I was in terrible pain and badly bruised up ... saw my bike and just cried :-(

Both sides were banged up.........

 

That's not a pretty sight jules....Were you ok? What happened if you dont mind me askin?

 

It's a long story but basically I had been a really confident rider since I was 16, biking was everything to me and then I got struck down by illness ... I couldn't ride for nearly a year and suffered terrible frustration ... then back end of last August/September I think it was I simply felt if I don't ride soon I never will again, I took the bike out before I was fit or well enough and was surprised by my own weakness ... I hit a car, completely misjudged a situation and couldn't take the braking force due to my weak arms ... bike hit the car and then the road and I was bounced out into the middle of the road nearly hit by a car in the opposite direction ... 17 years blemish free record, an F3 in concours condition and I ruined it all in a moment of madness :-(

I was very bruised on my legs, thighs and arm/shoulder ... if I had not had full gear on it would have been much worse ...


Jules

 

nice bikes you both got

 

So glad you wern't seriously hurt Jules, moments of madness are hard to fight dont you think. A few years ago I used to study martial arts and It taught me so many things about myself and life in general. I remember one of the many times my master was using me as a punchbag and he said something to me that has always stuck. Basically it went like this......"why do you think I punish you like this? he said......"to teach me how to react in real life" I said......then he said...."you never know what true success feels like until you know what it feels like to fail"..............Maybe thats why you took your bike out that day......I know the last thing you would want to do is wreck you pride and joy jules, but the urge to ride again was so strong that even though you knew you were not well enough to ride you done it anyway and thats when fate decided it's time for a life lesson for Jules.. It gave you hurt and loss all at once and probably the biggest lesson you have learned to date? So now when you ride, you so know how it feels, that you appreciate your time on your new RR so much more as you have experienced the worst part of riding.
God that was deep wasn't it, thats the most I have said about anything for ages....did I even make sense then?? I have a habbit of going on and on about something that I end up getting lost in what I was even trying to say.

 

Actually, you are right here ... I came to this conclusion a while back ... it's sounds crazy now but I am glad I did it, it was a wake up call ..you know, when you have never crashed a bike or know what the pain feels like you only have imagination ... but now I know the horrible forces involved and there is nothing you can do ... inertia just throws you like a rag doll ... it's a wonderful and fun past time but it can kill us in a second if we forget, it's made me appreciate the RR so much more ... the F3 is also looking quite good again as I have fully completed restoring one side ... I will take some new pics soon :-)

Jules

 

Cant wait to see it. Will you ride it just as much as the new bike or is this a restoration project, then retired into the corner of the living room like a priceless work of art?

 

I will definitely use it ... it has a certain quality and feel that only another F3 rider understands and I love old school ... I will use it for work eventually and my RR will be for high days and holidays ... I got a lot of parts off ebay in the original colour and mint too :-) ... just one or two bits to get and I can make her like new again :-)



Jules

 

If you spot the lower right fairing in our colour give me a shout straight away please J, thats the main fault on mine and I'm wanting to sort it big time. Thanks

 

I managed both lowers now in new condition and both cowl covers, one rear seat cowl, screen and both mirrors ... I bought the indicators new :-)

If I see anything I will let you know

Jules