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Etsuko
Blog Date Mid January 2025
The transformation of the Kawasaki was complete, the street fighter now was my adventure forager and I was loving the Kawasaki Z400.
Now I know most of us love our current bike, it's why we ride it. I adored my Keeway 125RKS but then I adored my Kawasaki Z250 even more. So no surprise then that I up the adoration level even further on the Kawasaki Z400. The extra weight and stability and the extra 10mm on the lowering kit all seemed to notch up my confidence.
Just before our recent trip to Spain and Portugal I replaced the stock Dunlop tyres with Michelin Pilot Street Radials. The RADIAL is important here, it denotes I'm on a big bike. Without "radial" in the title Pilot Streets are for smaller bikes. The Michelin tyres just added to that "I'm stuck to the road and I will keep you here" feeling.
The Spain and Portugal trip was a sheer delight and my confidence soared as high as those mountain tops. I have been to Spain before, I have done twisty hairpin roads before, but never did I do so with the level of confidence I had this time around. It was no longer a case of oh god I really hope I can get around this bend, it was more a case of yeah I KNOW we can do do this. This was a massive leap forward to me.
Fear was replaced with excitement. Don't get me wrong there were times when the heart skipped a beat but it was this added confidence in my own and this bike's ability that transformed the riding experience on this holiday for me.
Made for mountain roads.
Stopping at a view point and seeing the road we were to ride twisting and winding itself down the edge of the mountain sides brought on the feeling of "Wahoo! Let's do this." And do it we did with confidence and a smile on my face and exhilaration in my heart.
The Z400 has a rare dual personality of both laid back, ok so you got that wrong there - don't you worry I got this, to lets go play, how fast do you dare go.
Confidence inspiring
The smoothness of the twin engine made any distance work so much less tiring and the more upright position proved kinder to my own ageing frame. The extra weight has it advantages as I've already said in stability but I do feel it when man handling or in my case woman handling the bike. Especially with the extra weight from the luggage. But I guess everything has a price to pay.
I would like to continue to wax lyrical about how I and Etsuko rode off into the sunset to adventures new as I begin to bond even further with this bike and my new luggage set up. Alas it hurts me to say that myself and Etsuko have parted company. We were forced apart rather suddenly.
It was December 1st and was rather mild for the time of year. It was decided that a break was needed for Ren from sorting out his late mother's house so a day's riding was in order. One minute I was riding along and the next thing I knew there was this tremendous noise all around me, a fleeting view of a car's windscreen and then a car's wheel coming towards me.
I was flat on my belly on the floor. Etsuko was further up the road battered and broken on her side. We had been rear ended with some force. The recovery vehicle took Etsuko away. An ambulance finally arrived and I was taken away to A&E.
I suffered no serious injuries, no broken bones. My protective bike gear no doubt helped keep me safe to a degree. I did have bruises, soft tissue injuries and symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury. I was off work for 3 weeks. The pain in my upper abdomen still refuses to go as yet and the impaired cognitive function still frustrates me and probably my poor boss who has been having to tell me the same thing she told me yesterday because I had no recall. But I still walk and talk and breathe. It could have been worse , it could have been better but it simply is.
Can I just say insurance companies and everything under the whole insurance umbrella are, in my personal experience since this accident, nothing short of sharks and total #&%kers.
Etsuko was declared a write off. I am gutted. I've lost the bike, I've lost all the touring accessories on her, and possibly that extra level of confidence I had recently acquired. I have been out briefly a the Kawasaki Z250 just to do the whole get back on mantra. On my own out riding on the road I was totally fine, around other traffic not so fine. That will take time.
The accident messed with my head both physically and mentally, more than I would like to admit. In isolation it may have not affected me as bad as it has but it seems to be the last straw, that final push and I'm not bouncing back as fast as I would like. Everything I read says once you're over 40 everything takes longer to heal, well ok then I guess all the physical and mental effects will take time too.
I miss Etsuko, a lot. Our time together, just 13 months, was way too short but it was a fantastic, joyful thrilling ride. RIP my friend AK20 FYJ. You really did live up to name, you were truly "For My Joy."
For My Joy
I haven't gone into too much detail about the accident. It makes me sad to dwell on it and I don't want to keep reliving it endlessly. The insurance etc make sure your repeat your experience ad nauseam. So I will leave this here with one last pic of us together - Etsuko and I.
Perfect match.
Advertise here - contact ren@bikesandtravels.com
Reader's Comments
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Bugger, bugger and triple bugger.
Sorry me duck, it just shouldn't be should it. But it is.
Get ya'self fit and enjoy some more biking when you are ready. You'll know.
My only advice in accident situations is get a damn good solicitor. Insurance companies are tossers and just want to wrap things up as cheap as possible.
There are a group of biking solicitors who advertise in the comics, if I can find the name I'll post it. Don't underestimate how the accident may affect you down the road. You need the correct guidance and you need it now. Trust me I know.
Stay safe sweetie.
Upt.
07/02/2025 11:01:18 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Here they are.
https://www.whitedalton.co.uk/had-a-motorcycle-accident/?utm_campaign=Aug18Campa...
07/02/2025 11:02:39 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
This leads us nicely into accident prevention.
I read more and more from the US that being rear ended is becoming very common on motorcycles. Sounds dirty, but it isn't, get yourselves out of the gutter, you know who you are.
They go to extreme lengths with regards to rear lighting and marking to negate the possibility, anybody done the same here?
Upt.
07/02/2025 11:06:28 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Really sorry to hear about it Sharon but pleased it wasn't worse. I'm not sure there is much you can do about being hit up the back other than to keep the bike in gear, always have an escape route and watch the mirrors constantly. If a following driver doesn't see your brake lights then they probably won't see any other visual aids as they're probably messing about with their phone / touch screen etc. And speaking of which, modern cars seem to put all the useful controls - like rear screen demister - out of sight so you have to look down to see them - or worse try to navigate a multi-option touch screen. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's looked up from something like that to find myself closer than I'd like to a vehicle in front.
I agree with upt'north re getting decent legal representation. When I was a Trade Union shop steward many years ago one of our members was knocked off her bike by a following car. The union provided an excellent solicitor and she won substantial damages.
07/02/2025 12:37:11 UTC
nab301 said :-
Sharon , so sorry to hear about this incident but glad to hear you're "relatively" ok. Brain trauma no matter how mild needs plenty of time to recover from so take it as easy as you can over the coming months.
What a pity about your bike too especially after spending so much time perfecting it to suit yourself.
Nigel
07/02/2025 14:26:37 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ian, I was thinking (I know I shouldn't) about the modulating rear brake lights. Which I believe are now fitted as standard on some cars?
I know they sell add on versions, I was wondering if someone had jumped into this sort of set up.
I also have no idea as to there legality.
Upt.
07/02/2025 18:11:36 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
And yes....when you're right you're right.
No one is looking where they are going, only at what is on the televisual device.
Scary times.
Upt.
07/02/2025 18:38:48 UTC
Henrik said :-
Sorry to hear about the accident
I hope you get well back on tracks, mentally as well as bike-wise
If the Z400 was shaped perfect for you, then go the same again, when you are ready that is
The adventure is still out there
Picture from Mount Okla, Ørsta, Norway,.. made it to the top with my wife
In about 6 mounths we redraw to only work parttime, loft of more travels in the pipeline :-)
Get well ,..
07/02/2025 22:19:04 UTC
KiwiJeff said :-
Sharon, so sorry to hear about your accident. Thanks for sharing some of the details of the accident it makes us all reflect on how vulnerable we are on the roads. Despite all your training and careful riding there is nothing you can do about a distracted driver hitting you from behind. The number of people texting and looking at their phones on the roads is frightening. Australia has sorted this problem they have multiple cameras taking photos of people using their phones while driving and the instant fine is over £300. You can't even have the phone sitting in your lap because the camera catches this with the photo. Etsuko was a truly lovely bike fitted out to suit you perfectly, I can understand why you miss her. Head knocks do take time to recover from. My wife has had a number of head knocks skiing being taken out by out of control skiers and even though they were less serious than yours she was in a bit of a daze at her teaching job for some weeks afterwards so look after yourself head knocks take a while to come right.
09/02/2025 10:36:12 UTC
Sharon said :-
Thank you all for your care and comments they are all read and much appreciated. X
09/02/2025 14:53:56 UTC
CrazyFrog said :-
Terrible news Sharon, but it can happen to anyone, indeed it has happened to me too. I hope you get a decent insurance payout so you can replace Etsuko and carry on your motorcycling journey.
10/02/2025 20:40:14 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Sorry to hear that you have lost Etsuko. I think you made the correct decision by getting out on the 250 Kawasaki.
Just ride where you are comfortable, and take things at your own pace.
I hope everything goes well.
11/02/2025 18:32:51 UTC
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