Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: Jay96B6 on April 13, 2008, 01:38:44 AM
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Dropped my bike today in a parking lot when getting out of a parking space. I was attempting to start moving while turning left, then I must have applied the front brake. I have been riding for 6 months, and I thought I was better than this ... I don't know what I was thinking. Time to go back to parking lot exercise.
The point is, I should have brought a spare clutch lever since I broke mine when I dropped it. It would be a simple repair but I was going no where without it. I JB-Welded the broken lever and rode home (risky, I know). From now on I will bring spare clutch and brake levers to avoid sudden death like this.
What do you have in your tool bag for emergency?
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I wouldn't feel too bad about a parking lot drop. It happens. Hell, I stumbled with my track bike pulling into the pits (with oh... about 2 dozen people watching), dropped the bike AND tore a ligament in my knee!
Carrying spare levers is a great idea (that I don't do). The only thing besides the OEM tool bag I carry on the street is a tire pressure gauge and a little screwdriver for tweaking the fuel screws on the carbs.
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It's humbling, but it happens to the best of us. A few years ago I was turning around in the street and was stuck in dirtbike mode and for whatever reason, I have no idea why, when I swung the corner I thought I could bump the front tire over the little curb and keep going. It stopped me dead and flopped me. :duh: Very embarrassing.
I wouldn't carry a spare lever unless I were going on a trip. I don't like carrying a lot of gear. It's not smart, but I've ridden home with no clutch lever and without a front brake lever.
Glad you and the bike are alright. :beers:
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Sorry to read about that.... I did the parking lot drop last year and it's a real pi$$er. A combination of an over 400 mile day, nightime in a dimly lit parking lot, and negotiating a curb to park the bike near my hotel room door. One thing I found invaluable is a roll of electrical tape for putting the turn signals back together. I always carry some - looks better than duct tape.
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It happens, to pepole that have ridden for a long time.
I don't carry much at all. If I were going on a trip somewhere just tools in the kit,I also carry a tire preasure gage,extra fuses,electical tape. On a trip, a 1st aid kit is a good idea,but I don't bother for around town.
I would just get another one instead of hoping the JB weld will hold up.
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From now on I will bring spare clutch and brake levers to avoid sudden death like this.
What do you have in your tool bag for emergency?
A broken lever is a pain in the neck.
I carry a small length of copper tubing that can be tapped on to the lever stub and then taped with electrical tape. Believe it or not, it's saved several friends over the years.
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... but I've ridden home with no clutch lever and without a front brake lever.
I really want to know how you did it, because I was playing with this idea but couldn't figure out how to stop smoothly without stalling the engine.
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Sucks about the drop, but at least it wasn't any worse than it was :beers:
Like everybody else said, it can happen to anybody no matter how long you've been riding. Last close call I had was last year in the fall. Cooled off quick after the sun went down. Went to do a slow tight turn around and the brakes bit hard after they got cold. Luckily I managed to keep it up but damn near got away.
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I really want to know how you did it, because I was playing with this idea but couldn't figure out how to stop smoothly without stalling the engine.
You don't. You just hope you have a nice chunk of road with no stops. I do not recommend it, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
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As long as your in the learning years, I thought I might add something to keep the bike from falling by itself. Make your if your on any incline that the bike is in gear when putting the side stand down.So it doesnt roll off. Also beware of soft ground or black top in the heat. Its good to have something flat and wide under the stand.
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I rode around on an old GS 750 for a day and a half with a broken clutch cable. Really only put on like 10 km during this time. It actually went fairly smooth, just popped it in neutral when stopping. To get going I would push off and then pop it into first. So it can be done just not easy.
:beers: