Dropped My Valk Yesterday

[donaldcc]

 
   I was up riding in the mountains yesterday and was trying out the little HD video camera I recently got.  I had it attached to the front of my Clearview windshield on the vent.  I had been riding on a 4 lane road and pulled off to right at a light to jump off quickly and turn on the camera and was going to turn right into some winding roads.

Well, I kicked down on the kickstand and was already leaning over to get off Valk . . .  
Kickstand did not make it down all the way and my good spring pulled it right back up.  Bike was too far over and though I strained and pulled, it sat right down on engine guard and back bar.  It didn't crash down, but it was like I was just lowering it to guards.

I felt like a f . . . ing idiot, traffic was stopped at light watching the whole scene.  By the time I was off bike a guy stopped at light in his truck had his window down saying "Hey, man I will pull right over after light changes and help you out."  

Before the light changed 2 other guys in a truck pulled up behind and said " Hey really nice bike, are you OK.  Let us help you out."  So bike was back up with me in saddle within about a minute.  No harm to bike and none to me except my ego.  It was reassuring though to have strangers right there helping me out.

[Tonysax]

Been there done that. Started the bike up, backed down to the edge of  the driveway and put the kickstand down to hop off to get my jacket (forgot about the kickstand part). The bike slowly listed to the left and my thigh was burning, but if she wants to go over....shes going over. Also no damage except to my ego.

[NITRO]

I had a similar incident with my Interstate shortly after bringing her home. I stopped at a stop sign near my house and didn't remember if I'd grabbed something. I stood up (my feet on the ground, legs keeping the bike upright) to reach into my pocket and she dropped over on the left side. I had to pull my foot out from under her and picked her back up. That is a heavy bike to move on your own! My wife was sitting in her van behind me... Just the ego, no big deal!

[Valkahuna]

Don,

Glad you did not damage your bike. Egos heal, and everyone that rides either has or will have that happen. 

I was interested to hear that you had no damage. I've dropped the H-D, but with the engine guards and rear guards, nothing happened. However, everytime I look at my IS, I wondered if those little loops up front, and even more so, the even smaller loops in the back under the hard bags would keep the bike from tipping over so far that the grips, mirrors, levers, etc. would contact the ground. 

Also, I've seen lots of pictures with severely scratched saddle bags. 

Anyone have any input or further experience?

[Willow]

 No harm to bike and none to me except my ego.  

Good news, Donald.  If there's no harm to you and none to the bike it doesn't count as a drop.  You simply set the bike down.  How quickly or how slowly is no one's business but your own.

Incidentally, I've not had that happen to me.  In fact I've not had it happen three times.   

[CLYDE]

Incidentally, I've not had that happen to me.  In fact I've not had it happen three times.   [/i]

I had it NOT happen to me in my garage once.

[NCGhostrider]

I finally dropped mine a couple of years ago.   I was fully loaded, passenger on back, just outside of Cripple Creek, CO. in a trailhead/rest area.   I had pulled into a parking spot slightly uphill to make it easier to backup.  We loaded up after taking a quick break for the trip ahead back towards Canon City.  I backed up, turned the wheel, let out on the clutch like I have a thousand times before.

I guess I didn't take into effect, that it was uphill, the altitude might have robbed a bit of power, and I was loaded, should have given a bit more gas than usual....she started forward and then lurched a couple of times and then fell to right as I am trying to stabilize her.   I couldn't hold it up, and still am surprised I didn't twist the handlebars off of it actually.  I threw my passenger on the ground, she was looking at me, with that mean look...but wasn't hurt.  Glad she had her helmet on.   

I quickly looked around and made sure no one had seen what had happened, and we stood the bike up and rode away.      No harm or damage...though my right leg was sore from the incident.   I guess my pride was a bit damaged too!!!   

Did I mention that I later told her that if she had leaned the opposite direction, the bike wouldn't have fell over?   

[upton]

Welcome to the 800 pound gorilla that we all joyfully ride, most of the time, except when we have to pick the girl up.

[Oss]

Nitro

Did the stand up to take key out of pocket and allow bike to sit on left peg thing this summer.

As long as you are not moving when it happens it dont really count

[Hoser]

I have dropped mine a couple times, by my self both times.  Upside is nobody saw me, downside I had to pick it up by myself.  It was a few years ago, when I was younger.  Don't know if I could pick it up now at 64. I think I can, but I hope I don't need to find out. Hoser

[big turkey]

I am usually drunk when that happens and always somebody comes along and helps me pick it up.

Thank You Lord for Good Samaritans.

Thank You Lord I did not drink today.

Ditto

[..]

Here's how to do it guys 

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

[Jess from VA]

I've done it with my IS a couple times.  Never bounced, just set it down easy.  Lifted it myself each time... once I was so pissed off I did it while still astride the bike, by the handlebars.  (5'9", 185).

[Linedog]

Afriend of mine did it with a Harley years a go and broke his leg.  I did it with a Honda 750, fortunately I got out from underneath but it threw me across the parking spot.  So I tell myself now "remember the kickstand!"  Linedog

[hubcapsc]

We used to think it was cool to take the countershaft sprocket covers off our little enduro bikes...

I thought it was cool, until my britches got caught up in there...

Of course it happened as I approached a stop light, tons of people watched as I rode up, came to a
stop, and then fell over...

-Mike

[Airetime]

   I was up riding in the mountains yesterday and was trying out the little HD video camera I recently got.  I had it attached to the front of my Clearview windshield on the vent.  I had been riding on a 4 lane road and pulled off to right at a light to jump off quickly and turn on the camera and was going to turn right into some winding roads.

Well, I kicked down on the kickstand and was already leaning over to get off Valk . . .  
Kickstand did not make it down all the way and my good spring pulled it right back up.  Bike was too far over and though I strained and pulled, it sat right down on engine gaurd and back bar.  It didn't crash down, but it was like I was just lowering it to guards.

I felt like a f . . . ing idiot, traffic was stopped at light watching the whole scene.  By the time I was off bike a guy stopped at light in his truck had his window down saying "Hey, man I will pull right over after light changes and help you out."  

Before the light changed 2 other guys in a truck pulled up behind and said " Hey really nice bike, are you OK.  Let us help you out."  So bike was back up with me in saddle within about a minute.  No harm to bike and none to me except my ego.  It was reassuring though to have strangers right there helping me out.

Believe me, your first reaction is to try to keep it from falling and that is a good way to get hurt. Let er go! Here is a great video that shows how to right the bike with little effort and you may be out in the boonies next time without anyone around to help.

Ohio Motorcycle "How to Pick Up A Fallen Bike"	powered by Aeva

[fudgie]

3 times for me. Last one not even knowing i was going over till I heard metal on concrete.  What is worse is that I have had trouble getting it off the kickstand a time or 2. 

[Robert]

Its nice to be in good company

[98 T]

Been there - done that at least once with each bike I've owned..... it's NEVER been my fault.. it's always the KICK stand's fault....yeah, that's it... the damn kick stand didn't stay down like it was supposed to.

One time it was a slow-mo tip over right into the side of my mini-van in my garage... no harm to the bike... but a nice scratch on the van so there was (like the song goes)...."always something there to remind me" -


Oh yeah (not that this ever happened to me or anything) but double check it's in gear when you are facing down hill putting it on the stand... otherwise you and your riding buddies can all watch 10 minutes later as she gently rolls forward right off the stand and over...(not that this ever happened to me, mind you!)   

[Bill]

You didn't drop your bike; you were just testing the bank angle sensor

[Walküre]

At all the Goldwing rally's, they take a Wing, set it on it's side, then bring the smallest lady they can find, and have her stand it up, exactly like the above video. If it's down on the kickstand side, do as the video, put the stand down after picking it up. If on the opposite side, REMEMBER to put the stand down FIRST, then rock it over on the stand. Otherwise, you'll be dropping it on the kickstand side! Quite impressive, and a lesson you never forget.

That being said, I've never dropped the Valk, but only had it a few months. Set PLENTY of others down, though, some on purpose for maintenance.

The best thing to do, is grab the wrench out of your back pocket (you DO carry one there, right??!??), pretend to wrench on something on the underside, like you MEANT to put it down, stand it up, and ride off...

So much for embarrassment...



R

[Jess from VA]

Certain bikes can be ridden up off the engine guards; notably a technique taught in police motor officer training (HD - Road King).   Get her going, in gear, and rock it back to get rear wheel contact before engaging the clutch.  Of course it is OK to scrape up your taxpayer purchased motor with this technique, but not advisable for your personal scooter.

I can't find a video of it, but it can be done.