Triumphrat

Baltobonneville · 07-24-2008

On tuesday evening (after working the night shift on monday night), I went for a short sunset ride around the local reservoir, always a nice ride.

When I got home, I did the usual: Put the bike in the garage, got off it holding it up, ready to put it on the center stand. Only this time, due to my fuzzy state of mind, I lost balance and the bike fell to the left, taking me with it.

I was stuck between the bike and the junk in the garage, luckily a couple of the neighborhood teenagers were shooting baskets in the alley and came in and pulled the bike up and off me. No damage done to me or to the Blue Bonnet, except a bruise on my leg, and of course my bruised ego.

Lesson learned: Put the side stand down before you get off the bike, even if you're going to put it on the center stand.

I always knew at some level that this might happen one day.

CaliforniaKevo · 07-24-2008

I did the exact same thing about a week ago except I managed to catch the bike with my foot as it was about halfway down. unfortunately i had just broken that foot two weeks earlier when i dropped a jetski on it so along with bruising my ego i also remessed up my foot.

i dont know if you do this too but now everytime i get off the bike i look down and make sure the kickstand is down and even then as i lean it on the kickstand im still staring at the kickstand, paranoid that the bike is going to fall over anyway.

smac · 07-24-2008

Glad to hear the damage was restricted to your ego, they heal after the next good ride.
Makes you wonder what would have happened if the kids hadn't been playing in the alley.

pabonne · 07-24-2008

Good advice Balto. Glad you and your beloved are ok.

rick05rocket · 07-24-2008

Glad the damage limited to your ego, and that some lads could help you get you and the bike back upright.

Guess I've always ensured that I put the stand down while I'm still on the bike, and then look down to make sure she's extended, etc.

been able to dodge this dropped bike episode, though I've dropped this and other bikes for other reasons.

funny though. .. it's the ego part that always hurts the most.

ride on

rick

killian101 · 07-24-2008

i did that. I tried to catch myself on the car next to me...helped a bit. but, still layed it down. No damage...just a messed up leg

lindsayt · 07-24-2008

Yeah balto, I do the same thing - when I'm in the garage, I put her up on the centerstand after I'm off. It's a nice way to do it, since that way she's already up for a tire and chain check before the next ride, but it means you're balancing the bike *as* you get off it. I've often thought about putting the sidestand out anyway, but figured I'd probably get my pant leg caught on it and really knacker things up; maybe I'll reconsider that. Glad all's well. I've dropped my blue bonnie twice, both times with the engine off, in the garage, while trying to put her up on the centerstand...

Baltobonneville · 07-24-2008

As time goes by, it's become very easy to pop the bike on the center stand. That also might be related to the slightly taller rear tire that I now have (130/90 instead of 130/80).

But keeping it balanced as I get off it has always been iffy.

I'll be in Minneapolis next week, Tom. Unfortunately, not with motorcycle, I'm flying there.

vanson1200r · 07-24-2008

I had a guy last year in my MSF class on a Road King telling me he has been riding for 40 years and I can't teach him anything new about how to ride so what does he do? Forgets his side stand and lets the bike fall on it's side with 11 other students and two instructors watching. And we just went over proper use of the side stand

Brooksie · 07-24-2008

Always embarrasing when the "ol fart" has to get a couple of the kid's her shags off his lawn to come pull him out from under an angry retro bike. I hate it when that happens.........