crash....

[milkman]

More of a stack really, but had my first little accident today.
In our work car park, doing a slow U turn, and I hit the oil that my colleagues trusty land rover tug boat had left barely visible on the shiny smooth concrete.
The foot went to save me, and it hit some more oil.

BANG

Well, I got up, and other than some fuel pouring out the left side carby while it was laid over, she fired up again and brushed it off. Not jamming he leg wasa pleasant surprise aswell.

Used to think the air head engines were a bit ugly, now I love them....

[SCJJR65]

Whew! Glad to hear you're OK, Milkman!   More so YOU'RE all right than your bike.  Getting a dropped bike back in proper operating condition ain't that big of a deal.  The human body, on the other hand.... [smiley=uhoh2.gif] (Especially once you clear the "over 40" barrier!)  [smiley=rolleyes.gif]

[milkman]

I'm sweet.
Managed to dodge the mad friday night Sydney taxis who stalk at walking speed looking for a fare, then all sprint over three lanes from nowhere to get one.......then fall over parking the bike. Felt like a goose, but its a subtle lesson - better than a harsh one.

[msbuck]

Glad you came out of it unharmed.  That's always the best news.  

Most of us have probably had a very similar 'crash'.  I know I've had my share (more than one!).  But I'll take the small lessons over the big ones any day!  IF I have to have a small tip over every year that would keep me from ever having the big one, I would Gladly do it!

It's a sad day when you don't learn something new.  
(That's not the preferred way of learning, however...)

[wiemer]

Diesel fuel...

THAT is slippery stuff!
I misjudged a diesel trail in a sharp turning for a water trail...front wheel slip...straigt on we went, the two of us, into a bus station.

My girlfriend on the pillow seat had had surgery on her vocal chords, just some days before, so she couldnt speak...
Kinda confusing for the persons helping us on our feet..

wiemer.

[Justin B.]

Just wait until you get to work and get off the bike after forgetting to put the sidestand down...  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Always scary stories.  Weimer, I was afraid you were going to say your girlfriend damaged her surgery when she let out a scream!  I'm glad the both of you were alright.

You too, milkman.  At least these two instances were not the riders' fault.

It seems everytime I have a slow tip over, it is because I left the forks locked - which I rarely use (NEVER, anymore), which accounts for why I always forget to unlock them.

The worst case of fork-lock error came when I was in the middle of nowhere, left the bike for a couple of hours.  When I left for home, I forgot about them.  I didn't have to do any sharp turns to get on my way, and I was motoring down a rural highway at about 40-45mph.  I suddenly saw a nice road to my left, so I slowed quickly and when I tried to turn, BOOM!  It would not have been so bad, except the left cylinder came down on my left foot, middle toe.  And I had a 3 hour ride back to home!  I was sore and disgusted, and within a week I had sold my precious baby to the first person with $1500...
The good news is I was lucky enough to buy it back 6 months later!!!

Like I said, I'll never use the fork lock again!

[suecanada]

So great to be able to hear from folks who had little accidents and learned from them! This means they LIVED!!!  I've had my share of fall overs too..but I always remember the first one..turning right onto a rural road and hitting the sand...which was a bit deep. Easy pickup with a Honda 175!  The last 2 led me to sell the R1100RT!!!

I always feel like a goof when it happens as well Milkman.

[Ed Miller]

I always feel like a goof when it happens as well Milkman.

...yeah, "Did anybody see me?"  I go around thinking I don't care about public opinion, but that thought still is first through my mind if my bike tips over.  At least on my Driveway of Death nobody is around to see me.

[milkman]

good point someone raised about the sidestand.
On this BMW it is bloody scary to put down while on the bike - which is the "correct form" as they say.
Its so far forward, and being spring loaded, you have to keep your foot out there on it, the side ways tip gives me a jump every time, hoping my weight on it wont cause any trouble.

OR I jump off, and worry its going to fall away from me....


Anyway, I'm getting used to it.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I know it is difficult, but I have learned to dismount (keeping my right hand firmly on the front brake), and then deploy the sidestand.  I really don't think it was meant to be deployed while still on the bike.

On the rare occasion that I do deploy it from the seat, I get it down far enough that I can put some weight on it, and then roll the bike backward.  Usually it takes more than one attempt.

[Justin B.]

I have a Browns on all of my riders, BUT you still have to remember to deploy it!  

[suecanada]

I dismantled that spring-loaded sidestand feature and have never regretted it at all. I always deploy the sidestand while still seated..even with my short legs it is fine. The do what Rob does. Pull back as you get off to make sure all is firmly planted.

[Bob_Roller]

I try to use the sidestand as minimally as possible. When I do  use it, I always deploy it while standing next to the bike. When is the last time you checked the tightness of the bolts/screws that attach the centerstand to the frame?

[vontresc]

My First crash came fall of '05 when I went for a test ride/gas run after I had fixed my squealing brakes. I was testing the brakes to see if they still made noise on a wet and leaf covered back road when the rear wheel tried to pass the front. I was only going 10-15 mph, and the fall wasn't bad. Though this was the ONLY time I had ever ridden the thing without a helmet  [smiley=shocked.gif]. Still have the scratchen on the valve cover to prove it. Cured me of riding without safety gear though....

Pete