SuzukiSavage.com - ok here's one stupid newbie thing...

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ok here's one stupid newbie thing...
07/27/10 at 10:05:42

i went out for a short ride around the neighborhood. Everything went well until i came home and parked in the garage ...Somehow forgetting to put down the kick stand. I just start to get off the bike and next thing i know she's starting to fall on me. It sure was nice that she was light. Atleast you only make that mistake once ...i hope.

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28651 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing... Reply #1 - 07/27/10 at 10:24:25 Quote: At least you only make that mistake once ...i hope. In your dreams... ... Count on doing it at least 3 times a year...
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Routy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2280 Winston Oregon Gender:	Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing... Reply #2 - 07/27/10 at 10:36:53 Really,..... Mine got away from me a year ago just checkin the dam oil ! Now I know that ain't gonna happen again ! And I should have sued anybody that stupid that they couldn't come up w/ a better way to check the oil ! Fair warning,...set it on a 2x4 and anywhere between the lines is perfectly good.
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babyhog

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Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing...
Reply #3 - 07/27/10 at 11:20:53

LOL yea, you would think the kickstand would be pretty easy to remember!! But somehow.....

Routy - have you tried the mirror-on-the-end-of-a-stick trick? I also have a mirror on a retractable stem, kinda like a teacher's pointer thingy, with a dentist's mirror on the end. Concentric tubes collapse inside each other. The mirror swivels in all directions. It works fairly well while stradling the bike to check the oil - once you get the danged sight window in view, that is..

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Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing...
Reply #4 - 07/27/10 at 11:45:51

My brother put the bike away last night and as soon as I got on it I knew it was teetering on the edge. Sure enough, took it out of gear and as soon as I took it off the kickstand it popped up. There's not much overtravel doesn't take much for it to pop up.

I kneel beside it to check the oil, to make sure it can't go far, it's close enough to the counter that if it fell over it would stop on them.

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weracerc Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 594 Greensboro, NC Gender:	Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing... Reply #5 - 07/27/10 at 12:06:17 I cheat at the oil check deal - double team it - get anybody willing to stand on their head while i hold the bike upright - so far the wife has not figured out she could hold it while i stand on my head...guess it come natural to her -
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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing... Reply #6 - 07/27/10 at 12:45:22 You guys check the oil warm or cold? I warm it up, turn it off then let is sit for a few mins then check level. Is that the right way on this bike?
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ero4444

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Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing...
Reply #7 - 07/27/10 at 16:14:40

Almost dropped it in the garage by moving it forward without straddling the seat - the motion dragged the kickstand up and that was a scare.

I find the easiest way to check the oil is to stay on the seat, rest the kickstand on top of my left boot toe so I can feel it, then the bike is straight up, and bend down to read the window - sometimes I do see stars from a stiff back.

Warm oil - cold oil - doesn't matter to me but it has to sit off for a few minutes to drain down so I usually check cold.

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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing... Reply #8 - 07/27/10 at 17:24:53 I have longer shocks so 2 2x4 block is almost dead level then hold the bike keeping pressure on the 2x4 and walk around and kneel down and read it.
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Rogue_Cheddar Serious Thumper Offline Hang up the phone and drive! Posts: 725 Haverhill, Massachusetts Gender:	Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing... Reply #9 - 07/27/10 at 18:15:24 At least you did it in the privacy of your garage. I did mine at a busy gas station. My face was the same candy apple red as my bike.
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kimchris1

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Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing...
Reply #10 - 07/27/10 at 18:31:06

I had only had my girl about a month. Came out of the Chiropractor's office. Went to get on my bike. Usually I sat on her first then put the kick stand up. Well this particular day I was holding her and put the kick stand up. I didn't have as good of a hold as I should of. The next thing I knew her and I were slowly going down. I was so embarassed as not only other patients seen what had transpired, a commuter bus went by as well. At least I was able to pick her up, dust us both off and go on about my day. I did learn to make sure I have a firm grip on her if I am going to take her off the k.s. without sitting on her first.

kim

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Serowbot

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Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing...
Reply #11 - 07/27/10 at 18:50:55

I was at the gas pump once, a couple of years ago,... and when I reached over to the pump handle, the bike started to slide out from under me,... someone had spilled anti-freeze on the smooth concrete...
...and as I tried to right her,.. I pushed her about 3 or 4 feet sideways,... not to mention, I got the stuff on my boots too, and was doing three kinds of splits and a spastic break dance as I went...

I didn't go down,...
...but it might have looked more graceful if I had... Huh

...

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runwyrlph

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Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing...
Reply #12 - 07/27/10 at 19:16:43

Someone once suggested:

kneel beside the bike, take a firm grip on the frame with both hands and (using your legs not your back) lift the bike to eye level to view the oil window

i stand to right of the bike, hold the front brake and bend down to see viewing window. it helps to tip the bike back & forth to see the oil move so you can see where it is.

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Max_Morley Serious Thumper Offline LT650 Luxury Touring & sidecar rig Posts: 1490 Moses Lake. WA Gender:	Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing... Reply #13 - 07/27/10 at 20:06:28 Sears sells a lighted (LED) telescoping inspection mirror. I bought the last 2 Sears Southcenter Mall store had today. Somehow the one I bought 2 months ago has grown legs already. Max
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RC Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 83 Quartz Hill Ca. Gender:	Re: ok here's one stupid newbie thing... Reply #14 - 07/27/10 at 20:16:57 I've never laid a bike on it's side when it wasn't moving, but I'm sure I will if I live long enough. As for checking the oil inspection mirrors are avalable at any auto parts store and make the job easy and safe.
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