SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> STUPID WIND!
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1238802750

Message started by cowspotter on 04/03/09 at 16:52:30

Title: STUPID WIND!
Post by cowspotter on 04/03/09 at 16:52:30

So I came home today after our crazy day of weather (heavy rain and wind) and the bike is fine. Park my car, go inside and leave the cover on as I usually do when I'm not riding it for a while. A few hours later I randomly look out the window and thumper is layed over on it side!

It was leaned over on the stand against the wind, so I'm guessing the cover caught the air and it blew away from the stand. I'm pretty fortunate as far as damage. I have a cracked end cap on my throttle grip and a broken rear right turn signal. Not sure what I'm gonna do about the cap. I saw bikebandit sells them for $4. Sound good?

The turn signal I'm probably just going to buy a pair of aftermarket since OEM appears to be a ripoff.

I have taken the cover off, ran the bike for 5-10 minutes (all seems well), and turned the bike around so the bike is leaned in the direction of the wind. Hopefully this will prevent it from being knocked over again. Is there anything else I should check out on the bike mechanically? I smelled the oil and didn't smell any gas. No gas leaked out of the tank while it was leaned over.

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by Savage Eddie on 04/03/09 at 18:20:21

Hey Cow, my project bike was also dumped and one of my rear sigs were damaged. want the other one? message me if ya do. ill look for the end caps from the 96. im sure i have them....

sorry to hear about your bike but im glad you weren't on it when it tipped!

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by verslagen1 on 04/03/09 at 18:21:11

sorry to hear about your troubles with the wind.
wind tends to do that with covered bikes.
If you must cover it in the wind, I'd take it off the handlebars and tie it tightly to the bike. but with the wind whipping the cover about, it will wear the paint.
And I'd find a place that you could rest the handlebars on a fence or wall.

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by cowspotter on 04/03/09 at 18:24:59

Well the cover is off for the rest of the night. I'd rather wake up to a wet bike than a damaged bike. I don't really have anywhere that i could put it to protect it from the wind and not piss off my homeowners association. At least the house I'm buying has a garage so I don't have to worry about this anymore.

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by photojoe on 04/03/09 at 18:44:47

Check the post out I wrote in February about my bike being blown over, you're not alone: http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1234598175/9#9.

I took out full comprehensive insurance because it was only $15.00 a year more than liability. Took me a while to remember that I was covered for an event like this, so I figure what they hey, I'll file a claim. A Geico adjuster came and looked at the bike. A little over a week later I received a check for the damages, with stealership labor and parts estimates. This is one time I was happy that they charge $85.00 per hour for labor :).

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by cowspotter on 04/03/09 at 18:51:24

Good to know I'm not alone. Looks like I made out better than you did joe. No paint damage and the brake lever looked ok to me. I'll check it out again tomorrow just to be sure. I do have comprehensive insurance but its not worth it for this. As long as its just an end cap and a turn signal, not worth calling in the man.

Eddie is hooking me up with a replacement turn signal and end cap from his parts bike. Thumper will ride again soon enough.

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by Savage Eddie on 04/03/09 at 19:18:30

Ride on my brutha!!!!

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by savagedml on 04/03/09 at 19:35:58

Hey Cow: I live in Portsmouth, and the wind has howled here all afternoon and evening. Sorry about the tip-over, but it'll take a whole lot more than that kill that bike. A few character marks is what makes it yours. Best wishes from Hampton Roads.

Now, uh, photojoe, I'll be sending a revised bill for that AMA mag with the Savage article. I did it to cheer you up, but apparently my slightly used mag was nothing compared to what the GEICO gecko did for you. ;)

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/03/09 at 21:11:46

I hear some covers are vented, to avoid such unhappy moments.
Could you park on the leeward side of the house when the direction of the wind is known?

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by KWKaletta on 04/04/09 at 01:06:48

Wow I lucked out I picked up this 6 x 12 enclosed trailer guess where I park my savage.

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by cowspotter on 04/04/09 at 05:45:34

445B5D5A4740714171495B571C2E0 wrote:

I hear some covers are vented, to avoid such unhappy moments.
Could you park on the leeward side of the house when the direction of the wind is known?

This cover is vented at the top, but its only one spot (this is the dowco guardian cover btw). Just not enough to let out all the air when it really gets blowing. I'm in a townhouse so i only have the front or the back and both were in the path of the wind last night. The bike did ok the rest of the night, no more damage so I think its current spot is good.

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by photojoe on 04/04/09 at 06:45:42

6168696476766C716077050 wrote:

Wasn't that big of a check but i did have a few $$$ left over after buying used parts and doing the work myself. Bought a nice new Nelson Rigg cover also.

Regarding the AMA mag with the Savage story and member bikes pix, I did promise to pass it on to another Forum member with the understanding that they will do the same after they're done with it. So, it's up for grabs. Any forum member in the Continental USA who wants to read it, send me a PM. First PM wins the prize.

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/04/09 at 07:55:08

Not just TRying to be silly, but, they tie airplanes Down. If you drove a couple of spikes in at an angle, or got a couple of those screw in doggie tie downs you could tie the handlebars down & then toss the cover on, when the weather is gonna be wild.

Title: Re: STUPID WIND!
Post by photojoe on 04/04/09 at 08:00:50

We've been having 40 mile an hour winds for the past 24 hours here. I'm confident that the bike is fine the way it's tied down now. It's also inches away from the rear bumper of my Audi and the front of Shar's Mini. The tie down thing is a good idea though. Could use the hooks under the Audi and Mini for that one.