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Post by keikara on Jan 30, 2015 15:24:05 GMT -5
I'm one of those that always thought, it's not if I go down but when. Well today was the day. Riding in the rain in Phoenix, with not the greatest tires, slowing down around 25 - 30 mph front tire locked up turned sideways, and I'm sliding down Central Ave. Little road rash on my knees, but didn't tear my jeans, scuffs on the palms of my leather gloves, and my hands are sore. New little knick in my helmet. Went to E.R. to be safe, got the all clear from doctor. Scooter got a little road rash on the left side but nothing broken that I noticed yet. Glad I am O.K. and will live to ride another day. So next plan is new tires for the scoot lol.
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it happened
by: oldchopperguy - Jan 30, 2015 15:48:24 GMT -5
Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 30, 2015 15:48:24 GMT -5
Keikara,
First, WELCOME to the site! Now, thank God you didn't get badly hurt. Have a bone on the Old Chopper Guy for not BREAKING any bones...
When that front tire starts sliding, you have only a fraction of a second to get off the brakes, attempt to recover control, and avoid hitting something. No matter the bike you're riding, from a bicycle to a big motorcycle... I've messed up on all of them... LOL! Same trouble with a car, but they don't fall out from under you...
I suspect in Phoenix you don't get much rain, so when you do, the roads are super-slippery from oil in the pavement being loosened up by the rain. The first hour or so of new rain is probably as slippery as any road will get, without ice.
Good tires are a must... Especially since your hot, dry climate hastens dry-rot. No tires are going to help much on wet roads with oily residue though. Just be careful, and learn from experience...
Stay safe!
Leo in Texas
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Post by keikara on Jan 30, 2015 16:34:20 GMT -5
Yea wasn't raining when I left home, started to mist just before the spill. Have rode in the rain before, don't know if I hit oil or what but it wasn't a fun ride lol.
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Sophomore Rider
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Post by scootdude on Jan 30, 2015 16:36:44 GMT -5
Wow man! I'm really glad you're okay! I live in Phoenix as well, and I was out riding in it yesterday between Scottsdale and Phoenix. I can't believe all the rain. I didn't move here to get rained on. I like blue skies and sunny days. I have no idea what's up with all this Seattle weather, but it needs to GO! I know the valley needs water, but the Arizona state legislature should get off their duffs and write laws making it illegal for it to rain during the daylight hours.
In the time that I've been riding motorized bikes on the road I haven't had my incident yet. (KNOCK ON WOOD) I hope when it does happen it's a benign incident like yours. I'd be perfectly happy if nothing is injured but my pride. Get those new tires and have some safe riding out there!!
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Post by xyshannen on Jan 30, 2015 17:23:02 GMT -5
Glad you're ok! Same thing happend to me but it was leaves instead of rain and it was an electric bike instead of a scooter. I wasn't so lucky. After I got done sliding about 30 ft I stood up and thought I was ok.. Then I noticed my left shoulder was about 2 inches lower than it should be and I couldn't move my left arm. Turns out I shattered my shoulder into a dozen or so pieces and split my humerus into two pieces lengthwise from my shoulder to my elbow. Docs tried to fix me as much as they could, but even with more than 12 pins and a titanium rod in my arm running from my shoulder to my elbow, my left arm is completely useless. Can't pick it up more than an inch on it's own power, and I live in constant pain. Whenever I get around to it I have to go in and have the whole shebang replaced with an artificial shoulder and humerus. Unlike Phenix, Florida gets a ton of rain. Wile I try to avoid riding in the rain, riding on wet streets is a must. So when I bought new tires I opted for a set of tires that have actual treads instead of the typical slick with grooves cut in it. These are my tires.  Even though they are a lil harder than your typical scooter tire because they are rated for speeds up to 95mph, they grip way better in dry and wet conditions vs my old tires. |
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it happened
by: JerryScript - Jan 30, 2015 19:56:52 GMT -5
Post by JerryScript on Jan 30, 2015 19:56:52 GMT -5
Glad to hear you are OK! The only spills I've had on a scooter or motorcycle where during rain. You have to go slower, and I don't just mean ride slower, you have to brake slower, turn slower, do everything slower and with more control when it's raining.
My first rain wreck was 25 years ago on my Honda 550. I was riding into Salt Lake City from the east, raining cats dogs and blowing everywhere. A semi truck passed me, no problem, but the one right behind it caught me by surprise because it was basically tailgating the lead semi. All of a sudden I had a tank slapper going on. I let off the throttle, turned my head to be sure there wasn't a third semi coming, and then laid her down as gentle as I could. I slid across the road, into the median, which luckily was muddy from the rain and not full of rocks. I slid at least a football field before stopping. Thanks to the rain and mud, I got no road rash, but it did take me 10 minutes to get my helmet off because it was packed with mud from the slide. Another half hour pulling mud and weeds out of my bike, and I limped into Salt Lake City. There is a KOA right inside the city, I pulled in there and yelled through the door asking to be hosed off.
My second incident was much less dramatic. Light rain here in Vegas, pulling out from a stop light and turning right, hit a bit of oil raised by the rain, and my rear spun out causing the scooter to spin around the front wheel. I just stepped through the scooter and let it go. Ended up with two scratches and a small crack on the plastics, otherwise no harm. I blame this one on my BBK making too much torque for those tiny 10" wheels.
Once again, glad to hear you are OK! Ride safe, and enjoy yourself!
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Post by rockynv on Jan 31, 2015 7:19:03 GMT -5
Also watch out for fast food establishments, car washes and those plastic lines and arrows. The grease from the fast food places and soap residue from the car washes builds up on the roads and can make them extremely slick when it rains and while those heat applies vinyl lines and arrows last longer than the painted on variety they are like riding on a wet Teflon skillet when it rains or is a bit damp or foggy.
Glad everyone's OK! You do have to be careful out there.
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by: SylvreKat - Jan 31, 2015 9:01:36 GMT -5
Post by SylvreKat on Jan 31, 2015 9:01:36 GMT -5
Glad you weren't hurt.
Yeah, don't mess around with tires. I learned that the hard way. I had very little money and needed new car tires, so found a "good deal"--all four mounted etc for about $100. Tiger Paws. Horrible tires. They had ZERO traction--dry, wet, didn't matter they didn't hold pavement. They cost me that car.
So yeah, if your tires are worn and not holding, do make new ones a priority. And by new ones I mean good decent ones, not el-cheapos!
>'Kat
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Post by keikara on Jan 31, 2015 11:49:17 GMT -5
Yea I'm looking at getting Bridgestone's, found them for around $115 each going to look around a little bit more due to not having the money till taxes come in, but am definitely getting new tires. On a side note if anyone knows of a place that sells the plastic body panels at reasonable prices, I have a few that are needing to be replaced. The left side panel cracked, and the front cowl is broken in a few places along with the headlights are pushed back but not broken. lol The scooter is a 2013 Jonway 150cc.
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it happened
by: oldchopperguy - Jan 31, 2015 18:11:14 GMT -5
Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 31, 2015 18:11:14 GMT -5
Yea I'm looking at getting Bridgestone's, found them for around $115 each going to look around a little bit more due to not having the money till taxes come in, but am definitely getting new tires. On a side note if anyone knows of a place that sells the plastic body panels at reasonable prices, I have a few that are needing to be replaced. The left side panel cracked, and the front cowl is broken in a few places along with the headlights are pushed back but not broken. lol The scooter is a 2013 Jonway 150cc. Your scooter is quite new, so "pre-owned" as in "good parts left after a crash... LOL!" body panels may not be easily found. I would check eBay for scooter parts and compare any that might be the same as yours though. Sometimes you get lucky.
Your best bet is probably to remove the broken panels, then tightly tape them together and repair from the rear with epoxy, reinforced with fiberglass cloth if the break or crack is large. Once that's done, you can sand the exterior, use spot-putty and filler-primer to smooth off any cracks that show and sand and finish paint. With the panels removed, it's not all that difficult, and may well be easier than trying to find replacements. Less expensive, too.
If you aren't comfortable with fixing and painting, you can probably find a local young guy or gal who will help you. It's really not too difficult. Painting the entire scooter one color can be VERY striking and attractive. Matte black is all the rage right now... But any single color, red, white, yellow, blue, etc. can be accented with a simple vinyl trim decal for a little added interest if desired.
Since you need repairs anyway, you might as well do the scooter up to "make it your own" with some original paint...
Hope this may help,
Leo in Texas
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by: jerseyboy - Jan 31, 2015 21:03:34 GMT -5
Post by jerseyboy on Jan 31, 2015 21:03:34 GMT -5
Glad your OK also,,
These tires are so small and react very quick because of their size,, anytime you grab the front binders you need to be ready for any possible thing to happen,,in the rain i usually favor my rear brakes more than my front,,but thats just me,,its easier to handle a rear slide then a front wash.
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Post by keikara on Feb 1, 2015 0:38:47 GMT -5
Your best bet is probably to remove the broken panels, then tightly tape them together and repair from the rear with epoxy, reinforced with fiberglass cloth if the break or crack is large. Once that's done, you can sand the exterior, use spot-putty and filler-primer to smooth off any cracks that show and sand and finish paint. With the panels removed, it's not all that difficult, and may well be easier than trying to find replacements. Less expensive, too.
Was contemplating this. Found the front cowel for between 80-100 bucks. Found a similar scooter on Craigslist with a seized engine for $200. Would then have all the panels, but I am favoring just repairing and repainting the whole scooters plastics. I need to pull everything off anyway to make sure nothing did get bent or broke from the spill. |
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Post by keikara on Feb 1, 2015 0:43:24 GMT -5
Glad your OK also,, These tires are so small and react very quick because of their size,, anytime you grab the front binders you need to be ready for any possible thing to happen,,in the rain i usually favor my rear brakes more than my front,,but thats just me,,its easier to handle a rear slide then a front wash. Didn't think I hit my front brakes any harder than normal, but may have. I have rode in the rain before not my first time, but then that doesn't mean much as of what happened. lol Probably going to be a little bit before I can ride tho, in the past day my shoulder has developed a bruise and I can barley move it without pain. Realized that when I went down hit my hands and knees, then my right shoulder, onto my back where I slid. So has been a fun day to say the least. lol |
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by: ramblinman - Feb 1, 2015 9:23:12 GMT -5
Post by ramblinman on Feb 1, 2015 9:23:12 GMT -5
Probably going to be a little bit before I can ride tho, in the past day my shoulder has developed a bruise and I can barley move it without pain. Realized that when I went down hit my hands and knees, then my right shoulder, onto my back where I slid. So has been a fun day to say the least. lol you lived to tell about it, that's a good day! i'm still not 100% from going down last August on wet pavement. if i had more safety gear i would probably be fine. knee pads would have been helpful. if i had less gear, say no helmet, i might not be here to tell the story since my head hit the curb. i can walk without a limp but stairs are still difficult. hope you completely recover, it will take some time. |
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it happened
by: jerseyboy - Feb 1, 2015 10:22:58 GMT -5
Post by jerseyboy on Feb 1, 2015 10:22:58 GMT -5
Very well could have been a slick oil spot from a big truck or leaky car..thats stinks!
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