Well, it had to happen I guess...

[2012cliff]

Bumps and scratches. A atv salesman told me the quad i was looking at would never look as good as it does on the showroom. I like the mud. I'm not much for show, I like the go, and my rocket does that. Besides people cant see any scratches as your passing them, but they cant miss my smile.

 

[MIG]

I'll share with my experienced students (BRC II) that there are two types of riders... those who have dropped their bike... and those who will. Sad, but seemingly true in my life. There was the time with my Thunderbird when I did a quick stop on a slanted gas station exit... and found the one deep pot hole on the downward side...and I was repeating not-safe-for-children words and phrases of massive frustration as my strength gave out and I put her down as gently as I could.... As for my R3T, that's a story that can only be told over a frosty beverage and perhaps a cigar...
-MIG

 

[R3Rx118]

I found this thread because I was hoping to be able to find out what the diameter of the rear saddle bag guards are??
But glad I landed here, I don't feel so bad now. Just dropped it two days ago. AND....I just finished up a 4 day Police Motor course although that was on Harley Road Kings. I have no problems with my Street Glide slow speed, but the Rocket caught me off guard. Locked to the left, started moving and leaned a little bit more to the left to clear a car with my engine guard and did one of the two no-no's that I just spent days getting in my head. Pulled in the clutch. (BTW...the other one is don't touch the front brake...this is all referring to slow speed maneuvering.) Anyway, as my hand was pulling in the clutch, my head was saying..'don't do that', but it didn't make it to my hand in time. Luckily I have the engine guards and they did their job. But I did buy steel collars for them now. The Rocket has a very different center of gravity and I wasn't ready for it. Live and learn!!!

 

[scot in exile]

I did the same course a few months ago, as you said the rocket is no road King, just wish the rocket could handle like the road king in slow speed turns, say what you want about Harley's but a few of them are good handling bikes.

 

[Bedifferent]

I found this thread because I was hoping to be able to find out what the diameter of the rear saddle bag guards are??
But glad I landed here, I don't feel so bad now. Just dropped it two days ago. AND....I just finished up a 4 day Police Motor course although that was on Harley Road Kings. I have no problems with my Street Glide slow speed, but the Rocket caught me off guard. Locked to the left, started moving and leaned a little bit more to the left to clear a car with my engine guard and did one of the two no-no's that I just spent days getting in my head. Pulled in the clutch. (BTW...the other one is don't touch the front brake...this is all referring to slow speed maneuvering.) Anyway, as my hand was pulling in the clutch, my head was saying..'don't do that', but it didn't make it to my hand in time. Luckily I have the engine guards and they did their job. But I did buy steel collars for them now. The Rocket has a very different center of gravity and I wasn't ready for it. Live and learn!!!

It's a top heavy beast and I still feel like a beginner at walking speed. If I had the same bike as a beater to practice with I'm sure I could do way better, but I am unwilling to run the risk dumping my bike in practice. I not bad at walking speed, but sometimes I'm sure I don't look very pretty. I'm sure i would look even worse if I dumped it. So far its only gotten away from me not moving and I plan to try to keep it that way.

 

[R3Rx118]

I did the same course a few months ago, as you said the rocket is no road King, just wish the rocket could handle like the road king in slow speed turns, say what you want about Harley's but a few of them are good handling bikes.

Without a doubt!!

 

[ThePhoinix]

Exactly 1 week and I dropped my r3t . Still getting used to maneuvering slow. Was slowly pulling away on a little bit of a left hand slope and Over it went. 'Bout busted a roid getting it back up since I was effectively lifting it up hill but got it (have to admit I had a little help from the wife). Slight scratch on top of my pannier since I hadn't closed it correctly. Luckily the only thing really injured was my pride. Then went on a nice night ride with the wife. All in all a good night.

Rite of passage, brother!

Same thing for me: sharp turn in my driveway on day 1 and it just tipped over to land ever so gently on the side rail.

I'm pretty good at lifting, but it took a good strategy to get it back up on my own.

Well done. If you don't fail, you're not trying!

 

[BigNorm]

I haven't dropped my Rocket. I have dropped my Road Glide 3 times. Each time forgetting to put the kick stand down. I have however rammed right into my wife's Herritage accident. Twice.

 

[Claviger]

There's a legend of a rider who was full steering lock going about 2 mph, riding the engagement point of the clutch.

The legend goes the rider was all kinds of leaned out to counter balance the steering lock when his hand slipped off the clutch lever, stalling the bike. The rider did a summersault off the bike as it fell, popped up, grabbed the bike before it had stopped rocking from falling down and hefted it up with one arm.

Then, in some sort of manic insanity moment he hopped on, started it and continued the skills drill, all before the instructor even saw any of it happen. Said rider graduated the course with perfect marks!!

I have no idea who that rider was....

 

[BigNorm]

...and I may have run into a bush trying to do a cool slow speed maneuver.