Triumphrat

FALSTEN · 07-29-2006

I got up this morning with no inkling of what the day had in store for me. I casually looked at some motorcycle ads, saw a few good ones for DRZ400s (a bike that I've been thinking about buying), and I started calling local dealers this morning looking for deals. I finally found a really good one just south of Chattanooga. So, around lunch I hurredly hooked up the trailer and piled into the truck and went to buy it.

I got back abut 6 hours later, and was pretty excited and feeling pretty smug with my new acquisition. So, I was moving the Sprint and TBS around to fit the DRZ into the garage. I hopped astride the Sprint (with no seat on it), and backed it into the driveway, and started to get off, apparently forgetting to put the kickstand down. It was over about 45 degrees before I could blink, and I just didn't have the balance or strength to hold it, so I had to let it go on down. banging into my ankle and knee in the process.

How stupid can you get? I've read about doing this, usually after a long day like I had today (and excited and in a hurry, etc.), but as with all things, you never think it will happen to you. I'm kind of sick over it since it has never been down. Luckily the damage is minimal, but the bike will never be pristine again without a good chunk of change. It broke the mirror and scuffed up the left side fairing and the left point of the nose fairing. It's also got a bent shifter and a slightly bent clutch lever, too, with the perch slid up the bar about a half-inch.

As I had thought in the past, I've never had great leg strength and didn't figure I could get it up by myself if it went down. I couldn't quite do it but luckily my neighbor's wife had seen it go over with me as they were leaving to get some dinner, and he was standing by and helped me get it over center and righted.

Not only that, but the DRZ is so freakin' tall that I can barely get a leg over it. That's adding a lot to my confidence right now.

So, I'm kind of depressed and going to bed now. :brk:

bluesjeans · 07-29-2006

Have a look at >> THIS << in case you drop her again.. Be sure to check out the videos at the bottom of the page.

Beach · 07-29-2006

I'm sure I speak for many when I say we feel for you Faslten.

I reckon I've done this on every bike I've owned.
As well as the times I've ridden away with the disc lock still in place despite the various warning and reminder devices.

I felt sick everytime and I'm still dirty on myself for every incident that was so stupid and so easily avoidable.

Human error. We just cant escape it.

Brett.

DaveM · 07-30-2006

Falsten,
annoying and badluck.
I did it on my last bike when I went to get of my GSX R600 amongst a whole bunch of riders at a servo, I fell into my mates VTR 1000 and cracked his fairing

At least you can fix it and you aren't badly damaged.

Cheers,
Davem

soonerfan85 · 07-30-2006

Sorry to hear that FALSTEN.

Look on the bright side, at least it happened at home, though that's not always a good thing. A few years ago after a long wet tiring ride, I managed to stall the old VX coming up my driveway. I placed my left foot down to steady the ship. Only when the bike began to list to starboard did I realize that the driveway slopes to the right. As my right foot was still on the rear brake, the bike was past the point of no return before I could get my weight shifted or my right foot down. Like you said, it happened in sloooow motion. Did I mention my wife witnessed the whole sorry episode? I still hear about that one! :razz:

Although I can't view the video that bluesjeans linked to, I've seen videos of smallish lasses righting heavy cruisers and tourers. Employing the proper technique is the key.

Just be thankful it wasn't one of those purty chromed out cruisers. You be spending thousands to replace useless chrome bits! :-D

FALSTEN · 07-30-2006

Thanks for the good words guys. The mixture of feelings (embarrasment, disbelief, financial pain, etc.) is hard to deal with, but it's nice hearing that it's happened to a lot of us and it's something to just get over and move on.

Thanks for the video, Bluesjeans. I started out in the right position, having seen it in some pictures before, but had never seen it done all the way through. The secret appears to be the "baby steps". I had my legs further in and tried to lift it all at one time with my legs, like she shows in the "how not to do it" part of the talk.

DragonDan · 07-30-2006

Been there, done that, got the tshirt.....
I understand your pain!

steventhechef · 07-30-2006

Sorry to hear of your mishap. It's worse when it's not "another" fool causing you to do damage to your steed..