I was set on the drive: the hose was on, the S100 total cycle cleaner in hand. I was armed with cotton cloths, microfiber clothes, glass cleaning shop towels, AutoGlym Fast Glass and AutoGlym Metal Polish (for brilliant lustre and protection for all types of polishable metal - wheels look out).
I worked up a sweat squirting, spraying, rubbing, rinsing, spraying, rinsing and rubbing. I washed and polished every square centimeter of motorcycle ... then it was time for the wheels (one side note here - who the hell invented spoked wheels?) I was focused, the end goal was in sight. One small dab of AutoGlym (by the way, their idea of reasonable pressure and mine are not exactly the same - more sweat) and the chrome on the wheel began to reflect the sunlight like it hadn't done in years - I was on a mission ... Kids, do not do this at home!
So intent on polishing the chrome on the front wheel I didn't notice all the rinsing had softened the gravel driveway, not unlike a heavy spring rain. I hadn't put the kick stand plate down nor had I left the Star in gear ... and ... you know where this story is headed. That's when I noticed the bike start to move ever so slightly but by the time I reacted it was to watch the kickstand fold back in slow motion and to see 510 pounds of motorcycle fall over, ever so slowly, ever so gently - until it was lying flat on its side (TU would be the local expression.)
Flat down on the gear side, the kickstand side and with a full tank of gas, wearing sandals on a gravel drive, no time for pictures, only time to call for reinforcements. And that's how I got to meet my new next door neighbors. (Thanks guys - come on over for a glass of wine sometime!)
Another lesson learned!
(photo compliments of Wikipedia)
Poor bike, poor you! I can feel your pain all the way across the pond! Hope there are no scratches!
ReplyDeleteNo harm done, just dirt to dust off ... those big old saggy saddle bags act like motorcycle air bags (great idea, I should have them inflated.)
DeleteDamn damn, double damn. Gotta hate it when that happens. I've only ever had the kickstand slide out on my TU 250 but I was close enough to stop it.
ReplyDeleteBut the upside is the bike is clean and you got to meet the neighbors.
Unfortunately my cat-like reflexes were not up to par, either that or it didn't really dawn on me what was happening until a moment too late!
DeleteIt's a sickening feeling watching the bike go over...
ReplyDeleteNot too much damage?
No damage - just additional dirt dirt to remove.
DeleteI'm sorry to hear that your bike decided to take a nap. I hope all is well and no damage was done. I really hate it when they go TU! BTDTx2! Both times little scars where left on the plastic as a reminder. Glad you had help with the lifting.
ReplyDeleteDon't you just hate a narcoleptic motorcycle! No damage done, just dirt (more dirt!)
DeleteGlad I had help too. When I was looking for pictures to tell the story with my search led me to some interesting looking bike lifting tools....hum!
Now, there's a new one... I haven't cleaned my scoot since I got it end of May... I thought it's enough to ride in the rain ;-) and bonus it doesn't have shiny parts.
ReplyDeleteCurse those shiny parts! They're pretty, as long as you don't ride the bike!
Deleteoh my!!! fortunately you were ok. everything else can be fixed. :)
ReplyDeleteI am totally fine ... I sometimes think it's good to keep the scars on the machine, to remind me of the mistakes I've made so I don't make them again.
DeleteThat'll teach you to clean your bike again....
ReplyDeleteThe wheels at least can wait another four years before I clean them. Nasty job.
DeleteKaren, not funny, but I appreciate the humour of your account. Any blemishes on the bike?
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the picture I was wondering if your neighbor piloted vintage aircraft and if you met him when he had to ditch in the lake.
When I started reading I thought that you might have tried to rinse the bike in a little too much water (the lake).
I hope that all it adds up to is an interesting post of an embarrassing moment.
Hard to find pictures of a bike innocently napping on ones driveway. If I'd been thinking, I could have used the cell phone to snap at least one pic ... what am I saying, if I'd been thinking I would have had a plate under the stand and left it in gear.
DeleteKaren:
ReplyDeleteOH NO ! don't tell me . . .
hope all is okay with your *Star
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Star is fine - sparkling clean and waiting, just waiting.
DeleteAnd Ron ... guess I just learn things the hard way, why is it each little lesson ends up with a motorcycle lying TU someplace?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I washed and polished my scoot today, and it's your fault. I felt guilty. Well, I didn't drop it, which is probably a good thing although it would have been nice to meet a neighbour to chat with ;-)
ReplyDeleteSonja, I'm fairly certain there are better ways to meet the neighbors - But glad you've put a smile on Alonzo's clean scooter face!
DeleteGlad to hear that no damage was done. I've had a couple go over and you have to be careful; you can hurt yourself 'rescuing' them rather than just letting them continue on.
ReplyDeleteCoop somehow it was all over before my brain processed what was happening. I just sat, head bowed over my work, polish cloth in one hand, bottle of polish in the other, stunned look on my face (I'm sure - there were no witnesses.) Perhaps the glare of the sun off the chrome put me in some sort of trance.
DeleteI hate it when my bike naps like that!
ReplyDeleteNothing worse than a narcoleptic motorcycle.
Delete