New rider - dropped bike

[BlackC50]

So I'll keep this as brief as I can.

I'm new to riding (M1 doing the course in a couple of weeks). I practice on the quieter streets by my house. Yesterday, in low gear and zero traffic, I graveled out. The bike slide sideways and landed on my left leg. I have a hairline fracture (removable cast and crutches for 2 weeks). Yes, I know I'm lucky.

I am very respectful of the dangers. I'm 40 with 2 kids and a wife. No bravado or tough guy here. Even with all the care in the world, I fell. I suspect more experience would have helped, but you have to start somewhere.

I'm still in shock and I can't believe how fast I ended up under the bike. It really is a blur. I'm just devastated to see the damage on my 3-week old bike. I had to cover it in the garage to keep from crying.

Thankfully, I bought a good jacket (Scorpion) and a decent full-face helmet (HJC IS-16). I had read about the importance of gear and honestly thought it was over-kill. I bought the jacket because I needed "something" and the helmet because itched reasonable reviews. I had below average gloves and leather boots, but not riding boots. Thank God! The boots kept my foot/ankle from being crushed and the gloves did offer some protection. I don't recall hitting my head, but there are a couple of marks on the helmet. The jacket saved my left elbow and shoulder. I have no doubt that I would have sustained serious injury if not for the jacket.

Now, as for the bike, it's not bad, but it needs some repairs Any suggestions on where I can get OEM parts and quality installation for a Suzuki Boulevard in the Oakville area?

Thanks and thankful,

[tricky]

Glad to hear you are okay! I had my first lowside last week, I know how you feel.

As for parts, I'm not 100% sure. I ordered my Suzuki stuff off the web, and I'll be replacing them myself

[ifiddles]

sorry to hear about your accident...as you said, it just goes to show how easy it is to lose control and get into a heap of trouble...thank goodness you had the proper gear...i hope you'll still take the course and not let this be a set back...

anyhow, to answer your question, try motorcycle enhancements on speers road in oakville...they are on the north side half way between dorval and kerr street i'd say...guys name is john and he's a sponsor of a group called let's just ride that i'm a member of...he does custom but i'm sure he could help you out...closest suzuki dealer i know is in brampton...here's john's website http://www.motorcycleenhancements.com/

ivana

[LeetViet]

What repairs does it need?

If it's only cosmetics, I would leave it until you decide to sell. I don't want to jinx you, but you'll most likely drop it again (and it'll hurt less the second time).

[Pedagogue]

Hey, I am glad you are O.K. Like you I got my M1 and M2 in my early 40's and have a family. I am not going to be a preacher but the best thing is to a) get M1 b) do course and pass c) get bike. What's done is done though. I am glad that you had your gear on. I just hope that your wife was 100% supportive of your goal to ride if not, you could be in for a very uncomfortable few days. As the t-shirt says, stuff happens. Chalk it up as a learning experience. I hope that this doesn't hinder you from your goal to ride a motorcycle. Hopefully, you will be healed up enough to do your course shortly. Good luck!

[SeaBreez]

Bad luck...glad you are ok.

Be extra careful...your family depends on it.

Gravel sucks (especially at intersections and between the painted lines are always a problem)...

Watch out for sewer grates and dew on the painted lines too. (Not to mention all the pot holes and ruts in the road when they repave).

And then there are the cars....to watch for.

[Skinnaird]

Wow. I feel even luckier now.

I'm in SUCH a similar situation as you, it's SCARY. (40, married, 2 kids.. First bike, started riding it a couple weeks ago, safety course is next weekend.)

I was out yesterday, making a low speed, left hand turn, when the front wheel hit some gravel. It started to slide out a bit, but I got REALLY lucky and managed to keep the bike up.

Definitely gave me a bit of a scare. I'm sorry to hear you weren't quite as lucky, but hope you heal quickly.

[zeromod]

BlackC50, I'm glad you're OK. I've been riding for thirty or so years and I've had dumped my bike four times. Three times when I was a teenager and just starting to ride and the last time about seven years ago that I low sided on an early frigid morning ( combination of cold tires and pavement) turning right too fast for the conditions in a three way road.
We all start somewhere and learn along the way. It's never too early or too late to learn. You'll be good to go in few weeks and your bike has some battle scars.

[boooya]

I have turn signals you can have if you need them. Came off a Suzuki M50, LMK.

[smergy]

glad to see you were properly covered. You don't need expensive gear, just the best you can afford. Most new riders have a similar experience at least once in their riding life. I did in my first year, 40 kph gravel slide, although the bike was already rashed. Hurts the ego and stings the wallet, but experience is a good teacher. This is your first crash and unlikely your last. The question is whether your going to hang up the leather or get back on the horse. I hope its the latter. Get well soon.

[boooya]

I have rear turn signals for that bike. I have no use for them so there yours if you want them, can only find the right side at the moment but the other is buried somewere in the garage.

[Pedagogue]

Sounds like you are level-headed and reflective. Good luck. As they say, there are two types of riders. Those who have fallen and those who are going to fall. Be careful out people as the roads aren't the greatest yet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Orangepeel]

Hey OP, don't get discouraged. It takes a lot of guts to admit to a fall. Gravel is a PITA, and plentiful in the corners until the rains wash it away . The side roads up north are full of it, eyes are always scanning ahead and as far around the turn for it, and I will even bypass a turn if it looks too dodgy to pick a path thru the gravel, rather than risk it. Funny thing to learn to read the road and keep memory of problem areas, see construction sites and your learned "gravel radar sense" starts to twitch .

I got my M2 last year...very late last year after doing one of the college provided courses. Bike has been holed up all winter and my preference is to practice on the side streets too, then scoot out around the 60kph roads with traffic for a bit, and then head back into the residential areas. There are lots of slow speed challenges to deal with and find the right response to, including when to make a decision to commit to a low speed turn or move on until skill level increases.

It's the challenge that will bring you back . Tipped my bike at a Timmies last year, last ride of the year. Broke a mirror and brake lever. Should have known better. It was cold and damp and I wasn't in the right frame of mind. How do you explain the feeling of being ****** off, embarrassed, and slightly stunned all at the same time, rofl?!

Will it make you laugh if I tell ya I almost flattend a little wiener dog that tried, unsuccessfully, to eat me and my bike yesterday ? Jeez, those little things have some confidence, despite their size...

[architect]

Feeling you, OP.

I gravelled out this weekend up North as well. Now I'm looking for a new front head light and trying not to cry about the body damage. :'(

[kiwi]

hey, sorry to hear about your accident. Glad you got decent gear - saved you eh? Imagine if it were tshirt jeans and beanie helmet like a lot of folk wear!!?

recover well and take it easy. If you can get a hold of it, try and find a video/dvd called "Twist of the Wrist". Some good instruction for riding as you get more experience.

[wormburner]

Glad to hear you're okay. I'm a 37 year old father of two myself. These situations give you pause when you think about your kids. But you're obviously handling it well, and you're going to learn alot at the safety course.

Feel better soon.

[LoneRonin]

sorry to hear about your fall, I've had plenty myself...As you get more experienced you'll find you'll can pay even less attention yet you'll still be able to recover my from things that'll get you as a noob, even if you think you're paying attention. Just keep riding...

[Twitch18]

I know how you feel and yea it sucks, good thing your okay though..

my cbr 250 'fell over' the first day I got it.. making a u-turn on my street I gave it some gas and then braked hard before I hit the curb. I got my feet on the ground but I didnt place them properly so the weight of the bike made me unbalanced and it started to fall over.. I messed up my arm pulling on the handlebar trying to keep the 300lb bike from hitting the ground, realized it was impossible so I just laid it down under me... lucky for me there were only minor damages..

[Sillylion]

Sucks to read about soon many downed bikes in the past few weeks. On the bright side, you got it out of the way and now you won't have to be super nervous about dropping it anymore. You can also take the opportunity to work on the bike with the repairs and get to know your bike better. Buy the minor things off eBay and enjoy working on the bike.

Also, Google twist of the wrist. Its a bit corny and had mostly Ss in its demonstrations but the rules apply for anything with two wheels.
It really helped me grasp a better understanding on proper cornering and riding technique in generals..
I did cringe at the cornyness though

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2