Dropped the bike

[MrArn]

Something happened to me Saturday while I was out on my ride. I didn't put it in my ride report because I was embarrassed. But after a couple of day I'm still thinking about it, so I going share it.

At one of the places where I pulled off onto the shoulder to take pictures my bike fell on me. I was stopping and starting to drop both feet, then all at once the tires slid out from under me. Next thing I know I'm on the ground and my foot is pinned under the bike. My first thought was how long I'm I going to be trapped here before someone finds me, then I started using my other leg to lift the bike and free my foot. After my foot was free I got the bike up and on the kick stand. Next I got out my camera and shaking inside took the pictures I stopped for. I could feel the adrenalin pumping through my body, it took me a few minutes to relax. Checked my bike, then got back on the road.

Found myself tentative for the rest of the ride, unable to get my mind off of being trapped under the bike. I was limping around on Sunday, now I'm still sore but fine.  It's not the first time I've dropped a bike because the tires slid out-last bike it was on ice, the one before that an oil patch. But this bike is a lot heaver than any other bike I've ever owned.

I'm sure I'll get through this, but for now it's still haunting me.

[Jess from VA]

Just chalk it up to motorcycle riding.  Stuff happens..... when pulling off the road to a dirt, gravel, mud berm, you never know just how soft that dirt really is.  Chose your spots to pull off carefully.

[Michael K (Az.)]

Just coming back from Utah, as I was stopping along the road onto loose gravel my,"HEY! PAY ATTENTION!!" idiot light came on where it resides inside the 'ol brain pan. That's when I stop thinking about what I'm planning to do at this location, gonna grab a new water bottle,e.c.t. and be in the NOW to make sure I've done this maneuver O.K. Of course, that pesky idiot light could short out at any given moment!
View your horizontal experience as a learning one. They never stop coming at you!!

[thewoodman]

No biggee / happens to most of us at some point / been riding 50+ years / I once dropped my Valk in the parking lot of the grocery store around the corner from my house / went brain dead by rolling out with the steering head locked / I never lock the head / tapped brake and over it went / felt stupid for about a minute / went home / won't ever pull that stunt again / sometime in the future, I'll find another dumb thing to learn from / I still start every ride with the attitude that the rest of the world is trying to kill me

[Daniel Meyer]

I haven't dropped mine (more than 10 or 15 times anyway). 

[Hoser]

Did you know that if you turn the handlebars and lock the fork in whichever direction the bike fell, after it happened, it makes lifting the bike easier?  Please don't ask how I know.  Hoser  

[big d]

just glad you are ok.

[aamcotrans]

I dropped mine at the gas pump Friday, seems I am meant to put the kickstand down before getting off the bike.

My fault for being too tired to be on the bike.

[BradValk48237]

Was recently in the Great State of Tennessee for a ride (middle of Sept) and pulled up at the pump, reached my foot back and caught the kickstand "stem" on the edge of my boot, kinda between the sole and the upper, instead of the bottom adn front of the heel. Well when I went to reposition my foot, the strap on my Engineer style Dingos got hooked on the "Stem" (don't know the technical term) and stuck. I then proceeded to fall against the pump and trap my leg and foot between the bike and the pump island curb. As I'm trying to hold/lift the bike, I look over at my Dad and he is laughing and trying to get out his Camera!!!!!!
     I proceeded to say something to the effect of " Drop the F#$%^g camera and help git this bike off my leg, A**@$&e!!!!!!"

Still laughing, he finally came over and helped me git her back up........ Need less to say, Dad and I keep our trips to less than a week..... Keeps us from killing each other!

Brad

[BF]

If dropping the bike by yourself isn't bad enough, wait 'till ya do it with the wife on the back like I did.   

[solo1]

Lessee,  I dropped my first bike, a '35 Harley twice, my second one, a Matchless 4 or 5,  900F 3 times, Seca 550 once, Two Goldwings twice each, Valk once, Vstrom once (so far). , not countin' the ones in between. Don't worry about it. .

If someone says they never dropped their bike, give them the benefit of a doubt for at least one second (unless it's a trike.)

I'll probably drop the Strom a few more times but I'm not losing any sleep over it.

[Dubsvalk]

Mr. Arn, I haven't watched you ride and you are right, it is a heavy bike.  But you said one thing that caused me to think about how you are stopping.  You said you dropped both feet getting ready to stop.  Once you take both feet off the pegs two things happen; you have less control of the bike and you can only stop it using the front brake.  These two things could be causing you this problem.  We teach keeping the right foot on the foot brake until the bike stops, then put it down if you need to.  You can put your left foot out to hold the bike up until the bike is stopped and then put your right foot down. 
I'm not trying to embarrass you further, just to hopefully, help you from having this problem in the future.  And it is a situation I see happen quite often.  Practice this stopping technique in a parking lot until you are comfortable with it.  Also, be sure the handlebars are square to the bike when applying the front brake, otherwise it will pull in the direction the handlebars are turned.
I hope this helps and allows you to build confidence in your stopping ability again!
Dubs

[Cruzen]

Just chalk it up to motorcycle riding.  Stuff happens..... when pulling off the road to a dirt, gravel, mud berm, you never know just how soft that dirt really is.  Chose your spots to pull off carefully.

EXACTLY!!  On a ride back from Sedona several years ago I saw a guy on a HD pull off the paved road onto the shoulder.  I was slowing down to see if he needed help when I saw his front wheel lock as it hit the stones and in a flash he and the bike were down.  He was very shaken.  That was why on another thread I remineded our riders not to use their front brakes when pulling off of pavement onto stones.  Dropping the bike just means you're human.  Basically there are two types of riders.  Those who have dropped their bikes and those who will at some time drop their bike and then choose to lie about it.

My Shadow went down in a stone parking lot years ago when an ole lady backed into it and me as I was standing still with the engine shut off talking with some friends.  Yea it hurt but that is the reason I now have engine guards/roll bars on every bike.   Welcome to the club.

[ValkFlyer]

Ah don't let it bother you....  ???   I get the "Dumb A*$ Award"  

Pulled into the garage one night and didn't put the kick stand down  ...started to dismount and couldn't catch my balance. Bike pinned me down and against the car.

Guess who comes out after hearing all the rukus??? That's right...my little sweatheart   Now is she there to help.. NOoooo, she's there for something better..

Here's how the next few seconds played out.....(wife) .. .....   (me)......    

It happens to the best of us, at least there were no witnesses in your case.

[John Schmidt]

I use Dubsvalk's method. When rolling to a stop I'm using the front brake plus a little rear brake...both feet on the pegs. Then, just as the bike comes to a halt, the left foot goes down. Worked pretty well for 60+ years so don't think I'll change soon. As for dropping the bike, it's a large club. So far I've not dropped the Valk in the nearly nine years I've owned it, but that's the only bike in that category. All the rest...I've lost count.

There's a parallel to be drawn here between riding a bike and flying an airplane. One of the first things drummed into my head was to "stay ahead of the plane." I try to do the same thing when on the bike, or even while driving for that matter. It's saved my bacon on many occasions.

[Spirited-6]

I'm sure I'll get through this, but for now it's still haunting me. 
 
 
 
And it will for some time. But as you have read, it happens to a lot of riders. I never dropped my Tourer but I knew it was a matter of time. I have dropped any and all bikes I`ve had over the last 50 + years . That is the one reason I`m looking for a lighter bike to replace my Tourer. I am a little older and slower so I think a lighter bike is in order.  I have a 29" inseam and had Polio in right leg at 8 years old so I don`t have a lot of "hold up power" on the right side. But, I will keep on riding when ever I can. Hope you will also. Ride On.     

[ChromeDome]

Been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt, it faded and had to throw it out.

Oh well, things like this happen. Just glad to hear that, other than your ego, you are OK.

[tank_post142]

when you drop the bike and it's fine but it costs $6745.00 to fix the rear fender on your 1960 corvette you can come whining to me!! I'll buy the beer for the nite 

[old grouch]

  How about in downtown Aspen, CO, at a gas station right on the main drag, on the 4th of july, during the parade, in front of several hundred witnesses, with ----- you know it ----- the wife on the back!     Three Valk riders plus some other non riders picked everybody up. (including the I/S)  "everybody OK?"  Wife-"yes"  Me- "just embarrassed is all"  One Valk rider, pointing to one of his buddies (verically challenged guy) - "we got so tired of picking his up, we made him trike it."  You WILL get over it.

[Willow]

If dropping the bike by yourself isn't bad enough, wait 'till ya do it with the wife on the back like I did.   

Yeah, it's a little embarassing to drop one with the V.P. of the VRCC on the back too.      

[Oss]

I told Dag a few days ago the real reason why there is a giant foam egg crate material on the wall of my garage next to the Valkyrie  and it aint for show  

With the mick-o-pegs and the highway pegs there hasnt been any damage from dropping the
bike except for the time I forgot to put down the kickstand and broke the knuckle off the offsets for the highway pegs

You are human

Keep the right foot on the right foot brake till stopped and dont use the right hand brake at low speed
like Dub said he is dead on correct

[xman]

Here's mine. Riding the valk with a few buddies, we came to a T in the road. Stopped, not knowing which way, I pulled the map out. Thinking the kick stand was down, I leaned the bike over. When I realized the weight was to far over. I was on the ground with my foot pinned under the bike. They had to lift the bike off me.
On a Honda twin I pulled into gravel driveway. The bike was almost stopped, with the handel bars turned, touched the front brake, the bike was down.

These are real common mistakes. Now, slowing and stopping I go thru a mental check list until the stand is down and I'm off the bike.
  

  

[Stanley Steamer]

I haven't dropped mine, but I HAVE put it in a power-less lean a time or two... ......something about 5" of rain and a patch of grass and a Valk not going together too well!!.....

And then there WAS that one time on a group ride when I was making a right turn onto a two lane country road with a sharp curve on the left.....a car came hauling butt around it and made me abort my turn at the last minute....and there was a HOLE on the edge of the road in that particular spot where I needed to put my right foot down...that one triggered the lean sensor.....had ohhh, 15-20 folks behind me get her out of that "power-less lean"....hope I avoid any more of those anytime soon!!......

[Buda]

Rode my bike to my brothers house...went and knocked on the door....no one home....went back to the bike...got on...raised the kick stand....brother pulled up...went to get back off the bike thinking the kick stand was down....felt it going farther over than it should....tried to catch it...it tossed me head over ass....all with my brother watching from his car.... ...happens to most of us some time or an other

[LilAbner]

In April of this year, a friend asked me to go ride. So on the way over to his house i stopped
by Windy's to grab a bite to eat. When i pulled in i hit my front brake, as i was turning in the
parking place, Will down i went. I had four guys help me up. But in the weeks later down the
road it bothered me so much that it slowed me down on riding. I have been on the bike about
six times this year. Hang in there.

[ptgb]

Hell, I dropped it three times this year alone...


1. In the garage, in the wheel chock. Messed with it and it folded on top of me. My wife had to help me get out from under it.

2. In the parking lot of all places, a Harley dealership... backing her up with the front wheel turned, touched the front brake and over she went. No one saw.

3. In the parking lot of a gas station. Started to leave and then stopped again... forgot to put the kickstand down.... and over it goes again.

In the words of Forest Gump..... "It happens".

[Michael K (Az.)]

I use Dubsvalk's method. When rolling to a stop I'm using the front brake plus a little rear brake...both feet on the pegs. Then, just as the bike comes to a halt, the left foot goes down. Worked pretty well for 60+ years so don't think I'll change soon. As for dropping the bike, it's a large club. So far I've not dropped the Valk in the nearly nine years I've owned it, but that's the only bike in that category. All the rest...I've lost count.

There's a parallel to be drawn here between riding a bike and flying an airplane. One of the first things drummed into my head was to "stay ahead of the plane!" I try to do the same thing when on the bike, or even while driving for that matter. It's saved my bacon on many occasions.

When John says,"stay ahead of the plane!" I say, "get up on the wheel!" Same deal!
Altho 98% of everybody on this site knows this stuff, I always like to read the warnings because it tends to reinforce good habits when you refresh your mind.
Carry on!

[old2soon]

Took daughter to her dental appointment. No problem. After dentist to the resturant for breakfast. No problem. Had a good meal and went out to the trusty phat ghurl and i got it up off of the side stand and stood up like i always do and daughter got on like she always does. Problem. I still don't KNOW what happened. Felt her put her left foot on her left foot peg and she started to swing her leg  over and thru and we are on the ground with the bike. Like i said-i don't KNOW what happened but something did. No one hurt-just ego and pride. Had to readjust the left road peg on the crash bars but that was it. I did not have any problem riding like i usally do with the daughter on(at her request not over 75 M P H) and we got back to the house none the worse for wear. Mr Arn-it WILL pass. You WILL ride like you used to. Give it a little time. I'm willing to bet you will NOT do that again anytime soon. Consider it a life lesson. RIDE SAFE.

[YoungPUP]

There are two types of motorcycle riders, Those that have dropped their bike, and those that lie about it....I dropped mine earlier this summer. Leaving for work at 0400, lean over to push close on the remote keypad for the garage, over she goes...Pins me to the gound laying on my cell and work radio in the leg pocket on my pants. Maybe could've gotten out if it wasn't for my full height work boots. (wear them to protect my ankles form holes etc. But the don't allow enough flex to straighten your ankle to pull your toes out from underr the cyl. head) Spent the next two hours laying in my driveway leg pinned under the bike til my neighbor came out to go for work and heard me screaming......

[NCGhostrider]

I dropped mine outside of Cripple Creek, CO a few years ago.  It was a stupid thing I did.   I had pulled up at a split in the road a few miles from town to use the facilities there.  My girlfriend at the time got on, and we backed up from the slightly uphill parking spot we were in.   I stopped, put it in gear, let out on the clutch, started moving and eased into the turn...then umph umph umph.. it wobbled, she went to the right.  I guess the high altitude and extra load, plus incline was a bit more than I usually throttle for.

 I tried to hold it, girlfriend leaned farther and flew off to the right.  I still tried to hold it, realized it was futile, and it layed down on its side.   

Girlfriend was surprised and pissed, but not hurt.  I put the kickstand down, told her to back up to the bike, and I guided it up with her onto the kickstand.   I was worried about it tipping over again or messing up the kickstand when it landed on it, so I had hold of the handlebars. She was short, and not very big, but she actually did move it up with my help.   I then looked around to see if anyone saw us, deciding not, we got the he77 out of there!!

Looking back, I should have let it fall, but I didn't want it to land on her.  I could have really messed up the the handlebars or worse.  As it was, it didn't do my right leg much good, I think I pulled something trying to hold it up.    When she landed, it was on the front guards as it is designed.

Just a matter of time, we all do it!!!

see ya

Craig
NCGhostrider
99 I/S  which is much better with rubber down!!!

[Razkal]

Yep  Only two kinds of riders, those who have dumped their scoot and those that are going to.

[Moonshot_1]

OH MY GOD! WE'RE  A BUNCH OF KLUTZES! 

Yeah. Some town in Eastern South Dakota on a Poker Run.

Thought the kick stand had gone down.  Heard it "klunk". Actually went halfway and then back up.
Got off and there she lay. Almost got me too, but I managed to get out of the way. Barely.
Got her picked up and went on like nothing happened.

[olddog1946]

Went on a poker run from Marysville, Wa to Rention, Wa. via some fine back roads..one of my group had the trip loaded in his GPS..At any rate, this allowed us to be the first group in.  I was second in line, as we pulled into the Harley shop (band playing, a hundred or so spectators)..first one turned in abruptly in front of me, I had hit the front brake and of course laid her down with all those people watching..Amazingly, not one dude even commented about it..but it was indeed embarrassing.  But I won the poker run prize,,so that made up for it..hehe

[Mr. Nuts]

The weight and speed at which it happened got my attention too when I first did that. As others have said keep those feet up on the pegs until the last seconds and use that rear brake for a smooth stop. Focus on the horizon and don't stare down at the ground unless you want to end up there. Grabbing front brake with the wheel turned (even a little) at slow speed will pull you to the ground like a magnet. This is not particular to the Valkyrie. My wife did it in a MSF safety course on a 250 and ripped her whole knee out at 3 mph requiring major surgery. The Valkyire IS harder to pickup though and leaves quite an impression on us when it happens. But even a bicycle will teach this lesson under the wrong conditions.

It has been said here that we don't simply stop on a Valkyrie...we bring it in for a landing. Thankfully the Valk has really great brakes and and a very smooth clutch.

Happy Landings!

[Jess from VA]

This thread is starting to sound like an AA meeting (not that I've ever been to one).

Hi, I'm Jess, I have a motorcycle, and I drop my bike every once in a while.     

My few drops have been in parking lot or pushing bike around working on it thinking the stand is down.

However, once after putting rear brake pads and front tire (careful, new tires are greasy), I rode down the drive to seat the rear brake pads (tapping on them), ran to the end of the drive, flopped the bars to do a slow but very sharp turn and the greasy tire threw me and the bike down.  Boy did I feel stupid. 

I now take new front tires out before install and cut off every little rubber nipple with small electrical dykes,  and scrub the release agent off with a degreaser.  Still need to be careful for the first hundred miles, but this is not a bad practice.   No need with car tires on the back.

[czuch]

I pulled over once after a light rain when I was a younger man and the ground was very soft and deep.  Mr. Arn, I was at Juan Tabo park when this happened. The 750 honda stayed upright and was a real hassle to get back on the road. Heck, that was back when I was young and strong too.
I call it "Character building ops".

[thunderbass53]

I've been lucky so far, and haven't dropped the Valk YET (but my wife has had to put her feet down twice to help prevent it)...
BUT, I dropped my FIRST bike about 3 minutes after I got it. When I was rolling out of the bike shop, the salesman said it was on reserve, so I had to go get gas, and after fueling up, I pulled her up off the side stand and she just kept on going...all the way to the ground. 

[popsix]

I'm proud to tell you I have never, ever dropped my Valkyrie. I'm serious. 'Course, I've only had it three weeks.    No doubt I'll join the ranks here soon enough. I just hope and pray Mrs. Six ain't on the back when it happens. I just don't think she would see the humor in it.

But it hasn't been all that long ago that I dropped a bike into another very rare and pristine bike. In my own garage. Yep, both bikes were mine. The beater bike got a dent in the tank while the bike that had been my pride and joy took a couple of ugly gouges in the engine case. Yeah, I chuckled for days about that one.  Soon after that, I decided all my bikes from then on would be riders first, lookers second.   

[tank_post142]

well got the bike back on the road after 4+ weeks apart. guess what in did today at 3-4 mph. THANKS!!

[Paxton]

Spirited-6
I just bought a 2002 VTX1800. Although it is supposed to be heavier than the Valk, it feels much lighter and nimble...
So, perhaps you can ride your Valk to California and ride back on this beauty. Although I love my Valk-standard, I'd also love to own a "low-mile" Tourer.

I purchased the VTX1800 from my cousin who is the original owner. It is pristine. It has over $2500 in accesories and 23,600 miles.

Go find one and ride it. Not by much, but it is faster than the Valk.

In the spirit of this thread, here is confession time! I dropped my Valk twice. Also, on 5 separate times she has leaned on her own.
I am convinced that this leaning behavior is directly related the the C/T. Notwithstanding, the C/T is there to stay!

Here are some photos of the Cherry-Red  VTX. https://picasaweb.google.com/103917731019176896112/TheThreeAmigas?authkey=Gv1sRgCIe0wJLpibP_ZQ