*** PSA FOR THE DAY*** CHECK YOUR OIL FILTER.....***********
We had a major occurence yesterday that could have been deadly. My BF and I went for a ride to test the running after a carb tune/synch. We WERE doing a loop around our residential area that was going to include going down the highway for a few kms before coming home. After leaving the house we stopped twice to adjust the f/a ratio slightly.
Right after the second time, he took off before me and I had to walk back to my bike and get it started. As I got on I saw a huge GUSH of oil spew out of the back of his bike, and he was being followed too close by a minivan, fast. He did not see the oil now pumping right out of the bike as fast as it could. I was so far back, on the side of the road...He went to take the corner, I could only watch as I knew what was going to happen from about 100 ft away.....I started the bike and started riding up...avoiding the huge trail of oil all down two blocks....
He took the corner in second gear, a little faster than normal since he was being tailgated and the bike just went sliding with no change of speed, around the corner, bike slid all the way on its side...rider tumbled ass over tea kettle away from it....
The van kept going, swerving around.
I got up to him seconds later, he was already up wtih the bike up. Amazingly he had only crunched his knee, and the right peg of the bike was slightly bent as it took ALL the impact and gouged the pavement for about 15 ft. NO other damage to bike, $2000 custom paint or most importantly to my guy.
And an import car full of kids rides by, laughing and clapping and cheering...and my bf has to be restrained from punching their window in...
We look under the bike I tell him what happened from behind him... and there is no oil left in the bike. Thank GOD we had stopped twice before going to the highway or we would have been SAILING down the highway when this happened. We could not immediately see any lines off...so he walks the bike home which is about 3 big city blocks. I ride my bike home, scared, and run back to walk back with him.
Now this is the stupid part. Second stupid thing to happen to us this year. but this one could easily have been deadly. (first loose kickstand bolt)
The mechanic who had his bike early this season...removed his oil filter when tinkering...and did not torque it back on right when he refilled the oil. It has only been ridden twice since we got it back...Whe we checked it at home after the crash/push...it was HANGING by only ONE thread - hence all the oil spewed/pumped out within two blocks when it got too loose.
Had I been behind him, in front, or had we been at high speed or an intersection with ongoing traffic...this would have been very very bad. Someone was watching for us yesterday I believe, no damage to bike or rider and for it to happen on a slow corner so close to home...with me so far behind....
My BF has not called the mechanic because he is a personal friend....but I think he should still tell him what happened. He could have had several lives on his conscience.
Since he pushed it home and first ran through all the oil the rear tire is entirely covered in oil. I think if we coat it in degreaser, scrub and rinse it with a good dry in between each time, followed by some alcohol baths we should be able to save it(?). But I don't have much of an idea about these things. Can anyone out there let me know exactly how to get the oil out, we are just worried about any major penetration to the rubber that will stay long term....
We had a major occurence yesterday that could have been deadly. My BF and I went for a ride to test the running after a carb tune/synch. We WERE doing a loop around our residential area that was going to include going down the highway for a few kms before coming home. After leaving the house we stopped twice to adjust the f/a ratio slightly.
Right after the second time, he took off before me and I had to walk back to my bike and get it started. As I got on I saw a huge GUSH of oil spew out of the back of his bike, and he was being followed too close by a minivan, fast. He did not see the oil now pumping right out of the bike as fast as it could. I was so far back, on the side of the road...He went to take the corner, I could only watch as I knew what was going to happen from about 100 ft away.....I started the bike and started riding up...avoiding the huge trail of oil all down two blocks....
He took the corner in second gear, a little faster than normal since he was being tailgated and the bike just went sliding with no change of speed, around the corner, bike slid all the way on its side...rider tumbled ass over tea kettle away from it....
The van kept going, swerving around.
I got up to him seconds later, he was already up wtih the bike up. Amazingly he had only crunched his knee, and the right peg of the bike was slightly bent as it took ALL the impact and gouged the pavement for about 15 ft. NO other damage to bike, $2000 custom paint or most importantly to my guy.
And an import car full of kids rides by, laughing and clapping and cheering...and my bf has to be restrained from punching their window in...
We look under the bike I tell him what happened from behind him... and there is no oil left in the bike. Thank GOD we had stopped twice before going to the highway or we would have been SAILING down the highway when this happened. We could not immediately see any lines off...so he walks the bike home which is about 3 big city blocks. I ride my bike home, scared, and run back to walk back with him.
Now this is the stupid part. Second stupid thing to happen to us this year. but this one could easily have been deadly. (first loose kickstand bolt)
The mechanic who had his bike early this season...removed his oil filter when tinkering...and did not torque it back on right when he refilled the oil. It has only been ridden twice since we got it back...Whe we checked it at home after the crash/push...it was HANGING by only ONE thread - hence all the oil spewed/pumped out within two blocks when it got too loose.
Had I been behind him, in front, or had we been at high speed or an intersection with ongoing traffic...this would have been very very bad. Someone was watching for us yesterday I believe, no damage to bike or rider and for it to happen on a slow corner so close to home...with me so far behind....
My BF has not called the mechanic because he is a personal friend....but I think he should still tell him what happened. He could have had several lives on his conscience.
Since he pushed it home and first ran through all the oil the rear tire is entirely covered in oil. I think if we coat it in degreaser, scrub and rinse it with a good dry in between each time, followed by some alcohol baths we should be able to save it(?). But I don't have much of an idea about these things. Can anyone out there let me know exactly how to get the oil out, we are just worried about any major penetration to the rubber that will stay long term....