embarrassing moments
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 446
From: South Florida
RE: embarrassing moments
I was riding in the right lane on Stirling, where the road has camber. All the oil and everything else collects in the right lane where the railroad tracks are. When I first got my Sporty, I was riding to the dealer, in the right lane, and it was raining. The bike had maybe 300 miles on it. Well, I got a yellow, grabbed the brakes to slow, hit the metal grates on the tracks, and the back end came out on the right. I continued on, turning into the skid, slid down the opposite gradient, and right into the intersection as their light turned green. Thank God the cager saw what was happening. He had a left arrow, but was watching me. I brought the bike straight and rode through the intersection in like 3rd gear feathering the clutch so as not to stall it. Almost munched it bad.
I was riding my old Road king one day on *** hill road, in a left hand sweeper. Lots of trees in the intersection, and I am behind a huge SUV. Well, all of a sudden, the SUV switches lanes, and there in the left lane was a car at a dead stop. Vehicle on my right, so no lane change for me. I grabbed the brakes, stood on the rear, and the bike broke loose. How I managed to keep it up I don't know. I must have skidded for about 75 feet, and the front tire came into contact with the car's rear bumper. It was one of those huge plastic bumpers, and I remember the fornt shocks going into full compression, the front fender crumpled, and that bumper just caved in like playdoh. Then,liike a rubber band, it spit me out. The shocks kicked up, and the bike jumped backwards. So now, I am holding onto the bars, and up in the air, the bike is kind of going backards, and I managed to keep it up. My front fender was toast, and there was a huge tire mark on the lady's bumper, but no ticket, since she was making a left turn andstopped to let the car on the opposite side of the road make a left in front of her, even though they had the stop sign.
Also dropped mybike RE the guy above when there was noplace for a left foot. Rain gulley and the drivewaywas built up over it. Was backing out and went to put the left foot down, and nothing. I did a full flip in the air, landed at the bottom of the gulley, and the bike fell over on me and missed my head by about an inch. I was in the bottom of the gulloey, and the bike had snagged on either side, preventing it from falling all the way in. Almost upside down and still running. Guess the previous owner
disconnected the BAS.
More stories than that, but I don't want to bore you. It can happen to anyone.
I was riding my old Road king one day on *** hill road, in a left hand sweeper. Lots of trees in the intersection, and I am behind a huge SUV. Well, all of a sudden, the SUV switches lanes, and there in the left lane was a car at a dead stop. Vehicle on my right, so no lane change for me. I grabbed the brakes, stood on the rear, and the bike broke loose. How I managed to keep it up I don't know. I must have skidded for about 75 feet, and the front tire came into contact with the car's rear bumper. It was one of those huge plastic bumpers, and I remember the fornt shocks going into full compression, the front fender crumpled, and that bumper just caved in like playdoh. Then,liike a rubber band, it spit me out. The shocks kicked up, and the bike jumped backwards. So now, I am holding onto the bars, and up in the air, the bike is kind of going backards, and I managed to keep it up. My front fender was toast, and there was a huge tire mark on the lady's bumper, but no ticket, since she was making a left turn andstopped to let the car on the opposite side of the road make a left in front of her, even though they had the stop sign.
Also dropped mybike RE the guy above when there was noplace for a left foot. Rain gulley and the drivewaywas built up over it. Was backing out and went to put the left foot down, and nothing. I did a full flip in the air, landed at the bottom of the gulley, and the bike fell over on me and missed my head by about an inch. I was in the bottom of the gulloey, and the bike had snagged on either side, preventing it from falling all the way in. Almost upside down and still running. Guess the previous owner
disconnected the BAS.
More stories than that, but I don't want to bore you. It can happen to anyone.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
RE: embarrassing moments
ORIGINAL: Pipedream
did you dump???
ORIGINAL: Lord Albany
Stopped to get some gas a couple weeks back. Debated for a second whether to gas up with the bike upright, like normal, or on the kickstand as was recommended to ensure I put as much gas in the tank as possible. After a minute'ss debate, decided to fill up with the kickstand done. Something told me to let the bike down slowly. I'm glad I did because when the bike continued to tilt, only then did I realize that during my internal debate I forgot the import step of extending the kickstand.
Stopped to get some gas a couple weeks back. Debated for a second whether to gas up with the bike upright, like normal, or on the kickstand as was recommended to ensure I put as much gas in the tank as possible. After a minute'ss debate, decided to fill up with the kickstand done. Something told me to let the bike down slowly. I'm glad I did because when the bike continued to tilt, only then did I realize that during my internal debate I forgot the import step of extending the kickstand.
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RE: embarrassing moments
ORIGINAL: Stretchman
I was riding in the right lane on Stirling, where the road has camber. All the oil and everything else collects in the right lane where the railroad tracks are. When I first got my Sporty, I was riding to the dealer, in the right lane, and it was raining. The bike had maybe 300 miles on it. Well, I got a yellow, grabbed the brakes to slow, hit the metal grates on the tracks, and the back end came out on the right. I continued on, turning into the skid, slid down the opposite gradient, and right into the intersection as their light turned green. Thank God the cager saw what was happening. He had a left arrow, but was watching me. I brought the bike straight and rode through the intersection in like 3rd gear feathering the clutch so as not to stall it. Almost munched it bad.
I was riding my old Road king one day on *** hill road, in a left hand sweeper. Lots of trees in the intersection, and I am behind a huge SUV. Well, all of a sudden, the SUV switches lanes, and there in the left lane was a car at a dead stop. Vehicle on my right, so no lane change for me. I grabbed the brakes, stood on the rear, and the bike broke loose. How I managed to keep it up I don't know. I must have skidded for about 75 feet, and the front tire came into contact with the car's rear bumper. It was one of those huge plastic bumpers, and I remember the fornt shocks going into full compression, the front fender crumpled, and that bumper just caved in like playdoh. Then,liike a rubber band, it spit me out. The shocks kicked up, and the bike jumped backwards. So now, I am holding onto the bars, and up in the air, the bike is kind of going backards, and I managed to keep it up. My front fender was toast, and there was a huge tire mark on the lady's bumper, but no ticket, since she was making a left turn andstopped to let the car on the opposite side of the road make a left in front of her, even though they had the stop sign.
Also dropped mybike RE the guy above when there was noplace for a left foot. Rain gulley and the drivewaywas built up over it. Was backing out and went to put the left foot down, and nothing. I did a full flip in the air, landed at the bottom of the gulley, and the bike fell over on me and missed my head by about an inch. I was in the bottom of the gulloey, and the bike had snagged on either side, preventing it from falling all the way in. Almost upside down and still running. Guess the previous owner
disconnected the BAS.
More stories than that, but I don't want to bore you. It can happen to anyone.
I was riding in the right lane on Stirling, where the road has camber. All the oil and everything else collects in the right lane where the railroad tracks are. When I first got my Sporty, I was riding to the dealer, in the right lane, and it was raining. The bike had maybe 300 miles on it. Well, I got a yellow, grabbed the brakes to slow, hit the metal grates on the tracks, and the back end came out on the right. I continued on, turning into the skid, slid down the opposite gradient, and right into the intersection as their light turned green. Thank God the cager saw what was happening. He had a left arrow, but was watching me. I brought the bike straight and rode through the intersection in like 3rd gear feathering the clutch so as not to stall it. Almost munched it bad.
I was riding my old Road king one day on *** hill road, in a left hand sweeper. Lots of trees in the intersection, and I am behind a huge SUV. Well, all of a sudden, the SUV switches lanes, and there in the left lane was a car at a dead stop. Vehicle on my right, so no lane change for me. I grabbed the brakes, stood on the rear, and the bike broke loose. How I managed to keep it up I don't know. I must have skidded for about 75 feet, and the front tire came into contact with the car's rear bumper. It was one of those huge plastic bumpers, and I remember the fornt shocks going into full compression, the front fender crumpled, and that bumper just caved in like playdoh. Then,liike a rubber band, it spit me out. The shocks kicked up, and the bike jumped backwards. So now, I am holding onto the bars, and up in the air, the bike is kind of going backards, and I managed to keep it up. My front fender was toast, and there was a huge tire mark on the lady's bumper, but no ticket, since she was making a left turn andstopped to let the car on the opposite side of the road make a left in front of her, even though they had the stop sign.
Also dropped mybike RE the guy above when there was noplace for a left foot. Rain gulley and the drivewaywas built up over it. Was backing out and went to put the left foot down, and nothing. I did a full flip in the air, landed at the bottom of the gulley, and the bike fell over on me and missed my head by about an inch. I was in the bottom of the gulloey, and the bike had snagged on either side, preventing it from falling all the way in. Almost upside down and still running. Guess the previous owner
disconnected the BAS.
More stories than that, but I don't want to bore you. It can happen to anyone.
RE: embarrassing moments
ORIGINAL: DeJavu
My most memorable was pulling off the freeway for gas after riding 2 hrs, down the ramp to a stop light. The bike just fell over, forgot to put my feet down, "White line fever".The good part and the bad part: The good part, a couple of bikers ran over from the gas station and helped me get it back up, the bad part was the cheering crowd of 40+ bikers on a run who saw it all from the station.
I wasn't too embarased to go over and gas up, but I was sure the topic of discussion. No damage.
My most memorable was pulling off the freeway for gas after riding 2 hrs, down the ramp to a stop light. The bike just fell over, forgot to put my feet down, "White line fever".The good part and the bad part: The good part, a couple of bikers ran over from the gas station and helped me get it back up, the bad part was the cheering crowd of 40+ bikers on a run who saw it all from the station.
I wasn't too embarased to go over and gas up, but I was sure the topic of discussion. No damage.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From:
RE: embarrassing moments
Think I'll save my mishaps for the screen play and movie rights! A grand falloon of comedy & tragedy cloaked in leather and real bad acting!
Hey maybe I'll call it something like "Wild Hogs"! [&:]
Hey maybe I'll call it something like "Wild Hogs"! [&:]
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 786
Likes: 1
From: Sheridan, AR
RE: embarrassing moments
I was fueling up a while back, and my wife was behind me in the car also needing gas, so after I filled the bike (on the stand), I laid the pump hose on the ground and motioned to my wife to pull up and get gas. I pulled the bike forward just far enough for her to get to the pump not noticing that my stand had partially folded up. I got off the bike to walk back to my wife and got about three steps away from the bike before hearing the kick stand creaking as the bike was slowly going over. I ran back to the bike, and got one hand under the oil tank and one on the handlebars just in time. The bike went over until the floor board had just touched the ground, talk about heavy! Suprised I didn't get a hernia. I saved it barely! I have had a few close calls but have never dropped a street bike (knock on wood). It will probably eventually happen.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 727
Likes: 0
From: A Boston Yankee in Surrey, England
RE: embarrassing moments
First minute on my first Harley and I dropped it. [&o]
See, at the Riders' Edge course, they start you out on these little, LIGHTWEIGHT Suzuki 250s. And they get you to spend a day getting the hang of slow maneuvering and using clutch/gears/brakes, that sort of thing. Then they put you on a 1200 Roadster, but don't mention that the bike is, like, 10 times heavier and with a much higher center of gravity. Of course you can feel these things when you first get on it, but, since you've only ever spent about 6 hours on motorcycles in your entire life (all of them yesterday on a 250), you have no appreciation for what this all means. So you take the bike and head out to the practice area where, not 60 seconds from setting out, you come to your first stop. And the bike leans, but you're not really ready for the weight of the lean, so you try to put more force in your leg and hold it up, only to realise that the point of no return comes pretty soon with that much weight and the new demonstrator 1200 Roadster, with only 12 miles on it, goes down like a $5 hooker. And all the other students were there to see you do it. Sheesh...
To go from "Hey, I'm the first student in the group on a Harley - I must be good!" to "Hey, I'm the first dumbass in the group to drop a Harley - I must be an idiot!" is a pretty major ego comedown, especially when it happens at the speed of gravity!
See, at the Riders' Edge course, they start you out on these little, LIGHTWEIGHT Suzuki 250s. And they get you to spend a day getting the hang of slow maneuvering and using clutch/gears/brakes, that sort of thing. Then they put you on a 1200 Roadster, but don't mention that the bike is, like, 10 times heavier and with a much higher center of gravity. Of course you can feel these things when you first get on it, but, since you've only ever spent about 6 hours on motorcycles in your entire life (all of them yesterday on a 250), you have no appreciation for what this all means. So you take the bike and head out to the practice area where, not 60 seconds from setting out, you come to your first stop. And the bike leans, but you're not really ready for the weight of the lean, so you try to put more force in your leg and hold it up, only to realise that the point of no return comes pretty soon with that much weight and the new demonstrator 1200 Roadster, with only 12 miles on it, goes down like a $5 hooker. And all the other students were there to see you do it. Sheesh...
To go from "Hey, I'm the first student in the group on a Harley - I must be good!" to "Hey, I'm the first dumbass in the group to drop a Harley - I must be an idiot!" is a pretty major ego comedown, especially when it happens at the speed of gravity!
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Joined: Feb 2008
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RE: embarrassing moments
ORIGINAL: Pitts2112
First minute on my first Harley and I dropped it. [&o]
See, at the Riders' Edge course, they start you out on these little, LIGHTWEIGHT Suzuki 250s. And they get you to spend a day getting the hang of slow maneuvering and using clutch/gears/brakes, that sort of thing. Then they put you on a 1200 Roadster, but don't mention that the bike is, like, 10 times heavier and with a much higher center of gravity. Of course you can feel these things when you first get on it, but, since you've only ever spent about 6 hours on motorcycles in your entire life (all of them yesterday on a 250), you have no appreciation for what this all means. So you take the bike and head out to the practice area where, not 60 seconds from setting out, you come to your first stop. And the bike leans, but you're not really ready for the weight of the lean, so you try to put more force in your leg and hold it up, only to realise that the point of no return comes pretty soon with that much weight and the new demonstrator 1200 Roadster, with only 12 miles on it, goes down like a $5 hooker. And all the other students were there to see you do it. Sheesh...
To go from "Hey, I'm the first student in the group on a Harley - I must be good!" to "Hey, I'm the first dumbass in the group to drop a Harley - I must be an idiot!" is a pretty major ego comedown, especially when it happens at the speed of gravity!
First minute on my first Harley and I dropped it. [&o]
See, at the Riders' Edge course, they start you out on these little, LIGHTWEIGHT Suzuki 250s. And they get you to spend a day getting the hang of slow maneuvering and using clutch/gears/brakes, that sort of thing. Then they put you on a 1200 Roadster, but don't mention that the bike is, like, 10 times heavier and with a much higher center of gravity. Of course you can feel these things when you first get on it, but, since you've only ever spent about 6 hours on motorcycles in your entire life (all of them yesterday on a 250), you have no appreciation for what this all means. So you take the bike and head out to the practice area where, not 60 seconds from setting out, you come to your first stop. And the bike leans, but you're not really ready for the weight of the lean, so you try to put more force in your leg and hold it up, only to realise that the point of no return comes pretty soon with that much weight and the new demonstrator 1200 Roadster, with only 12 miles on it, goes down like a $5 hooker. And all the other students were there to see you do it. Sheesh...
To go from "Hey, I'm the first student in the group on a Harley - I must be good!" to "Hey, I'm the first dumbass in the group to drop a Harley - I must be an idiot!" is a pretty major ego comedown, especially when it happens at the speed of gravity!
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 31
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From:
RE: embarrassing moments
Several guys at work ride and we often go out to the parking lot at lunch to talk 'bike'. I had just put on new pipes and had been talking about how great they sounded. So the guys are sitting on the curb in front of the bike (first mistake) and I lean over and start the bike. To this day I still don't believe it was me, but rather some joker jacking with my bike; but the damn thing was in gear. You should of seen four guys crawfishing like hell when that bike started and jumped right at them. I caught the bike and other than embarassment there was no damage. Of course the guys don't sit in front of any of the bike anymore and I still get ribbed every time I go to start my bike.