[ST] New front tire + turn = Gravity Storm.

[BikerDadHLV@xxxxxxxxxxxx (BikerDad)]

Sadly, yesterday, my Atomic Orange RS had a gravity storm induced meltdown, courtesy of a brand new front tire (approximately 500 yards on it!).

Sunday, I had a new tire mounted on the front.  Didn't get to ride it until yesterday, wasn't as aware of it as I should have been.  On my way to work (only 10 miles).  2 blocks from my house, the front end washes out on me at about 20 mph as I'm turning to leave my neighborhood.  I slide 15 feet on the asphalt, the bike slides 30.

Damage to the bike: twisted gear shift lever, scraped up turn signal (possibly broken), scraped and cracked left fairing, scraped left crankcase cover.  (Replacement cost info on the above would be appreciated, I can't check with my local dealer because I don't HAVE a local dealer.)

Damage to me: scraped up elbow from friction differential between me, the Joe Rocket, and the asphalt.  Mildly bruised hip and shoulder tip.  "charley horse" calf.

Damage to gear: none to the helmet (didn't hit), serious scuffing to the left boot and the entire outside of the left leg of my leathers.  Clearly visible damage to the jacket at the left wrist, shoulder and elbow.

I wasn't going for hard riding, I was going to work, where I would have to change into something different.  I wasn't doing 70, I was doing 20.  I wasn't in heavy traffic, I was leaving my own neighborhood.  Yet, I still wore my full gear, and am thankful that I did, because had I gone with jeans, I wouldn't be here today, I'd be laid up at home with a very nasty case of road rash.  Been there, done that, from a bicycle crash at 10mph.  I've got no interest in repeating the experience with the added bonus of higher speed and more weight to boost the energy that will have to be "scrubbed off." 

The moral: if you're going riding, wear it all.  Any other approach means that you think [b]you[/b] will be able to control [b]when[/b] you crash.  That, ladies and gentlemen, is the same thinking that squids and RUBs engage in.

Oh, the other moral: new front tires are far more treacherous than new back tires.


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