dropping bikes/more ways nklr

[e. rhoads]

Here's more from the list of Ways to Drop Your Bike, as compiled by Scott Harpster off the rec.motorcycles list. (...it could stand some editing) 50 Backing your bike down a plank, by yourself, from the bed of a pickup truck. Works great as long as you remember that once you start moving, stopping for any correction is out of the question. Get two people to stand on each side of you and the bike. 51 Losing your balance when coming to a stop because of fatigue from a long trip. The wind and the buzz of the bike induces an unexpected case of vertigo. Stop often and rest. 52 Riding beyond your limits while trying to keep up with someone who is probably riding beyond their own. Always a temptation. The best riders/racers understand and use discipline when riding. 53 Not paying attention. Always strive to anticipate what could possibly go wrong and be planning what you're going to do when it happens, eventually it will - and you'll be ready, instead of surprised when you're much more likely to do something stupid and reactionary. 54 Assuming that all wet roads are created equal. They are much more slippery when it first starts to rain - until the oil and dirt are washed away. 55 Assuming that the condition of a blind corner is the same as it was the last time you rode it. Instead you find sticks, road kill, oil, rain wash, stones, pot holes, garbage, etc. 56 Not understanding how to get set-up for a corner when pushing the limits. In most cases the bike could have made the corner but the rider decided it couldn't and while in a panic attempted to correct the situation with the brake. WRONG! MSF course will discuss this at length. 57 Riding without all of the protective equipment because I forgot to bring it and after all it was just this one time. Turned out to be the wrong time! I forgot my MX boots and fell on a steeply banked corner and the foot peg attempted to drill into the back of my right calf. On crutches for 3 weeks with a deep bruise. 58 Using a little too much power turning the first corner after you've put on new tires (with that nice slippery release compound on them). 59 Being too short for the bike you're riding, and coming to a stop sign. 60 Your rider hops on before you are ready. 61 Pushing your bike into the garage and letting it get leaned just a little away from you, pulling you on top of it to the ground. 62 Pulling off both fork caps while the bike is on its sidestand. 64 Park pointing downhill, don't leave it in gear. 65 Park with sidestand facing up hill, sidestand is too long. 66 Allow friend to ride bike that has either no riding experience, or only tiny dirt bike riding experience (they will wheelie out of control, fly straight at the nearest object, or drop it attempting to stop suddenly.) 67 Pulling into Dairy Queen and slipping on a spilt chocolate malt. 68 Sitting on your bike on an inclined driveway talking to a very pretty girl, forgetting where in the hell your mind is and then noticing that it's already too close to the ground to stop. 69 Change rear-end oil on a shaft drive bike, spill 90w on tire, don't clean it up and then make a really sharp turn out of the driveway. *Splat* 70 Parking your bike so that it stands upright with the kickstand down and then having a slow leak in the rear tire which causes the kickstand to push the bike over. 71 Running into a bus after a 120mph+ high speed chase where there is helicopter pursuit and you are being taped by 5 local news stations. 72 Spending 3 hours washing and waxing your bike and then stepping back to admire it with some buddies and then watch it fall right off its side stand while it was warming up. 73 Pushing it over. 74 Covering it with a windsail (aka canvas cover) and letting the wind push it over. 75 Unbolting too many components from the back so that the bike falls off the jack. 76 Having an internally rusted CX500 center stand come apart whilst putting the bike onto it. 77 Discovering when you stop and try to put your foot down that the kickstart lever is up your pant leg. 78 Letting your wife drive the bike and having her stall it on an inclined driveway while in a 45 degree angle to the incline. 79 Entering a banked freeway onramp with a stoplight at the end, and realizing a little too late that the downside is just a _little_ steeper than you thought. 80 Whacking the throttle open on the highway when you think there's no cop around then slowing to normal speed again only to realize that a trooper has been trying to catch up with you for two miles and he's pissed so he decides to run you off the road because he thinks you were trying to run away from him, even though you explain to him that if you were trying to run that he wouldn't have caught you then getting out of any ticjet because *@!!$#, uh I mean cop, felt bad even though he never said "I'm sorry" . . . .but I'm not bitter. 81 While pushing your bike in an attempt to start it by compression, jumping on side-saddle with excessive vigor. 82 Successfully compression starting your bike while running along side, only to find out that you'd held a BIT too much throttle! 83 Deploying the centre-stand without noticing that the ground falls away on the other side. 84 Taking the wife on a ride on your brand new, first bike in 20+ years and making a slow, tight, turn on gravel. 85 Riding in stilettos and getting stuck on the footrest. 86 Swinging your legs too enthusiastically over the bike with tight trousers on and kicking it over. 87 Dismounting while trying not to wet yourself (cold weather..tuh!) 88 Riding short distances side-saddle fashion. 89 Pulling off with a blood alcohol level exceeding the stated limit. 90 Reaching down to pick up your gloves/keys/glasses.