Down and Out in the Drahvway - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

kokopeli · 07-03-2007, 01:32 PM

An Old ‘Newbie’ Story
I used to ride quite a lot, but that was fifteen years ago and this story points out how we can take nothing for granted about our familiarity with these fine machines.

9:30 am. Time to run the engine a little bit and hope it improves. I cleaned the carbs but I'm trying to get the rest of the junk out of it from sitting for two years using carb cleaner in the gas. Can't run it for too long; the manual warns that it will overheat if not ridden, which I already knew. Got tired of filling the garage with exhaust and decided to push it out onto the drahvway (the what? the draahvway. the What? The Driveway!* ) Got out there, turned it around and pushed it into the shade, went to set it over on the side stand.
The side stand was not all the way locked forward.
Down she went.

Instantly I remembered reading how this is the most common way newbies drop their bikes and thinking, "Oh, I would NEVER do that!"

I stood there looking at my bike laying on the drahvway. (Nothing happened to me at all.) I'd dropped a bike more than once before, but I was always lucky enough to have a buddy around to help me pick it up. I went and got Brenda, mostly just so she can see . . . (what a fool she married! Lol!).

Solution: I had read online how a small woman can pick up a 900 lb bike. (no, not in a bar) I have been wanting to try it and here was my opportunity. So I applied the method and up she came, easy as you please. Well, it pleased me anyway.
[See Pink Ribbon Rides if you're interested.]

Damages: negligible. There was a tiny scratch on the clutch lever which Brenda covered with a magic marker, same on the rear turn signal (thank heaven they're flexible). Some concrete dust was on the side of the engine - I can't tell if it got scratched with the corrosion of 22 years around it. Same for the muffler, but it's definitely not scratched (no corrosion on the chrome); wiped it off and it's fine - no mark at all.
The only bad thing was that some fuel leaked out the vent tubes from the carbs while I was going to get Brenda, and also into the airbox so I couldn't start it right away. If I had picked it up immediately it would only have been a tiny amount if any.

In conclusion: I dropped my bike. Everything I've read online says it's not a matter of 'IF' but 'When'. There were no damages, and I learned how easy it is to pick it up. So it's a good thing, but I do realise how lucky I was. The drahvway could have been very unkind to my poor baby.

Ken

[* Walter Matthau in the movie Hopscotch - 1980]

ChicsterMG · 07-03-2007, 01:40 PM

Well, now that you have that out of the way. Time to get that thing running and start riding it.

Good luck and pratice a little before getting to into it.

**Clint** · 07-03-2007, 01:49 PM

Hehe. Good writeup. Glad you weren't under it.

SNAFU · 07-04-2007, 08:04 AM

Well it's a good thing the bike fell on those little blue pads or there could have been more damage.

J/K. Nice write up pictures. Sorry about the drop and I'm sure this technique will come in handy when I drop mine.

07-03-2007, 01:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
kokopeli Where Am I ? Joined: Jun 2007 Bike: 1985 GS700 E Location: Logansport, Indiana Posts: 34	Down and Out in the Drahvway An Old ‘Newbie’ Story I used to ride quite a lot, but that was fifteen years ago and this story points out how we can take nothing for granted about our familiarity with these fine machines. 9:30 am. Time to run the engine a little bit and hope it improves. I cleaned the carbs but I'm trying to get the rest of the junk out of it from sitting for two years using carb cleaner in the gas. Can't run it for too long; the manual warns that it will overheat if not ridden, which I already knew. Got tired of filling the garage with exhaust and decided to push it out onto the drahvway (the what? the draahvway. the What? The Driveway!* ) Got out there, turned it around and pushed it into the shade, went to set it over on the side stand. The side stand was not all the way locked forward. Down she went. Instantly I remembered reading how this is the most common way newbies drop their bikes and thinking, "Oh, I would NEVER do that!" I stood there looking at my bike laying on the drahvway. (Nothing happened to me at all.) I'd dropped a bike more than once before, but I was always lucky enough to have a buddy around to help me pick it up. I went and got Brenda, mostly just so she can see . . . (what a fool she married! Lol!). Solution: I had read online how a small woman can pick up a 900 lb bike. (no, not in a bar) I have been wanting to try it and here was my opportunity. So I applied the method and up she came, easy as you please. Well, it pleased me anyway. [See Pink Ribbon Rides if you're interested.] Damages: negligible. There was a tiny scratch on the clutch lever which Brenda covered with a magic marker, same on the rear turn signal (thank heaven they're flexible). Some concrete dust was on the side of the engine - I can't tell if it got scratched with the corrosion of 22 years around it. Same for the muffler, but it's definitely not scratched (no corrosion on the chrome); wiped it off and it's fine - no mark at all. The only bad thing was that some fuel leaked out the vent tubes from the carbs while I was going to get Brenda, and also into the airbox so I couldn't start it right away. If I had picked it up immediately it would only have been a tiny amount if any. In conclusion: I dropped my bike. Everything I've read online says it's not a matter of 'IF' but 'When'. There were no damages, and I learned how easy it is to pick it up. So it's a good thing, but I do realise how lucky I was. The drahvway could have been very unkind to my poor baby. Ken [* Walter Matthau in the movie Hopscotch - 1980]

07-03-2007, 01:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
ChicsterMG Refrigerator Magnet Test Engineer Joined: May 2005 Bike: Boulevard C50 Location: Afghanistan Posts: 3,508	Well, now that you have that out of the way. Time to get that thing running and start riding it. Good luck and pratice a little before getting to into it. __________________ Sometimes you need to ask yourself, "WWGD?"...Just be awesome, that's all! GUT-CUT 2007: 177 LBS. 160 LBS.

07-04-2007, 08:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
SNAFU Just Won't Go Away ! Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: '06 M50 Black Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 5,020	Well it's a good thing the bike fell on those little blue pads or there could have been more damage. J/K. Nice write up pictures. Sorry about the drop and I'm sure this technique will come in handy when I drop mine. __________________

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)