Wife dumped her bike in the driveway

[nofreeride]

Yep, we enjoyed almost 200 miles of Oregon mountains and coastline on Saturday. I was on the Feej and my wife on her Suzuki GS500F. This was her longest day yet on the bike. I pulled into the driveway, put the kickstand down, and looked behind me. Her bike was on the ground in the street. She was standing with her right hand in the air and in obvious pain. It seems she stopped suddenly for some neighbor kids who were rollerblading on the sidewalk. Her front tire was already turned and when she grabbed both brakes the bike went down instantly. Her impact with the ground was absorbed mostly by her right arm and shoulder, also her helmet. Something on the bike (the handlebar or brake lever) smashed her right middle finger into the pavement.

Her finger is swollen and black and blue and she has been taking a lot of ibuprofen. Although I don't think it's broken, we will probably have it checked out anyway.

The Gear: She mentioned she was glad she was wearing her pants (she sometimes goes with just the jeans when it's hot) and her helmet. ATGATT.

The Bike: Just a scratch on the exhaust, one on the side cover, and one on the bar end. Got that out of the way.

The Lessons: Don't let your concentration down as you get closer to home. Don't brake while turning, especially not the front. Always wear your gear.

The Photos: I have some photos of the ride, which I may post later. As for the accident, I had three choices, tend to my wife, pick up the bike, or take pictures. I could have walked over to my injured wife and said, "Hey Honey, this is the perfect time for you to practice picking up your motorcycle", while I snapped some photos. After I made sure she was OK, I picked up the motorcycle, which was leaking fuel in the street.

She is not deterred. We will be riding again soon, and she is planning on bringing her bike to WFO.

 

[Duezzer]

A good friend of mine had done the same thing a few times till we figured out what was happening

Breaking at low speeds with tire turned when coming to a stop. Usually looking at something else at the same time.

Pass it on to new riders - may save someone some heart ache

 

[pinhead]

Sorry to hear about the drop and her pain. Glad the damage was minimal. Good on her for jumping back on that horse.

I know it's a tough thing to watch. In the 3 years that my wife has been riding, she's had 2 stationary drops, 2 slow speed get-offs from stalling, and 1 pretty impressive 30mph low-side last September returning from California.. Except for the last one, they pretty much all happened within the first few months of learning. Thankfully, the worst that ever happened was a couple of minor scratches/bruises. I think she's got it all out of her system now.

 

[johnny80s]

Glad to hear she is ok and the bike is doing well too.

If you need another helmet for her I have a very nice one for sale cheap. My wife did not want to ride after the twins were born.

Clicky for ad.

 

[Patriot]

bruised middle finger...is that the one frequently shown you ???

just curious...what kind of gloves was she wearing ???

I don't know is armored knuckes wudda helped

 

[airboss]

Last summer watched my daughter dump her bike, more than once( new rider ). then Dad got smart and put some lowering links on it, now all is good.

 

[nofreeride]

bruised middle finger...is that the one frequently shown you ???
just curious...what kind of gloves was she wearing ???

I don't know is armored knuckes wudda helped

She's been showing it to me a lot the last couple days...

She was wearing some summer gloves. Just about anything else would have worked better.

Last summer watched my daughter dump her bike, more than once( new rider ). then Dad got smart and put some lowering links on it, now all is good.

The bike fits her well. She can easily flat foot it, and not terribly heavy.

 

[Patriot]

She's been showing it to me a lot the last couple days...

you're obviously a good guy with a good sense of humor; best to ya both and real sorry (she especially) ya'll have to experience this bump in the road :blink:

if it helps any, my second feejer drop was recently in a crowded Waffle House parking lot with AIW (Angelic Italian Wifey) on the back when I tried a slow speed U turn and was heading for some debris from construction I didn't see at first

I try hard to park in the shade in the summer at every opportunity

the bike just slowly went over with AIW kinda in a panic...she's never had a bike go down under her before

I just stood up and told her to just step away which she did

kinda bad news was I had just gassed it up...asked and got my nearby riding buddy to help us right it

stuff happens, I guess; onward and upward for all four of us...

let's ride safe and be careful out there,

Mike in Nawlins'

 

[nofreeride]

She's been showing it to me a lot the last couple days...

As in: Hey, look how swollen it is. Hey, Look how it's changed colors. Hey, look I hurt it again doing laundry. Hey, look what happens when I try to make a fist...

 

[Patriot]

She's been showing it to me a lot the last couple days...

As in: Hey, look how swollen it is. Hey, Look how it's changed colors. Hey, look I hurt it again doing laundry. Hey, look what happens when I try to make a fist...

ahhhh, OK

<mine shows me her's on occassion, but not under those circumstances>

 

[wfooshee]

I guess that's why they teach you in MSF courses to sit up before you stop. Now that she forgot, she probably won't forget again. I forgot once, was within a couple of degrees of dropping the feej in a busy intersection. Jerkface cager made a left turn through a stop sign, coming from my left, I was turning left around him with the right of way, and stopped just in time, forgetting to sit up first. Held on, but not by much. Would have been a great show for lots of folks. I've done it right several times since then.

(And once wrong, but that was a front lockup, not quite the same thing. . . .)