I've spent the last few weeks doing a heap of little maintenace jobs on the trusty Pantah.
I've had her 23 years and, apart from a wee bingle that left me with fractured C2 & C3, things have been pretty smooth.
I managed to get a set of headers for her last week at a good price (new old stock), which I considered a major find for a 25 year old bike.
So.... all put back together... time for photos and a ride.
Magic
Took a ride along my favorite roads and called in on a mate to show off the new pipes.
Off home.... and I drop the damn thing
![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/crybaby.gif)
My fault.
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/blushing.gif)
I believed the truck driver when he indicated that he was turning left into the road I was coming out of.
He lied
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/mad.gif)
I was pretty well commited and needed to brake HARD to avoid slamming into the side of him.
Even though I was travelling below the speed limit (about 70kph) there just wasn't enough room.
Front wheel locked (stupid mistake ), I hit the ground like a sack of spuds and followed the bike sliding on it's left side towards the truck.
I stopped just before the bike... which missed the truck by inches as it slid past the rear wheels.
The truck drove on and I scrambled to kill the engine.
Couldn't pick up the bike because I had dislocated my collar bone (managed to get it back and ride home ).
Basically I let myself down.
I did see him indicating, but I didn't see him START indicating... so he could have had the lights flashing for miles.
I just wasn't careful enough
Soooo...
Good news, the new headers didn't get scratched.
Bad news, the Staintune exhaust got scratched and dented (nope... they don't make them anymore).
Fairing, major scratches and broken in 2 places.
Tank, dented where left switchblock was pushed into it.
Centre stand, bent (hence dent in exhaust).
Left front indicator broken (damn near impossible to find replacements).
Other minor scrapes... clutch lever, gearchange, front axle nut
Me....
Banged up knee and very sore in the left shoulder area.
It pays to wear the right gear, else I'm pretty sure I'd have busted something.
Woke up this morning to considerable pain... so nope it wasn't a bad dream
It's going to be a long time before I can get all that fixed.
I'm trying to stay out of the shed.... can't bear to look at what I've done
![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/crybaby.gif)
Cop ya later