Honda CX500 & GL500 Forum

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03-10-2008, 5:23 AM Nittany Joined on 12-21-2007 Posts 141 Dropped bike poll: I dropped my bike today.  I've been sick with the flu, and I was too weak to keep the bike up in my driveway, and down went Frazier.   Who else has dropped their bike?     Nittany '82 GL500 Bleedin' Blue & White    Report

03-10-2008, 5:36 AM mildhog Joined on 11-21-2007 Chesapeake, VA Posts 312 Re: Dropped bike poll: Oh yeah. When I first got my S-Wing I was walking it up the driveway. On the edge to get past a car and put my foot on the ground which is lower and down I went. Had my hand jammed between the left grip and a basketball goal post. Could only get up with my son's help...after he stopped laughing. Have to admit, it was pretty funny, except for the sore left hand. From what I gather, everybody does it sooner or later. Arnie in VA 1982 GL500I Silverwing 1983 GL650    Report

03-10-2008, 6:24 AM tbyork692 Joined on 11-16-2006 Posts 51 Re: Dropped bike poll: My understanding is there are two types of riders, those who have dropped their bikes and those who will. I've dropped my cx500 a total of three times. Twice when parking it at work, both on the same day.  It was this summer, maybe 95 degrees, we've grown a lot and parking is tight so we set up a spot just for bikes and scooters to the side of the parking lot.  I was turning around and rode the bike up on the grass a bit, and misjudged the hill and dropped it.  I wasn't moving at all, I think I was power walking it.  Once I picked it up and got off the hill I dropped it again. There I was in the 95 degree heat in my work clothes picking up my bike. Other time I was riding home over lunch to walk my dog (I live maybe half a mile from my office.) There was construction at an intersection and I couldn't see around it to see if traffic was coming.  I was at the stop sign and leaned really far to the left to see, then I leaned back to the right and felt the bike going out from under me.  I knew I wouldn't be able to stop it so I just moved my leg and eased the bike to the ground. I was totally in shock.  The VP of Sales, who I report to, came by pulled over and helped me pick up the bike. I was fine, bike was fine, but I was in shock.   Fortunately all of my incidents (so far) have happened at no speed.  My cx500 was hit by cars several times this summer so I'm going to be working on it when the weather is better, for now I'm riding a 2002 suzuki v-strom.  Similar riding position, but lots of plastic.   Really worried what will happen if I ever drop this one.      Report

03-10-2008, 7:00 AM Sture (in Sweden) Joined on 03-13-2006 Lund, SWEDEN Posts 92 Re: Dropped bike poll: Yeah, sure! More than once, also! Was never my fault though, honestly!! Once I was ill (flu) and felt sick (almost fainted) when putting my little Yamaha XJ 400 on its centre stand on a city street. Lost my balance a little and down it went. Once with my Silver Wing on the shore with a lady as passenger. Passing over roots and bumps in the loose sand, she agile as a sack of potatoes - I lost the balance - no surprise! Last time was -98 on Isle of Man with the same Silver Wing. One pint of Guinness too many at the Ramsey pub (they said two would be OK - three on the limit - for 0.8 promille) - I had only one!! I dropped it on a slant layby on the way up to Gooseneck. Hasn´t happened since but it has been pretty close! It never happened with the ST 1100 I had for some years, and that is rather strange. I was happy for that, because that bike was a swine to handle at close to standstill. Probably also to lift (325 kg). I think the standard CX 500 and its 220 kg is just what suits me best, even if it´s a little top-heavy. The lady who later bought that Silver Wing from me dropped it as she climbed aboard for a test-ride. I had told her to concentrate on what she was doing! Talk about talking to deaf ears!! She bought it, anyway! Decent!!   Regards Sture Honda CX 500 (B) -81 x 4 Yamaha SRX 600 -86 x 2    Report

03-10-2008, 12:48 PM Anonymous Re: Dropped bike poll: I never dropped a Honda ... But did you ever try to pick upa 890lb BMW with a trailer attached. Just give it a little push putting the trailer on and have it roll off the center stand. Trust me you don't want to try to pick it up by yourself. It took two people. The bike is well designed though ... it didn't have a scratch on it and I was on gravel. David from Wisconsin R80Dave

03-10-2008, 1:12 PM HotFoot Joined on 09-17-2007 SW Lower Michigan, USA Posts 110 Re: Dropped bike poll: I've dropped only one bike.... about ten years ago....the '80 cx500 I am currently rebuilding. I was in a hanger maneuvering the bike around my homebuilt airplane. Tight quarters...got pant leg hung up on something and went over on left side. Left handle bar went thru airplane's fabric covered stabilator. All the way thru... top and bottom. There was a violent outburst of very bad language. Would have made "The Gunny" blush. Hoppy    Report

03-10-2008, 1:34 PM Bykermom Joined on 10-29-2007 Aurora, CO Posts 97 Re: Dropped bike poll: 3 times on my CX, poor bike. Either not moving or moving slowly trying to make a turn. A few bruises on my leg, major pain to my ego. 1981 CX500 custom - 'Roxanne' 1981 Yamaha Seca 750 (husband's) 1978 Kawasaki 175KE (kids') 1982 GL500i (project bike) - 'Sting'    Report

03-10-2008, 4:11 PM squigbobble Joined on 04-10-2007 Yorkshire Posts 111 Re: Dropped bike poll: I've dropped both my bikes twice- Bandit- dropped this within half an hour of delivery, I was turning it around in the back yard and backed into a bush which pushed me and I, in turn, pushed the bike away from me. Followed that up by dropping it the first time I tried to ride it; got about 10 feet and tried to turn down the sidestreet (about 1 in 5-6 slope) by my house and ground to a halt mid-turn. At this point, my right foot was downhill and about 8 inches off the road (before I had the seat lowered) so you can guess which way I fell. That ended with bent bars, brake lever and a cracked crankcase cover that I had to replace. CX- Also dropped this within seconds of owning it; I stopped at a petrol station after picking it up as the amount of fuel in it didn't even read on the gauge, filled up alright then as I shoulder checked before setting off from the pump I leant a little bit too far to the left... The one and only time I've come off in traffic, I was slowing for a smallish roundabout in the first week I had it (and my first week of post-test riding) and, as I put my foot down, I stood up off the seat and let off the back brake slightly. I wound up stopping with my foot by the back wheel, totally unable to hold the bike up so I laid it down as gently as I could. Unfortunately I was exactly the right distance from the kerb to knock the mirror off as the bike landed. I didn't hurt myself during any of those due to them occuring at exactly 0mph and me managing not to get trapped; the closest I got to an injury was kneeing the tank as the Bandit hurled me off during drop number 2. Strangely, I've only ever dropped the CX on the left side and the Bandit on the right but in doing so I feel I've maintained balance and harmony in the Zen of non-injurious bike accidents. '83 CX500 Eurosport - distributed around my cellar. '98 Bandit 600 - still a bit rough. Dodgy squealing from engine... Fan & flywheel puller kits, £3 + postage    Report

03-10-2008, 4:39 PM RedSkin12b Joined on 10-26-2007 Colorado Springs Posts 31 Re: Dropped bike poll: Well I have to admit, with in a few hours of having my bike home I was in the drive way and was turning the bike around had the engine running, and I still don't know what happenned my wife was watching and the next thing I know I'm on the concrete witha busted turn signal....I was soooo MAD. The second time I was on my way to work and was taking a 12 pk of Mt Dew with me... I just bungied it to the Sissy bar and away I went... well lets just say the card board on those boxs isn't all that strong and I lost half of them. I went to pull over and due to my inexperience at the time I stopped on some gravel/ dirt...and the front well went down.... it was more of me lowering it than a drop... but manged to not injury the bike, that time. Brad 82 CX 500 Custom    Report

03-10-2008, 5:19 PM makenzie71 Joined on 03-30-2007 TX Posts 303 Re: Dropped bike poll: My CX was the first streetbike I've dropped (barring one exception involving a bird and me letting the bike fall over as I curled into a ball in the ditch).  Was pulling a u-turn and hit some wet grass on a slope.  Grabbed too much brake and washed.  I went right over the bars and landed on my hands and left shoulder, bounced and came down again about 7ft away and smacked a rock.  Luckily I was geared and only saw minor injuries. Available from EssGlass ATV/Motorcycle Fabrication ~Preload adjusters (CX5/applicable): $55 + core caps ~310mm big brake kits (CX5/applicable): starting at $125 ~Left exit divorced exhaust: $225 for info email me!    Report

03-10-2008, 5:46 PM fll1441 Joined on 11-06-2006 Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts 577 Re: Dropped bike poll: Riding my CB900 I stopped at a stop sign two blocks from my house. I put my left foot down and it slipped on some oil or something in the road. Once my foot started to slip there was no way I could keep that bike up. Luckily, the street was deserted so I wasn't too embarrassed.    Report

03-10-2008, 6:08 PM tntchitwood Joined on 03-03-2008 Pine Knot, KY Posts 398 Re: Dropped bike poll: Lord, I've dropped every bike I've ever owned. It happens! If you can read this thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English thank a soldier!    Report

03-10-2008, 6:49 PM Evmo Joined on 03-22-2007 Nelson, New Zealand Posts 46 Re: Dropped bike poll: I went camping in the middle of winter and took a friend on the back. We rode a few hours out of town and found a spot by the coast where we had a few whiskies and a BBQ and then turned in for the night, which quickly turned unpleasant as temperatures dropped severely and unexpectedly. When we awoke, everything (including the much-loved CX) was covered in frost, and after a few sluggish turns of the engine the battery died. So after pushing it over the brow of the hill we were camping on, allowing access to the downhill slope to the sea, I commenced bumpstarting the bike (which is a much-practised manouevre that doesnt get any easier with time) so I ran off down the hill, getting up to a sufficient speed to crank it over in 2nd, and then attempted the rarely graceful leg-over-the-seat leap when the handgrip ripped off in my frozen paw and down I went. As all my weight was on my left hand when I made the leap, I instantly went down and under the bike which rolled over my hand and gave me a jolly good grazing on the back and bum. All I could think at the time was "Nooooo! Not the BIKE!" despite my fractured dignity- but the trustworthy old bike was fine except for a shattered headlamp bulb! However, my mate standing at the top of the hill couldnt stop guffawing until I made it plenty clear that it wasnt helping ... Heh heh heh! Always good times on the CX! :D "Design something idiot-proof and someone else designs a better idiot"    Report

03-10-2008, 8:00 PM Vikeyboy Joined on 11-24-2006 Fort Worth, TX Posts 39 Re: Dropped bike poll: I dropped my 76 XS650 when I was being tailgated by an a$$h0le in a pick-up. I had to make a quick turn into my driveway, going faster than I was comfortable doing. When the driveway transitioned from concrete to gravel the front wheel slid right out from under me. Luckily I was balanced enough to hop off of the bike as it slid out from under me. I didn't sustain any injury, but was sure as mad as I had ever been. Now I know that going on past the turn would have been the smart decision. Of course, I was 19 at the time. I hope I am smarter now than I was then. Vikeyboy 1982 GL500i No man knows his true character until he has run out of gas, purchased something on the installment plan, and raised an adolescent. - Marcelene Cox ( Writer, 1899 - 1998 )    Report

03-10-2008, 9:51 PM Vanmor Joined on 01-11-2008 USA Posts 189 Re: Dropped bike poll: I can't remember how many times I laid a bike over. I laid my SL 100 down at 45 mph one time while in jr. high. Didn't even get a scrape and the bike was just fine. It was a little wet and a motocross knobby is not good on the street. I have dropped many in the garage while working on them. I have always had a small place to use as a shop no matter where I lived. So I will back into or knock any bike I am working on over. The CX line is a tall bike as we all know. It is kinda top heavy too. I ain't laid one of these over yet but I know my time is coming. Vance    Report

03-10-2008, 10:05 PM dozer1 Joined on 05-26-2007 Boston, Massachussetts Posts 448 Re: Dropped bike poll: Twice; once riding in the snow with a frozen throttle, I made it all the way through Boston in sub 0 temperatures, and then as soon as I turn onto my street I touch the front brake on some black ice and down she goes. Was a real pita to pick up since every time I lifted the front wheel it just slid away from me on the ice. Second time was trying to push start it on a flat parking lot, again in the 0-10 degree range, and I was sweating and tired of pushing, and as I come to a stop she leaned over to the right and I just slowly let her down. Happily niether has resulted in any injury to Stella 1980 CX500 "Stella" Dozer1 AKA Snowplow    Report

03-10-2008, 11:58 PM Sture (in Sweden) Joined on 03-13-2006 Lund, SWEDEN Posts 92 Re: Dropped bike poll: Oh, forgot one in my previous post! Didn´t think of it in termes of "dropping" - more of getting hit. 2001 my son and I were on our way to Romania. In the town of  Nyiregyhaza (Hungary) we were tailgated as I slammed my  brakes for a couple of silver-hair ladies, suddenly crossing at a pedestrian´s crossing. That year we had a new law in my country, making it mandatory to give pedestrians free way at marked crossings, practically no matter how they´d been approaching the zebra lines. A much discussed law, I might add. I stopped this time too - only was there a Romanian guy behind, too close with his Dacia. I heard his tyres squeek, realized that I could expect some sort of vehicle contact. He hit us softly at one of my hard saddlebags, exactly so much that I didn´t manage to hold the bike, which fell over on rhs, together with my son. I managed to remain on my feet, still over the bike. No damages at all to either bike or us but the saddlebag holder snapped off in five places. We had to wait some days in a hotel (all expenses paid by my insurance) until new luggage hardware arrived from home (my daughter fixed that with spares from my cellar shelves).  Regards Sture     Honda CX 500 (B) -81 x 4 Yamaha SRX 600 -86 x 2    Report

03-11-2008, 12:47 AM N1265 Joined on 11-01-2007 Fremont ohio Posts 185 Re: Dropped bike poll: I have owned two bikes, a CB400 and my current GLI and I have dropped them both due to the same cause... Front breaks locking up.    Both times I was coming to a stop at an intersection traveling under 10 mph, Both times the front tire slid off to the right and I went over the handle bars to the left rolling into the intersection and having to depend on on-coming traffic to miss me.... I am lucky, ( knock on wood )   the worst injury I have gotten is a skinned up knee and a sprained wrist. 1982 SilverState " no mater where you go, there you are "    Report

03-11-2008, 3:17 PM Robert Paulson Joined on 07-14-2007 Kentucky, USA Posts 26 Re: Dropped bike poll: I must have forgotten how to ride over the winter. Instead of winterizing my CX I just take it out every few weeks and let the engine get up to operating temp. A few days ago we had one of those warm enough winter days and so I hopped on the bike and headed down the street. I have to make kind of a U turn at the end of the road. I slowed down and started a pretty tight turn. I've done it hundreds of times. Well, as I get about to the apex of the turn the bike starts sputtering and then it just stalls out completely coming to an abrupt stop mid turn. The bike is leaned over too far to be at a stop - so down we go. Laying there on the pavement I noted that my riding gloves have a little hard pad on the outside of the wrist. That pad really saved me some pain. How thoughtful of them to include this pad. As I am getting myself composed I'm going through the reasons why the bike might have stalled. The fuel is on...plenty of gas... Oh Yeah, now I remember. It helps if you pull in the clutch lever when you're going to slow to a crawl. Luckily nothing broke. Just a few more dings and scratches to add to my already impressive collection. This is why I can't have nice things. --RP    Report

03-11-2008, 4:36 PM Da Bear Joined on 12-31-2007 Portland, Oregon Posts 56 Re: Dropped bike poll: Oh Boy, Here we go.... 1st bike, a Harley built in Highschool. Found the engine in pieces in a box in auto shop and went from there, built the frame in metal shop. Wrapped it around a telephone pole on a stormy night in 1976, broke my leg. Then I had a Honda 400, hit a guy on a 750 four, when he ran a red light, stoned and drunk, he was wearing shorts and a tank top and thongs sandles. No helmet. I was doing 35 MPH. It didn't turn out well for him..... I spent a few weeks in traction. Then there was my dump on the freeway, October 24th 1985, 9:00 PM. I had another 400, with a Rooster fairing, and crash bars. I was doing 65, in the center lane, when some idiot ahead of me came to a dead stop, for no reason at all. A cop saw the whole thing and couldn't believe it.  I leaned.  Man did I lean. I caught him 6 inches inside his bumper. That's where the bike and I went our separate ways. I landed on my back, bounced, spun, and started to slide I used my hands to slow  down. I saw my bike slide across the fast lane, sparks flying. I thought I'd slowed down enough to stand up, so I put my hands down and stood up, and found myself trying to run backwards, and fell back down. I split my helmet from back to front, and wore a hole through my thermal pants, and my Levi's, and my thermal underwear. Not a scatch on me. My gloves were trashed, and I had sore hands, pulled a bunch of muscles and got a concussion. A good samaritan followed the cop and me to the hospital with the bike in the back of his truck, lucky for me it was just a block away. After getting checked out by the doc's, I went out to see the damage. The fairing was ground down a whole lot. The crash bars were toast. I lost a turn signal. I rode the bike home....... That ride home was the only time I've ever ridden without a helmet,   Da Bear 82 GL500I She Hasta    Report

03-11-2008, 11:33 PM Anonymous Re: Dropped bike poll: