Wet Leaves and a dropped Ninja

[calico1062]

So it was bound to happen... I had my first drop today. Was all set to head out to work... all geared up (luckily had my full jacket, helmet, gloves, boots and pants) and looking forward to a beautiful morning ride. We have a small gravel driveway and it's currently filled with my car and hubby's truck and so my bike was parked on a brick walkway up near the house. When I keep it out, Hubby usually turns it around for me so I can just ride out off the walkway and across a very small bit of grass and onto the gravel driveway to the road. I'm pretty good at that. And I've actually got the gravel part down pretty well. Today however he left early and forgot about the bike. I have turned it around before on my own without a problem...today was another issue. There was a light coating of dew on everything and I should have been much more wary. Well... to turn it, involves backing it up onto the grass and then riding it "across" the walkway (it's bordered by railroad ties --which makes it harder to get across and requires some effort as it's a bit raised) and then onto another strip of grass and then onto the gravel driveway. It's an odd shaped area. Well, I got it across and was headed for the gravel and I was giving it a just a little bit of throttle when I hit some wet leaves on the second grassy area... and out she went from under me and down. Fortunately she didn't go down too hard - mostly on the grass and only the front wheel on the gravel.

I had watched all the videos on how to lift your own bike and so tried in vain to do so, but she kept sliding on the wet grass and the gravel and I couldn't get a good grip with my boots on the ground. I had to call my husband to come and help me get her up - as most of my neighbors had already left for work too.

The only damage seems to be about an inch and half gash in the fairing by the front turn signal --they are plastic...so it took the brunt of the fall. So my pretty green ninja now has a bit of a wound. Not horrible and nothing major broke so that's great... just felt incredibly dumb and I wish I'd been more careful. I'm a little sore from trying to keep her from going down, but it's nothing bad. And wish we had an easier driveway to deal with... but that's for the next house which I hope we start looking for someday soon. My bike deserves better.:):

[Dualsport Chic]

So sorry to hear about your 'off' C1062. There's always a first time for dropping a bike. The important thing however is you're ok - everything else is fixable!

:hug2: To you and your pretty green Ninja - may you be back on the road in no time flat!

[ImaSoftT]

You desire a medal for a valiant effort, I'm not sure many of us, save our men friends here, could have managed to make it over a brick walkway with railroad ties, 2 grassy areas with wet leaves, and gravel to boot, so don't beat yourself up, at least you gave it a try :clapping:. You'll make it all the way next time. I'm just glad to hear you didn't get hurt.

[calico1062]

Thank you so much, IST and DC, I've done it before... so was feeling like it was no big deal, just should have re-thought the moisture and newly fallen leaves part of it :o: doh! I did have on all of my gear too...so that was good. If I've learned one sure thing from all of you good people, it's the value of ATGATT.

[ImaSoftT]

You are so right about ATGATT, the last friend that got hurt on a bike, was a guy that was moving his bike out of the garage so he sweep the garage floor. With a small down hill slant to his driveway, he backed it out, lost his footing and down he went...breaking his collar bone. He said, "OMG I've ridden thousands of miles and where do I go down, in my own f...ing driveway." :rofl:

[Tractor]

To bad!! Can you get touch up paint?

[ridingAK]

I'm sorry your baby got a booboo. I agree with Tractor, can you get some matching paint and do some touch up work?

[calico1062]

No it's actually sliced through the fairing a bit, so will require a bit more than paint, sadly. And it's at the joint of two pieces of fairing --and got both. Ugh. Well I'll live with it for now... and then will consider replacing that larger piece at some point.

[Luna Tique]

:oops: It happens don't beat yourself up over it.
You didn't break any bones and that is the important part.
Your bike can handle a few battle scars.:thumbup:

[RetroRider81]

Thank goodness you werent doing 45mph around a curve and hit a patch of wet leaves. It happens to everyone, usually more than once it seems! Glad you are ok!

[zukilady]

Oh no C! Sorry for your experience...Glad you are OK though! :hug2:

[calico1062]

Thank you all... it's all fine. Will be riding it to work again tomorrow. :):

[Luna Tique]

:wootrock: That's the spirit.

[phoenix63]

So glad you're ok, Calico! Yep, ATGATT is the only way to go. I've been super careful around town with the leaves down. It hasn't been too wet, as of late, but more rain is forecasted this weekend...

So sorry about the bike boo boo!

[FutureDrJames]

Sorry to hear about the damage. Like others have said, there's another way to look at this: you're basically off-roading with a Ninja and this is your first tip over. Pretty good record, I think.

[chienjouet]

Glad you're o.k. Sounds like you had a whole group of factors working against you there.

Reminds me of my just recently taken, MSF class, when they talk about adding all those factors up. It's usually not just one thing, that creates the risk!

And Bravo! to you.:clapping: ATGATT. :thumbup:

[calico1062]

Well had a great ride in to work today... bike ran great and the "wound" isn't too noticeable. So on we go... first drop is out of the way, and first 500 miles on the bike too... so getting closer to its first service. Movin' on... :kcd:

[zukilady]

:wootrock:

[phoenix63]

Rock it, Calico!

:wootrock:

[LiLiBug]

:oops: It happens don't beat yourself up over it.
You didn't break any bones and that is the important part.
Your bike can handle a few battle scars.:thumbup:

+ 1000

[VStar]

Scars add character, glad it was only the ride. Now the drop is done and it's out of the way. Onward!

[opaque_machete]

I agree with everyone else. Glad you're okay and not taking it too hard. Try some (Plastic Weld (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=plastic+weld&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14763419608167031640&sa=X&ei=O7WwTtC1Oc6Etge69KycAg&ved=0CFoQ8wIwAQ)) or some epoxy on that plastic. Ninja plastic is expensive to replace. We just used some epoxy on mine and repainted it. (But mine was actually broken.)

[Pawprint2104]

Oh no C! Sorry for your experience...Glad you are OK though! :hug2:

+1

[calico1062]

Thanks all! I'll post a pic of the banged up bit at some point... I'll try the epoxy (thanks for the tip). It's not too bad (no one at work even noticed it ) :): I've been riding every day I can (really cold the last few days!), and it's been great!

[indianscout]

Bummer. As bad as it may seem it could have been much worse. The bike can still be ridden without having to spend big $$$ in repairs and no one was hurt. Ride it as is and when someone asks, tell them scars are sexy and smile.:D: When a good friend first started riding, he was concerned about learning on a new bike so purchased an older Honda and rode it for years without incident. Then on his way home from buying a new bike he dumped it at the end of his driveway in front of his wife and neighbors. Broke a mirror, throttle grip and dented the tank but he was OK. Afterwards he was very upset for even thinking about getting a new bike. Still rides today and we like to remind him of that time when someone gets a new bike. Hang in there, one day you'll be telling your story to someone who did almost the same thing as you did. :riding:

[Luna Tique]

I did the same thing with my bright shinny brandy new 1970 CB750 .
I stopped at a stop sign put my foot down and it was a lot further than I had planned and over we went.:lol: It had I think under 20 miles on it.:shrug:It happens. Nothing serious on the bike other than scratches on the directional, brake lever and hand grip end.

Never bought NEW again until I got the Ninja and guess what ? Yeap you guess it a stupid rookie move... wet hay in the middle of a turn and down we went. That time I broke a few ribs bend the bars and broke the directional completely off the bike :shrug:. It happens.
So the next time (If I ever buy new again) I am going to put the plates on it at the dealer and knock it to the ground right there in their parking lot.:lol:

[ridingAK]

:lol:

[indianscout]

.............................So the next time (If I ever buy new again) I am going to put the plates on it at the dealer and knock it to the ground right there in their parking lot.:lol:


That'a girl!!! :lol:

[zukilady]

:rofl:

[theotherlara]

It happens.
So the next time (If I ever buy new again) I am going to put the plates on it at the dealer and knock it to the ground right there in their parking lot.:lol:

LMAO!
:rofl:

"Excuse me, could you help me lift my bike up?"

"That sucks, dropped it already?"

"No, just kicking it over for good luck, all the experienced riders do it...Never heard of the 'kick it now, save the plastics/mirrors/signals forever' concept?"

[ImaSoftT]

And will be getting a video of this? You never know when America's Funniest Videos will be looking for bike vids. :rofl:

[calico1062]

:rofl: That I'd love to see!

[phoenix63]

I'm with you, LT! :rofl:

And a video of that would be awesome!

[Luna Tique]

LMAO!
:rofl:

"Excuse me, could you help me lift my bike up?"

"That sucks, dropped it already?"

"No, just kicking it over for good luck, all the experienced riders do it...Never heard of the 'kick it now, save the plastics/mirrors/signals forever' concept?"


:rofl::rofl:

As far as a video It would have to include the look :eek: on the salesman's face when I kick it to the ground :D:

[zee]

:rofl:

[jcravens42]

What everyone else has said: glad you are okay, glad you were ATGATT, glad the bike is relatively okay. And thanks for sharing - that's one of the reasons I love this community. Seems like a place where "I messed up - here's how" is really welcomed (on other bike communities, I'm afraid to post, for fear of being given a list of all I've done/am doing wrong).

Better in your drive way than the highway!

[sweptwingnut]

And thanks for sharing - that's one of the reasons I love this community. Seems like a place where "I messed up - here's how" is really welcomed...

:hug2:

That's the idea. Not the mistakes we made but what we learn from them.

[calico1062]

Thank you Jayne. Being able to share this way, is definitely one of the reasons I love this site and community so much as well. I'm really enjoying checking out your travel blog/site as well.

[Luna Tique]

:hug2:

That's the idea. Not the mistakes we made but what we learn from them.

:perfect10:

[opaque_machete]

I love the concept of getting it out of your system at the dealer. I don't think I'll ever buy new, but if I do, I'll have to remember that one. :lol:

[albqsusieq]

While your first drop, most likely not your last. As long as I learn from each of my drops, I'm kind of OK with it. It's when I do the same thing a second time that I get annoyed with myself. We'll never quit learning.