| Author | Message | ||
     Bdrag |
Well you know your gettin old when ya drop your bike in the damn drive way at 5:00am. It had been a nice weekend and I had all three bikes out for a few miles. The Buell was at the back of the parked pack. I get up for work and decide I will take the Buell in today. So I get suited up, decide not to put the pods on. Open the garage door and to my surprise my wife had backed her CRV dead center in the driveway almost up against the door. Err. So the way the bikes were staggered in I had to roll backwards between the car in the garage and the CRV and then head out front first instaead of backing out as usual. So as I start to roll out of the garage at a 90 degree angle to the opening and as I just clear the back of the CRV the bike starts down that little grade out side the door. Just as I realized the bike was heading down and out it started to tip away from me. I had my left hand on the left bar and the right hand on the left grab bar. Not good. So as the bike goes over on the right side it also is rolling down hill. So the bike hits the ground with a thud and since I never let go I am flug head firts over the bike landing on my right shoulder and doing a Chinese acrobat roll and wound up in front of the bike on my ass. CRAP! I get up and try to snatch up the bike but even standing with my ass against the CRV and feet under the bike there was no damn leveage. Plus the tail bag I have was in the wheel well. The bike is almost laying straight along the side of CRV. I finally get real pissed and grabbed the cross bar in my right hand and the left grab handle. I got it up and shoved my left knee under the bike and grabbed the right side grab handle and was able to get the bike up. The damage. A busted outer turn light lense, a scuffed up tail pack I painted to match the bags. There is a few peck marks on the grip gaurd , on the end of the lever and the edge of the fender support by the front axle has a few pecks from the concrete. The right peg folded hard against the fram and the spring munched a pretty deep grove in the peg near the pivot. I ordered a pair of lens covers from Latus and rubbed most of the dings out. I sanded the groove from the spring down and sanded the edges smooth. Don't want the peg to bust off from a stress point. So aome time and $25 bucks and I am back in bizz. Guess thats better than falling at speed. My banged up old knee and shoulders will heal soon enogh. Gawd I hate gettin old. 53 now. Sighhhhhh. LOL! BDRAG | ||
| Froggy |
It sounds like you were picking the bike up the wrong way, the way you were lifting it will cause extra work and undue strain on your back. You should of been facing the other way, squat down, one hand on the handlebar, other end on the passenger grab rail, lift with your legs. It will come right up with ease! | ||
| Bdrag |
Hey Froggy, Long time with no posts for me here. Well the damn thing was seat or top towards the CRV and I only had enough room to stand between the bike and the CRV. I would have fallen over the bike backwards before gettin it lifted. I am a svelt 320 lbs to boot so room was an issue. It all worked out. Just pissed me off something feirce. I have had the Strom 8 years and 60 K and never dropped it anywhere. Errrrrr. HAhahaa. How ya been? BDRAG | ||
| Buellerxt |
Bdrag, you're a good man! You DIDN'T blame your wife!!! Congratulations. It wasn't her fault for sure but some would have blamed her. Good man! I am a bit paranoid about dropping a bike so I NEVER start them without sitting on them and I NEVER move them without sitting on them. I have long enough legs and I just don't want that 1% situation to jump up and ruin my day. Having said that, it can happen to any of us and HAS! Sorry it happened to you today. | ||
| Griffmeister |
You're supposed to leave the scuff marks and dings, it's called character. | ||
| Bdrag |
Buellerxt, Oh I am shamed. HAhahaaaaaa. I did say to myself WHY DID YA PARK THERE? HAhaha. I could have gone back in and grabbed the keys and moved the car but who woulda thunk? HAhaaaa. I have 3 bikes and all park in the garage along with a Vett and the CRV. So there is NO WAY to stuff the bikes where they go whilst sittin apon them. This however was not part of it. Oh and the bike was not running. BDRAG | ||
| Bdrag |
Griffmeister I don't mind dirt and grim, I don't even mind the perminent paint spray from the disolving freshly painted road stripes that ran all over the road that we road in the rain. But busted stuff has gotta go. Besides, If I ever go to sell I want it 100% as was. When I do sell one day the package will have 4 tank covers, 3 bearing and 2 bearing wheels and many other extras including a crate cover. HAhahaaaa. BDRAG | ||
| Ratbuell |
Stand to the kickstand side, left hand on left grip, right hand on seat, sidestand up, lean bike towards you. I've moved so many bikes that way (including HD Ultras and the like), I don't even think about it anymore. But as you discovered...squeezing through a tight spot that way will bite you  | ||
| Etennuly |
You did it at 5am and at 53 years old?  How do you think you make me feel? I have done it two times in the middle of the day with no cars around and I was 51 at the time! The second time was two up, also sitting still. Now that I am coming up on 55 I find I just don't have the ambition to tip it over. Damnit man, I am going to crawl back under my rock.  | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Good thing you "got out da way" Bdrag. Funny how these things bring out all the shouldawouldacouldas. "It sounds like you were picking the bike up the wrong way, the way you were lifting it will cause extra work and undue strain on your back. You should of been facing the other way, squat down, one hand on the handlebar, other end on the passenger grab rail, lift with your legs. It will come right up with ease!" Froggy, sounds like you speak from experience! . This thread reminds me I need to practice picking up the Ulys before I venture north. Wanna do it before it gets too hot here (it kinda already is  ) and want to practice picking them up on grass and in the sand. Those are the situations that would make me nervous, especially if I'm flyin' solo. I think I'd be ok on asphalt. | ||
| T9r |
I heard that Powers Stuntworx (http://www.powersstuntworx.com/products/Buell-XB9- XB12-Ulysses-Crash-Cage.html) will be coming out with a new version of their crash cage for the Uly soon. | ||
| Bdrag |
Fltwistygirl No way to get to the bike that way with it laying alongsie the car. I would have been picking it up into my fat ass which would then have me and the bike in a pinch! AHhaha. Practic practic practic but it won't or don't alway fall where ya want it to. HAhaa. BDRAG | ||
| Bdrag |
T9r I had some UGLY and non user friendly crash bars on the Strom when I first got it. Givi's. They vibrated so damn bad they busted the welds at the fram mounts. They replaced them and didin't even want the broken ones back. Hummmmmm. No thanks to cash bars, they be ugly on a be u te fullbike like the uly. HAhahaa. BDRAG | ||
| Pontlee77 |
Just hate where it hooks on to the bikes frame on the rear if they made it different i'm sure they could work out somethig better and get a few potential clients (talking about crash cages). (Message edited by pontlee77 on March 28, 2012) | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I dropped mine on its right side in the driveway a few weeks ago. At about 4pm and 25 years old. Who cares, it's just a thing. The Tuono mirror hit the ground and didn't break, but snapped one of the clamp pieces out of the acorn shaped nut that holds the mirror stem. I grabbed a replacement from my big ole box of spares and was good to go in 5 minutes. Didn't bother looking for scratches, they're hard to spot on a dirty bike anyway. The XT has been dropped probably a dozen times in the 2.5 years I've owned it, the DRZ has probably been dropped that many times in the last month. I've still never dropped one while going down the road, but that will happen too. It's inevitable. Damage to humans sucks. Damage to stuff.. not so much. My bikes hold value in the experiences they can offer, not in how much money they're worth. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Re: crash cage Why? Looks like it moves the contact points from cheap stuff like frame pucks and bar ends to more vital parts like the frame and engine. I can't see for sure on the stuntworx cage, but the only other cage I've seen for an XB bolts into the heads. No thanks, I'll keep replacing $10 parts. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"No way to get to the bike that way with it laying alongsie the car. I would have been picking it up into my fat ass which would then have me and the bike in a pinch!" Gotcha, that situation sucks, and I'm glad you are ok. I try to think what what I would do in a similar spot that could be my reality any given day I'm leaving the house early (shouldawouldacoulda...moved the car, shouldawouldacoulda...moved the bike further away from the other bike). I've dropped the bike before in the sand/grass and not been able to pick it up myself. Quite scary. Was lucky our neighbor was close by. I'm just saying I need to practice picking my BB & D bikes up under a couple different uncommon situations, for my own peace of mind. I'm no petite flower either and don't always have the luxury of having someone else around to help, especially in the north woods. Bears, wolves and other critters may not be a great helping hand Hope your repairs are quick and the Uly is whole soon, bdrag. (Message edited by fltwistygirl on March 28, 2012) | ||
| Eulysses |
Bdrag...it was your wife's fault. I hope she has repented by now... | ||
| Uly_pirate |
Bdrag, I'm really sorry, but had to laugh when I read this one. I can't count the number of times I have opened the garage door to go to work and my daughters and/or wife have setup challenging obstacles in the driveway. And one of them is a Honda CRV. Totally sympathize and I'm glad it wasn't too bad. I have used the side yard a few times, slippery wet grass, but luckily have not dropped it in the driveway (or yard) yet. I have dropped it at a gas station, in a parking lot and on a four lane highway right after barely avoiding a cager (resulted in broken foot). Happens to everyone. I agree with others here, straddle the bike, hands on the bars and head up. | ||
| Uly_man |
Picking up any bike of this size off the ground, like a Uly is not easy. But try this? The bike is on the ground, either side, so the front wheel will be in the opposite direction. Put the bike in gear if you can to stop it moving forward while you try to get the bike upright. Then stand at a right angle to the bikes frame, next to the bars and push forward and up through the bars using the bars as a lever. Get down low and use your arms/legs and keep your back straight. With some practice you will find it very easy. | ||
| Zac4mac |
My Uly decided to take a nap ON me twice in the last week. I'm sore. Uly's fine. Z | ||
| Bdrag |
Well ALL, All is bad to normal in the Uly world. The 2 lens covers I found IN STOCK at Latus came on te SLOW ASS BROWN truck yesterday. $12.90 in parts for the pair, $11.50 for UPS. 7 day truck ride! HAhahaaa. The parts were correct and the install was good after I dug the little earpeiece or clip leg out of the housing. Bike is back to 100%. Ahhhhhhhhhh. My dang bck is still giving me issues though. I really need to get on the bikes for comuters now. This puttin $40 every 3 days in my Ford Raptor is eatin into my lunch funds REAL BAD! AHhahaaaaaa. Thanks for all your support in my senior moments. BDRAG |
