| Author | Message | ||
     Doylejj |
I'm not sure who's who, but the 2 principals are me and whoever designed the kick stand on the 06 Uly. I backed the bike out of the garage onto what turns out to be the slightest of inclines, started the bike to warmup, and left it to put on helmet and gloves. Next thing I hear is a crash and see the Uly on its side. Evidently the Uly's less than smooth idle (that is, it's wretched Harleyesque vibration) caused the bike to ease forward down the incline, off the stand. Except for what I did after that, there would be minimal damage. Kudos for that part of the design. But I couldn't lift the bike enough to get it up, didn't have any help, and used a jack on the seat to try to get it up just enough to let me ease it up, enough also to break the plastic part of the seat pan that holds the metal latch. I'll take responsibility for not realizing what could happen and for desparately trying anything to get the bike up. Who of the Buell engineering staff wants to explain how the stand was designed. Best I can tell it was made deliberately flimsy to minimize the danger of riding with the stand down since there is no safety switch. Does anyone have experience with an adhesive that might hold the seat pan part back on? Thanks | ||
| Froggy |
Please see this thread: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/512199.html?1257793824 Not sure why you have so much difficulty getting the bike back up, I can't even carry 35lbs but have picked mine back up more times than I can count. | ||
| Buewulf |
Did you buy one of the prototype lead-frame Buells or something?  Sorry your bike took a tumble. I have to agree with you. The kick stand on my '06 is a centerpiece for engineering jackassery. | ||
| Doylejj |
Wish I'd read the cited thread earlier. Even with the front brake held engaged with a tie and a friend (who couldn't lift for health reasons)standing on the rear wheel to keep it from sliding, I was still not able to raise the bike from full horizontal without jacking the frame some, and wasn't sure I'd survive the experience in tact at that. Any thoughts on adhesive for the seat pan? Why is there no safety switch on the stand? (Message edited by doylejj on November 09, 2009) | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Here' a LINK w/ a tutorial ... I think it helps if you wear a skirt: http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html  | ||
| Doylejj |
Thanks for the link on how to pick up a bike. A couple of things were different. I didn't have bags on, so the bike started off horizontal and it was the first 30 degrees I couldn't manage both from weight and from the grip being on the ground not knee high as in the pic. Froggy, what's you technique? | ||
| Froggy |
Pretty much the same way in that picture. Bags do help you get more leverage, but even without the bags its still not hard to do. I kicked my bike over once in a parking lot to prove to someone I could lift it. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Doylejj, Sorry about that, Man. I know it's a bit late to say this but I recommend NEVER starting your bike unless you are ON IT. I see folks do it all the time and most are okay but bikes vibrate, can jump into gear, etc. Why risk it? I NEVER move mine with the motor off unless I am on it either. Just to be safe. I've seen em' go over like yours did and I've seen guys lose their balance when pushing them and end up on top of them. Best of luck. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
I think that's a big reason for the wide panniers (besides how much they hold) ... it's a lot easier to pick up the bike, and it keeps the bike off your legs/ankles, as well. . | ||
| Doylejj |
The kick stand on my '06 is a centerpiece for engineering jackassery. Classic comment. | ||
| Billyo |
I feel your pain. I used to let my Firebolt warm up while getting dressed and the first time I did this after installing a Drummer it vibrated off the kickstand. It was parked in the exact same spot as always. The sound of bike hitting pavement is like a knife in your heart. | ||
| Motorfish |
It took me 2 driveway falls, with 2 broken clutch levers, to absolutely make sure the kickstand is engaged properly.  The ball broke off the end of the lever. The first time the bike was not running. I wheeled it out of my garage, put down the stand, (I though) and turned and to walk back, and BAM! UUUUUHHH! The second time it was idling, then the same thing happened. I now am overly cautious with it and paranoid about it just breaking. | ||
| Mrsnuggles |
+1 on pinkribbonrides. Thats how I pick mine up, and I'm 230 lbs... I've dropped mine in the garage and on the trail, and that's a good way to get'r back up again. I had mine running once for warm up, and it fell into my truck. That was expensive... (Message edited by mrsnuggles on November 09, 2009) | ||
| Seanp |
I kicked my bike over once in a parking lot to prove to someone I could lift it.  | ||
| Froggy |
"There is no way you could go off roading on that, if it fell you wouldn't be able to pick that pig back up." So I gave it a kick like Chuck Norris, and down she went. I walked over to the other side, grabbed the handlebar and triple tail rail, and lifted it and gently put it back on its stand. I then pointed out that the turn signal lens was broken from the previous time I preformed this maneuver  | ||
| Etennuly |
I hope you won a monetary bet. Otherwise you win but still look.....uh.....stupid for doing it!  Ok, that was harsh. I want to see you do it though!  | ||
| Hooper |
I used the pure, residual adrenaline to lift mine up while facing the bike (though I know they say not to). The anger and embarrassment of wiping out on some gravel coming out of a creek gave me almost enough strength to lift it over my head. | ||
| Mnrider |
Mines been down twice this year. I stood it up so fast I don't remember how I did it and I'm only 150 lbs. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I levitate mine with pure mind control. Actually, I've never had mine down. | ||
| Buewulf |
Try this: With your finger tips just under the fuel frame, chant: Light as a feather... Stiff as a board. Light as a feather... Stiff as a board. Seriously, I had to pick mine up from horizontal on gently sloping ground after the kick stand rebelled. I did it facing the bike from the front, kind of straddling the front front wheel. Grabbed by the handle bars holding the front brake so it doesn't roll (snick it into gear if you can instead). Lifted the first 30 degrees with my legs and moved around to the side of the bike as it went up to finish the job. Try to lift in the direction of the radial path of the bike's lean (don't "lever" the bars too much) to avoid putting too much stress on the steering components (though they could probably take it). Use your legs, hips and abdomen to do the work, or you won't be lifting anything for a few months. Pitch the wheel as far in the opposite direction of the lift as you can to help position your leg to allow proper lifting mechanics. I'm sure there is a better way, but I was in front of the Uly when it started going down and was in a panic to save it. Didn't really think about the mechanics of it at the time, just heaved the bitch up. I think I had it back upright before the sound of the crash reached my ears. I haven't dropped anything heavier than a dirt bike in years, so I'm no expert. | ||
| Dr_greg |
That is mostly BS. Let's see her pick it up when it's FLAT on the ground. HUGE difference. My Uly has fallen FLAT on the ground. I cannot pick it up, "skert" or no. Yes, I tried every technique. The best technique was to get help. --Doc | ||
| 99savage |
Problem I had when I dumped on gravel was that the wheels were not touching. Every time I grabbed anything it just spun. Next time I am going to splice together a big loop of nylon line & weave one end thru the triple tail bracket & the other thru someplace in the forks. Would try in on the lawn but the check valve on the overflow tube works something less than perfectly.  p.s.: suggestions for tire pressure (and anything else) when riding on gravel | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""That is mostly BS. Let's see her pick it up when it's FLAT on the ground. HUGE difference. My Uly has fallen FLAT on the ground. I cannot pick it up, "skert" or no. Yes, I tried every technique. The best technique was to get help. --Doc"" Thats why you need panniers off-road ... helps to get 'em up when they take a nap in the middle of nowhere (with nobody else around), and it protects your legs and ankles as well. I guess you could probably use 'em to hold stuff too, if you wanted. . | ||
| Danger_dave |
You just have to be smarter than the stand. | ||
| Doylejj |
You just have to be smarter than the stand. I know that's the problem but I'm having trouble overcoming it.} | ||
| Metaldude |
Doylejj - I have a trick that I've used to repair plastic motorcycle parts before using some wire mesh and a soldering iron. I've had no luck with any type of glue on flexible plastic (but am open to other suggestions) but melting a small piece of screen into the break makes it even stronger than stock. Cut a piece of steel screen that's slightly bigger than the rip. I like a real fine mesh like in a window screen, other guys in my antique club use hardware cloth (quarter inch squares). Bend the corners down slightly. Stand the screen over the rip and start heating it with your soldering iron. I have a really flat iron that works really well for this but you probably could get by with a pointy one too. The idea is to heat the metal and slowly push it into the plastic. If you heat it enough, it will sink into the plastic and disappear. I've seen guys do it so well that you can barely see it when it's done. For me, I end up usually with pretty scorched on one side. But for the seat pan on the Uly, you'll just have a slightly scorched strip on the inside where nobody sees - while the outside will be barely noticeable. Plus, the repair will be VERY strong, which is important on that part. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The only time my 2008 fell over, I was pinned under it! My left steel toe boot was clamped firmly by the engine case and foot peg mount. That wolverine has a perfect tattoo of the bolts pattern. I had to ask for help like a little kid to get the damn thing off! It was a strange crash involving a downed power wire and a truck in the middle of the night. | ||
| Doylejj |
Metaldude, thanks. I'm going to try that. | ||
| Smac |
Doylejj, I owned a HD Road King before I bought my XT this year. All of the larger Harleys have a "trick" kickstand...the force of the bike on the stand pushes the kickstand into a position that locks it in place. With the bike on the kickstand, you cannot disengage the kickstand...even if you push on the bike. What an ingenious HD design, right?!? I even put the kickstand unintentionally to the ultimate test...when I went to start the bike on a bright shiny day, I didn't realize the bike was in gear (nor did I realize that my Harley was the only EFI bike I've ever owned that would allow you to start the bike in gear without pulling in the clutch) and the bike leaped & literally moved a foot or so, but it never came off of the kickstand! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Smac, My wife's XL1200R has that same kickstand as does my 97' Electraglide. Why Buell decided to put a bicycle kickstand on our ULY is beyond me. Had they just borrowed Harley's jiffy stand then they would have saved themselves $$$$$$ in warranty claims not to mention legions of pissedOff customers. I'm quite sure that the ULY wasn't even to have a side stand at first, just lean it against a tree. I've never ever had my Electraglide try to pivot over the foot of it's jiffy stand the way the ULY has a couple of times. A loaded down ULY gets plenty heavy when that happens. | ||
| Pauley2000 |
99savage: "Problem I had when I dumped on gravel was that the wheels were not touching. Every time I grabbed anything it just spun." Put it in first gear to lock up the rear wheel. -p | ||
| Sanchez |
I aborted a u-turn on a steep hill half way through and stopped with my bike perpendicular to the road. When I put my foot down, I quickly realized there was nothing under it, and over the bike went. With the bike on its side facing down the hill, I couldn't lift it, even with the side cases on. Fortunately Murphy's Law dictates that I did it in front of a bunch of people, so I had plenty of help getting it back upright. | ||
| 99savage |
Pauley2000, Was not that the wheels spun - They were not touching the ground - It was it gear - Whichever way I pulled it either just slid away from me or rotated on the frame puck - I even tried piling rocks under the wheels but they just slid too Next time am going to try using some line so that I can have better control. - I did have line w/ but did not think of using it that way. - If the ATVers had not come along was next step was going to be use use the line to make a come-along & pull it on to the grass | ||
| Jphish |
Thats why riding with a bunch of other inmates is really handy. A few weeks ago I tipped over while trying to negotiate a ditch I had already successfully negotiated going in & uphill - coming out & downhill was not as graceful. 3 Uly owners picked it up, with me on it and set me down on the terra firma. Even selflessly pee'd all over my leg to get the mud off. Uly riders are a very caring bunch - thanks guys!! |
