Dropped it

[Clogboy]

Usually I'm a very careful rider. The most important part of a ride is returning safely. This time I went for a quick lunch run. Barely left the parking lot when at the first junction, another driver didn't notice me while I had right of way. The sensible thing would be to shrug and simply let him go, but it's not really my day today. I honked, he made an emergency stop, I made an emergency stop, lost control and dropped the bike at standstil. It happens.
The only damage was very superficial, and a fog light that needed replacing anyway. We didn't even exchange numbers, I sent the guy on his way and thanked him for stopping.

So as long as it drops from a stand still, it holds fluids and there's only superficial damage, I suppose there's nothing to worry about, right? Just a footnote to my story etched in paint?

 

[smilespergallon]

Motorcycles are at their most dangerous when almost at a standstill. SLOW KILLS!

Statistically most drops happen at the speed you were going, the transition from moving to still can be abrupt and that tends to end up with scratches on the bike. As long as your fluids stayed inside it's easy to chalk up to a learning experience.

 

[Acedoc]

its more a question of when we drop them rather than if we drop them.

 

[Eatmore Mudd]

Battle scars !!!

Dings and scratches are proud testimony to the fact that the bike gets ridden in the real world.

 

[Gamphy]

As long as you are OK is the main thing. Bikes can be easily fixed.

 

[ddavidv]

Stationary drops are usually just cosmetic damage. The only thing I'd check is the handlebar to make sure it's not bent.

 

[vectinterceptor]

I use the rear brake at slow speeds as it is too easy to lock the front which will put you on the ground pdq.

 

[Turbofurball]

Take up Moto Gymkhana and you can learn how to drop your bike at any speed with confidence! (you might also learn not to in the process, but that's more of a side effect)

As per what others have said, it's normal to drop a bike sometimes. At low / no speed it's best to just let it go once it's beyond a normal expected angle, since it's easy to do yourself some serious damage trying to keep it from going over - you can replace bits of metal and plastic, can't replace your back.

 

[Clogboy]

Thanks for the feedback all. Yes I'm always mentally prepared that it would fall over some day, but this seemed preventable. The only irksome thing is that the other driver called me out on the fact that there was no contact, he stopped and I dropped the bike by myself, quickly countered by the fact that I only dropped it because he didn't see me on time. But I didn't want to turn it into an insurance matter for minor cosmetic damage. Did indeed chalk it up to a learning experience.

I use the rear brake at slow speeds as it is too easy to lock the front which will put you on the ground pdq.

I did actually got more into the habit of using my rear break when approaching an intersection, if I have to gear down. That way I can dedicate one limb to one task: braking and gearing with my feet, clutch and throttle with my hands. The only time it didn't really work for me was when going over an irregularity in the road and the bike kinda jumped, since the wheel that was doing the braking lost a little traction.