Day started out badly!

[wavyredlaurie]

Well, I did what I thought I'd never do. I dropped the bike this morning, getting it out of the garage. Didn't get on like I usually do, because I was only backing it out a couple feet to check the tire pressure. It hit a tiny bump, and down it went. On the bright side, not too much damage, once I swallowed my pride and got my saint of a husband to get dressed and come help me lift 420+ pounds to start his day. I broke the amber plastic lens on one front turn signal, and a few scuffs on my engine guards (THANK YOU GIVI! I LOVE MY ENGINE GUARDS!) The turn signal still works, it just needs a new lens. So I know I got off pretty easy.

So my daughter and I geared up, and rode out to go to Williamsburg for the day. Halfway there, the torrential downpour hit. As if I hadn't already had my lesson for the day, I now learned that:

1. My "waterproof" riding suit is not. Even though I just Scotchguarded it again.
2. Elkskin gloves sop up water like a sponge. They dry very slowly, even if you wring out cupfuls of water.
3. A very warm day can turn very cold very quickly when you are soaking wet.
4. I should take the rain cover for the tank bag.
5. The Givi top box is totally waterproof. Until you open it. Then the water on the lid all pours on to the dry contents.
6. You'd think car drivers would take pity on poor bikers out there in the rain. They don't.

But we forged on, and had a good ride anyway. My daughter was a real trooper!

[c50tiger]

Sorry the day didn't go as best it could

(I would add a comment about the great weather we've had here since Hurricane Ivan, but it probably wouldn't help you any )

[wavyredlaurie]

Oh, no, it's all good now. All's well that ends well! There's a few more hills and curves there than around here, and we had fun tooling around, the bike is really fun on curves and hills. We had perfect weather riding home, too. And everywhere we went, I got a LOT of nice comments about the V-Strom. It's good to find out now that my gear isn't waterproof, too. I'm doing a 200 mile ride on Tuesday, and the return on Wednesday, so I'm going to dig out my old ugly Honda jacket. It's butt ugly, and it's the wrong brand name, but it's made by First Gear, and I know it's watertight!

We learn from our mistakes.....and I learned a lot today, without anything too bad ever happening.

[007]

Yeah, FirstGear works for me too.

As for the cage drivers - most of them are definitely retarded - sorry, I have to make such a harsh statement just personal experience (every day something weird happens - today a moron was tailgating me aggressively, and I had to whip around 3 cars to lose him)

[Louis]

I know the feeling, I dropped mine last weekend too, broke the glass of the right hand mirror.

Only damage, except for a slight rash on the mirror housing (plastic).

Happened when I rolled the bike while I trying to rotate the chain to lubricate it (no centerstand).[/i]

[SDSUsnowboards]

The very first time I ever touched a bike outside of the msf course I dropped it... at the dealership in the parking lot while test riding it. I ended up buying the bike (I was going to anyways regardless). So HA my story beats all of yours. TEH WINNER !!!!!!!!!!11

[SuzukiGirl1]

Originally Posted by SDSUsnowboards

The very first time I ever touched a bike outside of the msf course I dropped it... at the dealership in the parking lot while test riding it. I ended up buying the bike (I was going to anyways regardless). So HA my story beats all of yours. TEH WINNER !!!!!!!!!!11

Ohhhhhh...yeah! You definitely win!!

My boyfriend always jokes with me and says that then next new bike he gets, he's going to go directly out into the parking lot and kick it over...just to get it over with!!!

[themeatmanlandry]

Originally Posted by SDSUsnowboards

The very first time I ever touched a bike outside of the msf course I dropped it... at the dealership in the parking lot while test riding it. I ended up buying the bike (I was going to anyways regardless). So HA my story beats all of yours. TEH WINNER !!!!!!!!!!11

You tied me. I dropped mine in the parking lot also.

[md2lgyk]

You say you needed your husband's help to pick up the bike? There are techniques to be learned that allow a small person to pick up a heavy bike by themself.

You shouldn't be riding a bike you can't pick up.

[wavyredlaurie]

Originally Posted by md2lgyk

You say you needed your husband's help to pick up the bike? There are techniques to be learned that allow a small person to pick up a heavy bike by themself.

You shouldn't be riding a bike you can't pick up.

THAT is something I want to learn today! I tried a couple of different angles and ways. I knew if I could get a turned over sailboat upright again, that I should also be able to do the bike! But I just couldn't get the leverage with any of the ways I tried. It seemed easier to own up to my dumb mistake and get his help, than to try to use some kind of rigged up lever, which would no doubt have damaged the bike further! Soo, I would really like to know how I could have managed it. I'm no little whimpy thing - I'm tall, and I work out, so I should be able to do it, of others can!

And thanks to all of you who shared your "drop stories". It made me feel a lot better, knowing I wasn't the only one!

[themeatmanlandry]

Originally Posted by md2lgyk

You say you needed your husband's help to pick up the bike? There are techniques to be learned that allow a small person to pick up a heavy bike by themself.

You shouldn't be riding a bike you can't pick up.

Don't tell every HD and Goldwing owner that!! I know more HD/GWers that can't pick up the bike than I do those that can!

[SVZuki]

Originally Posted by wavyredlaurie

So my daughter and I geared up, and rode out to go to Williamsburg for the day.

Get your daughter on the site..the more the merrier

im a good guy, i promise.

[SuzukiGirl1]

Originally Posted by md2lgyk

You shouldn't be riding a bike you can't pick up.

Tell that to the guys that ride the big tour bikes...I'll bet money you can't pick up a gold wing!

[Trapper]

How to lift a bike.
http://www.msgroup.org/DISCUSS.asp
see number 75
You can thank Rowdy again.....

[wavyredlaurie]

Originally Posted by SVboy84

Get your daughter on the site..the more the merrier

im a good guy, i promise.

I should hope so......she's 11 years old! She's adorable, but definitely off limits! She plays the saxophone, is acing her 6th. grade classes, loves riding roller coasters and the V-Strom, and is just a totally fun girl to spend time with. She's our pride and joy!

I'm trying to get her into shape for some longer rides in the future. No 500 or 600 mile days, just plenty of riding, lots of stops and time to talk, and some cool places and things to see along the way! I guess not the usual Mom/daughter bonding, but it works for us!

[SVZuki]

Doh!

wow, i thought you meant she rode her own bike...lol..i feel like a dirty old pervert... ...









.....sorry

[wavyredlaurie]

Originally Posted by SVboy84

Doh!

wow, i thought you meant she rode her own bike...lol..i feel like a dirty old pervert... ...

No offense taken! I figured you didn't realize her age. Man, I'm old, but not THAT old!!!! Sometimes, though, I think I'll blink, and she will be riding her own bike. As for this site, I'd actually feel okay with her reading stuff here. It's run well, letting people have fun, but not getting way out of hand. It's not really the kind of site that attracts "dirty old pervs".

Anyway, I think in a couple of years, she'll be fighting the guys off with a stick. She's starting to get the double takes already! Maybe having a biker Mom will make them a little more careful

[inspiron]

Originally Posted by wavyredlaurie

It's not really the kind of site that attracts "dirty old pervs".

Doh! I think a whole bunch of us are going to have to look for a new site!

[FIVEINCH]

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by SuzukiGirl1

Tell that to the guys that ride the big tour bikes...I'll bet money you can't pick up a gold wing!

Check out the ride like a pro 3 video, it shows you how to easily pick up a goldwing, or a bigass cruiser. No problem...