Street surfing is not optional in motorcycling

Street surfing is not optional in motorcycling

I recently used the above quote in a Facebook message to a good friend who had an unfortunate slide this summer and It got me thinking about accidents and injuries as I hate to think how many times I had  bounced down the road in my younger days.

Started riding at about 8 years on in the woods and foreshore where the Orwell bridge now stands. Initially on little Villers powered "bikes" and then on to larger triumphs, Norton's and BSA,s as in the late sixty's no one wanted the British stuff.

Jap machines were faster, didn't handle but, much faster so you could by a 500/ 650 bike for a couple of quid, with a full tank of gas, and just rag it about the woods... Really hate to think about how many bikes my brother and I destroyed as teenagers.

Anyhoo the street surfing comment came to me because of a memorable slide on a DT175 in about 1975.

I was coming into Ipswich, along the Hadleigh road, and as I turned left into town I suddenly found myself sitting on top of the bike, which was on its side underneath me, with both feet across the front wheel. No idea how my left leg cleared the tank and bars but there I am sliding towards a petrol station.....
Not a big problem you might think but my problem was not the patch of diesel I had just , unknowingly, hit but with the fact the the early DT,s had a high and side mounted exhaust.......  that I was now sitting on.....  Still sliding...... Getting warmer....... Wonder if they have some eggs to go with this bacon......

Guess there are two basic types of accidents.... Those where it all happens so fast you have know idea about anything and those where it all goes into slow motion and you see everything unfolding in front of you.

The DT slide was instantaneous but I have had many where I had time to roll a fag, if I actually smoked, and I must admit I quite liked the adrenaline rush.

Take my little "incident" in September 2012 (not going into how bad car drivers have got in general lately - do that another post) I'm I Bury St Edmund's and I'm heading towards this roundabout as I  follow a MPV who was turning right - I see this Golf to the left and did not get that glazed/ straight through you look so imagine my surprise when, as the MPV in front of my turned off, I heard the engine revs rise on the Golf.
I just look at him, he was still looking behind me while pulling out, and think " this is going to hurt"  -  didn't panic -  just lent towards him so as he hit me the bike slid rather than being punted over....
When I'm on his bonnet he, finally, sees me.... And brakes..... And I slid off.
Very lucky that this all happened at about 10 mph

Really spooky thing was that my niece, who I had not seen for months, was in a car coming up the other way and saw the whole thing. I am still sitting on the floor when she comes running up to me, shaking more than I was.... Just another small world moment I guess.

Its strange but I knew I would be all right because I had time to, was able to, react whether through 50+ years road riding, all the enduro and trials riding, or just because I fell so many times I don't know....

I do know that ridding off road make you a far better road rider. Your responses are quicker and you don't panic if you come out of a corner broadside.....

I am not, in any way, trying to belittle any accident as I have lost far to many friends, over the years, and seen parts of some of them that were meant to stay on the inside.

Ride smart ride safe and if you can try riding off-road.

ttfn