An Embarassing Moment. . .

[debron]

After several weeks of rain, we've had sunny and nice weather for a whole week! Temps in the upper 50's and low-to-middle 60's. I went for a ride the other day and when I got home and pulled into the garage I stopped, put down the kickstand but unfortunately, it didn't go down all the way so when I leaned the bike over the kickstand folded up and the bike went down! Not a big deal as I just got off and picked up the bike and reset the kickstand.

Unfortunately, my 8-year-old grandson saw the whole thing and he was not impressed! He asked "Granddad, how many times have you done that?" I had to reply "a few times." He just walked away!

[Bruce in OK]

Most of these types of accidents are "whens" not "ifs". I'm reminded when I forgot to leave the bike in gear when parking headed downhill. I didn't quite catch it before the ground did. Unfortunately, I had witnesses too.

[joerod777]

I've been on long group rides when fatigue sets in and inevitably you will see riders hop off their bikes and just walk off without dropping their kickstands. Fatigue can cause you to do some really dumb things!

[richardb, austin]

The best I've ever done was to have only 2 witnesses to that. The worst I ever saw was a new guy pulling up to the picture window of the restaurant where the rest of the group (about 30 of us) were inside the restaurant watching his "arrival".

[cushman eagle]

When I got off my voyager with the kickstand up, I was on a lonely country rode, so no one saw me. .Does that mean it never happened?

[TOUR 1]

A very short while after I got my Voyager 1700, I took a 400 mile trip to visit my Mother. For the 1st time I can remember, she actually wanted to sit on the passenger seat and let me take her around the block. Elated, of course, I explained how to mount and get ready to go. Unfortunately, I was on a silght down hill slope in her gravel & dirt driveway. Bike was like it was in slow motion and just went over as the side stand just folded up. Mom went "flying" as she put it, off and landed in the soft grass. She is 84 and mobile, was not hurt just shaken up. My pride hit an all time low and I felt like a complete dork.

I've had other experiences but that was an all time low for me.


Courage is being Scared to Death, but Saddling Up Anyway.
John Wayne

[hank43]

Hats off to your 84 year old mom. Most older folks won't even walk near a motorcycle. I got my 84 year old brother to finally sit on my TRIKE, and he thought that was a big deal. Bailed off when I started it up though!

hank

[Okie34]

Two little "oopsy" moments for me.... 1st was right after I got my first XII and went camping near Eureka Springs. Pulled up in a parking lot with the bike laden with all the camping gear and whatnot, and sure as the devil, my foot found some gravel and over we went! Of course with the bike loaded like that, I couldn't budge it, there was some sort of Biker Rally going on, so I did this in front of a crowd, finally a nice young man took pity on me, and helped me out.

Second time was coming back from a trip towing a trailer and stopped off at a State Park for a break. I didn't realize that the incline I had parked on was steeper than originally thought and as I was talking to my wife, I watched the bike roll forward off the kick stand and over on it's side. No one around, but my wife's tender ears got to hear all sorts of 4 lettered explicatives. By then though, I had figured out how to get the bike back up even when loaded for Bear.

-- JD

[TOUR 1]

Thanks for the comment on Mom. She is a sweetheart but plenty spicy even now at her age. However, I don't think I can persuade her to try the bike again and probably just as well.

I've had Oakie 34's experience, too. In front of a crowd of riders and when I got it up and started to move, I heard a round of applause. I never looked back, just accelerated that new Suzuki water cooled 750 for all it was worth.




Courage is Being Scared to Death, but Saddling Up Anyway.
John Wayne

[ekap1200]

When I got off my voyager with the kickstand up, I was on a lonely country rode, so no one saw me. .Does that mean it never happened?

Only if no-one seen the canceled check for the replacement plastic and rear-view mirror LOL.

Had a 250 when I was 17 ,and wearing bell-bottoms had the wind lift the leg up over the kick starter. Was with a few fellow riders and when we came to a red light I went to put my right foot down and over I went right in the middle of the road.

[cushman eagle]

Fortunately it laid down nice and gently on the crash bars, nearly invisible damage

[Turbo4x4]

When I got off my voyager with the kickstand up, I was on a lonely country rode, so no one saw me. .Does that mean it never happened?

Only if no-one seen the canceled check for the replacement plastic and rear-view mirror LOL.

Had a 250 when I was 17 ,and wearing bell-bottoms had the wind lift the leg up over the kick starter. Was with a few fellow riders and when we came to a red light I went to put my right foot down and over I went right in the middle of the road.

ekap,
Had exactly the same thing happen to me on a Kaw 125 in 1967. Very embarrassing moment at that age. It made every stupid thing I did since then less embarrassing with each event