Joined the drop club

[LagerHead]

So after taking a couple of days to carefully remove all the fairings, windshield, etc. and install a garage door opener and Stebel Nautilus horn and being careful not to scratch any paint, I put the bike back together without incident. Everything went together fine and all that was left was to confirm my headlight adjustment. So the plan was to take the bike of the center stand and roll it out in front of the garage door and adjust as necessary. The plan went south though right after the bike came of the center stand. I was on the left and the bike started going right. Since the bike outweighs me more than 3:1 there was no way to stop it.

After much cussing, stomping, kicking, and other assorted pissed-off behavior, I got help to pick it back up. Luckily, I was let off easy with a few scratches on the fairing and right bag. I guess I'll cover those up with some reflective decals.

 

[BwanaDik]

Doh! Too bad, glad it wasn't worse. Time to copy the "drop club" from the signature line....

 

[TCMike]

That sucks! I've always been on the bike when taking it off the center stand. Never tried your way.

 

[LagerHead]

That sucks! I've always been on the bike when taking it off the center stand. Never tried your way.

How tall are you? I don't think I'd be able to touch the ground with it on the center stand.

 

[wheatonFJR]

That sucks! I've always been on the bike when taking it off the center stand. Never tried your way.

+1

...and I'm 5'-9

 

[NightShine]

That sucks! I've always been on the bike when taking it off the center stand. Never tried your way.

How tall are you? I don't think I'd be able to touch the ground with it on the center stand.

Well height it not really a requirement (other than to be taller than the you-must-be-this-tall line at the amusement park rides ). I have a 29" inseam, but only ever take the bike off of its center stand while astride it, to avoid exactly the problem that you encountered.

Just get on the bike with your legs dangling, rock it forward to get it off of the center stand, and use your feet to balance as normal as the rear tire contacts pavement.

 

[lnewlf]

Don't feel like the lone ranger-Many moons ago I did the same thing with a big Sazook GS-worse even as I threw it against the side of my pickup.Ever since I always mount the bike now before taking it down. I have always envied the guys at the dealerships who jockey bikes around like they were toys, often standing in front of the bike and grabbing the bars. I watched a young guy roll my FJR off the centerstand when I was in for an inspection-maybe he was 5'6" and 130 lbs. He made a point of turning the bars to the right before rolling it off which caused the bike to lean towards rather than away from him. Smart-when I get up the nerve I'm going to try it..

 

[VT Mark]

FWIW, I also only take the bike off the center stand when I'm sitting on it. I'm 5'8" and can't reach the ground with both feet when it's on the center stand, but I can rock it off the stand and reach the ground when the back tire hits the pavement.

However, I dropped mine while trying to put it ON the center stand.

The ground sloped slightly downhill away from me and slightly downhill towards the front of the bike. One hand hold under the seat, step on the center stand lever with my foot, lift with hand, push with foot. In hindsight it's obvious that for both feet of the stand to be in contact with the ground, it pulled the bike slightly away from me. Because the bike was also facing slightly downhill, I didn't quite get it all the way onto the stand. Halfway up it paused, then rolled back forward off the stand, me on the left, bike leaning slightly away from me to the right...well you can wee where this is going. Drop club.

On the bright side, I got a new right side mirror and a freshly repaired and repainted right side bag. Thankfully the sliders were on so no other damage.

Tough lesson to learn, but I'll never let that happen again!

 

[TCMike]

That sucks! I've always been on the bike when taking it off the center stand. Never tried your way.

How tall are you? I don't think I'd be able to touch the ground with it on the center stand.

5'10" Touching ground not necessary till both wheels touch.

 

[BikerGeek99]

Meh.

Chicks dig scars, man.

Go knock 'er over on the other side so the scratches are symmetrical.

Then go for a ride. You'll never see 'em while your riding.

 

[Patriot]

That sucks! I've always been on the bike when taking it off the center stand. Never tried your way.

same here...5' 9" with 29" inseam

but I'm a triple dropper :blink:

 

[cruppelt]

That sucks! I've always been on the bike when taking it off the center stand. Never tried your way.

same here...5' 9" with 29" inseam

but I'm a triple dropper :blink:

Mike, I don't believe a word you're sayin... where's the bike drop picture in your signature? :lol:

Dropping a heavy bike in slow motion happens to the best of us!

 

[wfooshee]

I roll it off the centerstand while standing on the left side, with the sidestand down and in first gear. It stops immediately and I set it down on the sidestand, looking to be sure the stand is where it was 5 seconds ago when I put it down.

Mostly I just don't like climbing on the bike while it's on the stand.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Taking the bike off the center stand while sitting on it is exactly how I dropped it at a gas station. There was a slight slope to the right that I had not noticed when I pulled up and fueled. I rocked the bike off the stand like I do every time I fill up, and she just leaned over to the side. There was no stopping her, but the let down was slow. Funny thing is, I have not yet dropped her taking her off the center stand while standing next to her. That turn the bike to the left thing sounds like a good idea.

Basically...Don't worry about it. It happens a LOT with these things.

 

[LagerHead]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I have taken two very important lessons from this: 1) When on level ground I will take it off the stand while sitting on it. I tried it out a few times in the garage this weekend and that's how I left the house this morning. 2) When not on level ground, I will stay off and steer it away from me so that if it begins to lean it leans on me where I can more easily catch it and right it again.

I debated internally about posting this embarrassing little episode, but now I'm glad I did. I think it will help me avoid a much more costly drop in the future.