"What the hell just happened"

[vincent]

My wife and I just spent the weekend riding in the North Carolina mountains. It was beautiful. On Friday afternoon I pulled off the main road headed up the hill into our motel parking lot. I came to what felt like a controlled stop on the hill in front of the office and a second later plop the nad was on it's left side. When my wife climbed off she looked at me and said "what the hell just happened." I wish I knew. I have seen this topic before and any experiences, advice or help would be appreciated. I'm trying to avoid a repeat performance. (no damage or injury)

[desertdog]

Forgot to put your foot down??

Not that I would know anything about that. ::)

[cactusjack]

It's happened to me. Most likely cause is too much front brake at low speed. It can put you down in a heartbeat.

Watch the Ride Like a Pro IV DVD. That will help boost your low speed maneuvering skills.

[Jared]

With the little information you gave, it's hard to tell. Maybe you boot slipped?

[Dave]

Did you forget to put the kickstand down?

[vincent]

I never had a chance to put the kickstand down. As the bike came to a stop I put both feet down but could hold it from tipping over to the left. The driveway was an upward slope with an angle to the left.

[dougster]

I think CJ is right: front brake + low speed + angled slope = dropped bike.

[glwilson]

I think CJ nailed-it on the head. This sounds like a classic... "too much front brake, and not enough (if any) rear brake". And... I would guess you had the front wheel turned some. This is a classic setup for a tip-over.

CJ also mentioned buying the "Ride Like A Pro" video. I have them... and they WILL give a good understanding of how to handle a big-bike -- especially at slow-critical speed (like stopping).

Just a suggestion from the video... Start using your rear brake more when maneuvering at slow speeds -- especially when stopping in a normal slow-speed stop. In other words, don't use your front-brake as much as your rear brake at the last several feet of a normal stop. This will cause the bike to "set" better without the front-forks compressing too much -- which can cause a "jerky" stop... or worse yet a tip-over.

Also... always stop a bike with the wheels aligned straight. Stopping with the front turned (even slightly) can sometimes put you at risk of a tip-over.

There are plenty of other great tips they have regarding dragging the rear brake, along with having the clutch open just to the friction-point with the throttle just above idle... Doing this will, again, "set" the bike and give it a rigid-feel -- which will add to your ability to control and balance the bike in tight, slow turns.

Practice this for several hours, and you'll be amazed at how well your slow-speed skills will improve. ;)

Also... glad to hear you and your wife weren't hurt, and that your wife wasn't too scared by it to ride again. And, don't feel too bad about it... this has happened to ALL riders... whether they admit it or not...

[macmac]

Do you mostly live in a flat place and so ride in the flats?

Steep parking lots can be very different to folks who don't ride them much.

I try to keep my feet on the boards and set the bike to be side stand up hill, ft end facing out.

In steeper places sometime you need legs 5 feet long it seems to touch on the down hill side.

I have no idea what you didn't get right

[ells]

What CJ said. Been there done that. It is quite a surprise and before you know it you're past the recovery point. The 1700s don't seem to do it.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Same thing happened to me when I stopped. I just happened to get my left foot trapped under it. Broke my danged ankle and had to have surgery on my knee and ankle. You are lucky. You know the saying $hit happens. I still haven't figured out what I did. I was just parking and over it went.

[biscuitsngravy]

Same thing happened to me right after I bought the Nomad. Applied the front brake at low speed with the front wheel cocked a bit to one side on gravel. It was quick. But I learned a good lesson.

I don't even use the front brake on gravel or dirt roads, which I try to avoid. If traveling down a steep dirt or gravel road, don't even use the front brake. BnG

[billmac]

If that would have happened to me and the wife, I would have told her she forgot to hold us up. :)

The Nomad is a beast, especially at 1 mph.

[caddman11]

Did you grab the front brake while in a slight turn?

[fatrat45]

me also, most of the time it is when my wife is on board. stopping at a stop sign turning left. start to roll and damm their it is almost down. went down all the way a fue times. foot slip in loose gravel and well you know the rest.