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.  

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

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



YET!

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=... 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?

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.

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      

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.