Parking lot tip over mystery??

My 30 minute appointment turned into a 150 minute ordeal. Since I parked on asphalt using the center stand on the very slightest of slopes, I came out to find the bike on it's side with a broken mirror, broken peg, bent brake lever, and a nice collection of scratches. I guess thats what i get for being careless! I'm parking on the sidewalk from here on, come what may.
What has me stumped is that I found a washer (~25mm OD, ~16mm ID) and a snap ring (~ 14 mm ID) laying on the ground next to the bike. I cannot say for certain whether or not they came from the bike but there they were, within the spill zone. I spent perhaps an hour searching for the spot from wence they came with no luck. I have not removed the fairings and rode the 10 miles home on edge. I've spent another bit of time searching for something loose or missing with no luck.

Any guesses?

 

Sorry to hear about your mishalf......I don't think the washer is from the bike. Post picture and hope someone can answer your question.

 

So how were you parked? I'm assuming you parked on the downward part of the slope causing the bike to roll forward? I always use the centerstand thinking that it is safer than using the side stand on hot days when parked on asphalt. Sorry it happened.

 

Any evidence of your centerstand digging in on one side? Uncured asphalt or just hot and soft.. Centerstands are centerstands. Never a problem on my 91 VFR but tons of problems on an SR500 I have until I had buddy who is an aircraft fabricator did a fix on it. Gussets and a couple of drain holes did the trick.

Even though your bike ain't all that old, some salt exposure and rustout could be part of the problem.

 

Check the back of the rear brake lever. there is a washer and a circlip holding the lever to the footpeg.

 

Mystery solved.

Thanks for the replies. It was in a almost level lot on a warm day and the right side sunk into the asphalt faster than the left side of the center stand. It appears to have tipped right over onto the side. Sun angle, slight slope away from curb (I was in an end spot)....any body have a mirror and brake lever for sale?

You win AussieLuke! The parts are a thrust washer and clip for the brake pedal retainer. This may be a bit over engineered as the pedal will barely move laterally without the clip. I guess over engineered is better then the alternative.

I'm glad to have finally connected with a VFR community and look forward to spending some time in VFR World.

 

yeh walking out to find your steed on its side has to be right up there with going to the proctologist and what else can I think of as a witty analogy? Can't right now, I have never had one of my bikes fall over while being parked. I always park on a sidewalk or near a building as cagers dont really look for motorcycles in car parking spaces. Good luck with the repairs.

 

Hard or really not so hard to say on that asphalt. Sometimes the aggregate and the matrix don't get mixed well enough. You may have put your bike on a soft spot just large enough to dig in. Had this happen on a BMW I have.

Good catch on those parts that were spotted..

 

Is the center stand generally a better choice for asphalt than the side stand?

At work we had new asphalt put in a few days after I got my vfr, so I grabbed some scrap stainless steel discs to use as side stand pucks. The one I use at work sunk in the new asphalt though and I think is now permanent, at least people won't park in my spot now, I'm curious to see if the plows in the winter get it out.

 

id much sooner use my centerstand ANYWHERE than my side stand. I have actually had my bike fall over just for setting it on the sidestand on a hot sidewalk one day.

 

I too think the center stand is less likely to cause a tip over than the side stand. Luckily at work, they put in a concrete pad for the bikes. It's definitely a nice perk.

 

I would observe that if the surface is asphalt and it is very hot, the sidestand is a better bet because the centerstand will have a far greater percentage of the bike's weight supported on a couple of very small pads, whereas on the sidestand most of the weight is still on the tires. I've only had one bike fall over when parked, and it was on the centerstand (similar situation).

 

Learned this the hard way when I had a harley. Asphalt is bad to park on when it is hot outside. Check with a dealer especially a harley dealer and they sell a round plastic disk that you put under the side stand when parking on asphalt or dirt to keep it from happening....or you can just use a piece of wood. Use that and problem solved.

A vfr shouldn't be heavy enough to sink the side stand but definitely would a center stand. I wouldn't use the center stand on any surface that will soften

 

Putting a stomp on an aluminum can works too. Rumor has it those HD gadgets are $129.99 each..

I wonder who will be first to say thier bike tipped over whilst parked on a sheet of stainless steel, titanium or ice.

 

Parking Puck - webBikeWorld

 

Great point. Sometimes it is easy missing something so obvious. If possible though, I always use the center stand since it is much more stable especially on unlevel ground. Luckily, between work and home, I always park on concrete. I almost never park on asphalt, but next time I do, I will keep this in mind.

 

We sell those at Sporting Goods Stores here and call them Hockey Pucks.....

I never really considered the notion that the side stand has les PSI on it than the centre due to what was mentioned above, but that really does make sence. I always use the side stand except when I am wrenching the oil pan drain plug right out of the pan or washing the bike. The side stand also has a wider flat portion than the centre stand which has a round foot. So that is less likely to sink into the hot asphalt too. But then when it comes to hot asphalt....well we could use some salt on our roads this summer here.

 

I for one am happy that the HD pucks are American made and not some damned Antichrist sweatshop pucking crap made in Canada probably by dudes with no front teeth and fancy Frenchy names.

 

Only reason I know coz mine went over and I found the same bits lying on the deck. They were a bitch to put on in the field, but like you say , over engineered.

 

Sorry to about the tip over . Thats pretty much why I don't do appointments or honey dos on my bike. Ride to work park with the centerstand always on concrete and ride -thats it