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Tips,Tweaks, Fixes and Facts: The two-wheeled ownership experience, explained
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TALES OF THE TUMBLE
AMA members and enthusiasts recount their first spills…and what they learned from them
month or so ago our intrepid social media maven Joy Burgess tossed out the following question on our social media channels: Tell us about your first tip-over or crash. What happened, and what did you learn? The response has been energetic, with both funny and informative tales adding up like Vince Friese holeshots. And since May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, we figured we’d share some to help keep you off the ground — or at least make you smile. So enjoy!
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It was 15 feet from the start of my first motorcycle ride. I kept stalling it, so I gave it full wrist and dumped the clutch. Lesson: friction is actually a thing! Matt James I was riding in the riverbed and something in the sand stopped my front end faster than the back end, which caused the latter to go over the top of the former. I was grateful I was wearing a helmet, but the rubbing alcohol and Merthiolate bath I got when I got home was worse than the get-off! Mike Hendershot That last part might just be TMI, Mike! —Ed 70
When I was sixteen in 1971 I’d been riding my Honda SL125 for six months and had just replaced the worn “universal” knobbies with more dirt-oriented ones. I was riding to school one morning and while turning a street corner with a little dew on the pavement I quickly found out that tires designed to grab mud weren’t very good at grabbing slippery pavement. Just a little skin left on the road, but a quick lesson learned. Bob Haddon Thanks for the good general reminder about tires, Bob. Whether they’re just new (that mold-release stuff is slippery!) or the wrong tire for the environment (knobbies on pavement? C’mon!), new tires can definitely be tricky. —Ed.
A M E R I C A N M O T O R C Y C L I S T • M AY 2 0 2 2
Riding enduros as I do, I rarely have a day where the bike doesn’t end up on its side at least once. Just the nature of the beast. I’ve been down multiple times on the street, too, and each time I’ve crashed on asphalt it was preventable by slowing down. Just happens when you push things to the limit. Nathan Sours Well, what have you learned (or not learned!), Nathan?!—Ed I stopped to get some gas. I thought the kickstand was down…but it wasn’t… John Feldt I had my Road King 22 years before it finally fell over when I was backing up in the sand! BTW, it still has the original paint, 34 years in May! Over 50 years and never a serious accident. I’m very blessed! John Brewer
