Down she went
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 404
Likes: 10
From: Richmond Ky
My first bike. I was out riding it maybe for the third time. Pulled into the garage and sit on it messing with the buttons. I sit there for a few minutes and went to get off. I forgot to put kick stand down. I rolled off and jumped up to see if anyone was looking. I felt sick. It does happen lesson learned.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 127
From: Middle of Kansas
I have dropped mine twice. The first thing you do is look around to see if anyone saw you. If someone sees your bike down you can tell them you were checking out a noise coming from the bottom of the bike but it would be nice if they would help you pick it up.
I noticed in all of the videos of picking up a bike it is always on the side opposite the kick stand. I have always been afraid of dumping the bike over on the other side as the first time I dropped mine it was on the kickstand side. But even at 70 years old there was enough adrenaline flowing that I just manhandled my Softail Custom up.
The second time my foot slipped in a little sand while turning and a couple of girls stopped and helped me pick it up. Thank goodness for little girls.
I have an engine guard and bike never got a scratch that I could find either time.
I noticed in all of the videos of picking up a bike it is always on the side opposite the kick stand. I have always been afraid of dumping the bike over on the other side as the first time I dropped mine it was on the kickstand side. But even at 70 years old there was enough adrenaline flowing that I just manhandled my Softail Custom up.
The second time my foot slipped in a little sand while turning and a couple of girls stopped and helped me pick it up. Thank goodness for little girls.
I have an engine guard and bike never got a scratch that I could find either time.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 278
Likes: 43
From: Central IL
My sad story.
Went for an hour ride on an unusually warm afternoon this winter. It had recently rained and when I pulled cautiously into my gravel driveway I overshot it by 1 one-thousandth of an inch. The front wheel slid in the wet, muddy grass and there was no holding it up. Well, in case there were any neighbors watching, I quickly hoisted it upright, hopped on, gunned the throttle, and proceeded to THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DAMN DRIVEWAY. Same thing, front wheel slides in the muddy grass and down we go...
Upon finally arriving to my garage, I hooked up the hose, gave her a much needed rinse, and put her away for the rest of the winter.
Went for an hour ride on an unusually warm afternoon this winter. It had recently rained and when I pulled cautiously into my gravel driveway I overshot it by 1 one-thousandth of an inch. The front wheel slid in the wet, muddy grass and there was no holding it up. Well, in case there were any neighbors watching, I quickly hoisted it upright, hopped on, gunned the throttle, and proceeded to THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DAMN DRIVEWAY. Same thing, front wheel slides in the muddy grass and down we go...
Upon finally arriving to my garage, I hooked up the hose, gave her a much needed rinse, and put her away for the rest of the winter.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 50
From: Gilbert, AZ
This happened with my previous bike, not my Harley...
I was in Payson AZ on my way home from Kanab UT and I stopped at a convenience store for a bottle of Gatorade. After I emptied the bottle I climbed on my bike and had to back down a slope, well due to the taper of the slope and where it flattened out, I hit a spot where I couldn't touch the ground with my feet, and over she went. There was another rider there getting gas for his Harley and he ran over and helped me get it upright again.
I was in Payson AZ on my way home from Kanab UT and I stopped at a convenience store for a bottle of Gatorade. After I emptied the bottle I climbed on my bike and had to back down a slope, well due to the taper of the slope and where it flattened out, I hit a spot where I couldn't touch the ground with my feet, and over she went. There was another rider there getting gas for his Harley and he ran over and helped me get it upright again.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 56
From: Milwaukee
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 768
Likes: 55
From: chico
Thinking back through the grey mists...to 1980...me an' the the OL were out for the evenin' bar hopping and took the twisty route home. That had a tight hairpin switchback turn and a car with an over-filled tank had, unknown to me, just passed through this turn and spilled enough gas to wet the asphalt over several square feet. Even at near lugging 1st gear speed it was like hitting ice. The sparks caused the gas to flash and burn all around us - but only for maybe a second. Lost the fur off my arms. Twisted my ankle between the clutch rocker and the aircleaner (on the left) . People alarmed by the flash, which lit the scene for a moment, came running. OL simply stood up - we were going that slowly. Picked the scoot up and rode home. Got a new aircleaner from Gary Bang...ankle still FU'd...
But the embarrassing one was when I left a smokenkegger, having chugged a bit for the road, took the old gal out on the freeway and flat-out to watch the pretty flames flicker on the concrete. At the last moment I decided to turn off to a favorite bar - made the turn like a champ and presto - there's the bar. Bikes everywhere, guys standing around, so I roll up, stop, and being not quite myself, "forget" to put my feet down. Over she went with me... Zero damage to the bike. I then reconsidered whether or not I really wanted another beer... Actually the audience was sympathetic - for which I am grateful!
But the embarrassing one was when I left a smokenkegger, having chugged a bit for the road, took the old gal out on the freeway and flat-out to watch the pretty flames flicker on the concrete. At the last moment I decided to turn off to a favorite bar - made the turn like a champ and presto - there's the bar. Bikes everywhere, guys standing around, so I roll up, stop, and being not quite myself, "forget" to put my feet down. Over she went with me... Zero damage to the bike. I then reconsidered whether or not I really wanted another beer... Actually the audience was sympathetic - for which I am grateful!