When I Let Her Go

Up into 3^rd – revs climb from 5000…6000…7000 rpm hold her at 7000 rpm, keep the traction on – balance her out and gently – but confidently – lean into the corner. The road cambers brilliantly to my right, she is humming at 140km/h as the rear tyre makes contact further and further up the curve. At 140 I feel she wants more – I give it to her – nice and smooth I twist open the throttle and shift my balance even deeper into the bend. The bend starts to sharpen – my confidence starts to falter and at 150km/h the side of my right shoe scrapes along the tarmac sending a massive impact-like pulse through Bumblebee – We are in trouble here.

I always wanted a Fireblade. Ever since she rolled out to replace the Epic XXX Blackbird my heart was set. I got into many arguments defending Her against the high revving R1 and the torque monster GSXR. It’s a 1000cc Fireblade or nothing for me. 8 years after the first CBR came out I received my first pay check. I had been through a number of unprofitable jobs and finally landed one with a massive construction firm. 

I remember walking into Boksburg Bike Shop with my eyes on the 2005 CBR. Awesome sharp front with the exhaust perfectly exiting under the pillion seat. Hot seat – no doubt. I sat on Her, started her up and fell madly in love. 55 000 rand says the salesman. With my heart on a float and my wallet on a sinker I knew I was going home in style. Then, there in the corner of the showroom, I see this Black and Yellow beauty roll in. It’s a ’06 Blade – 170 Hp for 170 kg. I couldn't take it – I had to take Her. I laid down the extra premium, and rode off towards what I remember to be one of the happiest days of my life. I finally had my Blade.

Fast forward now 6 months and Her and I have become quite accustomed to each other. I wrote an article previously on when she took me to 299km/h in a pair of PT shorts! Awesome stuff. We are on a windy back road that leads from Mooi River to Pietermaritzburg. Great road for the bikers as the tarmac is decent and there aren’t many trucks. Beautiful scenery in a setting much like the Scottish Hill en Glen. We are cruising along – nice and easy – on a hot pay weekend Friday. 

Then, as She has done before, She starts to entice. 60 turns to 80. 80 turns to 100 and in the drop of a hat we are Rossi 46. Belting her right through her rev bands from 1^st up into second, entering the corners mid range 2^nd gear and opening her up on the apex to dig In and slingshot us out – like a bullet to a target. The front wheels flutters on the surface, the steering feels light, the grip feels determined and the sound – my oh my the frikken sound is epic.

I got caught up in the moment. I entered a corner far too fast. My shoe scrapes the deck and flicks us both upright again. Belting along at 150km/h upright in the apex of a corner. We are in trouble here. The crosshairs now firmly set on the cliff face in front of me. There is only one way we are getting out of this alive…trust Bumblebee. Don’t touch the brakes, don’t slow down. I swallow the lump in my throat, tie my testicles firmly to my wing-wang and re-engage the motor. I twist down hard on the throttle, throw all my mass over the seat, tuck my head up slightly and just pin her down.

My back wheel slipped and gripped on the verge of the roadway as I came, front wheel airborne at 180km/h, out the other side alive. I pulled over just down the road, took my helmet off and fell to my knees. The adrenalin was overwhelming. I was shaking, hyperventilating and it felt like someone stuffed cotton wool into my head. I sat there for a bit and soaked up what just happened. She, propped on her kickstand, stood there looking down at me, ticking away from heat and idling with an aggressive skip beat. I got owned. I almost died and I knew that the would not be a next time.

I sold her two weeks later.

Artwork is not mine - I cant colour in between the lines even if there was a free beer on the line. Google let me download it.