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Wind blew my bike over...

Discussion in 'Hangout Lounge' started by Deathalo, Dec 8, 2011.

  1. Deathalo

    Deathalo Member

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    I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't watch it happen from my window, but last night we had some pretty violent gusts of wind with a rain storm, around 35 MPH actually. Well I had just finished washing my xj550 and giving it two coats of wax for the winter when the storm hit. I had the cover on my bike, secured and prepared for the rain I knew was coming, what I didn't expect was violent hurricane force gusts.

    Now granted, my bike has survived tornado force winds when one touched down not a mile away earlier this year. I didn't secure the strap then and the winds literally lifted the cover right off my bike and planted it in a bush. I only wish that had happened last night.

    As I watched from the safety of my condo, one big gust blew from the left side of the bike, literally knocking it over onto it's right side. I looked for a split second and thought I was dreaming, then immediately ran outside to the parking lot to pick the sucker back up on it's kick stand. I stood there dumbfounded wondering how this was possible, which I now believe it was probably the fault of the cover acting as a sail and, since I secured the strap, pulled the bike right over. Luckily, the handlebars ( in lock position mind you), prevented my tank from taking any damage, which is good, because I would've just waited for lightning to srike me if that were the case.

    Now for the bad, waking up this morning I found my handlebars bent to hell. The right side is so bent up I could hardly ride the the thing at all. So, after this punishing act of god, how should I got about bending them back to a proper form?

    One thing is for sure, I'll never secure that cover again, or I'll park to the right of a big car/truck. And I'll never say wind can't possibly blow over a motorcycle, I've joined the club of people who've witnessed that horror.
     
  2. JFStewart

    JFStewart Member

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    If they're bent that badly, it might be wiser to replace them. Straightening is extremely difficult unless you are really skilled. To have someone else do it would probably cost more than buying another bar.
     
  3. Deathalo

    Deathalo Member

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    Yeah, I was thinking that, I saw they run around $20-30, so I'll probably do that, how hard is it to remove the throttle and put it on a new set of bars, that's one of the only things I have taken off before.
     
  4. BigChris

    BigChris New Member

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    i suggest next time when you secure you bike is make lock it in a way so that it wount fall over. Maybe even get a garage for storage.
     
  5. Deathalo

    Deathalo Member

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    Garage is not an option,atleast not till i move years from now. It wasn't leaning one way or the other, it was just an act of mother nature really. There is a slight incline going into the spot so I suppose I coud park it slightly at a leftward angle to the spot and it would have more gravity towards the kick stand, dunno if it would've helped much last night though. It's really just a really crazy and shitty circumstance that I don't think anyone could've been prepared for.
     
  6. MercuryMan

    MercuryMan Active Member

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    Get new bars, returning the bent ones to "like they were" is next to impossible. This would give you the chance to see if you wanted any changes to your hand position and posture. Replacing them is not hard. But be gentle with everything. You don't want to tweak any of your cables.

    Since a garage is not an option, do you have a center stand? it would be more stable, and you could also position the bike so it faces the weather head on (if you know which way the wind is likely to blow). At least your tank is ok and no small pets were injured.

    We've had some crazy wind here as well this fall. I have a 6000lb SUV that was getting blown sideways a couple of weeks ago, never felt that before!
     
  7. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Not difficult at all; the throttle housing is held on by two phillips screws from the bottom; one of them goes through the little "yoke" that holds the throttle cable end, be sure not to lose that small but important piece.

    If you're planning to replace your grips, you can simply slice the left one off.

    If you're planning to re-use your grips, the easiest way to remove the left-hand one is to "inflate" it with compressed air and float it off.

    I also have to agree that the centerstand would be a much more stable way to stand it "long term" like that.
     
  8. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    Leaving a Bike out-of-doors for the Winter is tough on a Bike. I'd explore a variety of option before leaving it out the wrath of Mother Nature and thieves.

    Search your neighborhood.
    Offer to shovel snow or do chores for an elderly homeowner with enough Garage Space for your bike to hibernate until Spring.
    An offer to be Handyman, Snow-shovel boy or chauffeur in a real "Driving Miss Daisey" deal could score you some warm and dry storage.

    Last Resort:
    Outdoor Storage.

    Drill half-inch drainage and vent holes in a section of 3/4-Inch Plywood,, large enough to park the bike on and attach anchoring hardware for tie-down straps.
    Set the Plywood atop a "X" formation of Cinder Blocks.
    Prep the Bike for the lay-up.
    Fog the Plant.

    Cover the Bike.
    Visit an AutoBody Shop and find a Biker who will give you some 3M Plastic Masking Sheet.
    A HUGE section of used sheeting will be free.

    Cover the Bike a couple times
    Staple Gun the edges.
    Once you are satisfied the Bike will remain DRY.
    Apply EXTERNAL Cover.

    Heavy Duty something.
    Vinyl Shrink Warp, Heavy Duty Plastic Tarp, ...
    Cover it good.
    Buy cheap Yardsticks and SECURE the TENT to the Plywood so wind wont get in and undo it.
     
  9. Deathalo

    Deathalo Member

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    I somehow doubt that the centerstand would've been a safer option. Since it was leaning into the wind and still blew over how would putting it upright be anymore stable in high winds?

    I do like your ideas about securing and wrapping for the winter rick, luckly the winters here are not very harsh so with your tips I think the bike will stand the winter just fine.

    I think I'm going to get new grips, any recomendations over the stock foam ones, maybe nicer rubber with chrome ends? Also, I believe I had the daytona style bar, but was thinking of the European style, what can I expect comfort and handling wise. Do any of you prefer either one for any reason, or perhaps another type of bar? Suggestions are appreciated!
     
  10. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    Oh, Man, ...
    I am the last guy to ask about Bars and Grips.

    I need over-sized Grips to keep the arthritis pain at bay.
    Even with the Rototiller-type Bars I have on the Max; I really need more of a Recumbent-type, laid-back, riding position to keep the Stenosis from aching so bad I have to park someplace, lay down and take a nap.
     
  11. mirco

    mirco Member

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    As far as straightening bent bars - it is really not much of an issue. All you need is a pipe that will slip over your hand grips (I wouldn't even bother to take them off as long as you wrap them to prevent scarring).

    You need a trustworthy second set of hands to hold the bike steady and then you apply steady pressure until you return the bars to the correct position. It is not at all difficult and is a regular practice amonst the dirt bike crowd.
     
  12. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    The centerstand provides a more stable 3-point support for the bike; the sidestand is far less stable. Especially the weenie little sidestand on the 550s.

    The stock grips weren't foam; and your bike originally had taller bars than either the Daytona or Euro.

    I'm running the Euro bend on both of my 550 Secas, and it provides me with an ideal riding position. But I'm 6'5" and they're 550 Secas not Maxims.

    These are the Euro bend on my '83 Seca:

    [​IMG]
     
  13. parts

    parts Member

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    Man I'm sorry to hear about your bike.

    We often have 45-60 mph gusts during our monsoon
    season and I've always worried about my bike getting
    blown over while at work or at the store.

    I thought I was just being paranoid ( using a cover myself )
    now I know for sure it's possible.
     
  14. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Be careful with the "tent/sheet of plywood/bike" idea; I've had winds strong enough to pick an 8' X 16' X 8' tall chain link dog run up by the tarp that was zip-tied to it, and I calculated that it weighed right around 1500 lbs. It was NOT a tornado, just a strong thunderstorm, and it picked it CLEAN UP and dropped it 150 feet away.

    You wouldn't want your securely-stapled tarped bike to get lifted airborne on its plywood platform and get dashed on the ground.
     
  15. MercuryMan

    MercuryMan Active Member

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    It seems counter-intuitive but the center stand is more stable and probably would have prevented your accident. On the side stand even leaning into the wind you only have "three feet" touching the ground-two tires and one side stand. Once the wind had managed to get the bike upright there was nothing to prevent it from going on over. With the center stand down you have "five feet" and three of those feet have a wider stance than the tires.

    Try this-put your bike on the side stand only and have someone on the other side of your bike to catch it. Push on your side with one hand or half your fingers until it pivots over (you can do it pretty easy huh?). Now put it on the center stand and try again-much harder right.

    That wind gust that got your bike is now in Scotland by the way. They had 120+ straight line winds-That's crazy!

    If you must leave the bike outside it's a good idea to protect it as much as possible. Wax the paint, never dull the metal, chrome polish the chrome and armor all the rubber/plastic.

    I have almost exactly the same bars as bigfitz on my 550 and I'm 5'9"-they fit me great and make the bike easier to maneuver.
     
  16. bkerby

    bkerby Member

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    Merc, with the center stand down u still only have 3 points of contact, but they are more stable than the side stand . With the center stand the back tire is off the ground.......
     
  17. MercuryMan

    MercuryMan Active Member

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    Good point - thanks for clearing that up.
     
  18. Deathalo

    Deathalo Member

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    Thanks for the tips, I'll make sure to prop her up on the center stand for the winter, get some clear plastic wrapping and put the cover on her after a good washing, waxing, and polishing. Now that I'm just about done with exams it'll be the perfect time. I will also angle her so the front is facing the direction the wind generally comes from.

    I ordered myself a nice new Euro handlebar and rubber grips, they should be here Tuesday so it looks like Wednesday will be a good day to work on it.
     

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