I have joined the elite ranks....

solaron · April 06, 2006, 05:21:32 AM

of people who have dropped their bikes. Ugh.

Was turning around after riding on some nice paved roads with some good twisties at a nature preserve by my house. The roads are narrows, so I turned around on a little gravel off-shoot; it was on a slight incline, however, going up. I was doing fine until about 3 feet from being back on the road and my rear tire slid from under me and I dropped the damn thing. What an idiot.

Either way, no bad damage. One of the turn signals popped in and is now very loose. I haven't looked to see how hard that is to fit, and there's a tiny crack in the fairing around it. That's about it.

I knew it was pretty much inevitable, but I feel like such a moron.

ChuckS · April 06, 2006, 05:49:44 AM

Last year I bought a slightly used V-Strom 650. After having the bike for about a month, I was coming home at night, stopped at a red light, and puy my foot in the only pothole around. I set her down in slow motion in front of about 50 cars stopped at the light. Just broke off a turn signal.

It happens

ChuckS

buzz · April 06, 2006, 06:44:27 AM

I wouldn't say we are an elite group.

I dumped mine in gravel also last year. It was in my driveway which is about a 20 percent grade. So there was some tumbling involved.

Gravel just sucks for bikes.

pnaberhaus · April 06, 2006, 07:07:03 AM

Solaron,
"..nature preserve by my house." Would that be the Cincinnati Nature Center over by Round Bottom Rd?

solaron · April 06, 2006, 07:31:39 AM

Afraid not. It's actually Woodland Altars, out here in Adams County. Is that place better?

A few friends and I have been looking for somewhere to ride and I figured I'd check this place out as an option.

And yes, we're elite. It makes me feel better. Hopefully the manual talks about the turn signal - I suck at repairing crap. Now is as good a time as any to learn.

3imo · April 06, 2006, 07:38:43 AM

Welcome my young padawon.

I am a GS Dumping Master. I drop mine like a pro. actually this year has been good to the GS. Not once yet.

Last year though was rough. I dropped her at least three times. once at a intersection like you did. My wife knocked it down a time or three, and once I backed out in my cage forgeting she was back there.

but I have beater 99' NAked. so a few scratches don't bother me much. Its really embarrissing at the stop light.

solaron · April 06, 2006, 08:00:56 AM

Yeah, I'm starting to think I should've gone with a naked one. I'm gonna spend a million dollars by the time this is all said and done fixing my fairing if this is any indication.

MarkusN · April 06, 2006, 08:07:51 AM

There's a reason the streetfighter look has become popular in Europe...

3imo · April 06, 2006, 08:12:51 AM

How can you justify spending $300+ on new fairings?

maybe I am just cheap. yeah .. thats it.

I also wouldn't buy $80 shoes. Actually I don't buy shoes. The army gave me combat boots. so I still wear those.
My wife bought me some shoes. mhhmm.. I wonder where those went.

DMac · April 06, 2006, 08:29:12 AM

It happens. I let my dad ride it, well, he was learning. And it went down on him, broken signal is all and he was fine.
It didn't bother me as much as I thought, I guess cause it went down on my dad and it makes me realize it's just a bike. Don't kick yourself over it, I wouldn't recommend getting the fairings replaced b/c of a crack though, way to expensive IMO.

pandy · April 06, 2006, 08:58:19 AM

Fortunately, the Baby G is very forgiving and easy to fix (and cheaper if it's nekkid)!

The SV650S isn't bad either....but I've only dropped him about once a month....so far...

solaron · April 06, 2006, 09:33:38 AM

Quote from: 3imo on April 06, 2006, 08:12:51 AM
How can you justify spending $300+ on new fairings?

maybe I am just cheap. yeah .. thats it.

I also wouldn't buy $80 shoes. Actually I don't buy shoes. The army gave me combat boots. so I still wear those.
My wife bought me some shoes. mhhmm.. I wonder where those went.

I don't justify it. I don't want to do it, and don't plan on it until they fall off on me. The Air Force gave me combat boots that I wear to ride every day. :p I just know I don't want to be riding around on a poor GS with the fairings falling apart. She's my little silver china doll and I must pay her homage.

3imo · April 06, 2006, 09:42:47 AM

I can understand complete adoration for your ride.

That would justify a measly $300.00 to make her a beauty again.

Sorry, I didn't think about that.

I spend a few bucks here and there to get mine looking good.

Alphamazing · April 06, 2006, 11:23:56 AM

Quote from: solaron on April 06, 2006, 09:33:38 AM
Quote from: 3imo on April 06, 2006, 08:12:51 AM
How can you justify spending $300+ on new fairings?

maybe I am just cheap. yeah .. thats it.

I also wouldn't buy $80 shoes. Actually I don't buy shoes. The army gave me combat boots. so I still wear those.
My wife bought me some shoes. mhhmm.. I wonder where those went.

I don't justify it. I don't want to do it, and don't plan on it until they fall off on me. The Air Force gave me combat boots that I wear to ride every day. :p I just know I don't want to be riding around on a poor GS with the fairings falling apart. She's my little silver china doll and I must pay her homage.

The previous owner of my GS layed the bike down on both sides. I dropped it on the side once and then took the fairings off. However, I doubt that your fairings will be falling off if you drop it a few times. They'll be scratched up, yeah, but that's just an excuse to get a custom paint job!

RVertigo · April 06, 2006, 11:55:06 AM

Quote from: pandy on April 06, 2006, 08:58:19 AMFortunately, the Baby G is very forgiving and easy to fix (and cheaper if it's nekkid)!

The SV650S isn't bad either....but I've only dropped him about once a month....so far...

You rule Pandy!

Nothing makes me laugh like your attitude about being the Drop Master.

I've dropped mine too... Broke off the fork reflector.

Didn't even notice it was gone for about 3 months.

solaron · April 06, 2006, 11:55:58 AM

How does a F look w/o the fairings?

3imo · April 06, 2006, 11:57:02 AM

xactly like an E , cept the radiator thingy in front. not to shabby for a naked chick

LimaXray · April 06, 2006, 11:58:47 AM

i like my girls with the radiator in the back

3imo · April 06, 2006, 12:00:24 PM

da badunkadunk in the trunk

pandy · April 06, 2006, 12:44:47 PM

Quote from: RVertigo on April 06, 2006, 11:55:06 AM
You rule Pandy! Nothing makes me laugh like your attitude about being the Drop Master. :laugh:I've dropped mine too... Broke off the fork reflector. Didn't even notice it was gone for about 3 months.

Well...I've learned to embrace the inevitable (at least in my case)

The first SVS drop stung a bit, but I never felt a thing after that....

If my poor first ride, the commuter Baby G, hadn't been so tough, I'm not quite sure how either of us would have made it through the first year...

News:

I have joined the elite ranks....