NOT JUST ME !

There was quite a response to the article about dropping my bike. It seems I’m not the only one who has experienced these slow-speed topple-overs! And it seems, just as in my case, these falls can be the result of a sudden lack of thought or planning; and can be accompanied by more than a little embarrassment! Here are some of the stories. Oh, and to avoid further embarrassment, I’ve omitted the names.

One reader has a Yamaha XS1100 which he has extensively modified. He wrote, “After I had all the work completed on the bike including repainting tank fenders etc, re-polishing chrome work, wheels etc, looking all shiny and flash I rode up to the front of my car-pooling partner’s house. They came out and spent some time admiring the bike, asking questions, and pointing out differences they could notice; while I sat like a proud father on my bike. Time to go. A senior’s moment; I simply climbed off, no stand placement, just climbed off the beast. Result: bike falls and pins me from behind across one leg and buttocks; (with the other leg bent in what must only have a humorous position judging by the reaction!), pressed into what must be the deepest gutter in Adelaide.

“The XS1100 is not the lightest bike in the world, and my car-pooling partner was not the strongest woman in the world, which allowed for further laughter as I attempted to extract myself without allowing any part of the Beast to touch the ground’ however gently.

“So it does not rate as a ‘dropped bike’ but a ‘gentle fall’! And there was no damage whatsoever to the bike; although I had bruises and scratches in places that were a little hard to explain, to my curious partner!”

Side-stands can be a problem. Another reader wrote, “Had a similar in my own driveway, sidestand not down properly on the FJR. No one around to see/help though.” Wouldn’t it be sad to see your pride and joy fall over through not putting the side-stand down! 

This advice was offered on repairs. “Don't try and straighten the clutch lever though – snap!"

Aussie (okay, so I am mentioning a name!) wrote, “You don't know how lucky you are to have survived so long without a big one! My sickle weighs 255kg according to specs. It's surprising how easy it is to simply drop the bloody thing when stationary. Either, as in your case, you have miscalculated the terrain, or putting the side-stand down in the mud, misjudging a slow U-turn or, as in my "old Bike" letter, you were just plain cold and couldn't stand up. I've done 'em all, usually loaded to the hilt with camping gear.

“I could never hoist it up with both arms from the side as the steering falls away or, as in mud (read Alpine Rally) the whole bike slides away. I've had to psyche myself and drag it up by the handlebars, which miraculously have never bent. Don't know how I've done it every time and I'm sure I couldn't do it now. I read somewhere that in Japan they won't let you ride a bike that you can't pick up as they regard it too big for you to handle. Now that's scary isn't it?” (I reckon! I’d be riding a 50cc scooter!).

Aussie says that his bike hasn’t suffered in the stationary falls – apart from damaged engine-bars. He says, “It's the big drops that are more memorable. I will remember three of them forever. The first and most tragic was throwing away that fabulous 1967 R60 BMW which I would still have to this day. The other two were on the good ol' Suzie; one when hitting an oil slick on taking off from the lights under Queens Bridge Melbourne and the other when I fell asleep one night up the Putty Road!” I’ve been along the Putty Road – and believe me, it’s not the sort of place you’d want to fall asleep on – especially on a bike!

Another reader recounted his earlier days of riding. As he says, “It's never a nice feeling, no matter how minimal the damage. Bikes just don't look right on their sides! I also had a similar thing happen to me once at a beach. I had purchased a second-hand Kawasaki ZR-7 (the unfaired one) and had been riding it for only a few months, so I put it down to being a stupid mistake caused through lack of experience. As I pulled into the car park to enjoy the scenery, I stopped the bike in a position that had it facing forwards down a slope with the front wheel just in front of a fence, so a U-turn was out of the question. Before even getting off I realised that there was no way I was going to be able to back it out of the spot I was in and because of the sloping surface I too put my foot down to find that there was nothing beneath it! Over I went. I hung on tight to the bars and let it down as softly as I could. The left side mirror, foot peg and bar end were a little scuffed, however the greatest damage done was to my pride. What a horrible feeling to see my pride and joy laying on it's side with the front wheel spinning slowly in the breeze. After getting some help lifting it back to a more usable position, I rode away feeling very embarrassed, foolish and about 3 inches tall. That bike has since been traded in, but it gave me some great stories to tell during it's time, some, like this one are not so 'brag worthy' but good stories to tell none the less. Needless to say I put a little more thought into my parking now-a-days!”

So, you see, it’s not just me that gets a case of the “wobblies”! But the reader quoted above is right – it’s never a nice feeling, no matter how minimal the damage!

Click here to return to the front page. Click your BACK button to return to the previous page.