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It’s one of many first belongings you study once you take an introductory motorcycle security class or your MSF: What to do if (and when) you drop your bike. As a result of chances are high you’re going to drop it, a minimum of as soon as. My teacher, a number of chilly springs in the past, was very agency in her directives on how you can method this case. Should you drop your bike, you instantly bounce out of the way in which. Don’t try to catch it. Then hit the kill change.
Easy instructions to execute. However what concerning the after, or the “getting again on the bike” half?
The primary time I dropped a motorcycle was throughout my MSF course. I did a traditional, frequent mistake which has brought on me to drop three different bikes of my very own, every just one time, but at all times in the identical method. The drop stemmed from me shedding my stability whereas at a cease just because the entrance wheel/fork was turned. I used to be additionally on some type of incline or decline. Each. Single. Time.
After I dropped that very worn and drained 1991 Kawasaki Eliminator throughout class, I made certain to comply with these restoration directions. I jumped out of the way in which because the outdated motorbike hit the pavement. I dove in and hit the kill change. Then, I shortly jumped again as much as a standing place, with my fingers within the air like I had simply completed a Broadway musical quantity and yelled, “I did it!” You’ll be able to ask my husband, it was a sight to see.
On this occasion and for the rest of the category, the instructors would choose up your bike, examine it, after which hand the bike again to you. Generally, it was so simple as leaping again on the bike and finishing an train. Generally, they’d ask if you happen to have been okay and provide you with time to be able to get again on the bike. Actually, it was a superb lesson for the street forward (or the street under…).
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So now, let’s break it down. Here’s what you should do if you ever drop your ride:
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Motorcycles are heavy and typically weigh multiple times your weight. My air-cooled 2017 Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 is about 3.5 times my weight, so around 400 pounds, wet. Trying to “catch” it from crashing to the ground is futile — my lack of upper body strength won’t be able to catch or lift something like that easily. Attempting to lift your motorcycle incorrectly will guarantee you hurt yourself, pull something or even crush something trying to rescue your darling. Just get out of the way.
Your bike may be in gear, or operating, and just hit the ground. To ensure your safety, it’s best to shut it off, immediately. The kill switch is there for situations just like these.
Were you hurt? Bruised? Will you need medical help or attention? Are you shaken up? It’s OK to take a break and breathe a little before attempting to pick up your bike.
Bringing your particular ride to the proper, upright riding position is going to be an event. First things first, do not try to pick it up like you would a box, child… you will hurt yourself. There are several recommended techniques by experience riders you can find on the web, or ask an experienced rider or instructor for guidance. You can always set your bike down on its side (carefully) for practice.
I happened to drop my bike quite recently (yes on a slope with my wheel turned), and had I checked over my bike once it was up, I would have noticed my shifter was considerably towed in towards the bike, about 1.5 to 2 inches. A few miles down the road, I pulled off to the side and set my hazards on so I could troubleshoot and hopefully fix my shifter. I was able to bend that shifter every so slightly — enough for it to be functional and shift enough to get me home. Had I initially looked over the bike, I could have just limped it home.
Anyway, checking over your bike when it is finally upright is good practice and allows you to take into account anything that may be out of place, severely mashed, or springing leaks. In my case, I ended up with a bent shifter, a scraped up clutch bar, and a little scratch to the swing arm. My ABS error light is on, too. But all are fixable, and honestly, it could have been so much worse.
Dropping your motorcycle is embarrassing. But you know what? It’s OK. Some of these accidents are a result of a simple mistake, or even a lack of practice, and everyone makes them at one time or another. That makes getting back on the bike so important in continuing to grow as a rider.
Maybe you need to practice some turns or other tight maneuvers in order to become better acquainted with your bike. Maybe you just need to be mindful of how you stop your bike, or understand the limits of where your wheels or body are turned at a stop. So, find a parking lot, set up some cones or mental parameters, and practice! If you’re nervous about riding, practicing is ok and recommended. The more you know you can hit a turn, or not drop the bike, the better your future rides will be.
I know I’ll be doing some practice laps once I fix that shifter. Oh how the mighty have fallen, quite literally.