Dropped My Bike!

[FERNDOG]

Boy did I get the scare of my life! I just came back from a short ride and went to get off my viffer. I put down the kickstand and started to get off the bike as usual....when all of the sudden the bike kept leaning over further and further..before a knew it my tank was down to about my knee area. It took all I had to lift it back up, I think I might of dropped a nut, I strained so much! I was able to get it up on the centerstand and looked over my kickstand to see what went wrong. Originally I didn't see any abnormal scrapes or bends on the stand and couldn't figure out what was going on. I then noticed a bolt missing on my kickstand, not the one dead center that has the engine kill electrical connection to it, but the one just forward of it that keeps the whole thing from spinning further forward, Which is what was happing to me when I tried to get off. Some how it had loosend up and fallen off while on my short ride.

Has anyone has this same thing happen to them?
I plan on stopping by the dealer and getting a new one. But it sure was a scary feeling.

[jethro911]

Damn good thing you saved it! That coulda been axpensive. It just goes to show how important a through cleaning an inspection of the bike is from time to time. We all need to exercise due dilligence when working around our bikes. This specific bolt may not have been obvious but many times you can identify loose fasteners from feet away just by the appearance. Have a look at your buddies shifters where they attach to the splined shift shaft and usually you will find one black and yep she is loose. I think this one thing (shifter linkage) loosens up more than any other bolt on a bike.

On an aircraft we call them smoking fasteners because the generally leave a trail of black on the aircarft skin. Bikes are similar and the loose bolts generally have goo around the heads from oil and dirt and the bolt working back and forth.

Hope the nuts heal up fast!

[Viffergirl]

Sorry to hear about the dropped bike!

That reminds me to: 1. give my bike a thorough inspection & 2. Wash it. Thanx for the reminder! BTW - I've dropped my bike twice in two years. First time (2nd week I had the bike - bike too tall) on the left side and the second time (lowered bike with too long a kickstand - it tipped right over) on the right. Always when parked...LOL! I told the BF I'm gonna get the fairings fixed/repainted this winter. He thinks I should wait another few years and then really get it painted. But I can't stand riding around with the one (small) cracked fairing and multiple scratches on the other side fairing. Did your fairing get scratched? Maybe I should invest in Sliders....(sorry thinking out loud).

Cheers!

[reg71]

yeah, that gravity can be a bitch. I have dropped mine on both right and left and once I wasn't even on the bike. I was cleaning the windshield before I put it back on. Heard a thump, turned around and voila bike leaning against pole on patio and brand new dent in tank with nice little crease. It's nice to have you own little touches to the bike. :(

[FERNDOG]

I should clarify that I was able to save it. It didn't drop completely to the ground, so there was no damage to the bike. Just a strained nut . And actually being that my second, and last child was born 4 weeks ago I think I'm O.K. if there is irreversable damage.... My wife always did say I was a little to nutty and so now I might be just right!
Anyways boys and girls, like Viffergirl stated in her post above it probably isn't a bad idea to check for loose and damaged parts on our rides every so often.
I'm just a little concerned about where that bolt ended up....hopefully not through someones windshield!
Gotta go baby needs her diaper changed.

[R.W.]

So is it true? Do you get superhuman strength when a loved one or a prized possession is in danger?

[jethro911]

Can you say "adrenaline rush"?

Scary stuff when tapped into it, cheapest drug on the street.

[jackson]

Unfortunately I did drop my bike a few weeks back with a little help from a car. Sitting at a stop light with only one foot down and a car bumped me from behind and the bike lunged in the opposite direction from downed foot. Yes I know about the safety rules about both feet down at a light and looking in rear views as well as everywhere else. Yes I have been riding bikes either dirt or road for since first grade which would make it like 29 years. I had a mental lapse on a nice jaunt through country roads enjoying the scenery. Thankfully I was wearing boots and gloves so only got a sligthly sprained ankle and small rash on gloves (wearing jacket as well). The person got out of the car crying and saying she was sorry she was talking on the phone changing her radio station and did not realize how close she was. No real harm to the bike (o4 vfr) broken mirror and a few small scratches as the bike basically landed on my leg as I tried to get my foot down off the peg when I felt the lunge.
You can never be too careful and a painful reminder we are capable of mistakes (others or our own or combo) regardless of how many MCSC you take or how long you have ridden. Good job on keeping it upright.....

[reg71]

dude, I wouldn't even lecture you on that accident. As far as I'm concerned you didn't do ANYTHING wrong. I sit at stoplights and change which foot I have down all the time. About the only time I have both down is when I'm repositioning my butt. ;) Hell if they don't even see us stopped at lights, what hope is there. Maybe if we wear helmets with a flashing light like Barney Fife's ride.

Originally Posted by jackson

Unfortunately I did drop my bike a few weeks back with a little help from a car. Sitting at a stop light with only one foot down and a car bumped me from behind and the bike lunged in the opposite direction from downed foot. Yes I know about the safety rules about both feet down at a light and looking in rear views as well as everywhere else. Yes I have been riding bikes either dirt or road for since first grade which would make it like 29 years. I had a mental lapse on a nice jaunt through country roads enjoying the scenery. Thankfully I was wearing boots and gloves so only got a sligthly sprained ankle and small rash on gloves (wearing jacket as well). The person got out of the car crying and saying she was sorry she was talking on the phone changing her radio station and did not realize how close she was. No real harm to the bike (o4 vfr) broken mirror and a few small scratches as the bike basically landed on my leg as I tried to get my foot down off the peg when I felt the lunge.
You can never be too careful and a painful reminder we are capable of mistakes (others or our own or combo) regardless of how many MCSC you take or how long you have ridden. Good job on keeping it upright.....

[jackson]

No excuse but she was young like 17 or 18 and an inexperienced driver. The fact that she was talking on the phone and changing the radio station which she told me is what pissed me off so even if I had a flashing light on my helmet with a big yellow sign on my back saying do not hit me she probably still would have. The bigger issue is when you take your auto license you are lucky if you get one question about motorcycles while taking your MC license half of it is about avoiding cages and running over things in the road correctly. That is the bigger issue in this country that needs to be addressed in my opinion. Better parity in testing and recognizing bikes have a right to be on the road as well. No questions on auto license about how quickly a bike can brake or for that matter accelerate let alone what to look for when crossing a road or in Big Bens case turning in front of him (my opinion he should have been wearing a helmet but this is america). Guess my only point is we are still the minority and as safe educated and skilled we are we have the most to lose in an accident. Wheeeew got that off my chest and I will get off my soapbox. Thanks for the support though it can happen to all any of us so the first thing I did was get up move the mirror to the side of the road finished my intended route after cking the bike. Get back on the horse type of thing for me at least.

[jackson]

My comment on the license test thing is from a USA New Jersey (state) perspective cannot comment on other areas.

[FERNDOG]

Yup I do remember feling somewhat of a tingling feeling the moment I realized she was going down. Must have been the adrenaline rushing through my body. It was a eye opening experience because putting down your kickstand is something I just take for granted.
On a better note I plan on purchasing some Staintunes next month. Does Sportour still have the best price?