There's no way I could have got home having to use a clutch lever. I didn't even use the indicators, just stuck my hand out in rather a limp fashion!
I'll take the dubious honour of being the first to spill an SR in the UK. It'll sit on the mantle with my days learning to fly at Biggin Hill. Whilst doing a few solo touch and go circuits, my instructor said I only just cleared the boundary fence on one of them. Then there was the time I took my ex-wife out for a flight down to Eastbourne and back. It was her first time in a light aircraft and the radio started cutting out on the way. She spent most of the flight holding and wiggling the plug so I could talk to air traffic control until it finally gave up. I had to approach and land at a busy international airport by just looking out for other aircraft. I could hear the tower at least and shortly after touch down they told me to 'expedite'. That just means get off the runway fast...
So just because a bike isn't screaming it's tits off at 10,000 rpm doesn't mean it isn't capable of bucking you off in an instant when conditions aren't good... The SR surely has enough torque to satisfy any acceleration junkie but just imagine the future possibilities! Imagine a cruiser style bike with a really fat back tyre and a motor running at double the voltage and amps! Drag racing anyone?
I hope that by reading this topic, fellow enthusiasts and owners will avoid making the same mistake. I have an awful feeling it may take a while to live this one down...
Yours truly,
Your loyal numptiness!