My partner dropped her bike...twice

**disenfranchised** · 11th October 2007, 14:07

I was meeting my partner at the pub for pub quiz last night, and I get a call from saying she'd dropped her bike....while stationary just trying to turn it round to park.

I get there down there asap, and find that she's fine and the bike's fine too...I really can't even find a mark on it, although it lost a bit of liquid from somewhere (green coloured...somebody reckoned it was radiator related)

Then as we go to leave she drops it again....also while stopped

Again she's completely fine, bike is completely fine...it was more of a gentle lay down that a drop.

But my partners confidence is really shaken....she keeps on about how she thinks the bike it too heavy for her (it's a ZZR...feels lighter than my Hyobag)

She's got no problems riding...just gets a bit nervous at really low speeds

Any tips on how to encourage her?
I thought finding a carpark on a weekend and doing bike lazy circles at low speeds might help build up her confidence again.

**Cajun** · 11th October 2007, 14:10

Is short and have problems touchign the ground? hence reason dropping?

Or is she just not putting her feet down early enough?

**fireball** · 11th October 2007, 14:19

tell her its normal i dropped my partners zzr (only once) but as mentioned above could be hight related maybe even balance.... its not always about how strong you are although it helps a little ive found.....

**R6_kid:Me** · 11th October 2007, 14:24

tell her to lay off the crack/booze... that will help with her co-ordination and balance.

**EJK** · 11th October 2007, 14:27

She must have a vist on Auckland Wendesday Mentor Night Ride

Isn't that right Fireball? lol

Thats the thing we learn

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=53059

**The Stranger:Me** · 11th October 2007, 14:32

Was she on the bike at the time?
If so, it's always good to try and plan things such that she both comes to a stop and starts again with the front wheel straight. As the bars turn to the left the centre of gravity moves to the right and this can make it a little trickier for those wots learning.

As Cajun has mentioned if it is problems with feet on the ground, try and carefully pick the place to stop and start. Avoid uneven ground, diesel (like at the bowser) or loose pea gravel etc.

Basically it is planning the start and stop. I believe we all do this now, just we don't think even about it.

If she's not on the bike, there are some tips for moving the bike.
Some say stand on the RHS of the bike and move it with the side stand down, that way if it falls toward you can catch it. If it falls away the side stand catches it. I don't like that idea, because if the stand gets knocked up she may be in the poo. But hey different strokes.
If I am reversing the bike I put one hand on the seat and one on the bars, then turn and face the direction of travel, I find this to be more stable than grabbing the bars and trying to haul it backwards whilst walking backward.

As for low speed maneuvering. Do the RRRS course or visit MackTheKnife on the Wednesday ride. But in a nut shell, eyes up and ahead, learn to control the throttle and weight the pegs.

**Scouse** · 11th October 2007, 14:35

Originally Posted by disenfranchised

Any tips on how to encourage her

Yep tell her to buy a car

**yungatart** · 11th October 2007, 15:04

Ride Right, Ride Safe course....and then practice what she learns regularly...cos I didn't, so I am speaking from experience...duh!

**MotoGirl** · 11th October 2007, 15:22

I was always taught to park in a way that allows me to ride straight out again, i.e. do all the moving before you park up for a beer and while the engine's still running. If she has trouble backing out of a parking space, tell her to back in

We rode with a lady on Sat and she stopped in a place that made it extremely awkward for her to get out again. Like The Stranger said, you have to plan where you stop, especially if you're short or prone to dropping your bike.

**Meekey_Mouse** · 11th October 2007, 15:44

Originally Posted by MotoGirl

I was always taught to park in a way that allows me to ride straight out again, i.e. do all the moving before you park up for a beer and while the engine's still running. If she has trouble backing out of a parking space, tell her to back in

We rode with a lady on Sat and she stopped in a place that made it extremely awkward for her to get out again. Like The Stranger said, you have to plan where you stop, especially if you're short or prone to dropping your bike.

Yip and I found the more I rode/handled bikes the better I got at it. Took one drop and LOTS of close calls till I learned what to avoid, where I really need to think ahead, how to park etc etc...

Best way to encourage her is to stay patient and if she hasn't already maybe see if she'll sign up to KB? That way she can discuss with other people who have had the same trouble... Wishin you guys all the best

**sAsLEX** · 11th October 2007, 15:48

One of them electric dog collars.... every time she goes to drop it... zzzzzzaaaaaaaappppp

probably only make the mistake once.....

**disenfranchised** · 11th October 2007, 15:56

Some good suggestions there....and some errrrr, other ones too

In short her feet touch the ground fine.
She wasn't really riding it at the time, just walking it in a 3 point turn maneuver.

It wasn't quite on the flat and I think she got sideways to the downhill slope with he weight shifted the wrong way, or something like that.

Funnily enough when she tipped over the seocnd time, I almost dropped my own bike...tried to jump off to help her and forgot to put the side stand down...only just held it up.

End of the day, everything was undamaged, so probably the best result really, a bit of a learning experience with no pain to self or wallet.

Will definitely consider the mentor rides.

**MSTRS:Me** · 11th October 2007, 15:57

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

One of them electric dog collars.... every time she goes to drop it... zzzzzzaaaaaaaappppp

probably only make the mistake once.....

Yes. He will....

**klingon** · 11th October 2007, 16:17

Originally Posted by disenfranchised

I was meeting my partner at the pub for pub quiz last night, and I get a call from saying she'd dropped her bike....while stationary just trying to turn it round to park.
...
She's got no problems riding...just gets a bit nervous at really low speeds

Any tips on how to encourage her?
I thought finding a carpark on a weekend and doing bike lazy circles at low speeds might help build up her confidence again.

I have an admission to make - I dropped my bike on Sunday.

It's a feather-weight, it's low to the ground and I'm tall. So I have no excuse and no idea how it happened!

I've been riding for almost a year and can now execute an effortless U-turn, ride lowly uphill, downhill, around cones and anywhere else I want to go. But on Sunday the bike and I went for a little lie-down on a grassy verge outside my house after having just ridden across the road like I do every single day!

Please tell your partner that we all have off days, we all do daft things and she's perfectly normal.

I also advocate the Wednesday mentor rides, RRRS and getting some cones for your own low-speed practise sessions. I like to have slow-speed races with my partner in a local car park - him on his SV and me on my Volty. The winner is the one who takes the longest to get from point A to point B. It's highly entertaining and has done a lot for my confidence at slow speeds.

**The Stranger:Me** · 11th October 2007, 16:24

Originally Posted by klingon

I like to have slow-speed races with my partner in a local car park - him on his SV and me on my Volty. The winner is the one who takes the longest to get from point A to point B. It's highly entertaining and has done a lot for my confidence at slow speeds.

Bugger the contest, what's the prize?