I have been watching videos on youtube that people have posted about the GS and then started watching motorcycle crashes and thought I would ask how many riders have laid there bikes down...GS or other? How and why did you wreck? I watched videos of people dumping there bikes in high and low side turns going fast and slow So far I have never recked but I've had several close call because of other people not seeing me or just driving stupid. I am trying to improve my riding skills and might take a riding class next year. I would like to hear from you as to why you wrecked... inexperience, riding to fast, bad tires, bad road....etc   Thanks

There is a old saying, there are 2 types of riders. Those that have fallen and those that will.

I have dropped my bike 4 times, 3 of the 4 I jumped off before the bike fell over and was unhurt. The 4th I hit a patch of oil mid turn and my bike shot out from under me, busted up my left side fairing and broke my clutch lever.

Still rode home though!

No injuries from any bike crash other than a bit of bruising. Mainly its all about knowing your's and the bikes limits.

Hmmm...

2 x lay downs at low speed - one due to a massive pile of acorns swept around the back of a round about, and another on a patch of black ice.. definitely a painful exercise, but on both occasions the bike was spared any significant damage (cordura seems pretty tough)..

The near misses for me usually involve a) steel expansion joints on bridges b) that horrible tar seal they use to "temporarily" fix cracks in the road surface.. as soon as it rains... 

I guess not riding to the conditions is the usual story for most people.

Dropped my GS 3 times, lowside in the dirt. F800 fell over on some very soft grass.

Dropped it once pretty recently, and had a close call the first time I ever rode it (lady pulled out in front of me, I panic braked and locked up both wheels, but managed to keep it upright).

Thankfully, I never biffed it bad despite having made a few poor decisions in the past 25 yrs.

But I did fall over a few times - twice using front brake on gravel at low speed, once because I forgot to take off a brake disc lock, once because I forgot to put the kickstand down and the bike fell over on me and the bike beside it when I got off. I also almost fell over a couple of times turning the bike around while sitting on it, and once my foot slipped off the centrestand tang and it started to fall over away from me towards another bike. I had a few 'close calls' in traffic over the years as well, but nothing serious.

Looking back on these, it seems that nearly always the source of the problem was being too rushed, and not taking the time necessary to do what needed to be done.

I taught motorcycle courses for nearly 15 yrs, and we always discussed how most 'accidents' weren't really accidental at all, but the  result of poor planning and judgement. Certainly the statistics bear this out, wherein something like 80% of motorcycle accidents are single vehicle crashes while negotiating turns ~ too much, too little, too late as the song goes.

I dropped my 150cc scooter once, low-sided it once (there was either oil or diesel on the road), and high-sided it once (rain+crappiest brakes = ).

The first time taking my GS off its centerstand, I lost balance and gently laid it down on my now fallen body... That was fun.

Dropped 2x from knocking it over

Laid id down once and vowed to never do it again.

I was bruised bad. I swore I had broke a rid. It hurt to get up or sit down. It hurt even more hiding it from the wife (she over reacts) and I hid the bruises for about a week until she finally seen them and ragged me about it. To this day I never admitted it to her.

My textile jacket, gloves and kevlar jeans saved my skin

WEAR YOURS!!

I have only gone down two times that I can recall, once on my dirt bike, low sided on a corner when I hit a puddle. That one popped my elbow out of socket. The other time was on my VFR750, low sided it on some gravel at about 10-15mph..

GS fell over once at 1mph in the grass. It was raining uphill and I fish tailed.

Why I went muddying I have no idea. Sotally Tober, I swear!

I think I am a bad rider or Seattle streets are just treacherous. I have been down at speed on the GS 4 times. 5 - 50 mph. Rear ended a semi truck once on my NX650 "death trap."

On the GS it was either my fault, equal fault or unexplained loss of traction. It would actually be nice for it to be someone else's fault for once! Close calls every day on the freeway and side roads of Seattle. Also had the back end step out on me many times for close calls when the roads get wet and oily.

That NX just had bad brakes. On the GS I would have avoided a lot of bruising and the concussion.

Crashing isn't fun but it is part of the sport and let's you know how you handle high stress situations. I've learned something from every crash -- that is the most important thing.

Just realized...I ride motorbikes like I wrench on motorbikes. Frequently and clumsily.


If you never strip a bolt, lose a tool you just had, or forget to turn the tank peacock all the way on, you will probably never crash.

Quote from: Bluesmudge on November 28, 2012, 08:10:06 PM
Just realized...I ride motorbikes like I wrench on motorbikes. Frequently and clumsily.


If you never strip a bolt, lose a tool you just had, or forget to turn the tank peacock all the way on, you will probably never crash.

I must be just buying time somehow then...

I've only been down in the grass and dirt with the little Honda 185.  Never been down on the street.  I got really close jetting around a parking lot on my buddies Triumph Daytona 955i.  Caught some gravel, slide and instinctively went to put a foot down.  It just about ripped my leg off, but the bike kept going and wobbled a bunch before settling out.  After I cleaned up my pants, I decided my first bike would be one with much less power.

When I was 7 or 8, I ran a minibike into the back of a parked car.  I've also had plenty of get-offs on my bicycle as a kid.  As far as legitimate motorcycles go:

I've crashed 8 or 10 times on an old YZ125 dirtbike when I was a teenager.  Usually just washouts, but occasionally I'd be going to fast and run through a corner into some bushes or something.  I remember 1 time in particular I was going up a steep hill and lost my momentum.  I laid it down and slid partially back down the hill.  The bike didn't idle at all, so sometimes it would stall and I'd fall over if I was on an off-camber area or something.

To date I have yet to drop a bike on the street (knock on wood), but did tip my GS over once at a car wash taking it off the center stand.  My foot slipped on the wet concrete and the bike tipped over.  I think it was within 3 months of buying it.  It's been knocked over a few times in the parking lot of the apartment complex I lived at in college also.  I came close to rear ending a car in college also.  I wasn't paying attention and they stopped short.  I got on the brakes, but was too firm on the rear and my back tire slid out a little, but I didn't go down.  I've gotten the rear end loose a few times, and almost had a few low speed drops but have been pretty lucky so far.  I need to work on my low speed maneuvering I think.

On the street, once. So far. Trying to do a U-turn in a narrowish road, realized i was going a lil too fast so instinctively put some pressure on the front brake. Front locked and over she went. I managed to get a foot down and slow the descent. Scratched exhaust, bent bar end bolt, and snapped off the front brake lever.

Rode 12 miles home with no front brake lever. That taught me to not use the front brake at low speed.

Managed to get the rear to lock a few times, never enough to throw me off, but enough to give me a bit of a scare.

Even rode through a muddy field at a festival where fwd cars were getting stuck without dropping it. Im just lucky i guess 

Quote from: GSF500 on November 28, 2012, 04:35:54 PM
I have been watching videos on youtube that people have posted about the GS and then started watching motorcycle crashes and thought I would ask how many riders have laid there bikes down...GS or other? How and why did you wreck? I watched videos of people dumping there bikes in high and low side turns going fast and slow So far I have never recked but I've had several close call because of other people not seeing me or just driving stupid. I am trying to improve my riding skills and might take a riding class next year. I would like to hear from you as to why you wrecked... inexperience, riding to fast, bad tires, bad road....etc   Thanks

ive never seen a mechanical failure that caused a collision. every collision ive witnessed has been driver and or rider error. majority of collisions were simple lack of attention to surroundings (all drivers) or lack of skillset for the speed traveling (all riders)

my own personal drops have been on road:
not recognizing pinestraw
run wide in turn
gymkhana (lots of errors, mostly throttle control)

offroad:
following too close
excessive speed
excessive braking


every single crash ive had was my own fault. thankfully ive only broken my lega few times, and injured wrists so far. offroad is safer than on road, no doubt.

my gs never suffered more than a scratched case. my cb fell over a lot. the fz was dropped once, at gymkhana. my scooter penetrated a bush in the front yard. my drz has hit everything possible: trees, cars, other bikes, varmits, bushes, rocks, rr ties, signs, people, dropped off cliffs, ramped up cliffs, and generally abused like no other.

you, take a riding course, find a moto gymkhana event, lookup gymkhana on youtube and setup your own. forget the stupid drifting and show boating. focus on the simple skill sets of slow speed clutch and throttle + brakes. learn the bikes limits in a controlled area, gain the confidence of knowing its limits on the road.

never, ever have the fear of tossing the bike away ! youll save many injuries once this is accomplished.

above all, enjoy the ride , and slow down.

Quote from: Calpantera on November 28, 2012, 07:44:00 PM
I have only gone down two times that I can recall, once on my dirt bike, low sided on a corner when I hit a puddle. That one popped my elbow out of socket. The other time was on my VFR750, low sided it on some gravel at about 10-15mph..

Oh ya totally forgot when I rear ended a stopped rental truck when I was passing a bus in SF, that was on a 50cc Honda MB5. That one hurt.. 

dropped 3 times... once when I grabbed the brake at full lock trying to back into my driveway, once when I stalled coming away from a stop sign (again at full lock) then immediately after this when I forgot to put the side stand down when picking it up.
scratches on the case and exhaust, bent lever, cracked cowl where the signals go through

these events all occurred before I put 200 miles on the bike.

Great read...!! I have been riding for 15+ years both dirt and street and I'm really interested in LEARNING how to really ride a motorcycle and the GS is great for that... I like the fact that it's not super fast crotch rocket like my 750 ninja which was to much bike for me back in the day... but I had enough common sense to respect it. The GS is perfect for my commute and riding style today and I want to improve my skills to feel better about riding on the road. Thanks for the replies and drive safe   I almost forgot....I bought proper riding gear this year, A protected riding jacket with lots of pads and Bohn-armor-pants which are really nice. I also plan on buying Dragon jeans + shirt for X-mas. I Know leathers are best but this set up should work if I ever need it but I hope I never find out.

5 serious crashes. 3 on the track, 2 on the street. Both street crashes involved seriously compromised surface conditions, and potential road hazards.

Be aware of the hazards out there. Develop an index of potential hazards, and a toolbox of survival techniques. But try not to freak out too much.