Ever since my 125 was stolen, I've been extra cautious with security. So every morning it's the same routine.

This morning I left the house, deactivated the alarm and took off the grotty old canvas cover I hope will make thieves think there's a grotty old bike underneath. I then unchained the back wheel from the lamp post and returned the cover and chain to the house, picking up my lid and tank bag.

I slapped the tank bag on, slipped on my lid and climbed on, thumbing the starter to get the engine warming while I put on my gloves.

It was pretty busy down my road this morning, so I had to wait a minute or two to pull out, then I slipped it into first, rolled on and pulled away.

WHAM! The front end slipped out, the bike fell left and trapped me between it and a parked car. Luckily one of my neighbours saw me and helped me get the bike back up (difficult to do alone when you're wedged up the backside of a car with a leg trapped under the bike).

We got it upright and I popped the stand back down. I was scratching my head as to what had happened. I crouched down to check for any damage and it was then that I noticed the little twirly bit of yellow plastic, stretched out and running from the bar to the front disc. The bit of plastic I had placed there as a reminder to myself. The very same bit of twirly yellow plastic that spectacularly failed to remind me that there was a fairly sturdy disc lock on the front disc.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you... Twonk of the Week

Never mind, mate. It could have been a LOT worse.


Are you anything more than a little bruised?
Is there much damage to the bike?

Put your bike keys in the little bag the disc lock comes in - that way you don't forget to take it off!

Glad you are OK other than bruised pride.

Hey, don't worry about it mate, I daresay most of us have done something similar in our time!

A mate of mine did the same thing with his spanking new Fireblade. Extra paranoid about leaving it unsecured for any length of time, he put the disc lock on it while he closed up his garage. We were all sitting waiting for him to lead the way(and before you call us fcukers, WE didn't remember he'd done it either ), which he did...... for about six inches before the bike went down with him underneath it, trapped his hand with the throttle pinned wide open too.

By the time we'd all managed to get to him and lift the bike he'd attracted quite a crowd......

Hail o mighty Twonk





you daft bat

Yep that's why I do ever since a friend of mine forgot to take his off and down he went.

Glad you OK even if feeling a little foolish!

glad you and the bike are ok m8

i started fitting mine to the back brake after reading a thread on the FZR forums and loads of guys had done the same but in a more expensive way! bikes with upside down forks rip the front mudguards off, not to mention the fairing damage
the first thing i see is the backend of the bike in theory i should notice the lock and sometimes don't, but the worst that happens is the back wheel locks backing it out, but not as dramatic, and as a rule can get it off still sat on the bike
plus the back disk is a lump cheaper than a front one! a lot smaller so the lock doesn''t travel as far so you cant get up as much speed

One of the things I do is to put the lock on so its right next to the caliper in the direction you will move the bike, that way you cant move it to build up momentum before it locks.

I also have one of those telephone line thingies that I put on the throttle grip, since the starter button and the throttle are both on that side so far ( touch wood) noticed it each time.

My usual one though is to snap the disc lock on and then look down at my hand to see the telephone line thingy in my palm so then have to undo it and REDO it this time remebering to put the line on it.

Sorry

Someones got to do it hey!

You're not going to get the title easily.. I* think I've just locked my only seat of key under the seat...

Feck.....

Just use an alarmed disc lock and this won't happen again.

Yep..done the same!

luckly I was at home in the garage and I just needed to pop inside to get the spare key...

I see your locked seat and I raise you this:

In my embarrassment I didn't notice that the tank bag had been shifted forward in the fall. Later in my journey, a bit of filtering needed me to almost lock the bars to the left, resulting in the bag hitting the button for the horn, frightening the bejesus out of me and no doubt making my fellow road users think

Feels like I've strained something in my thigh, but mostly it's just my pride that's buggered.

As for the bike, a daylight inspection revealed 2 tiny scuffs on the engine guard and one on the bar end.

Thanks for all the tips guys. I've taken woodz advice and whacked it on the back disc now. The added bonus of this is that the yellow plastic telephone cable thingy goes right across the bike now, so I can't possibly miss it again.

I usually wrap the yellow reminder cable around the grip a few times so I can't possibly miss it. Well, that's the theory anyway! We'll see how it goes!

I've found the keys. I must have knocked them off the ledge in the kitchen and they landed in a bucket.



Solid, you're back in pole position..

Sympathetic to the last