What's up guys. I have been lurking here for a while now since I picked up my '07 vfr around October and have already learned a wealth of immediately useful knowledge about my bike. SO firstly, thank you! The bike was very cheap to me and was a little dinged up but I'm slowly cleaning it up as I have the time and cash flow. Unfortunately a few days ago I went down on 'er in bad weather and roughed my leg up and rashed up the already painted over fairings. A minor setback (I'm sure it won't be the last). I can't leave well enough alone anyway so I'm undeterred and will continue to fix the bike up. I daily ride and very much enjoy the vfr for this task. Here is a pic of the bike in it's recent but former condition with my ladies nc700x, I will post an updated pic when some new bits come in the mail. Thanks again for already so much help in these old posts, forums like these are an extremely underrated resource imo. Cheers
Welcome and glad to hear that you are okay after a small get off. Be sure to join VFRdiscussion forum also as great info is a bit of a Venn diagram of the two. Care to share what happened so that we might learn from it?
Yes sure I'll sum it up. A good lesson but maybe only for new riders I'll preface that I daily to work, and have gotten lazy about gear so this night I had only jacket, helmet, unarmored boots (my "summer weight" gloves are almost non-existent) and my work shorts. It had rained while I was working so I rode home wet and I went the back way home to avoid traffic because of this. I do it often. The end of that back way before you get to my street is a parking lot next to a train yard. It's rutted and has train tracks crossing in the asphalt but the vfr usually has no issues with it. Rain had flooded the lot with some clear dry patches visible, and that same night I had been "forced" to go through a flooded street because of traffic and had no issues. So I proceeded for about 3 feet after my turn onto the street and I was under the bike in no time like both wheels shot out from me to the right and caught my left leg under the bike. First drop with any injury as this is my 2-3 year riding. All factors that lead to the drop are my poor judgement calls all made in the moment, after a long day and week, on a route I do daily. It hurt lol I am a little bit skinned and mangled, walking funny and giving my poor girlfriend a hard time. Unfortunately it gets worse, I have armored pants and boots and gloves, my tires are past wear marks and I have the new set already just waiting to go on, and I knew that route was sketchy because I've done it. I was a block from home. I'm still in my (late) twenties but this is one of the dumber things I've pulled off. A guy who heard it came and helped me get it up out of the puddle we were in, he is the real mvp. For all my mistakes and my hurt leg I still was very lucky and very grateful the moment I stood up from the wreck that I was okay. I couldn't stop saying it. Raw knee on ground is not cool guys, under bike is bad too I wouldn't recommend. I will check out vfrdiscussion too, got a lot of help there as well! cheers
Yup. Not a wise choice of roads to ride in the rain, especially if all those tracks and holes are hidden by water. But we live and learn. Of course. I have never had any offs. You should go introduce yourself properly on the introductions thread, then join a few of us over here too You dropped it how many time! | VFRworld
Welcome Wolstead from the other side of the planet. If nothing else you have discovered one important lesson about these bikes - they are relatively top heavy and like to take a nap. You are not alone and yes Randy tends to fib at times - see this thread https://vfrworld.com/threads/you-dropped-it-how-many-time.44298/ As you can see 40+ pages of others have been there before you and you now join their illustrious ranks..) Basically if riding at low speeds (through a lake) once they pass the point of no return they ARE going down. So rather than risk back injury with a heroic save, the best advice is to get out the way, as being trapped under a quarter tonne of motorbike can be bad. In your case if that road is likely to remain a regular choice then you really should consider fitting decent frame sliders which minimise damage to bike and rider as they keep the bike slightly clear of the ground in a tip over. R&G make a complete set for the 6th Gen models which include a modified coolant reservoir allowing the sliders to mount driectly to the bike frame, whilst using a special synthetic bobbin material designed to adsorb energy and greatly reduce damage. The other lesson is ATGATT. We never know when decent riding gear will be needed - but you will kick yourself if you have an accident and did not bother to wear All the Gear All The Time. Take care SkiMad
thanks for the well wishes everyone and thanks for the sound advice. I am NOT the no gear guy usually, and this lapse of judgement has reinforced that. I have ordered a few crash bobbins/bungs/mushrooms along with my replacement bits, although I will probably pick up more protection like that r&g set in the near future. No new leg skin on ebay though maybe I need a VPN to see those listings lol. I understand all bikes have strengths and limitations and the rider is usually at the heart of either. still love the vfr so far. cheers
