My kids are telling me this is a sign not to build up there and time to quit riding motorcycles. This has got me rethinking everything I'm afraid.

You know I cut my finger slicing onions and it's a sign I shouldn't eat food anymore.
You know I tripped over a bunched up rug and that's a sign to build tile and marble floors.
You know I read where Wolfy ran over a sandbag or cement sack and he's scared of a cement foundation to the house so sand it is.
You know I let people assume and I begin to assume crazy signs I should have a sign that says 'kick me' when I begin to take life seriously and begin to plan every second I won't be in harms way.
You know I run a big fat rubber baby buggy bumper on my bike so if I run into a rain storm I need a ground system, because my kids say that lightening is going to hit me next time I drive/ride/walk to the mailbox.
You know I let my mind play games wit me and they win with no logic/common sense behind it.
You know..... I-I-can't believe what I'm hearing, and it's not butter!

This isn't meant to sound rude or anything negative in case it sounds that way:

Instead of thinking about giving up riding try changing how you ride? Use this as a wake up call to make a conscious effort to ride differently. When riding I try to remind myself of 2 main things, 1: is it worth it? (that guy just cut me off, I'll show him... nah its not worth it), 2: What's the worst that could happen and what can I do now to prevent that?

Its not a matter of driving around paranoid all of the time, but for example, if you had increased your following distance by 2 or 3 times, you could have avoided the object or came to a complete stop. The "3 second" rule is a MINIMUM with the thought of being able to come to a complete stop if the vehicle in front of you came to a complete stop at that instant (think, if they hit a "brick wall"), not if hit the brakes and gradually slowed down to a stop.

Quite a few other "accidents" I've seen not just on these forums but also on the road is frequently by people riding too damn fast on regular roads. Want to wear down the chicken strips? GREAT! do it at the track! I've heard countless stories about people taking familiar roads, and hitting something unexpected (one person I knew lost his life hitting a pile of manure on the road left by passing cattle). I try to remind myself that if I feel like I'm showing off/pushing the limit, I should stop that as I'd rather arrive home alive to see my family and go riding again tomorrow.

Which is really the point of this post... for me, given the choice of not riding or riding safely I'd rather ride safely and I want everyone else to ride safely as well. Since in my opinion, if you ride, you're a friend of mine and I don't want my friends getting hurt.

Good post Nightmare.I agree.Didn't used to so much.But last several weeks(month or so)..I've rethought MY riding habits.It's actually sinking in.Since I've been thinking differently...I think I've hit 100 maybe a few times...passing or taking a curve(that's WIDE OPEN visually).In truth,I'm enjoying riding 'legally' just as much as I did...'breaking the law'.This bike is that fun.I do think this ticket I got at that time WAS a wakeup call.Chicken strips?...used to be a 'big deal' for me.Now...I could care less.There is definitely a 'feel' of anxiousness when riding at non-legal speeds on the street..to me anyway.And NOT about getting stopped.After I weaned myself off of high speed hijinks...I started realizing....going a bit slower allows for the 'unexpected' much easier than being 'on it'...THEN doing something with the 500 plus lb rocket;)

This has got me rethinking everything I'm afraid.

Naaaaaah. You've already suspended fear at the important moment (as Wolfy would say). Ride On, sir, you'll be fine...

...and, I am glad you're OK.

We have some *really* skilled folk on this board. Very Impressive.

My kids are telling me this is a sign not to build up there and time to quit riding motorcycles. This has got me rethinking everything I'm afraid.

* Last updated by: wfozx14 on 10/13/2014 @ 7:55 PM *

He took a ride back on the same roads and that cured him.

What's the verdict Kruz?

I saw a headline on yahoo about a teenage girl that lost her life while on a hay ride.

got that beat. I heard of a guy that died while having sex with 3 females

I hope that's how I go...I'd settle for two.

Heck, I'd settle for one.

Heck, I'd settle for one.

well you could quit spending money on that bike and pay 3 hookers to leave

You might have a point, 1bad. Nothing will fall off if I wear protection. Can't say that about the bike.

This bent rim thread turned funny.

I was just discussing at lunch today with my dad this new parkour thing, where guys (gals?) run and jump and flip and spin and climb all around parks and tables and railings and buildings, etc ... and how they might be sorry for all that jumping and landing with bad knees later in life.

Then I remembered ... what the hell, ya gotta live

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 10/14/2014 @ 5:05 PM *

Well Hub, got the new tires and wheels on there and everything appears to be fine with one exception. When removing the front axle I noticed it would alternately tighten and loosen as I was backing it out. After installing the new front wheel, the axle went straight through the wheel bearings and engaged the nut on the other side but same deal screwing it back in, easy then tight, easy then tight , all the way until it was seated. If the axle is bent, it wasn't noticeable rolling it on a flat surface, didn't see any wobble or eccentricity. I think this front end took a pretty good hit, wouldn't be surprised if there is more damage.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 10/19/2014 @ 12:40 AM *

can't be bearings if you have new wheels.

Dial gauge, magnetic base, v blocks. Harbor Freight. under $30. or just get a new axle and you have everything all new. nothing can be too wrong with new as long as it rides ok.

Rook, if the axle is bent, there is bound to be more front end damage, that axle is pretty stout.

If so, 1bad inherited it. All you have is the axle, the wheel the bearings and the tire. You replaced everything except the axle. Only other thing would be the forks and steering stem. If those work smoothly, I'd say there's no problem. Check the axle with a dial gauge and if it's out of spec, get a new axle. That will solve any potential accelerated wear problem with the wheel. It could be a fork is bent a tad or the axle or both. As long as all the wheel parts are good, there should be no damage there. If the forks are bad, you'll replace them with Ohlins if they don't seem to be working properly.

Did you bounce the forks to make sure they were aligned to the axle before tightening the axle? Those fork bottoms turn pretty easy when the wheel is off. New wheel...may not be exactly the same width as the old one....0 wear...bearings not seated as deep in the wheel or not worn in???? I always have to fool with my Carro a lot more than I did with my OEM wheel. Now I have Ohlins forks nd that changed the install a bit more. New parts, old parts ...they're bound to fit just a little different when you have low tollerence between...and a wheel is meant to fit pretty tight even before the axle is torqued.

Don't let the gremlins get you on this.

What's the verdict Kruz?

I bought the house on Friday, now under contract, house should be finished by the end of November, closing date is December 15.

I'm going to be way out in the sticks.

Yep Rook, did everything by the book on the install, if the front end is bent it's fairly minor, tracks and handles well, no vibrations or tracking issues, just had the problem of the axle tightening and loosening as I screwed it in. I'm going to order an new axle and give that a try.

My apologies for the tardiness, Mr. Caruso. I'm sure my wheel got fooked on a road-to-parkinglot-entry that was 3 inches too high at an aggressive approach speed.

I was using a King's Restaurant lot to circumvent a distracted driver at an adjacent intersection. I remember being leaned over and cooking when i swung into the lot. As soon as the front hit i remember saying, "You cocksucker!"

Montana: you serious about letting those Blackstones go? I may be game come mid December, bud. I have the No-Mar setup now so I'll promise they'll be well looked after. And ridden.

Montana: you serious about letting those Blackstones go?

Hey Kruz...strangely enough...when I reinstalled my axle this last time...The axle went in fine...however...when I went to install and tighten the axle nut...it started fine...THEN...it actually tightened up as it went deeper onto the threads...to the point of having to use my foot to push the socket handle to tighten all the way...it was also feeling like it was stripping out...there were small slivers of aluminum shearing off the outside end.I though...OMG...I fucked this up good.It felt like it.Never had one do that before.All the bolts were loose...but that nut was binding inside the fork ring there...Today...I removed the right fork for a seal replacement...had to use my foot(weight)again to loosen it till I could turn it with the wrench.Looked in there.It wasn't the threads...apparently...that nut had somehow managed to bind.I filed it off smooth around the OD.Filed the fork deal in there...smooth...applied a bit of grease.Tried it out...worked perfect again.Had me really concerned when it went in like that...was just waiting for the chance to remove it and check it out.Sa'll good now.Wasn't the forks or the fitment of everything.Just one of those weird things.Pretty soft aluminum.'Spose it could get pinched out of round a teensy bit...IDK.

I was worried about it cause that right fork when I installed it didn't line up well like the left one...took some serious wedging with screwdrivers to get those clamps to open up enough...and that top one...GEEZ...IDK what caused it...the left one slid right in.Anyway...I reinstalled the right one tonight to just see if it was still gonna be a bitch to get in there.NOPE...she slid in there just as easy as could be.Totally shocked...didn't expect that after the last go 'round.Don't know still WHY it was so difficult that first time.I suspect it 'may' have had something to do with leaking fork seals on that side.Possibly something not quite right at the factory with the triple tree or something...maybe causing pressure against that seal?IDK...We'll see when I get my new parts....if it goes bad again...not sure what I'll do really...someone's gonna hear about it though.Totally not okay.Not with 15K on the first seal...and now...about 4k on this newly leaking one.Hell...the left side's fineLOL!!!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/20/2014 @ 10:43 PM *

Yup Hag...I am.They're lovely performing wheels...just don't want to use em anymore...

Cool! PM me what you want for 'em. If'n you can wait till mid - December and my bonus check is as fat as the last one then you probably found their new home.

Interesting Grn and very strange, if your setup is like mine, the front axle nut is on the left side and clamped by the pinch bolts. I always leave those left pinch bolts tight and loosen only the right pinch bolts and brak the axle bolt free and back it out. On reinstall, I just screw the axle all the way in and torque to 94 lb-ft then loosen the left pinch bolts up a tad and bounce the forks up and down a few times to reseat the clamps on the axle. I tighten right pinch bolts first, then left pinch bolts per the manual. Finally I put it back on the front stand and spin the front tire checking for free rotation withou excessive brake rotor drag. Never had the issue you ha though....weird.