[bmparis]

Heres my sad story...JUST picked up my SV1000s today from the shipper in Austin TX. Now I live in San Antonio which is about an hour or so drive on the highway. Im doing OK, being very cautious on the highways, trying to get a feel for the bike. I gotta admit fellas, I heard all you guys and my MSF instructors comments, suggestions etc ringing through my helmet. Safe traveling distance, etc etc etc. After awhile, Im feeling pretty good about riding. I also identified some things that I have to practice, and some things that didnt feel comfortable etc.

I kinda get the hang of it on the roads and figured to take the bike to the job to show the people who knew I was getting a bike.

I see a friend of mine, going the opposite direction, and figured that I would show them the bike. I make my left turn down the street, a U-turn and start making my right turn onto the road i just came off of. During the turn, I hit a patch of gravel on the left side of the turn (took it a lil too wide) and down I go. Sliding like im playing softball AAAARGH :cursin: !

So here I am, embarrased as all heck, cursing like a demon and a lot of my co-workers trying to ensure that Im ok. I bent my front rim, broke off a front right turn signal, scratched up the fairings pretty bad and now my fork appears to be twisted.

In my post crash analysis, i realized that I didnt lean it as much as I needed, wasnt going too fast into the turn, just didnt do it sharply enough. Instead of outside inside outside, I did outside outside whoops! I cant say that the cc's of the bike caused this, because it would have also happened the same on a 250.

I was geared up (thank God) and the only bruise is on my knee which sustained much of the impact.

I have heard several stories of the dumbass who drops his bike in the first couple of miles, and i swore that I wouldnt be one of them... at least I got a hundred under my belt first :bash:

SO my question is how do you fix it when your handlebars are turning left, but the wheels are still pointing straight? is it the triple? or the forks?

 

[Gas Man]

So you dropped it doing a u-turn? That is a common drop for anybody.

First off :nopicsbs:

Second, you may have just twisted the triple. Maybe the triple and/or the forks weren't torqued in there correctly. It really all depends on what we see.

But mostly it sucks! :rant: But knuckle down and we'll get ya going again!!

 

[jeeps84]

:sorry: to hear of your misfortune.

Slow speed crash?
How did you bend the rim?
Did it hit a curb or something?

The upper fairing stay may be bent and creating an elusion. The bars may be bent. The forks may have twisted slightly in the triple tree.

 

[bumblebee]

Now...Spend the next two weeks and 200 miles riding figure 8's and circles in the parking lots...You became a victim of the #1 rasher of bikes...slow speed turns...Hope everything is OK and get out and practice!!

 

[snadamo]

Thats why I hate U Turns! But its always good to practice them when you can.

Now that thats out of the way, send us some pics and let the experts here (not me) see what you got on your hands. From the sound of it, the Tripletree might be f'd up. And Im also curious on how you bent the rim too.

Glad youre okay and heal up that knee and start playing mechanic

It can be fun at sometimes!

 

[Gas Man]

Yeah I know I have had a few close calls in u-turns... Now I just take them slow and wide!

 

[jeeps84]

Yeah I know I have had a few close calls in u-turns... Now I just take them slow and wide!

Just wait. The worst is to come for you when you start trying to turn that 9 foot beast. :crazy:

 

[Gas Man]

Oh yeah... I can't wait!! :crazy:

 

[No Worries]

Bummer, Bmparis. It's too late to tell you now about slow U-turns. You have to swivel your head to look where you want to go. If you keep your head facing forward when you make a U-turn, you will probably go wide.

 

[Samurai_Jack]

I think a 250cc vs. 1000cc may have made a difference in this case. It sounds as though the bike has more power than you can handle at this point as you described that your right turn went wide as well as ur failure to recognize the gravel on the street. I would seriously suggest that you downgrade to a smaller bike if you can afford to. If that's not an option, you may seriously consider putting a lot of practice miles in a parking lot before riding on the street with the SV. Good luck with the repair

 

[Gas Man]

I have to disagree with Samurai.... in a u-turn case.. I don't think the bike size was the problem... other than a smaller bike may be easier to put your foot down real quick and/or less weight to stop in the split instant of a possible drop like this. This is just a pure newbie case...plain and simple... would have happened on his bike, a GSXR 600, Kaw 7R... or whatever...

:2cents:

 

[TitanSV]

I put my SV down and did the same thing to the forks. It is most likely just twisted and can be fixed by the repair shop without any parts. They actually fixed mine during the estimate for no cost. I did a lot more damage that it sounds like you have to the bodywork, amazingly enough no damage to the turn signal whatsoever. I could never figure that one out. Don't worry about, just get her fixed and get back out there. Like they always say there are two types of bikers in this world: Those that have wrecked and those that will.

Do what these guys say they know what they are talking about, U turns in the parking lot helps a lot.

 

[snadamo]

of bikers in this world: Those that have wrecked and those that will.

Do what these guys say they know what they are talking about, U turns in the parking lot helps a lot.

:iagree: thats what I was doing when I was waiting for inspection. Practicing the u-turns and fundamentals. It does help!

we want some pics too!!!

 

[J-Bird]

When you hit a patch of gravel in a turn and the rear tire starts to spin don't panic! Keep some throttle input. When you chop the throttle it will do one of two things. One, a highside when travelling at a spirited pace . Two, it will stand the bike up at slow speed causing you to run wide. I am glad to hear you were wearing proper gear. And no worries, bikes can be fixed. :yikes: :leaving:

 

[Gas Man]

:welcome: J-Bird!

 

[TitanSV]

Another important detail that someone told me was don't get on that bike unless you are confident in your abilities. Never ride it scared that you could wreck it.

 

[snadamo]

Another important detail that someone told me was don't get on that bike unless you are confident in your abilities. Never ride it scared that you could wreck it.

:iagree: When I rode my bike home for the first time I was scared $hitless!!! It wasnt enjoyable until 6 minutes down the road where I got more comfortable. Make a big difference!

 

[Trip]

Man, sorry to hear the news bmp. Glad to hear you are okay and was wearing your gear. You can get the bike fixed. www.ronayers.com is a good place to get replacement parts for cheap.

Did you hit your helmet on the ground?

 

[Samurai_Jack]

I have to disagree with Samurai.... in a u-turn case.. I don't think the bike size was the problem... other than a smaller bike may be easier to put your foot down real quick and/or less weight to stop in the split instant of a possible drop like this. This is just a pure newbie case...plain and simple... would have happened on his bike, a GSXR 600, Kaw 7R... or whatever...

:2cents:

I don't know if I misinterpreted anything from the original post but it seems that the rider drop the bike during a right turn as opposed in the middle of a u-turn? I still think that the drop would have been avoided on a 250.

 

[Gas Man]

He was doing a u-turn... and maybe the 250 wouldn't have went down..but I figure only cause it would be lower to the ground and lighter. But beyond that I don't see it as this was a too much power instance...