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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: solaron on April 06, 2006, 05:21:32 AM

Title: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: solaron on 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.
Title: That's nothing.....
Post by: ChuckS on 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.   :mad:

It happens

ChuckS
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: buzz on April 06, 2006, 06:44:27 AM
I wouldn't say we are an elite group. :laugh:

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.
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: pnaberhaus on 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?
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: solaron on 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.

Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: 3imo on 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.  :thumb:
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: solaron on 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.

Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: MarkusN on April 06, 2006, 08:07:51 AM
There's a reason the streetfighter look has become popular in Europe...
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: 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.
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: DMac on 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.
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: pandy on 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...  :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: 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.
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: 3imo on 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.
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: Alphamazing on 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!  :thumb:
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: RVertigo on 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...  :icon_mrgreen:
You rule Pandy!  :kiss3:  Nothing makes me laugh like your attitude about being the Drop Master.  :laugh:

I've dropped mine too...  Broke off the fork reflector.  :dunno_white:  Didn't even notice it was gone for about 3 months.
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: solaron on April 06, 2006, 11:55:58 AM
How does a F look w/o the fairings?
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: 3imo on April 06, 2006, 11:57:02 AM
xactly like an E , cept the radiator thingy in front.  not to shabby for a naked chick
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: LimaXray on April 06, 2006, 11:58:47 AM
i like my girls with the radiator in the back
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: 3imo on April 06, 2006, 12:00:24 PM
da badunkadunk in the trunk
Title: Re: I have joined the elite ranks....
Post by: pandy on April 06, 2006, 12:44:47 PM
Quote from: RVertigo on April 06, 2006, 11:55:06 AM
You rule Pandy!  :kiss3:  Nothing makes me laugh like your attitude about being the Drop Master.  :laugh:I've dropped mine too...  Broke off the fork reflector.  :dunno_white:  Didn't even notice it was gone for about 3 months.

Well...I've learned to embrace the inevitable (at least in my case)  :laugh: The first SVS drop stung a bit, but I never felt a thing after that....  :icon_lol:

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...  :kiss3: