Almost bought the farm or Never travel faster than your Guardian Angel can fly…
Well it ‘almost’ happened. Bound to sometime i suppose. Having a blast yesterday with my mate Terry on his black CBR600RR were going at a fair old lick towards Finchingfield. A favourite route. Just through Great Dunmow and the roads just getting interesting when it happens. Approaching a left hander, one ive done more than once i tip into it, then realise i cant see the road…uh oh. Tinted visor, and falling light. I then know…i cant make this bend. I go for the brake. Grab a handful, now i definatly cant make it. F***!
By now im crossing the white lines and im thinkin’ “This is it, im going down…hard” I know my only chance is to loose as much speed as possible and pray, i do both. Im definately going off its just how hard it happens. I grasp the lever, grip the tank and feel the back end start to overtake the front, forks right down…Please stop…
At the last minute i release, thinking “if im braking on grass its over…” somehow it works. I mount the grass bank, go ‘off road’ past the telegraph pole id been staring at and re-enter the road on the wrong side…but im upright and alive. Thankyou Jesus! I cant believe it. I stop hard. Bike in gear so it stalls and i get off feeling incredibly lucky…i turn and look round for Terry…but i cant see him.
Theres a pause, is he far behind?? Im wondering, maybe he didnt see me lose it? Then i see the CBR…“oh no…” i remember saying. Its laying on it side, I can see the fairings smashed. “God no. ****…” I run towards the bike… Its hit the Telegraph pole, and stopped dead. Theres plastic and mud everywhere, but no Terry. I tear off my Arai and literally start looking for him. Its like he’s disappeared completely. I look for what seems minutes but probably merely seconds. And then i see it. Theres a ditch about twenty feet away and i realise that Terrys in it. On his back. Not moving. Theres a definate moment of absolute silence and the enourmity of the situation hits me. And then he moves. “in’ hell that really hurt!" were his immortal words.
Talk about understatment. The guys travelled about twenty five feet! " man you ok?” im asking stupidly. It seems that he’d been so busy watching my antics, my back wheel sideways, that he just followed me in. Target Fixation maybe? Although where id skimmed off the speed he hadnt. And then…uh oh. Telegraph Pole! Bang. He remembers flying through the air and landing on his back in the ditch. A badly bruised leg and arm but luckily thats it.
I thank God that we both walked away. Although the CBR may be a write off. We’ll see…
I realised that it wasnt speed that was the sole problem, we were doing about 50mph in a 60mph limit. But id got casual about the road itself. I knew it well i thought, so when the light changed mid bend, i was caught. And in that moment, i crossed into the point where i almost forfeited my life. And Terrys too. Thats a sobering thought. I feel enormous respect for the road and normally id be the first to hold back and pace it. We were in no hurry, just enjoying the ride. But i realise how quickly that it changes. Terry’s fine, the bike can be repaired. Myself and my Gixxer were unmarked. Lucky i guess. Im praying there wont be a next time…
Pictures below. Most of the damage was taken by the fuel tank, which was full. Maybe cushioned most of the force. None leaked. These Hondas are tough built bikes!
Be so careful out there guys. Respect the road, respect your bike, look after your friends. And make sure you dont ride faster than you can stop.
Richard
