Went down hard... lesson learned - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

cvillechopper · 04-17-2008, 03:15 PM

So I had just finished getting the pristine 73' CB750 with full fairing, bags, etc tuned up for a friend. He sent me money, I bought it and got it running just about perfectly. Time for a test ride.

I pull down my gravel access road and come to a stop before going out onto the pavement and the back tire skids with very little pressure. No biggie, it's the gravel. Off I go. After about 2 miles of perfection I turn around (had very little gas in the tank for the first run) and head back home. Near the half way mark I enter a slight bend/ corner around 50mph (usually take this one at 65) and there is a guy walking about 3ft into the road. I change lines and barely touch the brakes. BAD IDEA!!! The rear grabbed and didn't let go. I started to loose the rear and stood her back up to control the ride toward the trees. Luckily I missed the 1ft+ diameter trees and took out a few dozen 1 to 3 inchers before I lost control in the leaf clutter and got thrown. I took out the sissy bar with my back and a few smaller trees on the way down.

The guy was freaked that I jumped back up and picked up the 850lbs bike like it was nothing but I don't remember any of that. Evidently I called my wife to bring the truck but memory is almost nothing at this point.

end result: Sprained ankle, back/shoulder/neck spasms (fairly minor after my chiro adjustment) and assorted bruising. The bike has bent forks and fender, a huge dent where the stopper broke and the fork hit the tank, and a busted up fairing. I've been able to patch and paint the fairing and the crashbars, bag rails, and fairing helped to spare the bike for the most part.

I haven't yet pulled the rear but have tested out the brake while it's on the lift and there is so much corrosion inside the drum and lever that it grabs immediately and releases when you pull the pedal back up. I can't believe I didn't check that before the first ride. Just plain stupid. The guy I got it from hadn't ridden it in about 1 1/2 years but it was in a shed so I just assumed it would be ok.

Note to self... check EVERYTHING properly and don't brush off the little signs of trouble.