Only thing I hurt was my pride...

[custom1]

Well.... There's a first time for everything. I dropped the fat lady today. Just got done making a couple mods and went for a shake down run. I was making a right from a stop that was a little up hill, so had my right foot on the board and on the brake to not roll back. Gave it some throttle and slipped the clutch.....and stalled it!! What was that?? the fat lady never stalls. Probably only moved a foot or two.  Must have had the bars a little right anticipating the turn. Didn't get my fight foot down fast enough and went down on the right side. Got pitched off and did a single tumble and bam I'm standing there looking at the Valk laying on its side. Damn.   Still pretty agile for 51 I guess.

 Well I've never practiced picking it up, so when I tried it didn't work. Wasn't anyone around for a few minutes, then a couple cars stopped and a guy helped me pick it up. Started her up, thanked the guy, and drove up the road to a parking lot and stopped to survey the damage. Just a couple marks on the guards( they were not perfect before) and tweaked the right grip end. Found out gas leaks out of the filler cap when on it's side also.

On my way home I noticed a miss just off idle to about 3k. Not sure if that was there before and maybe contributed to the stall or if being upside down stirred up some crud in the carb bowls. Put some Techron in when I got home and went for another short ride. Seems to be clearing up.

Definitely a humbling experience.    Glad I had my gear on.

[fon1961]

it happens, glad you're ok 

[..]

If this petite woman can pick a bike up so can you.

http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html 

[Jess from VA]

I did one of those years ago on my dresser Hog.  Except it was downhill, and I thought I was in first, but was in neutral.  Did a big lean to turn, hit the gas, rolled a little with gravity but no power, and went over into a 4 X 4 post holding a stop sign.  Pinned me between the bike and the pole.  Was glad I didn't go all the way over (the pole was like a gift from the gods), but took some struggling to get off the pole.  Sometimes WE are the entertainment for others.

[rmrc51]

My bad hip almost caused me to drop my 2 wheeler a few times. I knew it was just a matter of time before something like that, or a more serious accident was going to happen. That's why I went to a trike. And a Valk Trike at that! 

I'm not sayin that a trike is the answer for everyone, but it definitely suits me perfectly. 

[Jack]

It does happen.  Glad YOU are ok.

[olddog1946]

I've had mine fall over twice, while standing next to it at the gas station filling it up..I am sure the people inside thought it was funny..learned to make damn sure it is still in gear when I fill up now. Also slid off the berm in front of my neighbors house, pulling up out front, flipped me right off the bike, laughing all the way to the ground.

[cookiedough]

Knock on wood, never tipped on the Valk yet, but I am sure it is coming one of these years.  I have once tipped my former 1984 honda magna in my parents driveway 20+ years ago when still living at home.  Their driveway is short and drastically angled to the right downhill.  I was dumb enough to stop in the angled part downhill and was not tall enough to hold the bike upright when it leaned downhill.  I had to jump off the bike on the downhill side and attempt to let it down easy since couldn't hold it up.  No damage really thank god, but it was a bear to pick up again by myself at such a drastic upward angle.  Learned my lesson at such a young age to NOT stop the bike on an angled incline of any kind.  When in doubt, keep going until you find more level ground to park/stop.

[DIGGER]

We've all done it.....welcome to the club

[custom1]

If this petite woman can pick a bike up so can you.

http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html 

Yea, I've seen the videos. Never tried it in the comfort of my garage to get the finer points down though. About all I remembered was to have my butt toward the bike. Forgot the part about keeping the bars full to the side that's down. Couldn't quite figure what to grab on the back end to get a good hold. The videos also say ask for help. I have had enough back problems to know when to accept help. Was not on level ground either, and some grit right where my feet had to be. Had about 3/4 of a tank of gas also. That's enough excuses huh? 
May put some old garden hose on the guards and give it a try at home when the tank is low and have a few buds around to help lay it down.... and pick it up if I can't.

Glad the spousal unit wasn't on board. It's hard to get her to ride as it is. She probably would never go again.

[F6BANGER]

Well.... There's a first time for everything. I dropped the fat lady today.

I hate that part of the story!!!

[art]

I've had two GW an they are easy to pick up,just like the vid. but the Valk is diff. there are no hand holds except for the seat an
i'm afraid of damaging it trying to pick up.Easer said than done.

[custom1]

I've had two GW an they are easy to pick up,just like the vid. but the Valk is diff. there are no hand holds except for the seat an
i'm afraid of damaging it trying to pick up.Easer said than done.

Yes. The only thing I could get a hold of with my right hand was the edge of the seat, and I knew that was not going to work.
It's a bit different in the middle of an intersection with people in cages looking at you than at home in the privacy of your garage and time to study it. Either way I don't intend to make a habit of it.

[9Ball]

On my way home I noticed a miss just off idle to about 3k. Not sure if that was there before and maybe contributed to the stall or if being upside down stirred up some crud in the carb bowls. Put some Techron in when I got home and went for another short ride. Seems to be clearing up.

Make sure you drain the dragon drool tube....sometimes when they are on their side for too long this tube fills up....might help with the problem.

[Karen]

Glad the damage was minimal, welcome to the club.

[YoungPUP]

Atleast you were only down for a few minutes, and not stuck under it in your driveway for a few hours waiting for your neighbor to come out to go to work...

[NC_Rob]

Dropped mine in a parking lot while leading about 20 other bikes  It was 2 years ago and it is still brought up from time to time

[highcountry]

I was changing the Valk's oil in the garage and had a piece of 2x4 under the sidestand to fully drain the oil.  Had finished draining the oil and was laying on my side on a creeper spinning off the filter and she decided to lay over on me.  I am laying there loking up at 800 lbs of bike falling on me thinking "oh crap"!  I instinctively pushed away on the bike which resulted in the creeper rolling me away from the falling bike and cushioning the fall of the Valk.  It was like it just slowly floated down to floor.  Absolutely no damage to bike and only slightly spraining my little finger on my left hand.  I used a lift on my '98 Valk which had an adapter bolted to it but didn't move it to my '97 before selling the '98.  I guess it is time to get another adapter  - ya think!?   

[alph]

two times for me.  once in my garage, put my foot down on some floor dry that slipped out from under me and another time i stopped at a stop sign then put my foot down on that white right arrow paint while it was wet, foot slipped out from under me again!!! 

[Hedgehog]

Yup. Sounds familiar.

While non riders watching may find it funny, they don't realize that unlike the cars they drive (inherently stable) a bike is inherently unstable and will fall over all the time unless some force or restraint or rider input is applied to stop it. Wonder how many of them could cope with keeping 800lbs upright on sloping ground..??

(As you may have guessed from the tone, I have been the subject of some hilarity myself for similar acts!!) 


It just happens.... shocking at the time though.

Glad you are OK.

HH

[Chiefy]

Well, you know what they say....... There are two kinds of riders.  Those that has dropped their bikes, and liars.

At least yours went over trying.  I had been off bikes for 25 years, then bought a trike, then the 2 wheel Valkyrie.  Second time I went to fill up, I did everything I was supposed to when I pulled into the pump.  Except put the kickstand down.    I got off one way, the bike went the other.  Hey, trikes don't have kickstands.......

[Cliff]

Atleast you were only down for a few minutes, and not stuck under it in your driveway for a few hours waiting for your neighbor to come out to go to work...

Oh,, man, that must have seemd like forever!!!