Hello gang,

I just finished up my motorcycle class a bit over two weeks ago. I aced the skills test though, very proud but didn't expect to pass.
My husband and I got a killer deal on the 1000 (for him) and the 650 for me. I love it!!! I am a hair over forty and had never driven my own motorcylce but always wanted to. I've just been a bit, not really nervous but anxious is more like it. Just got the bike on Saturday and had a small problem. I asked my husband to post the request for advice but he was a bit embarrassed. Here's what happened:

First I'm 5'10" with about a 30" inseam. I can touch the ground with the balls of my feet wearing a pair of docs. I'm not sure I want it lowered due to the fact my husband said after some time it will "settle", shocks and something. Okay, so I am at a complete stop sitting at a stop sign. The road I was sitting on had a slight incline but I figured it was okay, nothing major. Anyhow, sitting there I started to feel the bike lean so I tried to shift my weight to keep it from tilting even more. The darn thing is beautiful but a bit top heavy. It kept shifting and I kept trying to hold it. Nothing worked, it kept going over to the right. I held on to it as long as I could to keep it from hitting the ground too hard. The result was a small scratch on the gas tank, some scuff on the mirror, the turn signal cover popped off and, of course, the brake lever snapped off right where the little indentation starts (so I have a custom shorty brake lever now). All of this was on day three, you can imagine his face since mine only has 4 miles on it. He said it scared him but I know what he was really thinking: "how in the world can you drop a brand new bike!@#@#%#@#!@"
In my class they never gave any advice on what to do if the bike starts to tilt. Not to mention I have no idea how to get it back up and off the ground. So, what counter-measures work to help stop the fall? And how do you get it back upright?

We live in a small town outside of Tampa where the speed limit, off the highway mind you, is only 35. I would feel comfortable scooting around Apollo Beach to run errands and such but now am a bit leary since I can't set the thing upright by myself, no upper body strength. My husband said he just man-handled it back upright, I can't do that. He said when it starts to lean like that to turn the handle bars in the opposite direction but after we got home he was playing with his trying to figure out how to tell me but all he came up with was just hold it up. Yeah, helpful. I really don't want to be a nervous rider so am looking for some advice on this. I figure all the guys would have the same response as the husband because he has the upper body strength to throw mine around, basically. But I don't. I figured maybe someone else might have done the same thing. Women are more prone to be honest about doing stupid things and can help others out when facing the same situation. I have about four months to get comfortable riding around before the thing gets shipped over seas for our move and then the wee is what I'll mostly be riding. I've got work to do!!

Thanx all in advance,
Ani

At least while you are still new to riding, lower the bike. Raising + Lowering Links--Review, Installation and Pics

When you are more experienced and confident, you may choose to raise it again. It is not going to get lower on its own any time soon, if ever. Be as careful as you can and don't ride with your husband in the lead if the way he is riding makes you the least bit uncomfortable. Never push your abilities to keep up. You are on a bike I don't recommend for beginners unless they are physically large. You have found out why already.

I advise new riders especially to check the motorcycle safety forum and tips at Motorcycle Safety Site

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Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A is just getting started.
Nicknames for posting ease on my part, Vee = all DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 DL650s. Glee = 2012+ DL650s

Picking up the bike:
Search the internet, several excellent "how to" articles.

Dropping the bike:
Two kinds of riders, those who have dropped the bike and those who will.
Glad you got it out of the way and can put it behind you.

Not dropping the bike in the future.
First last and always, ride the bike. Head and eyes up until stopped and both feet (balls of feet) on the ground. This will help with balance.
Ride a lot - A LOT.
Best wishes, be careful.

I also agree that lowering the bike will make you feel much more confident at stops. Plus you can use your lower body strength to your advantage. When the bike is lowered -- you will be able to use your legs more to counteract a tilt and you upper body just to stabilize.

Good luck. Practice in that soft plush Florida grass. I grew up in st. Pete.

Oh and get some bark busters [ATTACH]25410[/ATTACH




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2012 650, Centerstand, lower cowl, accessory plug, grip protectors, hot grips, fork brace, mirror extenders, crash bar, auxiliary lighting front and rear, madstad, California Scientific medium windshield.

Does the above pic look like what your doing. Tipee toeing


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2012 650, Centerstand, lower cowl, accessory plug, grip protectors, hot grips, fork brace, mirror extenders, crash bar, auxiliary lighting front and rear, madstad, California Scientific medium windshield.

That's exactly what I'm doing. I don't feel stable without my heels on the ground. I think if I could find some decent boots with thick, rubbery soles it might help to give me a lift. But all of the boots you can find out there are pretty and not utilitarian. I thought my docs would be fine but the soles aren't grippy enough for me. I tried sitting on bikes last week at Barney's and Brandon HD. My husband had me sitting on different sizes. The 250s and 500s just make me look ginormous, plus they just feel too little. We have a Victory Vegas that I look really cool on but it just didn't feel right and I though it might be a bit much starting out. Anyway, after "trying on" several, several on them I finally found the Wee and loved how it felt to sit on. I'ts comfortable and I don't feel intimidated by it like some of the other ones. I didn't want a cruiser right now since we are PCSing to the Azores and there are lots of "off road" adventures to be had there. My only problem is this one is so top heavy. Riding it I'm fine. And I feel retarded for falling over at a stop sign, but at least I was stopped. It bruised my knee because that's what I was trying to hold it up with. There is a lot across from my house which I think I should practice tilting it and trying to see how it feels to try to keep it up without worrying about busting anything else, especially since the stupid brake lever is $65. The worst part is by no means am I one of those dainty flower type girls so in my head I have it I should be able to handle this bike. I just need to figure it out but since I'm new it's a little hard.

The lever can be ordered separate for 15 dollars. The bark busters will help your bars and levers. If you get some rigid cases for the rear that will also protect the bike in a slow tip over. I am 6 foot tall and still manage a slow tip over every once in awhile. So don't feel bad. Lower the bike and the vstrom will be your favorite machine. You won't feel right on anything else. It just needs to be dialed in for you.


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2012 650, Centerstand, lower cowl, accessory plug, grip protectors, hot grips, fork brace, mirror extenders, crash bar, auxiliary lighting front and rear, madstad, California Scientific medium windshield.

I agree with GW--lower the bike, at least until you have more experience and confidence in your own abilities and learn to compensate for the shorter inseam. That bit about the bike's suspension "settling" simply isn't true. The last thing I'd want on my bike is a suspension that sags, because if it sags initially, it'll sag continuosly, I'd think. I bought my wife an R1150RT back in '03 and she hated it because it was so tall. The sales guy said not to worry because the suspension would "settle in" over time. Well, it never did, and she finally got fed up with it because she kept tipping over. She got my ST1300 and I got the RT, which only lasted a few months before I got rid of it and picked up another ST1300.

Lower the bike, and perhaps pick up a pair of boots with thick soles to give yourself a bit more reach to the ground.

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'09 DL650

So far, I have been lucky with my Wee - touch wood - came close a few times - seems like the stupidest times at that. e.g. pushing it out of the garage and not paying attention to some sand under foot - not paying attention.
There are some videos on Youtube like here with tips on how to:
How to pick up your motorcycle - YouTube
There are others there as well worth looking at that show how to pick up a fallen bike.
Notice how they all just happen to fall on the right side. That is so the kickstand can be put up to prevent going back over the other side. Also notice how they tell you to hold the brake - on the right side.
Well if you drop it on the left side you just have to make sure it is in gear and you don't hold the clutch in and be extra careful not to go too far over.
ALWAYS ask for help if you can just to be safer. Like with everything in life practice and you will get better.
Safe riding,
Danny C.

And another thing that I learned from a parking lot tipover: hold the front brake lever in to keep the bike from moving during the mount or dismount. My tipover happened when I was dismounting, and the bike rolled forward just enough because of a slope to push the kickstand back.

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Regards, MillCreek
Snohomish County, Washington USA

2012 Suzuki DL650A
Three road, two mountain and one folding bicycle