I apologized, but she’s still mad....

[NewValker]

I joined the drop club today    no damage to the bike, kinda wrenched my back before I gave up & let it drop...and got a couple of bloody knees to show for it

I found a private RR crossing in Washington, MA that showed promise for some good train watching today.  Pulled into the dirt/ballast rock (what RR uses for ballast under the tracks) lot. There was shade to my right, so I pulled in, then rolled backwards to park in the shade. I rolled onto a large flat rock that was was tilted to the right. Never noticed it there... Car tire went up on it, tire followed the angle of the rock and down we went.
I’ll take the bloody knees all day long, thanking God I wasn’t pinned under her, or broke a new hip!
This place is on a closed road. Further on, beavers have flooded it, so they just closed the road.

So I flipped the kickstand down, backed up to her and couldn’t pick it up...damn...ain’t no one to help for miles...better try again.

2nd try, the titanium hips kicked in and up she went. Gently onto the stand, holy crap, that was heavy...

I let her sit for a few minutes, had a water, and figured it was time to hit the starter...I got joy!!!
Some blue smoke out the right pipe, but I expected that. Took a minute to fire on 6 and purr.
No problems on the way home. Whew, could have been worse.

Guess this is a testament to my surgeon’s good work, but I can’t tell him cause he told me it was time for a smaller bike. I told him maybe, haha

I’m humbled, but I think she’s still pissed,
Craig

[The emperor has no clothes]

Dang, Craig ! You just got rehabbed. Be careful. Don't need you popping that titanium out of the bone. (They sure are heavy, hope you didn't strain your back)

[NewValker]

Hey Rob, it’s hurting, but it happened on the way down. I really thought I could hold it up. Wrong!
Craig

[Rams]

Don’t feel like the Lone Ranger, we have all had those moments.  Some may not admit it but we all know the truth.   Stuff happens.

Rams 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hey Rob, it’s hurting, but it happened on the way down. I really thought I could hold it up. Wrong!
Craig

yeah, once it gets to a certain point there ain't no sense in even trying. I once was farting around, not paying attention as I was sitting on the bike getting ready to go. Before I realized it I had tilted over to the point of no return. THEY ARE FRIGGING HEAVY. (Hope you've got no serious damage, other than to your pride)

[Jess from VA]

Gravel (and if on dirt or sand or mud) is entirely unpredictable.  I do fine just carefully motoring though (wiggling along), but I try to avoid brakes, throttle changes, stops, leans or pushing the bike around on it. Foot sliding out on pea gravel, I thought I was strong enough to hold it, but my foot might as well have been on ice.  I get hurt worse trying to stop the fall, so now if it's going over I just let it go, but try to ease it down rather than drop it.  My guards stop damage, but easing it down, it ends up less leaned over than a full drop.

The lift should be preceded by rocking it up as high as it will go while still on it's side (every degree higher it is when you start makes the dead lift easier).  If on gravel, I might dry to scrape it away from the tires, and my footing.  Then I get the downside handlebar all the way back to the lock, and then pull back hard against the lock while lifting.  For the dead lift, you just have to get mean with it.  

I've never lifted with my back to it.  I lift mostly with the handlebar, and bag guard, and get my hip (and weight) into the side of the bike as it begins to come up.  

Glad you didn't break anything (but skin).

You might want to avoid those places in the future, your call.  

[baldo]

I dropped mine three times on the trip to Taos....sucked big time. I have a vented cap, so there was plenty of gas to go around....

[NewValker]

Yeah Rams, I know we all have our moments, thanks. At least I had no witnesses 

Rob, nothing the chiropractor can’t fix!

Jess, I should have just parked in the sun lol. I enjoy chasing trains, lots of dirt areas next to tracks, just have to be more careful. I did rock it twice and definitely got mean on #3. Good thing I been going to the gym working on legs since allowed to do so.

I dropped mine three times on the trip to Taos....sucked big time. I have a vented cap, so there was plenty of gas to go around....

Bob, I’d like to hear them stories, make me feel a little better. 

Craig

[John Schmidt]

Keep in mind, you don't "lift" them when standing them up, you push them up. I've watched a 5'3" gal upright a Wing doing that, no way could she lift it but let her get her back to it and push it up using mostly the legs....Bingo!

[cookiedough]

I have seen a few videos of lifting goldwings up with either smaller women or older gents.  Not so sure I want to find out.

Only one thing I would have trouble doing is bending down that low in the saddle to get my tush up against the seat to push back and up lifting it up by walking it up backwards.

Even my age 18 year old kid who can deadlift near 600lbs. would not be able to literally deadlift our Valks at over 800lbs. or so without proper technique, similar to having the right tool to do any job.

[Ramie]

It just takes a moment of distraction.  I pulled into a parking spot last month at a big box store.  It was one of those last second things were I found a spot up front that I didn't notice because a pickup parked before the spot.  I turned into it too sharply and stopped and found my self with one foot on the ground right at the tipping point.  I managed to ease it to the ground kind of.  The good thing is I found out the tip sensor works.

[Avanti]

If these bikes are over on a down hill slope, one person can not push them up. The further over, the more weight there is to move. The taller the rear tire, the more weight there is to move also.
These bikes become very heavy, very quickly.

[DIGGER]

I have been many times to Big Bend National Park.    There is no level ground in Big Bend National Park.  I have tipped over 3 times there.    On a trip once from Houston to the East Coast on I-10 back yrs ago when I used to ride BMWS I got into a driving rain and  pulled over to put on a raincoat.    In the process I let the darn bike tip over and was on a steep down hill slide in gravel.    I tried several times to pick it up but laying down hill it was useless.   I tried to flag down help but no one would stop as it was pouring down.    I finally had to grab the front wheel and drag the bike 180 degrees to get it uphill so I could pick it up.   Scratched the heck out of it but was the only way.    Sometimes things just happen.

[Hook#3287]

Dang Craig, glad no serious injuries.

Did you catch the train?

[NewValker]

Hey Bill, I did, from a paved roadside further east.   
Craig