Best and worst way for me to have an accident
 

Hi all,

After spending all evening cleaning the chain, polishing the 748 etc. and then gently releasing the bike from the paddock stand it decided to fall to the ground. Even a futile attempt by my knee to stop it hitting the floor failed.

Anyway, picked the bitch up and expected to see cracked fairing, dented tank, seat unit etc. but I seem to have got away pretty lightly with the following:

Slightly scuffed lower LH fairing
Broken indicator (had a spare from my old Monster so no worried there)
Scuffed mirror (painted red)
Broken clutch lever

I keep telling myself that if I am going to drop the bike the best way to do it is at 0mph but I am still a bit miffed. I was going to have the v-piece painted anyhow as it has got a bit manky (luckily my father owns a paintshop) so I guess I'll have to do the other two pieces now as well.

I have put a request in on the For Sale/Wanted section, but would anyone have a reach adjustable clutch lever for a 748s (may well be the same on 9**) or know a good place to get one?

Cheers

Howard (just starting to smile again!)

Stable Door Dept.

Sorry to hear that, hogfisch. Could have been much worse/more expensive by the sound of it, though.


When taking the bike off a paddock stand, I grasp hold of the pillion seat strap thing (that's the only thing it's good for) with my right hand, whilst lowering the stand with my left. Then keeping hold of the strap, you can sidle around the LHS of the bike, leaning it against your hip if necessary, to put the sidestand down.


Of course, that only applies if it's a bip.

[Edited on 19-3-2005 by moto748]

Clutch lever sorted. Does anyone have some pride I can buy as mine is still dented?

Stupid thing is the bike was down off the stand but as I pulled it out the bike just toppled over. Got to be pragmatic here. It is only a bike and if the worst thing that happens in my life is a scratch to a bike that many people can only dream of buying then I have done pretty well.

Been there done that :rolleye: mine wedged itself against the garage wall, had to get the neighbour to help me to pick it up
luckily only a broken mirror as i was between it and the wall when it happened

[Edited on 20-3-2005 by Nigel C]

nearly did the same with mine, made the mistake of greasing the paddock stand and it just drops ourt now! DOH!

Sorry to hear you were less lucky.

Always put the sidestand down BEFORE you even think of taking it off the paddock stand.

Hold pillion seat pad strap with left hand, as you lower the bike off the stand pull the whole bike firmly to the left and onto the sidestand, Then remove the paddock stand. Bosch. Sorted.

Are we talking about a front or back paddock stand here?

I was describing rear obviously (no seat pad at the front on my bike!!) :P:P:P:lol:

This was a rear stand and the side stand was down. I still can't figure it all out really. The bike was down on its tyres and when I pulled the stand out from the axle the next thing I know is it is going over!

All I do know is the bike has always leant quite far to the left on its stand and my knee has a nice fat bruise on it where the bike smacked it on the way down.

can't i've still got the suicide stand :rolleye:

Been there done it :(

This is a right bugg*r then. Fordie said there's a knack to it and showed me the 'seat strap' method. I was gearing up to have a go with the one I've bought from Lord Rattler when I get it. Looks like another bit of kit I'm going to be too afraid to use on my own. I'll just add that to the bike trailer that I'm too nervous to use with a bike on it! And don't bother giving me any tips. Once I've got a mental block, it can't be shifted.

And I'm pretty sure I won't be using mine on my own again. In fact, after it happened I felt like throwing the fcuking thing over the roof of my house.

Fair enough. Bit of additional damage to roof tiles would have seemed insignificant I guess. But as you said, the damage wasn't too bad and it is only a bike, at the end of the day. It can be fixed. Actually, when I dropped my bike in the garage and damaged the tank, I was pretty gutted and every now and then I look at the dents and think, why was I so stupid? But it doesn't detract from the fun I have riding it and that is what they're meant for. Nothing worse than a bruised knee and a bruised ego? Not too bad really, is it? :D:D

(above comments only intended to help. Not trying to wind you up)

Practice - that's all it takes. To help you, get another person (they don't have to be a biker ;)) and ask them to hold the bars and steady the bike while you take it off the paddock stand. After a while you'll get the hang of it.

Remember, you don't have to completely remove the paddock stand from the axel until the bike is safely on it's side stand - in fact it's easier if you don't.

Ade.

I thoroughly recommend an ABBA stand, owned one for a couple of years now and had no problems. Operation is from the left hand side and gives full confidence and control (sounds like an advert for incontinence pads!!!)

I agree with Godders.
I've never used a paddock stand but the ABBA stand allows solo operation and uses little effort.

I have got a flip-up stand, as my earlier post implied ( the bit about sidling round the bike and putting the sidestand down).

Seems to me that the key is that this is the "fail-safe" method. In other words, even if your sidestand isn't flip-up, it's safest not to let the bike down onto it until you're positioned safely on the LHS of the bike and able to take it's weight. If you're standing behind the bike and it starts to topple, you 're very unlikely to be able to stop it.


I'm no pie-eater ;) and I have no worries about using a paddock stand now.