A sucky day in Hawaii

[match417]

So I left my friends house on the way to the Wednesday night church service and approached a small intersection. The light was red, a guy drove his car up to the the other side of the intersection, and I sat there and watched him try to figure out which direction he wanted to go by switching his blinkers back and forth until he left his left turn signal on. He seemed like a lost tourist, as they are everywhere in my neighborhood (it happens when you live right outside of Waikiki). My intentions were to turn left as well, and we would have ended up heading in opposite directions. The light turns green and I start to turn left, and even though he had his left blinker on, he decided to go straight. I realized this just before he would have hit me, so i pulled the bike back to the right and stopped in the intersection, somehow i pulled the bike too far right and I found myself trying to hold it from falling over. The bike was leaning to far, and I realized just how heavy the bike can be with a steel frame. I couldn't hold it any longer and I just hopped away from it while it slammed onto the ground. I tried to pick it up, but with the way it fell on the little hill, it was extremely hard to pick it up. I felt something dripping on my foot, and the first thing I thought was, "battery acid...crap". Then when I almost had it all the way up, my foot slipped out of my flip flops (yes, i wear flip flops when I ride) and my knee landed in a puddle of oil, not battery acid. I waved a down what I thought was a guy, but ended up being a manly-looking chick. She helped me lift it up as I couldn't do it straddling the oil puddle. I coasted down the hill from my friends house that I came from and assessed the damage (picture below). The Front engine cover had been busted through and oil had leaked all over the road. The fairing was fine, it only had some paint rubbed off, but I was getting it painted anyway, or possibly doing an R6 conversion from all crashed fairings.... So, now I have ordered a YZF600 engine cover after comparing it to my friends engine cover. It should be here in a week and I can buy my oil. How much is motorcycle oil in the mainland? I have to pay $8 or $9 a quart and it sucks! I just changed my oil about two months ago! $40 for oil is just insane. Anyway, just thought I'd post this, the pics are below. Watch out for ignorant and/or stupid drivers.

[Luke-a-Tron]

Dude, put some f*ck shoes on at least.

[NHFZR600]

[match417]

the flip flops had absolutely nothing to do with the bike falling over the first time, the only time I wear shoes is on long rides. plus, it probably would have fallen again the second time from my shoe slipping in oil anyway. whats the big deal? Shoes get hot and are longer to take off. Plus this is hawaii, everyone wears flip flops...

[maverick]

first off, that sucks about your bike. I feel your pain. that said, put some shoes on, Squidly McDouche. I went to hawaii last year. stayed on oahu right in waikiki, i rented a harley and I still wore jeans and boots every day. not to sound like the whiney douchebags from the archives but i'd hate to read a post next month that says another asshole cut you off and this time you went down and lost a foot...

[match417]

I'm not against wearing shoes, I just don't like them and try to avoid it. As i said a couple posts up, "the only time I wear shoes is on long rides". Most of my "rides" are a mile here, a mile there, three miles here, four miles there, and the occasional (once every two weeks) ten - twenty mile trips on the freeway, then theres cruises. When I was living 20 miles out of town and had to ride in every day I wore shoes all the time, because rocks hitting my feet at 65 mph can hurt sometimes. I'm not stupid about it, I just don't see the point of wearing shoes when i'm not going faster than 35 or 45. But if i'm in an accident serious enough where I "lose a foot", I doubt a cloth/rubber shoe would protect me from that, and i doubt that accident will be at 35. Sure I can get road rash on my foot at 35 mph, i can get road rash at 15 mph, but I'm honestly not worried about it. This will probably open up another world of insults, but i wear shorts most of the time riding too , but, i'm not stupid about it, I don't think i've ever worn shorts on the freeway.

I really hate overexplaining things in an argument that is seemingly pointless in the first place. Thanks for looking out though guys, I do wear a helmet all the time, and that protects what matters.

[Deputy1042]

Well, I'm not going to about the flip flop issue. I imagine you didn't get a vehicle description or license plate number, did you? In Wisconsin the incident you described is considered a non-contact hit and run, which would make the operator of the vehicle responsible for the accident. At least you weren't hurt, which is the important thing.
Anyways...the cost for the oil in Hawaii is not too much more than it is in the mainland.

[tommyj27]

That is a messed-up looking cover. Good to hear you're okay though.

[95FZR600]

NO FLIP FLOPS OR SHORTS WHEN YOU RIDE A MOTORCYCLE!!!!

[tommyj27]

Not to henpeck the henpeckers, but I think match gets the idea that the majority of us are very serious about protective gear. People made their point; but if match really wants to ride in flips that is his choice. One of the great things about our little corner of the net is that we take pride in being accepting of everyone's choices even if they are not the ones we would make ourselves. I'm not trying to defend match's choice in footwear, but I am defending his right to make the choice and tell us; especially when he knew that it would draw flak. If you want to make a point about people who ride without gear, a new thread would probably be a better venue rather than turning this thread into a Piñata.

[YAM93]

Dude, put some f*ck shoes on at least.

^^^^^^

Post of the Year

LOL2

I know we're but it just occurred to me if your foot looked like that peanut cover you might be singing a different tune. Not saying you should spend big money on a pair of Alpinestars or Sidi's but........ ok, I'm saying, spend big money on Alpinestars or Sidi's. Sorry Tommy, I don't really mean to take part in a pinata festival. It's just I couldn't resist all the candy on the floor and watching all the other guys eating it.



I hope you at least wear some basic gloves so your hands don't get torn up if you go down. Personally I do it because I can't stand even the idea of being in a hospital. Been there enough for other reasons. That said, I think your YouTube posts are pretty darn cool.

[match417]

I don't wear gloves either, i have two pair, one pair joe rocket and the other pair have Kevlar knuckles and joints, i forget what brand they are..If i go on the freeway or on long rides i wear my leather jacket, jeans and shoes..and i always wear a helmet. But gloves get hot. Please no arguments or cut downs, i'm well aware of what can possibly happen. I've wrecked before on one of those turns that unexpectedly get sharper, no gloves, just a jacket, shoes and jeans, and I wasn't even scratched, because when my tire touched the curb, the bike flipped and i just landed on one elbow and rolled. I still wear the same helmet I wrecked in, and i know i need a new one, but i've been putting off getting one because i can't afford $400 for another one. It's not cracked but i know it can't withstand another wreck. Now that I think about it, i've completely forgot to even look for another one since it's been so long since that wreck. I need to get another one. anyway, thanks for all of your input guys, but you can't sway me to change the way I ride. have a nice one...

[the_finch]

Not to henpeck the henpeckers, but I think match gets the idea that the majority of us are very serious about protective gear. People made their point; but if match really wants to ride in flips that is his choice. One of the great things about our little corner of the net is that we take pride in being accepting of everyone's choices even if they are not the ones we would make ourselves. I'm not trying to defend match's choice in footwear, but I am defending his right to make the choice and tell us; especially when he knew that it would draw flak. If you want to make a point about people who ride without gear, a new thread would probably be a better venue rather than turning this thread into a Piñata.

While I wear jeans, helmet, Technik jacket and gloves, and boots almost everytime I go out, I understand the inconvenience and the hot factor. In south Alabama lately it's been 90-100 F and even the mesh jacket and gloves I got still get a little toasty, and it seems to take forever and a day to get them on. But being a noob to the whole bike thing, I don't dare tempt fate, especially with my luck. We have crappy roads with random patches of gravel everywhere, and drivers that who don't know you're there. Oh yeah, did I mention it seems like 20% of the people on the road down here either don't have a license or are driving with a revoked one?

All that to say, while I prefer to wear my gear, Match has a right to free speech...which includes wearing or not wearing gear when he rides around town when he wants to (to the extent permitted by law).

P.S.: match, I feel ya on the helmet thing...if I hadn't gotten a bonus at work I would still be rockin' the decade-old, dropped, beaten, banged up HJC C12 that's in my closet instead of the new Icon Domain 2 I have now.

[Deputy1042]

Well, what can I or any other member here say...You obviously have made up your mind on what or not to wear while riding regardless of how far you're going and that's you personal choice. I for one will donate funds for flowers to your funeral
As upset as you might get at all the preaching going on here, you have to realize we don't want to see you injured or killed because you don't want to wear the proper protective gear. I've seen first hand what happens to people in accidents even with the proper gear...I can only imagine what I'd see with a guy in flip flops and a damaged helmet.

[95FZR600]

Well, what can I or any other member here say...You obviously have made up your mind on what or not to wear while riding regardless of how far you're going and that's you personal choice. I for one will donate funds for flowers to your funeral
As upset as you might get at all the preaching going on here, you have to realize we don't want to see you injured or killed because you don't want to wear the proper protective gear. I've seen first hand what happens to people in accidents even with the proper gear...I can only imagine what I'd see with a guy in flip flops and a damaged helmet.

ENOUGH SAID ON THIS THREAD


RIDE ON MATCH417