SeaCat
Hey, my Halo is smoking
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2003
- Posts
- 15,378
As you know I've been having some problems with the bike. It's been a pain in the butt. I finally got it back together and this morning my wife and I decided to get it out on the road and do some riding even though it was cold out.
We grabbed our gear and fired up the bike. Man it was cold out. I knew we needed gas, the bike was on reserve. We motored down to the gas station and filled up before heading off for a nice little ride.
By the time we turned to head for home we were some 20 miles south. I hopped on a road I knew ran all the way to my neighborhood and ff we went. I was enjoying myself. Yes it was cold out but the heat from the engine and the sun on my leathers felt good.
About half way home we came up to a sharp right hand curve. I was expecting it and slowed slightly before leaning into it. The speed limit there was posted at 50 but I slowed to 45. Now this curve is well over 100° and fairly tight.
I leaned into the turn and was enjoying how the bike was handling when I saw a cruiser parked across the road blocking both lanes. Truly an oh shit moment. I backed off the gas some more and started standing the bike up so I could stop even as I heard a car behind me locking up their tires.
It didn't take me more than a moment to realise that I wouldn't be able to stop before hitting the cruiser. This wasn't looking good. Then I noticed something. To the right of the cruiser there wasn't a curb. No curb, just dirt then grass. There was no hesitation on my part. I leaned into the curve again only this time I really leaned into it as I blipped the throttle. The bike felt great as it dove into the sharper turn then straightened up under me. I was again grabbing my brakes as we hit the dirt. I was up on my pegs and off the front brakes when we hit the grass, I wanted the front wheel free wheeling. We were doing maybe 30 when we left the tar and I was fighting to keep the bike upright and under control.
As soon as the bike slowed down some more I started playing the throttle and turned the bike back towards the roadway. Now a 500+ pound bike is not meant for off roading but it's amazing what you can do when you have to. I had a rooster tail behind us and left a trench through the grass as I made my way back to the tar.
When we reached the road again I stopped the bike and allowed my wife to climb off before I dropped the stand and shut the bike down. I climbed off, pushed up my face shield and pulled a cigar out of a pocket. We leaned against the bike and watched as the police and rescue worked a car off the road. (They did move the cruiser further down the road.)
When I finished my cigar we climbed back on the bike and finished our ride home. I'm happy to say the rest of the ride was quiet and calm. Not even an idiot trying to cut me off to mar our enjoyment.
I almost had to clean out my drawers after this ride though.
Cat
We grabbed our gear and fired up the bike. Man it was cold out. I knew we needed gas, the bike was on reserve. We motored down to the gas station and filled up before heading off for a nice little ride.
By the time we turned to head for home we were some 20 miles south. I hopped on a road I knew ran all the way to my neighborhood and ff we went. I was enjoying myself. Yes it was cold out but the heat from the engine and the sun on my leathers felt good.
About half way home we came up to a sharp right hand curve. I was expecting it and slowed slightly before leaning into it. The speed limit there was posted at 50 but I slowed to 45. Now this curve is well over 100° and fairly tight.
I leaned into the turn and was enjoying how the bike was handling when I saw a cruiser parked across the road blocking both lanes. Truly an oh shit moment. I backed off the gas some more and started standing the bike up so I could stop even as I heard a car behind me locking up their tires.
It didn't take me more than a moment to realise that I wouldn't be able to stop before hitting the cruiser. This wasn't looking good. Then I noticed something. To the right of the cruiser there wasn't a curb. No curb, just dirt then grass. There was no hesitation on my part. I leaned into the curve again only this time I really leaned into it as I blipped the throttle. The bike felt great as it dove into the sharper turn then straightened up under me. I was again grabbing my brakes as we hit the dirt. I was up on my pegs and off the front brakes when we hit the grass, I wanted the front wheel free wheeling. We were doing maybe 30 when we left the tar and I was fighting to keep the bike upright and under control.
As soon as the bike slowed down some more I started playing the throttle and turned the bike back towards the roadway. Now a 500+ pound bike is not meant for off roading but it's amazing what you can do when you have to. I had a rooster tail behind us and left a trench through the grass as I made my way back to the tar.
When we reached the road again I stopped the bike and allowed my wife to climb off before I dropped the stand and shut the bike down. I climbed off, pushed up my face shield and pulled a cigar out of a pocket. We leaned against the bike and watched as the police and rescue worked a car off the road. (They did move the cruiser further down the road.)
When I finished my cigar we climbed back on the bike and finished our ride home. I'm happy to say the rest of the ride was quiet and calm. Not even an idiot trying to cut me off to mar our enjoyment.
I almost had to clean out my drawers after this ride though.
Cat
