Good and bad all rolled into one post

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 09/02/2019 at 15:59 • Filed to: None

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Went out in the hills for a couple of hours. It was a really fun ride - one of the best I’ve had. I came back through Burroughs Valley and Watts Valley, which was a new and really fun route.

But then I did something dumb. I mean really, really dumb. I stopped for lunch, hot and tired, and parked the bike. I put the kickstand down - or so I thought. Somehow it wasn’t down, and I dropped the bike. No major damage - mainly to the decals on the left fairing. Bigger damage was to my pride - and my left leg is really sore from being caught under it. This might be the dumbest thing I have ever done and you can make fun of me freely. I’m sitting here beating myself up at the moment. I’ll post pics of the damage later when I am done punishing myself.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 16:11

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the first scratch is always the most difficult

Chariotoflove > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 16:13

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Just say you scraped it doing a wicked slide under an 18-wheeler to avoid an accident.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 16:14

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eh...could be worse

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 16:19

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I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t done that myself. Though in m y case,I kicked the kickstand up, but forgot I did so, and went to put the bike back down only to have it fall over and take me with it...Oops.

DipodomysDeserti > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 16:23

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Done it before, so I know how you feel. Better to lay it down when you’re off it than on it.

Svend > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 16:34

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I hope your leg is feeling better soon.

The thing with dumb mistakes, is whether you learn from them or not. I think you’ve learned from it.

The decals are a quick and easy fix (if not a little expensive sometimes). 

Mercedes Streeter > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 16:35

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When it’s all over you will be able to laugh at it. :)

Early in the season I dropped my Goldwing trying to start it while standing next to it . Thought the bike was in Neutral, so I didn’t hold in the clutch. It was not in Neutral.

The impressively strong starter motor yanked the bike right out of my hands where it fell down and scraped for a few feet on the crash bars.

Picked it up, hoped my friends didn’t see it (they did) and rode home in shame.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 16:39

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Just glad you’re OK!

jminer > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 17:02

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Something similar happened to me the other day while parking. The bike came to a stop quicker than I thought and it toppled over to the left and broke the clutch lever.

The bike cost $14 dollars to fix but damn was my pride wounded far more than that!

CRider > Mercedes Streeter 09/02/2019 at 17:22

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That sucks, but at least you know the starter motor is good . That’s why m odern bikes have safeties that would stop it from starting in gear with the kickstand down. 

Decay buys too many beaters > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 17:41

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We've all done it. I know I have... Twice

Nick Has an Exocet > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 19:35

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Just always remember that you’re still infinitely better at this than the highest paid automotive journalist...in the world.

AdverseMartyr > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 21:15

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I think something along these lines happens to every rider at some point.

Mine was pulling up to the gas station, slightly flicking the bike to the right as I put my right leg down, & flick the kickstand down with the left leg as I then smoothly stand and pull my hands off the bars to let the bike naturally rock back down onto the kickstand.

I then continued in my very practiced motion to grab for the key as my bike continued to topple over against the inside of my left leg... and I could only stare at it like the idiot I was as it fell, straddling its abused body in momentary shock.

It turned out that I didn’t get the kickstand to lock in place with my oh so smooth and graceful move.

Then I picked it up, put gas into it, and had to face my shame with the gas attendant because the pump was out of paper. I had to go inside to ask for a receipt.

bob and john > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 21:19

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the first one is always the worst. from here on in, it really becomes a trivial issue.

atfsgeoff > Mercedes Streeter 09/02/2019 at 21:30

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Y eah I did that once with my old Virago , it’s a price one must pay for disabling the various safety circuits which prevent the bike from starting in gear without the clutch pulled in.

f86sabre > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 21:39

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There are two types of riders.  Those who have laid it down and those who will. 

CaptDale - is secretly British > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 22:26

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Hey IM it is no big deal. You and the bike got out of it with only scratches and that is the important part. It could have been worse, much worse. But it wasn’t and we are glad to know you and the bike will ride again. 

shop-teacher > ImmoralMinority 09/02/2019 at 22:41

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I dropped my Zuma because I didn't get the kickstand down a couple months ago. I was pissed, but I won't be bothering to fix it.

nermal > ImmoralMinority 09/03/2019 at 09:23

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Now that you’ve scratched it, it’s basically ruined. You can’t risk being seen on it in that condition . The only option is to convert it to a track bike, and give up riding on public roads to do track days exclusively .

By the time you factor in parts for the bike, full leathers & stuff, accessories, and a diesel truck and toy hauler, you should be able to get away with an acceptable  set up for ~$100k.

some dude > AdverseMartyr 09/11/2019 at 03:16

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awhile back when i worked nights, i get home, come to a stop just below the driveway, and am taking my helmet off as the garage door comes up. i start to walk the bike forward with the helmet under my left arm, and my right hand on the bars. as i was at a bit of an angle as i crossed into the gutter , the bars yanked to the left and the bike started to tilt under me....with the helmet there, i couldn’t get my left hand on the bars to stop it and pretty much had to just let it down as easy as i could...