| Author | Message | ||
     Treadmarks |
I couldn't believe it!  I have had this bike for 3 weeks, and I have already dropped it twice. Before this, it has be over 25 years since I have had to pick up a bike. Was loading it on a trailer in the rain the first time, and the ramp slid off and the bike fell on the left side, with the hard bags on. My fault totally. No damage at all, but was a beeyatch to pick up with the bags loaded. This morning at 0500 I started the engine up for the ritual 2 minute warm up, walked three steps away to get my helmet...and CRASH  Fellover on the left side again. This time I lost a clutch lever and damaged the left handguard, left blinker lense and the mirror. WTF?? Scratched my airbox cover/tank when i picked it up. The bike was built in June 06, and it already has the sidestand fix. Has this happened to anyone else? (I did a search and could only find bikes that were dropped, not fallen over all by its self). Is there somplace to buy levers other than my local stealer? And those lame handguards gotta go. They just about fall off on their own, and offer no protection during a spill or drop. I wish the fastway barguards would fit... | ||
| Too_tall_todd |
Sorry about the drops man, I've always been very cautious about leaving the bike on the stand, it just seems tippy. What with the side stand recall and the amount of vibration when idling I have never felt comfy with the bike running with the weight on the stand. I bought a spare clutch lever and shifter lever and linkage from daves so that If I do break one I won't be stranded. T3 | ||
| Too_tall_todd |
Oh by the way I keep them under the seat, just in case. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
Mine fell over in a parking lot. I was closing the side case and pushed a little hard. Now I put one hand on the passenger grip and close the case. My fall was on the right side, handguard and side case just a little scuffed up. I think what protected the bike was the end bars that I put on the bike. (http://www.hvmp.com/universal.htm) | ||
| Fubar |
Same thing happened to me. Seems like it walked off the stand. I think I just didn't seat the stand. Been very careful to do so and have had no further problems. One point. I didn't break anything and had only minor scuffs due the the HVMP Bar End weights. Worth the investment for that alone. | ||
| Smcnamara |
When you put the sidestand down, I think it's important to pull the bike backwards another couple inches to make sure the stand is fully deployed. The travel on the stands is a little unusual as it seems to me to have a little more distance to go after it's been lowered to actually set it in place. This feels quite a bit different from the sidestands on other bikes I own. I've heard a couple of people talk about it vibrating off the stand, but with it fully deployed like I'm talking about, I don't see how that would happen. Not saying you did anything wrong, just mentioning what I've noticed with mine. | ||
| Roadrailer |
I do this every time as well. No issues. | ||
| Superglide |
I have had the same problem, first time I caught it as I was closing the tail bag. The second time I wheeled the idling bike out of the garage and returned to get my helmet when I heard a sickening noise and turned to see the bike on it's left side.... 2 issues, one is my driveway has about 3% grade to the street, second issue is that the kickstand does not have a lock when the bikes weight is put on it and therefore potentially vibrates off the stand. Easy fix, don't park the bike facing down hill....FYI: my harley has a kick stand lock!! | ||
| Soloyosh |
It needs a centerstand... I'm just sayin... Brett | ||
| Jackbequick |
I've not had a center stand in a long, long, time. And don't miss them. It had to be hard, it had to be level, and some seemed to be designed to make you look like you had never used it before no matter how often you used it. The most I could say for a centerstand is that it would even out the wear if it fell the other way every other time. Jack | ||
| Roadrailer |
It needs a centerstand... IF you're trying to make a bike more stable when parked the LAST thing you need is a centerstand. | ||
| Paochow |
I'm curious, why the 2 minute warm-up? Most of the recent reports I've read, say that long warm up are actually harder on an engine. I was always told, to start the engine, let it idle shortly (10-15 seconds during summer temps) until it responds to throttle input and then start moving.. | ||
| Jackbequick |
A longer, lower RPM, warm up is said to contribute to getting the mixture of steel and aluminum parts in the H-D engines nicely warmed up and fully expanded in size. Benefits include better sealing between surfaces and more pressure on gaskets. I've read that, in particular, it helps eliminate leaks at the cylinder base gaskets. That gasket is apparently one of the more "troublesome" gaskets or one that is inclined to be one of the first to show leaks. With the length of the cylinder and head in assembly and with the mixture of steel and aluminum parts it in, the purported benefits of a longer warm up seemed believable to me. So I try to do a full two minute warm up as much as possible. I know when I've done it right if I push the enrichener all the way in and get a clean idle and smooth departure. Jack | ||
| Dave |
My 955i Tiger had a center stand ... came in handy for lubing the chain. I've had many bikes with a side stand. I usually park it with the nose pointing up hill if there is an incline. Seems a simple solution. An S2 on a level surface.... well... that's a different story. Stay with the bike and/or chock the tires. if it's good enough for aircraft its good enough for a bike.  DAve | ||
| Mramsey |
Hey Treadmarks Terry Did your sidestand break, sink in the ground, or just fold up? What exactly happened? That is always an awful sound when it crashes. | ||
| Treadmarks |
Mramsey, It was a concrete driveway. The stand just folded up and the bike fell forward on its side. The drive is just a degree or two downsloped for the water to run off. After looking at the stand lastnight, I observed the "S" hook that connects the spring to the mount. It looks like all it does is allow the spring to get around pivot pin or bolt, and does nothing to assist holding the sidestand in its forward most position. When the stand is all the way up, there is not much spring force holding it there either. I really would prefer a much more conventional and secure sidestand design. Something more secure in the up or down position. Any Ideas anyone? | ||
| Brat |
I took my Uly to my local HD Dealer (Harley Heaven in Melbourne Vic) and asked about recalls, I told them about the sidestand issue. The head mechanic told me that a few guys had issues with their side stands several times, others have had no problems at all, this is with different Buells, the mechanic thought it had a lot to do with guys warming their bikes up while sitting on the stand. I warm mine up but only when I'm sitting on it with the stand up, no problems so far! Oh yeah, I'm a rigger/scaffolder and a rock climber, reasonably flexible, at 6' I can swing my leg over without putting any weight on the bike, a definite plus for side stand longevity I think! (Message edited by brat on September 16, 2006) | ||
| Dragon_slayer |
It's very simple, pull bike back to fully deploy the stand and on a grade point bike across or up the grade. I have had many bikes and they all had different side stands. Some required more attention than others. I find the Uly is no worst but it does not allow you to get lazy with it. BTW, Harley makes the best side stand - heavy duty and locking! | ||
| Crusty |
Does anybody remember the self retracting sidestands that were on 70s BMW airheads? I have no problems whatsoever with the sidestand design on my Uly. | ||
| Daves |
Brat, Your mechanic is an idiot. Or just way mis-imformed. To all, Yes, you need to warm the bike up. I warm mine up for about 5 minutes. Yes, make sure, real sure the kickstand is fully extended. Don't park facing downhill and let the bike idle on the stand. 9 out of 10 times you'll get away with it but I wouldn't take that chance. | ||
| Dragon_slayer |
Guzzis had them too. European safety thing. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Crusty... there's nothing like the "ching" sound of your idling R100S's snap-up stand self-retracting, followed by the "kashrunk" sound of your bike hitting the deck...  Taught me waaayyy back then to never trust any stand, always ensure its stability. I too always roll the Uly back on the leg to swing it fully forward of 90deg. I always try to park nose-up, and if I can't then even on a level surface I park it in first gear and move it forward against trans resistance before fully deploying the stand. Worked for the Beeemer, works now, so far so good. Knock wood! | ||
| Jmhinkle |
I have two problems with the Uly sidestand. First is no kill switch. Only once right after I bought the bike, I got on and flipped the kickstand up with my boot, at least I thought I did, Put it in gear and was getting ready to pull away, but decided to adjust my seating position first and when I bounced on the seat, I felt something hit ground. Looked down and realized I didn't get it up. That would have been nasty. I thought in this day and age all bikes had kickstand kill switches. Laziness on my part. I check twice now. Second problem is either the size or shape of the pad as it sinks into the sand real easy at my house. I have to throw a piece of wood under it to keep it up. My KLR didn't seem any bigger but it was an oval shape with a ridge around the edge. I never had any problems with it in the sand and it seemed more top heavy than the Uly. | ||
| Bosh |
Personally I'm glad the kickstand doesn't have a kill switch. Those things always short out when it rains and the contacts get messed up. Can leave you stranded when you least want it. Disconnected the side stand kill switch on my SuperHawk for the same reason. I find the stand on the 12x to be very stable. You just have to make sure you rock the bike back a little to fully engage it like others have already stated. As far as parking on a hill... follow Daves advice (on any bike) or you'll be sorry. | ||
| Treadmarks |
Jmhincle: "Looked down and realized I didn't get it up." I hate when that happens!  | ||
| Xbimmer |
Jmhinkle, if you park your bike in sand at your own house bro why not hit Home Depot one weekend and pour your Uly a slab?  I think the HD Big twin stand is the greatest. Too bad they don't use it on the Sportsters. BMW had a good idea with the K-bikes, sidestand would retract with the clutch lever... sometimes. Kill switch bad idea IMO also. Better would be a LED array right next to the neutral light activated with key on/key off, indicating status of sidestand up or down or down/locked. Displayed for maybe two minutes or off with first gear engaged. If system failed a rider accustomed to it would know immediately. I like Buell's approach to simplicity though, and a design that requires rider interaction, even on a sidestand level. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Treadmarks, I wasn't going there but I knew someone would.  | ||
| Dragon_slayer |
Oh hell, lets all go there. I hate it too. And her laughing.  | ||
| Xbimmer |
Yeah, laughing would help...  | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Treadmarks, Good one. I better get that prescription on order! I guess it pays to proof read before posting.  Xbimmer, My Uly spends the nights in the garage so that is not a problem. I just don't have a driveway. Just a little over an acre of sand and sagebrush. A Driveway is much to expensive to pour and it would only lead me to a dirt road anyways. A small slab would be a waste of money and look awkward. When funds allow, I'll pour a slab in front of the garage for washing and parking on, but at 4 cars wide and deep enough to park the Suburban on, that is awfully pricey with concrete prices nowadays. |
