Topic: Oh bugger!

[Jim Shea]

I am loathe to post this, but here goes; I was out today and got slightly lost downa very narrow lane, I decided to turn round and found a wide spot that was an entry to a field. I turned slowly on to the rutted entracne and ran out of room, bang down she went and I am standing staring at the bike lying in a rut, stinking of petrol that was starting to leak. I managed to get hold of the bike and somehow picked it up, I don't know how, I suppose I knew if I didn't I might still be there! These bikes are bloody heavy, I suppose the weight must be  200 hundred pounds when lifting off of the floor?
Anyway, bike didn't come off too badly(but my ego is bruised and my back aches!); damaged mirror, scratched rear indicator and a couple of scratches on the engine crash bar. I am really glad that I had the engine crash bar and would not consider going without one!
So have a laugh at my expense, this is my Christmas present to you all.
Take care out there!
 
Jim.

[Gordon]

Don't feel too bad, Jim.  I dropped mine once just backing out of the garage.   Locked up the front tire in the gravel, felt it going over and so I just stepped off to get out of the way.  Ever since then I walk the bike out onto the paved alley before getting on.

[Glenn Stauffer]

My old apartment had a gravel driveway.  First time I rode my bike into the driveway, I must have locked the front brake because the next thing I knew, I'm stradling my (to me) new bike which is now on its side.  My first impulse was to look around to see if anyone saw me.  Good thing this was a 550 since there was no one around to help me get the bike upright.  Fortunately neither I nor the bike suffered any significant damage a bruised ego and some minor scrapes was all.  Gravel still gives me the creeps and I have a 900ft gravel driveway with a tight downhill entry to deal with.  I never look forward to the last turn to home after a long ride on a hot day.

[Uncle Ernie]

Jim, if that's your first time, it's because you've only been riding for a month.  Fortunatly for my bikes, I have an uncanny instinct to throw my knee under the tank to save it.  Probably explains why I have a shiney spot on the side of all my tanks (come to think of it...).

[Jim Shea]

Thanks chaps.
I have recently come back to bikes after 15+ years off! I am glad it happened as it did and not more spectacularly, I must say I rode home much more carefully than usual!
Ernie,
I will try that trick next time, although I wouldn't want the bloody thing on top of me.
Glenn,
I am fascinated by your "tight downhill entry" I wonder if that will get Terry excited? 
Happy Christmas.
Jim.

[MetalHead550]

My uncle rides a Fat Boy(learned to ride on hondas, still loves em) and thats obviously a damned heavy bike to lift from its side.  He tells me theres a trick to getting a heavy bike back up.  Instead of trying to dead lift the bastard straight up, you get a good grip on the frame(grab bar whatever) and handle bar facing perpendicular to the bike.  Put your weight over the seat then using your good old hamstring and ass muscles walk the bike up so to speak.  Hard to explain without pantomiming it but he says it works well.  Only one way to find out I guess...hope you and I dont have to.

[Jim Shea]

That's sort of how I did it I think? blind panic and being stuck down a deserted country lane will give you 'Hulk' like strength.

[Jim Shea]

Now now Dave, be nice it's Christmas, good will to all men and K8 riders! 

[Jim Shea]

Fortunatley not mate. Bent the mirror, but I straightened that out. Amazing how these old girls are so resiliant. Almost all of the weight went on to the right side mirror and it did not break!

[Glenn Stauffer]

Glenn,
I am fascinated by your "tight downhill entry" I wonder if that will get Terry excited? 

As I was writing that, it was on my mind that my choice of words was not appropriate for this forum. :-)

[6pkrunner]

Never a laugh or guffaw when a bike and rider go down, no matter how small or minor the dump. Sorry to hear of it, but sometimes these things do happen. you weren't hurt badly so its all good - well except for the old girl's scratches.

[Jim Shea]

Thanks mate. Not a scratch on me, except I think I got a hernia lifting the old girl up?
Anyway, let's chat about Glenn's  'tight downhill entry'? I am sure that is a gay euphamism! 
Where is Terry, I am surprised he missed that one.

[smithrelo]

Oh Jim-Been There-Done THAT!!

(see my post on Bronco Bike Bucks me off!)

Totally agree with you on those crashbars!  Amazing, after my spill (going BACKWARDS!!) the only "lasting" injury I have is the plastic wrap (original) on my 74 550 brake lever is split!  And DANG it makes that whole bike look like a junker!!! (just kidding, but you know what I mean!)

Anyway, I'm forever grateful I had brain bucket on, as I saw stars for sure and hate to think that I wouldn't be here because I failed to realize the slope I stopped on was so steep!

So glad you're ok and yes these bikes are heavy-without help, BB would still be lying at Red Rocks in Denver!  I think I posted a photo of where it happened.

As they say, "get back on that horse" as soon as you can.

Linda

[Sam Green Racing]

Terry will be cooking his Christmas Dinner,.....glad to hear your OK after your off,....have you not been told not to drink and drive

[Terry in Australia]

Terry will be cooking his Christmas Dinner,.....glad to hear your OK after your off,....have you not been told not to drink and drive

Getting ready to go out to my Mother-In-laws place for Christmas lunch/dinner Sammy, (it's an all day pig-out festival in itself, with waaaay too much food and booze, ha ha!) sorry to hear (see?) about Jimmy's misfortune, but glad you're ok mate, bikes can be fixed quite quickly, but ol' farts like you (not me) take longer to repair, ha ha! Merry Christmas! Cheers, "Santy's Favourite" Terry.

[jotor]

My first impulse was to look around to see if anyone saw me.

....Don't we all!


Rode my new ZRX1200 to Saturday breakfast.  When I was pulling out of the parking lot--with all my buddies watching--I stopped for traffic, put my foot down..................into the gutter.  over it went in slo-mo.  I was able to ease it down so no damage to the bike.  Didn't do my street cred any good, though.

Happy Holidays, all.

Joe

[Uncle Ernie]

I never said my knees were any good anymore.  My wife puts my feet on the pegs for me and runs along side until I get enough speed going to stay up.  Coming home... the back wall of my garage is well padded.

What someone up there was talking about getting the bike up; if it falls on the left side, put the bike in gear. If it falls on the right side you'll have to hold onto the front brake. In any event, you face away from the bike while grabbing the handle bar and frame while doing a deep knee bend (why I can't do this maneouver, but we have good ol boys who patrol in pick-ups around here) with your butt up agaist the seat/tank- wherever you can get leverage.  Being in gear or holding the front brake keeps the bike from rolling as you push/walk the bike up using mostly your legs.  If it was on the left side, feel around with the heel of your foot to put the sidestand down. If it was on the right side, you will have put the sidestand down before (unless you have one of those stinky newer springloaded ones).
After it falls over you buy the video footage before it hits various websites from the guy who puts the oil on that corner.

[bryanj]

Jim if your indicators are the "large" type i have a boxfull of new genuine Honda lenses  I am sure we can come to an agreement!

[ProTeal55]

Not to long ago I had a 2003 BigDog Pitbull , which was a $30k plus hardtail american custom bike.
3rd time out with it, I got cut-off by some woman in a black suv, went to pull the front brake but grabbed the gas.
All 130+ HP took me for a ride down the street, with me ending up on one side of the street in the curb, and the bike on the other.
$12,000 worth of damage to the bike, broken right hand for me, and the lady in the SUV kept driving.

      

[Jim Shea]

Bryan,
Thanks, I will email you.
Jim.