| Author | Message | ||
     Akbuell |
A motor officer I rode with from time to time, before I joined the force, was at the police garage one day, preparing for work. Dropped his bike in the lot while getting it off the side stand. Two other officers had to help him stand it back up. Later the same day, he was cruising around downtown, and while making a turn was watching a particularly attractive young lady standing at the curb. Dropped the bike again; basically just stepping off of it. He said he reached down, picked the bike up with one hand, and rode off. Situations have a lot to do with how much a bike weighs, I guess. And he shall remain nameless. | ||
| Crusty |
I can't count how many times I've dropped my blast since first getting on one. I can. It's four times.  She's riding her mother's former Blast, and is developing her skills at an adequate rate. Nobody learns everything pertaining to riding instantly. The embarrassment of dropping the bike will fuel the determination to learn the proper technique to pick it up. She's doing fine and is well on her way to becoming a skilled motorcyclist. | ||
| Rainman |
ALL too often I see newbies on Sporties and Night trains....their learning curves would be SO much steeper on Ninja 250s or Rebels. Agreed. Luckily, the Blast with it's golf ball plastic body work and its design is pretty beginner friendly. Check out the methods available on the Web to pick one up and consider each fall practice. I often dropped the Wing at slow speeds when I first got it, so I figured out how to lift it again. Also, just a tip: Don't look down at the ground when you're pushing the bike or going slow. The hand-eye coordination tends to make your front hand grab a brake and .... timber! Don't ask... | ||
| Sekalilgai |
My Uly likes the occasional nap too  +1 on the proper lifting technique although on an uphill gravel switchback (pic really doesn't do it justice)....it can still be a challenge. This nap was the result of an impulse move (bad idea) to take a secondary campground entrance after I missed the proper one. Impulsive moves... only garners 'doh' pictures. Strewn gear did not come from laying her over, just me having a hissy fit trying to lighten the bike and get a better grip from the downhill side. Good luck on the learning! Don't do what I do! (Message edited by sekalilgai on August 01, 2008) | ||
| Thumper74 |
No worries. I've got a spare lever if it's needed. Free to good home... I've dropped my bikes plenty of times. One time I forgot to put my foot down at a stop light on my Harley. One time it was raining and my foot slipped on a wet plate at a gas station and the bike fell on me. I haven't dropped the Buell yet, but almost did the other night in a low speed uturn in my driveway | ||
| Swampy |
I dropped one of the Blasts(don't remember which one) while doing a very impulsive burn out and trying to do a "smiley" in the garage. I leaned it, it pulled itself to the floor and the Little Kid stood there and yelled at me, "What Are You Doing?" I of course gave him the Big Kids line "I Don't Know" | ||
| Oldog |
I dropped my 79 zuk in the middle of the night in the middle of the road in Nova scotia, when I went to confer with my riding partner and neglected to put the side stand down. Massgirl there are 2 types of riders those who are going to fall and those who have. the trick in most cases especialy for smaller lighter riders ( women ) lift it with your legs not you back. I also dropped that same zuk in Seattle on a beach where I put the rear wheel in the pacific and I had to have help too. | ||
| Brinnutz |
I forgot my forks were locked last summer and proceeded to make the left around the car, then when I went to come back right....The bike didn't want to go and boom, over I go at like 3 mph | ||
| Djkaplan |
Not being able to pick your bike up at least keeps you from dropping it over on the other side after you lift it up. That embarassment is worse than accidentally blowing the horn a few times when you lift the bike up... just in case no one noticed you dropping it. Both those things have happened to me, thankfully not at the same time. | ||
| Paulxb12r |
I have lost count of the number times i dropped the my buell and the firebolt is a lot to get up even for me | ||
| 04buell |
Reminds me of the time I decided to take a picture of the two Buells together in front of our house. I got my Ss out there and placed it on the sidewalk...then went and got Jerrys Uly to set next to mine. I wanted them staggered so his kickstand was off the sidewalk and by the time I walked out a bit to take the picture...his bike had fallen over on the soft grassy area. Well, I knew I was in trouble if he saw it down, so I tried and tried to get it up but just could not. We live in the country so I went to stand by our road so I could flag a car down to help me. I did not have to wait long, a bike came along after just a minute or 2...but guess who it was? JERRY! I got into trouble anyway!! Carol (The Mrs.) | ||
| Moosestang |
I dropped my first bike, 1993 gsxr-750, twice. Once in the rain while pulling into a gas station. It just started raining and I used to much back break while turning up a hill. The bike started to go down on my right(I was making a left), then it caught traction and through me over it's back. Luckily the nice gas station attendant helped me pick it up and let me borrow some tools to bend the shift lever back out. The second time I was taking a turn to slow and it just fell over against the curb, easy pickup. I never dropped my fzr600, but I can't say I rode it all that hard either. Haven't dropped the buell yet, but again, I use it for commutting mostly and there ain't many opportunities to drop it on the way to work, for me atleast. | ||
| Azxb9r |
Good link to "pinkribbonrides". Proper technique will allow almost anyone to pick up almost anything. One thing I will give HD of Tucson credit for...when a woman buys a bike, they will teach her how to pick it up if she drops it. Fear of not being able to pick the bike back up seems to be one of the major factors keeping women from wanting to ride. One good thing about dropping the bike in the drive way... no one is honking at you to get out of the way  | ||
| Dfbutler |
I'd had my S3 about a week and was moving it in the garage. Thought it would be easier to get on it and push with my feet. I manged to push the kickstand up at the same time. There's nothing worse than that feeling of putting the back down on the stand and realizing the stand is not there - and by then it's too late. Cracked a rib picking it up. | ||
| Massgirl |
Hey all, Thanks so much...I just felt so dumb, and I knew you guys would cheer me up about it. This was the only time I dropped it and couldn't pick it up myself, and I figure it was for a number of reasons. Probably because I was just SO flustered and upset, I didn't have the right technique (I'd never dropped it on the right before), and I couldn't get a footing because of the gasoline on the driveway. I am just glad there was a guy there, though, or it would have stayed on it's side a little longer, haha. But, this has been a learning experience for me. And no, I'm not any less determined to ride...and so what if I needed help? Everyone needs help at one point. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
"Everyone needs help at one point." amen and don't ever be discouraged about not riding mass. as soon as i got into a half cast from a full leg cast when i got hit back in 76, i was back on the bike. maybe that's why i use the front break so much. | ||
| Guell |
i dropped my bike in my garage while i was backing it out sitting on it. It was the fall, and a slick garage floor with leaves makes for some very slippery footing! | ||
| Ulywife |
I'm not any less determined to ride...and so what if I needed help? Everyone needs help at one point. Right approach! Thanks for the great Loud Fan shirts for M2nc and myself. We love them. | ||
| Davefla |
Never dropped either my Blast or my Firebolt at speed (wonder if that means I'm too chicken or if they're just such a great bike?) But the embarrassing part was telling the counterman at the dealership why I needed what I needed: "Brake lever? Ouch! Did you wreck it?" "Naw, just was rolling it around the garage and didn't pay enough attention to the stand..."  | ||
| Cowboy |
Droped mine too many time to count,cant remember to put down stand or feet when drunk. | ||
| Froggy |
Massgirl, at least your not pulling it out of a ditch, thats never fun   Davefla, you got it easy.Once I had a small spill, bent a lever, and posted about it here. Next morning i call my dealer, and said i need a clutch lever for a Uly, and the parts guy responded "Oh hey Frank, we already have one here at the counter with your name on it."  | ||
| Nevrenuf |
come on froggy play nice will ya. you were supposed to burn that pic. | ||
| Ulywife |
Nevrenuf - atleast Kilboy didn't capture your special moment and I'll bet your tow bill was not $400. That was a very expensive day on the Dragon. | ||
| Tramp |
 | ||
| Nevrenuf |
no kristi, the tow bill wasn't 400 but the ticket was close to that. just couldn't get the bike out quick enough before the state trooper showed up. | ||
| Thumper74 |
What would they cite you for? | ||
| Badlionsfan |
What would they cite you for? Failure to control would be my guess. That's what they got my sister for when she spun her car out and tagged a guard rail in a show storm. | ||
| Rotzaruck |
What would they cite you for? Improper parking | ||
| Nevrenuf |
i think it was like failure to keep control or some crap like that. bottom line massgirl, it's nothing but a thing so don't sweat the small stuff. i needed three guys and a truck to get this bike up. come to find out the ego was damaged more than the bike but the insurance company totaled the bike. | ||
| Massgirl |
yeah...I'm just looking forward to when I have the time to get back on...I'm just so dang busy these days |
