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Dropped my brand new Super Meteor 650 twice in one day - 12 miles in (learning experience)

onlooker0842 said:
I feel your pain! Were your handle bars okay? Hopefully your foot controls didn't get bent like mine. Still work but just cosmetically driving me crazy
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I wonder if you bought the right bike. Are you tall enough to put your feet on the ground? If not I can understand why you went down twice at now speed.
 
I dropped my new Super Meteor the day I bought it just after this photo. My son had driven it home and to a church parking lot to practice. I dropped it at too quick a stop. Luckily, the dealer had just installed the crash bars while we waited. That and the panniers prevented most damage to the bike. Unfortunately, like some have mentioned, I did not give up quick enough so I smashed my hip on the pavement. While the bike was mostly undamaged, I spent 2 weeks on crutches and it was ~ 5 weeks before I could try again. In the mean time, almost before out of the ER, we bought a used Yamaha Vstar 250 to practice on. I also bought the pannier guards from Bykology and always wear armor now. Embarrassed to say it, but 3 more drops since, however, I can now pick it up by myself.

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Constant revs, about 4000rpm and feather the clutch. Also gently apply the rear brake. Look in the direction you want to go. Helped my alot with slow speed turns. I also did a riding course around the cones and that really built my confidence.
 
Fastspek said:
I wonder if you bought the right bike. Are you tall enough to put your feet on the ground? If not I can understand why you went down twice at now speed.
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I'm 5'9" and can flat-foot both sides, so height isn't the issue. Just came from a sport bike with mid-mount pegs and underestimated how different the Super Meteor's weight and forward controls would feel at slow speeds. Learning curve on my end, not a fitment problem. Appreciate the concern though.

LarS said:
I dropped my new Super Meteor the day I bought it just after this photo. My son had driven it home and to a church parking lot to practice. I dropped it at too quick a stop. Luckily, the dealer had just installed the crash bars while we waited. That and the panniers prevented most damage to the bike. Unfortunately, like some have mentioned, I did not give up quick enough so I smashed my hip on the pavement. While the bike was mostly undamaged, I spent 2 weeks on crutches and it was ~ 5 weeks before I could try again. In the mean time, almost before out of the ER, we bought a used Yamaha Vstar 250 to practice on. I also bought the pannier guards from Bykology and always wear armor now. Embarrassed to say it, but 3 more drops since, however, I can now pick it up by myself.
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Man, that sounds like a rough first day, really sorry you had to go through that. Two weeks on crutches is no joke. Huge respect for getting back on the bike after 5 weeks and sticking with it through more drops. That takes real determination. Your experience is a good reminder for me, I tried to muscle mine on the second drop and definitely felt it the next couple days. Nothing like what you went through, but enough to learn that lesson about letting it go when it's past the tipping point.

I'm definitely getting guards before I start doing any real slow-speed practice drills. Hearing that yours saved the bike makes me feel better about that investment. Thanks for sharing your story. It helps to know that multiple drops are part of the learning process and that you can come back from it. Glad you're still riding!
 
My wife's Meteor got a fair number of drops as she was learning. Engine bars saved everything except one rear turn signal that would have been saved if she had some saddle bags on the bike. Total cost of $7.40 from the dealership we were in the parking lot of.
Watch some of the police riding courses and tests. Best I can tell these guys spend a third of their day with the bike on its side as they learn exactly how far they can push before it happens.

For the record, my wife then got onto a Guerrilla and suddenly felt all the stability and control that was missing in the Meteor. I feel like you just experienced that same sensation in reverse.
 
onlooker0842 said:
I'm 5'9" and can flat-foot both sides, so height isn't the issue. Just came from a sport bike with mid-mount pegs and underestimated how different the Super Meteor's weight and forward controls would feel at slow speeds. Learning curve on my end, not a fitment problem. Appreciate the concern
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It could be that the difference in weight is more important than the new rider position that you have to get used to.
My SM 650 weighs 100 kg less than my other two bikes but both have a lower seat height meaning a lower point of gravity. However the SM handles much easier for me especially at low speed.
 
Fastspek said:
It could be that the difference in weight is more important than the new rider position that you have to get used to.
My SM 650 weighs 100 kg less than my other two bikes but both have a lower seat height meaning a lower point of gravity. However the SM handles much easier for me especially at low speed.
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So true: my previous bike was well over 100kg heavier than my recent acquired RE (classic650), and the center of gravity was much lower. Low speed handling/cornering really is completely different. I really have to get used to it.
However where you find it easier, I find it more difficult (especially with a pillion). Having 60% less torque is another factor. But I only had my bike for less than 2 months before winter hit. I hope with some exercise I will get the hang of it. You give me hope 😁
 
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