crash and question

[Bike Monk]

I recently puchased a 2000' 1150GS and have been all smiles until today. I was approaching a left-handed curve and was downshifting into second gear at about 30mph when the back tire seem to cycle the ABS and give me a little shrug sideways (could have been my imagination though) causing me to lay the bike on its right side and skid for what seemed to be forever. After picking up my bike, pushing it out of the way of approaching traffic, and wandering what the f--k just happened, I saw the damage. I picked up my rear blinker lens and drove myself home.

Questions: Has this ever happened to anyone?

Does anyone know of a good place to buy replacement blinker stalks and lenses? Send me the link please!

Can scrape marks above the jug guards be touched up or repaired?

I appreciate all the info from the seasoned riders and anyone with some repair tips.

I walked away with a scraped knee and a severely bruised up ego.

[John Macdonald]

Welcome to the assylum-


The only thing abs will do for you is cycle the pressure in the brake lines. It's not a traction control device in any other regard, all it does is modulate pressure in the brake lines.
If you had your foot on the brake pedal and were braking, then perhaps the abs had something to do with it.

Far as the parts go, look chicago bmw up on the web and order from them if you're concerned with price. They always have a 20% off deal going and if you're outta state, there's no tax.

If I were you, I'd spend a little time with the abs off practicing rear wheel brake slides to get more used to the way your 1150 handles sliding the rear end.

[Rad]

Hey Bike Monk

Have ya spent much time on Boxer twins?

I don't think is was the ABS.

Sounds to me like ya locked the rear wheel while down shifting.

If ya don't match yur RPM with yur speed it is easy to lock up the rear wheel on a big twin.

[BJZ]

Had a similar deal with out the fall.

Went into a left hand turn to a street just a touch too hot and lost count of my down shifts instead of being in 2 I popped the clutch on 1. Lucky for me the pavement was good as the back wheel will started to slide. Not sure, things happened so fast, but I think pulling the clutch stopped it or maybe the slided stopped on its own.

A cheap scare and a good lesson was had.

Fish mentioned that downshifting and clutching popping was a good way to drop the bike if you needed to. Looks like he was right.



PS What were you wearing for protection?

[wxwax]

Rad, thanks for saying what I was thinking.

[Bike Monk]

Said BJZ:
Had a similar deal with out the fall.

Went into a left hand turn to a street just a touch too hot and lost count of my down shifts instead of being in 2 I popped the clutch on 1. Lucky for me the pavement was good as the back wheel will started to slide. Not sure, things happened so fast, but I think pulling the clutch stopped it or maybe the slided stopped on its own.

A cheap scare and a good lesson was had.

Fish mentioned that downshifting and clutching popping was a good way to drop the bike if you needed to. Looks like he was right.



PS What were you wearing for protection?

I was wearing a riding jacket, helm, pants, and sneakers (still waiting for my gear from Acessory Warehouse!) I need to get more familiar with the downshifting/speed calcs. I may have been too fast to go into second gear. Needless to say, a nasty lesson learned and cylinder cover scratches to go with.

[Bike Monk]

Said Rad:
Hey Bike Monk

Have ya spent much time on Boxer twins?

I don't think is was the ABS.

Sounds to me like ya locked the rear wheel while down shifting.

If ya don't match yur RPM with yur speed it is easy to lock up the rear wheel on a big twin.

Rad, thanks for the info. The GS is a real comfortable bike to ride and just when you think you know it..................

To answer your question, I have not spent much time on a Boxer twin........... 3 weeks for that matter.

[Rad]

Said Bike Monk:
To answer your question, I have not spent much time on a Boxer twin........... 3 weeks for that matter.

Thats cool

Sure glad ya did not get hurt bad. The GS big twin can be very forgiving in a nice low side. You would have $1,500 to $2,000 damage on most bikes that are covered in plastic.

The big twin is a blast, you will get much better with it. Try blip'n the throttle every down shift and ya don't need to down shift it as much as other bikes, like 4's, cause it has so much torque and can pull from very low RPM's.

[MikeO]

Wouldn't the ABS pump start up anyway, whether the brakes were applied or not, when the rear ABS sensor told the system that the rear wheel had locked? I wouldn't have any effect, but might explain Monk thinking he heard it cycle......

MikeO

[Steverino]

Said MikeO:
Wouldn't the ABS pump start up anyway, whether the brakes were applied or not, when the rear ABS sensor told the system that the rear wheel had locked? I wouldn't have any effect, but might explain Monk thinking he heard it cycle......

MikeO

But if was not braking and was just downshifting what difference would it have made if it cycled and he was not applying the brakes?

[MikeO]

Said K12RSSteve:
But if was not braking and was just downshifting what difference would it have made if it cycled and he was not applying the brakes?

As I said.... It wouldn't have any effect, but it might explain why he heard the ABS cycle....


MikeO

[Bike Monk]

Said Rad:
Thats cool

Sure glad ya did not get hurt bad. The GS big twin can be very forgiving in a nice low side. You would have $1,500 to $2,000 damage on most bikes that are covered in plastic.

The big twin is a blast, you will get much better with it. Try blip'n the throttle every down shift and ya don't need to down shift it as much as other bikes, like 4's, cause it has so much torque and can pull from very low RPM's.

Thanks for the concern. I believe your right with the minimal damage, mucho plastic would have been a nightmare. The bike will take some time to get famaliar with, but well worth it. I appreciate all the tips and info from this site............ It fookin' rocks

[RubberDown]

Said Rad:
Hey Bike Monk

Have ya spent much time on Boxer twins?

I don't think is was the ABS.

Sounds to me like ya locked the rear wheel while down shifting.

If ya don't match yur RPM with yur speed it is easy to lock up the rear wheel on a big twin.

I think it's very important with any new motorcycle to quickly familiarize yourself with the engine, transmission, brakes etc. I like to practice in large parking lots shifting up and down, locking the rear brake (turn the ABS off) and emergency maneuvers. I also highly recommend practicing using the ABS so you'll know what it feels like when the pressure modulators kick in. You should practice using the ABS in different conditions too. That way you won't be caught off guard and you'll know the limitations of the motorcycle. Each bike is a little different. For example, the standard GS has a very tall 6th gear so you have to be a little careful when downshifting into 5th. Just my $.02

Eric
'01 R1150GS

[Flash412]

Did you check the road surface immediately following your fall? There may have been some clues there. Sometimes you can learn something from the marks made by the tires and/or plastic/metal on the road. Sometimes you'll see a patch of sand or spots of oil or antifreeze that made you lose traction.

[zero-zero]

I'm with Rad on this one - I've had the GS sideways from overenthusiastic downshifting while starting to lean into a turn (actually, my first day out with her she did that... I blushed and thought, "gee honey, don't you think that's a bit much on our first date?" :): ). I do it now and then now just for kicks... scares the shit out of my CBR-riding bro-in-law right behind me!

You'll learn your ways. No sweat.