Dropped the Nomad

[phred]

I was doing some parking lot practice yesterday. I started doing a tight u-turn to the left, I was running out of room (in my mind) and got spooked. I pulled the clutch in, taking power away from the rear wheel, and over she went. The crash bars did their job, and kept her from going all the way over. I got the bike back up (she's heavy!) and composed myself. Thats the first time I've dropped her, kinda freaked me out....oh well, more parking lot practive tomorrow!!

[Cajunrider]

Don't feel alone Kevin. I've dropped my '07 thrice. Twice with my wife on board and once alone. The first time I was making a U-turn in my 18' wide driveway and did run out of room with a 3 1/2" drop off I was about to negotiate. I committed the cardinal sin of using the front brake with the bars at full lock because my right foot was already on the driveway. It fell to the crash bars and no further. Enough to catapult my wife off of the pillion though. No damage and no one hurt. The second time was when I put my foot down in a pile of sand and gravel in an intersection off of the Natchez Trace in Mississippi. My wife was on board again. Don't need to tell you the rest. The third time I was in Custer, SD and backed down a steep incline parking spot and when I got down to the level street with my front tire still on the incline my feet didn't reach the pave. Again, no need to go any further explaining what the result was. This time she had enough insight to wait until I got on the street before getting on. I'm sure if everyone on this board is honest, there aren't many who haven't dumped their Nomad at a near standstill. Those who haven't will.

[ells]

If you don't drop it at least once in parking lot practice, you're not pushing yourself enough. Maybe should put some covers (split garden hose) on the engine guards, or try it on grass, a lawn that is.

[ringadingh]

Those bars come in handy, but thats why they are there. Can you imagine all the scrapes the bike would receive if they weren't there.
Some guys wrap the bars with something to protect them while practising, then you not as concerned about scraping them and can concentrate better on your turns.

[cactusjack]

I've dropped mine twice (sober both times). The first time was at an intersection with very uneven ground and I grabbed too much front brake. The second time was in my driveway, in the dark, I "thought" the sidestand was down. Once one of these bad boys starts to go over, there ain't no stopping it.

[Yellow Jacket]

Well, let's see. First time was practicing tight turns in my cul-de-sac. Second time was trying to turn into the garage. Third time was at a gas station, dropped my dumb helmet and then forgot the side stand wasn't down. Fourth time. . . ah the heck with it!

Anyone that hasn't dropped their bike hasn't ridden it enough!

[skipper]

I dropped mine the second day I had it. I, like stated above, thought the side stand was down and....... Another time was a stall during a right hand turn from a stop sign.

[Idaho]

Nomads are heavy and unforgiving at slow speeds in tight turns with the front brake applied. Not good. Most of us have given thanks for the crash bars more than once. For me I have given thanks three times. Once in my driveway, once in a sloped parking lot when I turned into the hill and stuck the bars in the pavement, and once when I dove off of a street with a butt head cage on my tail and an uneven dirt parking lot. It was embarassing.

[psychocycle]

Have I ever done that, hmmm let me think :-[

[MAS Tequila]

1) When hit from behind at a stop sign. $5000.00 damages, no injuries

2) Too close to the edge of the driveway, put my right foot down and nothing there.

3) Steep incline turning right and got spooked by a very large truck and grabbed too much front brake.

Welcome to the 'Laid It Down Club'.

MT

[peterdarby]

There are two old (humorous) sayings that apply here.
1. There are only two types of motorcycle riders; Those that have dropped their bike and liars.
2. When you ride your new bike home the first time, pull into the driveway, stop,get off and step away. Do not use the kickstand. Now you don't have to worry about that first drop.

[MAS Tequila]

I thought it was those who Had dropped their bike.

And those that WILL drop their bike.

MT

[Cajunrider]

Originally Posted by MAS Tequila

I thought it was those who Had dropped their bike.

And those that WILL drop their bike.

MT

That's what they told me nearly 2 years ago on here when I first dropped mine.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by peterdarby

1. There are only two types of motorcycle riders; Those that have dropped their bike and liars.

I have never dropped any bike i have owned and I have owned 10.
which category do I fit ;)

[dantama]

I don't think I've dropped this one in regular riding, but I've dropped it many times in parking lot practice or pushing the envelope in dirt or gravel. I dropped it last week in parking lot practice.

I am very competitive with myself, and push it too far often in parking lot practice. Last week I was in a parking lot that has some spray paint markings for where to set cones for police motorcycle practicing. Sometimes I think that if I just go for it, I'll make it. And sometimes I'm wrong.

The only drop that keeps bothering me was having a turning contest with another guy with a 400cc bike. I wanted to beat him, and dropped it with the crash bar chaps on. It only takes one drop to skid all the way through the chaps on that side. I wish that I took them off prior to going crazy with him.