Learned the Hard Way... How NOT to Park the F6B

[oldxtreme]

Lesson Learned the Hard Way and ended up in the ER
Just laid down my brand new bike,,,on top of my foot, The passenger peg, which was in the up position dug into my ankle. I was home along and the only way I could get free was to drag my ankle out from under the bike, Doing that, the peg stripped the flesh off my ankle, down to the tendon and bone.

While waiting in the ER last night to have things stitched back together, I had time to analyze what went wrong.

Here is what happened:

I parked on a very slight slope, facing down...and I mean VERY slight just so the water will drain away from the house. I sifted into neutral as always before turning off the bike,,,like I have done with the five other bikes I have owed.

When I stared to dismount, the bike started rolling forward and pushed the side stand backward.

Since I was leaning to the left while dismounting the bike leaned left after the side stand moved up. Once the lean gets more than 15/20 degrees there is no way to recover, It is going to GO down!

What I learned the hard way

1, Never park with the bike pointing "down slope", no matter how slight!

2. Shift back into 1st Gear before dismounting.


Of course, I could go to an aftermarket side stand which is shorted and will give more lean to the bike when parked but the downside is it will be more difficult to pull it back into he riding position.

[taxfree4]

So the moral of the story is ..."Much to your chagrin falls the F6B." You knew that was coming.

[LA Weld]

Man that had to hurt....
Hope you heal up and since your ankle softened the fall no damage to the bike...

[GNW]

Lesson Learned the Hard Way and ended up in the ER
Just laid down my brand new bike,,,on top of my foot, The passenger peg, which was in the up position dug into my ankle. I was home along and the only way I could get free was to drag my ankle out from under the bike, Doing that, the peg stripped the flesh off my ankle, down to the tendon and bone.

While waiting in the ER last night to have things stitched back together, I had time to analyze what went wrong.

Here is what happened:

I parked on a very slight slope, facing down...and I mean VERY slight just so the water will drain away from the house. I sifted into neutral as always before turning off the bike,,,like I have done with the five other bikes I have owed.

When I stared to dismount, the bike started rolling forward and pushed the side stand backward.

Since I was leaning to the left while dismounting the bike leaned left after the side stand moved up. Once the lean gets more than 15/20 degrees there is no way to recover, It is going to GO down!

What I learned the hard way

1, Never park with the bike pointing "down slope", no matter how slight!

2. Shift back into 1st Gear before dismounting.


Of course, I could go to an aftermarket side stand which is shorted and will give more lean to the bike when parked but the downside is it will be more difficult to pull it back into he riding position.

I hate that happened to you and what you had to do to get free. I had a similar incidence a long time ago. Not anything like yours but still . I can guarantee that you will never let that happen again !!

[druggr]

Sorry to hear you got hurt, and I hope you heal quickly.

Unfortunately, there are 4 rules all learn when riding a 2-whl GL1800. Some learn them sooner, some later. In spite of what they teach in motorcycle safety training classes, here is rule #4.

- always be in 1st gear when parking
- put the side stand down to kill the engine (never use the kill switch)
- with then engine off, let the clutch out, and allow the Wing to roll, whichever way it wants, to take up all backlash in its drivetrain
- then set the side-stand

[Xrider57]

Lesson Learned the Hard Way and ended up in the ER
Just laid down my brand new bike,,,on top of my foot, The passenger peg, which was in the up position dug into my ankle. I was home along and the only way I could get free was to drag my ankle out from under the bike, Doing that, the peg stripped the flesh off my ankle, down to the tendon and bone.

While waiting in the ER last night to have things stitched back together, I had time to analyze what went wrong.

Here is what happened:

I parked on a very slight slope, facing down...and I mean VERY slight just so the water will drain away from the house. I sifted into neutral as always before turning off the bike,,,like I have done with the five other bikes I have owed.

When I stared to dismount, the bike started rolling forward and pushed the side stand backward.

Since I was leaning to the left while dismounting the bike leaned left after the side stand moved up. Once the lean gets more than 15/20 degrees there is no way to recover, It is going to GO down!

What I learned the hard way

1, Never park with the bike pointing "down slope", no matter how slight!

2. Shift back into 1st Gear before dismounting.


Of course, I could go to an aftermarket side stand which is shorted and will give more lean to the bike when parked but the downside is it will be more difficult to pull it back into he riding position.

I have always worried about that happening so I leave it in first gear even if it seems pretty flat. I hope you heal fast and feel better soon!

[2wheelsforme]

Glad to hear you will survive. How did the bike fair? You can always tell the new riders when they are fresh from riding school because at every stop they are looking for neutral before parking the bike, mabey Steve can tell us why they teach that. Just not necessary to park or crank. And now you know, never park pointing downhill, much better to back downhill into a parking spot.

[willtill]

Ouch oldxtreme. Heal well bro... and hopefully quickly and without issue.

Some interesting comments about parking your bike in this thread.

I’ve never killed the engine with the kickstand, nor made a habit of parking my bike in gear. I HAVE parked my bike in gear though, if I perceive that I’m on an incline.. but NEVER facing downwards...

Normally I do like to stay in neutral at a stop, providing that I have ample stopped cars behind me...

[Heatnbeat]

Ya know that won't happen with a Harley. At least not my 90 Ultra; the side stand locks when there is weight on it.
Just saying😎
But you do have my sympathy. I dropped the Ultra and trapped my leg, no one around just like you. I figured I'd pull off my(laced up) boot or my foot. Fortunately I was wearing loggers and no damage was done.

[unsub]

Thanks for sharing your story oldxtreme. Get well soon.

Many, many years ago while I was called out to work overnight, my dear wife was on her way out the door in the early morning, and passed through our open garage heading to work. She walked through the space between our parked car and my previous BMW. Her sweater caught the end of the BMW handle bar pulling the bike over and off it's center stand. The bike fell over pinning her between the parked car and the bike. She didn't have the strength to get out from under. After 15 minutes of calling for help a passerby walking his dog was able to free her.

You just never know when shit can happen.