nklr laying it down

[clint750@netzero.net]

I'm one of those strange ones that remove all the info decals, logos and graphics from everything they own. Everything that stuck to my '00 G.I. Joe KLR came off within hours of ownership. But one big (and scary) task remained. An acquaintence of mine, not known for being timid, suggested (dared) that I remove the KAWASAKI lettering from the seat. He claimed to have removed same from his Yamaha with Goof Off. I shivered at the thought. After a week of screwing my courage to the sticking place, I emptied a beer, removed the seat and set to work with the Goof Off and a rag. Voila! That grey vinyl perch remained pristine but was now gloriously unadorned. If you have a brain for plain, try it. Trust me? Clint

[Rex Hefferan]

In my younger more foolish days I crashed many times. Mostly due to cornering too fast for conditions. Something that happens when you road race on public roads. I'm familiar with low side crashes (and high side too!... got injuries to prove it) In my experience, most times the bike tends to lead you in the slide and you get separated from the bike with the fall. I've noticed many times that road racers will maintain grip on the handlebars and that can improve the outcome. FWIW; Two crashes come to mind that are close to this subject. In both I was riding an '83 Honda VFR750F on a exit ramp and slid off into an armco. The impact was minimal and I was able to ride home, but the bike spun 360 and I was between the armco and the wheels. Couldda been worse. The other was more relevant. An old man (80 yrs) had pulled out from a side driveway going ahead of me just as I approached. I decided to pass and as I did he inexplicably turned left into the next driveway cutting me off. I tried to manuever left and braking hard I went down, the bike bounced up against his left front and I was launched over his hood into the ditch. Landed flat on my back about 15 yards away not injured, but shaken. These experiences tell me that you probably will get hurt worse from a sudden stop than if you can avoid the vehicle by sliding past, under and clear of the wheels of a high clearance vehicle or over the vehicle. I wouldn't want to try and slide under most any vehicle, but it could be the better choice under certain circumstances. Another thing is you may lose control of the sliding bike and it can make matters worse. You are NOT going to feel too good no matter what, so THINK and just be careful and THINK and learn to avoid crashes as best you can. THINK about defensive driving and avoidance while riding. Keep your distance from those unpredictable cages. Ride the back roads. Rex (30+ years hard riding, a dozen bikes, no life/limb threatening injuries) A7