Triumphrat

Coroja

We have a thread about moments that make you feel smug, so how about one to list the times you felt foolish? I'll start...

Last Saturday, the wife and I pulled into a gas station followed shortly by a cruiser rider wearing the standard uniform: T-shirt, jeans and half-helmet. I began my usual rant about how these people seem to think they will never have an accident. Somewhere in mid-rant, I mentioned that I NEVER rode without at least a denim jacket, long pants, gloves and boots, even in the old days (1970's) when purpose-built riding attire was extremely limited.

Sunday, my wife was going through some old boxes in the garage and came across an envelope of faded pictures. There I was, astride my 1974 Commando, apparently making several camera passes around a corner wearing, you guessed it, a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers. I did have on a 3/4 helmet. She put one of the pictures up on the fridge and told me there would be no more gear rants.

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The people who talk the most generally have the smallest results. Results speak for themselves. - Matt Mladin

englane

I'll jump on this.
I rode for the longest time with only a learners permit. After all, why take the test when you've still got time on the clock to study for it, right? Anyway, the problem was that in Ohio, you can't ride at night or on interstates or without a helmet, etc if you only have a permit. Luckily I was wearing all my gear when it happened (yeah, I guess I'm not all dumb) but I got pulled over on my way home from work one night, just about to get onto the interstate... with only my permit. Luckily he was cool and only got me for riding at night on a permit, but it cost me 250 bones and an afternoon in court. The rest of the punishment? "Get your endorsement within a months time or you have to pay another $250." Best encouragement I had ever gotten to get my endorsement.

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2004 Thruxton
TPUSA 904, TPUSA Stage 1 Head, FCR 39, Modified Ignitor, D&D 2 into 1, HARK, FEK, Barnett clutch springs, Pazzo levers, Ikon shocks, Works fork springs, Carrozzeria wheels, custom a123 LiFePO4 battery system and more...

saphena

My moment came after fuelling up in Northern Spain.

A very stylish young lady rode onto the forecourt next to me just as I was getting ready to leave: Repsol coloured leathers, shiny sportsbike.

I mounted Sheila, pressed the starter, kicked up the sidestand, clicked into first and accelerated smoothly away

only for the engine to die right in front of the distraction.

I now have the vacuum hoses cable-tied.

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Bob - Ringer, Iron Butt, not dead yet
Switch to reserve ~120 miles, fuel panic ~150

"Just because you're offended doesn't make you right" Ricky Gervais

gn2

Daftest thing I ever did on a Triumph was to attempt to jump off a humpback bridge only to see a tractor waiting to turn right across my path.
I slammed on the brakes, the back wheel locked up, realising I wasn't going to stop, I opened up the throttle and swerved around the front of the tractor then pulled hard left just clipping the bus that was coming the other way with my pillion's knee.
He never got on the back of a bike with me ever again.
Maybe if it hadn't been a Tiger Trail with duff brakes and knobblies it would have stopped in time......?

mozart

Reminds me of the time I explained to some one you should always make sure your pistol didn't have one in the camber before you put it away. Then to make sure I accidently fired a round through my door as I tested it. The hole remains as a reminder not to be so righteously stupid.

Blue

Coroja

Mozart,

At least the hole isn't in your foot!

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The people who talk the most generally have the smallest results. Results speak for themselves. - Matt Mladin

McQueen

I had a heated but friendly argument with a bunch of vintage bike riding buddies. I was enlightening them to the obvious superiority of my Norton--which included me proclaiming multiple times that it was a one-kick bike. When it came time to leave, the crowd had gathered to bask in the awesome one-kick coolness of the big N15. I think you know the end of this story by now...12 kicks later...

I save the bragging till AFTER she starts.

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+ Ton Up Club NorCal +

Nothing says "it's my first day on the Internet!" like putting a picture in your signature.

Coroja

McQueen,

I had a similar experience with my Stage 3 Commando only the kick-start pawl sheared on the first kick, causing me to hyper-extend my knee. Everybody got a big laugh at my expense, while they were carrying me to the emergency room.

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The people who talk the most generally have the smallest results. Results speak for themselves. - Matt Mladin

McQueen

Yikes! I had a similar experience freeing a REALLY sticky clutch on my '79 Bonnie. No emergency room visit, but I was starting the bike with my left leg for almost a month.

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+ Ton Up Club NorCal +

Nothing says "it's my first day on the Internet!" like putting a picture in your signature.

daytonacharlie

About 15 years ago while leading a ride with five of my riding buddies through the North Carolina mountains I decided to pull over at a rest stop. We'd been tearing it up for the last 20 or so miles (back in my ZX-11 days) and I figured we could all use a break to bask in our coolness for being such gods of moto-skill and speed. When I came to a stop I was so excited to get off the bike and celebrate our greatness that I completely forgot to put down the sidestand...
Needless to say all my buds gathered 'round to a) make sure I was OK, b) determine if I'd had a crash, c) laugh their arses off when the truth was revealed,
d) help me pick up my crunched ZX, and e) remind me of the incident when ever 2 or more of us gather, for eternity.


dc

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