Well...I dropped it.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Maryland/Florida
Well...I dropped it.
After just over 7 years and 55,000 miles on my Electra Glide...I let it touch the ground. Was passing thru a gas station and looking left to work my way onto the road, when I looked back straight a woman had pulled around from the other side of the station and was coming right into me. I hit the front brake(big mistake I know), and the bike was a bit turned to the left and over she went. Trying to hold it up, I could feel a muscle pull in my left leg and couldn't hold it. Down on the ground. I got off and tried to squat and pick it up, but my leg hurt too bad. Looking around for help and none...place was full too. Finally a guy runs over, gives me a hand and back up I was. Had to cycle the ignition a few times to get it to start. The woman all this time just sits in front of me...like wondering when I'm going to get out of the way, so she can pull into the pump. Never got out to see if I was ok...nothing. When I backed away she pulled up for her gas. I know if I had got the bike straight to brake it would not have gone over, but by that time the car would have been on top of me, or if I had reflexed to use the back brake. Any thoughts. Bike was ok...just my pride bruised after all this time, accident free.
Last edited by jmbaker3; Aug 19, 2011 at 12:39 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 69
From: Al Bu Ker Key, New Mexico
Well.......I could relate my story of dropping me......oh never mind...I am still to redfaced to talk about it. And, yeah, cagers pull the dumbest moves at gas stations. I pulled into a busy station where all the pumps were in use. I pulled in line behind a cage and waited....and waited....and waited.....and then this douchebag comes out from the store and walks over and starts pumping gas! The azzhat had been in the store all this time buying potato chips and chit! Man I was hot!
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
As the saying goes, S**T Happens. I made a dumb mistake when I first got my Limited. I went to make a U turn on the highway (legal U turn area) and it was on an upgrade. Well as I stopped (OL on the back) I had the bars slightly turned to the left and yes hit the front brake a little. Luckily the bike didn’t go all the way over, it wanted to but my adrenalin kicked in and I managed to get it back up before it went all the way over, a close one. Needless to say I was red faced on that one.
I think whenever things do happen when you are on the bike it wakes you up a little. Overall I ride pretty defensive but even then you just never know what’s going to happen…
I think whenever things do happen when you are on the bike it wakes you up a little. Overall I ride pretty defensive but even then you just never know what’s going to happen…
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Maryland/Florida
As the saying goes, S**T Happens. I made a dumb mistake when I first got my Limited. I went to make a U turn on the highway (legal U turn area) and it was on an upgrade. Well as I stopped (OL on the back) I had the bars slightly turned to the left and yes hit the front brake a little. Luckily the bike didnt go all the way over, it wanted to but my adrenalin kicked in and I managed to get it back up before it went all the way over, a close one. Needless to say I was red faced on that one.
I think whenever things do happen when you are on the bike it wakes you up a little. Overall I ride pretty defensive but even then you just never know whats going to happen
I think whenever things do happen when you are on the bike it wakes you up a little. Overall I ride pretty defensive but even then you just never know whats going to happen
Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, MO
Embarrassing Drops? Here's a story for you....
Shortly after I purchased my '05 EGC (first Harley, first BIG bike), I went on a Poker Run that was starting off at my "home" Harley dealer. We were all lined up in the back lot, side by side. There must have been 100 bikes there. I was in the front row, just about in the middle.
They make the announcement to saddle up and get the bikes started. I walk over to my bike, get on and proceed to start the bike up. As I'm sitting there with the bike idling, getting ready to roll, I realize I didn't have my helmet on. So I jump off the bike and start to head around to the tour-pak to grab my helmet. Only problem, I forgot to put the kickstand down, so the bike falls over on it's left hand side while still running.
Let me tell you, I missed the bike to my left by mere inches. We almost had a "Any Which Way You Can" moment. If you don't know what that is, it's the scene from the same named movie with Clint Eastwood, when the ape punches one of the bikers and he falls over causing a domino affect with bike after bike falling down.
Let's just say it was a close call. We managed to get the bike back upright and I saddled up and for the rest of the ride, every time we'd come to a stop to get another card for our poker hand, someone would inevitably ask me if I had my kickstand down.
It was funny for a while, but at the end of the 200 miles, I was tired of hearing about it.
So, I feel your pain brother!
Shortly after I purchased my '05 EGC (first Harley, first BIG bike), I went on a Poker Run that was starting off at my "home" Harley dealer. We were all lined up in the back lot, side by side. There must have been 100 bikes there. I was in the front row, just about in the middle.
They make the announcement to saddle up and get the bikes started. I walk over to my bike, get on and proceed to start the bike up. As I'm sitting there with the bike idling, getting ready to roll, I realize I didn't have my helmet on. So I jump off the bike and start to head around to the tour-pak to grab my helmet. Only problem, I forgot to put the kickstand down, so the bike falls over on it's left hand side while still running.
Let me tell you, I missed the bike to my left by mere inches. We almost had a "Any Which Way You Can" moment. If you don't know what that is, it's the scene from the same named movie with Clint Eastwood, when the ape punches one of the bikers and he falls over causing a domino affect with bike after bike falling down.
Let's just say it was a close call. We managed to get the bike back upright and I saddled up and for the rest of the ride, every time we'd come to a stop to get another card for our poker hand, someone would inevitably ask me if I had my kickstand down.
It was funny for a while, but at the end of the 200 miles, I was tired of hearing about it.
So, I feel your pain brother!
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 171
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From: Maryland/Florida
That's funny...I haven't pulled the kick stand trick. I'll tell you a funny story... Friend of mine got his first bike when he was in his early 70's...yes 70's...He bought an FXR. Rode straight to the gas station, filled his tank, then went to check air in his tires. He rode over to the air pump, got off the bike...and did not put down his kickstand. Over goes the bike on day one. Well...he then walked around the bike, and spun the tires looking for the valve checking his air...as if to let people think, this is how it's done!!!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,913
Likes: 87
From:
Welcome to a not very exclusive club. My last drop was a couple of weeks ago in the mud at the Yukon river fuel station returning from the Arctic Circle. It was not my first drop and I doubt it will be my last. It was the first for my current bike though. Ride safe.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Tomball, TX
two kind of riders...those that have gone down and those that are going down. Welcome to the club.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: WPB, FL
Gotta Laugh!
Now, getting back to dropping the bike, your not in very exclusive territory. No membership patch or pin to wear (not that you'd want to wear one). Consider it one of the rights of passage that is hopefully done with. Unfortunately, it doesn't get any easier with age!
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 37
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Me too
Mine happened when I was rushing because I was late to get somewhere. I was backing out of garage on my year old 2010 streetglide onto my gravel driveway. Right foot slid out in the gravel. It didn't go all the way over yet. I tried like hell to get it back up. Held out for about a minute. Grunting out, nnoooooo!!! I think my nuts are still out in the driveway. Finally had to set her down. Tried to pick it up but feet kept sliding in the gravel. Had to go back in house and get my wife to help. We got it up and only thing hurt was my pride.