I went for a little ride after work tonight, just run some errands and tear up a couple of backroads. I didn't inspect the bike at all before I left as I had checked everything yesterday and only rode it to fill up at the station. I was about 12 miles into a nice ride, I didn't wear my helmet although as I left I had that feeling that I should. I was really pushing it into a nice turn and right at the apex the bike tried to come around on me, and not just a little bit, I was hung out and made the save of my life, really. I have DOT *****, Trackmasters, so I'm used to some skidding on black top but this was different. I slowed down and shook the bike and it felt fine like maybe I ran thru oil or so I thought. I didn't get it too fast for the next corner and it's a good thing as now the rear tire was all the way flat and she tried to pass the front again. I swallowed half a chew of Redman, so now I'm screwed as I got a bike with a flat and I'm gonna puke. I milked it home at 25mph with the back end trying to come around on the left then the right. I haven't got a chance to get into it and see what caused the tire to fail but I learned tonight that I have to be more careful, I got cocky and it almost cost me more than I can afford. It's about 3 hours later and I'm still shaking.

 

Damn! Sucks! But live & learn, right?

I am convinced dirt riding makes you much better on the street. Hanging your *** end out around the corners in the dirt prepares you for when your *** end swings out on the road. People that have never experienced that are the ones that panic.

Good save. Ride on.

 

Glad you are ok. The redman bit gave me quite a chuckle. Hopefully everyone who reads this will remember to give their bikes a quick once over before riding. Again, glad you were able to save it.

 

Nothing like a good butt-pucker to bring you back to reality. Glad you're OK, man. veedub is right; no excuse for a cursory pre-trip inspection. I usually do it while the bike is warming up. Sorry about your tire!

 

close calls give you a chance to put things into perspective that you wouldn't think otherwise.
at least next time, wear a helmet...

 

You are okay? Good!

 

I once rode a motcross track with a kx125 for an hour with a flat front tire.. did not even notice until I stopped to rest.. had to walk the bike home on the street 3 miles..

 

Amen....took an Electra Glide Sport through an intersection under hard acceleration (well...for a Harley!) and the rear broke loose...must have been some extra grease or coolant there that I didn't see. I just kept the throttle open and let the rear stay out there for a while because it was very much under control and actually was fun. Just like I did it on purpose. Dirt riding made that a routine powerslide. I bet most people that have only ridden a Harley would have dumped it.

 

Glad that you are okay!

The same thing actually happened to me a week ago. I was on my way over to my buddys house and the rear tire blew out on me as I was rounding a turn in his allotment. Luckily I was in his allotment so I was going relatively slow and there wasn't any traffic. When I replaced the tube later, I found that the valve stem had been ripped away from the tube. I was also able to save the bike and myself from falling down. I was fully geared though so I would have probably been okay had I went down.

I also have DOT knobbys(Pirelli MT 21s I believe?). I really don't like them for road riding at all. They provide great off-road traction but on the road they are terrible. I slide around all the time. I actually almost slid out past a stop sign the other day when I was taking my bike over to the mechanics house. This was my first venture out into the area and I was driving on some relatively fresh chip and seal and a stop sign came up on me rather quickly and I probably skidded a good 20 yards before coming to a stop, almost in the middle of the intersection which was only a two way stop going my direction. Could have been very bad.

Between these two experiences, it has really made me rethink having knobbys on road even though they are DOT approved. My next set of tires will most likely be the Dunlop D 606s.

 

Guys.. Knobbies on the road.. leaning it over.. NO HELMET!? Please take it easy.

think a bit!

glad you're okay..

~Steve