Well, just read through these posts. Been riding over 40 years. Have had 1200 Sporty, '93 Heritage Cowbike, '01 SE Roadglide, '03 Roadking and a year ago bought a new Ultra CVO. First time I was riding with my ex father-in-law. He was on his '92 Ultra and I was riding my ex wife's Springer. We came to a stop sign side by side. As we stopped I looked over and noticed his left foot go into a depression and I thought he was going to lose it. I left go of my bike I was on, thinking I could help him. It turned out he was ok, but I dropped her bike right between my legs! OK, lesson: You can't help anybody when you are on a bike! Next time, years later, I was on my Roadking getting ready to ride. Ok I thought all set, kick stand up, etc. Time to fire up, oops, ignition locked. Hmm, key in tour pack. No problem, stood up and went to turn around to open tour pack lid, and bam! On the ground with my left foot stuck under the primary side of the bike. Damn! Luckily, I got my foot unstuck and picked up the bike. No damage to the Red Ghost Flame Paint on the saddle bag. Next lesson: Don't assume the bike will wait in the upright position until you're ready! Saved the worst for last. Just this past Saturday, my wife and I are out for a little ride on the Ultra.
I came up to a very tough intersection. A steep switchback, uphill turn. I know this road/ intersection and usually try to be coming in the opposite direction. Then it's just a bare left turn and you shoot right up the hill. Well we were detoured due to some bridge construction and I knew that this was not the best direction to be headed. Any way, my wife said when I stopped, she is surprised that I was going to try to make this turn. I said it should be good as I have done this route before, but not with this Ultra. As I swung around at slow speed and needed to give it gas, a bike came around the curve headed toward me, but not interfering with my line of travel. At that instant, I thought I can't take off now, as I didn't want to chance crowding him, so I allowed the bike to roll to the right getting me off balance. Due to the steepness, my forward momentum stopped, and there I was hanging on for dear life. Over I went with the wife on the back. The bike then slid back down the hill about 5 feet, and my wife fell onto the blacktop. Luckily she only bruised he elbow. No paint damage, just the crash bars and foot board mount scratched from sliding down the hill. Some real small dents in the lower heat shield too. Lesson learned: 1) Don't attempt a hard maneuver with your passenger. Have them get off, do what you need to do, and go from there. 2) If you have hesitations, don't attempt it. Less embarrassing than having a fellow biker help you pick up your bike in the road like its road kill.
I feel a little better now. It keeps playing over and over in my mind like Bill Murray in the movie Ground Hog Day!
Author
Topic: Dropping your bike (Read 7265 times)