Tested My Engine Guards This Week...

[rdsmith3]

Example 1 of many:

I was parking in front of the building in which I worked a few years ago. This building has maybe 2,000 people working in it, with lots of glass for people to look out. It was the busy time in the morning, when everyone is walking into the building.

As I was trying to put the bike on the centerstand, I was thinking about work and lots of other things -- everything except the bike I was putting on the center stand. I don't know what I did wrong, but it started to tip away from me. It was a very slow fall, and no real damage was done.

Fortunately, because I was pumped full of adrenalin, I just went around to the other side and picked it up. It was not really that hard.

Example 2

I was out riding on a very cold night with my two frequent riding buddies. We stopped to BS before we went our separate ways. I put the bike on the kick stand, except it must not have been fully extended. As we were talking, we watched the bike slowly fall over. That day, I had put on the system cases I had just bought. They got slightly scratched. It gave us a good laugh.

[rdsmith3]

What is the trick of walking the bike back up?


Any advice will be deeply appreciated since I mostly ride alone.

Do squats or leg presses. Really. It is all legs.

I am a tall, slim person but I was able to somehow pick it up. One hand on the handle bars and one by the seat, I think. Then lift with the legs. Remember to have the side stand extended to catch it on the other side.

I have seen the video where a small woman walks it up backwards, but I never tried that.

[KMACR]

Gonzo...I have to admit. That's the video that I had seen that allowed me to pick the bike back up so easily. The chick video. Guess I glossed over that fact when I posted originally but you're right---the women can teach us a thing or two still yet. I'm glad I saw it and it gave me the confidence and know-how to deal with the situation. Kudo's to Carol Youarski (aka "SKERT") for posting the video on her website.

rdsmith3 --- it was really easy to use this technique. I'm 5'7", 165 pounds on a good day and was able to get the bike vertical by walking it up backwards no sweat.

I had a buddy e-mail me for a link to that video as he's just getting into riding and wanted to be prepared. It's the same video Gonzo and noRRmad posted earlier but here it is again for everybody in case it was overlooked.

http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html

[Tripton]

I slid my Rockster onto its side in the parking lot of the dealership after getting new tires put on...sorta didnt really know just how slick new tires are. REALLY felt like an ass then....it was right in front of the showroom, so there was a small audience, including the people that I might have to trade it into in a year or two...

No head guards either. Little beauty mark on the right valve cover. I actually get a lot of people asking me if i lean it over that far while cornering.

Dont really remember picking it up to be honest with you. It has GS bag mounts and they are excellent handles, and as soon as I hit the ground I threw it back upright. I am sorta large though...6'4" and 320...comes in handy sometimes I guess.

[grt1500]

OK, after reading through all the posts on this topic I believe I win the prize for stupidist lay down EVER.

I won't go into detail, let me just say this: never put Armour-All on your bike tires.

Fortunately I was only going 20mph through the corner. Ripped my jacket and ground down the plastic head guard. It protected my valve cover but I couldn't get the melted plastic off withough chipping the paint.

[KMACR]

OK, after reading through all the posts on this topic I believe I win the prize for stupidist lay down EVER.

I won't go into detail, let me just say this: never put Armour-All on your bike tires.

Don't feel too bad grt1500. Actually this is one I haven't pulled myself but only because my buddy(sorry, Lew) did first and became my warning. He cleaned up his bike one day and finished it off with a nice Armour-All coat on his cables, hoses....and his seat. Took off for a spin on his gleaming machine and the first hard stop he made caused him to slide forward and left him sitting on top of his tank with his legs wedged up against the handlebars! He was able to react quickly enough to keep the bike from going down but felt like the village idiot as he rode sheepishly--and slowly back home to take it off. Live and learn.

KMACR

[wncbmw]

Never put Armour All on the car's steering wheel either!

I have seen the videos about bike pickup techniques but honestly never had to use any system to pick it up. Usually I am so pissed at dropping it, the adrenlin rush (or embaressment factor) is so high, I could pick it up and bench press it 5 times!

[KMACR]

I hear you, Vann. I've heard stories of average-sized women lifting an overturned car in order to free family members from inside. That's just adrenalin working when someone' s life is in danger. I can only imagine what powers are unleashed when there's a motorcyclist's PRIDE at stake! LOL.

Guess I would have figured out something if I hadn't seen the video regardless. Great stories from everyone all around. Just goes to show us we're all human after all....

[Badger]

The abs brakes are grabby.....I parked briefly facing up a steep slope at the end of a cul de sac. ....got back on the bike, decided i'd just do a real tight U turn to head out, started the engine......turned the bars all the way to the left to make a left U turn from the stop......grabbed the front brake when things started to get squirrly and dropped the bike on theside stand side......scratching the cylinder guard and putting a few little gravel pits in my pristene cylinder head......

dumb.......front brakes which are anti-lock with a boost grabbed hard and locked up the wheel in a nano second.....

when doing slow maneuvers like backing, waddling around a U turn from parking......leave the ignition off and use the residual braking......abs-servo is too grabby......when doing other basic slow maneuvers use the rear only.....that's why its not linked to the front.....

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