Well...I see what you're saying about the tires...I do pretty much trust em....so didn't mean to actually throw that out there like'hey you guys...don't depend on grip'...ya..it may have sounded like that...I didn't mean it like that.But you did mention off camber and all.That corner is fairly well 'angled'...UNTIL..the very end.just before it starts to straighten out.If you're not lined up and in the pocket when it does that,you will run wide.Which is what I did.For whatever reason.Had I been moving slower...perhaps the posted limit,whatever distracted me MAY have been moot.I probably will never know.But I am gonna do as ya said....sometime ahead.Drive up there(or ride again) and actually stop and look at it....see exactly what's up with that thing.It never DOES feel quite right ending that radius.I don't know what it is really,but it tightens very fast at a certain point.Yet it LOOKS very normal when taking it.I've ridden it many times.It's a series of "s's"....ending with that exit.So you enter above...at say...55,60...lean in...make the first couple of turns,then it ends with that last left hander.But by then your speed has increased...so it's quite decieving really.I forget that damn thing tightens up almost everytime I go on that one road there.This time I paid for forgetting.I've made that turn plenty of times....

I saw that vid....that's some wicked shit right there.Can't imagine missing a turn at 170.....geez.

I still don't know if I got pinned under my bike or what(I suspect I was).I had fuel all over my clothes...I know that.And I don't know how long I was laying there either...quite a while before anyone showed up.You would have thought ONE of those cars would have noticed SOMETHING as I went by...ya know?

I watched it too and came to before the crash 3 times.I been in so many crashes it's hard to tell.Maybe you needed to be a foot over to the left and pulled on the bars harder.Just an opinion from a fellow crasher.But it looked like it happened so fast.Think I'll get some gas and add my fuel stabilizer and call it a year.Get it back out next spring.
Craig

..boom...at 170MPH!

I saw that vid....that's some wicked shit right there.Can't imagine missing a turn at 170.....geez.

but he didn't quite walk away from that either. He was laid up for a while just like Grn will be. Martin had a similar neck vertabre injury, didn't he?

.....and of course there was no way to tell if there was a brain injury ...not on that guy! LOL

...what about that soft spoken tall guy? Forgot his name. He had won one or perhaps both of the races that year. He crashed at some time shortly after doing some small time racing event---qualifying or something. Broke his leg off at the ankle. All he cared about was getting it fixed so he could ride as well as he did before.

Damn. That's the way it is with your thing in life if you are blessed (or perhaps cursed) to have that. It's all you do and you can't stop it even if your head is telling you you have to.

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/8/2012 @ 3:30 PM *

JK on the brain injury jibe. I really think GM is a genius of some sort. He does everything fast. I'm positive he is thinking about 3x as fast as the average person and that may be a big part of what makes him such a talented racer.

."I been in so many crashes it's hard to tell"...well...you're still here and riding Audio.....you have to be doing things right to go as long as you have...and all the guys here.At least I won't have to winterize my bike this year (damn...and I just changed all the fluids!Sheesh).I really don't think it's 'luck' that guys like us ride bikes like these on the street and have been for years now.You gotta be doing something right to live with a machine this capable...I don't care what anyone says...wrecks are a part of rides......for most anyway.You might slip by doing 55 everywhere...maybe...probably.But anyone pushing the thrill factor with these is eventually gonna have a situation...wreck or no.I still wouldn't trade the Ninja for a cruiser...no offense to anyone.None of this changes my feelings about the 14 or 14R.It goes where you tell it to.Mess up...yer on yer own.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/8/2012 @ 3:54 PM *

Rook, that little guy was Ian Hutchinson, he won all five TTs at the IOM in 2010 then got taken out in a short circuit race, this stuff is unforgiving.

Yea Grn, you gotta run the best tires you can and trust them to hold. That's one thing I did learn from 1Bad, keep leaning, better to lowside it than run off the road or highside to the moon.

Anyway, this whole episode has been a sobering experience, I bet everyone is riding safer now.

Well..I hope they're riding smarter than I've been...that's for sure.

Lowside, go off road or highside. There is another approach. Go slower. Of course that is what they mean by riding sensibly and riding 90+%. The sensible rider is going to loose in a race to someone who is pushing it farther.

* Last updated by: Rook on 10/8/2012 @ 10:02 PM *

Grn - Glad to see that you're still with us buddy! Thank God! I haven't been getting on here much as of late - got other things going on in life. Just happen to be cruisin' and saw this! So sorry to hear about the accident, but glad as hell that you made it through! I hope that you get back on your feet soon and hopefully the insurance takes care of your ride! Good luck!

sorry to hear about the accident, but glad as hell that you made it through! I hope that you get back on your feet soon and hopefully the insurance takes care of your ride! Good luck!

+1...I can't wait til Grn get's his new bike and get's back to doing what he loves!

@Grn...what was your camera setup, that was some very sharp and clear video) Also, what did you mount it to on the bike? Looks like it was right behind and below the grill.

Ya GoPro Hero2...HD.1080P...11MB 'screen' setting.It does take some nice films.Suction cup mounted just aft of the turn signal...on the flat of the fairing right there.

Thanks Big....

The insurance just called...they totalled the bike.15,000 something to repair.Poor baby's toast me thinks.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/9/2012 @ 9:00 AM *

Hey green, I read through all the posts and saw the video... I'm just glad you are OK!!! Take care to mend yourself and to look after your mom (you only have one). Another bike will happen in due time when your ready; heal fast!

Thank You Shogun...yep...Mom IS #1....the bike...PFFFFT!....that's nothing really.But the dealer is ordering me a new 2013 ABS White one.So that's okay.....I'll accept that.I won't be riding like I was before though...no way.

Good to hear you have a bike on order, the white looks awesome!

Also good they totalled your old one, trust me, you didn't want it back.

No...i didn't want it back.He said it looked like she may have tumbled....before nailing that boulder.It's done now.She's history.New beginnings....new day.Tell ya this...there won't be any modding to the new one.....more than enough 'go fast' stock.I just can't get away from the ride quality of these big birds....got me hooked for sure.

I think the ABS is gonna be a VERY GOOD addition to this bike.I would imagine Kawasaki's(maybe)getting lots of reports about rear end locking...maybe.Mine would lock fairly easily...some guys said they couldn't get it to lock...mine would.

It would be nice to be able to scrub speed off without worrying about a slide...yes.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/9/2012 @ 11:08 AM *

mine has ABS...but i never use my rear brake

the dealer is ordering me a new 2013 ABS White one.So that's okay.....I'll accept that.

I'd say that's friggin awesome!!!

can't wait to see pics.

When my near miss happened I can't remember if I touched the rear brake.Didn't matter the back wheel was so far off the ground it was dancing on the front.I was thinking about going for a ride today to get gas for the fuel treatment.Just can't seem to get on it.Maybe tomorrow.Take care and good luck with the new bike.Thanx for thinking us as friends,feel the same away.
Craig

* Last updated by: audioboyz on 10/9/2012 @ 1:41 PM *

Well Craig...maybe just go out and sit on her...you know...think about the good things it gives to ya....it's truly a marvelous machine.I can't even IMAGINE what lofting the rear would be like!LOL!Must have been one helluva ride...I'm very glad you didn't dump...very.

"Thanx for thinking us as friends,feel the same away"...we are friends in my book.and I appreciate your kind words and support...always.It's not only about the bikes...that's 'secondary'IMO.I'm pretty amazed though that the insurance is moving so fast with this.They said...'up to three days'...and the check would be cut.My dealer ordered the bike.I didn't really 'ask' for any of this....the way things are going...but......

Sa'll good Audio...no need to push....wrecks shock everyone if they have any feelings at all.It is a risky pasttime we have...but safe as well...as safe as two wheels and common sense can make it.Not everyone crashes...you and me...we've had ours.....nothing new...so we know it's always possible.We just keep going and hopefully learning.You are a good friend...hopefully some time...we'll be able to meet up.

I LOVE the 14...whatever year.I couldn't stop riding one unless...well...I won't go there.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/9/2012 @ 2:28 PM *

"can't wait to see pics"...soon my Brother...soon....God willing.I like the contrast between the front cowl(white)and the lamp assemblies and such.Lots of character in the 14...all years.

Just can't seem to get on it.Maybe tomorrow.T

Same here. Common sense is all it is. I'm not pushing nothing until the ground is warm again. I was embarrassed at myself today. This time of year is good for straightline high speed as the main thrill. ...just watch where you do it.

I'm cringing Rookster...the thought of that...at least right now.(I think Audio meant 'sitting' on the bike...not riding it )("getting on it").??????This wreck may have shaken him up more than it did me.....If it means a safer rider...then it was worth it for everyone.I hope Audio's not gonna stop or anything.Maybe a short break.....if anything.That's cool.No matter what he chooses about his life....it's cool.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/9/2012 @ 7:31 PM *

Grn,

I'm so sorry to hear about your accident and your bike and most of all your moms. It's always good news to hear that one of our brothers was in an accident an is still alive an will be back in the game soon. I don't know how many accidents you have been in but look at it as another chance in life.

Be HAPPY to be ALIVE take the this time to evaluate your life and in all the things you've done and all the things you want to do and started in moving in that direction to make your life better. A nuff of that stuff in reading this whole entire thread I knew you would be getting a new ZX14r and it's nice to hear that the 2013 White ZX14r. Well if you decide to keep it stock that's fine but I was kinda looking forward to seeing your bike all STORMTROPPERED OUT! The Star Wars Style...

THE BOTTOM LINE IS AS LONG AS YOUR BACK TO YOUR OLD SELF OR EVEN A BETTER VERSION OF IT AN YES BACK ON TWO WHEELS THEN IT'S ALL GOOD AN WORTH IT EVERY MIN OF IT!!!

I wish you a very speedy recovery an wish you an your moms the very BEST!!

* Last updated by: Black1 on 10/10/2012 @ 7:46 PM *