Motorcycles are Bad for you (heh, heh)

[jstark47]

Well, I'm kinda stiff and sore today. No, no accidents, apparently just used some muscles in a way they weren't used to yesterday.

I pulled two bikes around from the shed to the garage to check tires, etc. More room and more light in the garage. A very stupid argument (aren't they all?) ensued between me and Mrs. Stark concerning the proper procedure for setting the choke on her bike when idling. Argument ended something along the lines of, "...if I couldn't do it her way, don't touch her bike..." Yeah, yeah, whatever.

So first, I proceeded to burn 3 square inches of skin off my left elbow accidentally touching the Bonneville's headpipe when checking the front tire. OK, no problem, just stings a little .... more than a little...... it'll grow back in a few weeks.

So now I'm working on the Trophy. For those who don't know this bike, it's a fair-size (and weight) sport tourer, which has the distinction of carrying a lot of its weight higher than most bikes. IOW, it's top-heavy. Standing alongside, I roll it forward to get the air valve to the right place, lean it over onto it's sidestand, and ...........OOOPS!!! forgot to put the stand back down!!!

Well, I caught it. Doesn't count as a drop if the bike doesn't hit the floor, right? And I'm standing there holding it, it's pretty far over, and thinking I should just let it down the rest of the way gently, then get some help to pick it up. Then the tape machine in my brain replays the words, ".....IF YOU CAN'T DO IT MY WAY, DON'T TOUCH MY BIKE......" Oh, shyt!!

And I got mad, this frickin' bike is going to get me in trouble twice in 10 minutes......... and I heaved the damned thing back upright. Whew. (That weight lifting I've been doing the last few years came in handy.)

This morning, my lower back and the triceps on both arms are complaining. But no problem, it just takes my attention away from the burn on my left elbow. She asked me why I was sore, I just said I picked up a heavy object yesterday that I hadn't planned on lifting. She gave me a look, then decided I meant something on the weight set.

Life is good.

[Sev]

Man, sounds like quite the experience.

Hehe, we've got a motoguzzi in the shop that retracts the kickstand when it hits vertical. So checking the oil level is a pain in the "O Ring", you walk around to the right side, pull it to vertical and the kickstand pops up, then you check the oil level and go to set it back on the sidestand. Lean lean lean, too far, oh dodo! And the bike pulls you over itself it. Glad that didn't happen to me.

[mgdavis]

What kind of mechanism is it that automatically retracts the kickstand? I've never heard of one that does it based on angle, just ones linked to the clutch.

[Ian522]

I had the same exact thing happen to me a couple months ago, although in my case the bike was only 350 pounds so it was easier to save it . Still a scary moment though.

[Lion_Lady]

What kind of mechanism is it that automatically retracts the kickstand? I've never heard of one that does it based on angle, just ones linked to the clutch.

If you aren't very careful, rolling the bike forward will often 'bump' the sidestand against the ground, making it retract.

THANKS jstark47 for sharing!!!


Pam

[qwerty]

I hate it when that happens.

(Maybe why I stay single?)

[Shorts]

jstark, yours is the first post read of the morning for me - that's a good one Hope your burn feels better soon. My worst exhaust burn was on the crossover pipe on my truck as it branded the bottom of my forearm. Stupid chevy 350 oil filter location!

Anyway, feel better soon.

[Andrew]

And hopefully your wife is none the wiser. Glad you caught it and didn't have to explain to her why you dropped it.

Soreness just means you're getting stronger...

[blues2cruise]

[Skier]

Stupid chevy 350 oil filter location!

These are godsends. I have one on my Civic and it beats the heck out of having hot oil running down your arm!