First Drop...
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: MA
First Drop...
Well it happened.. Just got my Vance and Hine's slip on's, my cousin helped me put them on.. he has a Fat Bob that he run's Vance and Hine's with no baffles and it sounds great... tried my Street Bob with no baffles and it is way to loud.. so as I went for my first ride with the new pipes my thought is that I was way to worried about getting pulled over because of the noise and I dropped it at a stop sign.. no damage to the bike at all, just my ego.. couldn't even tell you exactly what happened because it was so quick.. So, i'll be putting the baffles back in... and focus on basics again.. hopefully it'll be the last time, might not be so lucky if there is a next one!
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 928
Likes: 21
From: Las Vegas
It happens, made the mistake of tapping my front brake on my EG in a tight slow turn, dropped like a rock, felt like an idiot, no damage cept the ego......... I imagine this thread will grow with many stories...........
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
My first drop on my current bike took me by surprise too. I was maneuvering a turn from my dirt road onto pavement attempting to avoid the ruts and dips that form there all the time when the bike just dropped to the ground taking me down with it. I rolled over the bars and did one more roll with gloves and leather on.
After thinking and thinking about how the hell it just dropped I realize now I grabbed the front brake on loose gravel at a real slow turning speed.
I'm sure I entertained the whole neighborhood!.
Put a little scrape on the edge of my fairing is all so I really got lucky.
Told the wife it was a good thing to have bought the older bike, '86 FLTC, to gain my experience back.
On the topic of your pipes. Why do so many feel it's necessary to rip off perfectly good stock quiet pipes and spend , spend, spend in the direction of making the bike noisier?
I get the performance minded people that put pipes on for horsepower and speed but dang my Harley flies so fast now I often get vertigo pulling out onto the road way and going through the gears when I get on it.
Why is faster better, really?
And I think the blast of many bike' pipes are exceeding the laws. Most everyone here avoids getting stopped because we have so much crime that a loud bike behaving proper is not ever an issue.
just my 2 cents worth...
After thinking and thinking about how the hell it just dropped I realize now I grabbed the front brake on loose gravel at a real slow turning speed.
I'm sure I entertained the whole neighborhood!.
Put a little scrape on the edge of my fairing is all so I really got lucky.
Told the wife it was a good thing to have bought the older bike, '86 FLTC, to gain my experience back.
On the topic of your pipes. Why do so many feel it's necessary to rip off perfectly good stock quiet pipes and spend , spend, spend in the direction of making the bike noisier?
I get the performance minded people that put pipes on for horsepower and speed but dang my Harley flies so fast now I often get vertigo pulling out onto the road way and going through the gears when I get on it.
Why is faster better, really?
And I think the blast of many bike' pipes are exceeding the laws. Most everyone here avoids getting stopped because we have so much crime that a loud bike behaving proper is not ever an issue.
just my 2 cents worth...
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 609
Likes: 3
Dropped three street bikes in 37 years, all stupid. (dirtbike crashes don't count - too many to recall)
First - about 1981: pulled into the drive, got distracted by my neighbor (if you saw her you'd understand), got off the bike and walked away without putting the kickstand down. The bike took me out from behind. She fell down, too - laughing...
Second - about 1990: in the garage, sitting on the bike, adjusting the headlight. Reached around behind me to get a wrench off the workbench and lost my balance. The bike didn't actually hit the floor - I was determined to muscle it back up - but in the process I threw my back out and was laid up for a week. (smacks forehead)
Third - about 2007: My FXD was brand new. I wasn't used to the neutral finder. I was doing a slow, tight turn in a parking lot. It dropped into neutral without me realizing it... I gassed it and let out the clutch, and... oh hell... down I went. Then, to add insult to embarrassment, this HUGE guy came walking out of the bar and picked it up like it was a toy. He musta been 6'6", 280... I ain't exactly small, at 6'4", 220, but I felt small right then. I bought him a beer. Or five. Can't remember.
So, anyway, we've all done it. Don't feel bad! Funny thing about gravity... it works!
First - about 1981: pulled into the drive, got distracted by my neighbor (if you saw her you'd understand), got off the bike and walked away without putting the kickstand down. The bike took me out from behind. She fell down, too - laughing...
Second - about 1990: in the garage, sitting on the bike, adjusting the headlight. Reached around behind me to get a wrench off the workbench and lost my balance. The bike didn't actually hit the floor - I was determined to muscle it back up - but in the process I threw my back out and was laid up for a week. (smacks forehead)
Third - about 2007: My FXD was brand new. I wasn't used to the neutral finder. I was doing a slow, tight turn in a parking lot. It dropped into neutral without me realizing it... I gassed it and let out the clutch, and... oh hell... down I went. Then, to add insult to embarrassment, this HUGE guy came walking out of the bar and picked it up like it was a toy. He musta been 6'6", 280... I ain't exactly small, at 6'4", 220, but I felt small right then. I bought him a beer. Or five. Can't remember.
So, anyway, we've all done it. Don't feel bad! Funny thing about gravity... it works!
Last edited by risdo; Oct 20, 2010 at 07:09 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: MA
I didn't spring for the slip on's for performance, or to be the loudest guy around.. I actually had a hard time hearing the engine to know when to shift at highway speeds, it was extremely quiet.. I was hoping that the louder pipes would help me in this area, plus they do look great on the bike. Only reason I took the baffles out is because thats what my cousin did, he said it wasn't very loud with them in. But, he has a 2-1-2 exhaust mine are straight 2-2, but I am going to put them back in and hopefully still gain what I am looking to do without shaking the street.
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: MA
Well, I don't feel too bad anymore.. the worst part was my girlfriend was following me in my Jeep.. first time she saw me ride.. first stop sign.. boom. Now she is going to be worried whenever I ride.. oh boy.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 7
From: Southwest Florida
Worried? Since when do women need an excuse to worry? It's what they do. It's genetic memory. For 50,000 years women have worried about their men. Not that they should or anything.
Getting HER on the bike with you might take some time, though. Maybe that's not a bad thing.
As far as dropping your bike? Most riders have. Some haven't but those folks are few and far between. I put it down to more luck than skill, however. (I'm sure that statement will draw some fire)
My OL dropped me one time on my Dresser. She decided to dismount before I was completely stopped and had my feet down. Another time, I was wearing boot-cut jeans (Hey! I had boots on!) and my pant-leg got caught on the foot peg on my new one. Down I went. Straight-leg-cut jeans forever from now on. Another time, I pulled into a gas station and was checking out this gorgeous chick getting out of a car and forgot to put my feet down on my old shovel SG. I was also (very) slightly under the influence of -- Something.
None of those times did I hurt the bike or myself. And three times since my first bike in 1965 and my first Harley in 1977? I don't think that's too bad. Not great, but not bad.
It usually happens when you're distracted. Don't get distacted. And dropping your bike, with no damage to the bike or yourself, isn't necessarily a bad thing. Seriously. It's the Harley god giving you notice -- Be aware, be alert, keep your mind on what you're doing.
A wake-up call if you will.
Trending Topics
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 465
Likes: 1
Other than a drunk Norton missing a left-hander at 90+ mph back in college, I've never had a serious drop-but have had the occasional low speed or stopped mishap as you describe.
It's funny. Like most of us, I have always accepted the inherent risk that some fool in a car will do the left-turn thing, and I ride accordingly. I always assume that every car I encounter is out to kill me.
But it's the things like the OP describes that I worry about most. Tight radius backing up turns, balancing at stops, etc. It's especially troubling when my not-small wife is on the back. Probably mostly because I'm old and have a hip replacement.
I'm not looking forward to the time when a trike is necessary, but I'll do it to stay in the wind when I have no choice.
It's funny. Like most of us, I have always accepted the inherent risk that some fool in a car will do the left-turn thing, and I ride accordingly. I always assume that every car I encounter is out to kill me.
But it's the things like the OP describes that I worry about most. Tight radius backing up turns, balancing at stops, etc. It's especially troubling when my not-small wife is on the back. Probably mostly because I'm old and have a hip replacement.
I'm not looking forward to the time when a trike is necessary, but I'll do it to stay in the wind when I have no choice.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: MA
That is true that they don't need an excuse.. but I gave her one anyways.. which does not help me. haha.. but, I was going to wait a while to get her on the bike anyways, just to make sure I am completely comfortable on it.. which, I thought I was getting there, then I made this change and it felt like I had never ridden before... oh well.. I'm in no hurry.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 7
From: Southwest Florida
That is true that they don't need an excuse.. but I gave her one anyways.. which does not help me. haha.. but, I was going to wait a while to get her on the bike anyways, just to make sure I am completely comfortable on it.. which, I thought I was getting there, then I made this change and it felt like I had never ridden before... oh well.. I'm in no hurry.
Nothing wrong with a healthy respect for your Harley.
Seat time. It'll come naturally.