  18 months ago I was still riding in jeans and it wasn't that long before that, I had bought my first riding  jacket.  Never wore gloves and frequently wore shorts, tennis shoes and t-shirts in the summer.  My first helmet with these bikes was a half and I only bought a full face to wear on longer trips because I didn't have a windshield on the 84'.  When the full face came in, it was so comfortable I have worn it ever since.  Partially due to maturing and mostly thanks to this wonderful board and members sharing their own stories, I have slowly started to come around and I now wear ATGATT!!! (Boots, gloves, pants, jacket and a full face helmet).  Thank you because tonight could have been a little worse for sure. 

Ok enough preaching and onto what happened.

I picked up my tag yesterday and stopped on the way today and picked up four nice shiny nut's and bolts to mount her up with.  Previous to tonight I had only been around the circle I live on twice.  I left my development and went to the main road to make a right turn.  My light was red and I waited for traffic to clear.  After it did, I started to move forward and I am turning into a 6 lane divided roadway. (3 lanes in each direction).  I go deep into the far right lane and lean the bike way over to the right and dropped the clutch after shifting from 1st to 2nd.  I have done this little maneuver hundreds of times in the past.  This forces an extreme right angle and brings the bike back to the outside of the lane, the power being applied to the rear tire then straighten's the bike up and it shoots you down the middle of the lane as you up shift from there.  Being straight up honest, it serves no purpose other that it is just plain fun and is a little shot of adrenalin which was probably already pumping way too high as it was, being the first ride on a new to me bike.  As my brain was preparing to up shift for that push down the road and I was already mentally preparing to run it up high in 3rd and then start slowing because there is an intersection about 1/4 mile south, I was now sliding down the road.  Quite literally, in my brain I was doing one thing because I have done it so much and I had to "Come to" if you will and realize I wasn't where I was supposed to be.  The ass kept going left and it was quicker than if I was on ice.  I have also experienced many slide outs on bikes and cars and I know to turn into the slide, this was not even a thought as I said my brain was in one realty and my body in another.  I am not trying to say that I spaced out because I did not, just going through something I had done many, many times.  The bike was still running, I got up and applied the clutch and lifted her up by the bars.  I was now facing oncoming traffic which was about a 1/4 mile out and approaching.  I glanced and the woman that had been sitting beside me at the light and her eyes were about as big as saucers.     Of course now the bike stalled and this was a bad time to find out that it doesn't start while in gear.  I quickly put her in neutral, got her fired up, pulled a u-turn, went to the intersection, took a right, checking the bike for damage as I rode, i made two more rights and stopped at the end of a cul-de-sac that is at the rear entrance of a gated community.

There I took off my helmet and checked the bike over.  The mirror was slightly dislodged but not damaged.  There is some minor road rash on the engine guard.  There is some minor scrapes on the right drivers foot peg and the outer metal is very slightly pushed in.  And, there is some road rash along the side of the pipe and it ground out the rivet that holds the rear baffle in.  Then of course I checked my knee and that was it!  I could not believe that is all there was.  While I calmed myself, I called a couple of friends and then my wife so I could mentally walk through it and try to figure it out.  Then I looked at tires and saw the nice shiny outer edges.  Now a brief exchange I had with Norm when I picked up the bike came flooding back to me.  Me: Hey, Norm are those tires going to get me through the SGT?  Norm: Yep, they only have about 400 miles on them.  Me: Great!  Ahh, ha!!  NOW its obvious the outer edges had not been scrubbed in and we see why this is so important.

After calming down, I went and filled up the tank.  I went by two buddies houses to show them the bike and then took myself out for a nice little dinner (Stayed on my diet of course  ) at a well known local sports bar then came home.  35 miles and 3.5 hours later.  I stopped at the entrance on the way home and snapped some pic's of the skids in the pavement and paced them off at 33 feet long. 

I learned a great deal tonight and I know I am lucky that all came out so well.  First as stated ATGATT and even if it is the same model bike, take it easy at least until you learn the quirks of that particular bike.  I probably won't stop trying to find those little thrills in riding but I will be more aware of what can happen. 

And, of course I will always remember my first ride on the bike I call "Storman1".   

I hope somebody learned something from me sharing this and doesn't repeat my mistake!

[dcameras]

Sorry to hear of your mishap but glad you and the bike are only slightly banged up as it could have been much worse.

[mrbones]

Good thing you are ok. How many miles did you ride the bike before the crash? Cold tires are slippery, too.

[v65infla]

Good thing you are ok. How many miles did you ride the bike before the crash? Cold tires are slippery, too.

The tires had approx. 400 miles on them.  I rode the bike less than a 1/2 mile and that was all 35mph and below.  Def, a combination of cold tires and the outer edges having never been scrubbed in.  Plus a lot of throttle of course.   

I just learned there is a huge difference when Honda detuned the the Magna's after 83' with a different carb, set up first hand.  Plus this bike has 3:40 instead of the stock 3:18 set up.

With my 84', I can massage the clutch and loft the front end, a little bit.  After I wrecked and left my first buddies house, I launched her hard from a red light.  The front end came up in 1st with no extra clutching needed.  That did not surprise me but then she came up again on the shift to 2nd and that did catch me a bit off guard.  Instead of massaging the clutch to get the front end to lift, I had to back off twice to keep it down.

Not bad for $2k 1983 bike with 28 years old technology and a bike considered to be in the "Boulevard Cruiser" class, huh?   

[dt]

I go deep into the far right lane and lean the bike way over to the right and dropped the clutch after shifting from 1st to 2nd.  I have done this little maneuver hundreds of times in the past.  This forces an extreme right angle and brings the bike back to the outside of the lane, the power being applied to the rear tire then straighten's the bike up and it shoots you down the middle of the lane as you up shift from there.  Being straight up honest, it serves no purpose other that it is just plain fun and is a little shot of adrenalin...

I noticed you doing this. Then I noticed me doing this. I think we are so often stuck on straight, boring roads that maybe we all tend to exaggerate some riding maneuvers in hopes for a little extra enjoyment. We'll probably all keep doing it, but your experience here is a good reminder at least that there are some risks...so thanks for sharing in such good detail.

What really matters though is that you're okay.

[magnaone]

as mr no post says need pic

[v65infla]

I go deep into the far right lane and lean the bike way over to the right and dropped the clutch after shifting from 1st to 2nd.  I have done this little maneuver hundreds of times in the past.  This forces an extreme right angle and brings the bike back to the outside of the lane, the power being applied to the rear tire then straighten's the bike up and it shoots you down the middle of the lane as you up shift from there.  Being straight up honest, it serves no purpose other that it is just plain fun and is a little shot of adrenalin...

I noticed you doing this. Then I noticed me doing this. I think we are so often stuck on straight, boring roads that maybe we all tend to exaggerate some riding maneuvers in hopes for a little extra enjoyment. We'll probably all keep doing it, but your experience here is a good reminder at least that there are some risks...so thanks for sharing in such good detail.

What really matters though is that you're okay.

I am glad you understand what I was trying to explain.  I am not sure most others do.  The fact you picked up on me doing it, tells me a lot about your riding abilities, to the positive side of course.  While I had met Danny before, I had never ridden with him and his ability to anticipate and react to my every move at the FGT, impressed the hell out of me and told me how good he is.

Most people will never understand that being fast does not mean that you are a good rider.  Being able to anticipate and having a full understanding of what is going on around you means a whole lot more.  I failed at that last night, I have learned another lesson and will move on with it.

[v65infla]

as mr no post says need pic

??  

Pic of what??  I have a link to the slideshow of pics in my original post??  Or, is this Daffy posing as Larry??   

[dt]

as mr no post says need pic

Hey Larry, welcome back. Your second post is exactly 2.36 years following your first post. 

[Zarticus]

The 83 carbs are only at most a 5 HP difference, I think it's the 3:40 gearing & 4 into 1 that's making the extra power compared to your 84. I'm thinking about doing the 3:40 swap on my bike

[v65infla]

The 83 carbs are only at most a 5 HP difference, I think it's the 3:40 gearing & 4 into 1 that's making the extra power compared to your 84. I'm thinking about doing the 3:40 swap on my bike

Hold off until April and we will trade off for a bit, then you can decide for yourself. 

[dt]

Hold off until April and we will trade off for a bit, then you can decide for yourself. 

You decided on going to Leesburg? That's closing on three weeks out.

[v65infla]

Hold off until April and we will trade off for a bit, then you can decide for yourself. 

You decided on going to Leesburg? That's closing on three weeks out.

Only three things can stop me now.  Either the bike isn't done and ready.  Finances or the wife.     So far she hasn't said no and my wife very seldom ever has a problem with me doing anything.  But with the FGT and the May trip, it is kind of pushing it for a 3rd trip in such a short time frame.

I found out yesterday that a good buddy and some of his fellow HD riding bud's are riding up on Friday morning and riding home on Sunday.  I will most likely tag along with them.  I hope I can stay awake.     They want to ride the Forest on Saturday morning.  I sort of volunteered Gary to lead.     But I did tell them that Gary had to have better roads than that up there.  I have no idea if we will hook up with them or not but it would be better to ride up and back with someone. 

I told Gary, I might get a bug up my butt and enter the 83' in the bike show on Saturday afternoon in the Antique unrestored class.   

[danh600]

Wow, glad you are OK.

Seeing those crash videos on youtube of people leaving dealerships with brand new bikes and slippery tires made and impression on me. I took it very easy at first. I was also very careful to rough in my second set of tires.

I wear the full helmet, boots and jacket. I have gotten out of the habit of wearing the pants. This will probably make me drag them back out.

If that can happen to you it really put it into perspective for someone like me riding only a year or so.

[magnaone]

as mr no post says need pic

Hey Larry, welcome back. Your second post is exactly 2.36 years following your first post. 

   thanks dt  ya i forgot my password  been looking and reading  might try to get over to leesburg  sunday

[v65infla]

I added this link on the Honda board so I might as well here also.  Cheap, comfortable and would have saved my knee from any damage at all.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/6/10/8506/ITEM/Shift-Racing-Enforcer-Knee-Shin-Guards.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch

[danh600]

You healing up?

I think we were around your parts this weekend. We went over to the Hatsume Festival at the Morikami Museum yesterday.

[v65infla]

You healing up?

I think we were around your parts this weekend. We went over to the Hatsume Festival at the Morikami Museum yesterday.

Yeah I am fine.  Besides my knee, I was just a little stiff and sore for a couple of days.  I spent most of Saturday working on the bike and yesterday working in the yard, so I am still stiff and sore.   

Morikami is probable less than 10 miles SW of me.  We will meet up for a ride of these days, it might take for us to retire first but we will get there.   

[dt]

I added this link on the Honda board so I might as well here also.  Cheap, comfortable and would have saved my knee from any damage at all.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/6/10/8506/ITEM/Shift-Racing-Enforcer-Knee-Shin-Guards.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch

I have a set of those and a matching set of elbow and forearm guards. I think they’re EVS…mostly for off road, except I sometimes slip on the arm guards under a long sleeve shirt when I wear my vest. Currently, I wear Cortech Motorcycle Jeans that have adjustable knee armor. Knee armor of some sort is a really good idea and if you like riding in jeans these are pretty decent. Around $90. They’re heavy as heck and its real armor in there; not some soft padding like those eXelement Jeans from Pakistan. On the other hand, they ride up my legs because of the knee armor so I have to wear boot straps. That probably wouldn't happen with the strap on kind.