I Dropped Her!

in the parking lot at work, doing low speed figure eights (counterbalance).  this is something i have practiced fairly often with both bikes, which i need to be good at for the rider coach thing, and i was doing it carefully as usual, so at least i dont feel like an idiot.

  i just let the engine get a little too slow, and she stalled and stopped dead while leaned over, and that was it.   first thing was, i got real life practice at the technique of picking up a heavy bike thats laying on its side.  at first i didnt think i could do it but then it worked fine.   damage, while a bummer, was not as bad as i feared.  worst thing is a crack in the front fairing from turn signal to headlight.  i think it might go back a little if i loosen some of the screws.  then theres a lot of dings on the lower fairing.  i think the clutch lever is bent a little, and maybe the shift lever too.  it helped a lot that it basically fell over standing still.   anyway, maybe now (ironically) i will spend some money and put the frame sliders on.  i think that would have saved the plastic at least.   sigh....

Been there, done exactly that...more than once.  I'm a slow learner...

Sorry about the drop.

Bummer!  Do something often enough and the odds of an incident have to increase - even though your overall rate will be much lower than someone less skilled/practiced.  I do my rider coach certification in May and did my cone kicking last fall.  I've seen several drops durring demos - it happens.

I just replaced my levers with aftermarket adjustable ones -- I have a spare OEM clutch lever if you need it. Used but never dropped.

I've successfully straightened bent levers by clamping them in a vice and sliding a long pvc pipe over the end.  The pipe will give plenty of leverage to  pull the lever back in to shape.

I just replaced my levers with aftermarket adjustable ones -- I have a spare OEM clutch lever if you need it. Used but never dropped.

thank you!  i have not had time to investigate yet where exactly it is bent.  i might get in touch with you by PM.

btw, which aftermarket levers did you get, and how do you like them so far?  thanks.

I've successfully straightened bent levers by clamping them in a vice and sliding a long pvc pipe over the end.  The pipe will give plenty of leverage to  pull the lever back in to shape.

thanks for the tip ... the OEM levers do look pretty stout.  im wondering if it actually bent somewhere back in the hinge mechanism.

Asv f3's are awesome levers. I installed them after my bike was backed into at work. I think I made a thread for it?
http://www.vfrdiscus...p/?fromsearch=1

thank you!  i have not had time to investigate yet where exactly it is bent.  i might get in touch with you by PM.

btw, which aftermarket levers did you get, and how do you like them so far?  thanks.

No problem. I already had some brand new OEM ones that I take with me on trips for emergencies and I certainly don't need a pair of used OEM ones lying around. Better to give it to you than have it sit here for years.

I got the no-name Hong Kong levers from the2wheels.com for $34 shipped. I had them on my FZ1 for about 1,000 miles and they were fine so I got a pair for the VFR.

FZ1 set:

[image: 8519343865_3eda072280_z.jpg]

VFR set:

[image: 8603770247_a76eb37f1a_z.jpg]

thank you!  i have not had time to investigate yet where exactly it is bent.  i might get in touch with you by PM.

btw, which aftermarket levers did you get, and how do you like them so far?  thanks.

No problem. I already had some brand new OEM ones that I take with me on trips for emergencies and I certainly don't need a pair of used OEM ones lying around. Better to give it to you than have it sit here for years.

I got the no-name Hong Kong levers from the2wheels.com for $34 shipped. I had them on my FZ1 for about 1,000 miles and they were fine so I got a pair for the VFR.

Nice looking levers, $34 sounds like a deal. I like your choice in hand grips too. I'm on my second pair of those. :cool:

sorry for your frustration, but remember, these things are meant to be used and as stated, it happens.

Please, please, let this not turn in to the anti-pro Dubious Chinese Lever thread!