Funny subject title but I'm not laughing. I am officially a statistic new rider drops bike within first six months of ownership. So I was practicing in a parking lot like a responsible newbie. I was working on my cornering by looking through my turns and trying to tighten the turn and increase my speed. I was doing fine for the first five or six turns and then I decided to push more ( countersteer) in the direction of my turn. Not a good idea I believe I did not have enough speed for countersteering at the time. So the bike just sorta fell over. The bike did not slide out it just seemed to fold and drop it was very strange. I'm fine however the bike took hits on the bar end ,clutch lever, kickstand, passenger foot peg, headlight mounting bracket, front visor,gear shifter,generator cover and the prize winning silver dollar sized dent in the gas tank @#?&%. So tail between my legs I called it a day. Talk about ruining your day. Here is the real bummer I just ordered some rizoma frame sliders that have not arrived yet. Can you believe it talk about a day late and a dollar short. I sure the damage would have been much different with them on the bike. Does my analysis of what happened seem correct? Any input would be appreciated.Does a gas tank still take a hit even if you have frame sliders?

It at least drastically reduces the chances. Don't feel bad, almost everyone drops. I dropped my first night. At the time, I didn't have sliders and had slight damage to the tank (along with generator cover, headlight mount, headlight fairing), but you can't even really see it. The second time I dropped, I was doing between 20 and 30 with my frame sliders and all of the damage was to the slider, bar end, and headlight fairing... and I bent the shifter and scratched the tail. Still preferable to a dented and scratched tank, though.

Dropped mine on my second ride - like you, it was in a parking lot practicing slow speed turns. Stalled (was in too high of a gear) and bike fell over right on top of me. Adrenaline kicked in and I pushed it up real quick - was right next to a little league baseball game in progress and didn't want to here a bunch of Nelsons HaHa'ing me. :lol: Since the bike landing on me, only damage was a scratch on the peg that was not noticeable, and since I had on thick jeans, no burns from the engine or scratches on me. Just a little bruise and bump on the ego. It's all good man.

Oh yeah, forgot about those. First time, I wasn't wearing gloves or riding boots, so I tore my hands up and got a really nasty burn on my ankle... throbbing pain and oozing for about a week. Jacket saved my arms. Second one, smashed toe (thought it was broken for a day), sprained ankle for weeks, tore my knee up nicely, a little scratch on my hip, permanent (though sexy) scars on my left arm, and a nice blood blister on my thumb. Wear your gear... this was supposed to be a quick, low-risk errand. I haven't gone without a jacket and gloves since.

Man, you've had some bad luck lately! Almost whacked by a car, now dropping the bike. That tank dent is a bummer, new ones are very expensive. Time to get yourself a lucky rabbit's foot for a keychain!

...I believe I did not have enough speed for countersteering at the time... So tail between my legs I called it a day...

I think people hear about the "counter steer" thing and get to thinking about it too much. It happens naturally, there literally is no other way to turn the bike when at speed. When you are going slower, it works just like a bicycle. Again your brain sorts it out naturally for the most part.

Frame sliders may have save some damage but from the description of how you went down... maybe, maybe not.

Sucks but hay, now you don't need to worry about that first scratch/dent. :? However this is precisely the reason I'd say if someone is new to bikes, just get a older inexpensive beater and then no worries.

I dropped mine the first night I got it, but luckily it had sliders on it so the damage was nearly non-existing. Bummer.

Word of advice: while you're just starting out, doing your thing in the parking lot - don't push it. Do a maneuver a hundred times if you have to until you're completely comfortable with it.

I'm not sure if I asked you this before: did you take the MSF class? (Not likely to prevent you from dropping your bike - definitely didn't help me! :0) but gives you enough of the basics where you'll understand why you go down.

I feel your pain though - I hope you get it all sorted out.

I believe I did not have enough speed for countersteering at the time.

Sorry to hear about the slam! One of the unfortunate educational moments experienced with motorcycle ownership.

Mordeth13 has a video about counter steering. I didn't bother watching the whole thing again, but I think he goes on to say that counter steering doesn't doesn't take effect until about 20mph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8IdTq3_3WI

I just took my MSF course and I really had a problem with them trying to teach counter steering at the speeds we were traveling and on the dz250's we were on. The bars were high and banana shaped and the bike is so small that I felt it was almost mini bike like and I'm all of 5'5''. You can't counter steer at the slow speeds and when I tried it I couldn't do one of the turns. When I rode the thing like a bicycle I flew around that track. Even on my 599 I don't counter steer unless I'm on the road, when I turn into my driveway I just twist the bars, no counter steering involved. Worthwhile course though.

Well I tallied the damage and without the tank replaced or repaired it was $206.00. The tank runs $572.00 so I guess I will live with it or have some shop give me an estimate to fix the dent and repaint it. I will continue to practice and I have taken the msf course. I intend to take all courses that are being offered. The msf has the experienced rider course but you need a year of riding or 1000 miles as a suggested prerequisite. I came across another course by a guy named lee Parks who has a clinic called total control advanced riding clinic. Looks like a good one it covers suspension and the physics of the bike as well as cornering skills. I am sure you guys have heard of all of these if not check them out. Thanks for the support it's nice to know I'm not the only one to drop there bike so soon after buying.

Let me just get this out of the way. Ha ha ha, sucks to be you! :point

Did you get a repair bill yet? Be sure you're sitting down when you get the news. :shock:

I'm glad you weren't hurt.

thats not a very nice comment, it could happen to anyone.

Excluding personal injury, if you can laugh at your self or the situation it makes coping a lot easier.

Besides I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't poke fun. :grouphug

Let me try one of my briliant jokes. Here goes.

Where do pirates go for lunch?
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Arrrrrrrrbys!

I am officially in the gang I got a flaming from Steve. It was only a matter of time. But Steve you should'nt build up to much negative kharma working it off can be a bitch LOL. I plan on replacing all the parts myself the only tough spot is the tank. I still don't know what I'm going to do about that. Steve a question ,have, you ever replaced the alternator cover without removing the air box? Easier if off the bike but is it worth doing that way?

Since everyone else is admitting it, I'll jump in. I also dropped the bike not once... but twice on the first day. Oh lord.... Luckily, there's almost no damage except to the gear box. I let 'er down easy both times.

I would say, just out of concern for your pocket book, don't bother getting it repaired just yet. Wait a few months before fixing it, get better at riding, because when you drop it again, you'll be mad that you got it fixed and have to do it again.

I haven't removed the cover. I don't think you'd need to take out the air box for that.

It's one of those see how it goes projects. If something is in the way you can move it. Or you can hire a really small midget with really small hands with a really small set of tools to get into those tight spaces. I always keep one on hand just in case.

I have to agree with Steve... Sucks to be you guys. I've never dropped my 599. Just got my sliders on since I'm planning on going to the track soon. I did, however, drop my ol cruiser on my leg the first night I had it. But I was stupid psyched about having a bike and went riding for the first time right after it rained.

...then I decided to push more ( countersteer) in the direction of my turn. Not a good idea I believe I did not have enough speed for countersteering at the time. So the bike just sorta fell over.
Snapperhead, I'm a little confused at how your accident happened. For low speed tight turns you wouldn't be countersteering at all. You would be turning left to go left, shifting your weight to the right peg and then "push" the bike away from you (to the left) to really turn quickly. You mentioned that you countersteered in the direction of your turn, but countersteering is turning the wheel the opposite direction of the turn (i.e. push left to go left, push right to go right).

I like to practice low speed manuevering in my work parking lot too and I just can't picture what happened. Were you going 5 mph and pushed left on your handle bar to go left?

At any rate, learning to ride a motorcycle is definitely trial and error. No matter how many times something it verbally explained, until you experience first-hand how it feels, you just don't know what to expect. Low speed control is very important, yet the hardest to master.

:D

Hopefully that will be the only time you drop your bike.

Ultimately it was a newbie mistake I was travelling too slow to countersteer. I was concentrating on how I was going to steer and let my speed drop. It was like when your bike is on the kickstand and you turn the bars to the right the bike leans a little more to the left I just happened to do that when the kickstand was not down and I was moving lol