Air Your Dirty Laundry.

Message

poppygene · #1 Unread post by **poppygene** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 5:57 pm

Yeah, I know we're experienced bikers, but I find it hard to believe we've all led a perfectly charmed relationship with our bikes. So, considering that confession has been known to be good for the soul and in the interest of full disclosure

, post your embarassing blunders here. Some of us will have a little harder time recalling them than others,

but some will only have to recall what happened today!

Yes, I'm going to include some of mine, but I'll give you a chance to start things off...

Ladymx · #2 Unread post by **Ladymx** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 6:57 pm

Hmmmmmmm, I dont know this is a family site

oldnslo · #3 Unread post by **oldnslo** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:14 pm

Oh, I see, Gene....you want us to go first......

High_Side · #4 Unread post by **High_Side** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:04 am

Chels wrote:Hmmmmmmm, I dont know this is a family site

Nope, it sounds like Chels should go first! You can't just leave it at that......

poppygene · #5 Unread post by **poppygene** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:50 am

OK.

I'll start.

This is one of my earlier embarassments, sure to make you feel good about yourself.

I had bought a basket-case BSA Rocket3 - a 1970, pushrod, inline triple. I doubt most of you have ever seen one. I had gotten it re-assembled and running well and was getting it ready for a week's vacation, which I intended to spend on the bike.

I had ridden it over to a friend's house to borrow his carb-sync and had gotten them balanced nicely when I took off on a test ride. That was when the throttle hung up - in third gear and fully wide open! This was especially amazing since the Brit triples had throttle-return springs the size of garage-door springs.

It wouldn't have been a big deal, had it not been for the fact that I was on a curvy, gravel road and I somehow couldn't remember where the kill-switch was.

Yes, both the bike and I got rashed, but we survived. Bad part was I spent my vacation healing up instead of riding.

Decades later, I may just be the quickest kill-switch in the West.

Ladymx · #6 Unread post by **Ladymx** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:33 am

High_Side wrote:
Chels wrote:Hmmmmmmm, I dont know this is a family site
Nope, it sounds like Chels should go first! You can't just leave it at that......

Oh yes I can, just watch me, as I leave it

Ladymx · #7 Unread post by **Ladymx** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:45 am

poppygene wrote:OK. I'll start.

This is one of my earlier embarassments, sure to make you feel good about yourself.
......
It wouldn't have been a big deal, had it not been for the fact that I was on a curvy, gravel road and I somehow couldn't remember where the kill-switch was. Yes, both the bike and I got rashed, but we survived. Bad part was I spent my vacation healing up instead of riding.

Decades later, I may just be the quickest kill-switch in the West.

This is what you call dirt?

I know about not hitting the kill switch but for a bit of a different reason.
In Guatamala a guy on a peddle bike rode right into me on purpose, (to get money) In doing so he broke the throttle, break lever and one of my fingers and relocating another. As I was now going down a crowded side walk with people and trees to avoid and get my hand out from the bent lever to hit the kill switch at an instant 80km/hr. Little hands cant hit the kill switch, without letting go of the accelerator on some bikes and this was one of them.
How I know it was intentional was that I was yelling and honking and getting really close to the curb. Also he told the cop that he did it to get money, americans have money to give. Stupid mexican thats a Candaian flag on the back. Anyways he didnt get anything, but his self inflicted cut.

Scott58 · #8 Unread post by **Scott58** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 10:53 am

I've never wrecked or dropped one, but it did take me about 10 minutes to figure out how to get the key out of the gas cap one time. Embarrassing to push your bike out of the line so cars could get in.

Mag7C · #9 Unread post by **Mag7C** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:29 am

Scott58, I've done that too! My old bike required the cap to be held down, then key turned manually and removed. My new one automatically turns the key back, but I didn't know the first time so I spent what seemed like endless minutes trying to figure out why it wouldn't close! Finally I let go of the key and hit the thing, unintentionally solving the problem.

One my several other embarassments with motorcycles was when I had to ask a gas station attendant to help me pop-start my old bike. Imagine seeing a motorcycle with rider being pushed around in a little circle. Like the circus but funnier. And more pathetic.

ubarw · #10 Unread post by **ubarw** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:26 am

One time a buddy and I had our enduros out. At a gravel pit. Up and down the various piles.

He rode up to the top and killed it just before he centered. As he started to roll backwards, he tapped the REAR brake, and the bike promply pivoted on the back axle, flipping over on top of him. Naturally, I couldnt let this go without some major trash talking...

Guess what I did just 5 minutes later?