Not dropped per se, more like fell over. During a trip down to Pidcock’s this Saturday to collect my new Santiago boots, I suffered the ultimate embarrassing spill. I wish someone had caught it on video!! Picture the scenario – I’m approaching a T junction in a small village somewhere near Breedon – yes I was wandering aimlessly – barely moving, feet up, check left and right, turn to the right to head downhill – engine cuts dead, a stall, not enough revs, I go down like a sack of shit. As the bike stopped instantly I was actually flung off to the side and went rolling down the bloody hill, eventually sitting up in the middle of the road – good job nothing was coming– lol. Leaping up I turned and saw the sickening sight of my beloved K1300GT laying unceremoniously on it’s side. You know the feeling, what’s damaged, how much is it going to cost, how the fuck am I going to pick up a 280kg bike on my own.
The latter turned out to be easy, despite the top of the bike being lower than the bottom due to the extreme camber of the road. Remembering videos I had seen on YouTube of Police riders demonstrating the safe technique for lifting a heavy cop bike, it was time to put it into practise. Turn with your back to the bike, squat down as if about to bench press, grab the lowest bar in one hand and grab rail in the other, walk back and up slowly in small, deliberate steps – a doddle – the bike was upright in seconds – God bless YouTube. Push the bike to the side of the road and obtain a damage report. Mirror folded up but no damage, very light scratching to right side of nose cone and scratches to right hand side fairing panel. The trailing edge coming off worst as it is down to the black plastic base. No damage to exhaust, pegs levers or bars and no broken plastic at all – not bad I suppose. This is the sort of damage you can expect if it falls off the side stand, mind you, I didn’t have the panniers on.
On arrival at Pidcock’s I collected my new boots and priced up a new side panel and nose cone – kiss £600 goodbye I was told. That can wait until after winter – let’s not tempt fate again eh!!
To cheer myself up, despite the inclement weather, I headed home via Ashbourne, Dovedale and Matlock stopping for lunch at the Okeover Arms in Mappleton, a new venue for me. It turns out bikes are welcome here as the owner, Robert, is a racer of classic bikes – a Ducati I think he said - and he runs a ZXR750 road bike during the better months. Sitting beside the roaring log fire my superb Liver and Onions meal went down very well indeed and placated m somewhat.
By the time I got home all was forgotten and I set to the task of cleaning the dirty, filthy beast. Once she was spotless again the damage is minor but more apparent. Best go and tell the missus !!