Maintenance, and Why You Do It

Clutch lever- $20
Shift lever- $20

Cutting a ride short- sucks
Hospital bill- hundreds
Missing a day of work- $80

My friend (steve) learned this the hard way yesterday, and I thought I would share this with everybody to show the consequences of not fixing your bike. A few weeks ago he brought his bike out to my house so we could go riding after work (he works with me). I told him he needs a new shift and he should get a new clutch lever while he was at it. The shifter was starting to strip and wasn't fitting snug on the shaft. The clutch lever had the ball broken off.

Well I was sitting at home cause my bike still isn't ready yet. Well after about 30-45 mins my friend (kevin) comes running into my house to tell me that Steve wrecked and messed up his hand needs to go to the hospital and that we (me and kevin) need to go get Steve's bike out of the woods before someone steals it.

Steve's bike got stuck in 5th gear because of the stripped shift shaft causing him to wreck which caused the clutch lever with the broken end to rip his hand open all the way to the bone.

So today he wasn't able to go to work because of it.

This all could have been avoided if he would have spent the 40 dollars for new levers in the first place.

Unfortunately he had to learn the hard way, but what do I see when I get home from work today? Steve sitting in my basement putting new levers on his bike. That sure tought him.  

That sucks... I actoully need to get a new clutch lever and i will definatly be getting right on that.  
Adam
2002 XR 100R
2003 RM 100

wow crazy, man is he ok??? and your a good friend to help him and miss a day of work thats very kind of you!!  
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Autismspeaks.org   check it out
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life in the fast rut!!!!
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my rides- 2008 yz250f fully modified, use to be j-laws bike
        &
IT400 1979 yamaha!!!
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Home: SO CAL

Good post.  Hindsight is almost always 20/20.  
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Hudson Valley NY
KTM XC-W 250

"If you don't have a dream, how can it come true?"

Yeah he's fine. Just his hand is all wrapped and has a decent cut on his finger. It's not too bad.  

my lever broke on one of my old bikes. i trail rigged it with a stick and duct tape and rode it like that for a year and a half. haha im not exactly a poster boy on fixing stuff. my quad hasent had brakes in 3 years. makes it more exciting.  
-Kirk 88 Honda CR250R
ride hard and crash harder

I do it before and after every ride and not just on my bike, my kids bikes as well. They are F*n fast, I dont want anything to chance, especially on race day.

theres 9 first palce trophys on my walls, you cant get those with half-ass maitinence.  
My sponsorships Winners do it in the Corners!

i'm confused as to why getting stuck in 5th caused him to crash? does he not know where the clutch and the brake are? lol. i've stripped my shifter a couple times, each time i just keep cool and pull the clutch and brake.... not that difficult haha. o well, glad it wasn't worse and he is ok, and the bike lives to see another day as well!  
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the bodies just a vehicle, transporting the soul, it is whats inside of people is beauty to behold

SOUTHERN MAINE

Yeah he's pretty ummmm not the brightest bulb in the box hahaha.  

lmfao, get him an extra thick helmet then lmfao.  
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the bodies just a vehicle, transporting the soul, it is whats inside of people is beauty to behold

SOUTHERN MAINE

He needs one haha.  

These machines are just nuts and bolts. We subject them to unbelievable punishment.  Even us non pro riders. Just the dirty enviroment, and unsmooth terrain puts all kinds of stress on the mechanical parts. And we do this at speeds mother nature never intended us to achieve. If we do not maintain them properly and replace them when they are worn we increase the risk of injury.  Your friend learned a valuable lesson today and her is lucky his injury was not worse.  

Bill H.
Temperance, Mi
2000 CR250R
1991 YZ125

bhorrigan:
These machines are just nuts and bolts. We subject them to unbelievable punishment.  Even us non pro riders. Just the dirty enviroment, and unsmooth terrain puts all kinds of stress on the mechanical parts. And we do this at speeds mother nature never intended us to achieve. If we do not maintain them properly and replace them when they are worn we increase the risk of injury.  Your friend learned a valuable lesson today and her is lucky his injury was not worse.

man that was a deep thought very very cool and peaceful sounding to me in a way.      
--------------------
Autismspeaks.org   check it out
--------------------
life in the fast rut!!!!
--------------------
my rides- 2008 yz250f fully modified, use to be j-laws bike
        &
IT400 1979 yamaha!!!
--------------------
Home: SO CAL

good point bhorrigan very good point  
--------------------
Autismspeaks.org   check it out
--------------------
life in the fast rut!!!!
--------------------
my rides- 2008 yz250f fully modified, use to be j-laws bike
        &
IT400 1979 yamaha!!!
--------------------
Home: SO CAL

hope everyone is up to date on tetnus shots too, haha.  lock jaw is a btch, for real