David Diamante critically Injured

[KiwiRider]

I'm surprised Guzzis are available in NZ. Easier to find Japanese classics than in the UK, though.

A mate of mine had an RD350 in the '90s, and I really wanted a Chesterfield RS250 at the time. Got a CBR400 now cos I'm too old for monthly breakdowns!

I see Diamante was pictured on a Speed Triple instead of a hog, so respect for that.

They are quite popular here, probably more per capita anywhere outside of Italy. They go well on our twisty roads. Always been a bike that can do big miles, and have dependable handling. We have been grey importing them from America and Japan for decades. Still are, they never sold well new here, too expensive up until the last 10 years.

[rd350lc]

I'm surprised Guzzis are available in NZ. Easier to find Japanese classics than in the UK, though.

A mate of mine had an RD350 in the '90s, and I really wanted a Chesterfield RS250 at the time. Got a CBR400 now cos I'm too old for monthly breakdowns!

I see Diamante was pictured on a Speed Triple instead of a hog, so respect for that.

Your Honda ok on your back ?
Had a zxr400 and had to bin it off , terrible riding position but I suppose being tall don't help .
LC's with bars and not clip-ons suit me much better and you'd be surprised how reliable they are if looked after .

[Grilling Machine]

I bought a front cowl from a breaker and a double bubble to cut down for 3" risers! Wasn't brave enough to cut the originals. Makes a huge difference. I can also change the angle and width of the bars, so I'm running them pretty straight like a naked.

I'm 5'11" but didn't have any back problems, it was the cramp in my hands that got to me. The risers are a bit closer as well, so I can keep a lot more weight off my hands now.

Most riders tell me to get a bigger bike, but I love how you can rev these little classics without hitting daft speeds. New fork springs and shocks are needed, but not much else if they run okay. Had my carbs professionally cleaned. Brakes are the most dated thing on mine, so I've sintered pads and braided lines.

[rd350lc]

I bought a front cowl from a breaker and a double bubble to cut down for 3" risers! Wasn't brave enough to cut the originals. Makes a huge difference. I can also change the angle and width of the bars, so I'm running them pretty straight like a naked.

I'm 5'11" but didn't have any back problems, it was the cramp in my hands that got to me. The risers are a bit closer as well, so I can keep a lot more weight off my hands now.

Most riders tell me to get a bigger bike, but I love how you can rev these little classics without hitting daft speeds. New fork springs and shocks are needed, but not much else if they run okay. Had my carbs professionally cleaned. Brakes are the most dated thing on mine, so I've sintered pads and braided lines.

Sounds like you have it set up to suit your best riding position , seems like bikes have gone full circle and you hardly ever see a race rep nowadays , people got sharp .

[KiwiRider]

I bought a front cowl from a breaker and a double bubble to cut down for 3" risers! Wasn't brave enough to cut the originals. Makes a huge difference. I can also change the angle and width of the bars, so I'm running them pretty straight like a naked.

I'm 5'11" but didn't have any back problems, it was the cramp in my hands that got to me. The risers are a bit closer as well, so I can keep a lot more weight off my hands now.

Most riders tell me to get a bigger bike, but I love how you can rev these little classics without hitting daft speeds. New fork springs and shocks are needed, but not much else if they run okay. Had my carbs professionally cleaned. Brakes are the most dated thing on mine, so I've sintered pads and braided lines.

I find its more fun winding a smaller bike through all the gears, than a powerful bike through 2 gears and into the stratosphere

[MasterG]

I bought a front cowl from a breaker and a double bubble to cut down for 3" risers! Wasn't brave enough to cut the originals. Makes a huge difference. I can also change the angle and width of the bars, so I'm running them pretty straight like a naked.

I'm 5'11" but didn't have any back problems, it was the cramp in my hands that got to me. The risers are a bit closer as well, so I can keep a lot more weight off my hands now.

Most riders tell me to get a bigger bike, but I love how you can rev these little classics without hitting daft speeds. New fork springs and shocks are needed, but not much else if they run okay. Had my carbs professionally cleaned. Brakes are the most dated thing on mine, so I've sintered pads and braided lines.

I find its more fun winding a smaller bike through all the gears, than a powerful bike through 2 gears and into the stratosphere

Have you been on a YPVS 250? Effing hell the power band is like hitting 4g's

[KiwiRider]

I bought a front cowl from a breaker and a double bubble to cut down for 3" risers! Wasn't brave enough to cut the originals. Makes a huge difference. I can also change the angle and width of the bars, so I'm running them pretty straight like a naked.

I'm 5'11" but didn't have any back problems, it was the cramp in my hands that got to me. The risers are a bit closer as well, so I can keep a lot more weight off my hands now.

Most riders tell me to get a bigger bike, but I love how you can rev these little classics without hitting daft speeds. New fork springs and shocks are needed, but not much else if they run okay. Had my carbs professionally cleaned. Brakes are the most dated thing on mine, so I've sintered pads and braided lines.

I find its more fun winding a smaller bike through all the gears, than a powerful bike through 2 gears and into the stratosphere

Have you been on a YPVS 250? Effing hell the power band is like hitting 4g's

No, the only 2-smokes I've ridden are chook chasers.

[rd350lc]

Have you been on a YPVS 250? Effing hell the power band is like hitting 4g's

The power valve was designed to smooth out that pronounced kick in the arse at 5-6 ish k .
The early Lc more obvious powerband and things like the kwak kh750 were just ridiculous .
Fun , fun ,fun tho .

[rd350lc]

I find its more fun winding a smaller bike through all the gears, than a powerful bike through 2 gears and into the stratosphere

Have you been on a YPVS 250? Effing hell the power band is like hitting 4g's

No, the only 2-smokes I've ridden are chook chasers.

We knew chicken chasers in the UK as the old c50/90 honda step through ,even mint ones of those are going for silly money now .

[JamesPhilips]

I wonder if any of Double D’s dreadlocks were snared in the crash?
I wonder if he’ll reappear with a totally new look….

[KiwiRider]

I wonder if any of Double D’s dreadlocks were snared in the crash?
I wonder if he’ll reappear with a totally new look….

You know, that's actually the very first thing that came to mind?
Seems a bit silly now I look back, but it genuinely was.
It might stem from riding alongside my mate and his mrs while my wife took a photo of them. His mrs leaned back for some reason and pushed their sleeping bags off the back of the bike and into the back wheel. He went from right beside me, to way back in the distance in a blink of the eye! Luckily he handled it without crashing. But since then I've always been real careful about the potential for stuff getting caught in wheels or chains...

[JamesPhilips]

I wonder if any of Double D’s dreadlocks were snared in the crash?
I wonder if he’ll reappear with a totally new look….

You know, that's actually the very first thing that came to mind?
Seems a bit silly now I look back, but it genuinely was.
It might stem from riding alongside my mate and his mrs while my wife took a photo of them. His mrs leaned back for some reason and pushed their sleeping bags off the back of the bike and into the back wheel. He went from right beside me, to way back in the distance in a blink of the eye! Luckily he handled it without crashing. But since then I've always been real careful about the potential for stuff getting caught in wheels or chains...

Happy new year! And yes I mean if the dreads were
Loose it would be exceptionally dangerous. If he tied them into the bun which he sometimes does how on Earth can he get a crash helmet to fit?

[KiwiRider]

I wonder if any of Double D’s dreadlocks were snared in the crash?
I wonder if he’ll reappear with a totally new look….

You know, that's actually the very first thing that came to mind?
Seems a bit silly now I look back, but it genuinely was.
It might stem from riding alongside my mate and his mrs while my wife took a photo of them. His mrs leaned back for some reason and pushed their sleeping bags off the back of the bike and into the back wheel. He went from right beside me, to way back in the distance in a blink of the eye! Luckily he handled it without crashing. But since then I've always been real careful about the potential for stuff getting caught in wheels or chains...

Happy new year! And yes I mean if the dreads were
Loose it would be exceptionally dangerous. If he tied them into the bun which he sometimes does how on Earth can he get a crash helmet to fit?

Exactly.
There is no mention of the "hows and whys" of the crash that I have read.

Happy new years to you James

[rd350lc]

I wonder if any of Double D’s dreadlocks were snared in the crash?
I wonder if he’ll reappear with a totally new look….

You know, that's actually the very first thing that came to mind?
Seems a bit silly now I look back, but it genuinely was.
It might stem from riding alongside my mate and his mrs while my wife took a photo of them. His mrs leaned back for some reason and pushed their sleeping bags off the back of the bike and into the back wheel. He went from right beside me, to way back in the distance in a blink of the eye! Luckily he handled it without crashing. But since then I've always been real careful about the potential for stuff getting caught in wheels or chains...

Happy new year! And yes I mean if the dreads were
Loose it would be exceptionally dangerous. If he tied them into the bun which he sometimes does how on Earth can he get a crash helmet to fit?

I was wondering that , no way you'd get that amount of extra hair inside the helmet. .

[Boxerbeetle]

Anyone who rides a motorbike is a much braver man than me. I don’t particularly even like riding a regular bicycle in case I fall off and scrape my knee

[mickey1975]

Anyone who rides a motorbike is a much braver man than me. I don’t particularly even like riding a regular bicycle in case I fall off and scrape my knee

Look at Kevin Keegan on Superstars.

[Grilling Machine]

Those roadbikes have really skinny tyres, though. I've a hybrid for a bit more grip on country lanes. It helps to know that cornering technique's like a dirtbike/BMX, where you stay fairly upright and lean the bike beneath you with its outside pedal weighted (unless on positive camber), instead of like a sportsbike where you lean with or off it.

Do that and it's not scary at all, and you can learn everything for road speeds on a motorbike without topping 30. There's a cool sport called motogymkhana, but finding somewhere to practise is the hardest part.

You can also get airbag jackets now and they're pretty great, but at least a grand. I'm happy with the Alpinestars KR3 I got for £150. Bought the chest protector and tailbone bits for it.

Diamante looks to ride like this, and that would scare me!

[coneye]

What bikes do you guys own now ,, i,ve been through a lot , my favorite was a honda 750 sabre ,,, just recently sold my rocket 3 and another really good bike a yamaha xjr1300 , now left with my harley , for road and my 650 suzuki v strom for road and a bit of light trail ,,, will say the v strom wwould have to be the best value motorcycle you can buy ,, a lot of go any where do anything bike for not a lot of money compared to most

[banjo]

What bikes do you guys own now ,, i,ve been through a lot , my favorite was a honda 750 sabre ,,, just recently sold my rocket 3 and another really good bike a yamaha xjr1300 , now left with my harley , for road and my 650 suzuki v strom for road and a bit of light trail ,,, will say the v strom wwould have to be the best value motorcycle you can buy ,, a lot of go any where do anything bike for not a lot of money compared to most

I've got

Kawasaki Ninja ZX12R
Triumph Daytona 955i
Suzuki RG500
Honda CB500
Ossa Sport 250

The wife has also got a Yamaha R1 and a Suzuki Bandit 600 and there's a little Suzuki motocross bike that my eldest daughter races.

[JamesPhilips]

Those roadbikes have really skinny tyres, though. I've a hybrid for a bit more grip on country lanes. It helps to know that cornering technique's like a dirtbike/BMX, where you stay fairly upright and lean the bike beneath you with its outside pedal weighted (unless on positive camber), instead of like a sportsbike where you lean with or off it.

Do that and it's not scary at all, and you can learn everything for road speeds on a motorbike without topping 30. There's a cool sport called motogymkhana, but finding somewhere to practise is the hardest part.

You can also get airbag jackets now and they're pretty great, but at least a grand. I'm happy with the Alpinestars KR3 I got for £150. Bought the chest protector and tailbone bits for it.

Diamante looks to ride like this, and that would scare me!

That’s madness. Those dreads are right by the wheel

[rd350lc]

What bikes do you guys own now ,, i,ve been through a lot , my favorite was a honda 750 sabre ,,, just recently sold my rocket 3 and another really good bike a yamaha xjr1300 , now left with my harley , for road and my 650 suzuki v strom for road and a bit of light trail ,,, will say the v strom wwould have to be the best value motorcycle you can buy ,, a lot of go any where do anything bike for not a lot of money compared to most

I've got

Kawasaki Ninja ZX12R
Triumph Daytona 955i
Suzuki RG500
Honda CB500
Ossa Sport 250

The wife has also got a Yamaha R1 and a Suzuki Bandit 600 and there's a little Suzuki motocross bike that my eldest daughter races.

Rg500 are cool as penguin piss and worth a pretty fortune .

[rd350lc]

Those roadbikes have really skinny tyres, though. I've a hybrid for a bit more grip on country lanes. It helps to know that cornering technique's like a dirtbike/BMX, where you stay fairly upright and lean the bike beneath you with its outside pedal weighted (unless on positive camber), instead of like a sportsbike where you lean with or off it.

Do that and it's not scary at all, and you can learn everything for road speeds on a motorbike without topping 30. There's a cool sport called motogymkhana, but finding somewhere to practise is the hardest part.

You can also get airbag jackets now and they're pretty great, but at least a grand. I'm happy with the Alpinestars KR3 I got for £150. Bought the chest protector and tailbone bits for it.

Diamante looks to ride like this, and that would scare me!

That’s madness. Those dreads are right by the wheel

Suprised they don't get a bit warm on the end cans too .

[rd350lc]

What bikes do you guys own now ,, i,ve been through a lot , my favorite was a honda 750 sabre ,,, just recently sold my rocket 3 and another really good bike a yamaha xjr1300 , now left with my harley , for road and my 650 suzuki v strom for road and a bit of light trail ,,, will say the v strom wwould have to be the best value motorcycle you can buy ,, a lot of go any where do anything bike for not a lot of money compared to most

3 X lc's in various guises , favourite is my Kenny lc2 rep with allspeeds.

[Dioufy]

I’m not expert but I’m guessing if he hair got stuff in the rear wheel he’d have some pretty devastating head injuries. Cannot imagine anyone surviving that doing 30kph on a scooter.
It’s winter in New York; I’m guessing he just slid out.
Silly billy.

[KiwiRider]

What bikes do you guys own now ,, i,ve been through a lot , my favorite was a honda 750 sabre ,,, just recently sold my rocket 3 and another really good bike a yamaha xjr1300 , now left with my harley , for road and my 650 suzuki v strom for road and a bit of light trail ,,, will say the v strom wwould have to be the best value motorcycle you can buy ,, a lot of go any where do anything bike for not a lot of money compared to most

3 X lc's in various guises , favourite is my Kenny lc2 rep with allspeeds.

Whoah!
Sweet
Love Kenny and Wayne