Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Dropped bike!

Thought about keeping this quiet but felt like I had to tell you guys!

Beautiful day, real excited to go for a good spin. Well as I moved off the sidewalk onto the road, I must have turned that wheel too sharp and over the bike went . Wheels of the bike were on the sidewalk and rest of bike on the road, so bike on its side in a downward angle! Gas was seeping out.
I rushed to pick it up but the angle seemed way to steep, then i felt this excrutiating pain...it was my back. Man, was I in pain. Lots of swear words came out!. All neighbours at work so no one one help. Called around, no-one at home. Called my wife and her girlfriend, who rushed back home from shopping. As they arrived, 15-20 mins later, a male neighbour came running out to help(thought he was at work). The three of them picked the bike up, while I painfully watched!

Few scratches, slightly bent pipe, but I think it survived!

Moral of the story: Never drop your freakin' bike when there's no-one around to help!

Ride safe guys..the right way up!

Hey Mole
Too bad mate.
Hope you get sorted and the bike too.

I dropped my bike at around 20mph and before I knew what had happened, I was standing there holding the bars after picking it up!

I suppose I wanted to get the thing up before anyone saw how stoopid I'd been but I still don't know how I managed it so quickly

A bent gear lever and a few scratches (bike not me) was all I'd done.
Like jj says, if it's 'your turn' to drop the thing, better at low speed! (Even better if it's never though )

I have 5 bikes and I have dropped 4 of them at least once apiece. Some were beer related. Strangly though, all the drops were inside my garage. I'm grateful for that because no one could see what an idiot I am.........
Twice, I backed into them with my pickup while backing into the garage. It happens man, don't worry about it. Pay up for the pegs, levers, and move on. Your not the only one.
Dale

Dropped mine one night in the driveway... cussed alot,

Picked it up and over she went the other way... I went on top of her.

I was so pi$$ed I just left it layin there until morning.

She has behaved much better since then...

Sucks though.

I dropped mine the day after I got it. In front of a cop. No ******. Then since I kinda bounced off a parked car, they called a fire truck and a motorcycle cop came too... and dropped his bike. No ******. This is my life.

You probably already know this but in case you don't, or in case it helps someone else out...

The "right" way to pick up a bike when it's having a little sleep is not the intuitive way (ie: standing facing the bike, bending at the waist & lifting) - that just leads to back pain and probably a second drop. Instead you turn & put your back to the bike and squat, holding a handgrip in one hand and your other on the pillion seat/siderail/sissybar etc with your butt braced against the side of the seat. It's best if the 'bars are turned full lock to the side it's down on (eg: if it's fallen on it's right, turn the bars to the right) but it'll work if they're straight too. Then simply stand up while pushing back a little with your butt.

The thing you have to worry about most with this method is accidentally throwing the bike over and onto the other side, as it's easier to lift than you'll expect it to be because you're using the muscles of your legs to lift rather than your arms and back. Oh and if it's fallen to the right, put the stand down before you lift the bike.

Hope the back feels better real soon.

Matt

Moe,
Hope your back gets to feel better soon.

Oh and as Sandman says.

Quote:

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The "right" way to pick up a bike when it's having a little sleep is not the intuitive way (ie: standing facing the bike, bending at the waist & lifting) - that just leads to back pain and probably a second drop. Instead you turn & put your back to the bike and squat, holding a handgrip in one hand and your other on the pillion seat/siderail/sissybar etc with your butt braced against the side of the seat. It's best if the 'bars are turned full lock to the side it's down on (eg: if it's fallen on it's right, turn the bars to the right) but it'll work if they're straight too. Then simply stand up while pushing back a little with your butt.

---

This technique really works. Saw a little lady demonstrate this with a Gold Wing once. Pretty impressive.

I dropped my cop bike once doing a lock turn at the W.Seattle ferry dock in front of a bunch of other bikers and motorists waiting for the boat. VERY embarrassing. So, after I picked it up I felt compelled to do several lock turns in each direction to assure them that I really did know how to ride. But, looking back I realize I was just showing off trying to make up for my lack of attention that caused me to drop it in the first place.

Thanks for the tips and stories. Loved the cop one! I knew you guys would cheer me up. Not so embarrassed now.
Back is still very sore, but its windy outside and storm is a brewin' so might as well sit at home, pop an ibuprofen or 3 and if that doesn't work, see what a beer does!!

Glad I'm not the only one. I have to work at 6 in the morning so just so I would not wake up the neighbours I would push the bike up a small ramp up the sidewalk next to my house and then push it off the side walk with a 4" drop to my gravel laneway. Done it many times but this time I forgot to put up the kickstand. So as I left the sidewalk, my stand bottomed out on the cement and the bike simply fell over into the gravel. Man was I pissed. Being only a small dude I must of had some extra adrenaline to pick it back up. Bent my right floor board, scratched my right light and mirror. Now I just open my main gate and ride it out. Straightened everything up and went to work. duh

BikerT

Allright I'll fess up too... in the driveway of my buddies house right turn done it a dozen times but this time I stalled it couldn't grab the front brake, didn't let go of the clutch rolled badward 'till my feet couldn't keep up & dropped it over giving my naughty bits a hard squeeze with the seat on the way over. I didn't know what to grab 1st, the bike or my marakas. BTW my buddy thought is was the funniest thing. (naturally)

Can't believe it. Came here to post my story of woe about dropping my ride in front of my house coming out of my driveway, with a neighbor witness.....to find, I am not alone! Mortified! that's what I am Mortified. Only a little scratch on the right mirror, massive embarassement......musta been pumped 'cause it felt like a bicycle picking it up...found myself on the wrong side with the kickstand up, on a hill......All this to get two gallons of gas for the lawnmower, knew I shouldn't have worried about cutting that grass......
Warren

Back in the days of Pay at the window convenience stores, I rolled expertly into the local convenience store and fueled up. I started my CB550 four Honda and pulled over to the window to pay the lady in the store. I cooly walk back to my bike, pull on my helmet, start her up and back out.... Just as I turned left and accelerated, it stalled and dumped me right there in the parking lot. Since there were people EVERYWHERE, the cool factor was pretty much out the window so I laughed it off.. I took a bow, collected my Honda and what was left of my self esteem and rode off into the sunset.

You think those engine bars help when you have to pick up a bike, or help to keep the damage less severe? I might get some, after I finish possibly buying new tires for a new bike(arggh)(bumpy ride topic). At this rate, I will never make it to those essential accessories like bags, sissybar, luggage rack...etc. I dropped my Sportster in the garage (no engine guards) and like a fool, picked it up myself using the 'correct method' of putting backside to it and using my legs to lift. Almost ripped out my back muscles. I vowed to always wait for help after that! Not worth back damage!! Whoever said 'bank drain' was right.

Those crash bars work well I'm sure. But somehow I just can't picture them on a Speed Triple, Daytona, or a Hayabusa, and I've dropped they all at least once. I just keep buying levers and pegs. Doh!!!
Dale

Only dropped a bike once, due to not being careful. In my garage with neighbor watching from across the yard. Had just bought my Kawasaki (this is back in '93) two days before, and was pulling in the garage. Didn't look where I put the kickstand down, and it wound up on a piece of wood that slid out as I lowered the bike. Neighbor came running over to help get the bike off of me and back up on the stand. I _always_ look where I put the kickstand now

Cheers,
Brad

I've almost dropped my ride twice after the "I forgot to put the kickstand down again," syndrome. I also dropped it at the busiest intersection in town after almost getting killed by a drunk Hardley rider running a red light. Turned the wheel, pulled in the clutch, locked the brake, and down she goes. I bent the rear brake pedal, but my saddlebag protected the rest of the bike.

It happens.

I dropped my bike 4 years ago outside my garage,I flicked the lights on after I had started the bike and I had no main beam,so I just stepped of the bike to see what was wrong but forgot to put the stand down,it just fell over,my first reaction was,was anybody looking,dum question in the north of sweden at 5:30 in the morning when haven't got neighbors

Seem to be a little sore today from picking up my bike yesterday, but, I am still mortified, MORTIFIED I tell ya!
Hope this gets better (i'm sure it will...time heals all things, but not the scratches on my ride!)
Warren

Well Mole, while we are confessing I trucked my bike to Lauderdale Florida a few days back. Pulled the ratchet a bit to hard to loosen a strap and laid it down on the side of the bed of the truck. shifter looked like a pretzel lol. I found a new use for a cresent wrench (straighten out the shifter) lol

The most embarrassing thing is I wasn't even riding it when I dropped it!

Glad you survived bud, gravity sucks.