almost lost it

racinchef · 06-19-2008, 03:12 AM

Have read of others in parking lot situations having their bikes going over, but never happened to me. However, yesterday when I got home from work I almost did. I am allotted parking at the far end of the lot and I fit both my SUV and Nomad end to end with plenty of room around my bike. The lot can fit four cars side by each and two deep and it slopes down away from the road. My Ford is toward the road and my bike is behind it protected in the corner. Anyway, sometimes when I get home someone is parked beside where the bike goes and I have to back it through the gap between them and my Explorer. Well, yesterday I drove into the lot and swooped around so that my bike was parallel to my SUV, but the bars were turned almost to the steering lock and the brake grabbed a bit more than expected. When that happens somehow my hand squeezes the front brake harder and the bike started to pitch over. Fortunately, the pavement did not have any loose material on it and I got my feet planted and was able to muscle the bike from going over. Whew, that was close!

skeeter · 06-19-2008, 03:39 AM

Nice going. Haven't been so lucky in the loose material department.

aj · 06-19-2008, 05:43 AM

I,m not that lucky either, very low speed, pillion passenger, tight turn, loose ground....... yep, over on its roll bars. They did a great job (so did my wifes foot!!) couldnt get it up straigt. The engine cut off activated and off I got. Once the wifes foot was extracted!!! and she stopped hitting me in the back of the head (lucky they make helmets to std's) I rolled it up straight and hopped on again. Then tried to start up, no.... you have to turn the key off then start up again. Wife back on board and off we went. Worse part it it was in the car park of a local football game. Lots of people impressed with the bike, sorry for the wife and suss about the driver!! oh well

ells · 06-19-2008, 07:50 AM

Coming to a stop with that front brake and any amount of turn is not a good thing.

06-19-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ells

Coming to a stop with that front brake and any amount of turn is not a good thing.

I learned that the hard way after only four days of ownership! :(
That was in February 2008. I'm STILL out of commission!

06-19-2008, 09:20 AM

The bike really turns in hard at slow speed and a touch of front brake.

johnb · 06-19-2008, 09:33 AM

I've been there and done that! That's why it's good to practice those slow, tight turns, fig 8's and tight circles. They help build up a better automatic reaction in those type situations. It saves the embarrassment because they usually always happen when there's someone to see you.

dogdoc · 06-19-2008, 10:53 AM

glad u saved her.

redjay · 06-19-2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aj

I,m not that lucky either, very low speed, pillion passenger, tight turn, loose ground....... yep, over on its roll bars. They did a great job (so did my wifes foot!!) couldnt get it up straigt. The engine cut off activated and off I got. Once the wifes foot was extracted!!! and she stopped hitting me in the back of the head (lucky they make helmets to std's) I rolled it up straight and hopped on again. Then tried to start up, no.... you have to turn the key off then start up again. Wife back on board and off we went. Worse part it it was in the car park of a local football game. Lots of people impressed with the bike, sorry for the wife and suss about the driver!! oh well

I dropped a bike in front of about 50 people on a pub patio. Grabbed too much front brake on the gravel parking lot and down it went. Still have the scars to prove it.

**billmac** · 06-19-2008, 11:28 AM

Handlebars have to be straight for me to use any front brake. I aint that strong. At slow speeds the Nomad front brake will try to throw nearly 800 lbs + load to the ground, in the direction the bars are turned. With speed, the tire may slide. For me, I will stay with just the rear brake unless the Nomad is upright and straight.

**scion0** · 06-19-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokey

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ells

Coming to a stop with that front brake and any amount of turn is not a good thing.

I learned that the hard way after only four days of ownership! :(
That was in February 2008. I'm STILL out of commission!

Why are you out of commission?

06-19-2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "Scion0"

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokey

I learned that the hard way after only four days of ownership! :(
That was in February 2008. I'm STILL out of commission!

Why are you out of commission?

Dropped the Nad on my left foot and leg, crushed the ankle and tore the foot completely around backwards. That was February 12. Surgery on the 13th, then again on May 23rd. Lots of hardware permanently installed. On a walker now. Will probably be able to ride again by September. First time in 50 years of riding I ever did something like this. :-[ I am REALLY MISSING RIDING!! AARRGGHH!!

**ringadingh** · 06-19-2008, 09:29 PM

Good to hear you where lucky this time.

skeeter · 06-19-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokey

Dropped the Nad on my left foot and leg, crushed the ankle and tore the foot completely around backwards. That was February 12. Surgery on the 13th, then again on May 23rd. Lots of hardware permanently installed. On a walker now. Will probably be able to ride again by September. First time in 50 years of riding I ever did something like this. :-[ I am REALLY MISSING RIDING!! AARRGGHH!!

Feeling your pain. Healing good is worth the wait, the ride is worth the risk.

aj · 06-20-2008, 12:38 AM

Smokey, really sorry about your injuries - Way to many frustrations!! Glad you'll be back in the saddle soon

06-19-2008, 03:12 AM	#1
racinchef Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 701	almost lost it Have read of others in parking lot situations having their bikes going over, but never happened to me. However, yesterday when I got home from work I almost did. I am allotted parking at the far end of the lot and I fit both my SUV and Nomad end to end with plenty of room around my bike. The lot can fit four cars side by each and two deep and it slopes down away from the road. My Ford is toward the road and my bike is behind it protected in the corner. Anyway, sometimes when I get home someone is parked beside where the bike goes and I have to back it through the gap between them and my Explorer. Well, yesterday I drove into the lot and swooped around so that my bike was parallel to my SUV, but the bars were turned almost to the steering lock and the brake grabbed a bit more than expected. When that happens somehow my hand squeezes the front brake harder and the bike started to pitch over. Fortunately, the pavement did not have any loose material on it and I got my feet planted and was able to muscle the bike from going over. Whew, that was close! Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

06-19-2008, 03:39 AM	#2
skeeter Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kerrville Tx Posts: 1,713	almost lost it Nice going. Haven't been so lucky in the loose material department. __________________ Robert(skeeter)Dozier 07 Red&Titanium Nomad 81 Suzuki 850GL KawaNow pre#
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06-19-2008, 05:43 AM	#3
aj Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 419	almost lost it I,m not that lucky either, very low speed, pillion passenger, tight turn, loose ground....... yep, over on its roll bars. They did a great job (so did my wifes foot!!) couldnt get it up straigt. The engine cut off activated and off I got. Once the wifes foot was extracted!!! and she stopped hitting me in the back of the head (lucky they make helmets to std's) I rolled it up straight and hopped on again. Then tried to start up, no.... you have to turn the key off then start up again. Wife back on board and off we went. Worse part it it was in the car park of a local football game. Lots of people impressed with the bike, sorry for the wife and suss about the driver!! oh well
	0

06-19-2008, 07:50 AM	#4
ells Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 2,014	almost lost it Coming to a stop with that front brake and any amount of turn is not a good thing.
	0

06-19-2008, 09:20 AM	#6
Guest Posts: n/a	almost lost it The bike really turns in hard at slow speed and a touch of front brake.
	0

06-19-2008, 09:33 AM	#7
johnb Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Yonkers, NY Posts: 271	almost lost it I've been there and done that! That's why it's good to practice those slow, tight turns, fig 8's and tight circles. They help build up a better automatic reaction in those type situations. It saves the embarrassment because they usually always happen when there's someone to see you.
	0

06-19-2008, 10:53 AM	#8
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	almost lost it glad u saved her.
	0

06-19-2008, 11:28 AM	#10
billmac Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,472	almost lost it Handlebars have to be straight for me to use any front brake. I aint that strong. At slow speeds the Nomad front brake will try to throw nearly 800 lbs + load to the ground, in the direction the bars are turned. With speed, the tire may slide. For me, I will stay with just the rear brake unless the Nomad is upright and straight.
	0

06-19-2008, 09:29 PM	#13
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	almost lost it Good to hear you where lucky this time. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

06-20-2008, 12:38 AM	#15
aj Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 419	almost lost it Smokey, really sorry about your injuries - Way to many frustrations!! Glad you'll be back in the saddle soon
	0

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