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extrapulp
06-17-2008, 05:20 PM
This tale begins on May 22nd . Forecast says chance of isolated thunder showers. With only a chance I take the bike to work. I park up against the building in front of the other cars as usual and went about my business. Around 11:30AM it started to rain really hard, then the power goes out and it starts to hail. With the power out and everyone concerned about their vehicles we were all gathered around some doors watching the hail that is increasing in size beat up most of the vehicles. Pretty soon somebody hollers ‘TORNADO’ and we all run inside to take shelter. It hit our building and messed up half of the town. When it was all done I went outside fearing the worst. My bike was still standing exactly where I had left it. The mirror covers were off and hanging by the strain relief. They suffered some scratches and there were some minor scratches where the covers whipped back and forth across the fairing. Every other vehicle in the lot had at least one window broke and massive hail damage. It ended up stranded at work for 4 days while they cleaned the roads and such. I get it home and clean it up and assess the damage (not much thankfully).
I happily begin riding it again and everything seems fine. What else could possibly happen after your bike survives a tornado?
Well this past Monday morning I head out to work and as I am backing out of my driveway into the road I hear metal scraping across concrete. In my half awakeness I had forgotten to put the side stand up. As it catches the curb it spikes the bike to the right. I could not hold it up, and down she goes. First off its 5:30am on Monday so I’m mad, almost immediately mad turns into embarrassed and I look around to see if anybody witnessed the accident. Nope all clear. Back to the bike laying half on the sidewalk and half in the road, now I’m mad again. Then reality kicks in and I realize I have to pick it up. So I look around to see if by chance anyone did see and is rushing to help me. Nope nobody saw.
I was able to pick it up (probably because of the adrenaline). I pull into the garage to check the damage. Only new damage is to the wing.
It’s sad that an F3 tornado can't knock it over but a half asleep imbecile can without even trying. It took a year but I finally dropped it…..
Attached is a picture I took with my phone about an hour after the tornado of my bike parked where it rode through the storm.

Tankereng
06-17-2008, 05:24 PM
:twist1: I think that should quailfy for a dual awarding of the TOA and the Tornado Survivor award as well...glad the ST survived both incidents...and no one was injured

EASt
06-17-2008, 05:57 PM
Get this man a Zippo... and take one away from Mother Nature. Heck, she can't even tip over a motorcycle. ;-)

Byron
06-17-2008, 06:10 PM
I'm sure Fred will pass on the award in his usual timely manner.

Regarding the tornado thing, I'll bet parking next to the building/wall had a lot to do with its' survival.

John Anthony
06-17-2008, 07:05 PM
Welcome to the club! You've got a lot of company. With the side stand down, your motor should have killed unless someone disabled the switch.

John

st1300honda
06-17-2008, 07:07 PM
Wow, about the tornado. BTW, does your ST1300 not have a safety feature where it 'kills' the engine if put into gear with the side stand down?

No worries, I've gotten back on mine a few times after getting off to open the garage door, only to have the engine kills as I drop it into first gear.

dm_mg
06-17-2008, 07:13 PM
..... With the side stand down, your motor should have killed unless someone disabled the switch....


Not if the bike is on neutral .......

DM

extrapulp
06-18-2008, 08:54 AM
Welcome to the club! You've got a lot of company. With the side stand down, your motor should have killed unless someone disabled the switch.

John

Unfortunately it was in neutral, the big green light should of been a clue. Usually it is in first but something was just not right that morning. I'm fairly sure I had the clutch held in the whole time also :doh1:

MGDaversa
06-18-2008, 10:55 PM
Sorry about the drop, but I am still amazed at the tornado part of your story. Against the building, away from the building, whatever, the bike held still during a tornado! If that's not an indicator of stability, I don't know what is...
--MGD

Finewest
06-19-2008, 09:43 PM
Glad to hear that you are OK! Too bad about the bike though... Here's your TOA!

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