Suzuki and their and their dangerous C109rs

[camaleon]

Originally Posted by english bull terrier

Hello everyone, I wasn't going to write this new thread at all,but after long thought I feel compelled to do so. Those who have read any of my posts might know I owned a C109r [as in did]. Well about 6 weeks ago I was out riding locally on quiet-paved good ,quality roads and came around a pretty tight right hand turn,prior to the turn I did reduce speed-to about 50kpm. As I entering the turn all of a sudden there was a VERY LARGE amount of sand and gravel mix on the road [across] both lanes. It seems like some sort of dump truck lost part of its load or the back tailgate let some of the mix out inadvertantly.Seeing this on the road and NOT being able to go around I grabbed a handfull of front brake while applying the back brake at the same time ,while steering all the while. Well the C109r got a back tire lock-up and started do that "Death Wobble" that you about every so often. Then the C109r front forks did that SUDDEN left turn in[this is while slidding thru the gravel and sand mix[LOTS].Then the Beast went down on her[my] left side and down the road we both went. I thank the Lord-God Almighty there were no other vehicles around to run over me.Both the bike and I skidded about 40 ft. and came to rest in a farmers corn field.I had just had highway bars put on one week prior to this and one of the Brantford,Ontario firefighters who rescued me said "Those bars,probably helped save your life" -as in the C109r didn't tangle me up in her ,we just separated and she[c109r] skidded away on her own away from me.I was well dressed, but stilled passed out after stopping in the corn field. Good citizens and passerbys called 911, and within minutes the O.P.P. ,Brantford Fire Dept. and Paramedics were all the it was very reassuring the care they all gave me[proffessional]. After a weeks stay in the hospital with slight concussion[helmet on],two front teeth broken,six broken ribs,partially collapsed left lung,fractured ankle, two broken toes,and lts of skin missing[no grafts needed] as in "road rash". Well I'm home now and recovering nicely[limping and broken ribs are PAINFULL].Sorry about the long thread but in conclusion I just wanted to share my experience aboard my C109r and NO I wasn't drinking ,speeding or trying any stupid stunt driving-believe me the O.P.P. here aren't stupid,and if the was ANY indication of the above I would have been charged by them[O.P.P.] NO MERCY!!!!!. IN finishing I just would like to state that in my opinion only these C109rs are VERY,VERY,VERY, DANGEROUS motorcycles.With my old 1981 550 Maxim I'm certain I could have manoverd my way out of the same situation. With the BIG Suzuki they just want to go DOWN,period and it can be very scary.BY the way the bike was deemed a total "write-off and totally destroyed [I saw the pictures-unbelievable]. Still got my Yamaha 550 Maxim and Have been out riding in the last couple of days-very cautious.The insurance co. has been great[Jevco] and treated me VERY good on the settlement[bike was 4 months old].IN final it was nice to talk to all of you and get this experience off my mind. PLEASE be carefull out there I wasn't being stupid and look at what can happen in a heartbeat. But again I must stress IN my opinion the SUZUKI C109s are DANGEROUS DANGEROUS machines. Sincerely yours the English Bull Terrier.

...

[camaleon]

Originally Posted by camaleon

{edited for personal attack}

Personal attack...

dont make me lol

[Thundurburd]

Hmm... Someones on their way to saying bye.

[GeorgiaRoller]

Originally Posted by Clint

Despite your "wall of text"....

Originally Posted by DrBob

the lesson is not that the C109 is dangerous; the lesson is that when we trade up to a larger, heavier bike with different handling characteristics we have to re-learn how to ride.

Originally Posted by Mario

Lucky you made it, hope for a speedy recovery.

I'm lazy today and everybody else already said it well.

[intimid8er]

Not to be one that reeks of vinegar and water but lets do a quick review...

You go into a right hand turn...

Possibly slightly hot....

See debris....

Apply brakes.....

Continue to turn with brakes applied through gravel and sand.....

Bike goes down........

Bike's fault?

[Rickster]

I wanted to get a better understanding of the OP's thinking, so I went back and read his 5 previous posts.

[Camp21178]

I'm also sorry that you got hurt, but it's tough to blame a certain model of bike for a crash. My son wobbled and flipped his little GS 450 and flew through the ditch on his face and jumped up to shut off his bike. Thank God for full helmets. I hope you heal up quickly. Good luck! Weird thing is, he sold that bike yesterday for twice what he paid for it.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by womper

i don't believe it's the bike's fault for the crash.

I hope he actually comes back and reads the responses in this thread.

For a little better perspective, see this other post:

http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/fo...tml#post531378

New rider
Too much bike
Not enough practice
Not enough experience

Outcome is pretty predictable; only the details change.

[camaleon]

Originally Posted by Thundurburd

Hmm... Someones on their way to saying bye.

u think?

[Thundurburd]

Originally Posted by camaleon

u think?

The mods must be feeling generous today. With your posts here and your RonaldMcdonald post over in the "spraycan baffles" thread I would have probably given you the boot.

[camaleon]

Originally Posted by Thundurburd

The mods must be feeling generous today. With your posts here and your RonaldMcdonald post over in the "spraycan baffles" thread I would have probably given you the boot.

some people can't take jokes...

not my fault that somebody blame a bike for an accident, it is like buy a gun and shot yourself in the foot... then compalin about the "dangerous" guns...

the ronald mcdonald was a joke and i hope does not get across the wrong way.

[womper]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

I hope he actually comes back and reads the responses in this thread.

For a little better perspective, see this other post:

http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/fo...tml#post531378

New rider
Too much bike
Not enough practice
Not enough experience

Outcome is pretty predictable; only the details change.

i tried to read that other post... but i got the gist of it...
i've ridden about 60,000km on some of the toughest roads i've heard of... and i don't think i'm ready for a bigger bike. hah.

a little sand? wow. i couldn't imagine what would have happened if there was an actual road hazard on the road.

sounds like clint's 4 phases of riding.
overconfidence bit him.

[koolbreeze25]

Sorry to hear about your accident and hope you have a fast recovery.

I think this might be the video you guys are talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78lKWG8Y7q4

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1v-dzz0hDk&feature=fvsr

It happens it the first few seconds of both, but it gives you an idea. Also check this one out.

Mota - Video

The last one I must give credit to Trapper, he posted this one 6/1/06

[frostbitevinnie]

I recall in the class Mr. Dude saying that the bike knows what the problem is and the bike gets rid of the problem.

[womper]

sounds like OP had a tankslapper.
Tankslapper@Everything2.com

too much weight on the rear, not enough up front and with loss of traction in the rear. he went down.
just a guess.


here's a nice tank slapper vid

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This media file is hosted outside Motorcycle-Journal forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.

I AGREE

here's one of a guy loosing traction on the rear wheel and gets a tank slapper...

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This media file is hosted outside Motorcycle-Journal forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.

I AGREE

[womper]

here's one where the racer had to clean his underwear

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This media file is hosted outside Motorcycle-Journal forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.

I AGREE

[english bull terrier]

Thank you to everyone who responded to my long winded thread[sorry about that], to answer a few questions asked: 1. I was wearing an open faced D.O.T. helmet. 2. I wasn't wearing a leather or motorcycle jacket [hot day]. 3.I'm 6ft. 225 lbs. and very fit. 4. No I was not driving the C109r like I drive my 550 Maxim[I know they are different bikes].5. I still --- deep down inside love the C1o9rs [I know I sound like a hypocrite], but I feel the C109r leaves NO;--as in NONE margin for error. Thats just my opinion. Thanks again for all yor replies and support ,I'll be riding again soon. I'm not a quitter. English Bull Terrier

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by english bull terrier

Thank you to everyone who responded to my long winded thread[sorry about that], to answer a few questions asked: 1. I was wearing an open faced D.O.T. helmet. 2. I wasn't wearing a leather or motorcycle jacket [hot day]. 3.I'm 6ft. 225 lbs. and very fit. 4. No I was not driving the C109r like I drive my 550 Maxim[I know they are different bikes].5. I still --- deep down inside love the C1o9rs [I know I sound like a hypocrite], but I feel the C109r leaves NO;--as in NONE margin for error. Thats just my opinion. Thanks again for all yor replies and support ,I'll be riding again soon. I'm not a quitter. English Bull Terrier

Again, not to be a douche....but it wasn't "the bike's margin for error" that caused you to do down here.

You were BRAKING THROUGH A CORNER!

In which, according to your description,.....there was SAND AND GRAVEL SPRINKLED ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE CORNER.

Apparently, you had too much back brake applied in sand and gravel and the rear swings out on you as they do when they are locked up in a lesser friction situation. The bike went down.

The same would happen on a Schwinn.

Maybe it's time to revisit MSF? OR maybe sign up if you haven't been?

[Mario]

Originally Posted by intimid8er

The same would happen on a Schwinn.

Well maybe not a Schwinn but definitely a Huffy

[camaleon]

Originally Posted by english bull terrier

I wasn't wearing a leather or motorcycle jacket [hot day].

Originally Posted by intimid8er

Again, not to be a douche....but it wasn't "the bike's margin for error" that caused you to do down here.

You were BRAKING THROUGH A CORNER!

In which, according to your description,.....there was SAND AND GRAVEL SPRINKLED ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE CORNER.