Things that make you go D'Oh!

Well, that was nearly interesting!

I knew I was right on the verge of needing go-juice in the bike, but decided to
wait until later when I'm due to go to work, as I figured I had another 5 miles
before reserve. Sitting in traffic for ages waiting for the numbnut car drivers
in the heavy queue of traffic blocking the road I was turning into to clear.
They were helpfully nose to tail over the big "Keep Clear" painted on the road.

Anyhoo I'd been idling away for at least 5 mins, when behold a lo, a gap
appears. Jolly fab, thinks I, and goes to turn right in a graceful and
controlled manner. Bike decides to sod that for a game of soldiers, and
surprisingly wants to go no further without some decent unleaded.

Full right lock engaged, with both feet up as I've had drummed into me. Much
ungraceful tipping over to the right ensues with me just managing to get the
right foot down, and hauling left for all I'm worth. Luckily for me, I am what
can only truly be described as a "Big Burd™" and after what seemed like an hour
was able to wrench it upright again without dropping it.

I can only imagine what was going through the minds of the car drivers stuck in
a queue whilst said wrenching and hauling was going on.

I think that completes the scheduled Cardio and Resistance Weight Training
requirements for the day.

Must remember.. CB500 does not have helpful little Low Fuel Warning Light. D'Oh!

 

Today I've learned that Kawasakis have some form of device that stops you
letting the clutch out, in gear, with the side stand down and no amount
of revving overcomes it.

It only took, erm, ages to work it out.

 

D'Oh!

It does have a reserve setting on the fuel tap though.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going)
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

it's annoying, isn't it?

Not as annoying as the fact you can't engage 2nd from neutral to
bump-start the thing...

 

Put it in first from neutral, then kick it up to 2nd. Pretty sure that
worked on my ZZR6

 

I think I've sorted the alarm. It seems to be slightly less sullen now
it's got a new battery in the key fob thing.

It's still pretty fucking unhelpful and takes ages to disarm as I seem to
have to cycle through most of the permutations before have the nerve to
move it.

 

Filter , filter , filter !
Otherwise you may as well sit in a car yourself, at least you would have
aircon.

 

I once started my old XJ900 up and then walked it backwards out of my
drive. Left lock full on as I turned onto the road (Backwards) and my
right foot caught the gear shift, into first she went, lurched forwards
and stalled. Due to the left lock and me standing on the left of the
bike she tipped away from me. A balancing act ensued which I was slowly
losing. Eventually bike fell over and broke the right hand mirror off,
arse.

Right bugger to pick up. I now NEVER start the engine prior to backing
a bike out, there's no-way I'd be able to pick my CBR1000 up on my own.

 

Wimp!

The other week there was a banana skin on the pavement outside my house.
I think it was an omen as a couple of days later I stalled while leaving
for work, my foot slipped...and the banana skin grinned at me from a
couple of yards away.

Anyway, 219Kg (dry weight) of old gixxer is easy enough to pick up
with the right technique so perhaps you need a smaller bike or some
lessons from a gym teacher.

 

Dan White wrote

Standard practice on many bikes with similar mechanisms ime.

 

it seems to eat batteries - fucking thing.

Do you want me to come down and pick it up, or can you deliver, mister?

 

I think you missed this bit

 

I am constantly amazed by the positive and supportive nature of
everyone here.

 

Nope, saw that and I bet it was still filterable
There is always the pavement .... or shock horror, loop round another way

 

9.co.uk wrote

Stick around, you may learn something. Although I doubt anybody will
open a book on it.

 

Glad to be of service.
Does the AA come out for a bike on its side in a car park?
Will a passer-by sue you after getting a slipped disc helping you to
lift it?

 

I managed to pick up my Quota despite having, as it turned out, a
broken collarbone.

 

<snip>

There is a trick you can use in this type of situation. If you know
that switching to reserve might very well happen soon and can
cause a bit of trouble, just switch over right away and start
counting down the miles just like if it was "for real".
I started doing this when I got caught out a few times on my
SR500. Single carb, single cylinder (looses 100% drive right away),
strong engine braking, kick start. Sometimes I do it just for an
overtake and go back to normal again once things are a bit less
hectic.
If you have a bit of feel for the bike, there is often some
warning before the engine actually dies.

 

Indeed, but it was the whole "Surprise" aspect of the running out whilst not in
a position to switch over that did it ) Switching to reserve in Lane 3 of the
M1 was no problem!

 

I had filtered, and was trying to turn right across the line the other way.
Sitting with the right indicator on growling at the idiots going in the opposite
direction who'd blocked the "Keep Clear" box preventing me from completing the
turn. Couldn't have got a pushbike between them!