Tip Over Scare
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Enterprise, AL
I dumped my Fat Bob while parking on a hill in San Francisco. The slope of the hill threw my balance out of whack. The bike leaned towards the downhill side and my foot was unable to touch the ground until the bike was well beyond the "tipping point". I am a pretty fit, young guy (26), but I just hit the gym and finished working out my legs and as a result had no strength to save her.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: where the military takes me
I had my wife on the back and it tipped over just a bit and I almost layed it down. I was lucky enough to stop it. Yeah it scared the **** out of me but you just have to ride dude. Dont let things get to you. the joys of riding outweighs the little scare you had.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
From: Staten Island, NY
Yes... and.... No.
Yes I've tipped it over... and no I'm not paranoid about doing it again.
Hell.. I laid it flat on it's right side on a gravel road..(too much front brake coming to a sudden stop). all I did was bend the rear brake lever..... tell my how I got away with that one 'cause I'll never know....
But here's the thing.... if just tipping it over scares you enough that you are questioning getting back on it.... you probably need to sell it. You need to maintain your decision making capabilities at ALL times when riding... and worrying about tipping over has your mind occupied with something other than what it should be thinking about...
Sorry if those words seem a bit harsh... but tipping over is not something you should be paranoid about.... all the dorks talking or texting on phones while driving 4-wheels... that is something to be paranoid about.
Yes I've tipped it over... and no I'm not paranoid about doing it again.
Hell.. I laid it flat on it's right side on a gravel road..(too much front brake coming to a sudden stop). all I did was bend the rear brake lever..... tell my how I got away with that one 'cause I'll never know....
But here's the thing.... if just tipping it over scares you enough that you are questioning getting back on it.... you probably need to sell it. You need to maintain your decision making capabilities at ALL times when riding... and worrying about tipping over has your mind occupied with something other than what it should be thinking about...
Sorry if those words seem a bit harsh... but tipping over is not something you should be paranoid about.... all the dorks talking or texting on phones while driving 4-wheels... that is something to be paranoid about.
Good luck!
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
I did the garage thing once or twice; didnt go down just leaned like crazy until I pulled it back up. Lots of effort.
I posted back in '06 of a spill I had. Bad stuff. Brand new tire and an near invisible oil patch. One minute I was super stoked I just replaced my tire leaving the hobby shop at less then 10 mph, and the next thing I know I am spinning like a top on the ground. I kept saying "What, What, What?" during it. So I get up from the ground, rip the helmet off throw it, hits a tree, and I literally rip the bike up from the ground and shut it off. I am a small dude, amazing what adrenaline will do. Thanks to this forum the bike looked as good as new in about a week. A blessing.
Street
I posted back in '06 of a spill I had. Bad stuff. Brand new tire and an near invisible oil patch. One minute I was super stoked I just replaced my tire leaving the hobby shop at less then 10 mph, and the next thing I know I am spinning like a top on the ground. I kept saying "What, What, What?" during it. So I get up from the ground, rip the helmet off throw it, hits a tree, and I literally rip the bike up from the ground and shut it off. I am a small dude, amazing what adrenaline will do. Thanks to this forum the bike looked as good as new in about a week. A blessing.
Street
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 10
From: Oklahoma
Words of wisdom - I never move my scooter unless I am sitting on it.
Sidebar: Not too long ago I was parked outside a Harley dealer. Got ready to leave and tired to start my Harley and I was in gear. Didn't come close to dropping it but I did get a few "looks".
Sidebar: Not too long ago I was parked outside a Harley dealer. Got ready to leave and tired to start my Harley and I was in gear. Didn't come close to dropping it but I did get a few "looks".
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Choctaw Oklahoma
Yes! First time I rode down my street, stopped at stop sign and looked left and saw my daughter who was walking in the neighborhood. It just dropped to the right. Broke my brake lever and that was it. Luckily I had another and replaced it. She gave be heck over that!
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 334
Likes: 3
From: Romeo, MI
I'll drink to that! When I laid mine down in the garage, I picked that bad girl up like it was a 125cc dirt bike!
Matt
Matt
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
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Oahu Hawaii
Knocked mine (not the Road King) over a gas pump once, as a result I now pull up with the pump on the right and I did drop the Road King in the garage the day I brought it home. Thank God for the crash bars!