Saturday, March 26, 2011

Sold!

Sold! by Speedy Chung
Sold!, a photo by Speedy Chung on Flickr.
It finally settled after some paper work - I have just picked up another 2010 Streetfighter S, in red. Feel like I am the luckiest guy on earth. Thank you once again to Jim at Ace Motosports, Jim at part department who gave me some excellent deals, and Paul at the shop to guild me through the difficult time.

It's time for mod again! Wonder what I will do different this time... =)

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Falling in love... All over again!!!

I guess after all... I am a very lucky guy. Not only I walk away from a horrible
crash; I found my love again - exact same bike, same year, same color; but cheaper, and newer!

The insurance claim process were pretty smooth without problem. I was looking for next ride pretty intensively; but nothing really bring my interest. After a lot of specification comparisons and review of my own riding habit, I believe Streetfighter is still 'the bike' for me, at least in this stage of my riding. Ideally would love to get a newly used bike with low mileage (no, I am not a Must-have-new-bike kind of guy). But no luck with local market. So I brought my 'problem' to one of my favorite local dealer, Ace Motorsports, and the general manager, jim, told to he maybe able to get something from DNA directly. Man, he is the man who delivers his words - he got me a brand new 2010 model, zero mile Streetfighter in Red. The best is he got me a unbelievable OTD price (hint: the bike price is lower than standard Streetfighter MSRP!!!). I am set! Yeah!

Thank you once again Jim at Ace!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

So long my beloved ride...

So long my beloved bike! by Speedy Chung
So long my beloved bike! a photo by Speedy Chung on Flickr.
It was the first time I saw my bike after shipped from the tow yard to my local dealership. After an intensive estimate, the total repair bill with parts came to $22,000 - and not to my surprise, it's going to be total case. Big thanks to Paul from Ace Motosports of his quick and accurate estimate. They also assisted me during the clim process and made it as painless as possible. I was able to take some of the custom and after market parts out before releasing my bike. It was a very emotional process.... After months of hard work and thoughts for putting the motorcycle together as 'mine bike', now I had to take it apart in hurry. Especially when I drained the tank empty, I just felt like I took the life away from a dying bike.

So long my ride... regardless of what comes next, you will be remembered.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Street Fighter vs Deer...

Heard a lot about the danger of deer, and this morning I have my very own first hand encounter. Chilling on HW1 NB from Point Reyes at about 35mph to 40mph (I ride that road for MANY times, and on the faster section, usually MUCH MUCH faster), with full gear (Dainese leather suit, full face helmet, leather gloves, and Puma 1000 v3 boots). After downhill left-hander, and I was going up hill just about to get ready for the next deep right-hander, a small deer sudden jumped off from the left across to the right. It was so fast that I can't even react to it - deer head just crashed into my head light. My left leg hit the deer and I went down. Slided for about 30' up hill, and I was about 5' to 10' in front of the bike. I lose about 10 to 15 mins of memory and with the big dent on the back of my helmet, I think I got high-sided. The poor deer was at least 20' away from where I stopped. Dead.

Bike damage: Headlight and gauge are gone (about 30' away from stopping point). Left handle bar slider, left mirror, left lever, left foot control... everything on the left, plus tank and seat fairing.

Gear damage: Shoulder, left left, butt, left boot...and the helmet.

Me: In one piece - nothing broke. Major body pain - but compare to dead; I am not complaining.

Lesson to lean - SCAN!!! SCAN ahead, all the time and as far as I can. I told myself it is a f*cking suicidal deer and it wasn't much I can do about it. The result probably would be the same even if I ride the my slower bike... but deep down I think if I can go slowerrrr and scan furtherrrr... maybe, just maybe, I don't have to go down.

And yes, I know, I am a lucky dog. So lesson for everything - full gear all the time.

So here is the eye candy....
Dead deer... which almost kill me too!
Me 'resting'... and feeling lucky to be alive. Check out the slid marks!
Helpful Mr. CHP
De-headed beloved bike :(
New coated gas tank is a goner...
One the way.
My suit saved me! The Ti plate actually did something!
One strong impact
That's inside of my helmet. Without my helmet, this could be how my head look!!!