Arrrgh! Finally dropped it!

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Grey Thumper · Sun May 27, 2007 10:08 pm

I was practising full lock u turns, and trying different ways to balance the bike during the U; switching between feathering the throttle or the rear brake, etc. Anyway, I miscalculated and the bike went down (note; empty parking lot early in the morning, so hopefully no witnesses).

Now here's the clincher; after picking it up and going over the bike, there was NO damage. Aside from a scratch on the left bar end, and a barely perceptible bend on the gear shift lever (I could bend it back easy), there was absolutely nothing. Truly bizarre and mind-boggling!

Mon May 28, 2007 2:04 am

Very happy that neither you or the bike were harmed. Gotta love that but, I don't think I'd tempt fate.

Shorts · #3 Unread post by **Shorts** » Mon May 28, 2007 2:05 am

lol Well, now you know not to make that mistake again

It happens - dust it off, straighten it out and go again.

PioneerUrban · Mon May 28, 2007 3:40 am

Good thing that you weren't hurt!

Grey Thumper · Tue May 29, 2007 3:28 pm

Thanks everyone! It was low speed parking lot practise, but I was ATGATT anyway. I figure anytime you try to push your skills (even at walking speeds), you're more likely to do something dumb and potentially painful

Aamalthea · #6 Unread post by **Aamalthea** » Tue May 29, 2007 4:09 pm

I'm glad to hear that you're just fine and there was no damage at all to the bike, Grey! At least you're out there and you remembered ATGATT!

Quick question, since this was brought up by you, Grey.

If you're doing practicing like this and you do go down, are you required to purchase a new helmet at this stage? I know you're supposed to replace them every time you crash, which I can understand, but what for small drops?

Grey Thumper · Tue May 29, 2007 6:47 pm

Pretty good question, Aamalthea, it deserves a thread of it's own. But offhand, it wouldn't hurt to have your helmet dealer check your lid after any notable impact (even if it's as minor as, say, your helmet falling off the bike's saddle onto concrete). Of course, it's not like these guys have an EVA Foam Integrity Measuring Doohickey in their shops, but a lookover by a trained eye is still more reassuring than nothing.

ofblong · #8 Unread post by **ofblong** » Tue May 29, 2007 9:07 pm

Aamalthea wrote:I'm glad to hear that you're just fine and there was no damage at all to the bike, Grey! At least you're out there and you remembered ATGATT!

Quick question, since this was brought up by you, Grey.

If you're doing practicing like this and you do go down, are you required to purchase a new helmet at this stage? I know you're supposed to replace them every time you crash, which I can understand, but what for small drops?

a hits a hit. you now weakened that helmet and it needs to be replaced. you drop a helmet from 5 feet and you now have ruined that helmets integrity.

flw · #9 Unread post by **flw** » Thu May 31, 2007 3:36 am

My only drop was at around 5 to 8 mph into grass on a turn. I also found a dozen rocks in the grass to scratch my tank

Otherwise no damage to me or the bike.

I've yet to have the paint fixed as I would like to gain some more experience before I put out the $$ for it.

BTW it was a 90 degree turn on a country road with, unknown to me, some left over winter sand from the snow plows.

ofblong · #10 Unread post by **ofblong** » Thu May 31, 2007 2:53 pm

flw wrote:My only drop was at around 5 to 8 mph into grass on a turn. I also found a dozen rocks in the grass to scratch my tank Otherwise no damage to me or the bike.

I've yet to have the paint fixed as I would like to gain some more experience before I put out the $$ for it.

BTW it was a 90 degree turn on a country road with, unknown to me, some left over winter sand from the snow plows.

but that helmet still took a blow if you hit your head on the grass thus weakening that helmet.