I Admit, I Dropped It!!!

I Admit, I Dropped It!!!

by Bonnie
(Gander, NL, Canada)

So this is my first week of riding (after passing my course and getting my learners permit), and I had a frustrating ride. We went around our neighborhood (husband and I) and even went on some busy roads...I actually got the bike up to 60 km (I own a Suzuki S40 Boulevard(650)). But as I panicked about traffic, my nerves got the best of me and I started to get frustrated at my acceleration from a stop (not fast enough) or slowing down with the gears vs. brakes, etc. etc. So when we finally got in our driveway I was so mad at myself that I forgot to put the kickstand down and thinking it was down, me and bike fell and I fell hard. THANKS to the helmet and my full gear, I am okay. But I immediately started to cry because of the fright and because I knew that putting the kickstand down should be "automatic". I was basically so mad at myself for doing everything wrong.

My lesson for today is that don't ride frustrated and even if you are, take a second, take a breath and go through the steps. Tomorrow we are heading for the parking lot so I can practice those turns and get used to my gears and slowing down.

It does not deter me, it makes me want to do better but smarter.

Yep, I dropped it in my own driveway. Not proud and very embarrassed, but I will never lie about it. Tomorrow is a brand new day!

Safe riding everyone!

Bonnie

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I Admit, I Dropped It!!!

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Jun 04, 2011

You want to hear embarrassing?
by: Diane

My girlfriend and I pulled up to a festival type event a couple of days ago. There were about 100 people and also the local news truck. Somehow, I turned as I was braking and down came my bike. Luckily the engine guard stopped it from falling all the way, but and I was unable to stand it back up. Luckily my husband (also my hero) happened to be walking by and gave me a push back up. I was sooooo embarrassed - still am. Oh - I forgot to mention, as I started to lose control, I gunned the engine just to make sure EVERYONE saw me. LOL

May 18, 2011

Just Yesterday!!!
by: Anonymous

Just yesterday I was parking under my carport and turned off the engine, stood up and started to slide off when....my left foot hooks under the bike as my brand new 2011 Ninja 650r falls on top of me! Couldnt get it off. Two neighbors and my fiance ran to help. Ugh so mortified. Today I noticed my clutch is bent up pretty bad. Only been riding about a month but wow what a dumb error!

May 15, 2011

I Know Your Pain
by: jp

I'd rather break a leg than drop my bike...and especially in front of people.

Been there and done that plenty of times. Always embarrassing, but I always learn something and it doesn't happen so often anymore.

May 14, 2011

Same
by: Alex

I love reading the stories like these. They make me feel better that I'm not alone.

My story:

My first year riding, it was a little dark. My husband pulled out of the gas station first, and although I had PLENTY of room, I got very nervous and pulled out when I wasn't ready. I never leaned or turned the bike in any way, gave the bike some gas. Ran into the cement median, and promptly fell over. I was so angry at myself and embarrassed! I picked the bike up, pulled it off the median and rode it home.

We have learned from that. As the "lesser" experienced person in our little group, I always ride out front now. AND we got the helmet-to-helmet communicators! Don't know how we ever rode without them!

There are 2 kinds of riders: Those who have fallen down and those who will fall down!

May 13, 2011

Me too!
by: Anonymous

I'm only 5'2. I've had my Kawasaki ZZR 600 two weeks. Would not get on it until I got it lowered. Boyfriend brought the bike home. I'm in the backyard trying to get use to the friction zone while walking the bike. 17 y/o tells me to pick it up. I pick my feet up & started riding. Got ready to turn & bike went down. Forgot to lean & roll like they taught in MSF course. So you are not alone!

May 12, 2011

Hit The Gym Ladies!
by: Girlmalibu1

I'm reading in horror the dropped bike stories. I know I'll probably be in the same boat sometime. I have to share, that I've come VERY close on a couple occasions. The 1st one being on my 2nd or 3rd time riding my own bike. I maybe had 100 miles experience & rode up our driveway to our paved area in front of the garage. The pavement was wet (it was February '08) & I stopped with my wheel turned. Well, you know what happens when you do that---down she started to go. A fully-fueled Kawasaki Ninja 650. I was able to grunt & stop it with a LOT of effort. I KNOW beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was my strong legs that saved my brand new bike & me. I was singing praises to my personal trainer & he was very impressed when I told him about it (a rider himself). I can't say enough for weight training & motorcycle riding. When everything's perfect, there are no problems, but the 'mishaps' happen so fast & catch us SO off-guard, there's no substitute for physical strength. BTW, I'm no amazon woman either--I'm 45 yrs old, 5'4" & a size 6. I learned to ride at age 42 & was terrified! So my advice to all of us--hit the gym & take every measure possible to improve your riding experience. Safe & fun riding to you all! Hope to see you on the road someday!

May 12, 2011

Me too...
by: Raquel

I got my bike (CBR 600RR) out for the first time this season on Monday. I'm still learning. So I was out in the parking lot of our middle school behind my house. I came to a stop just a little too fast, with the wheel turned slightly to the left, and she fell over. Once she starts falling, there is literally nothing you can do to stop her.

Fortunately, the only thing that was hurt was a little scratch on the left flaring and a huge dent in my pride. But what can you do other than pick her up (with assistance cuz these damn things are heavy) and mount back on and keep at it.

May 11, 2011

Dropped 1st Day
by: Kris

I just got my bike yesterday and have only a permit as the Safety Course is filled until next month. I had never rode a bike before and was outside with my hubby and 17 y.o. son and I finally got to the end of the street with my son running beside me as I was only going maybe 5 mph. I didn't know how to turn around so my son turned my bike and I headed back down the street. I pulled up to my husband applied both brakes hard and lost my balance. I could feel the bike going down so I jumped off and tried to hold it. All I remember is my husband telling me to let go of the bike as I was still trying to keep it from completely going down, but it was too late. An after thought of all this was did I really expect to be able to stop 467 pounds from falling???

I figured it was not a if I drop my bike, it was going to be more like when I drop my bike. I just didn't think it was going to be so soon. The key for me was to just get back on and practice.

May 10, 2011

Dropped It
by: robin

Oh my gosh ..you are not alone...have done it twice..once in a parking lot practicing turns from a standstill(forgot to put feet down) and had to call for help...the other time in front of a bunch of people...the drive was uneven as i was backing up and i lost my balance...thankfully a stranger came to the rescue...hang in there..it gets better!!!

May 10, 2011

We've all done it...
by: Scooterchic

Depending on where/when/who's around, it is most embarrassing...wounded pride, y'know? We are very hard on ourselves & think we must be perfect...the reality is we learn something from every 'oopsie!' or 'phew!' we have...as in, what NOT to do the next time! LOL There are some things that just can't be hypothetically taught...experience is the best teacher! If I could add a word of wisdom from a dear (female) friend who is also an MSF instructor...NEVER try to stop a bike from going over, even from a dead stop...it can shatter your shinbone in a heartbeat! She 'called me out' one afternoon for that very thing....we were in a parking lot (slow speed) exiting onto a steep uphill to the right...in the midst of a HUGE rally....I started to teeter/totter so I put my right foot out (my foot never hit the pavement, but it felt better psychologically knowing my foot was there just in case!) & boy she read me the riot act when we stopped. It makes perfect sense...you have insurance, right? Much easier to replace something on that bike than you!! Slow speeds are very tricky and take more skill than doing 60+ on the highway...

Give yourself some credit, brush yourself off...and get back on it!! Ride safe, ride hard, ride often...

May 10, 2011

Is this a sign?
by: Anonymous

I had an experience of my own last week while practicing on my husbands new bike, it's a Honda Shadow 750. We were in the process of taking the safety class, one Saturday under my belt and one more to go. A total of 2 hours motorcycle riding experience I was terrified! Determined to go back the next week with a little more experience and confidence we were going to the school and practicing every night even if it was just 2 slow rides around the parking lot then back home, I needed exposure daily. This night there was an activity at the school so we went to the church a couple blocks away. This parking lot had a slight slope to it and after one lap around I stopped and put my foot down and just that extra inch I was used to having on a flat surface sent the weight of the bike falling ever so slowly and I could not catch it. We both went down, I cried because I felt so bad for damaging my husbands new bike, he of course was just so glad I didn't get hurt! I am all that more determined!!

May 10, 2011

Dropped It
by: Lynn - Florida

Welcome to the Club! I've dropped my bike only twice, both in parking lots. It happens - it's embarrassing & upsetting but usually we learn something from the incident.

It sounds like you were being extra hard on yourself and maybe with your husband there, you wanted to be perfect. You are right, don't give up. Practice will help and hopefully your husband is not being too critical as that doesn't help either.

Keep up the good work.

May 10, 2011

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
by: JoAnn

Can't tell you all how much it means to hear all these stories. I haven't dropped mine yet because I still can't lift my feet, lol, but I'm sure I will.

I don't know any other women riders and am so glad I found this website.

May 10, 2011

Thank You!!!
by: Bonnie

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement...you don't know how much it helps! Oh, and if you see another posting about the same thing from me, it is because I was having "technical difficulties", so I apologize in advance.

All these stories help us all!

Cheers,

Bonnie

May 10, 2011

We All Do It
by: Anonymous

I did it in my garage after running to get mail. Fell off and as I and the bike lay there, the dog started licking my face, so had to laugh.

May 10, 2011

Dropped Bike
by: bikermama

It happens. I had been riding for a few years when my husband and I took our bikes to get gas. After we filled up, I started the bike, put kickstand up, and the bike died. I could not get it started. My husband told me to get off and he would get it running. I got off- without putting the kickstand down. The bike fell, but fortunately my leg blocked it's fall. lol. I did this in front of a whole gas station full of people. I had been riding for a few years. It happens. We learn from our mistakes, dust ourselves off and get back on with more wisdom and determination. Don't give up.

May 10, 2011

Laugh
by: Wanda

I have to laugh. I have the opposite problem. I forget to put the sidestand up. I got the "Most Likely to Leave the Sidestand Down" award in my MSF class. Glad you weren't hurt. Someone told me a story of a lady that was giggling so much from the ride; she pulled up to a gas pump, forgetting to put the sidestand down, and just fell over. I have dropped my bike once after a stall on a hill. I sympathize with you, but tomorrow is a brand new adventure!

May 10, 2011

Dumped
by: Jennifer

I know that feeling for sure. I have sporty 883 my husband customized everything for me. I have forgotten to put the stand down and have dumped it twice. But the only advice to you is stay away from busy roads that will confuse any one. Slowly go on longer rides on back roads. Then you can move into the busy areas. I still will not go on busy roads. Good Luck and be comfortable for you and no one else.

May 10, 2011

:)
by: Cheryl

I did the exact same thing, in my driveway, about 3 weeks ago. I was so upset and embarrassed. I started crying too. But I have a feeling we wont do that again. My boyfriend, who has been riding 30+ years, laughed and said "wait till the day when your too old to get your leg over and you fall off your parked bike." LOL It happens all the time. Don't sweat it! Glad your OK.

May 10, 2011

Its all good...
by: Karrie

Glad you are OK... forgetting to put the stand down is more common than you think...there's so much to learn all at once, & you have to think about everything you are doing, but soon, it will all become like second nature, & you wont have to think about it anymore. You'll just automatically do it. I've often had to turn around after parking at a store, or gas station, & check to see if I turned the ignition off, & its always off. I just don't remember doing it. It'll all come together soon... the more you ride, the quicker it'll happen. The main thing is that you relax, & enjoy your bike!

May 10, 2011

RELAX & ENJOY!!!
by: Lisa Martin

Welcome to the world of riding...there will plenty more moments of frustration, but try not to get down on yourself about it. I found in my early years of riding, I used to worry more about what other people thought of my riding capabilities, thought I had to be perfect or perhaps ride as good as a veteran rider. I expected too much, too quick...just keep on riding and relax...you'll notice with each ride, you'll begin to get more comfortable. You are gonna do just fine!! And as for forgetting to put your stand down, I've seen it happen to the best of them! Ride free, enjoy the peace of the open road!!! :o)

May 10, 2011

Dropped
by: Yvonne

Don't worry about it. I've dropped mine 4 times this year, of course, first year of riding again. I've learned how it's done. I have a Shadow 1100, a bit heavy, I've gotten use to it now.

Fortunately, only thing hurt was my pride. Hang in there, it will get better. Before you know it, you won't have to think too much, it will come automatically. Good luck and drive with the rubber down.

May 10, 2011

Don't Give Up!!
by: Sue

I won't ride if I'm frustrated,tired, or any feeling of being uneasy...glad you are OK and don't let it deter you..if you can start out on the less busy roads, it helps, I rode the same routine for awhile and gradually went farther and farther...if I can do it...so can you!! Have fun with it and don't over-think everything you do..it'll come natural in time :)

May 10, 2011

Mee Too
by: Anonymous

I know the feeling, I dropped mine too.

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