The annual average that a motorcyclist drives today? According to statistics about 4000 kilometers. Those statistics also include the back neighbor's 1954 Harley and the 100 cc Chinese on the back of friend Ed's camper. If we run that average for years, then we have become quite experienced motorcyclists with it. However?
But an experienced motorcyclist does not have to be a good motorcyclist
Although less experienced motorcyclists can be impressed by all those miles. And the best part of all that experience? I have come to the conclusion that I am nowhere near as good a motorcyclist as I thought I was a quarter of a century ago. That has saved me quite a few falls in the meantime. And motorcycling has not become less fun.
Anticipation must
My routine lets me drive at a nice pace, my experience ensures that I can 'read' the road well and that anticipation has even become the approach when shaving. Now stay with the lesson. Because now comes the disadvantage, the dangerous side of the experience story. The routine was almost four years long: stopping, tapping freely, turning off contact, kicking out the sidestand, at the "KLENK!" of the jiffy popping into place, dropping the motor to the left while getting off in a smooth motion. That's how it works with a Guzzi Cali II motorcycle.
Last winter my motorcycle earned TLC. That would take quite some time. At that time I would be without transport. A friend of mine had a Diversion 600 in the way. That fire-red toy was adopted for a ridiculous amount.
And then the routine trap closes
Upon arrival at the shopping center I turned my nicely worn stop routine. Contact, kick out jiffy. "CLICK!". Drop engine to the left. Scare. Can't keep the case. Landing on the tiles with a smack while my leg catches the worst blow of the engine. I see the ball bouncing away from the end of the clutch lever… Something else has gone than I was used to. No idea what.
Villagers rush to help me in surprise
That's how it works here. One says carefully "You will never do that otherwise!". Glad I didn't buy a cheap Goldwing, I scribble out under my moped and put it back on its rubbers. That the jiffy has collapsed? Isn't that due to the fall? I feel a bit more stupid than usual, mate ah: 'chips happens'. A week later I arrive smoothly. On the sidewalk, off, the sidestand a kick 'KLENK!' ... And there I am again. If that happens more often I have to ask my son if he can put me to sleep. He will finally be a veterinarian.
The ball at the end of the clutch lever?
Ah, there it is. A boy by the hand of his mother shouts: `That gentleman has fallen! Stupid, right? `. I don't know that just yet. But at least there is something going on that I don't understand. I pick up the embarrassed Yamahaatje and put it back on the wheels. Kick the jiffy out again and park it safely this time. "Kick the jiffy out again?" I had done that before. Also just before the fall. Coincidence or resentment of a motorcycle that realizes it was only bought for a while?
Time for in-depth research
At home I will experiment. And finds the answer to the riddle of the falling ass. That 'KLENK! and let it fall over 'story that I was so used to in the course of time? That had its limitations here. After a few attempts it turned out that the 'KLENK' of the brave four-cylinder was sometimes simply caused by ... The sidestand did not fold into place, but hit back to its starting position. "CLICK!"
The learning moment
And if that happens while you let the motor fall loosely out of your hands during the smooth step? Then you literally have a too narrow base to stay upright. The next day I celebrated my understanding of the dangers of routine action with the purchase of a new clutch lever. And that in the meantime it is autumn again and that leaves and smooth misery end up on the road? That doesn't make me water lukewarm. Because as an experienced motorcyclist I know that I have to adjust my speed and cornering accordingly.
And in the meantime the Guzzi is in use again. So that falling over, I am rid of that.
In the 70s (from the last century by now) I had a nice Yamaha XS750, and my wife a nice Honda CB350-4. The bikes were both on the side stand in front of our door and, for a reason no longer known, both had to be placed a meter or two forward. So I went outside, put Yamaha up, and walked two meters forward with the jiffy out. Back to the Honda, upright and two meters again, lowered the engine onto the jiffy and immediately turned around, before I even took a step I heard a bang and my wife cursing. The Honda had an auto-folding side stand as a safety measure, so I didn't know ...
After years of side-tensioning, once again solo moped gives the same experience ..
@ Pascal: 100%!