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After five months of owning an R, I'm finally in the "dropped bike" club. I dropped my bike yesterday in a parking lot at Washington on the Brazos (a state park in Texas where our Declaration of Independence was signed) It all seemed to happen in slow motion too. That was weird. I was turning sharp to enter a shaded parking spot and was on unlevel ground. I turned too sharp, it leaned...........and leaned....my life flashed before my eyes......I got my foot down to hold it up, but I was past the point of no return. I held it for a few seconds there, but ran out of strength and down the bike went and me as well. I felt sooooooo stupid.

Now I have a noticeable scuff on the left head guard, left bar end, and left clutch lever. Is replacing the parts, the only way to "fix" the marks? The bar end and clutch lever both have about 1/4 " diameter of the black paint scuffed off.

Kristi wrote:After five months of owning an R, I'm finally in the "dropped bike" club. I dropped my bike yesterday in a parking lot at Washington on the Brazos (a state park in Texas where our Declaration of Independence was signed) It all seemed to happen in slow motion too. That was weird. I was turning sharp to enter a shaded parking spot and was on unlevel ground. I turned too sharp, it leaned...........and leaned....my life flashed before my eyes......I got my foot down to hold it up, but I was past the point of no return. I held it for a few seconds there, but ran out of strength and down the bike went and me as well. I felt sooooooo stupid.

Now I have a noticeable scuff on the left head guard, left bar end, and left clutch lever. Is replacing the parts, the only way to "fix" the marks? The bar end and clutch lever both have about 1/4 " diameter of the black paint scuffed off.

Sorry to hear about your spill. sounds like you're ok tho. I dropped my first bike the second day I had it. I ran out of gas (dealer too cheap to put in a full tank ) and at the top of a rise it died will going slowly and I just leaned over like you did.

I actually ended up screwing up my left wrist in an effort to keep it upright. My wristbone now protrudes oddly as a result and has never quite been right afterward.

Kristi...what a shame...were there many people watching...that's the main thing...................... ...................just kidding..

It can happen so easy...these are heavy bikes....you're doing a great job riding one.

The worst drops are those where you think the side stand is down and lean it over...at the point where you realize it's not down it's too late.

Glad you didn't hurt yourself.

DJ

The worst drops are those where you think the side stand is down and lean it over...at the point where you realize it's not down it's too late.

Yeah. I did that one.

Hi Kristi,
Sorry to hear that, as everyone said, main thing is you're OK, bike can be sorted. If the paint chips are minor they can be touched in easily. Your head guards saved the cover at least! I'm thinking about fitting those, my street is unmade up to the house, gravelly, uneven ground and my foot has slipped a few times as I try to back it over the hump at the end of the driveway. Have been OK so far (touchwood), shouldn't have said that should I...
Did drop my first CBR years ago though, after ten minutes of ownership Put my foot out on the downslope side of the hill and found nothing...went right over, fuel everywhere!

DJ wrote:

were there many people watching...that's the main thing.

I must have timed the arrival at the state park just right (around 3:30)- because there was hardly any cars parked there. I didn't see anyone in any of them, so the drop must have gone unnoticed. In Texas, 7th graders have to take Texas History and Washington on the Brazos is one of the field trip stops for schools. I am SO glad there wasn't busloads of 7th graders (especially the boys) watching. Having anyone see it happen is bad enough, but don't you remember how mean 7th graders can be?:shock:

DJ Downunder wrote:Kristi...what a shame...were there many people watching...that's the main thing...................... ...................just kidding..
DJ

Don't laugh, thats actually a truism with sailing; the one time you accidentely trim the sails wrong and start going backwards...it only happens if there are a lot of people looking.

Another way to look at a scuff or two on the bike is that you are human.

I dropped my RR in my driveway maybe 18 months ago. I had a raised up brick (from a root) between some concrete that actually sheared off as I rode over it, the front wheel riding on top of the sheared off brick, went down at 2 or 3 mph faster than I could believe.

The worst part was the small ding in the gas tank where the turn signal switch gear hit the tank when the bar was pushed a bit too far.

I've never fixed the ding, the scratch on the bar end, the valve cover protector, or the little scratch on the sports shield.

When I see the ding or scratch now it just reminds me that stuff does happen. Besides, I don't see any of it when I'm riding.

Ooops! It's not an exculsive club and anyone can join. There are lots of members but sadly, the initiation ceremony is no fun.
Although dropping your bike is a relatively minor incident, it plays on your mind for days after. The best therapy for recovery is the restoration of the damaged parts and lots of TLC for the bike afterwards.

Hey Kristi,
Glad to read that you were O.K.. I dropped mine on on Thursday. This is about the third time I've done it and you never feel smart after doing it. I broke the spark plug cover, but at least no one was watching the fiasco. These are heavy bikes and I figure that until I can bench 400lbs, my bike is just at risk for my personal brand of idiocy.

Kristi wrote:Now I have a noticeable scuff on the left head guard, left bar end, and left clutch lever. Is replacing the parts, the only way to "fix" the marks? The bar end and clutch lever both have about 1/4 " diameter of the black paint scuffed off.

Kristi:

I think some flat black paint and a small brush oughtta fix you right up. Don't beat yourself up...most of us have done the same thing at one time or another. I know I have.

Ever ride "La Bahia Road" or 390 while you're out that way? It's one of my favorites!!

Ron Jenson
'99 R1100R "Sophia"

my first (and last...knock on wood) was in a McDonalds parking lot is Estes Park (a resort town in the mountains) on a sunny, hot, summer Saturday. The place was packed, and I pulled into a parking spot that was uphill and angled. I went in, ate my double quarter pounder and fries outside at a table...and was feeling pretty darned good. I went out to my bike (many people milling around and many pointing at my silver steed)...and as I backed out of the space, I didn't have tension on the brake...and it scooted right out from under me. I felt stupid enough...but even more stupid when a very nice man ran up and helped me lift it up. I didn't know whether to thank him or tell him to get quickly out of my face. I thanked him. I think there must have been about 50 people admiring my "accident"...I felt like I had just pooped my pants in a movie theatre in the center seats and now had to walk past everyone to get out. So...it's okay. Happens to the best of us. We're better for it. Now, if you'll excuse me...I have to go to the restroom and check on something....

m49512 wrote:

I think there must have been about 50 people admiring my "accident"...I felt like I had just pooped my pants in a movie theatre in the center seats and now had to walk past everyone to get out. So...it's okay. Happens to the best of us. We're better for it. Now, if you'll excuse me...I have to go to the restroom and check on something....

That's hilarious! There's no better way to describe that feeling!

Ron:

I don't know about La Bahai road, but would like to find it. William Penn road just to the south of the park is a very nice road too. Not much traffice and unmarked. I think it takes you to 50.

Kristi wrote:Ron:

I don't know about La Bahai road, but would like to find it. William Penn road just to the south of the park is a very nice road too. Not much traffice and unmarked. I think it takes you to 50.

Kristi:

William Penn Rd. intersects La Bahia Rd. north of 105 at a "T" intersection. If you're on Wm. Penn Rd. and wish to continue on La Bahia, just turn right at this intersection. Or you can pick it up on 105. Just continue past the turnoff for Washington on the Brazos and look for the brown 390 signs. They look like an F.M. road sign only brown.

One of the neat things about La Bahia is that it follows a ridge overlooking Lake Somerville west of 36 after passing through a scary, blind, single lane RR trestle!!. Views like this are hard to find around Houston. It comes back out onto 290 in Burton. Actually there are lots of cool roads all around Lake Somerville.

Ron Jenson
'99 R1100R "Sophia"

Kristi
I have already shared my story in a previous thread, about dropping my R...

I did it privately and quietly in the garage....Before I ever rode it. Even alone, with no one watching...

I felt Stooopid!

It sort of intimidated me with riding it at first. I have had my R almost 5 months also. I got her on Jan 4th....I think of that day as her Birthday

Get back out there and know that you fit in with the rest of us. We share your pain...


Carol

Ironic, because we don't wish it to happen to others, but we do feel comfort learning that it has happened to others !
First time, all by myself in the driveway, I was slackily sitting on the bike waiting for the garage door to open. The bike started leaning, when I paid attention it was too late. I eased it down and I had a pulled muscle for a week.
The second time, on a parking lot in Palomar observatory, CA, trying to get in a parking spot the same way as you described. Not only there was a parking full of visitors, but behind me riding pillion was my girlfriend

Kristi wrote: I got my foot down to hold it up,...

That was exactly my (and your) error. When it feels that way you need to gas it a little, it would put it back in check. It is counter intuitive as we don't feel like speeding up at such a time it a good idea, but that's what needs to be done to regain control.
I have practiced that specific point, low speed until feeling the bike is going to fall, then gasing it to regain control. it builds confidence and gives a good idea where the limits are.

ouch, been there done that; mine was a 0mph , bad footing and a sudden gust of wind. I scraped the same parts. That was in January.

I am now replacing the cylinder head guard--thanks Dr Evil--which, though still mostly intact, got a little crunched.
for the bar end, loosen it and turn it so you don't see the scrape, but it will remain there as a reminder of the fleeting fragile nature of beauty.
A black sharpie does some magic for the scratches.
For your ego, only group therapy works.

John

Kristi,

I have matching marks on the right side head guard, bar end, brake lever, and mirror. Had the bike eight months and felt pretty confident. I had just refueled and threw my leg over the sadde. Didn't notice that the bike was on a slight incline and when the suspension compressed, the sidestand pushed the bike over to the right side. I dropped my foot to catch the bike and slid on oil. I've left the scuffs on there to remind me not to get dingle.

Here's how my first (and only, so far) drop went down.
It was March, and in Michigan, March isn't real riding weather. I keep the Rockster in my walk-out basement through the winter (just to be ready for mid-March blasts I guess) and to get to the street I go through the yard about 200 feet. Problem was that there was still a good bit of snow on the ground in the backyard.
Nobody told me you can't ride these things uphill over ice.
Of course the rear spun immediately and moved ever so slightly to the downhill side and that was it.
A nice gentle set-down. No damage, no witnesses, so I guess it never really happened

Whew! Now it's over with. It had to happen eventually, right?

Dropped mine in a Holiday Inn parking lot in front of 20 or so bikers attending AMA Superbike races in Birmingham after a long day's ride. I did that one where you think you've put the stand down. It's really quite exciting as you casually lean the bike over and HELLO!! Then, lots of excited straining and gnashing of teeth.

Like yours, my valve cover and other sundry bits got scuffed along with my pride. I was bitterly pi$$ed for a while. Now, though, I kind of like all the nicks and minor defects (the character) that make my bike mine even more than all the crud I can buy for it. It's a record of my history with this machine, a record that always tends to remind me of all the good times I've spent riding with friends and family in this great, beautiful country of ours. So, don't fret. With time you might even grow to like them.