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[MrB1obby]

First off, I am a stupid stupid idiot!

Story:
I was putting all of my gear on, started the bike, let her run on choke while I finished putting everthing on as usual, go to push her out of my drive, sheesh, the brake is sticking quite a lot (I knew the brake was sticking very slightly and I was going to get it fixed, I was just being an idiot and putting it off). Should of asked my dad for a lift at this point bearing in mind it was wet. So instead of the normal push it out of my drive, I ride it. Close my gate then get back on, its slackened off quite a bit, ride to the end of my road which is about 50 meters and it's hardly sticking at all.

I brake for a junction because there's a car coming. Then as it goes past I go to accelerate, bleeding heck, it's sticking A LOT. I should of definitely turned around at this point. I have to accelerate about 3/4 throttle to what is normally 1/4 if that. Then another 100m down the road there's another junction, I downshift, it brakes a lot because of the sticking brake obviously.

Then go to turn the left corner at about 10mph,(I hate this corner, always take it pretty slow and steady), I start to turn and know somethings wrong, before I know it my hands are twisted and I'm on the ground. I get up immediately, run over to my bike, hold the clutch in (learnt that from off-roading), pick it up and hit the kill switch. I just look at my bike, say in a really annoyed voice NOOOOOOOOOO, but not like what your thinking, less of a no, and more of a grrrrrrrrrrr. Then I punch the seat as hard as I could, pretty much. Reverse the bike back to the pavement.

Luckily there were no cars, my bike was on the other side of the road, I was in the middle of the road, and the junction is on a pretty blind bend. I put my bike on the kickstand and quickly grab my mirror and indicator from the road, and then kick all of the bits to the side of the road so no one gets a puncture. Go back to my bike, take my helmet off and assess the damage. Mirror completely snapped off, 2 graises to the side fairing, and were my indicator was, is a big hole, the little kickstand thing that sticks out is bent and grazed as well.

I just stand there in utter annoyance at myself for a few minutes, then think, f**k, going to be late for work. As my house is only a 150m away, I just push it, with the brake sticking. Go inside and just take all my gear off then stand there for a bit. Tell my dad to bid on a bike that I was watching on ebay and ask him to take me to work. So I was 20 minutes late for work, after I told them they didn't mind.

When I got home, my dad had completely stripped the caliper, cleaned and put new seals in. I took her for a ride, and apart from it being weird with only one mirror, she rode gooooooood.

What I learned from the story, and the reason why I posted is so other people can learn, is NEVER, EVER ride with something that may cause your wheels to lose the little traction they have and always take your gut instinct.

I'm in the middle of deciding whether I should sell this, get another bike or just spend the load of money it needs and fix it. This has nearly made my mind up. I'll be posting another thread on this.

[Pogo]

You're an idiot. You already know this though.

Also, hit the kill switch immediately, no need to wait for the bike to be stood up first.

[MrB1obby]

Yuh huh.

Yeah I just thought, poo I gota get this thing on it's wheels, and then thought, engine off. Just instinct to pick it up first.

[Pogo]

All good, you'll be alright, that damage was superficial.

[MikeN02]

I can relate to you. I kept putting off putting on my new rear, then when I finally called my friend he was out of town. I didn't have the tools to do it myself and so I kept riding. Then one day it hit me, as you can see in the other thread I posted. My read locked and I went into a skid.

Since then I'm always looking for stuff to maintain for my bike etc on time. I would say keep riding your bike right now until it goes. You're never to old to learn new tricks so might as well make the best of one bike before you buy a new one.

Also, when I went down I noticed the bike was still on, I thought it would turn off. But I saw the wheel spinning so I immediately hit the kill switch and lifted it up. Couldn't get into neutral so I held the clutch in and pushed it.

[in4mation]

I was just reading cycle world and "fix it" section was on why brakes stick and then loosen up. It only gets worse each turn you take and has to sit for the fluid to drain back.

[jonh]

Should have looked here before I posted in the other thread!!!!!!!!!duh....

I'm glad your o.k ...good thing it happened going slow and not at any speed!

jonh.

[newton2]

Glad you're OK.

Oh and I hate that negative self depiction. You're not an idiot. You made a mistake and it was a learnable moment. period.

[MrB1obby]

I was just reading cycle world and "fix it" section was on why brakes stick and then loosen up. It only gets worse each turn you take and has to sit for the fluid to drain back.

That's exactly what I thought happens, I must of pressed the brake mega hard or something when pulling up the previous day and then because it was pressed so hard it didn't go back properly. That's my theory anyway 

Also, when I went down I noticed the bike was still on, I thought it would turn off. But I saw the wheel spinning so I immediately hit the kill switch and lifted it up. Couldn't get into neutral so I held the clutch in and pushed it.

Yeah I thought this as well, I thought it would stall, but the wheel must of been off the ground. But yeah, picked up holding the clutch then hit the kill switch, after I'd punched the seat I thought better get off the road quick, and just held the clutch in and kept it in first while pushing.

Should have looked here before I posted in the other thread!!!!!!!!!duh....

I'm glad your o.k ...good thing it happened going slow and not at any speed!

jonh.

Haha Yeah! Duhhh 

Thanks. I was thinking the exact same thing, it's sort of lucky it happened there and then in a way, if I went on the country road and was doing 60 and went round a corner, I don't even want to think how my bike would of been.

When I went out for a ride on Sunday, I forced myself to do that corner multiple times.

Glad you're OK.

Oh and I hate that negative self depiction. You're not an idiot. You made a mistake and it was a learnable moment. period.

It was a stupid mistake? What I mean is I shouldn't of been so, ahh well it'll be alright. So I mean I was stupid for thinking that, because I do it alot in other non-bike related things aswell.

[Earth Attire]

Glad to hear you are ok!  lol Im just like you ... somethings wrong, I keep riding, praying. Ignoring obvious signs of danger will catch up to someone... one day. Im just suprised the bike suffered so much damage.

Lesson learned, dont beat yourself up tho.

[SCkid23]

Atleast it wasn't worse.  The caliper rebuild is a pretty easy job.  You should have your dad show you if you have the time.

[in4mation]

I was just reading cycle world and "fix it" section was on why brakes stick and then loosen up. It only gets worse each turn you take and has to sit for the fluid to drain back.

That's exactly what I thought happens, I must of pressed the brake mega hard or something when pulling up the previous day and then because it was pressed so hard it didn't go back properly. That's my theory anyway  

CW says it's because the fluid is not draining back to the reservoir, or very slowly. It can also tighten up when the fluid gets hot, expands, and cannot drain back. If you let it sit it goes back to normal.

[Incognitus Ninja]

I was just reading cycle world and "fix it" section was on why brakes stick and then loosen up. It only gets worse each turn you take and has to sit for the fluid to drain back.

That's exactly what I thought happens, I must of pressed the brake mega hard or something when pulling up the previous day and then because it was pressed so hard it didn't go back properly. That's my theory anyway  

CW says it's because the fluid is not draining back to the reservoir, or very slowly. It can also tighten up when the fluid gets hot, expands, and cannot drain back. If you let it sit it goes back to normal.

Check valve sticking, restriction in the line, guide pins sticking, hydraulic brakes are pretty simple especially on a bike. Go ahead and work on it, take the caliper off, check the pistons, the line, the brake cylinder. It's all right there for the taking.

Glad you're ok and kudos for continuing to ride and thank you for posting your story here. Every accident and crash while unfortunate is an opportunity for experienced and noob alike to learn and avoid the same situation.

[MrB1obby]

Check valve sticking, restriction in the line, guide pins sticking, hydraulic brakes are pretty simple especially on a bike. Go ahead and work on it, take the caliper off, check the pistons, the line, the brake cylinder. It's all right there for the taking.

Glad you're ok and kudos for continuing to ride and thank you for posting your story here. Every accident and crash while unfortunate is an opportunity for experienced and noob alike to learn and avoid the same situation.

My dad cleaned the caliper while I was at work the same day. He just cleaned all the pistons and replaced the seals. Now it works fine, I think it was just a case of the salt, bad weather and an old caliper.

Thanks, I know from when I do trialing that if you don't get back on straight away, it's hard to.

That's the reason I posted.

[Incognitus Ninja]

Keep on riding brother, you got us behind you all the way.

[KawiConvert]

did this once without gear.  Sticking front brake and took out a bike that I was fixing for my brother.  Hadn't touched the brakes, and it turned out they started sticking when I turned around to head back home.  As soon as I left the pavement I lost it in the gravel driveway.  No injuries and hard to damage those old Honda CB's, but a good lesson learned.

[FloridaEX500]

Your dads a good mechanic. I got my pistons stuck the first two times I tried rebuilding the calipers. Had to take the calipers to the stealership to have them blown out.  Fortunately they did this for free.   

[MrB1obby]

Yeah he is, he's got lots and lots of experience. He was an apprentice at the age of 15 I think. Then continued to work in a garage, got his own garage. Then when he was like 30-40 he went into the building industry, now he can be a carpenter, plumber, electrician, brick layer, he's got a license for an off road forklift. Now he is just a fork lift instructor in a warehouse.

[ratchet]

I really need to start telling everyone to remove those metal backing plates again so others don't punch holes in their fairings too.

[MrB1obby]

Rachet, I'm sure I didn't have one in though, I never saw it if I did. All I had on my indicators to mount them was, the long bolt, a few washers, and a nut. I'm not sure if the bolt ripped the fairing...

[ratchet]

wait... front indicators, or back ones?

your fronts shouldn't have any bolts, nuts, or similar on them (without the plates).

[MrB1obby]

Front indicators. I don't know if it makes a difference but it was a 1st gen?

I had a long threaded bar, which went from the light housing of the indicator to inside of the fairing, then there was a nut and a few washers on the inside of the fairing to hold it on.

[ratchet]

can't speak to the 1st gens.

I've only ever wrenched on a 2nd

**Edit**

just looked at the fiche... they're completely different... I can't see how you would prevent that design from ripping out a chunk of your fairing.
Time for some aftermarkets me thinks

[Z71]

Your dads a good mechanic. I got my pistons stuck the first two times I tried rebuilding the calipers. Had to take the calipers to the stealership to have them blown out.  Fortunately they did this for free.   

After rebuilding as many as I have you would not do that.  The key is to get the seals seated properly, lube the pistons with brake fluid and start them in properly and NEVER force them in. Do not push them in with anything but your hand.

[dragknee]

Your dads a good mechanic. I got my pistons stuck the first two times I tried rebuilding the calipers. Had to take the calipers to the stealership to have them blown out.  Fortunately they did this for free.   

if you have an air compressor and a blow gun, you can do it yourself at home for free