Well I finally dropped it...

[LeeR]

...it had to happen eventually I suppose and in a way I'm glad it's over, but I really didn't want to. I'd bought a new pair of summer gloves and wanted to try them out early in the morning. So I'm off for a ride to my mates house in Upton-Bishop (deepest 'erefudshire). He's got a sloping drive so I eye it up cautiously before I decide where to park. Now do I go for side-stand or centre-stand, as he's got kids I opt for centre-stand. Well the up-hill side contacts ground but the downhill side (as I know realise it's not as level as I thought) doesn't. Pivoting on the right-hand side with me hanging on for dear life I realise it's going to go... it's just gravity doing what it does, bollox! After 3 back-breaking seconds I realise I'm either going with it or it's going on it's own, feeling gutted and empty I let go....

It could have been a lot worse but I watched in horror as I let it drop. Scratched the usual stuff; exhaust, top-box (good job it was on), pegs, brake lever etc... I'd only last week fitted KTM hand guards (coz they fitted) and these I think saved the bars from a lot of damage and kept the mirror in one piece. Sadly though my front brake lever bust in half, but is still usable.

I gazed at the bike watching brake fluid leaking from the reservoir, and petrol filling up the fairing. I realised if I didn't get it up quickly it wouldn't be going anywhere. I try to lift it....no way too heavy, I try the technique I'd seen on the forum, back to the bike lift with legs...no way too heavy, I ring my mates bell...he's out!

I'm in the middle of no-where with a downed bike haemorrhaging vital fluids, and I'm already knackered. I have to be home by 11:00 as we're going out for a family day, with my youngest daughter May-pole dancing...I'm dead meat for sure.

I ring my best mate in Oxon, he says best to lift it with wheels downhill, they're up. There's no way I'm scratching it to hell dragging it around a drive. He's says stick it in gear, face the bike, lift it with bars and pillion grab handles, and then stick the seat on my knee, repeat in stages as necessary. Well I did as he said and couldn't believe how "easily" I lifted it!

So I'm home now, wiser and stronger (if that's the right word) and hoping that "next" time I'm not so daft.

Off to the dealers this afternoon for a new lever... {sigh}
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My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...

[Ciar?n]

Ow that sucks dude
How many £££ in damages do you reckon?
Feel for ya
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22/8/08 A2 Passed! Full License Biatch!
Past: Suzuki CS50, Gilera Ice 50, Gilera Runner 125SP, CBR 600 F2, CBR600 F4i, CBR 600RR5,

[alpine]

Gutted to hear that, brake leaver should only be a tenner
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Current bike - FMX650.

[Stiffler]

Bugger! I think that pretty much sums up how anyone feels when they drop their bike...

What bike is it btw LeeR? I've had mine on it's side a couple of times when I used to work on it on just the side stand (fairing off so minimal to no damage), but not dropped it out and about yet. Hate to try and pick anything that was heavier!

Tim
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Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[binge]

Gutted for ya. Good to hear you got it back up and it still works though.

Ill never forget the time when I dropped my XL125. Although not really a heavy bike, When its falling away from you, Your fucked from the second it goes past the balance point.

Came out with a broken indicator. Which was lucky.



In future, Try to to park on slopes. Never really liked the thought of doing it on the smallest of bikes.



<|Ben|>

[Walloper]

The best way to drop it is at speed.
Then, as your shoulders are spastic, you couldn't hold your mum's hand let alone heave the bars of 200kg a bike up.

I'm feeling depressed after reading that. As I know it's been too long since my last drop/off.

Get well soon.

Tip:
Buy a 50cc or join the gehy boys down the local gym.
I did by the way, but only birds there were pensioners. (Another failed project.)
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[bob-a-job]

That sucks, but i have to ask why did you try and centre stand it across the incline as opposed to with it??

[binge]

[bob-a-job]

[Walloper]

Don't blame Gravity.
It was here first.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[binge]

Id rather just find somewhere nice and flat to park my bike!

[LeeR]

Guys,

Thanks for your support I appreciate it, the damage comes to £23 + VAT from the dealers and it's not in stock. But luckily I can get them off eBay for £9 + P&P I think I'll buy 2 x brake and 1 x clutch just to be ready for "next" time. I seem to remember Bendy saying that they kept some on them when they went out.

Bob-a-Job,
I was trying to park across the slope at what I thought was the flattest part, I thought I'd weighed it up correctly, evidently not.

Stiffler,
The bike is a Suzuki XF650 Freewind 162Kg (357lbs) dry, quite a tall bike and as binge said once it got past the balance point, I knew it was gone.
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My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...

[Gazdaman]

Yeah I carry spare levers in my top box.

Picking up a bike is definitely an art, sadly I've done it far too many times. Slopes are not your friend though.

I physically could not get my Dad's BMW r80/7 off the centre stand when it was on a hill. I'm not a small lad and I physically could not do it.

Let alone picking up a bike that's on its side facing down a hill.

Why was fluid leaking out the master cylinder, that's not good...

Gaz

[LeeR]

[Walloper]

[LeeR]

[bob-a-job]

[Ork12]

Gutted for ya !

[LeeR]

[bob-a-job]

Ok, just do 50 then.

[tafflade]

[LeeR]

[tafflade]

[Sephiroth]

Start 'em early!

[LeeR]

well I suppose it is Glaws afterall
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My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...