I am an IDIOT!!!
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 207
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From: Sewall's Point, Florida
Well, I'm not exactly a new member to the club. Here's the story on my two previous bikes:
New Nightster with forward controls (within a few days of getting it): I pulled into a busy parking lot at the beach, started to put my left foot down -- and it didn't go. There is high screw EXACTLY in the area you put your foot down in the linkage for the Nightster add-on forward controls (a HUGE and dangerous design flaw, IMO). My pant leg caught on it. As usual, a slow-motion drop that I couldn't quite handle. The uncool crash bar pretty much saved my bacon again. I ended up with a scratch on the crash bar and a scratch on a rear-view mirror. More importantly, I was able to get out from under the bike so I could get it up again. It was a tight squeeze pulling my boot out even with the crash bar.
My bike before that was a Vulcan 500. I hadn't ridden in many years, and was just getting the hang of it. My neighbor, who had a big Harley, told me it wasn't cool to put both feet down when I stopped. Well, I believed him -- and I GOTTA look cool. So, there I was, a new rider at the busiest intersection in town. There I sat at a red light with only one foot down when the bike started to tip. Yep, another slow-motion lay down. The adrenaline was pumping, and I was sweating like a pig from embarrassment. I got the bike up, hit the starter -- and nothing happened -- for what seemed like an eternity. I don't think I've ever whipped so fast around a corner out of sight when I finally got it fired up. Whatever the pros and cons of full-face helmets, boy, was I glad I had one on that time -- just so no one could see the idiot.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 207
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From: Sewall's Point, Florida
Well, I'll tell you one thing: I'm beginning to feel better. You know what they say about misery loving company? It applies to idiots too. Good to see I'm not the only one...
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 98
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From: Edwards Ca
So yesterday I read this and lmao at it. 5 minutes later I went outside to my new bike, that I had picked up the night before...... and did pretty much the same thing except I didn't get my foot out from underneath it fast enough. So trapped under the bike, husbands at work. Had my cell phone in my pocket so had to call the guy down the street to come and get me out from under the bike. Foots swollen but yeah ....won't do that again.....I'm an idiot too!!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 148
From: Northwest
Two types of riders: Those that have laid their bike over, and those that will.
I dumped mine in the gravel road that runs in front of my place. Kids were walking, and just as i was passing, they reached down and picked up rocks and and held their arms back like they were going to throw them at me..... I braked hard... too hard with the right hand... I swear the bike jumped up in the air, stopped and laid itself down flat on the right side, and off to the right I went, rolled and stood up. Turned around.. roared at the kids, who were just starring at me. Reached down grabbed the bike, picked it up (adrenalin is a wonderful thing). Looked at the kids again... they were halfway down the block already... I didn't laugh then.. but I do now.... just stupidity in motion... lol.
Oh, it bent the rear brake pedal lever... two small scratches on the slip-on pipes... that's it... don't know how it managed to not trash a whole bunch other stuff...
I dumped mine in the gravel road that runs in front of my place. Kids were walking, and just as i was passing, they reached down and picked up rocks and and held their arms back like they were going to throw them at me..... I braked hard... too hard with the right hand... I swear the bike jumped up in the air, stopped and laid itself down flat on the right side, and off to the right I went, rolled and stood up. Turned around.. roared at the kids, who were just starring at me. Reached down grabbed the bike, picked it up (adrenalin is a wonderful thing). Looked at the kids again... they were halfway down the block already... I didn't laugh then.. but I do now.... just stupidity in motion... lol.
Oh, it bent the rear brake pedal lever... two small scratches on the slip-on pipes... that's it... don't know how it managed to not trash a whole bunch other stuff...
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 1
From: fresno california
don't feel bad
my driveway has a steep incline as well so i usually feather the front brake while backing out well one morning i was in a hurry and i feathered the brake as always and started to go a little faster because i was pushing back with my feet as well
so i gave it some more brake or so i thought
i grabbed the clutch and pulled it in instead needless to say the bike didn;t slow down or stay upright but i was able to easily lay it down on the grass bordering the driveway with no damage caused
except for feeling like a doofus everything was none the worse for wear
as they say there are two kinds of biker one that has dropped a bike and one that will
freebyrd
so i gave it some more brake or so i thought
i grabbed the clutch and pulled it in instead needless to say the bike didn;t slow down or stay upright but i was able to easily lay it down on the grass bordering the driveway with no damage caused
except for feeling like a doofus everything was none the worse for wear
as they say there are two kinds of biker one that has dropped a bike and one that will
freebyrd
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 207
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From: Sewall's Point, Florida
So yesterday I read this and lmao at it. 5 minutes later I went outside to my new bike, that I had picked up the night before...... and did pretty much the same thing except I didn't get my foot out from underneath it fast enough. So trapped under the bike, husbands at work. Had my cell phone in my pocket so had to call the guy down the street to come and get me out from under the bike. Foots swollen but yeah ....won't do that again.....I'm an idiot too!!
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Sewall's Point, Florida
I'm starting to wonder how any of us ever got driver's licenses.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 207
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From: Sewall's Point, Florida
What do you mean "locks in place?"