Dropping a bike for the first time! - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

MaineZuki · 05-06-2004, 03:13 PM

I just wanted some input from those more experienced than me. I have this dreadful fear of dropping my bike for the first time. I've been riding for approximately 2 years now (excluding winter obviously) and I know that day will come where I run over something, or something/someone forces me to drop my bike. I feel I am a very sensible rider. As my dad always said to me, "Get good, then get fast" and to this day it stuck in my mind. I know I cant stop the innevatable from happening, I will drop my bike at least once in my life. So is there anything that you more experienced riders can tell me to help me get thru this.

(Maybe I should call Dr. Phil)

Thanks
MaineZuki

vol01jim · 05-06-2004, 07:33 PM

Just worry about it when it happens, RIde in the now. Sounds like your trippin out on the thin and shakey branches of future possibilities.

Drop the bike in the next life. Ride safe

Jonathan · 05-06-2004, 08:37 PM

I agree with Jim. Ive been riding for 3 years now and it hasnt happened to me. Ive come very close and I used my training to react, but just dont "sit" there and think about it. It will drive you crazy.

**Louis** · 05-06-2004, 08:45 PM

If your sure your gonna drop it, it can only happen faster!

Ride it man

bat4255 · 05-07-2004, 08:01 AM

I heard of some riders after buying a new bike, go on the front lawn and push it over to get the feel for picking it back up.
I started riding 1969. In my younger years, 60% of my riding was off road, so getting used to dumping bikes was no problem (lol).
I have set every bike I've owned on it's side (including larger road machines 600#+) when I got it, to pratice getting back up right.
This is where the lawn works great. No damage, and you can see how far you can go before you let it go.
Learn in a private setting (no embarassment).
Think of it like, you break-in the engine, you also need to break-in the chassis.

**Uncle Bob** · 05-07-2004, 08:22 AM

Maybe you'll just be the exception that confirms the rule.

NomadTurk · 05-07-2004, 09:57 AM

If it is gonna make you feel better, I dropped my first bike right off the dealer, thank God it was just a slow lay.

If it is a compulsive thing, why don't you lay it down yourself on a full grass area slowly... I would not recommend it too much, but if it is gonna calm you down.... becuase you sound nervous buddy....

Advise?

Make sure the leve is ALL THE WAY down before you get off it, and when you get off it, just give it a small shake to see if it is settled.

Try not to leave your bike on elevated roads.

Be careful on the slippery curves (no brainer) but when you slide off those curve your bike will just slide on one side ripping da s@#$ out your fenders etc..

Be careful when someone hops on your back, I get bit shaky those times.

Other than that buddy, I pray that you'll have flawless riding experiences forever.

Good luck....

rteichman · 05-07-2004, 11:51 AM

The second day after I got my bike, I almost droped it. Actually, if it wasn't for the building behind me, I would have. Instead I got sandwitched between a half fallen bike and the building. It was then that I realized how heavy the darn thing was! I got really REALLY scared about how would I ever pick it back up.

I surfed the net and read up about how to do it, and it made me feel better, but I was still worried. Last weekend, I droped the bike. Stupid sort of thing, but since its a 95 and had been droped by the previous owner (I suspect a number of times, based on the damage), I was actually kind of happy. Turns out it wasn't hard all to pick back up! Thus now I feel a lot more secure.

As others have suggested, I would slowly lay it down on the grass and then get it back up. It will make you feel a lot better. I wish I had done that.

DesertVenom · 05-07-2004, 01:47 PM

first time i dropped my bike, was a 81' gs250T, i was holding it up with 1 hand trying to make it level, checking the oil, and it slipped outa my hand and fell over, broke a mirror and signal light, was bummed right out, was only 16....
Travis

MaineZuki · 05-07-2004, 09:15 PM

Thanks a S*#t load for all of the input guys. Unfortunately I was speaking more towards dumping it on the road at a certain speed. But I still got the proper input to snap me out of it. I figure if I have it in my mind that I will drop it I'm twice as likely to do so. :Note to self. SHUT THE HELL UP: endnote

Thanks again guys.

05-06-2004, 03:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
MaineZuki Where Am I ? Joined: May 2004 Location: Auburn, Maine Posts: 33	Dropping a bike for the first time! I just wanted some input from those more experienced than me. I have this dreadful fear of dropping my bike for the first time. I've been riding for approximately 2 years now (excluding winter obviously) and I know that day will come where I run over something, or something/someone forces me to drop my bike. I feel I am a very sensible rider. As my dad always said to me, "Get good, then get fast" and to this day it stuck in my mind. I know I cant stop the innevatable from happening, I will drop my bike at least once in my life. So is there anything that you more experienced riders can tell me to help me get thru this. (Maybe I should call Dr. Phil) Thanks MaineZuki __________________ When Life Speeds By, Downshift '83 GS550E

05-06-2004, 07:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
vol01jim Clunked into first gear Joined: Jan 2004 Location: dallas,tx Posts: 221	Just worry about it when it happens, RIde in the now. Sounds like your trippin out on the thin and shakey branches of future possibilities. Drop the bike in the next life. Ride safe __________________ vol01jim

05-06-2004, 08:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jonathan U.B's LoveChild Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: Rescued and being repaired Location: Altamonte Springs, Florida Posts: 1,220	I agree with Jim. Ive been riding for 3 years now and it hasnt happened to me. Ive come very close and I used my training to react, but just dont "sit" there and think about it. It will drive you crazy. __________________ Noticing small changes early, helps you adapt to the bigger changes that are to come. - Anonymous

05-06-2004, 08:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,655	Re: Dropping a bike for the first time! If your sure your gonna drop it, it can only happen faster! Ride it man __________________ Louis

05-07-2004, 08:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
Uncle Bob Site Admin & Squeegee Boy Joined: Dec 1969 Bike: 2003 Volusia SE Location: Montréal, Québec, Canada Posts: 107	Maybe you'll just be the exception that confirms the rule. __________________ Yadda yadda yadda, whatever, they ain't going to listen anyway.

05-07-2004, 08:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
bat4255 Squirrel Target Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: Burgman 650 K3- 22,500 miles as of 9-24-07 Location: Dodge Co. Wisconsin Posts: 661	I heard of some riders after buying a new bike, go on the front lawn and push it over to get the feel for picking it back up. I started riding 1969. In my younger years, 60% of my riding was off road, so getting used to dumping bikes was no problem (lol). I have set every bike I've owned on it's side (including larger road machines 600#+) when I got it, to pratice getting back up right. This is where the lawn works great. No damage, and you can see how far you can go before you let it go. Learn in a private setting (no embarassment). Think of it like, you break-in the engine, you also need to break-in the chassis.

05-07-2004, 09:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
NomadTurk Seat Tester Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 63	If it is gonna make you feel better, I dropped my first bike right off the dealer, thank God it was just a slow lay. If it is a compulsive thing, why don't you lay it down yourself on a full grass area slowly... I would not recommend it too much, but if it is gonna calm you down.... becuase you sound nervous buddy.... Advise? Make sure the leve is ALL THE WAY down before you get off it, and when you get off it, just give it a small shake to see if it is settled. Try not to leave your bike on elevated roads. Be careful on the slippery curves (no brainer) but when you slide off those curve your bike will just slide on one side ripping da s@#$ out your fenders etc.. Be careful when someone hops on your back, I get bit shaky those times. Other than that buddy, I pray that you'll have flawless riding experiences forever. Good luck.... __________________ IN BIKERS' WORLD, LIFE STARTS AT 150 MPH!!!

05-07-2004, 11:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
rteichman Seat Tester Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 97	The second day after I got my bike, I almost droped it. Actually, if it wasn't for the building behind me, I would have. Instead I got sandwitched between a half fallen bike and the building. It was then that I realized how heavy the darn thing was! I got really REALLY scared about how would I ever pick it back up. I surfed the net and read up about how to do it, and it made me feel better, but I was still worried. Last weekend, I droped the bike. Stupid sort of thing, but since its a 95 and had been droped by the previous owner (I suspect a number of times, based on the damage), I was actually kind of happy. Turns out it wasn't hard all to pick back up! Thus now I feel a lot more secure. As others have suggested, I would slowly lay it down on the grass and then get it back up. It will make you feel a lot better. I wish I had done that.

05-07-2004, 01:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
DesertVenom Seat Tester Joined: Mar 2004 Bike: 83 GSX550, 84 RZ350 Location: Sault Ste Marie Ontario Canada Posts: 50	first time i dropped my bike, was a 81' gs250T, i was holding it up with 1 hand trying to make it level, checking the oil, and it slipped outa my hand and fell over, broke a mirror and signal light, was bummed right out, was only 16.... Travis __________________ 2002 XR250R, 83' GS550es, RZ350 , 91' RM125, 77 &84 Husqvarna CR250 and WR390, 85' 1200 interstate goldwing "You only live once, so live it well" r.i.p perry

05-07-2004, 09:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
MaineZuki Where Am I ? Joined: May 2004 Location: Auburn, Maine Posts: 33	Thanks a S*#t load for all of the input guys. Unfortunately I was speaking more towards dumping it on the road at a certain speed. But I still got the proper input to snap me out of it. I figure if I have it in my mind that I will drop it I'm twice as likely to do so. :Note to self. SHUT THE HELL UP: endnote Thanks again guys. __________________ When Life Speeds By, Downshift '83 GS550E

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