No longer a virgin - dropped it yesterday.

FlyFishJeff · 08-12-2012, 10:48 AM

There are two group's of riders, those that have dropped and those that will.

I moved from the latter into the former group yesterday.

Lesson learned: always put your uphill foot down after coming to a stop.

I am used to riding in very flat areas. After a gas stop in a very hiilly area in WV on my way to Pittsburgh. I came to a stop and attempted to put my left foot down as I always do. Surprise! The ground was a long way down, and the bike went over with a thud. It was a hell of a struggle picking it up since it had fallen over downhill of a steep incline.

The most damage was to my ego. Just a few scrapes on the corner of the Trax luggage, bar end, and engine guard. The bike has some character now, and so do I!

Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk

Ben Carufel · 08-12-2012, 11:48 AM

Welcome to the club! I've gotten used to dropping my 1150GSA now. I think I'm up to 4 drops at zero or one mile per hour. The most recent was last week in the parking lot of a Mexican food restaurant. I hopped off as it went over, stood there and had a good laugh about it, then got to the business of picking her up.

Such is life.

Ed~ · 08-12-2012, 02:33 PM

I had to spend a bit to get a mental picture of what you were describing... then I got it.
Bwah ha ha ha!

Come now, a Wee is not even that tall with the stock seat. Climb atop a KTM or XR and you'll see how/where you stop will really become a part of your riding consciousness.

BTW, even accounting for the extra weight, a GS is easier to pick up than most bikes due to the fairly high angle that the cylinder protectors help keep the bike "at rest".

sattwood3590 · 08-12-2012, 02:51 PM

The first time I dropped my 1200GS was at the motorcycle races in Auburn, Ca. Good a nice round of applause from those that saw it. Oh well!

--Steve

FlyFishJeff · 08-12-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed~

Come now, a Wee is not even that tall with the stock seat. Climb atop a KTM or XR and you'll see how/where you stop will really become a part of your riding consciousness.

It's all relative to the inseam, my friend!

I would be dropping a KTM constantly on level ground! My 31 inch inseam pretty much eliminates the big orange bikes for me.

VegasDesertRat · 08-12-2012, 10:23 PM

On my XRL, I've dropped it at least 6 times from stop to 2 mph,

I have a 34" inseam,,

Glad I'm not alone....

FlyFishJeff · 08-13-2012, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VegasDesertRat

On my XRL, I've dropped it at least 6 times from stop to 2 mph,

I have a 34" inseam,,

Glad I'm not alone....

I posted the story of my drop for 2 reasons:

1. Hopefully somebody will avoid dropping the bike when stopping perpendicular on a hill by putting the UPHILL foot down.

2. Misery loves company!

67beertech · 08-13-2012, 05:57 AM

Welcome to the club....on a recent trip to Europe, I gently laid down my Dakar 4 times in the first 2 weeks. Bruised ego and bar ends......I suspect it wasn't the last time either.
I have found that picking up is easier facing away from the bike...and lift with your legs...must be somekind of leverage thingy...

Gillus · 08-13-2012, 08:42 AM

I

Saturday going two (2) mph in a gas station parking lot, taking off from a stop and turning and just fell over

......... Bike ('11 GSA) lost it's unscrathed patina and I was

I try to use gravity and centrifugal precedence to my advantage but gravity won this time as the other had not taken effect yet

ZaethDekar · 08-13-2012, 08:52 AM

Sounds to me it almost seems like the bike might be the issue :-p

My Versys only layed down once.... Granted I have a 38" inseam and I too put my foot down on the downhill side, where there was also gravel.

I could only laugh when I fell over as my Gerbing gear connector brought me down with the bike so as I tried to skip away from the bike it pulled me back onto itself.

The Evil Twin · 08-13-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZaethDekar

I could only laugh when I fell over as my Gerbing gear connector brought me down with the bike so as I tried to skip away from the bike it pulled me back onto itself.

I'm imagining one of those paddles with the ball attached by a rubber band! Thanks for the chuckle :) I've been in the bike down club too. All you can do is pick it up and ride on!

FlyFishJeff · 08-13-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZaethDekar

I could only laugh when I fell over as my Gerbing gear connector brought me down with the bike so as I tried to skip away from the bike it pulled me back onto itself.

Going down with the ship!

crofrog · 08-13-2012, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyFishJeff

It's all relative to the inseam, my friend!

I would be dropping a KTM constantly on level ground! My 31 inch inseam pretty much eliminates the big orange bikes for me.

I've got a 30" inseam ride a bunch of different KTM's. It's about technique not getting your feet flat on the ground.

kevlar930 · 08-13-2012, 01:57 PM

Been there, done that. I managed to do it on a K1200S. Downhill foot onto gravel. Over we went!

FlyFishJeff · 08-13-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crofrog

I've got a 30" inseam ride a bunch of different KTM's. It's about technique not getting your feet flat on the ground.

You're awesome!

I don't think I'll ever be comfortable on a bike as tall as the KTM. Luckily, there are other bikes with lower seat heights for me.

08-12-2012, 10:48 AM	#1
FlyFishJeff ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2010 Location: Columbus, OH Oddometer: 61	No longer a virgin - dropped it yesterday. There are two group's of riders, those that have dropped and those that will. I moved from the latter into the former group yesterday. Lesson learned: always put your uphill foot down after coming to a stop. I am used to riding in very flat areas. After a gas stop in a very hiilly area in WV on my way to Pittsburgh. I came to a stop and attempted to put my left foot down as I always do. Surprise! The ground was a long way down, and the bike went over with a thud. It was a hell of a struggle picking it up since it had fallen over downhill of a steep incline. The most damage was to my ego. Just a few scrapes on the corner of the Trax luggage, bar end, and engine guard. The bike has some character now, and so do I! Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk FlyFishJeff screwed with this post 08-12-2012 at 05:52 PM

08-12-2012, 11:48 AM	#2
Ben Carufel Boxer Addict Joined: Dec 2010 Location: San Diego Oddometer: 418	Welcome to the club! I've gotten used to dropping my 1150GSA now. I think I'm up to 4 drops at zero or one mile per hour. The most recent was last week in the parking lot of a Mexican food restaurant. I hopped off as it went over, stood there and had a good laugh about it, then got to the business of picking her up. Such is life. __________________ Ben Carufel - Motorsport Photography - http://www.bencarufel.com '11 BMW F800ST - '02 BMW R1150GSA - '72 BMW R60/5 Other bikes to appear above shortly, rest assured...

08-12-2012, 02:33 PM	#3
Ed~ What, Me Worry? Joined: Sep 2010 Location: Bisbee, AZ Oddometer: 332	Fool of a Took! I had to spend a bit to get a mental picture of what you were describing... then I got it. Bwah ha ha ha! Come now, a Wee is not even that tall with the stock seat. Climb atop a KTM or XR and you'll see how/where you stop will really become a part of your riding consciousness. BTW, even accounting for the extra weight, a GS is easier to pick up than most bikes due to the fairly high angle that the cylinder protectors help keep the bike "at rest". __________________ "It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of non-violence to cover impotence. There is hope for a violent man to become non-violent. There is no such hope for the impotent." -Gandhi Ed~ screwed with this post 08-12-2012 at 02:42 PM

08-12-2012, 02:51 PM	#4
sattwood3590 n00b Joined: May 2012 Oddometer: 8	Yep...me too! The first time I dropped my 1200GS was at the motorcycle races in Auburn, Ca. Good a nice round of applause from those that saw it. Oh well! --Steve

08-12-2012, 10:23 PM	#6
VegasDesertRat n00b Joined: Jun 2012 Oddometer: 2	On my XRL, I've dropped it at least 6 times from stop to 2 mph,I have a 34" inseam,, Glad I'm not alone....

08-13-2012, 05:57 AM	#8
67beertech n00b Joined: Aug 2012 Location: Great White North (Toronto area) Oddometer: 2	Welcome to the club....on a recent trip to Europe, I gently laid down my Dakar 4 times in the first 2 weeks. Bruised ego and bar ends......I suspect it wasn't the last time either. I have found that picking up is easier facing away from the bike...and lift with your legs...must be somekind of leverage thingy...

08-13-2012, 08:42 AM	#9
Gillus High Desert Rat Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Alamogordo, NM Oddometer: 417	me too I Saturday going two (2) mph in a gas station parking lot, taking off from a stop and turning and just fell over ......... Bike ('11 GSA) lost it's unscrathed patina and I was I try to use gravity and centrifugal precedence to my advantage but gravity won this time as the other had not taken effect yet

08-13-2012, 08:52 AM	#10
ZaethDekar Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Washougal, WA Oddometer: 327	Sounds to me it almost seems like the bike might be the issue :-p My Versys only layed down once.... Granted I have a 38" inseam and I too put my foot down on the downhill side, where there was also gravel. I could only laugh when I fell over as my Gerbing gear connector brought me down with the bike so as I tried to skip away from the bike it pulled me back onto itself.

08-13-2012, 01:57 PM	#14
kevlar930 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2008 Location: On the side of a mountain Oddometer: 210	Been there, done that. I managed to do it on a K1200S. Downhill foot onto gravel. Over we went!

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