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Message started by Doug B on 04/09/14 at 13:29:34

Title: Rubber Side Up
Post by Doug B on 04/09/14 at 13:29:34

I hated to admit it - but I allowed a bike to go over on it's side - not hard and in soft gravel but still over there were riding seasons in yester-year 1977-78 when I rode like a mad man - as a kid - on dirt bikes
in the dirt and never lost it now………..I can't even keep it upright pulling into my own driveway How many of you have "lost it" and under what conditions ? And how many of you haven't ? :'( :-X ;D

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by HondaLavis on 04/09/14 at 13:43:32

The first time I lost it, I was at the end of a dead end street that had a sand/gravel patch at the very end. I tried doing a slow U-turn and made it most of the way. Then I learned the hard way why you DON'T goose the throttle in gravel. Bike slid right out from under me. I tried to catch it, but couldn't stop it. Tore my jeans, chewed the end of the footpeg a bit, but no major damage other than my pride.

The second time, I was coming to a stop in some gravel on the side of a small state highway to help out a fellow biker who was stopped. I lower my legs to come to a complete stop and stand up, and I just tip over. To this day I still don't know how.

Since then I've taken specific care to learn how to ride in less than optimal conditions. ;)

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by old_rider on 04/09/14 at 15:24:37

heh..... I lost it last year in Georgia on my way to the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Camp.
Was pulling off the highway to answer the phone and hit a ton of loose stuff in a parking lot of a restaurant that had been closed forever.
Busted my back picking up the bike....lol... i'll never try to clean and jerk a bike that is leaking out the gas cap ever again.... just start unpacking it and let it burn if it starts fire.... I learned my lesson.

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by S-P on 04/09/14 at 15:30:18

I've hit gravel three times in the past month and almost lost it. I have a whole new respect for it now.

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by gizzo on 04/09/14 at 15:37:26

riding over my wet lawn and onto the concrete driveway on an oblique angle, the lawn/driveway intersection was enough to have the back wheel slip out from under me. almost zero speed and it still hurt :'(

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by ToesNose on 04/09/14 at 15:49:42

A few close calls, mostly on loose gravel but no tip overs yet 8-)

YET!

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by gerald.hughes on 04/09/14 at 16:26:17

I have dropped so many bikes in so many gas stations and parkings lots, that I have lost count. Lots of new levers and mirrors and such. Now I ride a trike. No more "Oopsies".

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by GridMonkey on 04/09/14 at 17:04:12

2 Summers ago on a maxim 400 i was riding in woods on a semi paved road, that is, paved at one time but ont really maintained, i was going into a left curve and then the sun shot through a gap in the leaves and popped me right in the eyes, i sneezed, and then i was on my back 10 feet beyond my bike. A nice road burn from shoulder to belt on my left side https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.597943155632.2047903.67100258&type=1&l=239f93df81 snapped chain twisted forks and destroyed ignition switch because of course it was 90 and i was in a t shirt on a road i had ridden a hundred times....... at least i was only going 35 or so.

So now its leathers all the time and a tinted shield full helmet (other was a open face.)

Oh anyone want to buy a ....gently.... used 85? maxim 400?

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by Paladin. on 04/09/14 at 19:03:57

HUH? Low speed drops happen.
Circa 1955, pedal bike turning too fast
Circa 1968, rented BMW in Izmir, Turkey. Went sideways first, for quite a way, and then toppled over, me off the bike, sitting on my tushy.
Circa 1975, DT175 in a dry creek, no injuries other than breaking a collar bone. Breaking a bone does not cause pain. Putting it back does.
Circa 2006, do not go too slow in the rain with railroad tracks at an angle.
Last year on my Vespa leaving Ralphs -- one part of the brain said hang a right to the walkway beside the building and hop the curb on Redondo Beach, other part of the brain said 'dude! 11" wheels don't go over tall curbs!', so the third part of the brain said huh? and just laid down on the side.

About three more fall overs and I get a sidecar!

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by nickeynicknick on 04/09/14 at 21:26:17

thankfully my only spill was very, very low speed. I had needlessly taken my rear wheel off trying to get passenger pegs off to fix... before I found the tab and hex screw. When I put everything back together I forgot to make sure my brake line was tight enough. Jumped on the bike, road to the end of the driveway and hit the brake...nothing. panicked and grabbed front brake..too hard. bike slid out from under me like it was on ice. re-broke rear turn signal, just some more duct tape... lesson learned.

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by Serowbot on 04/09/14 at 22:17:51

I never fall... I crash... :-?...
Fast n' hard... everytime...

If it's worth doin', it's worth doin' right... ;D

Things may be different with my Harley... (Sucker is heavy)...
I might can drop that one... :-/...

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by Doug B on 04/10/14 at 05:53:33

Serowbot : I did have one pavement mishap(faster and harder) back in 1981 I used to wheelie ride(sometimes thru the gears) - until I flipped my Yamaha XT500 I learned a lesson that day not about wheelie riding - about too many beers and riding

S-P : I also have a new respect for gravel I almost lost it last year in a roundabout(with a few pieces of gravel) My front tire slid-then-grabbed on the pavement

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by Doug B on 04/10/14 at 11:38:39

And then there was the off road error the first day I had my 74 Hodaka Super Combat 125, I came up over a rise too fast(without knowing exactly what awaited me) It went downhill(steep and long) into 4" to 14" of powder - and so did I but not upright I learned a lesson that day, too : never override your vision(must be able to brake to a stop within range of eyesight)

I hope that more of you will share something from your past

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by Steve H on 04/10/14 at 18:03:13

I haven't dropped the savage yet. My 11 year old did one day. No damage at all. He let it down slow, just couldn't get the weight back up.

I dropped my goldwind in a huge mud puddle in the yard one time. The water had permeated to a couple inches down and made a very squishy mess. No damage other than muddy water and a little mud on the foot pegs. You should try picking up one of those in slick, slimy 2" deep mud.

Went down on the 350 when I ws 17. Turned into a parking lot with a friend of mine in a huge downpour. Hit a super slick spot in the concrete sidewalk cutout. 4 stitches, broken clutch handle, broken mirror. I was much more worried about the busted clutch than I was the blood pouring out from between my fingers. Seems my hand slid right over a water meter cover and the little cutout for opening it went on each side of my knuckle removing the skin to the point that I could see my bones, ligaments, and knuckle working.

Just take it easy. Be prepared. Watch your surroundings especially at stops.

If it happens, do what you can to minimize damage to yourself and your bike. If it's you or the bike...let the bike take it. It is more easily repaired.

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/12/14 at 09:51:04

Coming to a halt, down to maybe 3 MPH,,sand & a front brake.. I was standing there with it laying on its side between my feet,,dangitt!
Wet grass in the back yard,, been down a few times back there.
Anyway, if you wanna see just how fast gravity works, use that front brake in a "compromised traction" situation.

Title: Re: Rubber Side Up
Post by Doug B on 04/14/14 at 10:28:27

And then there was the Summer(in between 7th/8th grade) of 1976 A friend's Kawasaki 100 G 7 T with him on the back - going 35mph - has a rear tire blow-out
the bike's rear end swings left and right 3 times on the 4th it goes over at about 15mph not much damage to us or the bike

come on members - tell us something