Parking on a bike against a curb...

[tallannie]

... like most of us would do, today I had let the bike roll backward until it hit the curb to park it. When I came back and very first started to drive away, I dang near dropped it. I had just barely pulled the rear tire free of contact with the curb when suddenly gravity tried to pull the bike down to the ground. It had felt to me like I was balanced on the bike, but the curb had been kickstanding my bike and I really wasnt! My feet were not expecting such a strong force and I nearly dropped it in the parking space. It also caused the handlebars to twist to the right and for a second I couldnt understand what had happened.

Two possible lessons here. First, always manhandle the bike forward a bit and completely vertical before letting out the clutch to drive away. Second, when you roll back to park, stop short of actual contact withe curb (unless you are exactly 90 degrees to the curb when it would not have been a problem)

Annie

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by tallannie

First, always manhandle the bike forward a bit and completely vertical before letting out the clutch to drive away.

Manhandling not required IF you have good enough clutch control to INCH it up a bit before you make a serious move to leave.

[tallannie]

...Mr. Rider... manhandling ...to me...just means using human power to get it vertical and forward a bit which takes a bit of muscle (especially uphill as it was this time...)

And, actually, your presumption about me is incorrect.... I do have very good clutch control. I did just fractionally engage it to go forward a tiny bit.... as soon as the tire stopped being in contact with the curb that is when it tried to drop. I suspect that if I had really started away strongly the bike might have tended more to right itself.

perhaps you have to have this happen to you before you understand what I am describing.... you think you are balanced and ready to accelerate away but you arent....becasue the curb fools your sense of whether the bike is balanced upright or not....and you lose that immediately when you lose contact with the curb.

Annie

[Dave Nadeau]

I believe you Annie...about 35 years ago I had somethng similer happen to me. I was riding a 650 TR6 and backed into a curb that was higher then normal and a really steep road crown. When I went to leave I lifted the bike off its side stand and it would not go vertical due to the curb. Really a funny feeling.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by tallannie

...Mr. Rider... manhandling ...to me...just means using human power to get it vertical and forward a bit which takes a bit of muscle (especially uphill as it was this time...)

And, actually, your presumption about me is incorrect....

There was no presumption; merely a comment which seemed (at the time) to be pertinent to the subject at hand.

Everyone has their own riding style and set of habits, some good and some not so good. One of my bad ones is not looking at the tires each time I get on.......after an initial inspection in the morning. For some unknown reason, I also have a habit of taking the bike off the side stand somewhat PAST vertical and then bringing it back up straight (guess this would be your manhandling in the curb situation). Once that little habit alerted me to a totally flat rear when the move resulted in a BUMP as the rim rolled over the collapsed tread!

[tallannie]

Thanks Dave..

Oh, and Mr. Rider... per Merriam Webster, 'presumption' is "an attitude or belief dictated by probability". Which is exactly what you expressed to me regarding clutch control. Sure it was a 'comment', but I was the subject, you reply in my thread, and so it will obviously be taken personally.
I then show you I took it personally...and tell you that I have good clutch control...so unless I am lying, your presumption was clearly incorrect.
Do you then say "oops, sorry Annie...didnt realize it could be taken that way !"....nope, your reply is pure self defense....
Always interests me to probe how far some folks will go to deny even a tiny goof...

[wookie]

I am having difficulties visualizing the scenario. Any chance you can get a photo or a simple diagram ?

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by tallannie

Always interests me to probe how far some folks will go to deny even a tiny goof...

Damn. Looks like I stepped in it this time!

I am sorry if I offended you. REALLY I am.

I don't know YOU; I don't know your bike and I don't know how you ride.
The comment I make was NOT a criticism of any of the above.

It was a comment on the SUBJECT, not on YOU. Really.

I certainly can see how my choice of wording wasn't the best.
I will try to be more careful in the future.

May I be excused now?

[tallannie]

good idea.... here are the pics..

I parked on a diagonal....backed up to big curb...but it was more uphill...

I came back to leave...swung over it and got ready to go... clutch in ready to start...

I pull the bike upright a bit and balance on legs..

Because clutch is in....and it is uphill....the bike stayed tight to the curb

I lift the kickstand... bike feels like it is balanced...not needing left leg holding it up...in fact I could have put my feet on the boards..... but really the CURB is holding up the left side still.

I had my legs down...but only had modest leg tension going becasue I think the bike is level....

I started it and let the clutch out a bit to go forward...and the bike tried to drop on the left side.... immediately when the curb stops holding the bike up. The handlebars twist to the right .... it was dramatic and a complete surprise when you think you are going to just cruise on out....

I managed to react fast enough to catch it....but it seemed like a lesson learned to me. If I had not rolled back tight to the curb, the curb would not have acted like a kickstand to the bike...and I would not have had that happen.

Another way to visualize this...is imagine you could start the bike with the kickstand down and in first gear....and you are still on the kickstand. Even tho the bike is leaning to the left a bit, you put both feet on the floorboards and start to move forward. What happens? the bike falls over to the left the second the forward motion flips up the kickstand. Same idea....

[tallannie]

men always think intention is an excuse when feelings are involved... and almost never know how to just admit a goof without any qualifiers.

Ever hear of a "but" sandwich? It is an apology coupled to a denial with a "but" in the middle. "I am sorry you misunderstood my intentions but you are being too sensitive" is NOT an apology in any woman's book....

...if it matters.... you are excused. In spite of the but sandwich of trying to make me out to be silly in the same breath.

[wookie]

Ah, I see.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by tallannie

men always think .....

Ever hear of a "but" sandwich?

.. In spite of the but sandwich of trying to make me out to be silly in the same breath.

Men don't always do anything.
The word "but" was not in my message anywhere.
I recind my apology.
Bite me!

[tallannie]

....grin....

[techgesture]

I don't think its a good idea to be manhandling anything when on a bike.

hehe

[Dave Nadeau]

WOW...I learned over 30 years ago NOT to get into these kind of disagreements lady!!!! Either in writing or in person. I guess we almost all learned something new here today.

[tallannie]

Dave,
the older I get the more I notice certain traits...or lack of same...in others. I speak up more too. You may understand?
Annie

[palanon]

That's mother Annie for ya ! She may scold you but, she usually brings cookies.