I'm so bummed. I was leaving a parking lot today and popped the clutch taking off and somehow my bike died and I fell over. I'd like to say I was avoiding a squirrel or something, but I have no idea how I did it. I have been riding motorcycles for nearly 30 years and this is one of those accidents where you just feel stupid. Not only that, but my bike HAD never been dropped. There WASN'T one scratch on it. Now it has several thanks to my stupidity. I cussed more in 3 minutes than I usually do in a day. Okay so now I have scratches on the fairing and I need to make them disappear. I have a cracked left mirror (just a chip out of the plastic), and a scratched left turn signal. ARRRGHH! as Charlie Brown would say. This sux so bad... dammit dammit dammit dammmit... Frame sliders probably would have stopped nearly all the damage since I wasn't even moving yet... This SUCKS!!!
Yeah, I know how you feel. Mine was a small patch of sand at an intersection. Slowly came to a stop to wait for my friends, we were going to turn right, so I guess I was turning while stopping. That, combined with the sand, caused the bike to slide right out from under me. I didn't have frame sliders either, and it caused some scratches and cracks. Just this week I finally found the replacement plastic for a good price (on VFRworld actually!), so I'll be replacing it this weekend. That's definitely the problem with our hobby, it's not cheap when small things go wrong!!
I am horror stricken reading this -- with a brand new 06 (white) in the garage. Advice on frame sliders? (The ones you don't have to drill fairings to put on...) expound 06 VFR
Man I feel your pain I had my bike slide out from under me pulling in to a underground parking structure. wasn't going more then 2 miles a hour but because of the ramp down the bike and I just slide down.
Slow Speed Engine Stop I know exactly how you feel. I've had the same thing happen on my 03' a number of times. It happens after stopping for awhile and starting out again. The first time I was 1000 miles away from home in Montana, headed south toward Red Lodge. I left a rest stop and dropped it just as I was making a slow turn onto the highway. Bent the clutch lever into a "U" shape and had to finish the trip like that. I recently turned the idle way up. I'll will ride it like this season to see if it cures the the low speed stalling. I've been considering a Power Commander, but before I spend the money I would like to be sure it will fix th problem. Old_Codger
Ok. I'm getting over the falling, but it still SUX!!! Makes my gut hurt to think of. Anyway, I want to try to hide the scratches the best way... They are deep enough to show black... Should I sand them and then try touch up paint? Who sells the best red for the VFR? What's the best way to bend clutch back without breaking; a pipe? I was thinking of changing the bug eyed front turn signals for something amaller anyway so maybe here's the excuse. Any kit that does that, or do you have to have the mount fabricated? Dammit this is so disgusting... I want to ride not think about this crap! UGH!
Scratches and Clutch levers I'll be interested to see the advice you receive on hiding the scratches. Have the same thing on mine. I didn't try to sraighten out my bent clutch lever until I got back home, afraid it would break. I tried to bend it back without any heat and snapped it right off. Not sure if there is an answer, might try a little heat from a propane torch?
I have thought about taking it to an auto body shop to see what they say. They'd probably laugh since the damage is what would be considered minor for a car but it hurts me to see it. It hasn't stopped me from riding, though.
