Don't beat yourself up over it. Keep riding and gain experience with your bike.

 

First thing I did was take a 2-day course put on by the local motorcops. They model their course on the 2 week course new motorcops go through. It was brutal. Spent a day and a half in first gear doing slow speed maneuvers. I had to put a foot down so many times I lost count but at the end of the 2 days slow tight turns were a breeze.

10 minutes of instruction and 16 hours of practice...

 

Thanks all for the advise. I will continue to practice the slow turns and get the Ride Like a Pro DVD. I do pretty good on the slow turns by myself but when there is extra weight (Top Heavier) it makes it difficult. I explained to my wife on numerous occasions not to lean and she swears she didn't but I am unsure of what happened because, it went down so fast even though we were only going like 3 miles an hour. Thanks again for all the advise and I will take it and learn.

 

[QUOTE=Grizzbare;6522878]ride like a pro will help

ride the rear break / feather clutch and throttle...
stay away from front brake,,, QUOTE]

Yep! ...what Grizzbare said! Keeping the throttle up makes your engine act like a gyroscope...keeping the bike upright. "You can't change the laws of physics!"

P**p happens!

 

It's all about defensive driving. Been driving for forty three years and never even had a fender bender in any of my vehicles. Riding a motorcycle takes 100% more defensive driving skills because other drivers don't see bikes. If you ride like you have the right of way all of the time, your going to have an accident. Sometimes you have to yield when your on the bike even though you have the right of way just because like I already stated, they don't see you.

 

Sorry to hear about dropping the bike. I would HIGHLY recommend finding a Motorcycle Safety Course. There is a beginner and advanced course, its up to you which one to take. I took the adv course just to drop insurance costs and ended up learning a LOT, even with years of riding experience. Make sure you are comfortable on your bike prior to riding 2 up. Best of luck to you.

 

+1 for ride like a pro...
Also, it can happen to any one dont feel to bad...

 

I'm realitively new rider as well. I have a 2007 Softail Custom and I have "dropped" it (more like gently lowered it to the ground) once and I was definitely applying brake while turning and moving ultra slow in my driveway. Definitely a mistake to brake and turn. I apply the brake going straight and then walk it around while gently easing up on the clutch to get it moving. I've learned my lessons the hard way. Good luck.

 

Another vote here for the wife suddenly shifting. Almost dropped my 06 Fat Boy a few times with the Mrs. when I first got it last year (never did though and man that bike is a fatty!). Biggest issue for me was the Mrs. adjusting in her seat (sometimes not even realizing it) when we would be coming to a stop or stopped. She now knows that if we're not up to speed to give me a heads up and to wait for me to acknowledge. It was a learning experience for both of us.

 

Friction Zone!!!!!!!!!!!!