Learning Stuff the Hard Way

[Bob E.]

Well, I learned a few things about myself and my bike last night.  

1.  I learned that I do not have the strength to stop a Valk that decides to start tipping over in the parking lot at a walking pace while trying to turn around in a tight spot.

2.  I learned that the best thing to do is to try and set it down as easy as possible, because trying to save it can result in a strained leg and back.

3.  I learned that, when it sets down, it will rest on the crash bar and the front corner of my homemade saddlebag.

4.  I learned that my tip-over sensor works.

5.  I learned that when those two points hit, damage is minimal and limited to a few scratches and chipped paint.

6.  I learned that my homemade saddlebags are quite strong and capable of supporting a Valk leaned over on its side.

7.  I learned that the clamps on my Kury Iso-Pegs are not as strong and will rotate around the crash bar until the Iso-Peg is pressed against the valve cover, leaving a small mark.

8.  I learned that I do in fact have the strength to right a Valk that has tipped over in the parking lot, even with a strained leg and back, when adrenalin and embarassment are in play.

9.  I learned that with a fair amount of force, I can rotate the highway peg back into position with my foot.

I'm sure I learned a few other things along the way...but this is all I can or want to remember.  

[Ice]

You did not mention, Do not try to turn around it that tight of a spot, sometimes it is better to back it up again.

I all seriousness hope you are Ok. I know how tempting it is to try and save the bike when it gets to that point where gravity insists on pulling her down, but it is almost always better to just try and set her down as easy as you can minimalizing the damage. The pride factor either way is out the window, if you save it or not.

Yuri

[Bob E.]

Yeah, it was kind of stupid...so I'll blame it on the car tire...lol!  Actually, I had to attend a professional dinner meeting at a hotel conference room.  Anyways, when I get there, the parking lot is full, so, since I was on the bike, I decide to squeeze into the square space at the corner of the lot.  Well, I roll in there and went to loop around (counter clockwise) and at the edge of the pavement was the sidewalk which was "almost" flush with the lot...it stuck up maybe an inch.  Well I got too close to it and the right edge of the car tire rolled up on it, throwing my balance off to the left.  And over she went.  Oh well...like I said, aside from a few scratches and chipped paint, nothing hurt other than my pride and a mildly sore back and leg.  I'll be ok.

[Ice]

Well he pride thing heals, and as long as your Ok, and the bike is OK, then its all OK

Yuri

[Black Dog]

Amazing how quickly you realize all those points...

I'll bet there are a few of us (not me though  ) that have experienced the same sequence of events, usually with lots of witnesses 

Black Dog

[Tonysax]

  Once upon a time I was backing my bike down the driveway. I forgot my gloves, put the kickstand down and started to jump off the bike. All of a sudden she tips hard to the left (I FORGOT to put the stand down  ) All of the weight went to my left thigh as I stuggle to upright her, but she slowly listed into the bumper of my car. When a bike that big wants to lay down, it lays down. Just a scratch to the bumper of the car. Glad your OK.

[Bob E.]

Witnesses can be a mixed blessing.  I don't think anyone saw me since I was off in the corner of the lot...which is good.  But then again, I had nobody to help pick it back up either...which is bad.  

[Warlock]

Well, I learned a few things about myself and my bike last night.  

1.  I learned that I do not have the strength to stop a Valk that decides to start tipping over in the parking lot at a walking pace while trying to turn around in a tight spot.

2.  I learned that the best thing to do is to try and set it down as easy as possible, because trying to save it can result in a strained leg and back.

3.  I learned that, when it sets down, it will rest on the crash bar and the front corner of my homemade saddlebag.

4.  I learned that my tip-over sensor works.

5.  I learned that when those two points hit, damage is minimal and limited to a few scratches and chipped paint.

6.  I learned that my homemade saddlebags are quite strong and capable of supporting a Valk leaned over on its side.

7.  I learned that the clamps on my Kury Iso-Pegs are not as strong and will rotate around the crash bar until the Iso-Peg is pressed against the valve cover, leaving a small mark.

8.  I learned that I do in fact have the strength to right a Valk that has tipped over in the parking lot, even with a strained leg and back, when adrenalin and embarassment are in play.

9.  I learned that with a fair amount of force, I can rotate the highway peg back into position with my foot.

I'm sure I learned a few other things along the way...but this is all I can or want to remember.  

Been there, done that.
David

[..]

http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html

I've heard stories of wrists being ripped from trying to hold up a falling bike. Just let it down as slowly as you can.

Step back, count to 10 whilst swearing and then, once composed, pick the bike up following the method in the link.

[Big Rig]

One other thing,

A Valk is easier to pick up than a smaller bike, because it is bigger and does not go totally on her side...Please do not ask and there are no pictures! 

[solo1]

Been there,done that too.

You can slow it down but you can't stop it.  Even smaller bikes are hard to stop.   That's my worry now.  My knees aren't strong enough to sit sideways on the seat and walk it up with backward steps. 

Oh well, maybe my white hair will get me a "that dumbarse old geezer, got no business riding, let's help him" response. .....................or maybe not.

[scoot]

Glad to hear you were alright.
 I've never done this with a bunch of friends all watching while on a group ride in the hills of Kentucky. They don't make some of those roads wide enough to turn a wing and trailer around (going up hill both directions. You quickly figure out who you friends are and its not the ones who can't get the camera out fast enough, so they ask you to do it again
 But, seriously don't try to stop it from going over. it can never turn out good.

[Gryphon Rider]

My wife was kind enough to help me a few years ago:

http://f6rider.com/Articles/Articles2004/HowToRightaDumpedValk.htm

I'll have to redo this series sometime.  A digital camera will do a much better job than snapshots and a cheap scanner, and of course Sandra gets purtier every year!

[hubcapsc]

http://f6rider.com/Articles/Articles2004/HowToRightaDumpedValk.htm

I'll have to redo this series sometime...

It would be hard to make it better. I looked all around for it when this thread started, but couldn't find it. I bookmarked it now.

Actually, it would be better if it was easier to find... the first place I looked for it was shoptalk... maybe it could be linked to there?

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

I never dropped it in a tight turn, but I did set it down on a non-deployed kick stand.  Right to the guards.  I was so pissed I lifted it back up while still astride. 

[Oss]

did that in front of my house with Gman and his son watching just about a week or so ago forgot I had lifted the kickstand

Broke the knuckle on the Kury highway peg  no wait that was someone else

Gryphon rider your wife is a great teacher, the bike was easy to pick up

[GreenLantern57]

Well, I learned a few things about myself and my bike last night.  



8.  I learned that I do in fact have the strength to right a Valk that has tipped over in the parking lot, even with a strained leg and back, when adrenalin and embarassment are in play.

I was suprised how fast I got mine back on 2 wheels too!  I felt like it wasn't any harder than lifting a dirt bike!  I know better, but that adrenaline is amazing stuff!

My pegs also moved, but not all the way into the valve covers.

[Spirited-6]

I never dropped it in a tight turn, but I did set it down on a non-deployed kick stand.  Right to the guards.  I was so pissed I lifted it back up while still astride. 

DAMN Jess, How big of a boy are you ?  ???

[fudgie]

I never could get mine back up by myself.  Seems like mine is always to far over to get under it!  I even got on the high side pegs and jumped up and down trying to rock it up!  Luckily there is always HD riders around to help me! 
Heres the ol ladies leg from a -'i'll be cursed, its a slopped parking lot'. It was a light drop.

[Jess from VA]

I never dropped it in a tight turn, but I did set it down on a non-deployed kick stand.  Right to the guards.  I was so pissed I lifted it back up while still astride. 

DAMN Jess, How big of a boy are you ?  ???

Only 5'9" 180 and I'm no powerlifter..... and I'm not sure I could do it again.  Lifted entirely from the bars and left leg.

[Rowdy]

  Hate when that happens    Glad your ok 

[DFragn]

About 8 years ago I pulled up to a pump for gas and noticed a very hot young lady walking across the lot.
Well, I forget my side stand and the fat lady pinned me against the pump when I stood off her.
I had virtually no leverage pinned in there and the exterminator dude walking inside only laughed when I asked for help. Must have been an HD rider I guess.
Anyway, I did lift it off myself. But, my back was crippled for a few months and still acts up now 'n then.

[Cruzen]

Get the "Ride Like a Pro" DVD, practice their lessons and you won't have to worry about such happenings in the future.

Also, and this is a big one. Never, never, never use the front brake when going less than 10mph unless you want to get really used to picking your Valk up.  Again, the DVD will explain and demonstrate this. Some guys drop their big, and not so big, bikes so often in parking lots that you think they are using them as exercise devices. 

[..]

Get the "Ride Like a Pro" DVD, practice their lessons and you won't have to worry about such happenings in the future.

Also, and this is a big one. Never, never, never use the front brake when going less than 10mph unless you want to get really used to picking your Valk up.  Again, the DVD will explain and demonstrate this. Some guys drop their big, and not so big, bikes so often in parking lots that you think they are using them as exercise devices. 

i think the correct phrase is don't use the front brake at slow speeds (less than walking speed) and turn the handlebars to the left or right. If you do this and lean the bike slightly there is a tendency to tip over. HOWEVER if you have counterweigthed your body you will not tip over.

Remember if the bike starts to tip you could give it a little gas and pull her upright - IF there is space ahead of you to do so.

The Valk can be ridden at 1 or 2 mph in a straight line without any problem.

[Bob E.]

Yeah...I'm usually ok with the low speed stuff.  It wasn't so much a problem with what brake I was using or how I was leaning.  I was sort of joking earlier, but the problem really was the car tire.  When the right side of the tire caught that edge of the raised sidewalk...again, it was maybe 1" high if that...it just totally threw my balance way off to the left.  I;ve had this happen before when there are slight drop-offs and it caused me to almost tip.  This was the first time I wasn't able to catch it.  I've had it happen when pulling off the side of the road and there is that small ledge at the edge of the pavement.  Similarly, trying to pull back on to that pavement can be tough if coming on at a sharp angle, close to parallel with traffic.  This reaction is much more pronounced with the squarish profile of a car tire versus the round profile of a MC tire.

[NEHI]

     Don't feel to bad, I drove into my garage last Saturday night, forgot to put the kickstand down and got off! I guess the CT kept the I/S up just long enough for me to get off,OUCH!!! The Valk only suffered a scratch on the left saddle bag and the clutch,switch assy. twisted on the handlebar,But my 1964 BSA Lighting it fell on got trashed, scratched the tank, put a dent in the exhaust etc. and for all the people who say"The Valk has such a low center of gravity, it's easy to pick up" BS!! It took all I had to get it back on the stand.

[Big IV]

So, did pride goeth before the fall or afterwards?
Mine went afterwards. I think it is supposed to goeth before from what I hear. Just checking.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

Ya'll are just bad riders-parkers, I've never dropped my Valk. Well this one anyway   , it's the 4th I've had. The other's all got dropped a few times but you know I've learned from all those mistakes.    

No idea why I've never dropped this one but I'm sure now that I've spoke of evil, evil lurks beneath my kickstand waiting..............


FYI, these "Fat ladies" are ugly as hell tits up.

Raymond

[Cayman]

I learned the hard way last week This will give you a chuckle.  I hate to admit this but on my first big motorcycle ride we were at a stop light and I thought I was in first gear and I killed the motor when the light turned green.   A little flustered as I watched the group in front of me head out I tried to get it started.  All of the sudden I heard some asshole honking their horn at me which kind of pissed me off.  I turned to see who it was with no luck.  The honking continued.  I finally figured out who the asshole was.  I had my left thumb on my horn.