[Lollingthunder]

At very low speeds. By low, I mean 1mph. 2mph at most.

If you are curious, Yamaha OEM frame sliders will do absolutely nothing at those speeds. They will essentially be nothing more than decoration. None of the side fairings contact the ground. None at all, all the side fairings are in perfect condition. I mean every single plastic body panel has no damage or contact to the ground after 2 drops.

As far as damage goes, it is minimal. The brunt of the damage was on the footpeg as it was bent. Then some scratches on the exhaust. Minor scratches. Some very small scratches on the mirror tip and very minor scratches on the handlebar end. The front turn signal is scraped at the bottom, so you cannot see it but the thing just pops out completely both times when it hits the ground. I just popped it back in, and later in the garage, opened up the inside panel to put the plastic retainer clip back on the rubber sleeve.

Aside from the bent footpeg, you look at it, you wont think it has been dropped twice unless I point out all the small scratches on it.

So yeah, those OEM frame sliders will probably only do its job for drops at speed. Not standstill/low speed drops.

And if you are wondering how she drops it, she has a NASTY BAD HABIT of using front brakes on low speed maneuvers. Add that with a turned front wheel and you get the picture. Past 2 days I've been having her practice not touching the front brakes when going slow. Gotta keep this up until she gets it in her head.

 

[Navin]

Good on the light damage.

Nothing wrong with front braking at low speeds. It's finesse and momentum I'd say might be the issue. are you having her use the clutch to slip power to the wheel?

What is it she is exactly doing in this e excise?

 

[Mike-the-Bike]

Enroll her in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider course as soon as possible...

 

[3th3r]

Enroll her in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider course as soon as possible...

^^ This, For sure. You are probably only trying to help her, and save some bucks in the meantime, but it will be money well spent to have her take a course taught by professional instructors.

If she is not "getting" your instruction, it's likely that your methodology and her perception are combining into misunderstanding and frustration for both of you.

 

[Lollingthunder]

Ahahahahahahaha.

She passed the MSF course and got her endorsement before buying her motorcycle. Finesse is not her strong point, she tends to lock the front brakes. She's just one of those people who shouldn't be riding a motorcycle. Here is some insight, we bought her a new luxury sedan and 1 month in, she rolls it backwards into the garage door. Yeah. I knew long ago she shouldn't be riding a motorcycle but the deal was if I was going to ride one, so was she. Oh well. She has life insurance.

Yeah, she realized the instructor was one of those "pass everyone" kind of instructors because she said there was a guy who dropped the bike twice and he still passed.

 

[YR3]

Might be worth it to find a tough instructor or some sort of advanced course, training when it comes to this is never enough.

 

[AJ Nin]

I'm sure you know very low speed is the hardest speed to control the bike. With the handlebars turned slightly, if you hit the front brake going less than 1 mph, the bike will just fall in the direction of the turn. I have seen people do this where they are stopped at a light with the bike turned right, say, and they start to go, but change their mind and hit the front brake with those handlebars turned. It just takes lots of practice and a little trial and error. My neighbor who is in her 60s got a new Harley and wrecked it at the MSF course a couple months ago. She is recovered now and says she will try again. Can you imagine trying to learn on an 800 lb. bike? At least the R3 is a light bike.

 

[Yammar]

Your always gonna have a few drops here and there at the beginning. She'll be fine. With a lot more riding, eventually she'll learn her way. I guess it would help to get some more instructional advice but she's still just gonna have to feel the bike out over time.

 

[3th3r]

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/is-this-yamahas-new-mt25/26654.html

 

[Marquiess]

I doubt there's anyone on this forum that hasn't dropped a motorcycle. It's inevitable that will happen. But now I am experienced, the only time I dropped a motorcycle was a couple of years ago when I dropped my CBR and the **** clutch lever shot off and hit my leg. I forgot to put the stand down! Sheesh! Too bad about the scratches on hers though.

 

[speedys123]

Dropped my R3 this afternoon on the left side , thought the stand was down but apparently not. Pretty minor damage just as described earlier.

Broke the end off the clutch lever, 1WD-H3912-00-00, about $25 from the closest shop after tax. The turn signals folded up and it looks like they took the brunt of the damage, just some scratches on the underside. Some minor scratches on the left side mirror as well.

 

[Stirz]

I know this guy who has dropped one moving it in the garage, another unloading from a trailer and then 4 or 5 times with various bikes on the street. Not saying who he is, but...it happens. Seems like you drop it less often after you do it a few times....

 

[Mase]

So when the bike went down on the left side, the fairings still didn't touch the ground? I laid mine down gently on the right side but all I got was a slightly scratched exhaust, bar end, and turn signal. I figured the exhaust acted like a frame slider and kept the fairings from touching down.

 

[SLO]

Things happen, a few months down the road she will look back and laugh about it. Important thing is for her to clear her head, too many people ride with emotion which is a bad combo. Hopefully you are able to help her clear her mind before going riding and give her encouragement so she doesn't feel any extreme pressure.


A couple of Sena bluetooth communicators would help coaching out immensely, I use them whether coaching in parking lots or at the track.

 

[Lollingthunder]

So when the bike went down on the left side, the fairings still didn't touch the ground? I laid mine down gently on the right side but all I got was a slightly scratched exhaust, bar end, and turn signal. I figured the exhaust acted like a frame slider and kept the fairings from touching down.

Yeah, she dropped it twice on each side. No fairing damage either side.

On the left side, the shifter peg took the brunt of the damage, it got all bent. Well, that and the clutch lever tip broke off. Mirror tips and oem signal scrapes as usual.

I'm assuming this is because of the super low speed (-5 mph)/no speed drop. If you drop it going 15+ mph, chances are the fairings will get scraped.

Anyway, this a reason I'm not going to install aftermarket/led signals on her bike. I prefer they pop off instead thanks to the rubber sleeve/inner clip system instead of breaking the fairing if it is "permanently" fixed in with a collar and screw.