Money Venture Posted September 16, 2014 #1 Posted September 16, 2014 My wife and I and my youngest daughter and her husband did an overnight ride this past weekend. About 225 miles round trip. Nothing big but our first overnight and longest trip to date. Had a great time on the bikes. About 1/2 hour from home, we stopped for a potty break. The lot was full of Harley's coming back from an event and a local police car. We pulled in and found a parking spot. I rolled into the spot and promptly laid the bike over. I believe I lost my footing on the right and she laid right down, engine running still in gear but a death grip on the clutch. I was instantly surrounded by Harley riders who helped right the bike and make sure we were ok. My wife got a scrape on her palm from putting her hand out. Everyone one of them was so nice and welcomed us to the club of dropped motorcycles. I have ridden for 33 years and it's the second time in all that time I have lost one. Like others have mentioned, after a certain point you just know it's going down. Fortunately we weren't moving when it happened. The funny thing was, there was a young couple with little kids in the van in front of us and she watched us pull in and drop right in front of her. She looked around like it was Candid Camera. BTW, my wife said it still didn't scare her about riding. She is a real trooper.
bongobobny Posted September 16, 2014 #2 Posted September 16, 2014 Hopefully she learned NOT to reach out and try to stop the bike from going over!! Yah, welcome to the club!!!
Money Venture Posted September 16, 2014 Author #3 Posted September 16, 2014 She knows not to do it but instinct told her to.
Money Venture Posted September 16, 2014 Author #4 Posted September 16, 2014 I bent the front brake handle and now I have to replace the elbow by the water pump that needed done. Glad I waited. Other than that not much damage but a couple of scrapes.
Brake Pad Posted September 16, 2014 #5 Posted September 16, 2014 :mo money: That will be $5.00 bucks buddy
etcswjoe Posted September 16, 2014 #6 Posted September 16, 2014 Glad y'all are ok and welcome to the club!
Prairiehammer Posted September 16, 2014 #7 Posted September 16, 2014 Doug, You should investigate the operation of the 'tip-over' switch. When the Venture is laid down like it did for you, the ignition should have been killed by the 'tip-over' switch. This switch is basically a pendulum within a small square box. When the weight (the pendulum) slides to the right or left because of a lay over, it should have disabled the ignition and killed the engine.
Flyinfool Posted September 16, 2014 #8 Posted September 16, 2014 Doug, You should investigate the operation of the 'tip-over' switch. When the Venture is laid down like it did for you, the ignition should have been killed by the 'tip-over' switch. This switch is basically a pendulum within a small square box. When the weight (the pendulum) slides to the right or left because of a lay over, it should have disabled the ignition and killed the engine. Did the bike go all of the way onto its side or was it still resting on the engine guards? I never tested the tip over switch to see how far the bike has to tip before it shuts off the ignition. If was only to the guards then it might not have been far enough to shut off. If the bike went all the way over on its side the engine should have shut off instantly.
videoarizona Posted September 16, 2014 #9 Posted September 16, 2014 (edited) Did the bike go all of the way onto its side or was it still resting on the engine guards? Jeff, Interesting. When I laid mine down last month(paid$5), she went all the way...slowly but was resting on her side on engine guards and top of side fairing. Scratched fairing edge on the dirt. Probably due to the dirt road I was on was running downhill and she went down on the downhill side. I can lay the 950Tourer down on the guards and she's at a 50* angle or so. But the not 89 VR. I guess my question or thought is the 1ST Gen Vr "will or will not" lay only on the engine guards...or does she go all the way down 90 degrees. Assuming a flat surface... david P.S. Doug... Glad you both are OK!! Edited September 16, 2014 by videoarizona Added message
Flyinfool Posted September 16, 2014 #10 Posted September 16, 2014 I have intentionally laid my 88 on the guards and it stayed there. Granted it was very gently brought to that point, if it had the momentum of a fall I do not know if it would have been able to stop at just the guards. But that is why I asked the question.
Money Venture Posted September 16, 2014 Author #11 Posted September 16, 2014 Yes, I figured the tip-over switch was not working because it was still running and it was all the way on the guards (tires off the ground). One more thing I need to look at this winter.
Flyinfool Posted September 16, 2014 #12 Posted September 16, 2014 Yes, I figured the tip-over switch was not working because it was still running and it was all the way on the guards (tires off the ground). One more thing I need to look at this winter. First thing to check is that the switch is even there. There were some people that had intermittent shutdowns due to a bad tip over switch, since the tip over switch is open when the bike is upright you can just unplug it and the bad switch is "fixed".
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now