[soupnazi]

Having just finished our 400R project my missus and I planned a trip up to the Oxley Highway. The Oxley is a really great road in northern NSW that boasts approximately 50kms of nonstop high quality twisty road.

We had a blast and she really got her cornering skills up.

Unfortunately on the way back there was a slight accident and she ended up going arse over tit right infront of me. I watched in horror as the bike flipped over a couple of times with KJ just behind it, also flipping around.

The bike finally slid to a stop and it began dumping it's oil all over the road. Some friendly bikers helped me cover and clean the oil leak with sand while I moved the bike off the road and KJ was tended to.

Her gear saved her. There was a big hole torn in her right shoulder on the armor and scuff and scratches all over her suit. Her boots held up but took alot of damage and her back protector turned a potential spinal problem into a sore lat.

We got back from the doctors and it's all ok, just soft tissue damage.

The bike is a little worse for wear. The new paintjob didn't hold up too well, the mirror bracket is badly bent with both mirrors smashed. The front cowl was scratched and slightly broken but is surprisingly intact. Side panels smashed and scratched and the engine case worn through. The radiator was cracked and leaking too. It looks like the forks may be bent but I'm not sure if they just shifted in the triple clamp rather than actually bent.

It's sitting in a garage not far from the prang so I've got to go and collect it in my ute when I get a chance in a couple of days.

Bugger!

[soupnazi]

Here's the damage.

[scotchpie]

Sorry to hear about this, but glad your girl is ok, looks like the gear kept her in one piece.

I have a nasty, lazy habit of just wearing jeans if I am just nipping across town.

Note to self - Always wear boots and leathers.

[Surffrog]

Hey Soup, I'm really sorry to hear this. But I'm so pleased you're better-looking half is okay. Please send her our regards. Having looked at the pics, I think she's one really lucky lady, because the bike doesn't seemed to have suffered too much for the experience either

[ghbzorro]

Thank goodness she is OK. It is her fault she is OK, though, because she was well dressed!

[Twincam]

Glad she made it un-hurt - I hope it hasn't stopped her riding career...

Let us know how the bike (and your wife) progresses

[LoopyLee]

It must be truly awful to watch something like that happen right in front of you.. I am so glad she is (fairly) ok.. tell her I'm thinking of her and send my best.. I hope she recovers quickly..

Also glad the bike isnt tooo badly damaged.. A bit of spit and polish and I'm sure she will be just fine..

[schnogg]

That's great that she is ok!! I like to hear stories of people coming out of these things ok. I hope that this only makes her a stronger rider.

[soupnazi]

Thanks for the well wishes. She was really happy to read them!

I just rang the tow garage and am trying to organise a pickup for tomorrow, Sunday. The prospect of sourcing and repairing all the brackets and fairings is a little daunting. Until an opportunity to repair it easily and cheaply turns up I think I'll have to street fighter it.

[ptlcb1]

Glad to hear she is alright. What happen though? How did she end up going down?

[soupnazi]

Ah well it's one of those things.

We were just entering an area on the mountain where there is a spectacular lookout. I put my indicator on and slowed down to pull into the lookout but as we entered the area she had a quick glance at the view. When she glanced back to the road I was slowed almost to a halt. She managed a small swerve and avoided most of my bike but her right fork leg clipped my swingarm.

It ripped off my left rider footpeg and twisted the pillion footpeg. It also gouged into my swingarm.

It's a good thing she swerved as much as she did otherwise both bikes would've been wrecked.

[ptlcb1]

As I said before, its nice to hear that she is okay.

At first, I thought she was in front of you and something happened to her, because you said you watched her and the bike tumbling down the road. My first thought was...what and how did she go down. Oil on the road, gravel maybe, to much brake while leaned over... You stated nothing about...how.

Now we know the truth! LOL After reading your second post, I want to say thank you for letting us know the "how" regarding her fall. Like you said, it was one of those things. Her health is whats most important, and because you started her off the right way, she was wearing what she was suppose to, which was the right gear.

Hearing how she went down, brought back to my mind, my first track day to get my racing license. After getting familiar with which way the track went, the instructors then "followed" us around. It was better for them to watch us, and evaluate us while behind us. My brother also did this with me when I first started street riding. This eliminated target fixation. Sounds to me like thats what she did, but realized it just in time to not hit you directly. Along with signaling with your indicator, use your arm to signal what you intend to do. To point with your arm that you are getting over, gives another visual that you are about to do something. This is always an attention getter, because its a signal that is outside the framework of a normal image when you are following someone. When getting off of a race track while there are still riders going around, it is taught to move off the racing line, and either stick your inside leg out, or raise your arm to signal that you are about to exit the track. This gets your attention, because its not a normal look of someone on a race track that is usually in a tucked position.

If my girl ever wants to ride, I will surely invest in a chatterbox communication system for our helmets. Having that ability to talk to her when starting to ride, IMO, would be priceless...

[soupnazi]

You're on the money ptlcb1. I do that when entering pitlane but it just didn't occur to me on the road when indicators are fitted and commonly used.

I replaced the cracked engine casing and fortunately managed to repair the crack in the radiator as it was on the side reservoir and not the fins. I started her up today and no leaks!

Still left to do is the shredded clutch cable, gear lever, bent left clipon... not to mention fairings. .. I took all the existing lights and brackets off and am looking to slap a set of headlights and a small but tasteful screen on it to hide the instrument cluster. Whilst scoping the interwebs for potential replacement parts I had an epiphany...

Why not put any front end on? I can make brackets to fit a number of different fairing combinations on so I thought I might as well. First I was thinking about either a 600RR front, or perhaps an 05 R1. Then I saw some Buell Firebolt fairings.. too many choices. In any event if I pop one of these on I'll have a headlight with a contained nose cone and screen.

[soupnazi]

Mind you if I can get my hands on another set of original fairing that's my top option...

I'd like to see what Loopy has to say about the aftermarket fairing....

[LoopyLee]

Originally Posted by soupnazi

Mind you if I can get my hands on another set of original fairing that's my top option...

I'd like to see what Loopy has to say about the aftermarket fairing....

Hiya.. and sorry to have been AWOL.. Sideshow has been hogging the pc.. plus I'm looking for a new job.

I dont know who made my aftermarket fairing but it really doeant fit together too well.. there are gaps where there shouldnt be and bits overlap slightly in other places.. I really dont like it and will be replacing the fairing at some point and doing a new paint job on my baby..

[macca9540]

Originally Posted by soupnazi

Having just finished our 400R project my missus and I planned a trip up to the Oxley Highway. The Oxley is a really great road in northern NSW that boasts approximately 50kms of nonstop high quality twisty road.

We had a blast and she really got her cornering skills up.

Unfortunately on the way back there was a slight accident and she ended up going arse over tit right infront of me. I watched in horror as the bike flipped over a couple of times with KJ just behind it, also flipping around.

The bike finally slid to a stop and it began dumping it's oil all over the road. Some friendly bikers helped me cover and clean the oil leak with sand while I moved the bike off the road and KJ was tended to.

Her gear saved her. There was a big hole torn in her right shoulder on the armor and scuff and scratches all over her suit. Her boots held up but took alot of damage and her back protector turned a potential spinal problem into a sore lat.

We got back from the doctors and it's all ok, just soft tissue damage.

The bike is a little worse for wear. The new paintjob didn't hold up too well, the mirror bracket is badly bent with both mirrors smashed. The front cowl was scratched and slightly broken but is surprisingly intact. Side panels smashed and scratched and the engine case worn through. The radiator was cracked and leaking too. It looks like the forks may be bent but I'm not sure if they just shifted in the triple clamp rather than actually bent.

It's sitting in a garage not far from the prang so I've got to go and collect it in my ute when I get a chance in a couple of days.

Bugger!

Glad the little lady is OK soup. The Oxley is a great ride, and so is Thunderbolt's Way but it can bite you. Have been down 3 times myself on the Oxley trying to conquer her as well as just about all my mates at least once or twice. Gary who owns the shop at Gingers Creek, (we go up there nearly every second Sunday), tell's us how many he has heard of each week crash up there. The insurance company's must hate that road. I have been thinking of getting some T-shirts made up with -I've went down on Gingers- on them for my mates and myself, oh well, maybe one day. Good luck fixing the 400 and hope the little lady is riding soon.

[skrzat]

Bike is less important than hers health thanks god that shes fine. I had an accident on my nc23 (like few of us i think) so i know what feel the person which falls from a bike. Parts for bike will be expensive but health and life is priceless!!! Always wear a proper suit!

[StrumminRonin]

Gasp. Thank God your wife is fine.