Well, normal morning for here in Lincoln, Linconshire, UK, raining and poor visibility due to the morning mist, keeping the speed down as its rush hour. Make it almost all the way to work and going round the last mini roundabout when all of a sudden the bike just slides out from underneith me, everything slowed down, can still see it all happening in my minds eyes, the first feeling of the tyres letting go, first the front and then the back.
A moment of what felt like weightlessness followed before gravity returned and I was heading for the ground, bump bump bump as I slide to a fairly graceful stop. Laid there for a second wondering what had happened, was going nice and slow, avoiding the white lane markings etc, just couldnt understand it.
At this point an off duty police office came to my rescue and helped me up asking if i was ok and what happened. Still a bit dazed I just shook my head, 'not a f*king clue' was all I could say. Once on my feet and checking I was all ok he helped me over to the bike, got it back on 2 wheels,off the road and started checking us both out for damage etc.
Amazingly there was a few scuffs to my gear and a bit of road rash on the the lower fairing and a few scratches here and there, front brake was slightly bent and that was it. I still couldn't understand what I had done wrong so we walked back to the roundabout. Looking at it in the rain we could see a lovely rainbow effect over the whole road, diesel, a lorry must have come round the corner and spilled a whole load. Walking on it was like skating on ice. Off duty officer rang it in and stood doing traffic duty to make sure no one else had an accident, good bloke, changed some of my views about coppers (and I should know, my dad was a motorbike officer for 25 years lol)
So back to the point, watch out for diesel on the roads now its starting to get a bit more rainy, the combination is v bad sad.gif and dont forget your gear, I walked away with nothing other than a few scuffs, bruises and injured pride, without all my gear on would of been a different matter, jeans would of been gone in a second.
Hoopster, Oct 20 2006, 06:37 AM Glad you're ok and didn't get run over. So what's a lorry, (sorry, American question) and how does that much deisel get on the road?
Hoopster, Oct 20 2006, 01:37 PM Glad you're ok and didn't get run over. So what's a lorry, (sorry, American question) and how does that much deisel get on the road?
Me too smile.gif
lorry = big truck
There is an issue here with lorries (trucks) filling the tank right up to the top of the neck and if spilling out when corners are taken to fast, also if the forget to fit the cap back, or dont do it properly it can fly out.
Hoopster, Oct 20 2006, 08:37 AM Glad you're ok and didn't get run over. So what's a lorry, (sorry, American question) and how does that much deisel get on the road?
Uhhhhh....what's a tyre, and what's a bloke? laugh.gif tongue.gif
Good story with a relieved ending, and yeah....diesel on a wet roadway is the most slippery stuff on the planet, no matter what country you live in!!
Hobie1dog, Oct 20 2006, 09:47 AM I never seem to hear about diesel fuel being spilled on the road here in the states, but read about it in the British mags all the time.
Same here - around diesel pumps, OK I see it all the time - on the roads, no.
Maybe it is a function of how many diesel powered vehicles (i.e. cars) are on the road. What is the downside of an automotive gasoline spill? Does it all evapourate without leaving a slick? Once, we have a lot of diesel powered cars here it may be more of a hazard in NA.
If you ever see a hazard on the road like that (spilled oil, grease, gasoline, whatever), give 911 a call (or the non-emergency number if your city has one) and report it. Dispatch will call the fire department and they'll come out and clean the street up either with some cleaning agents or with a torch.
Not only do you get to be a good samaritan, but you may save a fellow motorcyclist from a nasty spill. fing02.gif
Hobie1dog, Oct 20 2006, 09:47 AM I never seem to hear about deisel fuel being spilled on the road here in the states, but read about it in the British mags all the time.
It is rare here in the states. I have hit some diesel or some sort of heating oil twice. The first time i smelled it first then slip, two wheel drift. Luckily it caught traction at the last second and didnt throw me off.
Hobie1dog, Oct 20 2006, 09:47 AM I never seem to hear about deisel fuel being spilled on the road here in the states, but read about it in the British mags all the time.
Probably because we don't have any lorries here in the States.
skuuter, Oct 20 2006, 10:18 AM Admit it , you're just worried because enzed viffer called you a bloke in another thread................ tongue.gif goofy.gif
LOL!! My pal enzed can call me anything he wants to, exceptin' a "lorry". I get real irate when people call me a lorry and accuse me of shenanigans..... biggrin.gif
MFP-2241, Oct 20 2006, 04:52 PM ... but you may save a fellow motorcyclist from a nasty spill. fing02.gif
a nasty 'spill', no pun intended. glad you're okay. someone spilled diesel fuel at the car wash last week, washed my bike hopped on, suddenly my feet slipped off the pegs - diesel fuel is extremely slippery, had to drag my feet at 50 km/h to scuff it off my boots.
veefer800canuck, Oct 20 2006, 12:41 PM Lorry = 18 wheeler, Big Rig, Transport, etc.
Actually this is sort of inaccurate. A Lorry is a truck. An Articulated Lorry is an 18 wheeler. Not sure if they still use that term though. I left England back in 1982 and have not been home since.
I too (many years back) ran into some diesel on the highway. Was taking a left hander and WHAM I'm on my side doing the stunt man death slide thing at 50+ mph. It all worked out okay. Had to figure it out though, so I walked the crash site, and wouldn't you know it, a truck had dumped diesel right in the apex of the turn. pissed.gif
Had a similar experience years ago near the Miami International Airport. Riding my Moto Guzzi behind a tanker truck, I actually saw the fuel slosh out of the top as we were going through a turn. It was like riding on ice. Bike slid straight for the apex, staying upright until we went off the road onto the grass. No injuries, very minor damage. But it taught me to always watch the road surface for signs of fuel or oil. Seems like I've seen spillsl a lot since then.
Hey diesel is some nasty stuff. I had a friend hit some around a curve and low-side at slow speed. Just something else to lookout for on our great roadways. fing02.gif Glad your okay.
Thanks guys, feeling much better today, had sore shoulders, neck and side last night and have got some cool bruising but other than that fine. Checked the bike out fully today and Big Red is all ok, one thing I have noticed though is that when applying the front brake its lost some of its squishyness (technical term), maybe there was some air trapped in there and have it on its side got rid of it, maybe we should add it on to the 'how to bleed your brakes' section smile.gif
Diesel spills are a big thing here in the UK, there is a lot of lobbying going on for all trucks/lorries, big things one 4 or more wheels to actually have a special anti-spill cap fitted! Fingers crossed it will be implemented along with aload of other bike friendly laws
Good the damage was minimal Red. Ride on, ride safe. fing02.gif
You guys lacking in the British English Dept, need to go back and review Monty Pythons Flying Circus. beer.gif I can still hear that theme song in my head. Now send me all your Lupins! goofy.gif