ExpatinIstanbul
Registered user
If the scratches are not deep enough for corrosion to be a worry, I'd leave 'em. Not to be a jinx but if you drop it again you'll only have more expense to go to.
littleredrooster
Registered user
You're not useless, you're quite fortunate. I dropped mine at Stratford Waterfront in front of a baying crowd of about 500......
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Am I Useless?
Well, I went over to the Isle of Man to ride the circuit with a mate a couple of years ago and dropped the bike(an R1150R then), not while getting my knee down on a fast corner, but in the hotel car park! The old "lock still on the brake disk" trick.
The staff in the hotel were kind enough to ask when we got back if it was me who dropped their bike, and was i all right, so they had clearly seen the whole thing. Embarrassed or what!
Well, I went over to the Isle of Man to ride the circuit with a mate a couple of years ago and dropped the bike(an R1150R then), not while getting my knee down on a fast corner, but in the hotel car park! The old "lock still on the brake disk" trick.
The staff in the hotel were kind enough to ask when we got back if it was me who dropped their bike, and was i all right, so they had clearly seen the whole thing. Embarrassed or what!
Thats what headguards are for.
How about fitting headguard guards, they protect the headguards.
And if your worried about scratching the headguard guards, fit the headguard guard guards
araspitfire
Registered user
Mine's been down 3 times....
It was liberating.
After the 3rd drop I enrolled in the offroad course in S Wales, (actually was making my way there when it went down the 3rd time running out of petrol while doing a U-Turn)
Never dropped the rented 1200 once during the course....
Never dropped mine the whole time I was in Morocco a few months later... (more luck than skill IMHO)
So don't worry about it, and for sure don't be in too much of a hurry to fix up the cosmetic dings.... you'll just stress out and put more there.
Al... (who's due another drop now that he's wrote this)
It was liberating.
After the 3rd drop I enrolled in the offroad course in S Wales, (actually was making my way there when it went down the 3rd time running out of petrol while doing a U-Turn)
Never dropped the rented 1200 once during the course....
Never dropped mine the whole time I was in Morocco a few months later... (more luck than skill IMHO)
So don't worry about it, and for sure don't be in too much of a hurry to fix up the cosmetic dings.... you'll just stress out and put more there.
Al... (who's due another drop now that he's wrote this)
think its safe to say nearly everyone drops there gs at some stage usually shortly after getting it.
consider a low seat while not really necessary i found it gave me better low speed confidence to be able to get both feet on the floor.
when i knew i could get my feet down i did not feel the need to do that nearly as much.
i fitted a set of head guard guards (aka engine bars)rode to the nearest petrol station and dropped it straight away
enjoy
consider a low seat while not really necessary i found it gave me better low speed confidence to be able to get both feet on the floor.
when i knew i could get my feet down i did not feel the need to do that nearly as much.
i fitted a set of head guard guards (aka engine bars)rode to the nearest petrol station and dropped it straight away
enjoy
alimey4u2
Registered user
Mine almost went with full luggage/tent etc. Stopped in a petrol station & kicked the sidestand down only to find a severe camber. Held & held it & finally pulled it up only to wipe out my elbow. Just about OK now for this season, however I do find it a handfull fully loaded...
Deleted Member I
Guest
It's never happened to me in my years of GS ownership. Are you sure you are roadworthy?
Maybe time to take some advanced training
Maybe time to take some advanced training
I wouldn't worry too much mate.
When you are sliding up the road on your back at 30mph with your GS doing a priouette next to you in a shower of sparks, you might have cause for concern. I did after hitting diesel on a roundabout.
Apart from ground down engine bars (now patched) the bike is fine - tough as old boots!
When you are sliding up the road on your back at 30mph with your GS doing a priouette next to you in a shower of sparks, you might have cause for concern. I did after hitting diesel on a roundabout.
Apart from ground down engine bars (now patched) the bike is fine - tough as old boots!
Thats what headguards are for.
How about fitting headguard guards, they protect the headguards.
And if your worried about scratching the headguard guards, fit the headguard guard guards
I remember a guy on one of my Morocco trips stopped in Tafroute to buy some water hose which he split, neatly bound with tape and used as a protector for his crash bars.
20 miles later he came off on a bend, the bike bounced one side to the other and bent both bars
Deleted account 211025001
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........sounds like you'll fit in nicely here!!
Most of the bits you've knackered are probably bolt on (I've just found out after playing on a wee bit o' black ice over new year). The lower engine bars are £160/side. The valve cover protectors are £60/side.
Most of the bits you've knackered are probably bolt on (I've just found out after playing on a wee bit o' black ice over new year). The lower engine bars are £160/side. The valve cover protectors are £60/side.
once ? no
twice ? yes
you're probably a short-arse who bought the bike to big yourself up
twice ? yes
you're probably a short-arse who bought the bike to big yourself up
dxtans
Registered user
The most important thing is you were not hurt, apart from your pride that is.
It happens, I do fell sorry for you, I know what I'd feel like if I'd dropped my bike a few hours after getting it..Pretty screwed up, and blaming everbody but myself.
Good luck on getting the replacement parts, if you decide to go down that route.
dxtans
It happens, I do fell sorry for you, I know what I'd feel like if I'd dropped my bike a few hours after getting it..Pretty screwed up, and blaming everbody but myself.
Good luck on getting the replacement parts, if you decide to go down that route.
dxtans
Why not fit some Hepco and Becker engine bars, they've done a good job for me and are easy to touch up with silver hammerite. Scratches on the heads are not a problem, its when they crack and let oil out you need to worry.
Liquidlan has a point here. One of my spills was caused exactly like that. We won't mention my other one.
One thing you can easily do which will boost your slow-speed confidence no end is practicing slow speed turns, ie figure of 8s, in and out of cones (slowly increasing the angle) walking speed straight-lines etc etc. Find yourself an empty car-park and fill your boots. Trust me, its a good way to get used to your bike. If you're ultra paranoid, temporarily stick some polystyrene onto your crash bars with masking tape - the chances are if it's going to go over, you'll be barely moving anyway. Industrial estate car parks are good, as they're usually deserted on Sundays so there's nobody to laugh at you.
I have the Hepco and Becker engine bars too. I have found that after you have had the bike for a couple of years you don't get so upset any more when you drop it.
What's the point of having the bike, if you can't have fun on it.
What's the point of having the bike, if you can't have fun on it.
slojon
Guest
Get yourself a texta and date each drop(scrape) and where it happened. Why replace the rocker cover protectors when you'll drop it again anyway. I have two sets of covers, one off my old GS and the set off the new GSA. I was going to replace the new ones with the old ones but dropped it before I could.
Tell you what I did do though, I bought some of that wrinkle/engine paint and after prepping the covers, painted them. They look good. There are two colours, red and black, I went black. I'm enough of a ****** as it is without going red on the Magma Red GSA. (Though I think it would look great, sort of makes a triangle with the front red, tank and seat.)
Only after I'd done it all and fitted the left side did I notice while trying to put on the RHS that due to a couple of drops it has slightly sprung and it was so much of a bugger to put on I didn't. Not sure what to do with them now, in the cupboard.
Tell you what I did do though, I bought some of that wrinkle/engine paint and after prepping the covers, painted them. They look good. There are two colours, red and black, I went black. I'm enough of a ****** as it is without going red on the Magma Red GSA. (Though I think it would look great, sort of makes a triangle with the front red, tank and seat.)
Only after I'd done it all and fitted the left side did I notice while trying to put on the RHS that due to a couple of drops it has slightly sprung and it was so much of a bugger to put on I didn't. Not sure what to do with them now, in the cupboard.
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