Crashed at SOW and loving it [Archive]

jasinner

Fri 11/26/04, 7:35PM

By popular demand

http://www.somewherebetween.net/crash.JPG

In a nutshell, I levered the rear tire off the ground by scraping my exhaust pipe. I've known about this problem and tried to change my riding style to aviod that situation (I even started braking into The Bowl so it woulnd't happen). It happened so quickly this time I didn't have time to utter an oh shit. Literally, I was cornering and then I was laying in the corner with a whole lot of flipping in the middle.

My bike is in ever sorrier shape than it was in the first place. I've decided to turn my ex250 into a track bike. I absoutely loved how the small displacement bikes made such a good showing on the track and hope to be back there as soon as my finances will allow.

I was wearing zip-up combat type boots and my right ankle is in sorry shape as a result. Please buy proper foot protection!

Thank you for your concern everybody and thanks for the pic Phil, you are a very generous person and I admire you for coming out to the trackday even though you were unable to participate.

http://www.somewherebetween.net/DSC_3445.jpg

http://www.somewherebetween.net/DSC_3446.jpg

sugart!ts

Fri 11/26/04, 7:42PM

wow! the attention to detail is FANTASTIC..
no need to explain, a picture is worth a 1000 words ;

hope there wasn't too much damage to you or your bike

morbidelli17

Fri 11/26/04, 8:04PM

Bummer! You had that thing MOVING all day long ...

slowmike

Fri 11/26/04, 8:12PM

Yeah; you were really really flying out there; sything through backmarkers/rolling chicanes (like me) :D

jasinner

Fri 11/26/04, 8:18PM

yeah; you were really really flying out there; sything through backmarkers/rolling chicanes (like me)

Hehe, no hard feelings right? I kept waiting for you to twist your wrist a centimeter or two and dust me in the straight after the bowl.

Bummer! You had that thing MOVING all day long ...

After everything is said and done, I was very pleased with my day today.

GetnJgyWitit

Fri 11/26/04, 8:33PM

Originally posted by jasinner
Hehe, no hard feelings right? I kept waiting for you to twist your wrist a centimeter or two and dust me in the straight after the bowl.

After everything is said and done, I was very pleased with my day today.

Glad to hear you had a good time! Sorry to hear about the bike and your ankle. But at least you are ok. The funny thing is that my favorite day at the track was May 24th at SOW and I crashed that day as well!

zzzwillzzz

Fri 11/26/04, 8:47PM

i vote for that graphic to be made post of the week!

SVSRyder

Fri 11/26/04, 8:50PM

Glad your OK bro.

At least now you have a very good reason to "not feeling up to holiday shopping in the mall honey!" :D

Get well/get riding soon!

Orpheos

Fri 11/26/04, 9:00PM

Glad you're ok. I heard you and Alex were trying to out do me :)
I spent 5 hours in the hospital after the track.

Doc told me I'm a lucky bastard and didn't break my neck like I was afraid. I basically sprained my neck. Helmet is trash, bike needs some work but wearing the right gear was definately key.

Heal up guys! See you out there soon!

Tillers_Rule

Fri 11/26/04, 9:05PM

Originally posted by zzzwillzzz
i vote for that graphic to be made post of the week!

LOL:lol: yes, too funny, I concur.

zzzwillzzz

Fri 11/26/04, 9:12PM

Originally posted by Tillers_Rule
LOL:lol: yes, too funny, I concur. glad you're ok too! (you must have landed on your head):D

congratulations jeff on your promotion from post whore to track whore!:squid:

druiid

Fri 11/26/04, 9:19PM

Man, Jason that sucks.............. (crashy) *runs*

In all seriousness, though.. how badly is your ankle hurt?

Tillers_Rule

Fri 11/26/04, 9:38PM

Originally posted by jasinner

I was wearing zip-up combat type boots and my right ankle is in sorry shape as a result. Please buy proper foot protection!

On that note. I was wearing $350 Sidi Race Vertebras, and my right ankle is killing me as well. I think it's just bruised though, as it was doing fine for the 5 sessions I rode after I crashed, just did'nt start huting till I took my boots of on the way home, and now is:sad:

JesseJames

Fri 11/26/04, 11:29PM

I'm still sitting here staring at your graphic trying to figure out what the hell it means. I can't figure it out but it's funny.

Look at those pictures! Dang man your were layin on the ground haha. You are way too fast for that bike until you set it up at least.

tsRider

Fri 11/26/04, 11:47PM

dude,

it looks like you're smiling in those pictues:)

mike's right about your bike...you should get some high mount pipes or something....

i hope that your ankle is not too bad...

and, oh yeah, the artwork is top notch:lol:

Kurt'sSV

Sat 11/27/04, 9:03AM

I don't know if anyone makes high mount pipes for Ninja 250's. :p I think you need a different bike. It seems like you've outgrown that one and should be able to handle something a little bigger. ;)

Glad you're not really F'ed up Jason. Did the doc make you put on a neck brace? If so we have to get a picture of that!

morbidelli17

Sat 11/27/04, 9:06AM

Bassani, of all people, used to make a bitchin' little pipe for the EX250. Friend had one. Loud and very tucked in.

mojo mofo

Sat 11/27/04, 2:00PM

Originally posted by zzzwillzzz
glad you're ok too! (you must have landed on your head):D

Actually he landed on his head twice :raise:

Here is a pic just after...

jasinner

Sat 11/27/04, 2:09PM

Haha, nice mojo, can you send that my way? That way I can do a before and after comparison. Actually, I bumped my head pretty good. Its that rolling stuff that will get ya. My head is a little sore and my helmet is definately toast.

Lord knows I could use some commentary on the mishap. All I remember is that the handle bars starting wiggling like a mofo and I was rolling ass over tea kettle.

I think you need a different bike. It seems like you've outgrown that one and should be able to handle something a little bigger.

I think I'm going to defer to your expert opinion in this case (not that I needed much encouragement, haha). I've heard rumor of a bike that might be just right for me, we shall see.

Sui

Sat 11/27/04, 2:18PM

Originally posted by jasinner

My bike is in ever sorrier shape than it was in the first place. I've decided to turn my ex250 into a track bike. I absoutely loved how the small displacement bikes made such a good showing on the track and hope to be back there as soon as my finances will allow.

Hey I was watching you much of the day and I thought you were riding very well, one of the better riders in the street group. However, your tires were crap and the bike is also crap. I wouldn't trun the EX250 into a trackbike, the motor is just too lame and the frame.suspension.brakes.everything else is also too lame.

If you really want to go track only, sell the ex250 and buy an early nineties Honda RS125 or something. It's 3 times better in every direction.

http://www.fatbaq.com/mainpage.phtml?topic=view_classifieds

Don't waste you time/potential on that lame piece of poo!!!! :D

Tillers_Rule

Sat 11/27/04, 2:30PM

Originally posted by mojo mofo
Actually he landed on his head twice :raise:

Here is a pic just after...

:tongue: :finger:

jasinner

Sat 11/27/04, 2:40PM

Actually he landed on his head twice

Yeah, once when I was just born supposedly.

;)

zzzwillzzz

Sat 11/27/04, 2:45PM

Originally posted by mojo mofo
Actually he landed on his head twice :raise:

Here is a pic just after... i was talking about jeff. is that him in the photo stopping on the track when he shouldn't be?

slowmike

Sat 11/27/04, 2:46PM

I've always been the person down on power with with better handling and brakes. I've always been annoyed by people who were slow as sin in the twisties but used their 600hp porsche, viper, vette, etc to waste me on the straight. So one of my goals was to try and be easy-ish to pass if someone was faster.

I think you should get an 04 R1; I hear they have great ground clearance and accelerate like you would not believe..

Originally posted by jasinner
Hehe, no hard feelings right? I kept waiting for you to twist your wrist a centimeter or two and dust me in the straight after the bowl.

After everything is said and done, I was very pleased with my day today.

Sui

Sat 11/27/04, 3:09PM

How good does the EX250 really handle given its size though?????? Bad shock, forks, frame...

mojo mofo

Sat 11/27/04, 3:13PM

Jason, sure thing. I actually have a sequence of 3 or 4 pics of you I will send your way.

KevBigCBR

Sat 11/27/04, 3:37PM

Originally posted by Sui
However, your tires were crap and the bike is also crap.

Gotta love how Troy just knows what to say and when to say it!

BioTek

Sat 11/27/04, 5:03PM

Originally posted by zzzwillzzz
i was talking about jeff. is that him in the photo stopping on the track when he shouldn't be?

Yeah,what was that about? Remember TrackDaz comment,"If you're buddy crashes, dont stop, that's what we're here for." :p :D

JesseJames

Sat 11/27/04, 5:39PM

He was checking to see if he needed a ride back to the pits like GuzziGirl gave him.

:D

pcperks

Sat 11/27/04, 5:49PM

Originally posted by zzzwillzzz
i was talking about jeff. is that him in the photo stopping on the track when he shouldn't be?

They brought out the red flag and he stopped like he was supposed to. Jason, there is a pic in my folder under the track day pics if you want it.

BioTek

Sat 11/27/04, 7:52PM

Originally posted by pcperks
They brought out the red flag

Saw the yellow flags and a dust cloud as I came thru the chicane, no red flag.

Guzzigirl2000

Sat 11/27/04, 9:07PM

Jasinner you were way awesome out there
too bad your day ended early
glad you are OK and we found your pit man :-)

pcperks

Sat 11/27/04, 9:09PM

Originally posted by BioTek
Saw the yellow flags and a dust cloud as I came thru the chicane, no red flag.

The guy at the start/finish had originally tossed up the red flag, then dropped it to yellow.

Tillers_Rule

Sat 11/27/04, 9:16PM

Originally posted by pcperks
The guy at the start/finish had originally tossed up the red flag, then dropped it to yellow.

Thanks for the back up. That guy made me look like as ass. I stopped, now everyone is giving me shit for it:rolleyes:

druiid

Sat 11/27/04, 9:22PM

Hey, they give you crap because they care... because they care :)

Sui

Sun 11/28/04, 9:52AM

Originally posted by K$
Gotta love how Troy just knows what to say and when to say it!

Hey just pointing it out. :) This is one of the rare cases where the bike really IS holding back the rider... and the money/time it would take to change the bike enough so that wasn't an issue would easily exceed that of simply buying something more suitable.

Take it from me, ,as I have spent a lot of money/time trying to make crap bikes good. :D

jasinner

Mon 11/29/04, 11:17AM

Haha, went to the hospital just for them to tell me I had a sprained ankle, wheee. Oh well, I'm glad I have the piece of mind anyways, i didn't want to fuck up my foot by walking on it so I couldn't ride anymore or something.

madmakr

Mon 11/29/04, 11:57AM

Great Pics! Who took those?? You were shredddding! Don't they race EX250/500's?
They don't have ground clearance problems?

Either way, let's get you a new bike. It's over EX250!!

sr9004u

Mon 11/29/04, 5:05PM

Its time to admit youve out grown the bike, It sounds like this crash and others were due to the limits of the bike........not you.

Sooooo, either you can keep riding this thing beyond its capabilities and hurt yourself. Consider your self lucky so far......

Orrrrrrrr, get your self a bike that is up to speed with your abilities
and tires that are wider than a 10 speeds that will allow you to grow in skill as a rider on or off the track.

Money though importent should in this case not hold you back, this is not the 1st 2nd or 3rd crash Ive seen you post. ZIt would be money well spent.

If you do turn the 250 into a track bike, Im sure it will be the only one........ a true collectors item

morbidelli17

Mon 11/29/04, 5:30PM

I may have another perspective on this, having raced an EX500 for a couple of seasons now, and having played in the canyons on EX250s a few times.

On stock or stock-ish tires, with stock exhaust, pegs, shock and fork springs, yeah, it would be REAL easy to over-ride an EX250 and crash consistently.

Put $500 into suspension (Works Performance will build you a shock and sell you fork springs for that amount) and a used pipe and you've got a solid platform to work from. You can build your own rearsets inexpensively. And guys race at the big track at Willow on Bridgestone BT-45s and up north on Dunlop GT 501s; both tires are available in sizes to fit the EX250.

(As an aside, after a crash, I'd have the forks and frame checked; try Dr. John's in Orange County, they're good and cheap.)

For that relatively small layout of cash, you'd have a bike that you could ride HARD. Adjust your suspension to deal with the g-forces of turns like the bowl, and you'll embarass folks on much larger bikes. The joy of a tiny, lightweight motorcycle is a truly intense experience.

Just my two cents ...

Kurt'sSV

Mon 11/29/04, 5:57PM

Well my five cents would be to realize the truth of Sui's first post and realize that your Ninny 250 is not worth you riding anymore or dumping money into. 10 year old 600's probably aren't too expensive and you'll have lots of room to grow.

morbidelli17

Mon 11/29/04, 7:52PM

Yeah, but I'd do the same things to any 10-year-old 600 before I put it on the track ...

pcperks

Mon 11/29/04, 8:43PM

Jason, you're just going to end up crashing another bike, too... so just go get a cheap one... :D

Just kidding.... It's definitely time to step up and I think you know that already..... Whatever you get, I'm sure you'll have everyone telling you how to make it go faster and handle better in no time. But get used to the fact that you'll have more power before you start looking for even more....

mojo mofo

Mon 11/29/04, 9:03PM

Jason, you are just gonna end up outgrowing the newxt bike too, so buy ME one ;)

druiid

Mon 11/29/04, 9:10PM

Yeyh! Motorcycles all around!

jasinner

Mon 11/29/04, 9:25PM

Mak: The pics were the hella expensive track photographer ones. I think they were worth it.

sr9004u: You are right, I've crashed three times total in less than one year. First time was a flat tire and target fixation. Second time was target fixation. Third time was at the Streets. I value my safety but I'm also not afraid to push the envelope and so shit is going to be more likely to happen to me (you are probably more right than not Phil). I guess its how I learn.

I think I've been waiting for something to change bikes. Not like some kind of benchmark like knee dragging or my Palomar lap times (i jest of course). I've just been waiting for the right time.

I'm not going to make set my bike up for the track as I originally planned. I am aware that you can upgrade the suspension and tires. I'm sure if I did these things I could learn a few more things even. First, as some have noted, it takes much money for relatively small gains. And second, the love is gone between us.

Thanks everybody for the kind words and the suggestions. I'm not sure what bike is in my future yet but I'll let everybody know when I do decide. Whatever I get, I'm sure that I'll continue to make people roll their eyes! :D

tsRider

Mon 11/29/04, 9:53PM

Originally posted by jasinner
...the love is gone between us....

that is so sad:sad:

hopefully you love your new bike more! ;)

morbidelli17

Mon 11/29/04, 10:15PM

Originally posted by jasinner
the love is gone between us.

Don't stay together for the sake of the kids ...

chrdog

Tue 11/30/04, 6:45AM

i was actually on the skidpad waiting for our group to get let onto the track when i saw this body go flying throug hthe air and did some ninja (no pun intedned) backflips and somehow almost land on his feet.

the guy next to me asked me if i think that he gassed it too much coming out of the corner ,causing the rear to spin out, i was like 'nah thats a ninja 250 man, he prolly had it pinned through the whole turn anyways! :lol:

anyways, have fun bike shoppin!

Padu

Tue 11/30/04, 9:26AM

Gixxer 600... you won't regreat

projek7R

Tue 11/30/04, 11:22AM

Hey im glad youre ok. I was the guy on LadyinRed's ex500 in that group..(I dropped my 636 earlier that day in race group)I was right behind you when you went down. From what I saw, the front end tucked, and the moment it happened I was thinking, "boy he needs to pick up the bike at the exit more" you were too far over, perhaps you were dragging knee too long through the corner? The exit of that corner it is very bumpy and you can see visually just how hard some peoples suspensions are set going thru this section... they bounce around and cant get on the gas quicky till theyre upright...also holding the bars too tight can easily slide the front here. You were riding well with that EX250 and you were passing large diplacement bikes and thats alot of the fun (I never had so much fun on a small bike)! Glad youre ok. Good luck on your next purchase.

me on lady in red's EX (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v172/projek7r/kneedragEX500.jpg)

Sui

Tue 11/30/04, 6:15PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=26261&item=3856159213&rd=1

Something like that might be up your alley.

mojo mofo

Wed 12/1/04, 12:36AM

Was a pretty impressive little self promo vid in that auction

chrdog

Wed 12/1/04, 6:21AM

pffft...hes spent enough time on underpowered junk buckets...its time to step up to the biker boyz steez dawg:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50030&item=4507767565&rd=1

BAM!

madmakr

Wed 12/1/04, 9:36AM

I want that FZR!!!!! RAGE!

druiid

Wed 12/1/04, 9:47AM

Sui, what's funny is I've been trying to get Jason to look at the FZR's as well...

jasinner

Wed 12/1/04, 10:09AM

I'm not looking to go track only yet, I don't have the funds (I need a commuter/trackday bike). I want to get better and I think the best way to do that is to ride smaller bikes. Unfortunately, they don't really make smaller bikes that are better than the ex250 for the street (except the old fzr400 perhaps).

So therein lies my quandary. I'm going to have to get something bigger and better for me to ride around every day instead of just smaller and better like I'd prefer; thats what sucks about the us market but I'll just have to make due.

An sv650 doesn't fit this bill? Im surprised everybody is steering me towards funky bikes instead of the bike this page is about. I was planning on the 650 at least (and drooling over the new 636).

Ideally: I'd be riding at the track every day on a rs125 or something comparable and gaining mad skills.

Realistically: I'm going to need a bike thats cheap to run, thats better than my ex250, and that I can do trackdays on in the meantime until such time as I can afford a good trackbike.

Kurt'sSV

Wed 12/1/04, 10:48AM

Well, then get an SV. I hear they're okay on the track and reliable. ;)

jasinner

Wed 12/1/04, 10:53AM

However, I would totally buy that fzr now if not for a couple things:

1) Its located in CO and he doesn't want to ship.
2) Its probably a 49 states model and there would be importation problems.
3) I'm not sure how easy it is to find fzr400 parts.

Kurt'sSV

Wed 12/1/04, 10:57AM

Sui

Wed 12/1/04, 12:53PM

Originally posted by jasinner
However, I would totally buy that fzr now if not for a couple things:

1) Its located in CO and he doesn't want to ship.
2) Its probably a 49 states model and there would be importation problems.
3) I'm not sure how easy it is to find fzr400 parts.

FYI 49 state doesnt matter neither does low miles, on an out of state bike, as long as you are not th eoriginal owner. Only the first owner will have problems.

I've bought bikes with less than 1,000 miles and no smog equipment from out of state and even from Canada! Anyone who tells you different heard it from their brothers cousins ex-gilrfriend who dated a guy who made up some BS story. ;)

FZR was imported by Yamaha so parts should be available.

Just fly out to CO and ride it home. Make one hell of an adventure. That's what I did when I bought my VFR. :)

Anothe good bike, is the Hawk GT. It has a nicer frame and handles better (imho) than the SV, but it does have less oomph.

And of course, there is always the SV, but everyone around here has one. ;)

One last thought: The MZ Skorpion

This is a race one, way outside your budget, but I have seen street ones in the 2,500 range....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4508591412&category=6719

Good Yamaha 5 valve motor, single cylinder, 660cc. Sound awesome too. Nice and flickable. But the FZR would get better laptimes by a couple of seconds. Performance comprable to EX500. They race the same class in WSMC.

cyclox

Wed 12/1/04, 1:12PM

With the fizzer 400, you can transplant a 600 cc motor in the 400 frame if you need more power.

Kurt, what was the deal with the 400's brakes (compared to the SV's)?

Heh, here's another hot 400cc bike on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4506686329&category=80647

Hondamatic, baby!

Kurt'sSV

Wed 12/1/04, 2:28PM

Originally posted by cyclox

Kurt, what was the deal with the 400's brakes (compared to the SV's)?

They're antique, that's the deal. You have to pull the lever half way in before you meet resistance. I never had to brake hard on the Big track while on that bike so I don't really know what their stopping power is like.