| Author | Message | ||
     Blake |
Spain would be good. You may be wising up after all. | ||
| Bads1 |
Sean says he's chucked bikes down the road more then he can count. When??? I've been part of this board for some time now and I can probably say with some confidence that not in the last 6 year's right?? | ||
| Rocketman |
Sean says he's chucked bikes down the road more then he can count. When??? I've been part of this board for some time now and I can probably say with some confidence that not in the last 6 year's right?? Well Buell wise - not that you'd ever notice (why else do you think my S1W is stunning?) - and all in the last 8 years there have been some memorable scrapes with the ground. First time. 1999. Setting off from my house, first gear 180 deg turn, just as I'm nearing 180 the rear slides out significantly, then hooked up and threw me over the bars. Oil had spewed from the cap and got onto the rear tyre. Second time. Christmas shopping last minute. Buell with rear tyre against kerb edge and parked at 90 deg to road direction. Rushed out of shop, new CD in pocket, in a hurry to get back to work. Key, ignition, start button, clutch, gear select, clutch / throttle / turn BANG. Right over the bars - heap on the floor - pride dented. Helps to remove disc lock before riding off! Third time, 2000, must be the famous one where I rear ended my mates 6 week old 996 coming hard and fast out of a left hander. He'd braked sharp to take a little known left turn shortcut to where we were going. I couldn't get out of his way so made the only choice, going down the inside of him hoping he would check his mirror and not turn in. He didn't, and did. The insurance claim was way ahead of what seemed like superficial damage. Carbon fiber wheels was the end result, lol. Forth time. U turning in a narrow country lane. Rode up slight grass embankment on opposite side of road to complete turn, put right leg down to steady me. Leg wasn't long enough. Fell over with Buell on top of me. Fifth time. Last year! Popped nice short wheelie at biker hangout. Brought front down too late and hit brake hard to stop running into fence at end of parking area. Front end tucked and three friends I was out riding with pissed themselves laughing at me barrel rolling across the floor! The gathered crowd I'm pleased to say were a little more sympathetic to my showboating - but they didn't take me for a fool, unlike my friends did, lol. Maybe I missed another Buell one, but there were others. Only one was a bad one though, on my 550 Four. 1986 - left leg compound fracture tibia and fibula. Broken femur. 1 week ICU, 10 weeks 3 days skeletal traction. Months in full pot. Yes it was painful in many ways and I suffered, as did my Mum and family. Wouldn't want to go through that again. At 26 and fit it was hard enough. It's not easy to ride motorcycles for a lot of years and never once fall off. Sometimes trying to play hard has its downsides. Motorcycles don't come without risks. That's why some I know are not alive today, and some I know don't ride today. This is in no way bragging rights. Yes a little humour, but getting hurt is serious business. Ride safe. Rocket | ||
| Bads1 |
Here’s why. Rocket how many times have you taken a bike right up to its limit and then just a bit beyond at over 100 mph. By beyond I mean crashing. High siding at 100 mph, loosing the front end at 110. Getting up and walking away with a broken collar bone or wrist. Then riding again the next week with a pin in that collar bone that feels like somebody has a knife stuck in you? I could be wrong but I suspect never. Sounds exactly like what Dave asked!!! | ||
| Daves |
So, it looks like you crashed once, 20 years ago. The rest sound more like tipping over? Not that, that is a bad thing, but far from the "pitching it down the road" type crashes I had envisioned when you posted before? | ||
| Jackbequick |
Sean, I think your history makes you look like a guy that rides the range from "aggressive" through "unlucky" and maybe all the way to and including "stupid". And a guy who has occasionally paid the price for it. I don't think I see a racer there. This one "Third time, 2000, must be the famous one where I rear ended my mate..." might explain your finding Pedrosa's running into Hayden an okay thing to do. Even if it were okay to do that on the track it certainly crosses some common sense and good manners boundaries on shared public roadways. I've had hundreds of fall offs on dirt bikes and those brought a couple of recoverable injuries. Those would be situations where I either made a mistake or exceeded the capabilities of the the machinery. Fun gone bad for the most part. But it was at times and in places where only I paid the price. And I'm not the least bit embarrassed by the fact that in nearly 50 years of intermittent road riding I've only been down once. That was a lowside on oiled up concrete at the Golden Gate Bridge toll booth plaza. I was coasting in neutral, nearly stopped, standing on the pegs, and had my right hand deep in my right front pocket when that happened. I can hardly hold my head up when some of you guys start comparing destroyed or damaged machines, scars, embedded bits of wire and metal, hospital stays, resulting permanent physical limitations, and the like. I just hope it stays that way for the duration. Jack | ||
| Rocketman |
Oh desk racing here we go. YAWN! Dana said "not in the last 6 years right??". I shared facts light heartedly (which just happened to be Buell related), and whilst on the subject I added a serious accident where I nearly died, just so anyone reading would perhaps not think I was making too light of the matter of falling off. I find it ridiculous to boast of such antics. More so to prove (weird) I'm 'the man' on two wheels. Now go read your Keith Code books so's you can race your desk whilst I get some real practice in. Grow up kids. Rocket | ||
| Bads1 |
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| Daves |
Rocket, Crashing sucks and I hope you never crash again. I hope I never crash again. Crashing doesn't prove anything except that the rider screwed up. | ||
| Rocketman |
Thank you, but I thought you was a ignorant petrol head, lol. Me screwed up? Never, except on Sunday's  Rocket | ||
| Toona |
A friend emailed this to me right after the "incident", I had to make it BadWeB friendly.  | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Wow...very lively thread!! Excellent view of the "the crash" on that loop...really nice shot. I am no expert..no where near one...but it really "looks" like he came in too fast and couldn't save it and hit another bike..namely Nicky Hayden. I have a question...at five laps do you think those tires were near hot enough..meeting maximum grip and in their "prime" shape so to speak for such a daring pass on the inside on a fairly tight corner from the looks of it..just wondering actually. I know..tire warmers..just wondering though. My Diablo Strata's can be a bit of a bitch and slick if not hot enough..no comparison to the track of course..street racing I mean. I guess a true test of that is the Isle of Man. I love that race. Ok..enough HighJacking.. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Five laps should be fully warmed and great grip. The mechanical issue was the nut behind the bars. | ||
| Rocketman |
Sez you, calling the future Moto GP Champion of the World  Rocket | ||
| Blake |
Never happen. | ||
| Rocketman |
Darling, you've called me out so many times in this thread for stating my views are not comparable to those of the professionals, yet Hayden and Rossi have both said in the last two weeks they fear Pedrosa is their biggest threat next season. In your professional capacity what do you know that Hayden and Rossi don't? Rocket | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
I agree with most here that Pedrosa not only caused the accident, but that it was really not a smart move in the 1st place. But I agree with Rocket that there is no reason why he shouldn't have been trying to win the race. whether he was or wasn't a contender for the championship doesn't matter- he is a racer. There just wasn't any reason for trying such an aggressive pass (under the circumstances) and even if it were the 1st race of the year, there was no reason to try such an aggressive pass so early in the race. Pedrosa, IMO, was the most exciting racer to watch all year and I again agree with Rocket that he is a considerable threat to the championship next year and for the foreseeable future. While I believe that Rocket is very fast, that had he the opportunity when he was a teen to hone his skills, he might of been a contender......Rocket, I've seen your picture- the idea that you could outrun these 20 something athletes on any surface other than some high risk, blind run (for them), down some scary tarmac practiced a 1000 times by you and zero by them is one of the funniest things I have ever read here and even winning that would have more to do with their sense of self preservation then any actual superior skill on your part, but I applaud your ability to believe in yourself!  | ||
| Blake |
Sean, Pedro is too little. I just don't like little people. They make me nervous. Ever see that X-Files episode where the little dude crawled up inside folks? Keep that little guy away from me, please! He should have been a gymnast. They aren't so scary when they are dressed in tights. | ||
| Blake |
Hey! You don't figure... was Pedro maybe trying to crawl up inside Nicky when he crashed into him? | ||
| Rocketman |
Scott, I don't know why but for some reason I find myself voting your post 5 stars. I think it's because you said But I agree with Rocket that there is no reason why he shouldn't have been trying to win the race. whether he was or wasn't a contender for the championship doesn't matter- he is a racer. That's something I've been saying since day one. As for the rest of your post, I see no reason to vote. Especially after you say you've seen my picture. What are you implying dude? You're lucky I voted at all with comments like that! Rocket | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Aww, come on Rocket, I came closer to agreeing that you could beat them then the other 80 posts!  Sorry, didn't mean to imply anything, I'm saying they are athletes and you are out of shape! You even said somewhere in this thread that you would need to get in shape 1st which implies that you would lose in your current shape right?  | ||
| Rocketman |
Oh so now I'm a fat bastard! Ok maybe not that bad. Maybe a fast fat bastard then?  Rocket | ||
| Dstrat1 |
I have followed this thread for a while.. from my perspective, Racers, run close to the edge, sometimes they go over. When you are trying to win, any margin you leave may be the margin you lose by.. I do not particularly like Pedrosa, but he was trying to win. Yeah, it was a mistake , maybe he should have left Hayden more room, but next years job and income depended somewhat on the outcome of the race. If you say he should have backed off then why call it a RACE | ||
| Rocketman |
See what you started Scott, lol. Next thing you know, Ped's fan club will be here Rocket | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Maybe a fast fat bastard then? Maybe! At least until you start huffing and puffing! See it just took one person to agree with you in public to open the floodgates!....Ok, more like opening a faucet  I'm real, real happy Nicky took the championship and I hope he can repeat, but I see what you see in Ped for the future. | ||
| Rocketman |
I'm happy he took it too. He displays a really likable personality and some of his quotes should become legendary they're that good. Rocket | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Racers race that is for certain, but when you look at Champions they did not have a "win or crash" mentality. Pedrosa seemed to make a unenlightened move early on. If you say it wouldn't be a race without moves like this, I would counter that you have to keep the bike in one piece to continue racing..so saying he was racing to win...by crashing...doesn't really add up. Racing to win is passing your teammate on the last lap with a good move and taking points regardless of any team considerations, not doing some kamikaze corner and taking yourself and others out of the race, the only person that gained anything that day was Rossi. My two pennies. | ||
| Blake |
"If you say he should have backed off then why call it a RACE" When every competitor "races" like that, it is called a smash-up derby, not a race. | ||
| Rocketman |
Liquor, read back and ye shall find the answers ye seek. Rocket | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
liquor, I don't disagree with you, but just because Ped shouldn't have done that move at that time doesn't mean that he should not of been racing to win! Every racer in history has made mistakes, the lucky ones live to try again. Many legendary racers were on the reckless side in their earlier days - that is what youth does! Heck, you've been riding a good long time haven't you? Haven't you ever been reckless? As for Ped's future, isn't it posted all over that making good decisions come from experience and experience comes from surviving bad decisions? I'm betting that we will see Pedrosa mature into a champion and that he gained a great deal of "experience" from that incident. Racing is something like 2 parts preparation, one part what the rider or driver does on the track and one part luck. The endless and unpredictable combinations of how that will play out on the track is why we watch. If you (not you in particular liquor) can't stand it when somebody makes a mistake, why watch? |
