| Author | Message | ||
     Gearheaderiko |
Reuel: Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 11:07 am: Shall we have a section in the Blasters are We section titled "Really dumb stuff I've done"? As you wish! | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Still waiting...... | ||
| Ezblast |
Heck I'll post my very first crash/drop. Owned the bike for two weeks and was stopped at a signal - my nose itched - I reached up to scratch it letting go of the clutch which instantly sent the back wheel into a circle since I was holding the brake and throttle tight, as the bike was spinning I jumped over it to keep from getting knocked down, however, since my right hand was still engaged it bowled me over from the rear and went down instantly on my letting go, I sprung up quick and red faced, picking up the bike and going by the time the light turned green - scraped peg and loosened mirror the only damage - besides my pride. The dumb thing done - letting go of the clutch while engaged and stopped. I could fill this section, but I'll let someone else have a shot - lol EZ | ||
| Milt |
The day after I got my license, I took my Thumper out for a ride around the 'hood. I rode into a cul-de-sac right behind my house, slowed to a crawl in first gear and started to make the turnaround. During the turn, my engine lugged, which had an effect much like slamming on the brakes. The bike tipped over going approximately zero mph. The bottom line? 1 broken turn signal 1 busted windscreen 1 badly gouged boot (that's why we wear 'em !) 1 broken rib 1 severely bruised ego Not nearly as good a story as EZ's ! But wait - there's more...... | ||
| Reuel |
Yeah, I should have posted first. Second ride ever, I was going off the curb. I didn't have the hang of push right to go right, and managed to launch myself across the street into a snowbank. No damage. A while later, I had my motorhome parked at Weston Bent State Park. I was coming to a stop, parking my Blast. I found a small rock with my front tire and fell on my left side. I thought it was broken because I couldn't get it to shift back into 1st gear. Once I started the engine, all was normal again. | ||
| Garlic_sauce |
When I still had my permit and had only been riding for a short time(I taught myself to ride with NO help, NO classes and NO dirt riding xp, NOT recommended) I was approaching a traffic light that had a green right arrow. the car in front of me was moving pretty quick to make the light, so I whacked my throttle a bit and almost at the same time I looked at my speedo(very stupid). As I lifted my eyes I saw the car had stopped for the arrow that was now just a red light, Not really knowing the power of my front brake, I jammed it just in time, and way too hard so my front tire locked up and the bike went down. I rolled about 7 feet on the ground before I realized what happened, I had missed the car by a small margin, luckily I rolled to the right and missed the car. I jumped up, picked up my bike with an embarrassed smile and rode to my friends house. I had a bent lever, scratched mirror, tank, leather jacket and a RED face. I wasn't wearing a helmet that day and ever since then I ALWAYS wear a helmet. | ||
| Rainman |
So, there I was, a hanger-outer at the local KTM Vespa store who often gave advice to folks looking for bikes ... wanted and unwanted ... and often hailed by the staff as "the rider safety instructor" when they tried to convince someone to buy a real helmet. This lady, scared to death of bikes but under pressure from her Harley-riding boyfriend to buy one, comes in. She's looking at the MP3 250 and doesnt' want to ride it -- she got her license just recently -- but wants to see someone else ride it. So, the management asks me to demonstrate it to her in the big parking lot. I grab a half-helmet, explaining that it's better to wear a full face, and climb aboard. She stand on the parking lot's slight hill and directs me to drive it around so she "can see how it looks." I pull it around and pull a tight turn in front of her, using the proper counterweighting technique and, at the apex, with the bike leaned way over, I feather the clutch just a little because I'm on the hill. Just as I squeeze the leftside lever to get the friction zone, it dawns on me that the MP3 is a scooter and has no clutch, but dual handbrakes. I let go, but the MP3 has come to a dead stop, leaned far right while I lean far left. Slowly, it goes over, and I roll off the bike and down the hill ass-over-tea kettle. Folks come running from everywhere, from across the street, from the shop, from the showroom while the lady stands there, watching and silent. I tell everyone I'm OK, but ask them to cal 9-1-1 for my ego. They laugh and leave and I ride the bike back to the shop to replace the now bent rightside mirror. I stay hidden for awhile and when I come out, the lady is gone. The next day, I come in and the owner gives me a $20 pair of sunglasses as commission: "The lady bought it this morning. She said she didn't know you could fall off a motorcycle and not get hurt. You made her feel a lot better about it." Funny, I didn't feel better about it. Neither have I lived it down. | ||
| Quickorange |
So far I've been pretty fortunate to have not been too stupid on my Blast. I've got some dirt bike stories, but that's a different topic  The most embarrassing thing I've done so far has to be related to the damn kickstand. I had only had the bike a few weeks and went to the antique store to browse for some straight razors (I restore and use them). The staff happened to be extremely rude and unhelpful, so I left very pissed. I jumped on my bike, intending to blast away as the pissed biker. Started up, everything's good, slam it into gear...and it dies. I did this 3 times before I caught onto the stupid kickstand. Needless to say, I've made backing out of a parking spot one fluid kickstand kicking movement now. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Dumb stuff other people do: "under pressure from her Harley-riding boyfriend to buy one" After years of riding and the things I've seen and been through, I'll never understand that one. | ||
| Rainman |
Had another one in an MSF class. She didn't want a Sportster, said it was too heavy and felt floppy. He insisted. Then I showed her my Blast, let her ride it around the range after the class and pointed out on the speedometer where it said "A Harley-Davidson Company." Guess what she's riding now?  | ||
| Garlic_sauce |
 Rainman the BLAST recruiter. | ||
| Swampy |
I'm gonna post a video of the dumbest thing I have ever done on a motorcycle with my mouth closed. Usually when I open my mouth when I'm on a motorcycle I'm saying something dumb. | ||
| Themagster |
The mountains did it for me. It was only my 2nd time riding in the North Georgia section of the Smoky Mountains. Deals Gap is great and a must do for any rider if for no other reason than to say you've done it. But some of the other "Smoky Roads" are awesome for the curves and changes in elevation, with much less traffic. I was really getting into the groove and my confidence was way up there, so I started pushing it a little harder. Went zooming by a van (in the passing lane) and leaned into the next corner to the left, then hard lean as the road curved right and my peg connected with pavement. My first thought was "wow, I must really be laying into this corner". Never think about it. In a fraction of a second when I thought about it I sat up straight and drove right off the side of the road. Well, sort of slid sideways onto the side of the road. Just then the van I had passed pulled off the road to see if I was OK. She wanted to hug me. Hug? I was so pissed and embarrassed all I wanted to do was get on the bike and ride away. Which I did. Damage inspection showed a broken foot peg, easily exchanged with rear peg until I could get home. Broke the speedo casing, lots of scratches, which I just referred to after that as battle scars, which I earned. Riding is my life, it's what I do, I have no other interests. Therefore, I am much more subdued these days. I saw that in a moments notice I could have been down for a while and unable to ride and that is just not an option for me. I still love heading north to the hills, I just respect those curves a little more these days. | ||
| Swampy |
The only thing I can say is I am glad my soulmate caught it on video! Superman syndrome | ||
| Ezblast |
Born to be wild! EZ | ||
| Rainman |
Good form, Rob! Hey, is that a new Blast? That doesn't look like the Big Kid's. Funny how you landed on the ground and the youngun didn't.... | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
You the Man, Swampy  | ||
| Swampy |
Rainman, the red Blast that you saw was the Little Kids, the Yellow one that I am pretty sure you didn't see till now is the Big Kids. The little girl just steps off, looks at me shakes her head and goes and snuggles with her mommy. She still thinks I am the coolest though. | ||
| Britchri10 |
It's all good if you can just "step off" without any unwarranted damage. Good for her. Chris C | ||
| Themagster |
Buell Blast - $4,995 Cool leather jacket - $300 Falling down front of the camera - Priceless! Superman Swampy - I bet the little one is still begging for her next ride around the block. | ||
| Dankno |
Even through your helmet you can see the "Holy-S, that really did just happen!" Look on your face!!! LOL! Good form Swampy! Probably the worst thing I've done on the Blast is riding as long as I have on the Dunlops that have been on the bike since it had 0 miles. It's too the point now that any input on the rear brake results in a locked rear tire, a "Yeah, I meant to do that" look from Me, and a "Dude! you almost just DIED!!!" look from any one viewing. You want a terrifying riding experience, drag your left peg on almost decade old rubber. Does that coupled with the fact that I used to sell tires make me a really big hypocrite??? Probably, huh??? LOL! | ||
| Ezblast |
Risky - ditch the Dunlop! EZ | ||
| Dankno |
Believe me, I know... and plan on it soon. Thankfully, with as much riding at the Amargossa dunes as I do, the rear end stepping out isn't as scary a feeling as it should be. What has started to spook me is the FRONT end slipping. There is an awesome back-to-back double "S" turn that I ride on the way home from work, a few months ago I could enter the first turn (left) in 3rd and accelerate through the last turn (left) just short of the rev-limiter. Now, as I hit the middle turn (to the right) and try to settle into an opposite lean, I get a really un-inspiring (read: F-ing Scary) wobble through the bars. It scarred me the first time, but now I expect it and my fraternal brothers riding with me on their 2 XBs and an 1125R watch and admire how determined that my little P3 and I are to keep pace, it's actually the very most "Zen" moment I have had on two wheels. Four Buells in tight formation, and on perfect step, dropping into a lean and doing what we do best, "own the corners." I can't wait to get some Pirellis installed and really show 'em what she can do! | ||
| Rainman |
Pirellis = Big difference! | ||
| Defined |
Pirellis are stock aren't they? *Shrug* Thats what my 09 came with, they seem to handle really well. | ||
| Ezblast |
They are now, the Diablo are better esp in the larger sizes! EZ | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Moving the tire discussion to the tire thread! http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/201 64/92908.html?1249102209 | ||
| Slyone |
Hey Guys and Gals, My first post on this forum and I really like you guys. I have been lurking for a couple months. I am so glad somebody started this thread. I thought I was the only one to drop my bike....not once but twice! I happened to get an awesome deal on an '05 Blast with 107 miles on it back in June. I had a friend in the motorcycle retail biz who came across a guy really hurting for money. Anyway, so I ride it around for a week and text my friend how happy I am with the bike, how easy it is to ride, etc. I am getting really confident by this time and mind you, I hadn't ridden in 15 years. My first bike THAT I OWN, not borrowed. So I make a quick run to the local grocery store real quick and as I am leaving the parking lot I have to cross a 2 lane street to the other side separated by a median. A car is coming in the lanes I have to cross and I gun it to make it across because the lanes I need to go to appear clear, well I make it across and there comes a car doing about 60 in a 35 zone. I panic and slam on the brakes and drop the bike in the median right as they pass by. Embarrassed but I get over it quick. Broken front left turn signal is all that happens to bike. No damage to me. Fast forward about 3 weeks later. Got my new replacement turn signal installed. Zooming around on my bike. I go to pick up a pizza close by. I am really pushing the bike around the corners. On the way back I am one block from my home and as I come around the corner I lean it, let go of the clutch and plan to hit the throttle. Before I know it I am on the street sliding with the bike and I even kick the seat to keep the bike off my leg. We come to a stop and the bike is now facing the other direction of where I was going. I get up, pissed off at myself, pick up the bike and drive home. Funny thing is the pizza made it ok! I get home and access the damage. Broken left turn signal (again, and more like crushed this time), bent left foot peg, bent shifter peg, flyscreen scratched up and bracket bent, left mirror bent. I have severe road rash from my ankle to knee. I have a gash under my kneecap. More road rash above knee. Left elbow scratched up pretty bad. Right foot sprained, left foot swollen like heck. I end up not walking for 11 days without the aid of a walker. I am out of work for almost 3 weeks. I had a helmet on and it was scratched up on the left side. Anyway, after a month and half, I was well enough and took my bike apart and fixed it back in running shape. I ride it pretty much everyday. Sly P.S. On a side note, I hit 1500 miles on it and changed fluids last weekend. I don't know what the problem with changing the primary is. I just dropped the exhaust and did the EZ way and was done  | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Welcome Slyone! | ||
| Slyone |
Thank you Gear. Glad to be here! Sly |
