Dropped My Baby

So.... im in the garage adjusting the front forks, step 1- take the bike off the center stand, 2- loosen the triples, 3- lock front brake and apply pressure. well i loosened the triples and successfully took the bike off the center stand, BUT being on the left side of the bike i held the front brake lever and as i began to pump i slowly began to feel the bike starting to tip :goofy:   so i held on as long as i could but then in super slow motion...... the bike..... fell..... :unsure:   unfortunately my buddy was there to rub it in, yet it didn't leave a scratch so no evidence   :tongue:   hahahaha so i dump my bike for the first time and i wasn't even on it.

Welcome to the club.... it's a not-so-exclusive one....

Who cares about the bike, was any beer spilled during this incident?

Rollin

A real friend would have dived in under the low side and saved it.   :goofy:

[image: View Post]RollinAgain, on 12 September 2010 - 05:59 PM, said:

Who cares about the bike, was any beer spilled during this incident?

Rollin

Hope not.  He has 5 more years 'till he's legal.   :ohmy:

If you haven't dropped your VFR at least once then you are not spending enough time with it.  Welcome to the club.   :goofy:

+1 ,done that.
Plasma.

Almost did the same this weekend. Stopped to pickup a sandwich at a local place and parked. Got my sandwich and went back to my bike and noticed I parked downhill. Tried to back it out but could not on the bike. Of course there were lots of people there so the embarrassment factor just went up a few pegs.  Got off and began to manhandle her back, slipped one foot on gravel and she almost fell but I was able to stop it. Got her out a bit and tried to get on but at the angle it was too steep and she almost fell again. Pulled her back a bit more, got on started and left. My ego was hurt for sure but luckily not the bike. I know a few people got a good laugh out of it at my expense I'm sure.

Lesson Learned - Pay more attention to the lean angle of parking spots. I go to this place a lot in my cage so I was just use to turning in and did the same on my bike. Big mistake.

Did this myself with my previous bike. Parked it close to the wall in garage on the right hand side and for some reason got off between the bike and the wall! Then I realised the side stand wasn't out! So there I was, all alone and the bike carefully balanced. I tried to get on again but failed miserably! I lost my balance and had to let go and watch my baby crash down, destroying a mirror! What an idiot! Luckily no-one saw me...

Sorry to hear about the drop, but it happens to most riders at some point - twice for me.   :sad:   1st time in the garage trying to put 'er up on the c-stand, 2nd time during a very slow speed u-turn in a cul-de-sac.

Laid mine down in the garage today. Was shuffling bikes a bit, moved the VFR over a couple feet, and went to put it on the side stand.
I can't lean it over too far at a stop before it's too heavy, and have to lay it down.
Note to brain, make sure side stand is down all the way.  Doh!   :pissed:

Then in a flash of brilliance, I tweaked my back trying to pick it up the wrong way.
Ended up with it laying on the left side for 1/2 hour or an hour until I could get a hand righting the heavy thing.   :goofy:

At least the handlebar didn't quite hammer my tenny clad foot. And no leaks from the bike, only damage looks to be some fresh character marks on the lower left fairing. Arrgh. The day before a trip too.

I've crashed my bike before too... it's so much worst if there's an audience... lol
just got my first vfr.... i don't dare try to take off the seat or put it on the centre stand with people lookin... i believe i need more practice   :comp13:

[image: View Post]Chiaroscuro, on 16 September 2010 - 11:17 PM, said:

I've crashed my bike before too... it's so much worst if there's an audience... lol
just got my first vfr.... i don't dare try to take off the seat or put it on the centre stand with people lookin... i believe i need more practice   :comp13:

Chiaroscuro, mi amigo, there's absolutely nada to be concerned about with using the centre-stand.

Yep - just a little practice is needed but remember that your right foot/leg should be doing most of the work. Put your left hand on the left grip - you'll steady/straighten the front and pull a little with your left hand. With your right hand, grip the left passenger foot-peg sub-frame in order to steady (and lift a little) at the rear. The most effort is with your right foot/leg -> be sure to straighten the bike then locate the stand feet on flat/hard ground and then stomp hard on the stand tine in one coordinated stomp, pull and lift action - viola.

I always have the side-stand down during this process in order to save against any over-balance fall towards me --- small risk but worth mitigating anyway.

Sorry if you already know these techniques - but it seemed from your post that perhaps you hadn't been taught how simple it can be if you just let your right foot/leg do all the heavy work. You might have a mate steady from the other side while you practice but it really won't take long to get it down-pat.

I nearly always use the centre-stand, especially in public, because I reckon the bike looks better on the centre than it does on the side-stand. :happy:   ... and remember, looking good is a full-time job :cool:

I'm not sure what you mean about the taking the seat off? Taking the seat off the 5th Gen is about the simplest thing you can do. Perhaps the 6th Gen is different - not sure how/why that would be? :mellow:

Hope this helps anyway mate - cheers!

[image: View Post]TexOz, on 17 September 2010 - 05:16 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Chiaroscuro, on 16 September 2010 - 11:17 PM, said:

I've crashed my bike before too... it's so much worst if there's an audience... lol
just got my first vfr.... i don't dare try to take off the seat or put it on the centre stand with people lookin... i believe i need more practice   :comp13:

Chiaroscuro, mi amigo, there's absolutely nada to be concerned about with using the centre-stand.

Yep - just a little practice is needed but remember that your right foot/leg should be doing most of the work. Put your left hand on the left grip - you'll steady/straighten the front and pull a little with your left hand. With your right hand, grip the left passenger foot-peg sub-frame in order to steady (and lift a little) at the rear. The most effort is with your right foot/leg -> be sure to straighten the bike then locate the stand feet on flat/hard ground and then stomp hard on the stand tine in one coordinated stomp, pull and lift action - viola.

I always have the side-stand down during this process in order to save against any over-balance fall towards me --- small risk but worth mitigating anyway.

Sorry if you already know these techniques - but it seemed from your post that perhaps you hadn't been taught how simple it can be if you just let your right foot/leg do all the heavy work. You might have a mate steady from the other side while you practice but it really won't take long to get it down-pat.

I nearly always use the centre-stand, especially in public, because I reckon the bike looks better on the centre than it does on the side-stand. :happy:   ... and remember, looking good is a full-time job :cool:

I'm not sure what you mean about the taking the seat off? Taking the seat off the 5th Gen is about the simplest thing you can do. Perhaps the 6th Gen is different - not sure how/why that would be? :mellow:

Hope this helps anyway mate - cheers!

I should add on a bit as well, when you step down with your right foot , you should be placing your ENTIRE weight on the stand.  Word of warning, make sure you foot is optimally placed for maximum traction and stability, cuz if it slips off while you're doing this, down she goes on the right side.  Ask me how I know...  It helps to have thick soles on your footwear, because you have a single pressure point from the stand hook, pressing with your full body weight.  It also helps if you rock the bike a bit, then as it is in the backward motion, apply your full weight on the stand peg, all in one fluid motion.  This is especially true when you have the bike loaded up, as in FULLY loaded side, top boxes and tank bag.  Then the rocking strategy really helps.

Brian

I managed to drop my current 800Fi in the garage befor I ever rode it. It was winter and I got it home by a van. I did some small stuff and moved it,  while on side stand but not enough secure so as I walked from the bike I couls see the shadow it was starting to lean ower, did turn around and tryed to stop so the fall was not that hard, well a fev scratches on left lower (still there) and a bent clutch arm (replased) was the damage on the bike. Myself was quit mad on myself for a while...

So welcome to the club!

This thread is a bit dated but unfortunately I can relate and hope that typing out my episode will help me get over it.
After spending an afternoon on a very light dirt bike for a motorcycle safety class I proceeded to gear up to head home and mounted my cherished VFR. My judgment lapsed that I was parked on a bit of a slope and that the VFR is substantially heavier than the bike I had been toying around on. As I sat, started, and then pressed right to straighten, my poor, (previously unscathed) VFR kept tipping right in nightmarish slow motion. Sadly I learned that 500 lbs. is a bit much to try and hold by the grips and could only try to set her down easy as I could. Minor scratches on right fairing, deep scratches on right side of front cowl, and my brand new OEM bag looks abused. So very frustrating. This is my favorite motorcycle of the four I've owned and the only one I've ever dropped. Worst part is that I must have kicked the left side of the tank as I was trying to stop the horror and made a small dent. Lame!!! No offense intended but this club sucks :tongue: Just ordered some Color Rite pens to try to get back the unscathed luster. I was so proud every time someone said "It's an '03?! It looks brand new!" At least it's still fun to ride and you can't see the scratches when it's in motion!

+1 drop mine too but i had a carpet beside it that i had been laying on so no damage..........