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... your new bike.

I just finished putting a headlight and turn signals on my new (to me) 1979 Suzuki GS425. I took it for a ride up to the university to work on our formula SAE race car a bit. While working on the car, my buddy asks if he can try my bike out in the parking lot. He was going to take his bike course in a couple of weeks, and I know he's ridden dirt bikes before, but a little while ago, so I figured there would be no harm if he did a couple of slow runs around the lot. Anyway, I start the bike up for him, warm it up, and let him get on. He puts it into gear, slowly takes off looking pretty good, and then starts getting close to the other end of the lot. Then he panics, death-grips the handlebars, and instead of stopping or turning, he ACCELERATES, goes onto the curb at a diagonal, and dumps the bike into the grass.

Total damage: bent headlight housing and brackets, bent signal lights, and something in the fork or triple tree is bent (handlebars are a little to the right when riding straight). He feels really bad for doing it and is more than willing to pay for damages, or even another bike of similar value, but I really feel stupid for letting him take it out without any real experience. I'm going to get the bike checked out tomorrow to see if it's safe to ride back to the city I'm currently living in (about 300km away from calgary), but it felt solid on the short ride home.

Moral of the story is, if your friend asks if he can ride your bike, ask if you can ride his girl in return...

Anyone know if it's possible to "align" the front wheel to the triple tree?

Jacob

Posthumane wrote:Moral of the story is, if your friend asks if he can ride your bike, ask if you can ride his girl in return...

Well, that would depend on what she looks like.

i really hate people like that , i dont know what to do about my dad wanting to try it out though any advice ?

Family to me is always more important then anything else. I would make him gear up big time so he was less likely to get hurt. The bike can be replaced.

If I had ridden with a person before I might be willing to let them take my bike for a short spin around the block or a parking lot. ONLY if I would have seen them ride a motorcycle and knew they were knowledgable of basic operations - especially slow speed control. EVEN my Dad, or any various family member. If they didn't own their own bike, and especially if they hadn't ridden in a long time I'd suggest the MSF. It was the way I learned riding when I had no experience. And the reason I include my family (especially my Dad) in the not allowed to ride list - I wouldn't want to be responsible for him hurting himself with unknown skills and I wouldn't want him to have to feel bad for hurting my bike. That would be irresponsible of me.

Glad your friend was alright, and we can all learn a lesson from these kind of stories. It is easy to feel like you are being a buddy (or a good family member) to share your fun, but in reality it is probably best to extend proper training suggestion to new or returning riders.

Yeah, I'm feeling pretty dumb right about now. I've let my dad ride my bike a fair bit, but he took the course with me, so that was all good. Sigh, now to figure out what's bent...

Yes, you can "align" your front end. Losen the axle bolt and the triple tree bolts a little and use a tree, pole, wall or other suitable thing. Don't losen everything too much.

I did the same thing a few years back....I let a guy ride my XS 750. He did the same thing- fine taking off, fine across the lot, then when he got to the end of the lot, he saw a VW bug pulling in, got a target on it and accelerated. BOOM! He bought the guy a new one pretty much. My bike was only lightly bent (headlight/turn signal ect.)

That is the last time......

I wouldn't let anyone even breathe hard on my bike, nevermind ride it.


Then again, I never was very good at the whole "sharing" bit.

Funny Kaige! My wife (Loonette) is the same way with her bike. One day I thought for a change of pace I'd take her bike for a spin and she had major difficulty saying okay. But truth be told I already gave her almost brand new bike a little flaw trying to move it without the lock off. Now I just consider that hers and mine is mine.

I just remember too on the topic of allowing a Dad to ride. My Dad told me back in the 50s some guy offered to let him try a bike for a spin. He rode across a parking lot and into the side of a garage. He decided bikes weren't his thing. Just last year I gave him a ride on Loonette's old bike (Shadow 1100). He was thrilled, and he said he could see why I love it so much. But after his story, MSF would be required before a test ride on my bike.

My brother invited me to his "country club" for dinner one night. (You need to be "dressed" somewhat nice there) I asked, "Is it ok if I ride my bike over?" He said, "Sure, but I get to take it for a spin around the parking lot."

I asked him,"Are you prepared to either replace or repair my bike if you drop it?"
He said, "Good answer."
"You passed the test."
"Never, ever, lend your bike or your girlfriend( or boyfriend) to anyone."