Panic stop fail...

[lucky_1_chris]

Dumped the bike this morning. Was pulling into a sprinkler soaked brick/cobblestone left turn lane of a 4 lane blvd. to pull into a gas station. Guy in a white pickup was stopped in the driveway waiting for traffic to clear so he could pull out and turn left to go in the same direction I was going. Traffic cleared...except for me...and the guy goosed it and pulled halfway out in the road before he saw me. I was watching the guy and half expected him to pull in front if me, so I was ready. Got on the brakes a little harder and the rear locked and skidded to the right just a little. It wasn't even close to coming all the way around, so I thought I could let off the brake for a second to straighten it up...nope. Soon as I got off the brakes it went straight over. I know better...

The guy in the pickup sat in the middle of the road for a second and watched me try to pick the bike up. Then he pulled in front of me and stopped. He just sat in his truck watching me and I hollered, "At least help me pick it up!". That's when he gunned it and took off down the road. It's not that guy's fault I dumped the bike, and I only blame myself. I was ready and I had time to stop, just effed up. I do thnk the guy shoulda got outta the damn truck and helped me pick the thing up, though. Prolly ran cuz he thought he might be responsible, dunno. Douche move whatever his reasoning was.

No real damage. Highway pegs and bag guard are scratched up, that's about it. Thankfully no damage to the valve cover, bag, pod, or fairing. I knew I'd have a hard time getting it uprighted, but I was surprised at how hard it actually was. I was afraid to put my back to it and sling it over on to the kickstand cuz I thought it might damage the the cross member, so I picked it up from the bars mostly. Heavy damn bike. Lesson learned.

[HayHauler]

Done that before.  There was tranny fluid on the road taking off from a light.  Spun right down on the right side.  Replaced the right side engine guard and my pride. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[vicrider]

Fortunately you were not under the bike when it dropped. The guy in the truck probably figured you wanted him out of truck for something other than help with the bike.

I'm not going to drop it to see but as far as feel goes, the Valk is a lot lighter and better balanced than the Victory I'm riding. It would seem to be easier to get back up than the top heavy Vic. I know it comes off the kickstand feeling much lighter. ( and yes, I know it's heavier. )

I've seen the video of how to get a bike back up by yourself but find an extra body helping just makes it a lot easier.

ps...Am I allowed to post here in TX since I'm an Okie neighbor?

[Disco]

Glad you're OK, Chris.

Fortunately you were not under the bike when it dropped. The guy in the truck probably figured you wanted him out of truck for something other than help with the bike.

+1

There are two kinds of riders: Those that have dropped their bikes, and those that will drop their bikes...  Welcome to the club.  I waited until I was in front of 40 or so of my best VRCC buddies to drop mine.   

[Valkpilot]

Dumped the bike this morning. Was pulling into a sprinkler soaked brick/cobblestone left turn lane of a 4 lane blvd. to pull into a gas station. Guy in a white pickup was stopped in the driveway waiting for traffic to clear so he could pull out and turn left to go in the same direction I was going. Traffic cleared...except for me...and the guy goosed it and pulled halfway out in the road before he saw me. I was watching the guy and half expected him to pull in front if me, so I was ready. Got on the brakes a little harder and the rear locked and skidded to the right just a little. It wasn't even close to coming all the way around, so I thought I could let off the brake for a second to straighten it up...nope. Soon as I got off the brakes it went straight over. I know better...

The guy in the pickup sat in the middle of the road for a second and watched me try to pick the bike up. Then he pulled in front of me and stopped. He just sat in his truck watching me and I hollered, "At least help me pick it up!". That's when he gunned it and took off down the road. It's not that guy's fault I dumped the bike, and I only blame myself. I was ready and I had time to stop, just effed up. I do thnk the guy shoulda got outta the damn truck and helped me pick the thing up, though. Prolly ran cuz he thought he might be responsible, dunno. Douche move whatever his reasoning was.

No real damage. Highway pegs and bag guard are scratched up, that's about it. Thankfully no damage to the valve cover, bag, pod, or fairing. I knew I'd have a hard time getting it uprighted, but I was surprised at how hard it actually was. I was afraid to put my back to it and sling it over on to the kickstand cuz I thought it might damage the the cross member, so I picked it up from the bars mostly. Heavy damn bike. Lesson learned.

Don't feel too bad, Chris. 

I did almost exactly the same thing the week before I left Pennsylvania.  Was following a friend in a car through a curving right yield.  I thought we had enough time to go; his opinion differed and he stopped. I grabbed lots of brake to keep from hitting him and down I went.


The black bike sustained mostly cosmetic damage and is rideable but ashamed to go out in public, so it's still in rehab.

My ego-bruise still hasn't healed.

[HayHauler]

Glad you're OK, Chris.

Fortunately you were not under the bike when it dropped. The guy in the truck probably figured you wanted him out of truck for something other than help with the bike.

+1

There are two kinds of riders: Those that have dropped their bikes, and those that will drop their bikes...  Welcome to the club.  I waited until I was in front of 40 or so of my best VRCC buddies to drop mine.  

What about that time up in Colo........nah, never mind....  

Hay  
Jimmyt

[Houdini]

I was afraid to put my back to it and sling it over on to the kickstand cuz I thought it might damage the the cross member

It won't.  I've picked up a few bikes this way, including mine once; it is by far the easiest way to pick 'em up.

[Disco]

What about that time up in Colo........nah, never mind....  

[sgtschultzvoice]I know nuthink![/sgtschultzvoice]  

(That was the 'wing.  It doesn't count.) 

[lucky_1_chris]

Thanks y'all.

Yeah...the worst part is looking around and seeing all eyes on you... Hopefully a rare occurence.

[Red Diamond]

Chris, you're lucky, only had a few eyes on you. Last time my wife rode with me was in 03, in Kemah on a Saturday, about a million people watching, traffic all over the place. Just picked it up, laid it over on the side stand and off we went. As was mentioned, you will not hurt the side stand bracket at all.

PS. She hasn't ridden with me since.

[RainMaker]

I stopped counting how many times I've had my bike down.  Let's just say highway pegs and saddlebag guards are my friends.

Glad you weren't hurt.  Those cobblestones are slick as ice when wet!

RM

[bigguy]

Fortunately you were not under the bike when it dropped. The guy in the truck probably figured you wanted him out of truck for something other than help with the bike.

I'm not going to drop it to see but as far as feel goes, the Valk is a lot lighter and better balanced than the Victory I'm riding. It would seem to be easier to get back up than the top heavy Vic. I know it comes off the kickstand feeling much lighter. ( and yes, I know it's heavier. )

I've seen the video of how to get a bike back up by yourself but find an extra body helping just makes it a lot easier.

ps...Am I allowed to post here in TX since I'm an Okie neighbor?

I'm sure nobody will object to an Okie posting on the Texas board. In fact, I used to spend a lot of time up on Brokenbow lake. From the license plates, you'd have thought you were in Texas.
I had a Vic 98TC deluxe. It was a lot more top heavy than the Valk so far as riding, but oddly I found it easier to pick up. (Might be cause I had more practice at it.) But it seems I could get a better grip on it than I can the Valk. I used to take the Vic out on the grass a lay it over to work on the pipes and bags.
The other issue is finding a place to grab that isn't hot. That seems to be the main trouble I have lifting the Valk. There was a handy spot, low on the Vic that wasn't hot. I'd just grab it there and straighten my legs. I haven't found an equivalent spot on the Valk.
In the Valk's favor, it's less likely to go over on me.

[BnB Tom]

There are two kinds of riders: Those that have dropped their bikes, and those that will drop their bikes...  Welcome to the club. 

Actually, I BELIEVE it's  -

                       'those that have dropped their bikes, and those who DON'T RIDE!!

[Lyn-Del]

There are two kinds of riders: Those that have dropped their bikes, and those that will drop their bikes...

You missed the third group - the ones that have dropped bikes but are too (choose your own word here) to admit it.

I dropped my I/S one day, and commented to the woman I had been talking to that I hadn't dropped a bike in almost 5 years.  She said she wouldn't tell anyone.  The look on her face was priceless when I said "no, but I will!" 

[DavidT]

I knew I'd have a hard time getting it uprighted, but I was surprised at how hard it actually was. I was afraid to put my back to it and sling it over on to the kickstand cuz I thought it might damage the the cross member, so I picked it up from the bars mostly. Heavy damn bike. Lesson learned.

It is actually the easiest thing in the world to pick up with the 'butt in the seat, hands on handlebar and shock mount bar" method.  You just lock your arms, one press up with your legs and then little steps backwards.  It goes right up, no strain on the bike and your legs (not your back!) are doing all the work.  Done it a few times....

[Hoser]

I knew I'd have a hard time getting it uprighted, but I was surprised at how hard it actually was. I was afraid to put my back to it and sling it over on to the kickstand cuz I thought it might damage the the cross member, so I picked it up from the bars mostly. Heavy damn bike. Lesson learned.

It is actually the easiest thing in the world to pick up with the 'butt in the seat, hands on handlebar and shock mount bar" method.  You just lock your arms, one press up with your legs and then little steps backwards.  It goes right up, no strain on the bike and your legs (not your back!) are doing all the work.  Done it a few times....

You are correct, I've done it a couple times, and I'm just a little fella that's social security age.  Hoser