[Guest]

I am a new rider. Everybody says that there will be no doubt I will be dropping my bike a few times in the beginning. My question is, usually under what conditions are bikes usually dropped? Or maybe a better way of puttin it, how are people dropping their bikes?

Please provide your inputs. Maybe realizing these situations/conditions will help me avoid a potential drop.

Thanks all!

 

[TheRumpShaker]

I must be a doofus, but I dropped my bike the SAME way three times. Taking a slow speed turn in my own parking garage and losing my balance. I even took the damn course! Keep your head up and LOOK where you are going.... ie do NOT look down. It really does wonders.

have fun!

PS: I hear the risk of dropping might decrease the more you ride but it still happens to everyone! (see "slippery patch on road" below or "shoelace stuck in peg" or in my case "tim hortons coffee cup where i put my foot down" )

 

[Sully]

I have only dropped a bike once (wasn't mine, I was taking a class) but I thought I had the kickstand all the way down but it wasn't. As soon as I was off and let go down it went. Using your front brake in a low speed turn is another way to put it down, or putting your foot down on a slippey surface(grease patch, gravel etc) and slipping.

 

[SkydiveSonic]

The only time my first bike was dropped was when it was parked, and someone revesed into it (twice !!). I've never dropped my CBR600 so far

 

[Stewy]

I think you'll find that you can drop the bike in any number of situations. Slow speed turns and manuevers (driveways, u-turns, parking), washing the bike, or working on it, or in any number of ways actually out on the road. Every rider will go down, its just a fact. How well you are prepared for that spill is up to you.

 

[kamen rider]

During my first year of riding:
- A few times when my bike stalled. It was twice while leaving my underground garage... where I had to go up a bit of an incline, over a ditch just after the door and then stop to look around dumpster that was blocking my view of cross traffic.

- Stopping sideways on a hill... and then realising too late that my foot could not reach the ground on that one side.

- Practicing slow speed U-turns in a parking lot... and stalling my bike when I went too slow.

- Knocking the sidestand out of place and not noticing while I was cleaning the chain and backing the bike up bit by bit since I didn't have a rear bike stand. Luckily the bike fell on me. :rolleyes

This all happened with an old, used bike that I picked up to start on.

 

[Guest]

I've been riding for 6 months now and i've never dropped my bike. I'm at 8,000 K and going strong, however, I still sometimes wish I would have bought a used motorcycle to ease the mind a little.

 

[Sully]

I still sometimes wish I would have bought a used motorcycle to ease the mind a little.

Same here, I've been riding for a month and my first and current bike is an 06 CBR 600. Sometimes I think it would be nice to make any mistakes on an old beater. I havn't dropped it.......yet.

 

[flipKawiguy]

i find it hard for me to do a hard right turn...few times i turned hard right i almost dropped the bike but never had i dropped it on the right side...i did however dropped it on the left side backin out and slipin on sand and gravel....

I hear the risk of dropping might decrease the more you ride but it still happens to everyone!

yes it will decrease as you ride more,get comfy with the bike and gain confidence and experience........

 

[TeeTee]

For those that haven't dropped it what about close calls where you needed to use a healthy grunt to keep it upright? With very slightly different circumstances or a slightly different body build those close'uns could easily have ended you up on your side.

 

[BlackScorpion]

For those that haven't dropped it what about close calls where you needed to use a healthy grunt to keep it upright? With very slightly different circumstances or a slightly different body build those close'uns could easily have ended you up on your side.

Roger that, Tee2. I've never dropped it at slow speed, but I had a close call. I was doing a slow and tight left hand turn into a construction-redirected lane, when the lollypop girl decided she would try to force me into a tighter turn (which was impossible as I already had my clip-on tanked) by moon-walking into the front of my path. Of course, I slammed on my front brake (with the steering cranked). Bike fell to the right, waaaaay beyond the balance point, I reefed on my right clip-on to keep it up and I just barely saved it. It didn't hit the ground, but I'm pretty sure my right nut did.

 

[coolio]

I have dropped my bike twice. I missed the curb when I stuck my foot out and BAM the bike went down. On the second one I forgot that the kick stand wasn't down when I thought it was so I laid the bike down. lol

 

[Commander Keen]

I've dropped it twice, once doing a really slow turn sideways on a hill (2nd day I'd had the bike) and the next when I was just sitting on it waiting for a buddy to catch up. That one I can't even explain, I was just sitting and suddenly...whomp. So much for my minty paint, but at least it's an old beater. It's pretty ridiculously heavy, though, 533lbs before I'm sitting on it...that's a lot of weight for one person to throw around. Almost a 2-person job to get it back up, and the stationary balance point is pretty high on it, gotta be on the ball even when stopped. I can't wait until I'm done with this bike and get a lighter one...

Most people do drop their first bike. Hence why buying a cheap older bike for a beginner bike is a really really good idea...

 

[Frapps]

my slow speeder was like all of them dumb had the bars cranked to the left let the clutch out to fast panicked chopped the clutch and grabbed the front brake...bike meet ground, ground meet bike....doh!!

 

[flowrider]

Dropped twice with 2 different bikes. Both times in the garage moving the damn things. Once that sucker starts to go it ain't stopping. The first time I tried to hold it up and nearly put my back out. The second time I just let the bugger go and got the hell out of the way! I was pissed cuz I forgot to take a pic of it lying down for nappy.

 

[rudedog]

so, as we have all learned, and so hopefully you dont learn the hard way...


dont use the front brake when going slow

 

[rubberhead]

I only dropped my bike once and it was due to gravity.

 

[Miguel]

I am self taught. I didn't drop my bike until about after 30,000 km. And that was 100% my fault for riding like a douche-bag by myself. Yea, there will be a good possibilty of you dropping your bike, I suppose... But, don't be so set on you dropping it. You may or may not. I for one though dropped my bike by pushing too hard after not riding all winter.

 

[motoxxxbabe3]

Thats a good point Miguel...I guess confidence is a huge thing too eh??? Its like looking where u want to go...if u think u wont drop it then maybe u wont

 

[Daniel Witt]

All I can say is "Plan ahead" to the best of your ability.
Survey what's in front of you. Low speeds most common, loose gravel on shoulder pavement, stay diligent about balance. Maintain a reasonable level of health & now & then practise tipping & righting your bike in a safe area or better yet with a spotter.

I see a ton of guys, in lousy shape ridin' fat bikes, not much chance they will be able to pick it up once over. I hate to think what there survival rate would be in a spill, low side or not....

just my $.002 :coffee