- Joined
- Sep 17, 2020
- Messages
- 1,578
- Location
- Austin Texas
Doing my normal Line Creek Rd -> 1431 -> marble falls -> Hamilton pool -> Bee Creek Rd run…like I do pretty much every SAT…
(for the local TX guys, I put the road names so some will be familiar with the routes)
First lap through I pass a green ninja running the opposite direction. I was leaned over pretty good and focusing on my ride but gave the head nod.
After the turn around (I usually do 1-4 laps before moving on; if traffic is low and no cops) I see him go by me again, so figured he was doing the same thing I was…he seemed faster that I was comfortable doing on that road. I try to keep it under 50-60 the whole way…most of the good turns are 20-40mph at massive lean angles. And the speed limit is 40…
So we pass each other a couple more times and I pull over for gas at the Anderson Mills intersection… Green Ninja pulls up and right away I notice this is a kid, prolyl 20yrs old tops. Cloth mechanic gloves, hoody, tennis shoes, jeans. Tires are squared off, front and back, and tread at the ware bars. Bike looks like its been through hell.
He seems excited to see my 1199 ask a few questions about it and tells me that is the bike he really wanted, but is learning on this Ninja first. Looks to be a mid 2000’s 600 or 636..has the under tail exhaust.
Asks me if he can follow me on the rest of my ride today. He seems eager friendly and looking for help…so I tell him sure he can follow me, I tell him the route and say sternly “don’t push yourself trying to keep up man, ride your ride and don’t do anything stupid.”
So we start out down 1431..still in Round Rock/Cedar Park so I’m driving fairly conservative. Right away I see him blowing by me in corners and then slowing down letting me take the lead again, first it looked like he was just way to late on the brakes, but upon closer scrutiny he is just hammering the throttle and driving way to fast for conditions. I know the road well and where the hidden driveways are and choke points. So its clear he’s riding with reckless abandon, beyond his capabilities. Once we get into 1431 proper I notice huge drop offs in the corners and he hammers the straights. Not a good look, I pull onto Cow Creek (a short little twisty spot with some poor roads in places). Right off the bat first turn he ignores my signals to slow down, blows way to hot through a corner and hits gravel..slides a bit front and back and managed to ride it out without crashing.
Nope, full stop for me, I’m not gonna watch this kid die today. I signal to pull over, take my helmet off and tell the kid “lets stop and chat for a bit man”.
I try not to get preachy but I tell him he’s simply driving way to far beyond his abilities and he’s gonna get hurt. He tells me “Naw, I’m good to go faster, I was scared at all.”
I tell him the last corner where he almost wiped out surly scared the hell out of me and to trust me he wasn’t ready for this type of riding. He tells me he’s been on the bike 60 days total, and every day running down Lime Creek Rd to get better…. Wow, so as a former safety course instructor myself I start with hand signals, and basic group riding tips. I talk about looking into the turns, covering the brakes, always looking ahead, stopping distances…I spend about an hour on the side of Cow Creek trying to teach and cram my 30ish years of sport bike riding into his head as possible.
He was polite and respectful, admitted he didn’t know ...., and asked good questions. I was hopful for him for sure. I give him my number tell him to hit me up if he ever needs anything and to slow the hell down.
“No we are not riding anymore today together, I’m not gonna watch you crash man trying to keep up with me.” I recommend the safety course and give final tips on sharpening his skills. And we head off.
Hand salute once back on 1431 and we head our separate ways.
Then 4hrs later I get this picture texted to me, from him. Says he walked away from 75mph crash, ran off the road in a corner trying to keep up with a Ferrari…
Wasn’t completely shocked, but shaken in that he could have died today..very, very easily. I chatted with him a moment and pleaded with him to learn from this and slow the hell down. Time will tell if he takes my advice.
Anyways guys…this has been running through my head since Saturday, wanted to share here…and perhaps see if anyone has had similar experiences…
JAG
(for the local TX guys, I put the road names so some will be familiar with the routes)
First lap through I pass a green ninja running the opposite direction. I was leaned over pretty good and focusing on my ride but gave the head nod.
After the turn around (I usually do 1-4 laps before moving on; if traffic is low and no cops) I see him go by me again, so figured he was doing the same thing I was…he seemed faster that I was comfortable doing on that road. I try to keep it under 50-60 the whole way…most of the good turns are 20-40mph at massive lean angles. And the speed limit is 40…
So we pass each other a couple more times and I pull over for gas at the Anderson Mills intersection… Green Ninja pulls up and right away I notice this is a kid, prolyl 20yrs old tops. Cloth mechanic gloves, hoody, tennis shoes, jeans. Tires are squared off, front and back, and tread at the ware bars. Bike looks like its been through hell.
He seems excited to see my 1199 ask a few questions about it and tells me that is the bike he really wanted, but is learning on this Ninja first. Looks to be a mid 2000’s 600 or 636..has the under tail exhaust.
Asks me if he can follow me on the rest of my ride today. He seems eager friendly and looking for help…so I tell him sure he can follow me, I tell him the route and say sternly “don’t push yourself trying to keep up man, ride your ride and don’t do anything stupid.”
So we start out down 1431..still in Round Rock/Cedar Park so I’m driving fairly conservative. Right away I see him blowing by me in corners and then slowing down letting me take the lead again, first it looked like he was just way to late on the brakes, but upon closer scrutiny he is just hammering the throttle and driving way to fast for conditions. I know the road well and where the hidden driveways are and choke points. So its clear he’s riding with reckless abandon, beyond his capabilities. Once we get into 1431 proper I notice huge drop offs in the corners and he hammers the straights. Not a good look, I pull onto Cow Creek (a short little twisty spot with some poor roads in places). Right off the bat first turn he ignores my signals to slow down, blows way to hot through a corner and hits gravel..slides a bit front and back and managed to ride it out without crashing.
Nope, full stop for me, I’m not gonna watch this kid die today. I signal to pull over, take my helmet off and tell the kid “lets stop and chat for a bit man”.
I try not to get preachy but I tell him he’s simply driving way to far beyond his abilities and he’s gonna get hurt. He tells me “Naw, I’m good to go faster, I was scared at all.”
I tell him the last corner where he almost wiped out surly scared the hell out of me and to trust me he wasn’t ready for this type of riding. He tells me he’s been on the bike 60 days total, and every day running down Lime Creek Rd to get better…. Wow, so as a former safety course instructor myself I start with hand signals, and basic group riding tips. I talk about looking into the turns, covering the brakes, always looking ahead, stopping distances…I spend about an hour on the side of Cow Creek trying to teach and cram my 30ish years of sport bike riding into his head as possible.
He was polite and respectful, admitted he didn’t know ...., and asked good questions. I was hopful for him for sure. I give him my number tell him to hit me up if he ever needs anything and to slow the hell down.
“No we are not riding anymore today together, I’m not gonna watch you crash man trying to keep up with me.” I recommend the safety course and give final tips on sharpening his skills. And we head off.
Hand salute once back on 1431 and we head our separate ways.
Then 4hrs later I get this picture texted to me, from him. Says he walked away from 75mph crash, ran off the road in a corner trying to keep up with a Ferrari…
Wasn’t completely shocked, but shaken in that he could have died today..very, very easily. I chatted with him a moment and pleaded with him to learn from this and slow the hell down. Time will tell if he takes my advice.
Anyways guys…this has been running through my head since Saturday, wanted to share here…and perhaps see if anyone has had similar experiences…
JAG
