[underdog]

Crashed my Z...

Sunday riding through the Malibu canyons I crashed my Z. I feel like a dumba**. I put a new set of Pilot Powers on and after 350 miles on them I figured it was time to test a few turns. I'm used to the BT016 which is allot softer tire but having to change the chain, sprockets, and tires to get ready for a long ride up the coast highway to the GP races I went cheap on my tires. Anyway, headed into a couple turns things felt OK until the back tire slid out. I tossed it up straight grabbed both brakes a little harder and Bang! I hit the guardrail at 10 mph, slid along the rail on my belly until I hit my lower back on the post that holds up the rail. That hurt! It tossed me up and over the rail just feet from going down a couple hundred foot cliff, landing flat on my back looking up at the sky. My first thought was, what a dumb move that was. My second thought after laying there a minute was "I really don't think I'm hurt too bad." I've had 3 back surgeries in the past so needless to say I was kinda concerned. But, it looks like I might have broken a couple fingers or my left hand, my right big toe is broken and it feels like a mule kicked me in the love handle on my left side. Other then that my bike took the worst of it. Over 40 years riding and it is only the second time I've ever been down. The first being at age 15, so it has been a while. My guess is the tire wasn't quite ready to push it or I was just going too darn fast. Either way I'll be looking for parts soon, lots of them. So if anybody has a extra 2007 gas tank, headlight and front cowling, etc. PM me please. I'm in the market for quite a few goodies to get me up and running soon.

 

[So-Crates]

First off, glad to hear you are doing ok. Lucky you got it slowed down enough that you werent launched head first off the cliff!

Dont beat yourself up, man! Crashes happen to the best of us! Kinda sucks that you are gonna miss out on making the GP races at Laguna now....but it could be worse. Pushing up daisies kind of worse...

Im wondering if maybe you hit something like gravel...or even just opened the throttle too much while leaned over a bit too far... I have the BT023's, which are comparable to the Pilot Powers, and the sides are plenty grippy and dont slide out on me. 350 miles was way more than enough to get the wax coat off the tires...

Anyway, glad you are safe and alive, bro!

 

[notabiker]

sorry i have no parts to help you out. glad your body came out ok. get well

 

[kawtoy_77]

MAN! Sounds like a bad day..... Glad you are ok, and hope you get what you need to put the bike back right.

 

[AP Guy]

Glad to hear your doing ok. From the sounds of it, it could have been a lot worse. Hope you get her back up and running soon. All I can say is that when I go down...I know it will happen sometime...I just hope I can get it on camera! Ive taken some pretty nasty spills on the sled in the winter time and every time I have my gopro off! haha

Get well soon...for you and your bikeccasion:

 

[Barry]

Sorry to hear that, been down 15+ in my 30 plus years riding been real lucky. With a bike like yours (a few years on it) Ebay is your friend for parts.
Dont just check US ebay but try Au and EUR ebay. Hope ur back up on your bike soon.

 

[VitaminZ1]

Hey Underdog, Im sorry this happened to you.

What's important is that you are alive, it could have been worse.
The bike can be fixed, however your body will take time.
I wish you well in your recovery... Stay strong...
Peace Bro..

 

[underdog]

Thanks to you all for your good wishes. I'm still hobbling around like an old man (Oh, I am OLD!) but getting better, faster then I thought, so far. A couple more weeks and I won't remember a thing (haha) except the busted Z sitting in the garage will remind me.
I've only been down once before, at age 11 (over 40 years ago) on a Honda 305 Scrambler (remember those?) but I didn't get hurt. I preach to the younger guys how fast it can happen and how much it hurts. Now I know from experience!
Be careful out there guys and gals. Wear your gear! It happens real fast and believe me you won't have time to change clothes when it does!
The best part of a ride is getting home safe with that big smile on your face, already planning your next ride!

 

[ridingswitch]

I wish you a speedy recovery!

 

[JSharp]

Sorry to hear this. Lets hope none of the injuries are serious and you heel up quickly!

 

[z1 kid]

Good to hear your ok man. Going down is no fun. Hey bike is fixable so u should be out in no time..

 

[zephyrboy738]

I don't know what you need but I have stock bars, mirrors, exhaust,shield,rear blinkers,lower plastic under the motor. Glad to here you are OK just let me know and you can have all of it.plus I have a 08 tank white with minor damage on one side.

 

[Natty]

Glad to hear your ok, Bikes can be fixed !!
Re the powers...we stopped using them ages ago due to rear end sliding at speed...they would squirm around all over the place ....was always the rear that gave us grief in corners & under hard breaking...a crappy play tyre IMO.

 

[motomc1]

Although Michelin claims the ...

Pilot power 2ct as a good road and track tire....you can see the difference between it and the Pures. Pures might not last as long...but certainly a better tire for those pushing the limits of sport riding. I had Pures on my previous bike and they stick like glue. I have also ran 2cts and although a good tire (especially racking up miles) the sporting performance isn't the same as the Pures.

Pilot Power 2ct

Pures

 

[underdog]

Glad to hear your ok, Bikes can be fixed !!
Re the powers...we stopped using them ages ago due to rear end sliding at speed...they would squirm around all over the place ....was always the rear that gave us grief in corners & under hard breaking...a crappy play tyre IMO.

Thanks Natty,

This was my first set of Pilot Powers. I ran through 2 sets of BT016's in less then 4,000 miles but they stuck like glue in every turn. They were so predictable it was hard not to buy another set. I might have started a thread or read one about this and most said it was cheap insurance if I liked them that much. Well, I guess I didn't listen to myself or the others and bought the Pilot Powers anyway and look what happens. I can't of course blame it all on the tire since I had control of the throttle but...
My Son runs the old Pilot Powers cuz they are cheap. So I'll be giving them to him and buying a new set of tires on the rebuild!

 

[underdog]

I don't know what you need but I have stock bars, mirrors, exhaust,shield,rear blinkers,lower plastic under the motor. Glad to here you are OK just let me know and you can have all of it.plus I have a 08 tank white with minor damage on one side.

Thanks Zephyrboy,

I might be calling you soon. I should have called a long time ago just to BS with you but life got in the way. I might just have to take you up on a couple of the items since I've been calling around to motorcycle salvage yards and most don't even know what a Z1000 is! Today, or Tomorrow I'm off to LA Motorcycle Salvage to see for myself what they have in stock and talk to them. It is supposed to be one of the biggest in SoCal and there website says they have it all from Duc's to exotic bike parts. I believe the Z falls in the exotic class, since they didn't add UNREAL bikes to there listings. HaHa

 

[Perma Grin]

Heal quickly.

 

[ninjai]

+1....

I always thought of Pilot Powers as very sticky street tires. Always hooked up great on my 636 and ZX-10. I've gots to wonder if there wasn't something on the road, contributing to your misfortune.

 

[underdog]

+1....

I always thought of Pilot Powers as very sticky street tires. Always hooked up great on my 636 and ZX-10. I've gots to wonder if there wasn't something on the road, contributing to your misfortune.

Yeah, me too. My Son and Daughter-In-Law ride with the Pilot Powers. In fact she ran through that corner I crashed in going much faster then I did/didn't. However, her tires were well broken in and mine, well... they were pretty green and I probably just didn't scuff them in well enough. But I must say the BT016's I was used to, scuffed in quickly, had much more grip and warmed up much faster then the Pilot Powers. It was probably all my fault anyway since I was the one in control of the throttle.
Update on my condition: Looks like nothing is broken! Just a couple of bruises and a few sore muscles. My back still feels like I was kicked by a mule but I'm doing great and looking for parts to get back on the road soon while the weather is still good for riding.

Thanks again for all your best wishes.