 Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,541
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,541 |
Quote:
This was a great day and a bad one at the same time. First I picked up my first ride, an 07 America from the shop, took it out to a large parking lot to get used to it, so I practiced turning, braking, changing gears etc. Then when I felt comfortable enough I thought that it was time to head home, my wife was with me in our truck just behind me. I reachd a left turn and Gasp! I put the bike down! I came out fine just a minor scratch on my left knee, the bike did get some damage, the gears lever is messed up and the handle bar bent a little. The bike is back at the shop to get fix and hopefully will get it by the weekend.
First bike, first put down and first post in this forum... pheew, what a day. 
Welcome to the club. Sorry you had to join the "Oh bugger" club so soon.
Excuse me for enquiring, but your comment, picking up your first ride. Am i to assume you are new to riding. If so, sign yourself up for the MSF Safety course. It will teach you a lot and give you a lot of confidence.
Arsenalfan. AKA Mark Able
Seller of fine automobiles.
Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche of Chattanooga
423-424-4000
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,690
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,690 |
Okay....Im gonna jinx myself...24,000 miles and 2 years...have'nt dropped her yet....
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Hey snows!!! You know that Nation Highway Safety statistic about newbies having a high incident of crashes within the first 6 months...well...THANKS TO YOU they've just lowered their AVERAGE projection by 3 weeks, 4 days, and 7 hours and 49 minutes!!! (sorry dude, I couldn't resist)  NOW, once you get that beautiful bike o' yours back...go out there and....GET THAT TRAINING!!!!  OH! And BTW...WELCOME, dude!!!  (as you can tell, they don't let me drive the "Welcome Wagon" around here much!) 
Last edited by Dwight; 01/14/2008 6:11 PM.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 638
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 638 |
Hey guys, you know, one of the reasons that I felt stupid was because I did take the MSF class and I did exactly what they taught me not to do! I actually did very well in the class. Hey Dwight, lol I sure screwed up that average. At least I won't be part of the statistic of riders that don't wear helmets My bike should be ready Saturday but the weather looks like it will suck big time so I'll have it delivered and then practice, practice, practice!
Last edited by snows; 01/18/2008 1:33 AM.
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 513
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 513 |
Best to get that first one out of the way. If you are gonna ride motorbikes, its not a question of if but when. Sooner or later you gonna crack up. Just pray that it won't be too bad. Those 865s are tight when they are new. I nearly dropped a 05 speedmaster making a turn too slow in third gear. I lugged the engine and it stalled locking the back wheel. I slid around but kept the bike up. After it got broke in I could lugg around in third. But the stupidest thing I did on that same bike was to try and take off with the front end locked. I did drop it that day. I kept having close calls on that bike till I totaled it with just under 7000 miles on it. The America I got to replace it now has over 16000 miles on it. I've drug the pipes and pegs in turns but so far kept the rubber down. I think there was just something about that first bike. Be careful
Its more fun to be ridin'! I'm still ridin 
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 347
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 347 |
Seems to me that if i lugged 3rd gear to the point of stalling I would be more worried about that connecting rod coming thru the block than dropping the bike. That poor bike! jerry 
2005 America, Green, Thunderbike exhaust
LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET THE HE** OUT OF THE WAY!
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 638
Adjunct
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 638 |
Well, finally got her in the garage Can not ride today since it is really cold (at least for me) and I'm watching the kids... can not wait to jump back in!
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,546
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,546 |
Quote:
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and the words of encouragement.
Looking back I think what I did wrong was hitting the front brake a bit too hard while taking a slow left turn.
/quote]
When making slow turns left or right. Stay off the front brake totally.
if life gives you lemons keep them because hey,free lemons.
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643 |
Quote:
Well, finally got her in the garage
Can not ride today since it is really cold (at least for me) and I'm watching the kids... can not wait to jump back in!
Just take it easy and remember not to grab a handful of that front brake, if you have to, make sure the bike is square otherwise you'll be thinking "Oh Sh1t again". Take it easy and practice on roads you know.. 
Ray(UK)
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Ah HA!!! I think I see the problem here folks!!!  ANGEL!!! You don't "jump in" one these here motorsickles...you SIT ON it!!! (sure is a good thing I can catch these "subtle nuances" 'round here or some of these newbies are just destined to repeat those same ol' mistakes, huh?!)
Last edited by Dwight; 01/26/2008 2:58 PM.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Stay off that front brake in low speed situations (parking lots, etc.) In fact, in low speed situations, you can put on the rear brake and use that more effectively to control forward progess than feathering the clutch. It's not as jumpy using the rear brake to stablize forward progress.
I was allowed to spectate with my daughter when she took the MSF course and by the end of the course, he had them doing complete steering lock turns with the rear brake firmly applied at less than walking speed (well, some of the class could pull this off). I now practice doing the same in our cul-de-sac and it works like a charm - IF you practice this method.
Al
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 638
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 638 |
Thanks for all of the great advice guys! I think you are on to something Dwight Took a couple of pics, they aren't great photos but those will come soon enough since my wife is a pro photographer Anyways here she is http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=4705&sl=s
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Al
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,072 Likes: 82
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,072 Likes: 82 |
Yep.. that's her.. built her right out of the crate. Saw her first breaths and then nursed her scrapes and tweaks. A good heart in that one.. Y'all take care of each other.  ( I love this little guy)
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 195
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 195 |
A couple of time I have fallen over at an intersection. Boy, did I feel/look stupid. I also backed out of my gargage once and push over my cycle. It pays to keep an extra set of levers in stock and tools to bend the handlebars back.
Last edited by Rob_Mayes; 01/27/2008 7:27 PM.
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 147
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 147 |
Confessional time. I have been riding for 40 plus years-but the day I picked up my new '07 America in October, after returning from a year in Afghanistan-I rode about 10 miles, then had to make a fairly quick stop in traffic at about 30-40 mph. I locked up the rear brake, the rear end went right, I went left and slid about 20 feet on the asphalt -full leathers on, but still some pretty good bruises, and $600 bucks damage to the bike. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. Bike is home now and I love her.
Keep your powder dry
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150 |
Wow, I've heard of stupid but not as stupid as that.  Just kidding, I've been much stupider (is that a word) than you. In fact I'm the stupidist of em all.  Here I was all kitted up for my big trip north. I had just kissed my sweetheart bye bye and rode 2k's to my petrol station. Fueled up and wearing my winter riding gear, I put her into 1st gear and took off from the bowser, but my sun glasses were fogging up. So I stopped at the top of the driveway which was pretty steep. I took off my sunglasses and wiped them clear but for some reason I took my right foot of the back brake just for a second. Bad mistake cos I started rolling backwards. I applied the front brake but because of all my luggage the front wheel just skidded. Oh No, I'm going the wrong way real fast and there's nothing I can do about it  . I tried to sort of keep the bike up right by straddling and running backwards but it was just a matter of time before going over and she did. I couldn't believe it. I wished someone had a video at the time cos now it's funny now but at the time, well not so much.  Anyway, I'm lucky I didn't bash into another car or anything cos not only could I have done more damage, but I could have actually got hurt. Imagine trying to explain that one  So with another bloke, we picked her up so I could analyse the damage. As it turned out, the only damage was a broken right footped which I swapped over from the rear and I was on my way. I think someone upstairs was taking pitty cos it turned out my Hepco and Becker side bags acted as de-facto crash bars, but they weren't scraped either except a little bit on the buckles. So who's the stupidist of them all?
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788 |
Quote:
Welcome to the club and you pass your initiation. Glad you are OK.
Yup..dumped mine last summer and then later on.. did an actual crash...
I'm a firm believer that it's a matter of when.. no if..
Just my 2 cents
Trev
07 TBA Pacific Blue and White.. stock for now!
A bike has half the wheels my cage does.. but 3x the fun factor
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Funny story, Staffo! I liked readin' that! But if that's the dumbest thing YOU'VE ever done on one of these things, then buddy you're a piker compared to moi! And I'd relay all of 'em to ya, but I don't want to run the risk of taking all of the bandwidth from Robert's website here, dude!!! (I'm already considered quite the pig in that regard around here already, ya know)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 638
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 638 |
ah, went for a ride this morning, went through some rural surface roads around my neighborhood. Fun ride! went back home when my fingers were getting too cold and a bit numb. One thing is for sure, I need lots of practice making slow speed turns. That's my mission tomorrow. The highlight of today's ride was not dropping the bike! lol
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
You can turn that Bonnie at full lock or close to it if you counterbalance and feather the clutch . Feel like yer goin' down on the inside ? - feather out the clutch , throttle up , she'll stand up . These things are SO well balanced . Our top heavy Sporty wants to just keel over .
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Re: man do I feel stupid... first lessoned learned
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
For me, just keeping the clutch open and using the rear brake at very slow speeds is easier to modulate using the throttle against the brake, but do whatever you get comfortable with. (I was a clutch feather person before learning this rear brake technique) Quote:
You can turn that Bonnie at full lock or close to it if you counterbalance and feather the clutch . Feel like yer goin' down on the inside ? - feather out the clutch , throttle up , she'll stand up . These things are SO well balanced . Our top heavy Sporty wants to just keel over .
Al
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