Triumphrat

TOMKRILL · 03-15-2007

On Tuesday, I was riding (it was 70 degrees here (Milwaukee Wisconsin) and I made a u turn to pull into a parking lot. At the last minute, there was a sign "do not enter". I was going about 00.1 MPH, I pulled the front brake and bam I was on my side (mud, gravel and dampness) Is there some deal with "rake" on a Speedmaster because in 8700 miles, I have gone over 4 times-twice I was stopped dead and twice I was just moving really really slow. This is the first damage- a little ding in the tank and broke the front foot rest!@#$%
The first time I stopped at a stop sign about a mile from home and there was sand on the road and my tennis shoe slid and I was on my side.(I bought new riding boots with stickie soles.
The second time, I stopped in the parking lot at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and was waiting for some people to walk by and all of a sudden the stones shifted and I was on my side- 3 guys helped me up and we had a good laugh as they said they were admiring my bike and all of a sudden I am lying on my side!
The third time, I was coming home at 2 AM from the races at Road America with my wife on the back on unlighted blacktop roads about a mile from home and I stopped and pulled out taking a left and it felt weird so I told her to relax and I layed it down- rather than gassing it. No damage, just felt like if I had gassed it I'd have been in trouble- now I don't ride at night unless it is on a well lit road that I am familier with the crown. So, what is it- I'm a duffass or anyone else have real slow speed problems with a Speedmaster or ?America?. Thanks in advance!!

sweatmachine · 03-15-2007

you have to put your feet down.

Normandy · 03-15-2007

Remove one of your front brake rotors ? :-D .
Seriously, I have found that steering at slow speed with the speedy requires attention too.

Silverado57 · 03-15-2007

Wow, I'm glad I'm not alone. Weird coincidence Tom, I also have about 8,700 miles on the Speedmaster.

The first time I dropped the Speedmaster was by forgetting to put the kickstand down.

The second time was about 2 months ago. I was making the right turn from a busy state highway into the side street directly in front of the Triumph dealer, and going, oh, about ONE MPH.

Suddenly, I was down on my right side with the bike on top of me. After yanking myself out while protecting the bike, my first thought was "maybe I can pull the bike back up before all these people on the highway and everyone in the dealership don't see me making a fool of myself."

WRONG!

Two of the good guys from the dealer to make sure I was OK and to pull the bike up for me. I was PO'ed at myself! No damage to the bike except the mirror broke off.

My best guess is that I gave it too much front brake while turning at low speed.
LESSON LEARNED! (I hope...) :hammer:

tba-golfer · 03-15-2007

Ouch, Kevin!

That has to be everyone's nightmare come true, dropping your bike in front of the dealership. I know I get added sweaty palms when I drive in or out of the shop...don't drop the bike, don't drop the bike.

I bet it happens quite a bit, though.

Naturally, I'll be thinking even more about that now, when I go to pick up the TBA in a week or so. :hammer:

You're a refreshingly candid person to relay that tale, which many others undoubtedly keep locked away in the back closet!

indy288 · 03-15-2007

yep. two times for me.

bobw3592 · 03-15-2007

Hey Tom, I think your right about the fork rake having a contributing role in slow speed "instability" situations, much the same as how the bike "falls" into a tight curve. The longer wheelbase of the cruiser platform amplifies the feeling at slow speeds too.

I routinely practice figure 8's using only the rear brake and clutch coordination and noticed I also have to be exaggerated in movement on the seat due to it's contour. I find the cruiser platform to be so stable and smooth, but it does require unique input in certain tight situations compared to bikes like the Bonnie or Scrambler IMO.

Ride safe, Cheers all, SPRING IS HERE!

BobW

dazco · 03-15-2007

I believe the rake is part of it too. I've tipped over at .01MPH a few times while turning tight. But i also feel the rake is a huge bonus that far outweighs the disadvantage at .01MPH. Besides, it took quite a while but now I'm used to it and can do tight circles at walking speed easily. When new i couldn't do that at all. In fact it was so hard i failed the licence test a couple weeks after i got the bike. I thought it would be impossible to ever pass it. But a month later after some practice i flew thru it like nothing. But the rake IMO makes the bike much more stable at speed. I've never owned a bike that tracks so solidly as this one, and i've had at least one bike that weighed more. On the freeway and on sweepers it's like a train....like it's on tracks.

Anyways, be thankful you weren't on a rocket III !!!!!!

Binnsy · 03-16-2007

Yeah, done it too.. Stuck my leg under the exhaust on the way down to protect it from the gravel.....doh that hurt! only mirror damage and very swollen ankle....

I thought the dive on the front forks contributed to mine, as well as what the other comments were..

Now when I pull up I use the rear brake and also a wide stance to support the weight of the bike on uneven, loose or slippery surfaces..

Bt the way I was in a carpark full of tourists and had to get them to lift the bike off my leg cos I couldn't move.

I never went back there again... :blush:

richb · 03-16-2007

Never use the front brake when turning at walking speed. That's what I was told by my instructor (ex-motorcycle cop, gadzillion years of biking experience) on my MSF equivalent course. He told me this because I'd almost managed to drop his CB500 while doing exactly that into a right hand turn. The front brakes on a Speedy are particularly good, also, so your motion at .01mph is suddenly going to turn into .00mph while you're still off-balance... good luck holding it up! If you're going at .01mph the back brake is good enough to control speed and it won't pull you down.
His advice has stayed with me and it has definitely prevented me coming unstuck at slow speeds several times. FWIW.