Dropped my bike again, slow speed

Alvito

Alvito

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I was trying to turn around on a side street, I had both feet on the pegs, I started off okay, but then I sensed I was heading for the curb, I grabbed front brake and down I went!

Some green liquid, (engine coolant???) dripped out.
The clutch lever looks like a curved banana.
Small piece on the foot rest ripped right off.
Mirrors are slanted, but seemed to be in place.
Scratches on the fairings... =(

I was able to ride it back home okay, but I want to try to fix the clutch lever. Can I just bend it back with my hands or do I need to heat it up first?

I'm going to wrench on my bike this weekend. Any volunteers in the leslie-finch area to help??

Pictures to follow...


EDIT: Only bruised my ego....
 
This post isn't meant to belittle or be condescending, but perhaps an investment in further rider training would be sound?

For your safety, and others.... not to mention the impact it will have on your finances. It gets expensive real fast. Get a good set of frame sliders to save the thousands of dollars in damage to your fairings that are likely to be incurred with even a slow get-off. Also get yourself some good big bar ends to save your levers. Hell, maybe a full-out cage is what you need until you get some fundamentals down.
 
Glad all is well but the front brake is toxic at slow speeds when turning - you need to get thee hence to a parking lot and practice feathering your rear brake and clutch while making slow speed turns..
The rear brake will help you turn.

One you get a bit more skilled a trip on some easy dirt roads will help you learn especially using the rear brake and the rear and front together.

Front brakes are your main anchor when riding at any sort of speed but both brakes and rear brake are very important for slow speed and odd conditions.

Front brake application on a tight turn at slow speed will torque you over before you can blink as you've seen.

Stick with it - better there where no great harm.
 
stevex said:
This post isn't meant to belittle or be condescending, but perhaps an investment in further rider training would be sound?

For your safety, and others.... not to mention the impact it will have on your finances. It gets expensive real fast. Get a good set of frame sliders to save the thousands of dollars in damage to your fairings that are likely to be incurred with even a slow get-off. Also get yourself some good big bar ends to save your levers. Hell, maybe a full-out cage is what you need until you get some fundamentals down.
Click to expand...

Not at all. I posted my story for your support. I can handle the constructive criticism that you've provided for me. The first time I dropped my bike, it was in the driveway and I laid it down very gently when I was walking it out of the driveway.

I think I am going to order frame sliders and have them on the bike by the start of next season.
I already have bar ends on the bike, they may have helped a little.

I need to practice my rear brake. On my bike it feels like it doesn't even engage, so maybe I need it to be tuned up a bit.
 
MacDoc said:
Glad all is well but the front brake is toxic at slow speeds when turning - you need to get thee hence to a parking lot and practice feathering your rear brake and clutch while making slow speed turns..
The rear brake will help you turn.
Click to expand...

+1... Hit a big lot and practice your slow speed stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ConeMonkey/videos?view=0

The green stuff is coolant. How much "dripped" out? Can you see the level in the reservior? Is it still above the min mark?

See the manual - Section 2-20 PERIODIC MAINTENANCE - Periodic Maintenance Procedures

Cooling System
Coolant Level Inspection

http://www.magnum1.com/Ninja-650/650_Manuals/Ninja-650-Service-Manual.pdf

More good 650R Info
http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/~shanetp/Index.html

You might want to take of the fairings and give the bike a once over to make sure there is no underlying damage.
 
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I've made the same mistake before too - front brake while trying to do a sharp u-turn. Ironically, it was also on a Ninja 650. :p

As mentioned, make sure you practice your low-speed handling. Remember to turn your head and look where you want to go, and not at that curb that you're trying to avoid (or in my case, the brick wall).
 
SLaP said:
+1... Hit a big lot and practice your slow speed stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ConeMonkey/videos?view=0

The green stuff is coolant. How much "dripped" out? Can you see the level in the reservior? Is it still above the min mark?

See the manual - Section 2-20 PERIODIC MAINTENANCE - Periodic Maintenance Procedures

Cooling System
Coolant Level Inspection

http://www.magnum1.com/Ninja-650/650_Manuals/Ninja-650-Service-Manual.pdf

More good 650R Info
http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/~shanetp/Index.html

You might want to take of the fairings and give the bike a once over to make sure there is no underlying damage.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links to the guides, very little leaked out. But I want to make sure the levels are okay. I will try to remove the fairings this weekend.

What should I do if one of the bolts is stuck and I can't get the allen key in there?
 
Different options depending on what's up with the bolt? Is the head of the bolt stripped? Worse case you have to drill it out.
 
short stop said:
As mentioned, make sure you practice your low-speed handling. Remember to turn your head and look where you want to go, and not at that curb that you're trying to avoid (or in my case, the brick wall).
Click to expand...

Also, counter-lean while making slow u-turns (helps balance the bike from tipping) and keep off your front brakes. If anything give 'er gas and it will straighten up.
 
Alvito said:
I was trying to turn around on a side street, I had both feet on the pegs, I started off okay, but then I sensed I was heading for the curb, I grabbed front brake and down I went!

Some green liquid, (engine coolant???) dripped out.
The clutch lever looks like a curved banana.
Small piece on the foot rest ripped right off.
Mirrors are slanted, but seemed to be in place.
Scratches on the fairings... =(

I was able to ride it back home okay, but I want to try to fix the clutch lever. Can I just bend it back with my hands or do I need to heat it up first?

I'm going to wrench on my bike this weekend. Any volunteers in the leslie-finch area to help??

Pictures to follow...


EDIT: Only bruised my ego....
Click to expand...
I have been riding a hell of a lot longer than you and I dropped my bike last Sunday, don't sorry about your ego, **** happens to all of us no matter how much experience you have
 
ZX600 said:
I have been riding a hell of a lot longer than you and I dropped my bike last Sunday, don't sorry about your ego, **** happens to all of us no matter how much experience you have
Click to expand...

Yep, been riding for 12 years and dropped my bike at a stop sign almost standing still. I misjudged the lean in the road and was looking left at the traffic while trying to make a right hand turn, slowed, stopped, dropped bike. So embarassing. Me, hugggh (lifting up bike) huggggh...watching another bike cruise by just watching...hugggh. Get bike upright and inspect damage, none that will stop me from riding so carry on. Only thing hurt was cosmetic and my friggin EGO:hello2:
 
Alvito said:
I was trying to turn around on a side street, I had both feet on the pegs, I started off okay, but then I sensed I was heading for the curb, I grabbed front brake and down I went!

Some green liquid, (engine coolant???) dripped out.
The clutch lever looks like a curved banana.
Small piece on the foot rest ripped right off.
Mirrors are slanted, but seemed to be in place.
Scratches on the fairings... =(

I was able to ride it back home okay, but I want to try to fix the clutch lever. Can I just bend it back with my hands or do I need to heat it up first?

I'm going to wrench on my bike this weekend. Any volunteers in the leslie-finch area to help??

Pictures to follow...


EDIT: Only bruised my ego....
Click to expand...

No biggie man, It happens....give her a once over, repair anything damaged and your good to go.
 
It's bad enough when you go down and someone sees it, but when another rider sees it fml hahaha. Dropped my bike on a really steep driveway after playing a few hours of tennis and was tired and in a hurry to move it so my friend's wife could pick up her son. cruiser rode by shortly thereafter.

If you got time to see you're not gonna make it, either commit and lean the **** out of the bike (it will most likely do just fine) or straighten her up and brake.
 
MacDoc said:
Glad all is well but the front brake is toxic at slow speeds when turning - you need to get thee hence to a parking lot and practice feathering your rear brake and clutch while making slow speed turns..
The rear brake will help you turn.
Click to expand...

MacDoc has correctly stated that the rear brake is your friend in these slow maneuvers. I use it all the time when negotiating tight radius turns in a parking lot.
 
kiwi said:
MacDoc has correctly stated that the rear brake is your friend in these slow maneuvers. I use it all the time when negotiating tight radius turns in a parking lot.
Click to expand...

yeah, and its also something we learned and spent a lot of time doing in the course. I need to revisit those exercises and get better at it!

SLaP said:
Different options depending on what's up with the bolt? Is the head of the bolt stripped? Worse case you have to drill it out.
Click to expand...

The fitting for the allen key has dirt built up in it and when I try to insert the key, it doesn't grip. I am going to try again today and see if I have better luck.
 
Better luck next time !
 
SLaP said:
Dirt? Wash your bike... Try again ;)
Click to expand...

Its like white crust. Its hard to get in there to clean it. I managed to get it off with a slightly bigger allen key. I took off one side of my plastics, and realized I need an oil change.

Any recommendations for what oil I should buy? Brand and weight?

I tried to take off the lever so I could attempt to bend it back, however, after unmounting it from the handlebars and trying to gain access to so nuts holding it in place, I realized I needed to undo two screws, but my driver bit didn't fit it that well.

I had my hockey draft tonight, so i had to piece everything together and I will try again another day.

It was fun working on the bike. :)
 
Alvito said:
Its like white crust. Its hard to get in there to clean it. I managed to get it off with a slightly bigger allen key.
Click to expand...

White crust... not going to ask ;)

Alvito said:
I took off one side of my plastics, and realized I need an oil change.
Click to expand...

Did you check it while the bike was completely upright? Is it below the minimum line on the sight glass?

Alvito said:
Any recommendations for what oil I should buy? Brand and weight?
Click to expand...

You can buy 10w40 Motul 5100 Semi-Synthetic or something comparable at Cycleworld Superstore, which is about 15 minutes from you. While you are there, you can pick up an oil filter too.
Canadian tire also carries comparable stuff.

Oil Change How-to - Ninja 650r ... http://www.ninja650r.co.cc/Pdf/Another Oil Change How To.pdf

Alvito said:
It was fun working on the bike. :icon_smile:
Click to expand...

Glad to hear it. Hope you get it all sorted out quick!
Any issues, post up...
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