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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: gyrocyclist on October 02, 2017, 05:40:27 AM

Title: Dropped Bikes
Post by: gyrocyclist on October 02, 2017, 05:40:27 AM
Dropped my SR this afternoon; 1st time in 18 months of ownership. Not sure exactly what happened.  I'd stopped for a break in a dirt/gravel parking area (Round Valley Regional Preserve, Bay Area, California). Had taken my helmet off and set it on the ground. Think I was settling the bike down on the kickstand and the ground wasn't as level as I'd thought, and/or I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been. Bam! Minimal scratches to bike, major damage to ego.

I've dropped bikes several times. Perhaps oddly, all have been at under three mph. Only one was truly frightening.

So, for discussion, how many of you have dropped your Zero (or other bikes) , and how often? Am guessing this happens more often  off-road.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: Emtkopan on October 02, 2017, 06:09:22 AM
I've done it a few times.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: Richard230 on October 02, 2017, 06:54:23 AM
I did it once since owning my Zero- last week on a paved roadway when stopping for a traffic light.  I put down my right foot and discovered a steeply crowned roadway that I wasn't expecting and my bike and I fell over.  I couldn't pick it up by myself, but the young lady in the SUV behind me apparently wanted to continue her journey, so she got out of her car and helped me pick my bike up. The only scratch on the bike was a little abrasion on the edge of the mirror, which I returned to new with a little bit of light sanding and some Black To Black solution.  The only real damage was that the right foot peg shattered and I had to ride home with one foot on the pivot area.  Upon reaching home I discovered that the passenger peg was an exact replacement for the rider's foot peg and, with the help of a set of expanding snap ring pliers, I replaced the foot peg with the passenger's part in about a minute. The only damage to me, was to my ego, just like you.  ;)

I guess it is that time of the year.  ::)
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: Rugby4life on October 02, 2017, 07:36:34 AM
The only damage to me, was to my ego, just like you.  ;)

I guess it is that time of the year.  ::)

Well, it is Fall now.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: MichaelJohn on October 02, 2017, 10:04:35 AM
My Zero was the only bike I had never dropped - then my 18-year-old son took care of that for me. I was getting ready to go for a ride and he hopped on it when I had my back turned. He made it about 2 feet down the driveway before it got the better of him and down he went. Broke my brake lever and scuffed up the mirror. He blamed it on the weight of the bike! After I realized he wasn't hurt he (and probably the neighbors) heard a few choice words from me.

After that incident I managed to drop it on my own. I went to pick up some take-out and parked on a downward slope - something I had done several times before on my Honda with no issues. I put the too-short kickstand down and as I was getting off the bike it rolled forward, fell over and knocked me flat on my butt. I jumped up and looked around to see if there were any witnesses - thankfully no one saw (that's the most important thing, right?) I hurriedly started to pick the bike up but it was still pointing downhill and with no parking brake or gears it got away from me, went down, knocked me over and deposited me on my butt again. This was getting ridiculous so on the next try I made sure to squeeze the brake lever as I lifted it which is what I should have done in the first place. I was in such a hurry to get the bike up and not be seen that I made even more of a fool of myself. Such is the peril of vanity.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: DPsSRnSD on October 02, 2017, 10:33:46 AM
All I'm admitting to right now is that I felt it necessary to install the drop bars on my SR.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: doorsdude on October 02, 2017, 10:48:14 AM
Embarrassed to say one low side and one high side on my fxs in 4 months. Damage to a mirrors first time and a hand guard second time. Otherwise bike is spotless besides scratches on foot pegs. Jacket and helmet scuffed up but still good. A few bruises only, thankfully.  Both times picked up bike and got going again. Pretty impressive.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: tamjam on October 02, 2017, 07:26:33 PM
Just once so far in 12 months of ownership...I put the (too short) side-stand down on what I perceived to be a flat driveway but it actually had a slight downslope so the bike rolled forward and fell over. That side-stand is really about the worst designed thing I have ever seen...so now if I ever have to park on any kind of downslope, out comes the brake lever lock.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: Neuer_User on October 02, 2017, 07:36:47 PM
Just once so far in 12 months of ownership...I put the (too short) side-stand down on what I perceived to be a flat driveway but it actually had a slight downslope so the bike rolled forward and fell over. That side-stand is really about the worst designed thing I have ever seen...so now if I ever have to park on any kind of downslope, out comes the brake lever lock.
+1

Had the same issue once, even while mounting on the bike :( :( :(
Needed to replace the kickstand thereafter.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: ESokoloff on October 02, 2017, 10:16:42 PM
So far just once, but it's a DSR so it's bound to happen.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: domingo3 on October 03, 2017, 12:19:06 AM
Twice for me in 15 months of ownership.  First time was the day I took delivery - maybe it's a crash rather than a drop, since I hit the throttle too hard on a right hand turn after a stop sign.  Second time, I found it laying down in the parking lot.  A brief storm hit and either someone knocked it over or the wind did it.  Both times, the brake lever snapped.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: togo on October 04, 2017, 04:23:19 AM
I drop my SR every few months.  The one closest to the OP's description
was when I absently didn't extend the kickstand far enough and then the
hill's slope put me off balance and I didn't give me a chance to correct.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: Semper Why on October 08, 2017, 06:49:35 AM
Once. I was rolling it backwards out of the shed and down the slight ramp. I forgot to put the kickstand up and as it went down the ramp, the kickstand caught and pushed the bike over away from me. Cracked the plastic right about where my knee goes, cracked the turn signal.
Title: Dropped Bikes
Post by: skoleskibe on October 08, 2017, 08:58:50 PM
Dropped my SR this afternoon; 1st time in 18 months of ownership. Not sure exactly what happened.  I'd stopped for a break in a dirt/gravel parking area (Round Valley Regional Preserve, Bay Area, California). Had taken my helmet off and set it on the ground. Think I was settling the bike down on the kickstand and the ground wasn't as level as I'd thought, and/or I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been. Bam! Minimal scratches to bike, major damage to ego.

I've dropped bikes several times. Perhaps oddly, all have been at under three mph. Only one was truly frightening.

So, for discussion, how many of you have dropped your Zero (or other bikes) , and how often? Am guessing this happens more often  off-road.
Odd.
Didn't think a gyro cyclist was supposed to tip over !
;-)
Had a tip over this summer when the sidestand slipped on some cobbles in the city center. All that worried me was "Shite,,,,Any one seen it!!!!"
No harm to the bike as i fell with it and that up against a big tree. Had a hard struggle to free myself from between the bike and the tree


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: Straightedg4lif on October 10, 2017, 06:01:40 AM
I don't have a Zero yet, but I dropped my first motorcycle a Kawasaki Ninja 250 twice.  :-\ The first time was when I stopped in front of my house on a sloped street and leaned over and the bike went down with me. The second time was before I took a safety course or really knew how to ride. I was riding around my block and tried shifting from first to second but instead shifted into neutral while making a turn and panicked and fell over. Honestly after that I knew shifting wasn't for me and have had only automatic motorcycles ever since then. That's just one of the reasons I love Zero motorcycles and hope to have one soon.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: pluto on October 10, 2017, 07:18:41 AM
First time was the day I took delivery - maybe it's a crash rather than a drop, since I hit the throttle too hard on a right hand turn after a stop sign.

New tires, loss of traction? Been there....
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: togo on October 12, 2017, 04:01:44 AM
>... First time was the day I took delivery - maybe it's a crash rather than a drop, since I hit the throttle too hard on a right hand turn after a stop sign.   ...

I think this is pretty common for new owners.  You get the giggles and can't resist trying to get more of that awesome g-force.  But the tires are new and the surfaces aren't perfect and you haven't quite calibrated yet.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: adaviel on October 30, 2017, 11:46:18 AM
I put the too-short kickstand down and as I was getting off the bike it rolled forward, fell over and knocked me flat on my butt.
There are a couple of threads about parking brakes such as one I started at http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=7432.0 (http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=7432.0). Wrapping velcro around the brake lever seems the popular solution. I haven't yet tried to park on a hill but it's clearly something to watch for. I'm just getting over dumping mine on a merely wet road - more torque that I'm used to on my gas bike
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: togo on February 13, 2018, 10:32:42 PM
> Wrapping velcro around the brake lever seems the popular solution....

It's certainly the cheap one.  They sell it by the rolls anywhere they sell plants.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: TheGap on February 14, 2018, 04:07:01 AM
I dropped my Zero SR 2017 only once so far. See 5s fragment from my helmet camera  8)
Sorry for the extremely poor quality ... I had to get it under 600kB to be able to attach it.
Title: Re: Dropped Bikes
Post by: calamarichris on February 14, 2018, 11:18:38 PM
After an 800-mile day on a multi-day road trip, I pulled my '92 Harley Sportster up to a stoplight in Cedar City, UT. I was new to motorcycling back then and it had been a long day on the road, but I still should have remembered to put my feet down when I came to a stop. I toppled over and of course there was a convertible VW Cabriolet full of cute, young coeds next to me. Burned with shame, but I always make a mental note to put my feet down when I come to a stop now.

Paid the tuition, might as well pay attention.

(http://www.calamarichris.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/sportstergc.jpg)