Grrr ...

[Capt_Gruuvy]

I got to work this morning (in record time) and pulled into the parking lot which is old blacktop and dirt with small gravel. I looked around the parking area and was surprised to see that many folks were late to work and the second rolling gate was still closed. I typically park past the second rolling gate in the more level area of the lot.

I parked short to the second gate and decided to park along the fence. I stopped the bike put my foot down and my foot slid in the dirt and wham down the bike went. A no speed lay down right here in the parking lot.

Thankfully one of the HD guys came over and helped me pick it up as it is heavy. Unfortunately the wing cover got a bit of a scrape on it but the wing did its job and everything else is just dandy.

I figured I would take a bit of ribbing around here for that but since everyone does this at least once no one said a word about it.

I need to start lifting weights so I can pick it up by myself.

[Mark]

It happens that most of the people that would normally be considered the 'teasers' are already members in good standing of the club you have just managed to join... :)

You might want to learn the pick-up technique (http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/) from a 5'3" 118lb lady...

Mark

[Capt_Gruuvy]

I watched the videos and I must admit that I had seen that technique prior. I did not have the details down but now I have a better idea of what to do.

Driving through the Cajon Pass everyday or even riding around in Mexicali doesn't bother me as much as the slow speed maneuvering does.

All I can do is get better.

Thanks for the tip.

[Mark]

Practice, practice and more practice...

I hunted up parking lots with tree-islands in them... I use the islands to do figure eights.

I use the parking lot lines to practice slow u-turns (2 spaces ~16ft).

If you have more than one person, ease the bike on to the tip-over wings and then practice pickups too...

Mark

[bygdawg]

Forget the weight lifting Capt. Groovy, and just get a set of my rear tip-over bars. Aside from protection, they also keep the bike a bit higher up in case of a tip-over and make it easier to stand up. :D

[Finewest]

As usual I'm late on the Zippo! Sorry! Here's your TOA!

http://www.st-owners.com/pp_gallery/data/500/toa.jpg

[Capt_Gruuvy]

GRRRRR ....

AGAIN with the lay down.

I had just pulled off a very nifty U-turn on a tight street and was picking up an employee from the service shop. She and I have ridden together before and she is a very good passenger.

I was riding back with her 2 up and we pulled off a couple very tight turns at low speeds and even negotiated a very difficult driveway exit.

I was preparing for a nifty right turn when the light turned yellow and I thought I could still get through it. I had slowed but was ready to creep through. The light turned red faster than I planned and someone was timing the light and was in the intersection at about 40mph and I had to stop RIGHT NOW.

So I stopped, no biggie as I was practically creeping at this point, but the apex of the intersection left my right foot too high to offer much stability and the bike just leaned over to the right and I had no way to stop it going down.

I shut it off quickly and basically we tipped over nice and easy except my passenger got her pants caught in the peg and hit her butt on the street (I offered to rub it for her as I am nothing but a gentleman).

Within 30 seconds Banning's Finest was right behind us providing the light show to make certain everyone on the street saw that I laid the bike down. The Fuzz wouldn't help me pick it up so I was able to show off my new bike lifting skilz to everyone watching.

Now I have a hole in the plastic cover which I will not replace as I know if I do replace it I will drop the bike again, verses leaving the damaged plastic and resting assured that this will never happen in the future.

I'm happy to have been able to pick up the bike quick and easy. Thanks to our little girlfriend and her exceptional videos.

It's all good.

[Mellow]

I have to say.. when you do something, you do it well.. with a witness and lights.. glad you got the bike back up.

[SupraSabre]

Capt,

Sorry to hear you are no longer a member of the IKIUC (I Kept It Up Club) and joined the TOAC (Tip Over Award Club) so soon after getting your ST. But as you stated, you learned some valuable skills! :o:

[Finewest]

GRRRRR ....

AGAIN with the lay down.

I had just pulled off a very nifty U-turn on a tight street and was picking up an employee from the service shop. She and I have ridden together before and she is a very good passenger.

I was riding back with her 2 up and we pulled off a couple very tight turns at low speeds and even negotiated a very difficult driveway exit.

I was preparing for a nifty right turn when the light turned yellow and I thought I could still get through it. I had slowed but was ready to creep through. The light turned red faster than I planned and someone was timing the light and was in the intersection at about 40mph and I had to stop RIGHT NOW.

So I stopped, no biggie as I was practically creeping at this point, but the apex of the intersection left my right foot too high to offer much stability and the bike just leaned over to the right and I had no way to stop it going down.

I shut it off quickly and basically we tipped over nice and easy except my passenger got her pants caught in the peg and hit her butt on the street (I offered to rub it for her as I am nothing but a gentleman).

Within 30 seconds Banning's Finest was right behind us providing the light show to make certain everyone on the street saw that I laid the bike down. The Fuzz wouldn't help me pick it up so I was able to show off my new bike lifting skilz to everyone watching.

Now I have a hole in the plastic cover which I will not replace as I know if I do replace it I will drop the bike again, verses leaving the damaged plastic and resting assured that this will never happen in the future.

I'm happy to have been able to pick up the bike quick and easy. Thanks to our little girlfriend and her exceptional videos.

It's all good.

Dude! Next time only two hits of Mellow Yellow for you! Here's your second TOA...

http://www.st-owners.com/pp_gallery/data/500/toa.jpg

[VFR]

It happens that most of the people that would normally be considered the 'teasers' are already members in good standing of the club you have just managed to join... :)

You might want to learn the pick-up technique (http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/) from a 5'3" 118lb lady...

Mark


Mark, this technique works great if you are on a BMW, ST, GW or a Harley with crash bars as the bike will not lay flat. I have dropped the VFR & Blackbird and believe me, they both fall very flat & the weight is up high, not down low where it would help on the pickup. Both times I have had to have help picking the bike up.

Yeah, I read all about the technique well before the VFR incident - tried it and no go.:( Just strained my back & slid the bike. I never had that problem when riding HDs. All of the weight is low, they don't fall flat, so you just roll them back up on the wheels using the crash bars.

That is a great argument in favor of the ST. :D

Larry