| Author | Message | ||
     Massgirl |
I can't count how many times I've dropped my blast since first getting on one...and I just dropped it again yesterday...in my driveway of all places. And of course, it fell on the RIGHT side, RIGHT after I finished washing it. So its laying on its side, I'm crazy mad, and upset, and I can't get the damn thing up. Of course, I'm the only one home, and I don't see anyone around for a few minutes. I'm doing everything I can to try and pick it up, but it just WON'T GO UP. Then, I see a guy across the street whacking weeds for the city, so I walk over, put a brave face on, and ask if he can help me pick up my bike. Of course, I'm just a kid, and I look wicked upset, so he says yes. He goes on about them being wicked heavy and all that jazz, meanwhile I just feel stupider by the minute. He walks into the driveway, picks it up for me, and wheels it into my garage; I just tell him to put it whatever, cause its too difficult to tell him where I really want it. Now, of course, its a Blast, so its pretty durable, but I broke the turn signal lens and bent the brake lever, and spilled gas all over my driveway...MAN did I feel dumb. And of course, I was moving it in a a way I NEVER move it, so of course I drop it, haha. Oh well, I'm just glad the parts aren't too expensive. I thank Buell for that, haha. But I can tell you one thing, I will always SIT on my bike to move it from now on, lol | ||
| Miamiuly |
Everyone drops a bike at some point, and usually more than once over time. So your getting out of your system early. Maybe this will help if it happens again. http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html http://www.vtwinmama.com/pick_up_bike.htm | ||
| Swampy |
I was hanging around the bike shop that the Big Kid works at at closing time and was watching how everybody was pushing bikes backwards into the shop from the front of the bike, it was very cool. | ||
| Tom_b |
If you haven't dropped a bike on accident, whether in the driveway or on the street. You don't ride enough. EVERYONE i have ever known to have much to do with motorcycles has at the very least had one fall over in the driveway. Just build up the muscle to pick it up. Besides being embarrassing it really sucks if you can't find help. It is nice to see a younger person be interested in a Buell Blast. (Message edited by Tom_b on August 01, 2008) | ||
| Ezblast |
Shoot - the first few years my bikes thought they where yo-yos! EZ | ||
| Seanp |
I dropped my Uly last week just south of Deal's Gap, in some person's driveway. I was heading down a dirt road around dusk, and saw a paved road to my left. I decided it might lead toward civilization and fewer deer. Apparently, it was someone's driveway, so I got to the turn-around by the garage and started an oh-so-perfect, butt-off-the-seat-chin-over-the-shoulder-BRC-figur e-8-box-type of turn around, looking excellent in every way. All of a sudden a beagle ran out from the garage and attacked my front tire. Rather than try to explain why I was riding on someone's driveway in the middle of nowhere and accidentally squished their dog, I grabbed the front brake and gently laid the bike down on its side. It scared the hell out of the dog, who ran back into the garage. I used the pinkribbonrides technique to pick up a Uly with fully loaded bags, (I was on my way from CT to FL at the time) and rode right the heck out of there. So yeah, it happens, and at least you were in your driveway, and you didn't get hurt. You live, you learn! (Oh, and before you pick up the bike, make sure the sidestand is deployed, so you're not standing on the right side of the bike trying to balance it while you lean over and put the sidestand down with your hand. DAMHIK...) | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Hey at least you have good spirits about it. Question, where were all the cute female moto riders when I was younger??? | ||
| Reepicheep |
I *didn't* drop the Vincent Black Shadow (perfectly and professionaly restored) that I rolled off the ramp at a display last weekend. There was a pucker moment with a nice 60's triumph though... I've dropped the KLR-250 a number of times in the driveway, just because the thing is so light and easy to move I get lazy and grab it whenever and wherever is convenient. Of course, it is cheap (read: free) to drop since I switched the turn signals and put on heavy bark busters. MassGirl, does the blast use the same nice super flexy signals that the XB9SX uses? If not, you might want to switch to those (like I did on the KLR and like lots of VStrom riders are doing). Cheap and hard to break (even when looping a KLR-250 backwards about 4 feet in the air off a big pile of dirt). | ||
| Tramp |
First- the home driveway is the most common DZ for new motorcycles and new riders. Second: This post outlines why a new rider should really avoid a new mount- starting on an old beater will prove less depreciative for the new rider. Third: If you can't pick up a scoot you've dropped, you really shouldn't be riding it in the first place. Often, though the issue has more to do with technique than strength/lack thereof. best of luck with all of this. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Third: If you can't pick up a scoot you've dropped, you really shouldn't be riding it in the first place.  You not serious are you? What about all those Goldwings/Road Glides out there? 900lbs bikes are difficult for anyone to lift. | ||
| Tramp |
I'm serious, in the context of NEW riders, hence my use of "you" as opposed to "one"...I am responding to the original post. sorry for any confusion. NEW riders should stick with scoots they can pick up on their own. | ||
| Dobr24 |
Do not listen to people who tell you that because you cannot pick up your bike you should not ride. Nonsense. If your riding and you enjoy it, then good for you! Keep riding. You have done what is most probably one of the more responsible actions for a new rider and started with a small bike instead of some liter class mega horsepower beast that you cannot control. There are two kinds of riders, those who have been down and those who are going down. Hence there are also two kind of motorcycles and yours happens to be the latter. I have seen many MOTO GP racers who have dropped their bikes mid race and are unable to lift them without help from a race marshall, I guess they shouldn't be riding either? Or maybe they should go back to the 250 or 125 class. The links above are very solid and give good advice, ignore the trolls and keep the rubber side down. | ||
| Rainman |
Using the proper technique will help you pick up a Gold Wing, a Sportster, a Softail deluxe and a Blast. Don't ask how I know that. An improper technique can lead to hernia surgery, or even two. Don't ask how I know that. On the other hand asking for help is always better than hurting your back or feeling that odd sensation of a bit of intestine poking out of the muscle wall. Please, please, DAHIKT | ||
| Rotzaruck |
Massgirl Thank you! I just love these bike dropping threads! There are a enough of them in the archives here to make you really wonder about all the people who say they've NEVER dropped a bike! Thinking about how funny it is makes it feel so much better (you'll notice BadWeBers tend to laugh at themselves a lot, everybody else is going to anyway). I've have had enough dropping experience that I usually grab it on that first bounce, and have a head start up. My most recent (of a growing list) was on the XB9. I was on a small bridge over a little rocky creek falling off a mountain and thought "PICTURE"! I glanced at the inst panel and the bright sunshine was illuminating the neutral light gloriously. Just as I swung my right leg high over the tail, to clear the backpack strapped on there, I released the clutch lever. HE HE!! First bounce, back on the wheels, rolled back into the planned picture, on the stand (engine OFF this time), snap and gone. So funny!! Rotzaruck! | ||
| Kyri |
Miamiuly- thanks for the links! That's great information =) The first (and only- so far) time I dropped my bike, I couldn't stop laughing. All I kept thinking was how odd it looked laying on it's side...like it suddenly decided to take a nap! (Message edited by kyri on August 01, 2008) | ||
| Nevrenuf |
let me count the times i've dropped a bike. the last was down at stone mountain on the xt. some guy older than me come running over to help me pick it up. it was just a dumb maneuver that caused me to fall over. last year in rotzaruks gravel driveway on the ultra. foot twisted and couldn't get a foot hold in the gravel and another guy who was older than me came over to help me get the bike up. although i have dropped the other ultra a couple of times and was able to get it uprighted by myself, it's getting harder the older i get so don't sweat the small stuff if you have to have help and don't let it stop you from wanting to ride. | ||
| Greenlantern |
I rode my VFR to my plumbing shop some years back and parked it in our garage. During the course of the day the Shop Man (nicest 70 year old guy you could ever meet) backed a van into it and knocked her over. I did not know this until he met me coming in and apologized for knocking the bike over. I asked how did it get righted and he said he had picked it up (535lb wet)! I looked at the damage (lever and mirror) and got a real angry look on my face as he said "I can see you're angry with me!" I was angry with him........ for picking up a stupid, petty and heavy motorcycle by himself !!! He smiled and said " Now let's hope the boss is as forgiving when I tell him about his dry cleaning I just dropped into a puddle!"  God I miss that man! R.I.P | ||
| Miamiuly |
Ya know, just recently a friend was telling me how her dad had gone to look at a bmw bike that he wanted but didn't buy it because he couldn't pick it up himself. He was kind of a small guy, I say was because he has since died of skin cancer, not sure if he already knew he had it when he looked at the bike, it may have been a divorce thing. Point is, it kind of pissed me off, sounded like the dealer scared him off while trying to show him how to pick up a beemer. A dream missed and experiences lost. If you are going to be off the beaten path and can't lift it up- get a sat phone and put aside a recovery fund to pay for the tow. | ||
| Froggy |
My Uly spent more time laying on its side than on its wheels! Haven't come close to dropping the SS yet, perhaps i got it all out of my system.  | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
I dropped the XB9S for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I was pulling out of the rear drive way which is cracked and uneven, wobbled a bit, and put my foot down for balance... right into a pile of dead limbs and tree trimings that I had cleaned out of the backyard that weekend. Needless to say my foot got entangled and the bike continued to roll. I did the splits for a second trying to stop the bike and keep it upright, but alas she laid over nice and gentle. If it hadn't broke the left side peg (man, those things are fragile) you wouldn't be able to tell it was ever on the ground. I dropped the S2, not long after I got it, when I hit a soft spot in a gravel parking lot. I was just coasting along so it went down real slow. | ||
| Psyclonej |
I dropped my cigarettes in the garage this morning while headed by my Cyclone with the primary cover off and waiting for a part. I picked 'em up using the "red Winston" technique and was off and puffin' in no time at all. | ||
| Jlnance |
Of course, I'm just a kid, and I look wicked upset, so he says yes. Believe me, you made his day. It's nice to feel useful, and particularly nice to feel useful to young women. I managed to not drop my bike for almost 2 years. Then, in front of my 50 new badweb friends, dropped it in Vegasbuellers front yard during his Daytona 200 party.  At least I had plenty of people to help me pick it up. It happens. It's embarrassing, but at least Buell parts are cheap. | ||
| Tramp |
A motorcylist riding a machine that they're incapable of lifting up is putting themselves at grave risk of being stranded out on a lonely back road, esp. int he dark. There are plenty of small, light machines available for the new rider (who run a greater risk of droppage) to get used to before moving up to something heavier- the sheer economics of having a small, used machien to drop, first, as opposed to a new unit, make greats ense, as well. I post this info with sincere concern for the newer rider. I have encountered same on back roads, at night, on several occasions, with a motorcycle lying on it's side, spewing gasoline. This is not a pretty scenario, by any means. I guess there are many experts here that know, better than i do, evidently, that safety should not be a factor for the new rider... the first sentence of the original post " I can't count how many times I've dropped my blast since first getting on one. " }would certainly bolster my advice. (Message edited by tramp on August 01, 2008) | ||
| Rick_a |
I'm a short dude and never had a streetbike before when I bought my Buell. I dropped it a few times in as many weeks due to my stubby little legs and lack of experience. Learn the technique to pick it up and just get used to balancing it. In time, you'll be able to handle most any bike. Don't sweat it. | ||
| Miamiuly |
My view is buy the bike you want, enjoy it and if your new, stay away from off the beaten path until you have more experience. Ideally find someone to ride with, always best anyways because they can help you after you knock yourself out in that get off. But my friend's dad will never get to ride now, should he have bought a smaller bike? maybe. Should he have just bought what he wanted and taken it easy and gotten some training. I think so. | ||
| Tramp |
ALL too often I see newbies on Sporties and Night trains....their learning curves would be SO much steeper on Ninja 250s or Rebels. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I guess there are many experts here that know, better than i do, evidently, that safety should not be a factor for the new rider... Climb down from that perch... All motorcycles are heavy. A lot of people start out riding junk. My first bike was a 84 suzuki gs450. It was junk, heavy junk... Could I have picked it up, probably... Would I want to pick it up alone, no way. I like my nads right where they are. In this day an age, you are never really that far from civilization. Someone will come by at some point. | ||
| Miamiuly |
ALL too often I see newbies on Sporties and Night trains....their learning curves would be SO much steeper on Ninja 250s or Rebels. I have to admit that as much as I hate a nanny state, tiered licensing would be a good thing. Or at least not all bad. Easy to say when you are in the group that would be grandfathered in, it would certainly have bothered me to be told what I can buy, but it does make some sense. Maybe they could give credit for dirt experience and let those people start on a 400 instead of a 250. We would get some cool bikes too. I am glad all I could afford in 1992 was a slightly used (already dropped on each side) fzr 600. Would have gone 750 for sure and who knows... Probably a good thing insurance costs kept me from getting that 5.0 mustang as my first car too... I did enough damage to my license and tires with my rabbit GTI. (Message edited by miamiuly on August 01, 2008) | ||
| Hexangler |
I've dropped every one of my bikes at least once. It's a personal ritual. | ||
| Hooper |
The only time my Uly has been on its side was when I hit a deer. When I stopped sliding (ATGATT), I jumped up on my feet to prove to myself that I was all in one piece, then saw the bike on its side up the road. The adrenaline was pumping so powerfully that I walked right up to the Uly and instantly lifted it back up with both hands. I don't recommend that - I really could have pulled something (which would have been ironic, since I'd just survived the 55mph get-off with nothing but sore ribs). I had HVMP bar ends, which helped, but hadn't yet gotten frame sliders, which would have prevented some scrapes on the front fork. The rear was protected by my luggage (one of which had to be replaced). The other, more normal experience was on the Kancamagus Highway in NH. I'd just stopped my rental H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic (the big one) in an overlook pull-off for a picture, when a gust of mountain wind caught me off balance and I had to ease the bike down on the engine guards. That was embarassing. I tried the back-first method and failed (it takes practice), so I turned around and muscled it back up, just as a good samaritan in a car pulled in to offer some help. I left a little puddle of fuel behind as well. Good thing I'm still young and spry - I don't know how some of our oldest fellow riders cope when their Geezer Glides go down...I guess they ask for help, just like Massgirl did - nothing wrong with that. Wicked good thread! (Message edited by hooper on August 01, 2008) |
