dropping and crashing
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,101
Likes: 1,013
RE: dropping and crashing
I look at the drops and crashes this way. If I never dropped or crashed my bike, I wouldn't know
where my limits were at, or the bikes either. If dirt bikes count, a friend of mine and I were at the local hillclimbs,
and we both decided we were going to try to make it up the largest part of the hill. This was out in the woods, not at an event.
We both flipped our bikes at least 15 times, and finally made it to the top, after watching them bounce down the hill a LOT of times.
We were determined to find out what our limits were.
Also have had quite a few incidents over the last 40 years of riding. Only ended up in the hospital once, when coming up a set of twisties, a little old lady came around the corner in my lane, and I had nowhere to go. It was either hit her, or a huge tree, so I ended
up in the ditch, after sliding across a freshly oiled road. The little old lady didn't even stop, I doubt if she ever even saw me at all.
With the bike heading rapidly toward the tree, I actually bailed out, and attempted to jump off the bike, skidding accross the road on my belly, with my left arm protecting my face. Talk about road rash, it took hours at the ER for them to get most of the oil+tar out of the roadburns. That was the worst one for me, my chest and underarm area were healing for weeks, but I picked up the bike the next day, got it home, straigntened out the forks, and I was riding again! Now I wear leathers, probably would have prevented most of the road rash, but I was young and dumb then. Time does teach you to be more careful, either that, or I'm more careful now becuase I know how much it will hurt going down.
Peace
Rags
where my limits were at, or the bikes either. If dirt bikes count, a friend of mine and I were at the local hillclimbs,
and we both decided we were going to try to make it up the largest part of the hill. This was out in the woods, not at an event.
We both flipped our bikes at least 15 times, and finally made it to the top, after watching them bounce down the hill a LOT of times.
We were determined to find out what our limits were.
Also have had quite a few incidents over the last 40 years of riding. Only ended up in the hospital once, when coming up a set of twisties, a little old lady came around the corner in my lane, and I had nowhere to go. It was either hit her, or a huge tree, so I ended
up in the ditch, after sliding across a freshly oiled road. The little old lady didn't even stop, I doubt if she ever even saw me at all.
With the bike heading rapidly toward the tree, I actually bailed out, and attempted to jump off the bike, skidding accross the road on my belly, with my left arm protecting my face. Talk about road rash, it took hours at the ER for them to get most of the oil+tar out of the roadburns. That was the worst one for me, my chest and underarm area were healing for weeks, but I picked up the bike the next day, got it home, straigntened out the forks, and I was riding again! Now I wear leathers, probably would have prevented most of the road rash, but I was young and dumb then. Time does teach you to be more careful, either that, or I'm more careful now becuase I know how much it will hurt going down.
Peace
Rags
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
From:
RE: dropping and crashing
Not everyone will drop their bike in their lifetime. If you only ride occasionally your chances are much less than if you ride every day. Some people are very lucky some are not. Sometimes you drop your bike then you go for years and years and never drop your bike then you drop one again. Life is short, dont worry about if or when it will happen or you will become paranoid. Enjoy your ride................BG
1947 Harley------- rode it 2 yrs dropped several times
1965 Triumph------ rode it 1 yr crashed severly
1968 Triumph-------rode it 7 yrs never dropped it
1977 Sportster------rode this one 16 yrs never dropped it
1985 Softail---------rode it 12 yrs dropped it once in the garage
1997 Fatboy---------rode it 9 yrs never dropped it
2006 SG-------------so far not dropped it
1947 Harley------- rode it 2 yrs dropped several times
1965 Triumph------ rode it 1 yr crashed severly
1968 Triumph-------rode it 7 yrs never dropped it
1977 Sportster------rode this one 16 yrs never dropped it
1985 Softail---------rode it 12 yrs dropped it once in the garage
1997 Fatboy---------rode it 9 yrs never dropped it
2006 SG-------------so far not dropped it
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 25
From: St George, UT
RE: dropping and crashing
Never dropped a bike though have caught and pulled it back up many times (front brake syndrome and rear passenger load off center). Have wrecked twice; once hit a car crossing in front of me, bent front fender, didn't fall over; classic turn left in front of me while I'm at 40mph and accelerating, totaled the bike and badly bruised, didn't ride for seven years. Oh yes, rearended by drunk driver. wife broke a rib, tore up my knee, bent engine guard (goldwing).
In aviation, we always say the pilot that hasn't landed gear up will, those that have will again. [8D]
In aviation, we always say the pilot that hasn't landed gear up will, those that have will again. [8D]
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 1
From: Ocean Springs, MS
RE: dropping and crashing
Never actually 'dropped' a bike in 34 years of riding. Did center punch a car at 40mph back in 1980, but since I was riding straight up, and hit him straight up, I don't think it technically counts.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,234
Likes: 106
RE: dropping and crashing
ORIGINAL: JCPsr
How about all the times the bike starts to go over and through sheer strength or will power you keep it from touching the ground?
I had a rented EG start to go over far enough for my wife to bail because she thought is was going over and managed to pull it back. I dread the day when I won't be able to save it and it gently touches down.
How about all the times the bike starts to go over and through sheer strength or will power you keep it from touching the ground?
I had a rented EG start to go over far enough for my wife to bail because she thought is was going over and managed to pull it back. I dread the day when I won't be able to save it and it gently touches down.
Loose gravel at the stop sign. Wet grass. That one rock in the parking lot. It can and will happen. If you ride enough.
Only wreck I was in I was on the back. Does that count?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 755
Likes: 43
From:
RE: dropping and crashing
I did a superman over the handlebars of a chopper I had, front wheel lock up. Talk about a stoppie! I slid about 50ft. on my back, sprained a wrist. Bent the heck out of my bike. Two guys in a pickup stopped to help, got the bike up, wired the front brake up out of the way and road that b*t#% home. Two weeks later I see this broken down truck on the side of the road, stop to help, it's the same two guys! Any fall is bad, it was cool to return the favor. If your worried about crash'n get over it or it will happen!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 2
From: LAKESIDE CA.
RE: dropping and crashing
my favorit drop was the wife and I heding for palm springs
I'm going real slow in first looking for a road sign
suddenly she yells stop I hit both brakes bike stops she is thrown forward into a standing position
and I am expected to hold the whole mess upright
didn't happen my son came over and picked the bike up off us
no dammage just embarrased
[IMG]local://upfiles/5757/A0128D168FEF4E92A12A2490F0EE10B0.jpg[/IMG]
I'm going real slow in first looking for a road sign
suddenly she yells stop I hit both brakes bike stops she is thrown forward into a standing position
and I am expected to hold the whole mess upright
didn't happen my son came over and picked the bike up off us
no dammage just embarrased
[IMG]local://upfiles/5757/A0128D168FEF4E92A12A2490F0EE10B0.jpg[/IMG]
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 925
Likes: 0
From: Sonoma County
RE: dropping and crashing
We went on a ride a couple of weekends ago.My buddy was on his way to meet up with us.He ended up layin his bike down,going over the Carquinas(sp?) Bridge,in heavy traffic.Another rider on a Road Glide helped him pick it up,and acess the damage(gather strewn parts),and he went back on his way.Went to pull into a friends driveway in Woodland,and dumped it right in the gravel,right in front of me!
Twice in the same day!
Props to Guidares Harley in Yuba City for opening back up for us,so we could get him some parts to continue.
Twice in the same day!
Props to Guidares Harley in Yuba City for opening back up for us,so we could get him some parts to continue.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,230
Likes: 4
From: Amherst, VA
RE: dropping and crashing
ORIGINAL: Mood Swing
We went on a ride a couple of weekends ago.My buddy was on his way to meet up with us.He ended up layin his bike down,going over the Carquinas(sp?) Bridge,in heavy traffic.Another rider on a Road Glide helped him pick it up,and acess the damage(gather strewn parts),and he went back on his way.Went to pull into a friends driveway in Woodland,and dumped it right in the gravel,right in front of me!
Twice in the same day!
Props to Guidares Harley in Yuba City for opening back up for us,so we could get him some parts to continue.
We went on a ride a couple of weekends ago.My buddy was on his way to meet up with us.He ended up layin his bike down,going over the Carquinas(sp?) Bridge,in heavy traffic.Another rider on a Road Glide helped him pick it up,and acess the damage(gather strewn parts),and he went back on his way.Went to pull into a friends driveway in Woodland,and dumped it right in the gravel,right in front of me!
Twice in the same day!
Props to Guidares Harley in Yuba City for opening back up for us,so we could get him some parts to continue.
