Stupid mistake, could've been worse!

[porange]

I went out to my bike after work last night and a scooter had parked really close next to me, not leaving much room on the left side of the bike. I start it up and set my helmet on my seat like usual so I can zip up my jacket and stuff. Now, usually I'm standing right next to my bike, but today there wasn't room. Well I dunno if it was windy or I just didn't set the helmet far enough on the seat but it falls off, bounces off the scooter and hits my shifter! The bike pops into 1st gear and juts forward an inch or two then cuts off! Whew boy, I'm glad it didn't flip the kickstand and fall over and/or into the scooter.. It woulda been like one of those movies scenes where someone knocks a bike and the whole line falls down like dominoes!

[OTD]

Originally Posted by porange

I went out to my bike after work last night and a scooter had parked really close next to me, not leaving much room on the left side of the bike. I start it up and set my helmet on my seat like usual so I can zip up my jacket and stuff. Now, usually I'm standing right next to my bike, but today there wasn't room. Well I dunno if it was windy or I just didn't set the helmet far enough on the seat but it falls off, bounces off the scooter and hits my shifter! The bike pops into 1st gear and juts forward an inch or two then cuts off! Whew boy, I'm glad it didn't flip the kickstand and fall over and/or into the scooter.. It woulda been like one of those movies scenes where someone knocks a bike and the whole line falls down like dominoes!

Holy Crap! I do that all the time. I never would think that was possible. Could have been a lot worse. I'll put that on my not to do list.

[Tdubb]

Hahaha, that was a close one. LMAO, I can picture you going whu, oh, ooo, oh no, yikes, swewwww. Man I wish I could have seen that.

I hope you're able to laugh about that now, cause thats funny right there.

[Badlands-4-2]

Good to know that the kill switch for the kickstand works. I try to never set the helmet on the seat because I was always am afraid of it falling off and messing up the helmet, not the bike. Just one more reason.

[porange]

Originally Posted by Tdubb

Hahaha, that was a close one. LMAO, I can picture you going whu, oh, ooo, oh no, yikes, swewwww. Man I wish I could have seen that.

I hope you're able to laugh about that now, cause thats funny right there.

Yeah, I glanced away and when I looked back it was falling, it all happened real fast and afterwards I just stood there like, wow that was close, laughed it off, picked up my helm..

Originally Posted by Badlands-4-2

Good to know that the kill switch for the kickstand works. I try to never set the helmet on the seat because I was always am afraid of it falling off and messing up the helmet, not the bike. Just one more reason.

Yeah usually I set it on the seat and I'm standing right next to it so it can't fall anywhere but... not this time!

[cbdallas]

Stuff like that is why I don't like people parking close to me. Glad you didn't have a disaster on your hands!

[David 1]

I sit my helmet on the seat. I have to be careful with that. But I would never do it with the bike running.
In fact, I never start my bike, or any bike, until I am seated on it, and ready to roll.
dc

[porange]

The carbed baby Ninja usually needs a little running time before it throttles easy. So I start it up and get ready while it's idling rather than get ready and just sit on it like a lump on a log waiting for it to get up to temp... Know what I mean?

However, I've seen a couple Harleys idling and I would not sit anything on them unless I was trying to mix a can of paint, they seemed to vibrate and shake like mad! The Kawi is more calm.

[cbdallas]

First thing I do is start mine, then put everything on / zip everything up. She doesn't like running cold. Maybe someday these bikes will be F.I. - but I'll still let it warm up a bit before taking off.

I learned the hard way with the Virago that I can't put the helmet on the seat of a running bike. Concrete isn't kind to a shiny black helmet.

[David 1]

Definite on those paint shaker Harleys. I don't know about the Ninja.
This is so Cal so we usually don't need much warm up. But what I found on cars and bikes, like the Hondas, with carbs, but also fi, is that they warm up best when being driven/ridden.
On the Hondas, set choke, start it, ride. After about 2 miles or less, it's warm and cut the choke off.
The best warm up is with the engine doing some work, not heavy work, so ride it easy til it's warm. But it warms up fast and cleaner that way.
dc

[porange]

If I'm in a hurry I'll set off with the choke on a little... but I've forgotten to turn it off a couple of times and I'm pretty sure that isn't good for the engine?

[Dodsfall]

Originally Posted by porange

If I'm in a hurry I'll set off with the choke on a little... but I've forgotten to turn it off a couple of times and I'm pretty sure that isn't good for the engine?

It might soot up the plugs.

[casilver]

I agree, too many distractions after you take off; would be easy to forget to the turn it off. If you have the time, why not let it settle down (as you do) before you leave, let the oil distribute and coat before putting any strain on the engine.

I have an EFI bike, but even so, I let the engine run while I put on my gloves and helmet. I sometimes rest my helmet over the mirror if the seat is not convenient or safe for whatever reason, but not sure if your bike lends itself to that.

Glad it didn't turn into something worse... I can imagine the look on your face and the thump in your chest!

[67fire]

Originally Posted by David 1

In fact, I never start my bike, or any bike, until I am seated on it, and ready to roll.
dc

I always hang the helmet on the left side of the handle bar.
I never start a bike unless I am on it and ready to ride.

Eric

[gojira]

That's one of those things that wouldn't have worked in a million tries!

[Hawkeye]

I start my bike before suiting up as well. It gives it time to warm to running temperature before I head off.

I put my helmet on the upper mirror (the one opposite of the kickstand) and have only had it fall off when I was moving my bike with it on there (stupid mistake).

Glad your disaster was avoided! Can't believe it hit just right to knock your bike into gear!!!

[daw840]

Originally Posted by porange

The carbed baby Ninja usually needs a little running time before it throttles easy. So I start it up and get ready while it's idling rather than get ready and just sit on it like a lump on a log waiting for it to get up to temp... Know what I mean?

However, I've seen a couple Harleys idling and I would not sit anything on them unless I was trying to mix a can of paint, they seemed to vibrate and shake like mad! The Kawi is more calm.

Man, now that you say that it reminded me of my buddies 95 Dyna Wide Glide. That thing shakes SO bad when you warm it up. It also takes forever to warm up, but that's another story all together. My driveway is at a bit of an incline, but it's never been a problem until I went to warm that Hog up. I looked back and it was literally vibrating its way backwards down the driveway. I caught it after about 6-8 inches, but the **** kickstand scratched the hell out of my driveway. I can't imagine what would have happend if I wasn't watching.

[67fire]

Originally Posted by daw840

I looked back and it was literally vibrating its way backwards down the driveway. I caught it after about 6-8 inches, but the **** kickstand scratched the hell out of my driveway. I can't imagine what would have happend if I wasn't watching.

!!!


Eric

[benny hedges]

rofl porange!! that's the kind of stunt you see on those out-take shows!
i you had that on camera it would be worth $1000 lol

a few years ago, a workmate had a brand new company car like mine - shiny tdi job...
as it was a roasting hot day he parked it under a tree...
i said 'here m8, you don't want to park it there, i parked there yesterday and got all tree sap on the car....'
so rather than jump in and move it, he just turned the key to nudge it forward a bit - but it started up and drove off lol, sraight into the back of a transit van!!!

good start to the day lol!!

lucky your bike didn't do the same lol

[Weebel]

I've had that happen with me on it with my other bike once...

What I do is I fold out the left side passenger peg and hang the helmet on that with the visor open.... then when I put the helmet on I flip the peg back up.... It works pretty good.

[Prodigy]

I hang my helmet off the right mirror and with the visor facing down, and always double check the it's stable. Once I left my gloves inside the helmet and hung it and the gloves prevented the helmet from sitting properly on the mirror and almost dropped it... thank goodness I have the reflexes of a dying cow and was able to catch it before it hit the floor.

Now I zip up my jacket, put the gloves on the seat (if those fall who cares) and the helmet on the mirror... so far it works well

[Haglaz]

I gently set my helmet on the ground when I put my gloves on. Provided I don't accidentally kick it, it's not like it can fall off the ground.

[Weebel]

Im afraid to put the helmet on the mirror because it might move the mirror... hell the **** cover does that some times... I wish there was a way to "lock" the mirrors on my ZX6R

[Haglaz]

My mirrors always seem to move around on me. I have to adjust them every time I ride. It's a tight squeeze between the two bikes in the garage, and people nudge the mirror out of place all the time.

[clockdaddy]

I can't begin to count the times my helmet has fallen. Those little stickers with the various "statements" on them work great for covering up the little nicks and scratches!!
CD

[markk53]

Originally Posted by Tdubb

Hahaha, that was a close one. LMAO, I can picture you going whu, oh, ooo, oh no, yikes, swewwww. Man I wish I could have seen that.

I hope you're able to laugh about that now, cause thats funny right there.

I got one for you if you like the mental image of that...

I've had my Sherpa T do the following.

Old two strokes with point ignition can kick back when started and actually run BACKWARD! Now I've not had it happen to me, I've always caught it before doing something I'd regret, but imagine reving up your bike and launching off to a quick start...

My buddy, who owned the Metralla my brother presently has and I used to, told a friend about this fluke. Of course he was never believed... until the one day when he fired up his bike, realized what had happened, then said "watch this" to his buddy. He proceeded to back out of the parking spot! Then shut off the bike, started again, and rode off.

[4Raven]

I always put my helmet on the backrest of the passenger seat, but once I did that and threw my coat over it, when I went to grab my coat, the helmet came with it, and fell on the ground, not bad, but left scratches. What was really bad was the helmet was only two days old!!!! Now I clip it under the backrest...just in case..

But what were the odds it hit your shifter????That would have stopped my heart!

[FerDeLance]

I did knock a Harley over with my truck. He was illegally parked next to me where there was no legal parking spot or light.

I knocked the bike over and did some damage to my truck. Luckily the driver was a freind of mine and we both have the same insureance company so we went to my house and both made the accident report on one phone call.

FerDeLance