Another mental note to make

[XV1100SE]

Long weekend for us Canadians. Been to work, went for breakfast with friends, got some riding in. After a couple thousand km so far this season, a good time to wash the bike (between gardening chores) and make sure everything that is attached is still tight.

 

Rinsed off the bike, cleaned it with soapy water, started rinsing it off. Did the left side first, went around to the right and turned the handlebars to the left so I could spray the back/underside of the fairing.

 

I've done it this way many times but this time the bike suddenly came straight up, clear of the kick stand. I started to lean the bike back over to put the weight back on the kickstand but it went a little further than what I thought it should so I straightened it back up again.

 

Here I was, on the right side of the bike, hose still in hand, knowing that the kickstand must not be all the way down. I was lucky though, Nancy was doing things in the front garden so I was able to have her come to my rescue. Sure enough the kickstand had swung back and had I tried leaning it any further over the bike would have gone down.

 

At the moment it didn't strike me to throw my leg over the bike. Probably because the seat was all wet from rinsing the bike off. Nancy put the kick stand forward and I was able to put the bike back over onto it while still being on the right hand side of the bike.

 

Mental note....be on the kickstand side of bike griping the handlebars with both hands when turning the handlebars and not mounted on the bike.

[Yammer Dan]

When I saw this I was sure it was going to say "Don't screw with the 1st Gens!!"

I'm glad I usually have the Warden within screaming distance....

[Flyinfool]

Must be a 2nd gen thing........

 

What is this washing thing you speak of........

It sounds like a terrible thing to have to do. It also sounded like the bike did not like having it much either..........

[Power Trippin]

Personally,......I do not like soaking my bike down with water. Unless I happen to be riding it in the rain, that is. Too many electrical things to corrode. Just my 2 pennies. Glad nothing happend to your bike!

[Snaggletooth]

That reminds me. I haven't washed the bike since the last time it rained. Wait...... that was yesterday. The thing I forget to do it run it up to about 85 for the "spin cycle".

 

But glad you didn't drop it.

[XV1100SE]

...I haven't washed the bike since the last time it rained. ....

 

We haven't had enough rain lately to wash it ! Didn't have a choice but to pull out the hose. My daughter was over washing her car so figured may as well since everything was out.

 

Its 81F (feels like 91 with humidity) and sunny here today. Calling for rain the next couple days but can't count on the weather people !

 

Posted this thread so others can avoid what I almost did.

[Snaggletooth]

Posted this thread so others can avoid what I almost did.

 

I can't say I haven't come close to doing the same thing. I had mine up on the bike lift after doing my clutch slave. I was tired and in a hurry and was on the right side letting the lift down and as the tires hit I was letting it lean to the left to sit on the side stand...... what side stand? The one I forget to put down before lowering the lift.

 

One hand on the grip holding the bike, one hand on the lift hande, one foot on the release pedal and one foot braced on the floor. I was running out of parts to use. Got the foot shifted and got it pumped back up to lean the bike back.

 

It's an odd position to be in.