Motorcycle mistakes you only make once... and ones you make all the time...

[TwistedKestrel]

Forum Sponsor

I think about the only mistake that I'm done making is "inappropriate" speeding, I haven't gotten a ticket in at least 15 years.

The mistake I make most often is troubleshooting a bike that won't start, eliminate the battery early on, bang my head on the problem for a week or two, then replace the battery to fix it

 

[PrivatePilot]

the kickstand side of my bike while low on sleep. Had a board under the kickstand to give me a bit more room on that side and had the front tire turned the opposite way making it really close to the tipping point. I turned a wrench or pushed something and the bike flopped over on the other side. First and only time dropping a bike. It was also a very pretty bagger so it wasn't a cheap fix.

Oh boy this brings back some panicked moments from a few years ago...almost happened to me as well when I was doing a tire change.

Now if the bike is going to sit in this situation for any length of time I put ratchet straps from the handlebars hooked into the roof rafters in the garage and snug them up - they'll catch the bike if something goes pear shaped.

 

[Aens]

Motorcycle mistake I make a lot of the times:

Putting on my gloves and realizing the key is still in my pocket. @!#$@

This happens most when I get distracted by others. Whether it be keys, ear plugs, helmet strap, etc etc.

To fix it, I had to turn it into a routine, almost like a sacred ritual.

 

[Lightcycle]

The mistake I make most often is troubleshooting a bike that won't start, eliminate the battery early on, bang my head on the problem for a week or two, then replace the battery to fix it

So common.

How many times have I seen on the Internet:

"Help! Bike won't start!"
"It's your battery, dude."
"I'm pretty sure it's not, I charged it up, tested it with a voltmeter, 12.8V... It's not the battery! I'm gonna replace the <<stator/regulator/fuses/flux capacitor>> and get back to your guys"



"It was the battery"

Good 'ole surface charge.

Gets them every single time.

 

[MacDoc]

Turning my ST1100 around on a steep hill it went over high side down....now in my defense the clutch failed ( interesting ride home.)
Luckily a strong older guy helped me get it upright. I actually tumbled down the hill a couple of rolls it was that steep. ( Herberton )
The ST1100 has some sort of tip over rail on the side that is not obtrusive and works the charm. You can see the gray blade. Enough stump pulling torque starting off in second was non issue then just rev match

Cracked mirror casing was the only casuality but damn a nervous 120 km ride home without a working clutch on that big bike.

 

[adri]

So common.

How many times have I seen on the Internet:

"Help! Bike won't start!"
"It's your battery, dude."
"I'm pretty sure it's not, I charged it up, tested it with a voltmeter, 12.8V... It's not the battery! I'm gonna replace the <<stator/regulator/fuses/flux capacitor>> and get back to your guys"

View attachment 72791

"It was the battery"

Good 'ole surface charge.

Gets them every single time.

I always keep a spare lithium in the garage for testing purposes. Small enough to fit in any bike, mighty enough to work on any bike.

 

[PrivatePilot]

Cracked mirror casing was the only casuality but damn a nervous 120 km ride home without a working clutch on that big bike.

How did you even manage that? On an oldschool bike I could see it being possible easily enough, but on most modern bikes you can't even crank the starter without the clutch in and the bike in neutral.

Circa 1997 I brought a fully loaded Freightliner with a set of B-Trains back from Montreal to Oshawa with no clutch, but back then there was no interlocks - I just dumped it into deep low reduction every time I needed to stop, then just pressed the starter button to get things moving and started, and went from there. You don't actually need the clutch to shift a big truck.

 

[Sunday Rider]

How did you even manage that? On an oldschool bike I could see it being possible easily enough, but on most modern bikes you can't even crank the starter without the clutch in and the bike in neutral.

On the ST1100 if the bike is in gear you can start it if the clutch lever is pulled in to trigger a switch to allow it. If the side stand is down, putting it in gear with stop the engine.
I put a VFR adjustable lever (brake lever adjustable but not clutch lever), had it set too close and it took a while to figure out that the plunger wasn’t being activated and couldn’t start the bike in gear if stopped or stalled, had to be in neutral.

 

[oioioi]

You can get cheap customized covers for the fobs in different colours to tell them apart. These are ones for the BMW motorcycle fobs.

We had identical fobs for my R1250GS and my wife's R1250RS.

Did I buy those coloured-coded covers for the fobs?

Nope.

Did I mistake the fobs and sometimes bring the wrong one out to the garage?

Yup.

You can also just put a favourite colored zip tie onto the key hole. Or maybe match the zip to the color of the bike.

Only once mistake:
I'm sure there are several but I don't remember them all.
However one that stuck in my head was 2 season ago while on a trip to PA/WV. While putting my Givi top case onto the rack, I unknowingly did not press it down hard enough for the lock on the rack engage properly into the case. I think this was my first trip with this case.
Somehow the case stayed on the bike from WV to NY. A day full of twisty PA roads and downpour rain, bumps, highways etc.
I had only noticed this when I switched bike with a buddy for 20 min in East Aurora NY. I rode behind him to see how load my exhaust was as they were all complaining about it. Ever pump by buddy went over with my bike. I saw the top case jump off of the top plate. Thankfully the 2 front bolts the case slides into held it well enough not to fall off. a 42L case full of snacks, personals items and a MS surface laptop.


The kickstand incidents that some of you mentioned. Yes I am a victim of that as well. But this falls into the "Multiples times" mistakes department.
Too late for that tonight.

Forum Sponsor