Not strictly a GS story, but kind of related. A few months back I bought a 1200 Bandit, 2003 model so not new, but mint condition. Due to the British summertime weather though, have`nt had much chance to get out on it much. Well last week, amazingly I woke up to sunshine. So I decided to give my GS750 a day off (to dry off too) and go to work on the Bandit.
On the way home was having a great ride, hot sunny and dry, when up ahead at the opposite side of the road I spotted a bike parked up at the kerb. It was a country road miles from the nearest town, but as I approached the guy with the back was sat with his back to the road smoking a ciggie, so I could`nt give the thumbs up to check he was ok. Anyway, I decided to stop and check, so once the cage behind me was past, I started my u-turn. Almost completed the turn when I spotted a load of nails & crap. Instead of tapping the back brake which I always use for slow speed manouvres, I tapped the front. Now the bandits brakes are a bit better than my GS`s, so the next thing I know the front locked up and the bike went over. Cursing like a good un, I tried to pick the bike up, by which time the other guy had run over, so we got her back on her wheels. Talk about embarrasing !. Turned out he had`nt broken down either, just stopped for a smoke. Feeling like a right berk, I got back on and headed for home, did`nt check the bike over as I just wanted to get away, but soon found the front brake lever was broken, front indicator was gone too. At home, a quick check revealed the indicator was still there, just popped out of its mounting, and amazingly there was only a small chip out of one engine case and a snmall scuff on the exhaust. Still a bit p....d off, but hey, could have been worse. New lever cost almost ?40.00. Ouch !. As the title says, one of those days, just my luck for trying to be a good samaritan, but got to see the funny side.
On the way home was having a great ride, hot sunny and dry, when up ahead at the opposite side of the road I spotted a bike parked up at the kerb. It was a country road miles from the nearest town, but as I approached the guy with the back was sat with his back to the road smoking a ciggie, so I could`nt give the thumbs up to check he was ok. Anyway, I decided to stop and check, so once the cage behind me was past, I started my u-turn. Almost completed the turn when I spotted a load of nails & crap. Instead of tapping the back brake which I always use for slow speed manouvres, I tapped the front. Now the bandits brakes are a bit better than my GS`s, so the next thing I know the front locked up and the bike went over. Cursing like a good un, I tried to pick the bike up, by which time the other guy had run over, so we got her back on her wheels. Talk about embarrasing !. Turned out he had`nt broken down either, just stopped for a smoke. Feeling like a right berk, I got back on and headed for home, did`nt check the bike over as I just wanted to get away, but soon found the front brake lever was broken, front indicator was gone too. At home, a quick check revealed the indicator was still there, just popped out of its mounting, and amazingly there was only a small chip out of one engine case and a snmall scuff on the exhaust. Still a bit p....d off, but hey, could have been worse. New lever cost almost ?40.00. Ouch !. As the title says, one of those days, just my luck for trying to be a good samaritan, but got to see the funny side.
