Well, this weekend it was time. I took a trip on a favorite road more or less at the highest possible speed since it was dry. Quite soon the empty fuel indicator began to light, but I didn’t care since it was only about 30 km’s to the gas station and it should be no problem.

However, since I drove at a very high revs with full power accelerations, and the bike takes more fuel now at full power due to a new exhaust system, it went dry about 2 km’s (1+ mile) from the gas station. The last two km is uphill... I began to push the bike quite quick, and was real surprised how light it felt despite a weight of 230 kg’s. After half the distance I begin to felt real warm and took the helmet and jacket of. The speed went down more and more, and almost at the end I thought I would pass out. Finally at the last roundabout, just a couple of hundred meters from the gas station, it is downhill, great. While still pushing the bike slowly I tried to jump up on it to have a nice rest just rolling the last distance.

The 2 km’s had taken its tribute, and I simply dropped the bike on the right side. I guess both the brain and body where as empty as the fuel tank; normally one doesn’t try such things. On the right side there was a sharp raised stone step between the road and a surrounding walkway. The right side landed right on it and I heard a solid crash sound thinking - there goes the fairing, the gas tank, the new carbon muffler and the rear cove [] I was lucky and the landing forces was limited to the side fairing. The scrapes looked quite ugly though. At home I polished the scrapes and almost all marks went right away. Even where the scrapes had gone thru the paint, it is not easy to see since the paint is very dark gray and the plastic is black. I don’t think I need to try this again.

 

I didn't think we had a fuel warning light, or did you mean the red zone

 

I've changed to a Blackbird, still visiting this great forum though.

 

Don't you just hate those brain farts? just the other day I decided to cut a half inch off my Valk dragbars with my sawsall to make the bars a little narrower. I had my clutch lever dangling about a foot below where I was cutting and was planning to leave a little bit and just bend it off the end, but it went all the way through and of course left some nice scratches on the end of my perfect adjustable chrome lever.
When I innitially installed the bars, I went for a ride without checking clearance and now have two tiny dimples on my otherwise perfect custom painted tank. And I was so carefull not to ding the tank during the install! I hate those totally avoidable blemishes - the only one who sees them is me but it's like a constant reminder of my stupidity.

 

lucky or what????? If that was me the bike would have fallen the opposite way or on me, well, you gotta smile. How do you like the bird, been thinking about getting one for my next poject but wont be selling the cbr, that my baby.

 

Yes I was real lucky this time. I got the Hurricane on top of me once and know how nice that feels. The Bird is an absolutely great missile and I'm using it with a smile every day. I've installed Devil slip-ons, and a new fully adjustable Ohlins rear shock is ordered (on sale here). Not that a new rear shock is a must, but I want a better suspension than stock since the engine is so strong and the bike in general is worth it. Good for you to plan keeping the Hurricane. Mine consumed too much oil for being the right bike for extensive long-term hard use, and I also have a newer Suzuki. Three bikes would have been one too much. The Hurricane would definitely have been kept if my wife would have liked to use it, but she have little interest for motorcycles.

 

I know how you feel! Years ago I had a GPZ1100 with a big bore kit and high comp pistons. The starter died so I used to push start it. It had so much compression that I had to jump right up in the air and drop the clutch just as my bum hit the seat or the rear would lock in secong gear. One time it locked up and I went straight over on the right hand side. None of my mates saw me but I did the right thing and told them! I've also dropped my CBR in the shed and couldn't believe what a pratt I was/am. We've all done it, but for a while I thought I was the only one. Good on you for sharing your misadventure with us.
Dave.

 

A simple fix for a dry tank.

(1) Using your onboard tool kit remove the feul tank.
(2) Using your thumb go get a some feul (not to much or the tank will be heavy)
(3) Using your thumb return to the bike and install the tank.

 

Thanks for sharing. I must admit I giggled a bit as I visualised you laying it down on the right side after all the hard work you had done to get to that point. No doubt feeling pretty cool and froody about it. Me, i'd have lit a Marlboro whilst I was coasting as well. But that's only because i've been there - the very day I acquired a GTR1000 (Concours) I pulled into a garage to check the tyre pressures. I attempted to put it onto it's centrestand, failed and it rolled forward and leaned over to the right away from me. No way was I stopping that baby going down but I damn near pulled my arm off trying and had a deep gouge in my leg to show off as well. A guy jumped out of his car and helped me pick it up. The snapped brake lever, scratches and small cracks in the fairing were nothing compared to my injured pride. I still cringe when I think about it. hahaha!

 

Heehee, I've got a good story. I was at the dealership picking up a part a couple years ago. While walking to my van, I turn to see a guy dressed like a Harley rider with a beenie helmet on riding what looked like a brand new BMW touring bike, you know the one that costs over 20k? he was entering the dealership off the main road, and when he went over the small dip into the parking lot he was going too slow and it fell over, in slow motion like. He started struggling to get it back up from his seated position, but the hulk couldnt have picket that thing up like that. I walked over and the two of us picked it up and I said something like "at least you learned something here" and he shot me an embarassed look and said thanks.
So he motors over to the building and parks his bike, but this place has a very tilted lot- you need to take your time parking and tilting the bars so the bike can't tip over but he just plops the side stand down and struts into the place. Not 3 seconds after he hits the door I hear CRUNCH! it fell over down the grade - this time there's real damage - mirror broke off, major scratches on hard bags and fairing, etc. I took off quick, I had no desire to see his reaction when coming back out.