Already???

[Xian]

From celebration to disappointment. Hell, you guys haven't even finished writing in my "new bike" thread. It pains me to write this entry. I consider it a rite of passage though ... an initiation of sorts ... or simply a great learning experience.

Sitting in the outer left turn lane. Light turns green. I let the car next to me start out before I go as usual because he's more visible than I am. He gets off the mark, I check all my sight lines and start rollin. I just start into my turn when a car in the oncoming lane decides to think it was his light instead of the left arrow that turned green. He starts coming at me and ... I forget to straighten up. I know to straighten up. I did it countless times in class last week. Perfectly. Yet ... I don't. So of course, the bike goes low side once I hit the brake, I roll a touch, get up and brush myself off. Luckily, had a couple other bikers who must have been a few cars behind me. They stop. He helps me pick the bike up and gives me the attitude that he's only doing this out of obligation but he really wishes I would just **** off and die. The other rider (female) at least asks me if I'm okay. I push my poor baby out of the intersection (after a FedEx truck finally helped me by pulling out into traffic to block people from continuing to drive past me at full speed while I'm standing there waiting to go). I apologize profusely to her until we get to the driveway and off the road.

In the end, cracked front fairing (nothing bad) and the peg snapped off my gear shifter. Not a scratch on the take or a tear on the seats. As for me, a little quarter sized road rash on my left knee, some scratches on my right ankle and a right shoulder that is throbbing. My helmet never touched the ground.

So ... many ways to look at this. I choose to look at it as a great learning experience. Two days in ... that just plain makes me feel like a bad rider but in all honesty, I think I've been doing well (until that moment). I already avoided two would-be accidents in the last two days by utilizing the skills I've learned. Still ... two days? Come on. Kinda pathetic, I'd say.


Anyway ... I'm out of commission for about a week until I can get this part in and get it put on. I'll get a new front fairing in a few weeks. Then all will be well.

[bubbamedic]

at least you came out if pretty much unscathed. I know the pride thing hurts worse than the road rash some times but it too will heal. You probably learned a valuable lesson too. i bet you don't forget to straighten up next time. Anyway glad you are okay.

[TFee3]

Now you know that actual emergencies are much tougher than classroom instruction. I think we've all done that. I panicked right after I bought my first bike, locked up both wheels on wet pavement, and went sliding into the car in front of me. Luckily, The guy let off his brakes before I hit him. When I bought my C90T last April, I was driving home when a lady came barrelling out in front of me. I locked up my back brake, and she heard the squall. She stopped for me, then started up again! When she FINALLY realized I couldn't stop in time, she stopped, and I missed her. So, not locking up your brakes is learned, not automatic. Take it as a learning exerience and shrug it off!

[jag13]

Very sorry to hear.:>( Sounds like you haven't lost hope yet though! I am a little concerned that you needed help to stand it back up. Were you trapped under it? Is the bike maybe a little too big for you? Or were you just a little weakend after the initial adrenelan rush?

[TFee3]

Jag13, not to start an argument, but I'm age 68, and my bike weighs 700+ pounds with fuel. I'm not sure I can get it back on its wheels, but while it is on its wheels, I can handle it as well as any other smaller bike I've ever had. I doubt seriously that many people can pick up their goldwing or Ultra, either, but that doesn't deminish their ability to ride it. I started riding at age 12 when in South Dakota, there wasn't such a thing as a driver's license. That bike was so big that I had to slide off the seat to reach the ground. It was a full sized bike, and I was a runt. So, the trick is to keep it on its wheels, NOT be able to pick it up when it falls.

[Xian]

Frankly, I'm not sure whether I can pick it up. Never had to try. But this wasn't a case of me having to get help to pick it up. He had already said "Let's get this up so you can get it out of the road" and was already reaching to start lifting. So I did the same. I'll tell ya though ... my shoulder hurts like a bitch so I'm sure that wouldn't have helped if I had to do it myself.

[iamgumby]

Xian; wish I had something cool to say for ya...I've low sided two...my shoulder knows how your shoulder feels; I 'snatched' a Kaw 750 up by myself the wrong way.

This is an example of a "right way"

http://bikerchickzblog.blogspot.com/...otorcycle.html

Xian - it's just a matter of saddle time. You won't do that again.

[jag13]

Originally Posted by TFee3

Jag13, not to start an argument, but I'm age 68, and my bike weighs 700+ pounds with fuel. I'm not sure I can get it back on its wheels, but while it is on its wheels, I can handle it as well as any other smaller bike I've ever had. I doubt seriously that many people can pick up their goldwing or Ultra, either, but that doesn't deminish their ability to ride it. I started riding at age 12 when in South Dakota, there wasn't such a thing as a driver's license. That bike was so big that I had to slide off the seat to reach the ground. It was a full sized bike, and I was a runt. So, the trick is to keep it on its wheels, NOT be able to pick it up when it falls.

Didn't mean to suggest that anyone was too old or small or weak. I was just trying to get a sense of the situation. I too followed the same background as you.(waas riding a full size Suzuki GT500 at age 12-13 on the backroads in MN. And I'm not saying that you should be able to clean&jerk 700lbs. (standing a bike back up is only a fraction of the total weight) I just think that is a good idea for a person to be able to do it themselves. Not for ego reasons, but rather for safety. If you are on a ride by yourself in an area not so heavily trafficed,and slide out on a curve. Or just stop to take a piss or a pic. and it falls off the stand for whatever reason, You're kinda screwed. To each their own, I just prefer to be able to pick mine up. Hope you're not offended!

[jag13]

Originally Posted by iamgumby

Xian; wish I had something cool to say for ya...I've low sided two...my shoulder knows how your shoulder feels; I 'snatched' a Kaw 750 up by myself the wrong way.

This is an example of a "right way"

http://bikerchickzblog.blogspot.com/...otorcycle.html

Xian - it's just a matter of saddle time. You won't do that again.

Excellent link!!!! I was going to post the same, disappointed you beat me to it.(lol) You should link this to the new member/rider thread.

[Xian]

Originally Posted by iamgumby

Xian; wish I had something cool to say for ya...I've low sided two...my shoulder knows how your shoulder feels; I 'snatched' a Kaw 750 up by myself the wrong way.

This is an example of a "right way"

http://bikerchickzblog.blogspot.com/...otorcycle.html

Xian - it's just a matter of saddle time. You won't do that again.

That was absolutely a great link. Thanks for that.

I'm pretty sure I can pick up my bike if I have to but I think I might practice a bit just to make sure.

Just rode the bike to my buddies house since he has a garage. She was amazing to me despite what I did to her. The front fender isn't nearly as bad as I thought it was. I don't think I'm going to fix it quite yet, just in case I have more "learning moments". It's just a small crack from the edge near the headlight (the light and its cover are fine) to the other edge ... a total of about one inch.

I'm going to stay off of her until I get the gear shifter fixed. It was easy enough to ride by just using the arm but it's not something I want to have to focus on while being a beginner.

The "road rash" (it's so small, I'm embarrassed to even call it that) is fine. My shoulder still hurts like hell though. :P

Thanks for the support everyone. I think this was more a blow to my ego than to the bike itself.

[Cruisinferburgers]

Sorry to hear about that Xian. I can sympathize.

[C50-Blvd.]

Xian - Glad you were not seriously injured. Gumby beat me to the punch though on how to pick up a downed bike. Knock on wood, but I've only dropped (really knocked over) a bike once and that was when I first started riding in my early 20's. I actually dropped the darn thing at the car wash. It was a little 500 cc sport bike and I just tried to muscle it up. It took a fair amount of effort, but I was able to get it back up on it's tires. I wasn't aware of the proper technique and didn't actually learn it until last year when I bought the Ride Like a Pro IV DVD. I don't want to find out, but it seemed awful easy to do. They had a woman picking up a full size dresser and it worked like a charm.

[YamahaFan]

Xian, 2 days is not pathetic. Like bubbamedic said, pride hurt, and it hurt even more when someone give you negative attitude about it. Doesn't matter if the rider/driver was bad or what, the first thing I'd check if there is an accident is if they're alright (then cuss them later if they are hehe)
My bike is 400lbs and I can pick it up just fine on a normal day, might be a bit hard after gym. I heard cruisers mostly have lower balance point but still kinda heavy for 1 person to pick it up.

YF

[BH]

So ... many ways to look at this. I choose to look at it as a great learning experience.

Good attitude !
Maybe it wasnt the worst thing that could have happened since you didnt get seriously injured.
Lessons are always good.

[cecilbdml]

I'd have to put a word in about picking up Wings...

After my first accident in 25 years of riding, I picked that thing up by the handlebars like a bloody 10 speed. Adrenaline'll do that to ya, I guess. That or pure anger.

I am very glad you's guys came out on the winning end of those incidents. It could have been far worse, considering how inconsiderate and (frankly) incompetent most cage drivers are. Keep the good attitude, avoid the situations that led to those incidents, and keep the rubber side down.

[emd001]

yeah i remember my first wreck, actually involved myself and my boss, he decided he wanted to make a U-turn in the middle of the road and not signal or anything, both bikes went down and our buddy who was riding with us said as soon as we hit the ground we both jumped up and picked our bikes up and moved them out of traffic, his was riding a ninja 650 and i was riding my vstar650, adrenaline will do alot for your strength. Glad to hear all those incidents didn't go any worse, ride safe and hopefully well meet on the road somewhere.

[Dennis in NH]

Sorry to hear about this but glad you're ok. I'm glad about your attitude. How long you been riding? Did you have armor on? that shoulder sounds bad.

Anyway, it's good experience. Sounds like you kept your head and know what you did. Humbling stuff like this makes good "over a beer" conversation and shows that even with good practice, stuff happens.

You can almost bet this isn't the last error you'll make. I'm sure the longtime riders here can tell you some stories. I think it's all about how you handle it and how you look at it.

I hope your parts for your bike get delivered and installed soon. I recommend taking your bike to a parking lot and just trying some stuff to ensure that you don't lose the confidence. I'm sure you know what you're doing but you can always get better and more experienced -- don't allow an incident to lower your confidence in the slightest -- but just make yourself better for it.

I remember when I dropped my bike the last time (Si pointed out that I was just going way beyond my abilities) -- I was pissed and backed off on my skills work. Now I'm doing less sharp turns and increasing sharpness ever so gradually because I'm still a little scared to drop again -- specifically, I just don't want another scratch. But that last drop really kicked me in the confidence and pissed me off enough to want to practice more.
I think I'm better for it -- and I bet you'll be a better rider once back on your bike.

I hope the shoulder gets better.

Dennis

[Xian]

Originally Posted by jag13

Very sorry to hear.:>( Sounds like you haven't lost hope yet though! I am a little concerned that you needed help to stand it back up. Were you trapped under it? Is the bike maybe a little too big for you? Or were you just a little weakend after the initial adrenelan rush?

So my buddy and I put on the new gear shifter today. She runs perfectly so it's nice to know that there was no major damage. As for picking her up ... we set her down (softly) to see if I would be able to pick her up if needed (it hurt me to see her down there again, even though we did it on purpose and as gently as possible). I got her up without a problem so ... that's not an issue.

[chaindad]

Glad you're okay gal....lesson learned....now get back on that awesome bike! Thanks Gumby for the link on picking up your bike...hope I never need to but it's nice to have the knowhow just in case!

[Xian]

Yeah, that's the method I used to pick her up and it worked beautifully.


Now stop calling me "gal".


And yes, lesson learned. I'm definitely ready for more bike time. This won't scare me away.

[jag13]

Originally Posted by Xian

So my buddy and I put on the new gear shifter today. She runs perfectly so it's nice to know that there was no major damage. As for picking her up ... we set her down (softly) to see if I would be able to pick her up if needed (it hurt me to see her down there again, even though we did it on purpose and as gently as possible). I got her up without a problem so ... that's not an issue.

Good to know you are both alright! Glad to hear you tried the lift technique. Knowing you can also helps the confidence doesn't it? Better to know now that you can than to find out later that you can't. Good luck,Ride SAFE!

[chaindad]

[QUOTE=Xian;469052]Now stop calling me "gal". QUOTE]

Yikes....sorry...would you prefer "Princess" jk