231 miles into riding, dropped -leaked oil ????

Bummer, I was getting followed by a cop car today through some quiet country roads (limit was 30 as was near a town). I was being good when I saw them and being good when they caught up with me (they must've been speeding to have done so -tut tut). I have the bike taxed, but usually have the tax disk in my bag (which I'd forgotten) so I REALLY didn't want to be stopped. They eventually went off somewhere else and I found this little cross junction. I was lost and wondering if I should U-turn or try one of the other 3 roads. There was no traffic, so I came to a stop -only then realising that my left foot was higher than my right -dammit, I'd just stopped on a little incline and I was going down on the right side. With all the strength in me, I did my best to lay my beautiful, blue VFR down as though I was tucking her in bed for the night. I did quite a good job of it too, but getting it back up again on a slant was SO hard. I got it back up, but as I was trying to get back on it, it went down again. A guy helped me get it up again and held it while I ran around to 'attack it from the top'.

HELP PLEASE!! As I was moving the bike away, I noticed a patch of oil had leaked out. Before I rode off, I checked some more and it was still leaking from behind the fairing just behind the front wheel (the front of the bottom of the bike -if you know what I mean?). Only a little bit though. I figure that the bike fell on a slant, so it was more upside down than simply laid down on flat ground. I figure a bit of oil must just have gone where it shouldn't and found a way out, but now that the bike is upright again it's okay....is that right?

I love my bike SO much and can't imagine that such a light lay down would cause any real damage (I have crash bungs fitted). Whatdya guys reckon? Just more scary than it is, or is this one of those silly sneeze and break two ribs sort of thing?

 

what a bummer! I feel really bad that happened to you. Similar thing happened to me on my 1st bike, a honda vt 250f but i fell really hard because my foot slipped on the incline. maybe it's the coolant that's leaking.

 

DAMN! That must have hurt! Coolant? Crud, would that not be a very continuous leak though -until all empty? I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the lead.

 

I would imagine that some oil had leaked out while your bike was down and when you stood it back up it ran down the inside of the faring and came out at the lowest point. I would take the side fairings off and take a look at everything. Wipe up any fluids and start her up and check for leaks. Your fan is on the left rad so it should be ok (they are very easy to get pushed on to the rad). Hopefully the oil just leaked out while it was down and you wont have any problems.

Action

 

First thing I would do is pull the fairing and check for any obvious leaks. Then change the oil to make sure you are up to spec. Since you'll have the fairing off anyways you might as well change the filter too. What year is your bike and how many miles on her??

Regards,
Rollin

 

Hi Rollin,

2001 with 27000 miles. I bought it two weeks ago from a dealer who serviced and mot'd it, so I think it's all pretty tip top -but I'm very green, so I really don't know. I should have a look through the papers, I guess.