Knowing my rear tire has a very slow leak in it the past few years, I decided before winter in November to put a very thin 1/2 inch thick at most wooden board under the side kickstand thinking it would help level it upright if the rear tire went flat.
Well, came home today after work low temp last night of -18 degrees bitter, bitter cold, to find a huge smell and puddle of gas all underneath my Valk I/S and leaning NOT to the left (kickstand side) but to the right leaning near 45 degree angle against my ladder and buckets, etc. along the wall.
I needed a little help from the misses to help lift the bike upright me pulling back with all my might backwards grabbing the handlebars to lean it upright again to the left. Yep, cracked and scrapped my I/S fairing about 4 inches or so but once spring arrives might be able to salvage it without chipping it all off in the corner since is cracked thru almost in a 4 inch U shape in the right corner of fairing edge.
Well, me being me (stupid), I decided first time ever to put that thin wooden board under the kickstand
in late November before winter, thinking a near flat (say 10-20 psi) rear tire would cause the bike to lean more left. WRONG! It caused it to tip over to the right thus falling over along the ladder/buckets and wall. NO other damage besides fairing cracked about 4 inches but very noticeable
I put 44 psi in rear tire again and while I was doing that, the bike on sidestand instantly starting leaning back over to the left about 2 more inches much to my surprise.
So, for those thinking of putting a thin say 1/2 inch piece of plywood under the stock sidestand to set the Valk a tad bit MORE upright, do NOT do that for a near flat tire will somehow cause the bike to upright itself much more so and then tip over to the right instead.
Anyone think that huge puddle of gas about 4 feet in diameter leaking from say 8 a.m. or so this morning until 4 p.m. caused any internal damage. The gas was not leaking out of the gas tank but somehow down lower guessing carbs, not sure where? It was too fricking cold to inspect tonight at 5 p.m. getting dark as well but am thinking will be fine come spring to fire it up by then, right? AS long as no more gas leaks out from where it came from having the bike at a near 45 degree angle leaning on the right side? Thoughts?
One thing is for sure, NO more thin piece of wood is going under the sidestand ever again on level concrete pavement. I thought for sure a near flat tire would cause the bike to lean more left, NOT right, as it obviously did tipping over much to my awe and shock coming home from work today.
