while rolling around gravel driveway I dropped my Dad's Heritage Classic with both front and rear guards and not a scratch, thanks be for that,my red face burned quite a bit,almost dropped my road King in the garage by not putting down the jiffy stand, it was next to the toolbox and if it had dropped all the way it would have been major ugly.Amazing how much strength you can summon when your expensive shiny toy is under the influence of gravity and ugly damage is inevitable,stopped the downward travel a couple inches before the windshield and front fender hit the toolbox,muscles in shoulders still sore. I now look down to make sure the jiffy is down and the tab is in the slot before letting it settle down.

 

Well I know the feeling. I had it happen twice over a year ago in my first 3 weeks of owning my RK. The first time was 1 week after I bought it while I wasbacking out of a friends driveway onto the street and let it get away from me on the low side and couldn't hold it up. The second time was 2 weeks later in the parking lotof a Harbor Freight store when I moved the bike forward a bit with my jiffy stand down and it must have dragged a little and didn't lock itself in. I got off the bike and about 2 seconds later down it went on the engine and bag guards.You gottalove those guards and the only damage were a couple of scratches on the chrome on the bottom of the guards that you can't see.

 

what he said

 

Just got thru taking a civillian version of a police motor training class. They said "You ain't tryin hard enough unless you drop it". Well, needless to say we continued to drop it throughout the weekend (some more than others). They taught us the proper technique for raising a dropped motor, even some pretty small ladies were picking up the Roadking. The crash bars are a real saver to the MC.

 

Speaking of humbling, after riding my last RK 106k miles over nine years and not letting it fall over for the last eight of those years, I buy a new SG last November. Soon afterward I was in my garage after a run to Walmart, the removable Tour Tak and bags full of stuff, and realizing I needed to back it up to mount the TP on the wall, I did so and let 'er down. But forgot one minor detail, to extend the kickstand. Well, a herculean effort to keep it upright failed and although it did come to rest slowly on the floorboard, there was no damage at all, a miracle in my tight garage that something didn't collide. The car is 1' away on the right, and the wall not more than 3'. Anyway, I barely got it up on my own, nearly busting a nut, and was glad nobody was watching. Of course, I admit my shame before hundreds of bikers on this forum. But, let he who hasn't let his bike fall over cast the first stone.

 

When adding your saddle bag guards on your SG or RG , buy the angle down style from HD.
Your passenger will thank you, plus it looks cleaner.

 

BTW, those crash bars work in low-speed collisions. On January 16 I was hit by an office worker driving a Toyota pickup. He went two lanes over on a 1-way street to reach an open parking space, but of course I was in the lane and got his pickup bed in the right side. After being pinned upright between his and another mini truck, I looked down and noticed a 45-degree bent crashbar - still protecting my leg. You can bet that that crashbar and I had a long conversation over a couple of beers about my gratitude for its sacrifice!

 

Wow, thanks guys. I felt Stoooopid. Amazing what a confession and some "I did it too" support can do to regain one's pride and confidence.

Ride On, and keep the shiny side up.

 

I have dropped my 2007 UC three times. And I have dropped my wifes 2007 1200Low Sportster once. I dropped the UC twice while loaded with passenger at Stop signs. I also dropped it once at the Ride Like A Pro School in Florida. I was trying to go through a slow cone S typeturns and I more or less fell off. Was a little to cocky when I dropped the sporty. Thought I had perfected the U turn real tight at slow speed. WRONG. Damn I am getting tired of dropping it. On the UC I scratched the saddlebag guard small ferrel but I think I can take the guard aprt and turn the ferrel over and no one can see it. I also bent the clutch lever but I have replaced it already with a new one.

There are all kinds of post on dropping check them out.

 

Yup, I found out this past saturday that crash bar are well worth the investment!