I'm Not Gonna Lay It Down
 

Have you ever stalled your bike at a green light? I do it at least twice a year. Once I was in front of three other riders. Just pull in the clutch and thumb the starter, and peal away smartly before the person behind you rolls over you.

Well I did it today on my second ride of the year. Nobody was behind me, and no traffic on the crossstreet. I signaled a right turn and made a complete stop at the red light. I checked for traffic, turned the handlebar to the right, let out the clutch, and the bike stalled.

I never stalled the bike before while making a turn from stop. If you've never done this, here's what happens: the bike falls over. The bike was a few inches from hitting the ground when I thought "I'm not gonna lay it down." With all my might, I stopped the bike. Pure adrenaline was running through my veins. I tried to lift the bike upright, but couldn't. I held the bike inches from the ground for at least thirty seconds. My right arm was starting to tremble, but I could not lift the bike.

Now this is a light where I can never trip it with the bike upright but now it changes green for me. A car on the cross traffic stops at the light and looks at me and probably wonders what the hell I'm doing. With my left hand, I lift up my visor and ask if he can help. The light turns green for him and he pulls over. He gets out and helps me lift the bike. Here's the clincher: I say "Thanks a lot." He says "No Worries" and runs back to his car.

Been there before. It's almost like it happens in slow motion and you do everything you can to save it. Awful nice of the other driver to call you by name. ;)

I have the opposite problem, Once in a while I spin up the back tire, hasn't happend in a almost 2 years, but when I moved up from the ninja to the CBR the first few rides were kinda sketchy. I had ridden bigger bikes before that and never had that problem, but when it was my big boy bike, well yeh closed my sphincter up a few times.

Funny story. Glad it worked out.

We've all been there at some point or another.

Thanks for sharing

I know the feeling. I did that with the Buell once....it got about 2 inches from the ground and I powered that sucker back up. Only difference was there were about 50 people standing there watching.

I've certainly stalled in dumb places, but I haven't had much trouble keeping the bike up... light bike + strong leg muscles ftw.

This kind of happened to me once though no one came around to help. Fortunately I was in a parking lot so I wasn't holding up traffic or risking being run over. I gently laid on the ground so I could get my leg out from under and then picked it back up. I was pissed. But it didn't do anything since I controlled how it went down. Good thing was I know I can pick up my bike and I didn't even use the "proper" way.

Did this on the cross country trip with Drewpy... Gas station somewhere in BFE shitville... same gas station where there was a 17 year old kid with a totally restored late 70's Camero... Will and I were jealous.

Anyway, I wasn't able to save it. It was like... "got it, GOT IT.... don't got it."

HAHA Stalled ALOT when I had the tune all fucked up....And once i overheated a little and stalled (nearly 100F outside sitting in school traffic about about 45Min)

But never have I almost dropped it.