Dropped the Vstrom

[solo1]

In the middle of being stressed from my sister's passing, i decided to take a ride to relax and  enjoy the nice weather.
I was checking the tire pressure and had to move the bike just a little to get at the rear tire valve stem.  I didn't straighten the bike enough, the sidestand caught and I found myself with 525 pounds of motorcycle lying on its side. It was dead( pardon the pun) flat on the floor, both tires not touching the garage floor.

I ABSOLUTELY could not lift it, frontwards or backwards.  Mark was at work but called a mutual friend of ours, Mike, service manager at River City Harley, just a mile from me.  Mike came out and had the Strom up after two tries. Mike is built like Mark and had no trouble . LOts of thanks to him.

No damage to the 'Strom. The engine guards protected the Tupperwear completely, the hand guards kept the mirrors from snapping off, and the soft saddlebags protected the muffler.

Now what?  Do I keep on riding, knowing that there is no way in he##  that I'd be able to pick it up.  I'm not sure that I have enough good looks to depend on some fair lady to help me  out.

Or do I ride knowing I"ll never drop it again. BS! I know better. 

That's one of the things that has worried me.  One nice thing came from it. I was worrying that I might drop the bike, that worry is now gone.

[Lil D]

keep on keeping on wayne... i've seen many an experienced rider drop a bike...for different reasons... folks come over to help.....
 

[scrounger]

Maybe this will help.

How To Pick Up a Dropped Motorcycle	powered by Aeva

[RainMaker]

Not sure it's possible, but are there engine guards that you can add that would keep the bike from "full flat" position on the side?  Seems that, like a Valk, if the guards would keep the bike at an angle where the tires were still in contact with the ground, you'd be able to use the method shown in the video. If the tires are in the air, I don't think that method would work.

I just don't know if you can add such to a Vstrom.

I've dropped the Valk twice where I was damaged enough not to be able to lift it back up.  In both cases, people stopped by and helped out.  So I think you would find people willing to help if you were out riding and found yourself in a similar position.

RM

[solo1]

In this case the engine guards worked to keep from damage.  There is no way, to my knowledge, to add anything to the Strom to keep it from lying flat. It would be similiar to doing the same to a KLR which is a lot lighter by the way. Both are 'Adventure touring' bikes which is a stretch in the case of the V1000.

The trick of using your knees to lift the bike by backing up against the seat, won't work for me because of my crappy knees.  Besides it depends on the bike not moving.  With both wheels not on pavement, putting it in gear won't work plus the effort to lift it far enough for the wheels to touch is the hardest part.

Maybe i could pull a trailer with a hydraulic hoist in it, ready for use.

[Skinhead]

If you are really worried about it, I would find a riding partner to ride with you.  Otherwise I would take my chances.  Another alternative is a trike or voyager kit. 

[Strider]

Sir, that would be a "hard pick up" for anyone - with both tires off the ground.  Good thing is you got the "drop" out of the way - I am waiting for mine - and that there was no damage.  It would have been a "hard lift" when a big ol' boy took two attempts to get it up.  I have dropped my heavy Valk a couple of times but there was once when I was doing a slow move in a parking lot in Cherokee, NC and a couple walked right in front of the bike (as I was slow maneuvering up an incline) and down she went when I hit the brakes.  I think it was Detn8er that ran over and helped me get her back up.  The way she laid down on the downward side of the incline, I don't think I could have gotten her up without help.  It just happens sometimes.

IMHO, I wouldn't quit over a worry of not getting her back up if you lay her down.  Chances are you may not have it happen again.  But if you do, you can hope that people are around to help.  Over the years, I have had a couple of drops that if folks were not around to help, I may have had to place a "for sale" sign on her and sold her where she laid.  

One of the things that scares me a tad of when I start doing more off roading on the Vee (Wee) is having it take a nap downside on an incline in the middle of nowhere.

I am waiting for the centerstand to come in from Happy Trails - should at least help with servicing the chain and I can see circumstances that it may offer a more stable platform than the side stand.  Don't know if you have one installed or not.

Just go for it and hope it doesn't lay down again when nobody is around.  Chances are, if you are watchful, that it won't happen again - just one of those times where "chit happens".  Plus, I think you are a fairly handsome man, so I don't think you will have any problems getting a lady to help.    You can always figure that with the reduced weight of the Vee versus the Valk, it was a better situation than if the Fat Lady would have laid down - you have a better chance of getting it back up.  Again, laid down without any rubber down would have been a hard lift for anyone - no matter what the age or condition of the kneecaps.

Ride on Mr Wayne!!!!!!!  See you on the road again soon, I hope.  You are an inspiration to us all.

[old2soon]

Wayne-granted you were in your own garage. Could you have used(suitably wrapped and protected) a long 2x4 as a lever?? Just trying to think out side the box a little here.  The tryke idea do have some merit. In fact a ridin bud is at sturgis now on his tryke. Little younger than me but bad knees problems. His take is-they can bury the tryke with him. RIDE SAFE.

[solo1]

Thanks Warren and Old2soon.  I tried three wheels, a sidecar rig, didn't like it, wouldn't like a trike for the same reasons. The bike leaning in the curves is top priority for me.

Warren, I had the Strom lowered when I bought it. The OEM centerstand  now is a 14 carat B**** to get the bike up on.  I think that I'm going to put the original links back in and lower the front forks in the triple tree back to where they were.  This will make it easier to get it up on the centerstand again.  The sidestand lets the bike set too upright with the bike lowered. It would fix that too.
I need to use the centerstand for lubing the chain and checking the tires.

I'll still be able to flat foot it and I'm used to the bike now so that's what I'll do.

[Karen]

Sounds like you've made the decision to keep on going. I've had folks pull over & stop on the highway to help me get my 74 759 K4 back up on its wheels when I pulled off too close to the edge of the pavement only to find that when I lifted it up off the side stand my right leg could no longer reach the ground, and when it did, the bike had way too much momentum for me to keep it from going all the way down. I love my trike, but I know what you mean about the two wheels, which is why I also love my Majesty. I had also lowered my 750 back & front, and to get it on the center stand, I'd back the rear wheel up on a board first, then pull the board out. Hope to get a ride in with you one of these days, Wayne, take care!

[Daniel Meyer]

Ride on Wayne! Just make sure you have road service. If ya drop it and nobody will stop, call the tow truck!

[The Anvil]

Thanks Warren and Old2soon.  I tried three wheels, a sidecar rig, didn't like it, wouldn't like a trike for the same reasons. The bike leaning in the curves is top priority for me.

Warren, I had the Strom lowered when I bought it. The OEM centerstand  now is a 14 carat B**** to get the bike up on.  I think that I'm going to put the original links back in and lower the front forks in the triple tree back to where they were.  This will make it easier to get it up on the centerstand again.  The sidestand lets the bike set too upright with the bike lowered. It would fix that too.
I need to use the centerstand for lubing the chain and checking the tires.

I'll still be able to flat foot it and I'm used to the bike now so that's what I'll do.

I realize that both of those tasks are made easier by a centerstand but is it really necessary? How about  a swingarm stand.

[old2soon]

Glad to see your coming to grips with this Wayne. Sides-i'm a little like Karen in this regard-you and me ain't shared any wind-YET. So keep ridin the durned thing old timer. I know-i know-keep that old timer crap up and you'll kick my butt. Keep on keepin on. RIDE SAFE.

[solo1]

Yeah, Anvil I thought of that too. The centerstand will work.  It's just that my knees won't straighten out with that extra push you need to get it over the hump.  I can do it on good days though.
The more problems that I have, the more I swear I'm a gonna keep ridin'! even if its a short but not necessarily slow ride. That Vstrom do put down the rubber!

I'm a stubborn old geezer.

[Karen]

And that's the way (uh-huh, uh-huh) I like it! I really look up to you, Wayne, and not just because you're tall...

[Varmintmist]

What about taking the sidestand off, go to a welder, cutting a 1/2 in out of it and welding it back, and remount it?

Bike won't sit upright then.

[solo1]

I'll accomplish the same thing by raising it back to its normal height. I've already ground off the sidestand stop to help a bit.

[sugerbear]

just glad you were not under it.

[Hoser]

Thanks Warren and Old2soon.  I tried three wheels, a sidecar rig, didn't like it, wouldn't like a trike for the same reasons. The bike leaning in the curves is top priority for me.

Warren, I had the Strom lowered when I bought it. The OEM centerstand  now is a 14 carat B**** to get the bike up on.  I think that I'm going to put the original links back in and lower the front forks in the triple tree back to where they were.  This will make it easier to get it up on the centerstand again.  The sidestand lets the bike set too upright with the bike lowered. It would fix that too.
I need to use the centerstand for lubing the chain and checking the tires.

I'll still be able to flat foot it and I'm used to the bike now so that's what I'll do.

Check this out Wayne, I'm very interested if it makes it to production.  Hoser
http://www.tiltingmotorworks.com/pages/products.html

[Valker]

Wayne, I feel the same way you do about the leaning part. My decision will be for a Piaggio MP3. Look here: http://www.piaggiousa.com/innovation.html
These lean when you are moving, but you press a button as you come to a stop (below 3 mph) and it stands upright on its own. The upright lock automatically disengages when you start off. I have tested one (the 250) in my MSF class. It was fantastic. They make it up to a 500cc.

[Valkahuna]

Wayne,

I was really proud when you stood up at the last IZ to claim your award for "Oldest Rider". With that comes the cunning and experience to continue doing what you seem to enjoy so much. 

There are many riders out there, much younger than you, that would also be unable to pick up their rides if (when??) they tip over. Someone always seems to appear when help is required.

I've dropped my Harley twice, so far the Valk has not suffered the same fate, and both times some kind stranger offered to help.

Only you will know when it's time to "Hang up" your helmet, Sound like that time is not now!

[Quicksilver]

How about an air bag with a mini compressor, might get it up high enough to get the wheels on the ground.