One of those days

[HardAspie]

I took Wolfie over the mountains to Prescott where the dealer is. First service. En route Prescott I found that my riding gloves were not as I had thought, and developed a major Reynaud's circulatory problem that left my fingertips blue. Then a bit farther the clutch adjuster vibrated loose and the bike would barely shift; a quick blue finger adjustment and I was on my way. I picked up the bike a couple of hours later and rode to visit a friend nearby, then back over the mountains to home.

Out of the mountains I thought to stop at a convenience store for a candy bar. I bought a few other items as well. Then to the bike and off. I started the engine and pushed the little Wolf back from the parking space. Then a turn of about 120 degrees to the left and at walking speed and I would be headed to the driveway to exit; I never made it there. In the turn I had to adjust speed a bit for the fluid situation of the parking lot. Driveline lash! The bike seems to have an inordinate amount of this; it has scared me a couple of times before, but this time it bit me. The lash taken up there was a sudden jolt and then the ground came up to meet me.
I saw as mt head was headed for collision with the tarmac. Then there was I on the ground. I sat up to find my right boot trapped under the bike. I could not move far. I became aware of huge pain in my left arm. I wiggled digits to find they all worked fine. I worried about my osteoporosis weakened pelvis buy found no pain there. After a time EMTs showed up and lifted the bike from me. They asked questions to see if my brain was working, which it was; my head was encased within an HJC CL 17 DOT and Snell approved full face helmet.
Then I found myself alone, unable to lift my arm to a position that would allow me to ride, and still several miles from home. I called a couple who are friends of mine. He rode the only slightly damaged - clutch and shift levers - bike to his house. Then they both brought me home. A week and a half and I am beginning to get some use from that left arm.

Realization: my body ain't up to this anymore. Know anyone who wants a nice 350 mile 2014 black wolf? I don't.

[oldbike54]

 This was probably inevitable Laura , don't give up yet . Heal up , get better gloves , and think this through .

 Dusty

[Dharma Bum]

 :1: on what Dusty said.  Sounds like you scared yourself a bit.  Get some gloves that fit and check your chain to see if there is too much slack in it contributing to the excessive lash.  If not and it is a design characteristic of your bike, take it out to a dirt (soft)  area and practice, practice, practice until you are so used to the slack that it becomes part of your subconscious. I would venture to say that almost everyone on this board has had to get used to a "quirk" of their own machine.  Good luck!

[pebra]

Yup, that's the way to go.
Tell yourself to fix one little thing at a time and get out and ride again.
A few small things, they're doable, no magic needed. Then use your driving skills again.

[canuguzzi]

Those days can be tough but they only last one day. Good you are ok which is most important.

Check the chain as others have said but for sure since the bike was in for first service they'd have taken care of that! If not...wow.

A bad day on a bike is way better than a bad day for other reasons. You fell, just a few minor things to the bike, you are okay and healing up. There was a cause for your fall, unlike some of what you read about, like the bike going over in a driveway without the engine running.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I have fallen off several times in the last couple of years always at low speed when the bike doesn't have enough speed to balance itself.

Just get back on.

[Guzzistajohn]

Oh no Laura! What a bummer! Don't give up yet! Like they said, get some good gloves. Drive lash? Keep your hand on the clutch and use it! Practice feathering that thang. Keep that left hand ready at all times. You can do it!

[oldbike54]

 YES "You can do it' !

 Dusty

[lucian]

Glad your going to be ok. As others have said ,don't give up . You have already identified the factors that led up to this, all easily addressed, and with some more slow speed practice with the clutch you will have your confidence back in no time. We all know how you feel,  it will pass. Best wishes!

[Chuck in Indiana]

I was worried that you hadn't posted in a few days. This is just a bump in the road that all of us have had. Heal well, and good luck!

[lucydad]

Laura,

Agree with other comments.  Give yourself some time and space.  Slow speed riding is often the most difficult. 

Mr. clutch is your best friend, plus thinking ahead, smooth and slow always. 

Blessings....

[fotoguzzi]

ditto what others have said.. BUT, you  decide.. you don't have to ride if you don't want to..and your still welcome to post here..

[Guzzistajohn]

ditto what others have said.. BUT, you  decide.. you don't have to ride if you don't want to..and your still welcome to post here..

Especially if you keep your sense of humor! :1:

[balvenie]

Especially if you keep your sense of humor! :1:

ditto

[Huzo]

Just make sure you know why it happened Hardie and you'll be a better rider for it. I'll bet my flat tappets no one disagrees with that. Kudos to you for buying the perfect bike for you AT THIS STAGE, imagine if you'd been on a new Stelvio, Norge or similar, what a PITA.Nobody ever learned anything by getting it right. Recently my Norge fell over in France in a camping park because I put the right pannier on first while on the side stand, the bike crashed in the soft green grass and cracked the blinker lens, a friend who was with me at the time found a piece of plastic and cut out a washer to make a repair. Now every time I look at at it here in Australia, I'm reminded of the incident, I wouldn't replace it with a new one if I had one on the shelf, just apologise to Wolfy, you'll be forgiven, guaranteed..... Huzo.

[Arizona Wayne]

Laura, how long have you ridden a MC or is this your 1st 1?  Has any one schooled you on basic maintenance of your MC?  From what you said 2 things happened in your accident.  1st your clutch lever vibrated loose and second your drive chain got too loose(from running wear) and this is what caused your situation.   These are very common occurrences during when operating a MC and are things that need to be monitored as you use your MC and need to be adjusted.  If you're a newby someone should show you how to do them and talk to you about chain lube.   It sounds like you need a mentor in your MC journies for awhile.   Sorry you got hurt. 

[Huzo]

Absolutely Wayno, well said. Following your suggestion will doubtless enhance Hardies enjoyment of her bike many fold.

[Kent in Upstate NY]

I've dropped bikes several times. We all have. Anybody who hasn't is a damned liar. Glad you're OK.

[oldbike54]

I've dropped bikes several times. We all have. Anybody who hasn't is a damned liar. Glad you're OK.

 Yep . I dropped my /5 backing out of the shed . Whomp on the ground . Fortunately no one was watching so no one knows . OOOPS , well , no one but you guys 

 Dusty

[twowings]

I'm 63 with a left knee that is a total replacement candidate wrestling a 550lb+ bundle of fibreglass and metal and I admit sometimes I just want a wheelchair and my pain pills...but once she's rolling and the sun is out all that fades away...give it a few days and give 'er another whirl, won't you? 

[beetle]

Laura (may I call you Laura?),

Don't give up. I've dropped my beloved Griso at least 6 times. The last time I dropped my head on the Tarmac to test my new helmet that I'd worn all of about 4 times.

Prior to Griso, there was a Kawasaki and a couple of Suzuki's that I flung into the weeds over the last 30 years or so.

Heal quick and jump straight back on the bike. A pleasant sunny day's ride will do wonders.

I've dropped bikes several times. We all have. Anybody who hasn't is a damned liar. Glad you're OK.

What he said.

[oldbike54]

 Then there was the time a fella simply fell off while his bike was on the side stand . He was leaning over to pick up a spark plug wrench that had been dropped and just fell off . We laughed 

 Dusty

[HardAspie]

Laura, how long have you ridden a MC or is this your 1st 1?  Has any one schooled you on basic maintenance of your MC?  From what you said 2 things happened in your accident.  1st your clutch lever vibrated loose and second your drive chain got too loose(from running wear) and this is what caused your situation.   These are very common occurrences during when operating a MC and are things that need to be monitored as you use your MC and need to be adjusted.  If you're a newby someone should show you how to do them and talk to you about chain lube.   It sounds like you need a mentor in your MC journies for awhile.   Sorry you got hurt. 

Oh yeah. ridden many miles on and off since '71. Never felt lash like the Wolf. I had checked the chain earlier and it was in spec. Now, I must add that it was in factory specified spec, not mine. When I see the chain final drive of most street bikes I see the swingarm pivot fully within the perimeter of the chain. The swing arm is shorter and so describes a smaller radius. Slack is needed only for the short upward wheel travel that happens when rider sits on the machine and brings the swingarm parallel to ground - that does tighten the chain, but further movement slacks it. I've always kept my chains to minimum slack when the swingarm bisects the chain perimeter. My chains thus adjusted and kept clean and well lubed seem to last forever. But I have ridden several other bikes owned by others who do not share my chain philosophy and have never felt lash like the Wolf at low speed. I don't have any  clear ideas as to why. I do ponder the machine's low weight and therefore low momentum.

[HardAspie]

This was probably inevitable Laura , don't give up yet . Heal up , get better gloves , and think this through .

 Dusty

Thanks! What scares me is less the MC than my body's reaction. Still typing one hand...but getting better.

[HardAspie]

ditto

Let me send you a big smile and a one armed - for now - hug.

[HardAspie]

Then there was the time a fella simply fell off while his bike was on the side stand . He was leaning over to pick up a spark plug wrench that had been dropped and just fell off . We laughed 

 Dusty

I can see that!

[oldbike54]

 Wait , you can type with both hands ????

 Dusty

[Sasquatch Jim]

 What kind of bike is the wolf?  Is wolf a model name, or manufacturer name, or a name you gave it?

[HardAspie]

Wait , you can type with both hands ????

 Dusty

Not yet. Regaining left side function with each day. All is going well, but slowly. More slowly than I like; faster than i had feared.

[HardAspie]

What kind of bike is the wolf?  Is wolf a model name, or manufacturer name, or a name you gave it?

SYM Wolf Classic 150. Small, but what I could afford.