Hump Day Pre Dawn Follies

[bill lumberg]

Headed into the office early. Light traffic. Most stations still without gas. And wouldn’t you know, I encountered a Karen. In this case, it took the form of a Chevy econobox to that decided that it was their job to block my progress in the fast lane. Intentional, in this case. Even swerved a little when I finally passed on the right to show me their authorit-tye. Not terribly unusual around here, or particularly notable, but you’d think folks would have better things to do at 420am. I find far more passive aggressive behavior In area drivers in the early morning than I ever do in the afternoon or evening. Who knows.

Then, on the same commute, I’m banging along in the HOV lane, near the exit for my office, when I hit something with my left peg. Hard. Weird. Didn’t see anything.

After a few seconds, I gingerly wiggled my foot to see if it hurt. Then I flexed the peg. It flexed, as did my ankle, without issue. All good- but it was a knock- I’m sort of feeling for suspension or inflation issues, but I don’t feel anything.

Then- as soon as geared down at my exit, bike is dead. I tried gearing down to get it back, but it’s like I hit the kill switch. Damn. There was damage from whatever that was…. Brief consideration of alternate bike and the different gear management that would involve…. But we aren’t stopped yet.

I stop in an exclusionary zone, go to put the kickstand down, and it was already down.

And the heavens opened, and a rainbow hit my tiny dark heart. I’ve never had a kickstand issue, but I knew right away that the switch was the cause. Upon further examination, I determined that the spring had parted ways with the bike. I held the stand up with my foot and limped the few blocks to my parking garage. Got to find a zip tie to make it home. Better than what it could have been. All in all, not a bad commute.

[danh600]

You think you hit something or just felt the spring snap?

I was on a long straight road the other day. There was an old HD coming my way. He was running about 50mph and the kickstand was all the way down.
Man, that looked scary.

[bill lumberg]

I think the spring broke, and the deployed sidestand hit pavement on a dip. Can’t be sure, but that’s my guess. None in stock. I’ve got some vague springs ordered from Amazon prime. Will have to wait a while to receive the OEM replacement. Not a part I thought I needed to stock…

[blind squirrel]

I was on a long straight road the other day.

That's all you have down there.

[danh600]

I was on a long straight road the other day.

That's all you have down there.

Haha. You quoted the part about straight roads, but you could of included the comment about a Harley. Sometimes I think they make up about 90% of Florida bikes.

Also, all our roads are not long and straight. We have short and straight ones too!!!

[extrememarine]

Check to see if the part number changed from Gen 2 (2009) to your model; I'll check my parts boxes, but I think I may have a spring set from my wrecked '09 still...

I commuted for 2 years here in Detroit in 2011/12. My motorcycle commuting days ended in October 2012 when a car tapped me and set that FJR to the dumpster. Karen's before they were called Karen's...

[Hppants]

Wonder if they had to remove the side stand for the trans. recall? If so, I'd bet they either didn't install the spring fully, or "vice gripped" it too tight and compromised the metal. Just a thought.

On my first '14, the pumpkin drain bolt flew the coop at about 75 mph, bounced on the road, and then hit the rider behind me in the chest. He said for a second, he thought he was shot.

[Cav47]

I found this out front of school today when I was welcoming kids to school this morning. You should have stopped by.




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[bill lumberg]

I’ll check. And I’ll pay handsomely to get a spare shipped, should they match. I have a hunch they’re close enough.

ETA- the spring is the same. Yay.

Check to see if the part number changed from Gen 2 (2009) to your model; I'll check my parts boxes, but I think I may have a spring set from my wrecked '09 still...

I commuted for 2 years here in Detroit in 2011/12. My motorcycle commuting days ended in October 2012 when a car tapped me and set that FJR to the dumpster. Karen's before they were called Karen's...

[bill lumberg]

A cable tie lasts about 20 minutes before heat melts
It.Chinese springs should arrive today. I need to figure out how to bypass this, not for normal operation, but for times like this.

[wheatonFJR]

A cable tie lasts about 20 minutes before heat melts
It.Chinese springs should arrive today. I need to figure out how to bypass this, not for normal operation, but for times like this.

Wire ties from your loaf of oatmeal raisin bread.

[ionbeam]

Glad that *bad things* didn't happen with your side stand down while riding!

Our independent lumber yard/hardware store has a pretty good selection of springs. However, our local Tractor Supply has an excellent selection of springs. If you have one nearby it might be worth the trip.

If you put an override switch on your side stand, go to a marine supply shop and get a marine grade switch. Open = NO RUN Close = RUN. The blue/green side stand wire goes to the starter cutoff relay and is responsible for power being supplied to the ECU, fuel injectors and some other critical items. I'd suggest not messing with the side stand wire and possibly causing issues with the starter cutoff relay.

Just yesterday I saw a Harley pull out of a parking lot with his side stand down. He was following another Harley and they were so focused on their Demonstration of Speed and Power that neither one saw me waving at them.

If you have your bike on the center stand at work and tie up your side stand with wire/zip tie you can ride away just fine. Upon arriving home, how the heck are you going to get off your bike? Oh ya, Odot style and lean it against a tree.

[bill lumberg]

I’ve been getting off of it with no sidestand and putting it on the centerstand for two days now. Requires concentration, but no incidents yet. I’ll check out tractor supply too.

[extrememarine]

PM Sent.

Give me a call.

[danh600]

I’ve been getting off of it with no sidestand and putting it on the centerstand for two days now. Requires concentration, but no incidents yet. I’ll check out tractor supply too.

For some reason I totally suck at putting a bike on a center stand. I would hate to have to do that.


Always scares me that my Wife's Indian Scout has no kickstand switch, as in didn't come with one. Luckily she has had the bike for years and so far no problem.

[gixxerjasen]

That sucks, but yes, could have been much worse. I almost never use my kickstand. Hop off, put it on the centerstand. It's so easy on the FJR and takes up less space in the garage. Only time I use the kickstand seems to be on a trip, and then I forget to put it back up when coming off the centerstand and end up on my ass in the gas station parking lot in Aspen with a broken mirror. Kickstands are dangerous.

[bill lumberg]

Too awesome. Thanks.

PM Sent.

Give me a call.

[gixxerjasen]

Also, you should have a spool of safety wire and pliers in your garage for times like this.

[wheatonFJR]

I’ve been getting off of it with no sidestand and putting it on the centerstand for two days now. Requires concentration, but no incidents yet. I’ll check out tractor supply too.

Sounds like a good reason to ride the shit out of that R75!

[Bugnatr]

A cable tie lasts about 20 minutes before heat melts
It.Chinese springs should arrive today. I need to figure out how to bypass this, not for normal operation, but for times like this.

Bailing wire is your friend.

I have some extra from my KLR if you need it