Poll
Question:
What were you doing when you dropped it?
Option 1: Coming to a stop
votes: 7
Option 2: Pulling away from a stop
votes: 5
Option 3: Getting on
votes: 2
Option 4: Getting off
votes: 7
Option 5: Just standing looking at it, honest
votes: 2
Option 6: Slow cornering
votes: 8
Option 7: Something else.
votes: 20
Option 8: Haven\'t dropped it! (yet)
votes: 29
A totally non-scientific poll (as if there was such a thing as a scientific one). Thought it might be interesting as a safety point for the new owner (such as me, for example)
I don't know if the forum software will let you vote multiple times, probably not, so any additional comments are welcome (road conditions, slopes etc)
Thanks guys.
slim
Put mine on its sidestand when it was only 1 week old, went into the house and about 10 seconds later....Crash !!!
I guess I was very used to my XT600 which could be chucked onto the sidestand and never fall over. To this day I'm still very unsure about the sidestand and give it a good shove everytime I get off now...or use the centre stand of course
was bimbling along minding me own business when Bambi jumped out and got a slap of the tiger in the arse and wrote me tigger off, mind you bambi didn't look to good either. You gotta love full helmets and leathers as I walked away with nary a scratch
Quote from: "pauljones1227"Put mine on its sidestand when it was only 1 week old, went into the house and about 10 seconds later....Crash !!!
I guess I was very used to my XT600 which could be chucked onto the sidestand and never fall over. To this day I'm still very unsure about the sidestand and give it a good shove everytime I get off now...or use the centre stand of course
h'mmm, from the moral point of view I think that's a "Just standing looking at it, honest" :D
you leave it in 1st when it's on the stand?
On a quiet country lane I hit a patch of mud on the road whilst coming over the crest of a hill on a gentle right hander. Me and the Tiger left the road and I tried some high speed scrambling before eventually hitting a dry stone wall. I stayed with the bike until it was over and was amazed to stand up without a single scratch, just a sore finger on my left hand where the handlebars bent on impact. (thank god for those hand protectors and my sturdy gloves). I put a severe "U" shape in the front wheel, wrecked virtually all the front end plus the tank and other bits and bobs. Even the clocks got pushed into the top yoke!
To put the top hat on it, the bike was collected by an RAC recovery vehicle which, on the way home, took a sharp left-hander causing the bike to fall over and crash onto it's undamaged side!! The insurance company duely wrote-off the bike as a total loss.
Which time? I dropped both Tigers more times then I can remember...
Riding away with the disc lock still on.
At the parking lot.
Riding in construction sites.
Riding in deep sand.
Riding on jeep trails in CO.
Running into a guard rail on WV 211 at High speed.
Hydroplaning on the NJ Turnpike.
At the gas pump.
Trying to squeeze between cars at the entrance to the Holland Tunnel.
Trying to set it on the side stand on mud/grass/dirt/a slope.
After hitting the back of SUV.
You name it, I dropped it...
IÌm a klutz, I know... ThatÌs why I got the TB engine guards. They protected me and the bike in all cases (except for the unfortunate incident with the SUV - that one led to 13 stiches on my knee, and the current 2001 black cat).
Quote from: "BykBoy"...
IÌm a klutz, I know...
But a klutz with nuts, I'll say that for you. :D
Quote from: "Slim Dave"But a klutz with nuts, I'll say that for you. :D
Smashed nuts... :oops:
Quote from: "BykBoy"Which time? I dropped both Tigers more times then I can remember...
Riding away with the disc lock still on.
At the parking lot.
Riding in construction sites.
Riding in deep sand.
Riding on jeep trails in CO.
Running into a guard rail on WV 211 at High speed.
Hydroplaning on the NJ Turnpike.
At the gas pump.
Trying to squeeze between cars at the entrance to the Holland Tunnel.
Trying to set it on the side stand on mud/grass/dirt/a slope.
After hitting the back of SUV.
You name it, I dropped it....
Hi,
Have you ever thought about swapping your bike for a dodgem car! :lol:
Happy and safe biking!....Andy
Kicking out stand, but not all the way...
Pulling away with disklock on...
Reversing bike out at work...killed a scooter, but it broke the fall...
Dropped it another time, but can't remember how...
I love my Touratech bars...
:twisted:
Bykboy - I like your animation. With your track record, you certainly need a very large helmet! Just not sure about the colour! :lol:
I dropped mine pulling out for a left turn, must have had it in 2nd gear, just got it leaned good and let the clutch all the way out and is stalled the motor dead. I had to much lean to hold it up. I felt a bit silly with all the cars waiting for me to get out of the way. At least I got it picked back up on the 1st try.
The second time it went down, I was no were near the bike when someone backed into it and pushed it off the stand. Hit on the left and landed on the right.
Pulled to a stop on the side of the road and my pal who is vertically challenged pulled up beside me, put a foot down, couldn't reach and fell over sideways taking me out too. Luckily no damage.
While we're on the subject, is there an approved technique for picking up a 400lb+ bike from the street? (with or without dignity attached)
Quote from: "Slim Dave"While we're on the subject, is there an approved technique for picking up a 400lb+ bike from the street? (with or without dignity attached)
Of course, gripping with a front hold and lifting up once the wheels hold. Back grip the bike from a squatting position and squat lft the bike up. But hurry, people are watching and snickering.
Slightly inebriated. Put the kickstand down on uneven road. Bike was too high. Fell over on me when I went to get something out of the pannier. Very dumb.
Quote from: "Slim Dave"While we're on the subject, is there an approved technique for picking up a 400lb+ bike from the street? (with or without dignity attached)
Squat and stick your butt slightly on the seat, grab the lower handle bar and the rear crash bar the back footrest is on and use your legs to lift bike. Much the same as said earlier.
I was ice skating.
Quote from: "Kill Switch"Squat and stick your butt slightly on the seat, grab the lower handle bar and the rear crash bar the back footrest is on and use your legs to lift bike. Much the same as said earlier.
:!: Have you tried this? It sounds like a really, really good idea. Thanks for posting it! :D
RG -- going out to the garage to push over el tigre and try this
Within the first two weeks of ownership I stall the bike turning left onto a main street in town. I didn't even make it to the street. It was a true noob manuever. I felt much shame as the local fire man came over to check if I was ok. (dropped it next to a fire station). I bent the shift lever and the clutch lever. Fortunately I didn't damage the tank. I still need to get the crash bars installed. Once they are installed I will probably never drop the bike again.
Quote from: "ridin gaijin"I was ice skating.
Quote from: "Kill Switch"Squat and stick your butt slightly on the seat, grab the lower handle bar and the rear crash bar the back footrest is on and use your legs to lift bike. Much the same as said earlier.
:!: Have you tried this? It sounds like a really, really good idea. Thanks for posting it! :D
RG -- going out to the garage to push over el tigre and try this
Actually watched an exhibition at a BMW rally. Pro rider demonstrated the technique on a big K1200 LT like it was nothing. Adapted what I saw to the Tiger...the grip spot in the rear may be different...but should work well.
We went for a dirt ride a couple of days after I put on Thunder Bike bars on. With the wife on the back I tied to back down a rocky hill after going the wrong way. Fell over on the left side. Went on a little further down the fireroad and founnd Ice in southern california. Went down on the right side. This time I was near the edge of a drop off. Looked back to see if wife was OK. She was gone. She went over the side of the hill. I crawled over to the edge and found that she was hung up in a bush about 10 feet down the hill. If not for that one bush she would have gone way down the hill. As it was she was upside down laughing her as off. It was a good test of the bars.
Quote from: "MikeF"It was a good test of the bars.
A pretty good test of the wife too - I'd say she passed comfortably.
One missing answer to the poll is "crashing". That would be me then!
I was walking it out of the garage, getting ready to go ride. Busted the footpeg in the process.
Well, let's see.
first time was while standing at the side of the road on grass next to a stone wall. I looked around to talk and my foot slipped. The wall held the bike at approx 45 degrees; does this one count?
Second time was while putting the bike (with panniers and top box) on the center stand with wet boots. My foot slipped of the center stand and I just guided the bike down on it's right side....Of course in front of the office.
Last two times (on the same day) were on a on-offroad ride out when both times a big pool of mud did the trick (normal tourance tires). Tried to steer around it but failed. I just had hepco & becker crash bars installed and they tested fine.
All times no real damage to the bike, just some scratches on the panniers and the crash bar off course.
Another way to pick up the bike is to turn handlebars so that the front of the wheel points in the air. Put both hands on the end of the handlebar that is on the ground while bending your knees and holding your back as straight as possible. Stand up, but don't go to far otherwise you will have to do the procedure again.....
ooh, moments of shame; makes for lovely fireside talk...
1) arrive at friend's house
2) decide where you want to park
3) turn off the engine
4) ease bike bike onto side stand
5) realise something's wrong
6) try to put out side stand after all
7) realise this is not going to work (similar to # 5)
8 ) contemplate for a sec just how much 200+ kg is to hold with one leg and one arm at a 30 degree angle
9) gracefully (-ish) ease bike onto handlebar
10) praise your luck it is dark and nobody saw you
11) less gracefully lift bike
12) sing praise of adrenaline/anger rush for making the lifting so easy
Next day:
13) curse adrenaline/anger rush for making the lifting so easy...
14) stay in bed
Oh, BTW, they're right: the theory is to squat with your back to the bike, grab lower handlebar end and rear carrier frame (I think) and lift using your legs...
But that's theory, mind...
Firstly - as a new contributer to this forum and the newly proud owner of '05 Tiger (in fast silver) ..... hello to all.
My first incident was when I arrived home from the showroom and parked the Tiger for the very first time on my very slightly sloping drive. This slope (which I had never worried about before with my Bandit) caused my new toy to roll forward while I was removing the luggage. Somehow I managed (whilst showing qualities of instant reaction, strength and agility never before demonstrated) to catch the beast before it started to lay down. Phew!
One important lesson learnt!
Quote from: "Kill Switch"Slightly inebriated. Put the kickstand down on uneven road. Bike was too high. Fell over on me when I went to get something out of the pannier. Very dumb.
Sounds like my dump. Drinking in the backyard. Slightly inebriated. Decided it was time to put the cat in the garage for the night. Fired it up, hammered on the throttle into the garage. Grabbed a handfull of front brake to stop, locked up the front tire and it slid out from underneath me on the dust coated smooth concrete of the garage floor.
Dumped it onto the side of my van. I stood up & swore how stupid I was. Walked into the backyard and got a buddy to help me hoist my Tiger upright.
TB crashbars showed up the next day in the mail.
Curtis
Calgary, Alberta
Quote from: "Green Geck0"Grabbed a handfull of front brake to stop, locked up the front tire and it slid out from underneath me on the dust coated smooth concrete of the garage floor.
Why not just stop cleaning the garage? Makes things easier. In a few months I'll be able to claim some legitimate trail riding just by parking for the night.
Lifting technique (pics!)
http://www.lcvm.nl/nieuwsbrief8.htm (http://www.lcvm.nl/nieuwsbrief8.htm)
(I will not be held responsible for any injuries incurred during this procedure... :wink: )
Quote from: "Green Geck0"Quote from: "Kill Switch"Slightly inebriated. Put the kickstand down on uneven road. Bike was too high. Fell over on me when I went to get something out of the pannier. Very dumb.
Sounds like my dump. Drinking in the backyard. Slightly inebriated. Decided it was time to put the cat in the garage for the night. Fired it up, hammered on the throttle into the garage. Grabbed a handfull of front brake to stop, locked up the front tire and it slid out from underneath me on the dust coated smooth concrete of the garage floor.
Dumped it onto the side of my van. I stood up & swore how stupid I was. Walked into the backyard and got a buddy to help me hoist my Tiger upright.
TB crashbars showed up the next day in the mail.
Curtis
Calgary, Alberta
Murphys law!
Quote from: "Deltabox"Lifting technique (pics!)
http://www.lcvm.nl/nieuwsbrief8.htm (http://www.lcvm.nl/nieuwsbrief8.htm)
(I will not be held responsible for any injuries incurred during this procedure... :wink: )
Great site that thanks! Nice tips, and I love reading Dutch (I can read it but not speak it)
Quote from: "BP_LONDON"Great site that thanks! Nice tips, and I love reading Dutch (I can read it but not speak it)
Oh go on, then. It's only a small step... :D
Once in a gas staion: Just looking at it. I think the side stand is a bit high.
Once at 10-15 mph in loose gravel: Bike was fully loaded for camping and what-not and the front wheel dug in. Quite spectacular. No harm done.
One while climbing a steep grade on a gravel road in a switch back. I was too busy sight seeing to shift down into first gear. As I came around I gave it some gas to kick the back tire around but nothing happend. Oops.
Car drivers are really nice at helping you, but with the tiger you need about 4 of them.
Well I can pick it up myself, but it needs a little bit of thought and I have a wing rack so its a little easier.
Well it only took a week, but i got that shiny paint dealt with right enough.
Saturday morning, about 6:15am, on Painted Rocks Road just off 67 north of Woodland Park in Colorado. Approaching a large map showing the details of a burn area, and on a bit of rough dirt I couldn't get my right leg out fast enough to stay vertical -- in my defence I have to say that it was 30F, and I was practiacally numb from the neck down.
Still the "pickup technique" worked great, and best of all there were no witnesses. ;)
Quote from: "Slim Dave"Well it only took a week, but i got that shiny paint dealt with right enough.
Saturday morning, about 6:15am, on Painted Rocks Road just off 67 north of Woodland Park in Colorado. Approaching a large map showing the details of a burn area, and on a bit of rough dirt I couldn't get my right leg out fast enough to stay vertical -- in my defence I have to say that it was 30F, and I was practiacally numb from the neck down.
Still the "pickup technique" worked great, and best of all there were no witnesses. ;)
Sorry to hear that Dave. Any damage? Did you have crashbars installed? I'm afraid dropping it is one of those almost inevitable things with a large, heavy bike like a tiger. Slippery gravel, ice, petrol etc..
Quote from: "BP_LONDON"Sorry to hear that Dave. Any damage? Did you have crashbars installed? I'm afraid dropping it is one of those almost inevitable things with a large, heavy bike like a tiger. Slippery gravel, ice, petrol etc..
No, no probs ... minor scratches on the pannier ("That'll buff out!") and on the shiny bit on the end of the handlebars .. it was a pretty low-speed event cos I had it semi-under control to about 45deg. Actually I'm glad I got it out of the way -- what are we, Harley riders who have to have polished chrome and mirror-like paint?
No engine bars ... been trying to get some Touratechs but they's like hen's teeth round here at the moment.
to be correct, slow cornering backward in a little slope... i don't know how to explain... anyway, the bagster protected the thank, just the turn indicator broke, and some scraps on the left carter..
Quote from: "Slim Dave"Quote from: "BP_LONDON"Sorry to hear that Dave. Any damage? Did you have crashbars installed? I'm afraid dropping it is one of those almost inevitable things with a large, heavy bike like a tiger. Slippery gravel, ice, petrol etc..
No, no probs ... minor scratches on the pannier ("That'll buff out!") and on the shiny bit on the end of the handlebars .. it was a pretty low-speed event cos I had it semi-under control to about 45deg. Actually I'm glad I got it out of the way -- what are we, Harley riders who have to have polished chrome and mirror-like paint?
No engine bars ... been trying to get some Touratechs but they's like hen's teeth round here at the moment.
Scrape here and a scratch there is nothing on a Tiger...it adds to the 'patina' that makes them look even better. A scrape on the bike is way better than a scrape on the rider anyway. I've heard numerous reports that touratech bars are scarse atm. Someone mentioned it might be the massive demand from the BMW 1200GS crowd which is keeping the Germans busy. I was lucky, SIBBO saw a set on eBay, I won the items and picked them up a few days later from the sellers house...for £30 cheaper than retail....suhweet 8)
Quote from: "tigrotto"to be correct, slow cornering backward in a little slope... i don't know how to explain... anyway, the bagster protected the thank, just the turn indicator broke, and some scraps on the left carter..
That's EXACTLY how I dropped my Tiger...3rd time... :oops: fortunately a small little scooter softened the impact. It was not pretty. :twisted:
Quote from: "BP_LONDON"Scrape here and a scratch there is nothing on a Tiger...it adds to the 'patina' that makes them look even better. A scrape on the bike is way better than a scrape on the rider anyway. I've heard numerous reports that touratech bars are scarse atm. Someone mentioned it might be the massive demand from the BMW 1200GS crowd which is keeping the Germans busy. I was lucky, SIBBO saw a set on eBay, I won the items and picked them up a few days later from the sellers house...for £30 cheaper than retail....suhweet 8)
There you go ... you don't polish scratches on a Tiger and you don't clean the inside of a teapot - same thing, 'cos it all adds to the flavour.
I've had two drops in the last 4 days, both due to stupid pilot error.
Sunday I was out for a test ride after a minor mechanical change, and leaving a stop sign while turning right, I accidently killed the motor (too much clutch, not enough gas). Since I was leaned over and barely moving when the motor stopped, the bike just started to go over, and I was powerless to stop the big pig from going all the way down. :oops: A friendly motorist helped me right it and I was on my way, no harm done.
Today, I was backing out of the garage when I remembered something I wanted to get. I leaned the bike back onto the side stand... only it wasn't there, because I had lifted it to move the bike. 8-[ Over she went, again despite my best effort to hold her upright. Worse, I discovered I can't lift the Tiger off the ground by myself. :? I got a floor jack out of the garage and cranked the bike up by the left crash bar until it was up enough to muscle it the rest of the way (it didn't take much jacking; less than a foot of lift was enough). Now my crash bars match, with a little paint scraped off of each side... :roll:
BTW, I also discovered that when the Tiger is down on the left side, it leaks gas. I've had it down on the right side twice, and it hasn't done that before. Perhaps I was low on gas both times...?
The Tiger is truly a Big Man's Bike. I'm tallish (6 feet, long limbs), so it's really nice having all the room to stretch out and sit comfy, but the weight and top-heaviness of the bike make it too much for my skinny, lightweight frame to handle once the bike is on the ground. I should probably pack a little shovel so that if I drop it off road, I can dig a hole under the tires to get the righting started... I'd hate to get stranded down a dirt road because the Tiger went over and I'm too weak to right it. A motorcyclist should be able to pick up his ride. It's only a matter of time before he'll have to...
What sort of Klutz drops his Tigger after less than a week of ownership? Thanks for the honesty folks, glad I'm not alone.
Went to put the bike on the centerstand, as the bike rocked backwards the ride hand side of the stand just collapsed! It was either let go or fall on top of the bike. Option "a" thanks. Righted with the technique, just a few scratches to the shiny RHS bar end.
But.....what sort of *&^%# designer pens a centerstand where the head of the Allen bolt runs in a bush that locates the stand and the bolt secures the stand to the frame? Lose a bolt and you are lucky if the stand doens't fly off while you are riding. Hello Mr Locktite and Mr Lockwire.
I haven't dropped the Tiger yet, but I watched my wife's bike tip over while idling. The factors that lead up to the fall:
Parked on the side stand pointing toward a slight down hill and the front wheel pointing strait ahead. I figure the vibration of the idling motor, the slight incline and the front wheel straight forward was the recipe for disaster. It slowly rolled forward. No major damage but a few scratches.
Now, we always park on level surface or, if on an incline, face into the hill. Alway turn the handlebars to the left and if parked, always leave it in 1st gear so it won't roll.
I may hold the record for the shortest amount of time between ownership and drop. About 20 minuites. Had ridden the dealer's demo Tiger several times on different roads and different situations without mishap. However, when the new one became mine I headed up the Blue Ridge Parkway. Pulled into an over look where four Harley riders were taking a break. As I came to a stop on an incline, intending to turn and head out again, the momentum at slow speed was more than I could hold and down I went in front of the Hog troupe. Panniers were on so the only damage was some stratches to it and the hand guards. Spilled a little coolant. The Harley guys, I must say, were very gracious and helped me right the Tiger.
MUCH bigger bike than the Triumph Bonnie I traded in for the Tiger.
Not dropped it yet in eight months. However come very close a few times. This bike demands respects at stops. You need to watch the camber as this can catch you out.
Last close one, stop at a T junction, wife on the back, slight camber to the left and the deadly ingredient was a bit of gravel.
Its getting closer each time and only a matter of time before I join the drp club. :roll:
LOL.... It happened to me last week! 13,000 miles in 9 months. We live on a very slight hill. I have to get off and open a gate to our yard before I bring the bike in. The neighbour had parked his car a bit further down than usual, and due to the Tiger's over-long side stand it was a bit too side-ways onto the hill... got off, seemed a bit upright but thought ahh, it'll be okay for the 20 seconds it takes me to open the gate... get off, walk over to the gate...
CRUNCH... there it was, lying over on it's right hand side.... SH*T... more through embarrasment than anything (I was convinced all the neighbours were peering from behind the curtains and giggling at me!), I crouched down (keeping back straight of course) and got it upright in one shove (and that was against the slight incline)! - I ached the next day by the way - amazing how embarrasment gives you super-human strength!
Damage was not as bad as I thought it would be... Right bar end weight bent, brake leaver a little bent and a very slight scuff on the engine... However, the bar end was causing the throttle to stick on, the bit the bar end screws into inside the bars was bent, so today I bought some new handlebars (£56 + VAT... not too bad). Apart from that, absolutely fine!
Suffice to say from now on I'm gonna be extra careful... could have been a lot worse!
Russ
wheeled the bike out of my mothers garage.Fully loaded with a 2000 mile round trip to Italy in front of me.Sat on the bike and fell over.I was trapped underneath it was a while. Doh!!!!!
That was a year ago.I thought I had got away with a few scratches to the engine bars.When giving the bike her pre summer polish.I noticed the brake pedal pivot bolt was loose.When the bike had gone over the pressure on the pedal had bent the pivot bolt and stripped the threads out of the bracket.
Twice - first time a week after picking it up trying to do a full-lock turn in the supermarket car park. Second (and hopefully last) time a couple of weeks later coming into my own drive. Reasons both times: using the front brake in slow speed turn, looking at the ground instead of where I want to go, not using the clutch.
Quote from: "MARKC"When giving the bike her pre summer polish.I noticed the brake pedal pivot bolt was loose.When the bike had gone over the pressure on the pedal had bent the pivot bolt and stripped the threads out of the bracket.
Yes I found this although mine was just bent. The replacement is only a couple of quid.
Where's the off-roading option :?:
Quote from: "Advwannabe"What sort of Klutz drops his Tigger after less than a week of ownership? Thanks for the honesty folks, glad I'm not alone.
Don't worry, brother, you're not alone.
And on the seventh day...I dropped mine coming to a stop in a parking lot in Bear Mt. It was my first time outside of the city, grinning in the twisties over 60. I pulled into a parking lot just after filling the tank up (about 48 extra lbs), and a car blew its horn for me to move. I turned around to look for the car and suddenly my Tiger was laying on its side bleeding coolant like a river. Newbie that I was, grabbed the closest handle bar to me and gave it a tugg...and that's when the disc in my lower back exploded. Needles to say my buddy and I got back on two wheels. Almost a year later my back still bothers me after long rides.
Late at night. I am setting on my Tiger, admiring my garage, thinking about what a kool-studly-keen dude I am and I slide off of the seat.
And the suspension unloads, and the Tiger pitches over, and tosses me into the wife's new Sabre, which also goes down and who's handlebar gouges out a big chunk of the seat of the wife's old bike, which happily, did not fall over.
At which point, I scream like a girl and go drag the wife out of bed and tell her that I just destroyed the known universe.
We got the bikes back up. Mine, broken mirror. Her new bike had a tiny scratch on a side panel. The old bike got the seat torn up.
EverythingÌs mostly OK. I rode the Tiger about 6 miles and it was its usual gnarly self.
I was in the doghouse all day. She was really, somewhat kool about it all.
Yeah, alcohol was involved!
In the 8 1/2+ years I've had my Tiger it's been dropped 3 times.
The first times I was stationary and tried to pull away in third gear with almost no throtle, the only damage was an indicator lens and bulb.
The second time was also stationary, as I was trying to park on an incline, I didn't put the side stand down properly and landed on a Honda Fireblade :!:
The last time I was actually moving but not very fast round an uphill corner not far from the Spanish coast, it had just finished raining and the roads were wet. I suspect there was oil on the road too as the bike just slid away from underneath me and I was left starring at the tarmac :!:
This time it sustained some body/paint work damage and bent the rear brake lever too.
I landed on my right knee and hand tore my riding suit slightly and scuffed the plam of my gloves and toes of my boots.
I was able to continue the tour I was on without further incident :!:
We covered 3000miles in ten days, over 900 in the last two days, just what the Tiger was made for :)
The fuel consumption amazed the BMW riders in the group too :shock:
Regards,
Tiger Feet.
Its a big bike. Its a really big bike,
It can be a big tippy-feeling sort of bike.
It can be a catch-you-off-guard-and-toss-your-ass-off sort of bike.
But its the only bike that even remotely fits a lot of us.
If you are not six foot plus, you may not be a Tiger candidate.
Even then, don't let your guard down!
I'm 6'4" and I still struggle at times; it's the width of the seat, not just the height. I wouldn't change a thing, mind.
Slipped disc is scary. I have a policy of NEVER picking a bike up alone. I once dumped a Trophy 12 after rudely blasting past a car. When the driver stopped, I made him help me pick the bike up :!: 'Course, it would be very easy to hurt your bike during the 'whoa, it's going' part of a slow drop. Maybe we should all have a policy of just dropping the bugger when it wants to go? Bikes heal better than backs. :idea:
i was backing my tiger into the garage my back pack hit the shelf and over we go no real damage i slowed it going down but my shoulder was bad next day....ps i,m only 5"8........ :lol:
Why not make your first post one of shame and embarrassment?
I bought a used 2001 Tiger two weeks ago after getting sick of spending more time trying to get my previous bike to run right than riding it.
I was coming back from the mechanic (had to reschedule a state inspection appointment) and parked the Tiger in my driveway which is level, flat, paved and otherwise unremarkable. I remember putting the sidestand down and yanking the bars over to one side for max stability and I always park the bike in gear.
I hopped off to my left and then saw the bike rebound from my dismount and slowly fall away from me. I reached over to stop it, but as Newton said: "a full fuel tank in motion, likes to remain in motion" and I gently laid the bike down on the right side.
Fuel tank leaks on the right side too if you have enough in there it seems. Damage was a bent handlebar weight, slightly scuffed passenger footpeg, and my rear brake lever is bent in slightly.
I tried once or twice to lift the bike up but it was hopeless. About 8 hours before I dropped the bike I took a mean slapshot to the top of my right shoulder and the puck squished the muscle nice and hard (I'm an ice hockey goalie). So with a sore shoulder and a herniated L4-L5 disc in my lower back I was going to need help lifting the piddling kitty.
I went to the neighbor's house and yelled up to some contractors doing some siding work: "hey, can you give me some help, my bike fell over and I can't pick it up."
I then realized that I probably should have said: "my really big, heavy, bad ass enduro motorcycle fell over" because "bike" sounds like my Huffy SanteFe 10 speed fell over and I sound like a total knob for enlisting the help of others.
The dude with the lurid facial hair came over and in about five seconds the two of us got the bike upright and with relief I found the damage was just minor.
I'm actually strangely calm about dropping the new bike, its sort of pleasant to get it out of the way in such a controlled manner. If you haven't dropped your Tiger yet I suggest you gather a friend or two and try it in the comfort of your own driveway (one to help lift and one to photograph the Kodak moment so you can cherish it forever).
This begs the question: which crash bars does the group suggest? I'm shopping for them in another window as I type this...
(many thanks to the folks posting the squat and lift technique, althought I don't plan on practicing and perfecting this on my bike, maybe my buddy will let me push his 1980 XS850 over several times while I get the hang of it - he still owes me for rebuilding those craptacular hitachi carbs on his bike, why didn't they just JB weld the jets in ... o-rings, what were they thinking?)
ps: I was waiting to post pictures of the bike until AFTER I dropped it the first time, part one of the plan seems to be complete...
I can pick mine up, easily, as long as I have the Iron Maiden lighting crew to hand, to help :D
Quote from: "acollbpse"Fuel tank leaks on the right side too if you have enough in there it seems. Damage was a bent handlebar weight, slightly scuffed passenger footpeg, and my rear brake lever is bent in slightly.
...
It's worth taking the pivot pin out and checking it as you'll probably find this is bent as well. This can hold the back brake on slightly causing overheating.
So we had a lovely blast around the Kent countryside this afternoon with the missus on the back when we decided to pop in to see friends of ours. Their student son was shown around the bike and I jokingly mentioned this poll about dropping the Tiger - I was still virginal in that department.
While we're sitting in doors having a drink and a chat the son pops out and duly reverses his mums car into the Tiger! Scratched pannier, broken footrest and bar end but luckily the tank is unscathed. He is very very sorry and says that he is working this summer and to just let him know what the cost is - I can see his summer money disappearing!
I'll take the bike up to the dealers next weekend but does anyone know if you can buy just one pannier? I don't want to saddle the poor boy with a huge bill if I can help it.
And can we add another option to the poll? :D
I had it idling on the side stand, it was fully loaded, all three cases. I am not sure how I did it, I reached over the bike from the left for the helmet resting on the right side mirror. My leg hit the shifter & "clunk" she went in gear, stalled & rolled forward off the stand. As hard as I tried, I could not keep her from falling over.
Took two of us to lift her up! Lucky I had put the crash bars on 2 weeks prior!!!
Quote from: "krasha king"I'll take the bike up to the dealers next weekend but does anyone know if you can buy just one pannier? I don't want to saddle the poor boy with a huge bill if I can help it.
And can we add another option to the poll? :D
To save the poor lad some money could you not just get it resprayed?
Quote from: "krasha king"but does anyone know if you can buy just one pannier? I don't want to saddle the poor boy with a huge bill if I can help it.
:D
I managed to get a brand new cover on e-bay for £20 after dropping my Tiger a while back so it's worth keeping a look out there as they do come up from time to time.
QuoteI managed to get a brand new cover on e-bay for £20 after dropping my Tiger a while back so it's worth keeping a look out there as they do come up from time to time.
QuoteTo save the poor lad some money could you not just get it resprayed?
Thought about spraying but the plastic was soft enough to get a load of gouges that, I guess, would need filling somehow before painting.
Anyway, I did manage to get the bike to the dealers this lunchtime and found that I can buy just the outside half of a pannier for £120. Other prices if anyone is interested: Footrest assembly - £52; Knuckle guard - £19; Bar weight complete - £32.
The total bill is about £230 for parts only - apparently it could have a lot worse if the tank had got damaged as thats a good £400-500 for a new one!
The parts take about three days to get in so sounds like I should have something to do for the weekend!
Most Recent:
Did a breakfast run to Creemore Ont and back (about 6 hours). Almost home but I am at 49,995 km's on the odo. Take a detour to get above 50,000 for that day.
Pull in my garage thinking all is right with the universe and this is end of a really good day of riding.
Pull her up on the centerstand. Look down, center stand snaps off and kicks out. Bike starts leaning away from me. Try to grab her but once she starts to go........ you know the rest!
Man did my mood ever swing from high to low
CHECK THOSE TORX BOLTS BOYS
Reading this thread has been great therapy. I've laughed, I've cried. I've been down 5 times. :roll:
1) Standing her up, and just keep going.
2) U- turn in the highway. Right between the lines w/ 70 mph traffic.
3) Climbing around on the bike, jumped off the right side peg and it followed me.
4) Caught in the woods on single track when the trail ran out. I did about a 10 point turn. Probably needed to do 12 points.
5) Another low speed u-turn, 10 minutes after getting caught in the woods. That was kind of an ugly afternoon.
I weigh 130 lbs. 5' 12" tall. I can pick up my bike twice in ten minutes. It almost killed me. :oops: I unloaded the cases. I also heard once to lock the handle bars with the key. I thought that made a big difference. When she goes, she goes fast. Thunderbike bars have done very well on the last two low speed drops.
Had the Tiger OTR only three weeks. Maneuveing in a dirt parking lot to park safely. Turned a bit sharply (not a sharp turn for my old G/S with the Karoo knobbies on it) at .5 mph and it just flopped onto the ground like a grunt hearing a mortar tube.
Damn, that girl went down quick and hard (not a good thing in a motorcycle, I think).
I tried to pick it up and strained my back. Got some help from an amused passerby who turned out to be a Harley Dude and had some sympathy for me. (He demoed the pickup technique of squtting with his butt low and his back to the seat. First time I saw that -- and I was impressed. I acted like I was lifting too but really, he did all the work.)
Result: minor scrapes to my virgin Tiger, major back pain for a week for me, less confidence in my ability to handle slow speed turns.
Went home and ordered the Thunderbike bars. They arrived after the Tiger was totalled in a crash resulting from the engine munching itself into oily bits, locking up the tranny, and flopping me onto the asphalt -- but that's a crash not a drop and it's all covered under warranty (though I still am Tigerless 2 1/2 months later--another thread, another time. Should pick up my 2006 blue Tiger next week.)
Wow my story seems a little lame after that one Mr Tallerman......
On my return trip from out west (Edmonton) with my daughter (trip report later with pics), in Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, I did the typical "attempt to take off leaned over to turn in 2nd blunder"......
needless to say, 2 up, loaded with luggage and full of fuel.....
Down she went :oops: .....busted my right footpeg off, stole the passenger one and as luck (?) would have it a helpfull mechanic in a John Deere dealer lent me the required wrenches and sold me a large bolt and two nuts and in short order we crafted up a usable substitute....but boy is it UGLY....
so the old girl is now a road warrior (the bike not the daughter)
First post here, so I might as well come clean now.
I might not be the quickest to drop the Tiger, but I must be the quickest to drop it twice.
Picked the new '06 up from the dealer on the other side of Knoxville. Got through the terrible rush hour traffic, through the awful road conditions resulting from major construction on I-40, up through the mountains to home. Great ride but boy my butt hurt.
Get past the fence and think to self, "Self, you used to tear up the offroads on your Honda XR250 back in the day, let's see what this beast can do in the horse pasture".
Up the hill into the pasture and its driving fine, no crazy stuff as I'm still very early in the break in phase, just tooling around a bit, as the horses watch and wonder what the heck this alien is doing in their pasture. Head downslope into a bit of a rocky area and find a rock. Down we go, right mirror broken, right front direction broken. Dang, well I guess now I don't have to worry about my first fall. Pick the bike up, get her started, head back downslope towards the house. Find another rock. Down we go. Left mirror broken, left front directional broken. Foot...broken. Pick her back up, down to the house, get it parked. Hobble into the house, grin sheepishly at wife. "Hon, I dumped the bike and I think I broke my foot."
Her response "How's the bike?"
Two weeks later I still have to put 150 more miles on her before my first service next Wednesday. Won't be doing it in the horse pasture :oops:
Quote from: "Hoot"Her response "How's the bike?"
Good for her.
Quote from: "iansoady"Good for her.
Yeah, no doubt, although I'm fairly certain she realized that I'm a complete idiot before she got seriously involved with me :wink:
Other than the mirrors and the directionals the bike is fine, just wounded pride (and foot) for me.
Note to self - Offroad instruction and complete engine guard, radiator and cooler guards before anymore stunts like that.