Just joined the "Can't Handle Your Own Bike?" club:

[GeneralMilliron]

After three years of LT ownership, 20,000 miles of cross county and Canadian tours, the inevitable has finally occurred. I dropped my scooter in a parking space.

I guess the term "dropped" is a little dramatic, it was more like very slowly lowering the bike onto the right side J-Peg XL. The good news: no visible damage and the J-peg was stowed at the time. The bad news: the parking space was in front of a fast food restaurant with plenty of onlookers.

I am very cautious about low speed manuvering and parking in off-chamber locations. This time I was not quite diligent enough. There was a lip balm jar (nice hard plastic Carmex jar) laying on the ground right where the right foot had to go! Bike stopped, foot down, foot on jar, foot moved over several inches, bike started to go.

As I stood over the bike in this awkward position, feeling the weight of the bike gradually building in my arms, I saw many of the posts from this website "flash" though my mind. All of the recommendations I have read to "let her go!". It was the longest 20 secs ever spent on a bike. But regardless of all of your recommendations, I resisted this dropping will all my aging might. To no avail, the force of gravity (accelerating towards the center of the earth at 9.8 meters per second squared) proved a more formidable force than that of The General (my wife says that I should never refer to myself in the third person, she wouldn't say that if she was "The Queen"), and the best I could afford the beloved LT was a controlled decent to earth.

A kind customer at the restaurant quickly responded to the situation and together we easily righted the beast! Good thing, I was getting really hungry!

I felt horrible, not just for the embarrassment of myself, but for any potential injury that I may have inflicted on the LT. I inspected and re-inspected, apologized and begged forgiveness. The bond between a rider and their ride is never to be discounted! I rode harder than normal the rest of the week, she seemed to know I needed to. I had to prove to myself and everyone else on the LA freeways that I did know how to handle my own bike! The bike responded to every request as if she knew how important it was to me.

Perhaps it was fate or destiny, either way.... I have officially joined the club!

[Woolly]

.... if it hasn't happened already, it will, and if it has happened already, it will again - sure as death & taxes. :(:(:(

[unleashd]

Hmmm. I joined the club yesterday too. Stopped to fill gas. After paying, was trying to pull it just a couple of feet backwards. Did not want to engage the reverse for that short distance. Took a look to the back to make sure I wa not gonna hit anything and the handlebar turned to the left and the left foot did not go down in time to stop the fall.

Being only 5' 8" and not that strong to stop this beast (just gassed up - so full weight) from going down. So, I let it drop as slow as I could. Then took me literally 5 seconds to bring it back up with the "use your back instead of your muscles" method. Another guy just helped with uprighting. Nothing busted. Since I bought the bike used, there were scratches on the tip over wings already ;)

[messenger13]

...foot moved over several inches, bike started to go.Oh, I remember it vividly. But mine was a pothole. Too deep, and in the wrong place. I pulled into a friend's driveway, and came to a stop. Put my right foot down, and by the time it hit the bottom of the pothole, it was too late. I'm not exactly a tiny man, and when this LT decides that it's time to lay down and take a nap...you ain't stopping it. Wow she gets heavy in a hurry.

Glad to hear that yours suffered no damage...just like mine did not. Those tip-over bars really work well. :)

[DBHutchins]

Congratulations, amigo

You are now a REAL LT rider. The fortunate few who've never dropped are still just apprentices.

Rubber side down (most of the time)

Don

[DaveDragon]

Welcome to the club guys!

The membership roster is long but distinguished http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Tom_Becker]

Welcome to the club...

If this is your first you've got at least 2 more to go... Not wishing bad luck but it seems we all don't seem to learn until we have 3 under our belt....

Tom

[dglenn1]

Welcome to the club...
If this is your first you've got at least 2 more to go... Not wishing bad luck but it seems we all don't seem to learn until we have 3 under our belt....
Tom

NICE -- I got mine out of the way on the first day!!

[messenger13]

If this is your first you've got at least 2 more to go... Not wishing bad luck but it seems we all don't seem to learn until we have 3 under our belt.I think I'll stop at 2...thank ya kindly. Admitedly, I dropped it the first time. The second time happened due to hot asphalt, a questionable centerstand design, and a curious child. $700 later, all was 'right as rain' again. I wasn't present at the time of the tip over, but it still counts. http://www.bigbikeworld.com/forum/smileys/smiley19.gif

I'm just hoping there's not a third. Here's to hope. http://www.bigbikeworld.com/forum/smileys/smiley14.gif

[Tom_Becker]

Joe,

I was lucky with my drops. Only managed to do about $75 worth of damage.

The first one was saved by cushioning the right peg.... on my right big toe - OUCH... I thought I crushed it.

Here's hoping you stay at 2.

Tom

[jpalamaro]

:) Sure wish you filled in a profile. I want to know if you are really a General Officer. That being said, talking about yourself in third person ok, but, when you put the article, the, in front of General, well, that may be over the top. Usually reserved for The Hague, The Pope, and The Bronx, but not THE GENERAL!

Your account while entertaining once again etches in concrete the old saw, it's not if, but when! Knock on wood for me, but I never, like yourself, take the LT for granted!

[Chrisdy]

Although I have been riding on and off for more than 30 years, I have just purchased an LT for the very first time. As a VERY newbie to this machine (470 miles and 100 of those today) I have read the previous posts with regard to dropping the beast with some interest. Having tried to put the tips into practice (stop in straight line, and don't draw out the stop, etc) I managed to drop the beast twice in 2 minutes on a gravelled car park today.

I had gone on a ride with my local Advanced Motorcycle group and we had stopped in a gravel car park at a cafe at the end of the ride out. When we came to leave I stopped at the exit, put my right foot down and instead of gravel it just touched loose sand. As the weight of the bike was taken on the leg, my foot just kept going and down she went, very graceful, like in slow motion. This was directly in front of about 8 of the group who were waiting behind me to leave. Being great guys they immediately helped me get the bike upright onto its side-stand and I remounted. However, no sooner had I transferred the weight to my right foot in order to flip up the side stand with my left, than my foot again started sliding across the sand and down she went again in exactly the same spot....!! :mad: Only just over a minute had elapsed since the first drop. One of the senior club menbers commented that I must enjoy being the centre of attention and that obviously the only reason I dropped it twice was in case some of the guys at the back had missed it the first time......!!

Needless to say, the guys gallantly put the beast shiny side up yet again and this time I moved the bike to a slightly firmer part of the car park (only needed to move about 6 inches) before remounting and I swear the bike was not allowed to lean by more than 1 degree as I raised the side-stand this time!! The good news is that the bike is completely undamaged (BWM knew what they were doing when they fitted those bumpers), but the bad news is that this is going to go down in the club's folk lore for some considerable time....!!

I doubt many riders have joined the 'drop-club' in quite such a spectacular manner, but does anyone have any tips as to the best thing to do if you have to stop on such a treacherous surface (assuming you see it before you have to stop)?

[Tim_Poupore]

My bike ('00 champagne, 5 falls and counting, 3 left, 2 right) was a demonstrator that I purchased after a long (1000+km) test ride (to prove that my back would not suffer from the riding position - that was my story and I'm sticking to it.)

I took my girlfriend (now wife) to lunch at a nice restaurant along the river, and pushed the bike off the sidestand by latching the top case after removing our helmets for the ride home. Later falls were equally stupid and just as unavoidable.

Lessons learned:
1. Leave it in gear when parked.
2. The protective plastic covers are not that expensive to replace.
3. Unless you insist on having pristeen plastic covers, then it gets expensive.
4. I can pick it up. Just.
5. It never gets less embarassing, but you learn to live with it.
6. It in no way diminishes the pleasure of owning/riding the bike.

So I bought it. No regrets. It's a bit like the smell of a two-stroke. Wadda ya gonna do about it? It just is.

[dglenn1]

... The good news is that the bike is completely undamaged (BWM knew what they were doing when they fitted those bumpers),..

My three drops caused little noticeable damage except for some scratches that you can't see unless your right next to them. This seems to be everyone's experience. However, my bike came with JPEGs installed. The JPEGs hit the ground first and push through the gray plastic just under the bumper. The pegs have to be pried back out. Anyone else see this? Is there any other way to install them so the bumpers can do their job without this extra damage? I assume I'll pay a hefty price to bring these pieces back to factory new, if I ever care to. Thanks,

[pkpr1998]

Welcome to a very distinguished club.

I dropped mine when it had 000000 miles on it! Heck, I hadn't even sat on her yet! Have dropped it a few times since.

After watching Long Way Round, I'm not embarrassed about the bike!

[MattyK]

Twice for me, once in my shop and the other @ a stop sign, 2up, @ night and in the rain. I had that sucker back up in about 5 seconds. No damage to any of us!

[TandemCyclist]

I'm really beginning to wonder about these sudden gust of gravity I've been reading about in the scientific magazines. Think about it. Your doing what you always do with the bike and then wam, your on your side. It has to be a sudden gust. I think The Cyclist, will shorten the term to SGoG.

Yea, that's what happened to me both times.

Rick

[tazz56]

I dropped mine trying to put it on a handy lift. Luckily the center stand pedal kept it a little higher than the tip-wings would have. I can vouch for the excess gravitational pull on these beloved beast. Someday when I get another LT I will ask the easiest way to put it on a lift by myself.

Jeff Johnson
2002LTC (deceased)

[rglassma]

I bought my '03 LTC last April. Since then,we have logged between 14 and 15K. It hasn't gone down since May. But, we have three stories to tell:

1) Stopped on a left cocked upslope leaving the church parking lot. Stopped a little too short with the handle bar turned left (bad idea).

2) In Connifer, CO, stopped at BK Lounge and the parking lot was also on a slope. My son (over 200 lbs) was on the back with me. Again, the handle bar was turned...

3) Panick stop in a grocery store parking lot after some lady pulled out in front of me. Not so lucky this time. The bike went down and the right bag grazed a median.. I touched it up, but it doesn't quite look the same. One day when I have a few hundred extra bucks, i'll have the bag repainted.

For those of you that are inseam height challenged, I found that the lower seat makes a big difference. Also, riding boots with thick soles and heels help as well... I also came close a couple of days ago, but I managed to muscle it back up without it going all the way.. Whew.... That was close.

[StLHeadake]

I have read with great amazement these posts about people dropping their LTs. How could anyone make it sound so haphazzard. I mean how do you just drop her? I just read on and kind of chuckled. I have never even been close to dropping her.

Then I took her out after changing the oil right before a little vacation. I wanted to make sure everything was buttoned up. It was 10pm, dark, nice summer night. I buzzed Right up the street, turned onto a dead end road that I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON EVER. Noticed two little kids riding their bikes and checking the LT out (I'm sure they heard the radio).

Couple of houses in, I decided to bust a U-turn. Since it was dark I swung a littl wide and as luck would have it, I would have to use a part of the driveway to complete my turn. What I couldnt/ didn't see is that the drive way had a HUGE curb/gutter. I hit the gutter fairly hard, and lost my balance put the foot down, but she was committed to the turn.

Down she went, just like that! I WILL NEVER SHAKE MY HEAD AGAIN AT ANYONE WHO HAS DROPPED THEIR BIKE!!! I'm in da club!

[allen]

I believe that I dropped mine only four times - on first ride trying to turn in a parking lot in 4th gear; a year later, nearly same thing at a stop light; when side swiped by a speeder nine months ago; and, on Labor Day this year after leaving CCR05.

Despite my height, 5'11", weight 210, strength - stronger than ever in my life, the use of after marker "lowered" seat, and about 25k miles on her - she remained very heavy at slow speed. I thought I had mastered her low speed problems (wife and I even won the diaper hanging contest (she is on back hanging diapers over a 35 foot course with me going as slow as possible to let her do so - she hung 5 - and we beat out little sportsters, etc. with this big bike] but that last fall, on the way back from CCR05 in Walla Walla, Wa. I was just going off the road to park on a wide shoulder at the site of a bad acccident that had just occurred. However, I had not noted that the shoulder, although wide, sloped towards the edge of the mountain. I hit the front brake, as I always did, but didn't notice I was in 1 or 2 inches of pea gravel (new road surface) - a suddenly she vibrated, the front locked hard left and down we went, hard, on the right but with the bike (probably the footpeg) buried into my foot, broke the tibia (resulted in crutches, cast, etc.)
If it were not for the H.D. boots I was wearing my foot would have been shattered. Got up, got back on and drove to hospital. Finished our trip to Seattle in a car and shipped her back to La.

My wife declared that she was now too afraid to fall again and that only if I triked it would she get back on. I was not ready to give up riding but had broken the other foot six years ago playing golf?? nor did I feel that I could trust the bike not to do the same thing again, without any warning. I will not ride a Harley or anything else low to the ground or more easily managed (I would lose too much in ride comfort, etc.) and have no interest in riding solo. If I want to "run" the curves (something I only did on rare occasions on the Lt anyway) I can always buy a crotch rocket and go after - but in the meantime...

It is now an '06 Hannigan trike, i.e. We have solved the big drop problem and are happier all around. Simply put - I guess I gave up!

[RS6654]

I went out and threw mine down on a curb a few months after I got it.

Right case cover, chrome strip, reflector and assorted rivets and such.. $500.00.

I learned to try and give her a little space on either side so the tip-over-bars can do their job.

[Serebigal]

New 2006 K12LT and new to the forum. Learning all the complicated systems and processes involved with the Sereliner.

[TBob]

LOL!! - I can't imagine how bad that must have sucked!

NICE -- I got mine out of the way on the first day!!

[simongs]

It doesn't just happen with the LT (which I set down once, slow, and also a low speed lowside thru a culvert with water).

When I bought my brand new 2001 FZ1 Yamaha, I set it down in the garage real slow...cause it wanted to, heheh...a 500 lb bike.

I was stopped at a stop sign, foot went out just a hair and viola, car behind me, I set the bike down...again...now that was a bit embarassing!

And one more time in the garage just in case I forgot the first time.

Those aggressive tires will do it to ya everytime, especially with the top heavy bikes...as the FZ1 is a little too.

good riding!..geo

[ranks]

Well, I have posted in other "Dropped Bike" threads, but I just have to re-iterate.

You guys keep talking about "Legitimate Accidents".......

Carmex on the road,
Pot Hole,
Pea Gravel,
Etc...


I can't be the only one that just threw her over.
A Long Tiring 650 mile day with about an hour delay on I-40 because of an accident blocking both lanes. Get to the motel and throw her over on the side-stand. Well it woulda been on the side-stand had I deployed it.

This was on the way back from CCR-3. Two other fellers with me. I Says "Crap....Can you help me?" .... They says..."You gotaa learn sometime".

So... Two tries later, I finally get her back up. It really is in the technique. First time, couldn't budge her, second time, butt just 1" higher on the seat and she came up like butter.

BTW... Welcome to the club !!

[dandiver]

In my early K1200 days, dropping it several times had me to the point of frustration. It seemed that it only happened at slow speed or in a parking situation and the bottom line was that I did not concentrate on what I was doing. Many other bikes did not require this focus or concentration, and non had been dropped in 25 years, but because of the way the brakes are set up and the fact that this bike is top heavy, if I do not really focus on what I am doing at low speed and stopping, I can feel it ready to lay down. I simply tell myself, whenever I am slowing down, concentrate. Hate to say this, but it has not happened since I had a long talk with myself.

[jpalamaro]

In my early K1200 days, dropping it several times had me to the point of frustration. It seemed that it only happened at slow speed or in a parking situation and the bottom line was that I did not concentrate on what I was doing. Many other bikes did not require this focus or concentration, and non had been dropped in 25 years, but because of the way the brakes are set up and the fact that this bike is top heavy, if I do not really focus on what I am doing at low speed and stopping, I can feel it ready to lay down. I simply tell myself, whenever I am slowing down, concentrate. Hate to say this, but it has not happened since I had a long talk with myself.

And while I am not so foolish as to say I will never drop the LT, I heartily agree with your reply. I never forget, at slow speed, to give total concentration to what I am doing; and I take advantage of all of the posts regarding dropping: Sand and gravel at a stop, a pothole where you are going to drop your foot, never apply front brake in slow-speed maneuvers/in a turn. And the list goes on. We all know that what we can get away with on a 500 lb bike usually doesn't make the cut on the LT.

Nice post!

[Hilton]

Well as the time draws near, (8th Mar) "Jenna" awaits. Our long drawn out plans are coming together at last, and must admit, am getting rather excited! Decided ages ago to let her fall in the dealers (might lay down some blanket first) before I even take to the road for the first time. (sorry Jenna), but figured better there to master the technique. (that's after pulling the tupperware off to install the bug-guards and generally look around) Thought the LHS might be the best as little harder to extend the sidestand while holding up the weight. Rena says I like a challenge. To the best of my knowledge, no adverse affects (fluids etc) of not keeping the rubber side down, even in this control situation. I'll have to post some pics.
A big thank you to every one here for the ongoing advise over the years.

[avonfloater]

As whitewater river runners say, there are those who have flipped and those who are waiting to flip. Same for LT riders. It does seem to take forever when she decides to lay down for a nap. Glad you had no damage.

[dglenn1]

My three drops caused little noticeable damage except for some scratches that you can't see unless your right next to them. This seems to be everyone's experience. However, my bike came with JPEGs installed. The JPEGs hit the ground first and push through the gray plastic just under the bumper. The pegs have to be pried back out. Anyone else see this? Is there any other way to install them so the bumpers can do their job without this extra damage? I assume I'll pay a hefty price to bring these pieces back to factory new, if I ever care to. Thanks, Dan

My original question drew no response (I know ... take the hint) so I'll reiterate it here as a rider experience item. If you go to lay down your bike on purpose, beware if you have JPEGs and verify they will not cause unwanted damage. I would further caution if you are new to the bike, to remove them until your comfortable with stopping and parking. If I would have know about this issue earlier, I would have removed them as soon as I picked up the bike from the dealer. I haven't seen it mentioned here before.

If I hadn't dropped my bike already, I would be considering laying it down on a nice padded surface just to assure myself I could pick it back up. I just can't see not knowing if I could pick it up or not. For me, I would be so self conscience about being stranded it would keep me from concentrating on the task at hand. Probably just me. I've been commuting to work on it for the last three weeks, heavy traffic with some of it stop and go and I don't lane split. I'm getting very comfortable with the bike and I'm hopeful my drops are behind me. At least the pickup procedure is somewhat second nature and I could get things going again without undue delay. Have a great ride!

[prospector23]

Here's a snip from the journal of my cross-county ride last November. I had picked up the LT in Arizona the day before and was riding west at the time on SR-62 in southern California to begin the trip from LA:

"I realized I was in the Mojave Desert. As time went on, it got more and more desolate. I looked to my left and my right and saw only sand, scrub and barren hills that never seemed to move as I barreled along the two-lane at about 75 MPH. There was nothing in front of me, and nothing behind me, either. This was the most isolated stretch of road I had ever been on, and I was duly impressed. Everywhere I looked, the only sign of human existence in sight was the narrow ribbon of asphalt I was following. No other roads, no houses, no electric lines, no fences: No nothing. I had to get a picture of this. I would take a shot at each of the four compass points and proudly show this cluster of photos to friends and family when I got home. Of, course, I would have to stop in order to do this, but for miles there was nothing but deep sand immediately off the travel lanes. I knew better than to pull off the pavement in these conditions, especially with this heavy machine I was still getting used to. After a while, however, I spied a paved turn-out—a place where a vehicle could pull off the road safely. I took it.

After shutting down the engine, I was stunned by the stillness. For a few moments, I just took it all in: The quiet, the heat, the lack of anything man-made (except for a blown tire left behind along the pavement). And the space. It went on forever. Time for those pictures. I went around to the back of the bike to open the rear case to get out the camera. On an LT, you must push a button to release the catch before the top will lift forward. As I did this, I became aware of some sort of motion. Was I dizzy from the heat? Was I falling backwards? No. The bike was moving forwards! For some reason, the side stand was folding up and the beast was rolling off it and beginning to tip to the left. OH NO! My new bike was going down—I had to stop it or I might never be able to get it back upright by myself! I dashed around to the left side of the bike just in time to stop the fall, but it had gone over so far I couldn’t push it back up. It was all I could do to keep it from falling further. Using every muscle in my body, I willed it upright, but it wouldn’t comply. After about two days of holding some 900 pounds of metal at a 45-degree angle (alright, it was more like fifteen seconds, but it seemed like two days), I finally had to give it up and let it lie down. I felt like doing the same. If I couldn’t keep it from falling, how in hell was I going to lift it up off the ground?! I imagined the distant hills chuckling as coyotes picked my bones clean several hours after I had sipped the last of my 16-ounce bottle of Diet Coke left from the gas stop.

I calmly surveyed the situation. Apparently, the turn-out was not level. I had parked the bike on a downward slope without realizing it, there being no horizontal or perpendicular environmental features around to give me a clue. When I pushed the button and lifted the rear case top, I had given the LT just the slight nudge it needed to roll off the side stand. I valiantly tried to raise the bike, but each time I did, it started to roll forward and lie down again. I would need to hold the front brake handle to stop the roll if I were to have any chance at lifting it, but that put me at an angle which gave me no leverage with the weight. After several attempts, I resigned myself to the fact that I would need help.

The temperature was 94 in the shade (wherever that might be—certainly nowhere near where I was), and I was bathed in sweat from physical exertion. A quarter-hour grimly passed before I saw my first vehicle about a mile down the road. It was heading in the same direction as I had been going, and as it approached, I notice it was a station wagon with two people in it. I signaled for them to stop, just in case they didn’t get it, seeing a guy alone in the desert with his motorcycle dead on its side like a beached whale. The driver was a middle-aged woman, and the passenger a man—probably her husband—I saw, as they just sped right by me without even slowing down. The woman must have figured that this was one of those tricks that those gangster bikers pull to get law-abiding folks to stop so they can be summarily raped, robbed and murdered, and not necessarily in that order.

Fortunately, the man must have had more sense and convinced his wife otherwise, because the wagon’s brake lights came on a few hundred yards down the road, it slowed, turned around, and headed back to my lonely outpost. “Do you need some help?” the woman asked through a partially rolled down window (with the doors securely locked, no doubt). “I sure do,” I said, thanking her for stopping. Then I directed my gaze to the man in the passenger’s seat. “How’s your back?” I smiled. “Actually, he has a bad back,” she answered for him, but he got out of the car anyway and, to my chagrin, pretty much hobbled across the steaming asphalt to see what he could do.

I explained the situation, and told him I was sure that if he could just keep a tight grip on the front brake handle to keep it from rolling forward, I could probably lift the bike upright. He did, and, by God, I did. I thanked them profusely, they continued on their way, and I finished my Diet Coke (which I had vowed to save until I could actually see the coyotes approaching). Then I made another vow: From now on, I would always park this motorcycle in gear rather than in neutral. Some time later, almost to Twentynine Palms, CA, I passed a dead coyote’s rotting carcass along the highway. I didn’t feel the least bit sorry for him."

[hschisler]

My original question drew no response (I know ... take the hint) so I'll reiterate it here as a rider experience item. If you go to lay down your bike on purpose, beware if you have JPEGs and verify they will not cause unwanted damage. I would further caution if you are new to the bike, to remove them until your comfortable with stopping and parking. If I would have know about this issue earlier, I would have removed them as soon as I picked up the bike from the dealer. I haven't seen it mentioned here before.There are some other threads that speak to this, with pics and descriptions of the damage caused by the Jpegs during a drop.

[jpalamaro]

Finally got the pix situation remedied. Good points too Howard. Honestly, as a new rider in '03 I was daunted by the LT. I practiced in parking lots, less congested housing areas, just to do the simple things like turns from right/left at stop sign, stopping properly, etc. I was very intimidated with it for quite some time.

But, the slogan on this site is "Just Ride It" and seat time, never forgetting its less virtuous side, has at least made me a competent rider but not a great rider!

[walilisseu]

:) Sure wish you filled in a profile. I want to know if you are really a General Officer. That being said, talking about yourself in third person ok, but, when you put the article, the, in front of General, well, that may be over the top. Usually reserved for The Hague, The Pope, and The Bronx, but not THE GENERAL!

Your account while entertaining once again etches in concrete the old saw, it's not if, but when! Knock on wood for me, but I never, like yourself, take the LT for granted!

I too continue to knock on wood ... currently riding a 650 loaner from the dealership, I realize how weighty my LT is ... but, I sure do love her protection, comfort and RIDE :bmw: !!

Great story ... look forward to meeting many of you at CCR later this year!

[buddyp]

Once to the left and once to the right. That was early on in my relationship with my LT. Ever since then I've kept her down the middle.

First time was within a week of our meeting. I came to a stop at a stop sign, uphill lie preparing to turn to the left, night time, in the wrong neighborhood. I accelerated and let the clutch out just to find that I was apparently "not" in first gear. Before I could bat an eye she was laying on her left side somewhat lifeless. My delima was that the road was at a pretty good pitch. I looked around and tried to quickly assess my situation. I wasn't sure if I would be embarrassed if someone would come around or in jeopary if someone would appear. Again, wrong neighborhood. I tried to pick her up via the military press style. She didn't budge. I looked around again and made a final determination that I need to get the "h" out of here. Adrenalin at full flow, I again bent down to pick her up and muscled my way up(I've since read the proper procedure for picking up the bike) Give me a break, it was my first week. Once up ,because of the pitch of the road, she wanted to slide back down the hill even while on the side stand. Switch on, no start. She wasn't in neutral. Whild attempting to get her in neutral she kept wanting to slide back down the hill. After tap dancing with her awhile she was again ready to roll. I was out of there in a hurry. Even after all of that only the cover on the crash bar was scratched, no other damage.

Second time, just tried to swing her hard to the right when parking. Now I know better.

It all seems like second nature now. Haven't come close to a drop in many moons now. Just get used to them and don't worry about it.

[jpalamaro]

:) Almost felt like I was there sharing your pain! I think they can fill this old body with adrenaline and whatever I couldn't muscle it up. I know how to do it but lucky so far . . . I don't do thing fast and without thought, she's much too fickle!

[dglenn1]

There are some other threads that speak to this, with pics and descriptions of the damage caused by the Jpegs during a drop.

Thanks for pointing this out. I thought I was more caught up on the site knowledge base.

Here is the the post on one solution (http://www.bmwlt.net/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=K1200LT&Number=207350&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7).

Here is the entire thread (http://www.bmwlt.net/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=K1200LT&Number=201979&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7).

Here is another reference (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363).

I'll look harder next time.

[bmwrider79]

I droped mine the day I brought it home at the Dog & Suds drive in. Stoped, kick stand down, and sloping ground foward, leg comming off bike, and she went ahead. Then down.

No damage except for the pride. 2 guys came over very quick to give me hand.

I still had the Texas burger basket & large root beer.

I also dropped my 74 yamaha dt125 the night I broght it home. Major dent in gas tank never did fix. I stoped got off the bike it balanced perfectly for 2 or 3 min then over she went. Was 6 feet away and noticed hey the kick stand is not down OH _____

[WPNorton]

I was two-up when I dropped mine (only time sos far). The wife was new to the M/C riding rules back then. She got off the bike to retrieve something from the trunk. I had both feet on the ground and was leaning to the left to hand a ticket to a booth atendant...the wife stepped up onto the left footpeg to get on without warning me....and over she went. No damage and she always makes sure to give me a coutesy tap on the shoulder or signal when she gets on or off.

[docpc]

Hmmm. I joined the club yesterday too. Stopped to fill gas. After paying, was trying to pull it just a couple of feet backwards.

Since I bought the bike used, there were scratches on the tip over wings already ;)

Been there, done that, at a Sheetz on Route 29 north of Charlottesville. (laughing) Welcome to the club, Six! ;-)

[zimbazi]

So sorry ^&*(%&^$#...why are so many of these members dropping the simplist to drive motorcycle in the world ?....Hence the name the FLYING Couch !!

Cannot picture falling of my Couch !!

However When I Do It will be over 140 MPH !! And not any slower...
Is anyone else out there running these FLYING Couches in the 140's??
All my reseach before purchasing the Couch said 124 max speed... LOL

Does anyone out there have input for real speed ?


Mr Wantabe.......

[BlueBeemerDude]

Since I bought the bike used, there were scratches on the tip over wings already ;)

Ha! My first LT, I dropped no less than 3 times. I got real good at picking it up. My new (used) one, the PO had dropped several times, breaking the brake pedal, and as I discovered this weekend when I removed the fairings to install some more lighting, also fractured some of the plastic around the wings. Argh. My RT, the PO also dropped, scuffing up the cylinder heads and case and mirror.

It happens. You buy something that weighs as much as a Ford F-150 but with only two wheels, it's going to go down.

Michael

[meese]

Sure it's possible to get the factory speedo to read 140.

http://www.bmwlt.com/gallery/files/1/7/8/Avatar140.jpg

But it isn't easy, nor is it true. The factory speedo is way optimistic, so even if you could read 140 you're really looking at more like maybe 125 mph. I did get my '99 speedo buried completely below the 140 mark once, but it took a long time and a slight downgrade to do it. I still wish I had gotten that pic.

And yes, the LT is just heavy, plus the Telelever and excellent brakes make it twitchy at low speeds. If you don't respect this at all times, the bike will lay down on you. At speed the LT is great, up to about a true 115-120 mph then the power curve starts to drop off pretty rapidly. The LT isn't a sport bike, though it does like to play. :)

I've never dropped mine while riding, but I have had my '99 roll off the side stand and my and my '02 fall to the right when parked badly. Never say never.

So have you truly had your LT up to an actual 140 mph, as indicated by GPS or radar?

But I gotta ask, is it pronounced Mr Wantabe, or Mr Wannabe....... :)

[Lzyellodog]

Cant say I hit 140 but I hit 120 according to the Garmin 376C. It was a nice Saturday afternoon, I was on my way home from a nice ride. I was traveling down I-91 between it is 4 lanes wide there and there was no traffic for a change. So off I went. When the GPS said 120.2 I backed off the throttle and settled back donw to 75 or so. Nice to know it can get up and go like that. Not sure what the speedo read never looked at it.

[Hulkster]

The Hulkster has lost control of the beast. Welcome to the club

[ronl]

Dropping the beast is always a shock. My Canyon Red 2000 LT toppled just this past weekend. Having let her down twice before since she was new, I thought i'd finally gotten over it, and had gained the experience and expertise at low speed handling needed not to drop her. Sure.

It happened again on saturday, mostly through operator error. I had parked her in my garage so she was facing out eactly backward from the usual...so instead of having to back her out, and then go forward as I usually do, I was forced to make a sharp right in the back of my Winter Park, Florida home as part of a 3 point turn. Rule number one: put brain in gear before starting motorcycle and don't stop an LT when turned. Ker plunk. She went down slowly and painfully, despite all I could do to keep her upright. The tip over bars are a wonder....thanks bmw, no damage!

She laid there like a beached whale as I pondered what to do. Should I call my brother Mike who was only 5 minutes away...nah...to embarrassing and he'd make fun forever. Instead I put her in first, extended the sidestand (she was on her right side) and lifted the seat up and used the interior bar as a second grip. The first few inches took forever, and the weight was extreme (no contest Me: 162 lbs, LT; 825 lbs.). But she came up slowly...and the higher she got, the easier it was. Thanks ma for all the vitamins! phew, don't want to do that again...next time brain in gear first!


Ron Fleming

2000 K1200 LT Canyon Red

[rsqrob]

I had a great one yesterday. After answering a friend's questions about stopping (in a straight line, don't have the wheel turned, etc). I was about 1/2 a block from my house on a slightly banked turn and had to stop. Had my wheel turned to the right and that was all she wrote. Over we went. Nothing hurt except my pride. Of course, about this time everyone in my neighborhood drives by. They all ask if I'm ok but don't stop to help me pick the beached whale up. Finally someone did stop and gave me a hand. Another notch in my belt for no speed, gravity induced contact with the earth.