Boneheaded Bike Drops

[RossKean]

This should be a good topic for a Friday.

Until last season, I had never dropped the FJR in 80,000 miles of operation and then I managed to do it twice within a few months. I'm not talking about having the front slip out during slow maneuvers on loose gravel or anything reasonable like that. Just boneheaded operator error!

1) The first time was as I was leaving after visiting a friend. Got on the bike, raised the kickstand, started it and remembered I had not plugged in the heated jacket liner. The plug is a little awkward to reach and insert, especially when wearing gloves so I leaned the bike over to the side. It was all over by the time I remembered that I had neglected to lower the kickstand first. Took me about 10 seconds to get it back on its feet - adrenaline is wonderful stuff. A few scratches that will forever remind me that I am an idiot!

2) The second event was at a campground in Vermont. After a long riding day, I finally made it to the campsite. Stopped at my parking spot and looked to make sure that the ground was firm. Lowered the side stand, leaned the bike over and after the pad touched down, the bike just kept on going. The "firm" ground consisted of a veneer of dirt over loose gravel and provided no purchase for the stiletto tip on the side stand. This time it was a real bitch to get upright - loose ground and on a slope. A little more "patina" to the mirrors, left bag and frame slider.

At least damages are entirely cosmetic. Does anyone (everyone) have similar experiences?

(Probably destined for NEPRT but...)

 

[John d]

Um. Yes! I've learned - never retract the side stand until all connections are made. Only took me once to learn it. Will I forget what I learned...probably.

 

[Top_Speed1]

(Probably destined for NEPRT but...)

Nuttin like putting a spear into it before she even cooked!

I believe we all have been there once or twice Ross. I remember my pant leg catching the stand just enough, thinking the stand "was" down I released the weight to the left... funny how it takes a 6-4 235lb guy right along for the ride. Bike wasn't hurt, leg was for awhile. It's now water beer cooler talk.

 

[ERS]

Quote: "I managed to do it twice within a few months."

How about twice in 1 day. Last June I was with a group in Vermont and the lead bike pulled off in dirt lane to decide which way to go since it looked like rain ahead. I pulled in and my front wheel hit some mud and over I went, broke the cheap frame slider I bought and scratched the right saddlebag. A couple of hours later we pulled into a store for some lunch and the bike ahead stopped quickly and before I knew it my foot was in a hole and I was down again.The right mirror and bag got scratched up some more. Funny but there was no fairing damage even though the slider was missing! The worst of it was the that my bags were freshly painted a few weeks before and the guy had done an excellant job.

As you said at least the damage was entirely cosmetic, except for the bruised ego.

 

[jjp4674]

First time I took it down off the center stand...in front of FJRTom, the guy I was buying it from.

I didn't really have any idea on the weight of the bike at this point, and while bringing it down off the center stand, I discovered it was a LOT heavier than I expected and it fell away from me. No damage, just embarassment.

 

[DennisJ]

#1 2nd slow speed practice turn the day after I took delivery- left side but nothing broken.

#2 1st time lowering bike from center stand in garage with not so level floor-right side mirror through the wall, small rub mark in windshield

#3 Backing into garage and hit right saddlebag against door jamb, dropped on left side and took care of mirror and added another scratch to luggage.

I think these were all during the first year.

#4 April 2012 accident . Still don't remember accident but do remember 7 weeks in nursing facility while pelvis fractures, ribs and left clavicle healed. The pills got old real quick.

 

[Spud]

The Wynpro big foot allows you to park in dirt. It always made me nervous before i put it on.

 

[Pterodactyl]

What a bunch of rubes.... dropping a motorcycle like a bumpkin just can't happen to a highly skilled motorcyclesta such as me. I'd never forget to put the side stand down... twice; nor could I ever come to a complete stop just as both wheels went up on top of large river rocks causing both feet to be 10 inches off the ground. No pictures.... never happened.

 

[airboss]

Blue Ridge Parkway.

Had the bike two months, and we all k now how many level spots there are on the Blue Ridge.

Pulled of into an overlook, started to put the foot down when the voice inside my head said "ya know by the time your foot touches the ground your not going to be able to hold this thing up.", and I couldn't.

 

[TomInPA]

Last Spring leaving California for PA a bunch of friends were riding along to seem me off. We stopped in Markleeville for coffee and to meet up. On leaving, I was having issues with the radio connection, and went to get off the bike to fix it. Forgot the stand was already up. I guess it had to happen eventually. Picked up a fully loaded FJR, pulled a hamstring and had a sore leg riding the next three days.

 

[Eric L]

dropped my 09 twice on each side. I found it beneficial to balance the stupidity laterally to maintain karma.

Always at zero mph, always in front of as many people as possible.

Obviously the 2014 is living on borrowed time.

 

[mcatrophy]

Following another rider onto a car ferry. Deck had raised tie-down points at regular intervals, we were wending our way nicely through them towards where the crewman was guiding us.

First rider draws up, I'm going to pull in behind him, slow right down. But, no, crewman signals me to go to one side.

So, two miles an hour, I lean the bike to go beside him, only the bike suddenly stops, down I went. The rear wheel had caught on one of the tie-downs (that I'd by now put out of my mind), simply not enough speed to get over it.

Luckily plenty of hands to help right the bike. Righting my embarrassment took a little longer, and some refreshment at the ferry's bar.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Every time I've dropped it has been because I did something stupid. It has happened more than once, but once it happened twice at the same gas stop.

It's been a while since the last one though. I am more careful about how I park it and where I put my feet. Let's see how long that keeps me outta the fire.

 

[LKLD]

Dropped mine in the garage, two months after getting her, trying to pull in and turning her around, so I could pull straight out next time. Touched a spot of water over oil stain left by wife's car. On it side faster than a cat could lick it's ass. Top of fairing has some light scratches, mirror has a small spot. Checked auto body shop, and they wanted $360 to fix. Scratches are still there, if nothing else, to remind me how quick it can happen. It made me sick for a few weeks, but doesn't bother me now.

 

[Lauren_TK]

I'm new to bigger bikes, and I've dropped her six times since I got her.

Never the same exact reason twice mind you, but largely related to my inseam.

 

[RadioHowie]

Was gonna make a comment about a bunch of clumsy *******s until the skirt showed up.

Don't want to include the lady, so I'll adjust my comment...

"What a bunch of clumsy, ham-fisted GUYS!"

 

[bigjohnsd]

Previous bike, Roadstar Warrior, not exactly the most difficult bike to handle from a balance perspective.

Took bike to a fabricator to have a rear fender rack made to go behind my solo seat.

Rode into his shop, shut off the bike, got off without putting side stand down, Kerplunk.

Front footpeg kept it from getting hurt. Didn't even scratch the hard bag.

 

[Bokerfork]

A couple of near misses with the side stand(was able to muscle it back up before touchdown). Then, on the way home from a nine day trip I remember feeling rather self satisfied that I had just traveled several thousand miles in unfamiliar territory with hundreds of stops and starts without so much as a minor fumble. Ten minutes later, pulling into my garage, had a tremendous brain fart and dropped it on its side as I came to a stop. The same place I had stopped a thousand times without incident. As Sheldon Cooper once said,"Gravity, thou art a heartless *******". Of course, Karma ain't much better.

 

[Lauren_TK]

Was gonna make a comment about a bunch of clumsy *******s until the skirt showed up.

I wish to remind you that I broke my shoulder this winter tripping over a chair that hadn't moved for 4 years.

I'm not exactly Miss Grace.

Clumsy? Yes, I am. Just ask my wife.