For all of you who have not read my previous posts, I should warn you, I am long winded. You have been warned. Remember though...if it wasn't worth it...I wouldn't have spent the time writing it... Alright...so I was riding w/ some of my crew this past weekend, and right before we left to hit the twisties I put my hand on my exhaust and realized that it was very loose. The best way to describe it was that the end canister would move side to side and up and down freely. I told them to keep a look out if it looks like it may fall out. Not more than five minutes later I heard a clicking sound (even through my earphones). I pulled over and told my buddies that I think my exhaust was making a noise. Unfortunately, it was not my exhaust...but indeed my engine making a knocking noise. Although I am not mechanic, I have read posts on this site...and a knocking in the motor is not good....not good at all. I told my brothers that I would need to head back...and didn't want to risk my bike. They agreed that I should get it checked out ASAP. I had turned off the bike while I was talking to them, and when I tried to restart the bike...it would not fire. I had one of my buddies give me a push start...and the engine started...but with a more pronounced knocking sound than before. Hindsight is 20-20...that's what my parents told me...and so don't judge me for what I did next....as I began making the short 4-mile trip back to my place, I quickly realized that the faster I went, the louder the knocking sound. In hindsight, I should have correlated the louder knocking sound with a need to slow down....unfortunately for me, I did not make such an inference. Instead, in my mind at the time, I thought to myself "the faster I go, the faster I will get to my destination...thus getting my bike to safety faster." This was not a good move. I quickly left my fellow compadres in the dust as I accelerated to 40...50....60mph...the knocking sound began to be almost deafening...I accelerated up to 80mph...and then I heard a loud BOOOM... I looked down at the instrument cluster and all the lights were blinking (I would have counted the blinks to see what the code was...but I thought I was going to die...lol).....this is when my wheel locked up...now let me tell you..it felt as if 8-10 school children just jumped onto the back of my bike...I couldn't control it at all...my rear wheel swung wildly to the left...and then right...and I somehow managed to keep it upright...my wheel momentarily unlocked itself, and I proceeded to change lanes and downshift...this is when the engine made another loud popping sound...I looked back and saw blue smoke, white smoke...and black stuff everywhere...miraculously I still kept the "shiny side up" as they say. As I pulled over I smelled the smell no one wants too...the smell of burning metal...and saw large amounts of oil pouring from the lower fairings....my brothers caught up with me...immediately took off their helmets...and said "dude...I thought you died...we saw an explosion and huge amounts of white and blue smoke...then oil everywhere"....I suffered no injuries..besides a broken heart...and realizing that I should have stopped before doing such a stupid thing.... Fast forward to yesterday...I was able to find a reputable seller in a little place called Madison, IN. The guy was super nice and sold me the 05' engine for $700 cash. It is now being put in by a Honda mechanic. This same Honda mechanic showed me the carnage I had done to my baby...and it was not pretty....there was a grapefruit-sized hole in my engine casing...and debris everywhere...he stated that I had "thrown a piston rod." I'm now looking (with labor) at about $1500 to get her back and ready for a track day at Nelson's for 4/16. The mechanic said he has no idea how I was able to keep it up...and that what I did was one of the dumbest things he's ever heard....he had a good laugh (at my expense.....literally)...and the bike should be back this upcoming week. Moral of the story...don't ride when you hear knocking.....o...and if you practice wheelies too much...apparently it starves the engine of oil (a much needed component)...and you jack your shit up! That is all...let me know your thoughts... (flame suit on)...