how bad is it for a motorcycle to be dropped?

Question

I am looking to buy a motorcycle soon and ive heard that a bike being dropped is bad, but that is all i know. I was wondering what could happen if the bike is dropped.

Answer 1

grab the front brake while the handle bars are turned at slow speed, and u'll instantly drop it. been there, done that. wont cause any damage if u have an engine guard on it, and it helps picking it back up also.
anything over 10 mph could do some damage if the bike goes down. depends on if it hit something for 1, and how hard it hit it....if u go down at high speed, it's gonna get royally trashed.

Answer 2

Well, there are drops and there are DROPS. Some riders refer to a crash as a "drop," while others refer to a low-speed or stationary tip-over as a "drop." First, the easy one--if a bike gets knocked over while stationary, generally most of the damage will be cosmetic--broken fairing pieces, scratches, busted levers, etc. That stuff's easily--though not necessarily cheaply--fixed and has little effect on the bike in the long term.

The greater issue is the "DROP," an actual smash-up at speed. Motorcycles are complex machines and you can cause damage to a wide array of components, from suspension pieces to brakes, to the frame. Sometimes the engine over-revs during a crash, causing internal engine damage. Generally, the most common "issue" caused by a crash relates to frame damage. If a bike's frame is damaged, torqued, twisted, or just generally tweaked, it will adversely affect handling . . . quite possibly very signicantly.

The bottom line is to have any used bike that you're considering buying inspected by a professional mechanic. A thorough inspection can tell you whether damage has occurred that will affect performance, safety, or resale value down the road.

Answer 3

It's sometimes hard to tell if a bike has been dropped, especially if the previous owner replaced any broken or scuffed pieces, and made some rudimentary repairs to straighten any minor damage.

Once you have a bike, and are used to the way it feels, then it is obvious if you drop it and bend a handlebar or anything, but unless you have ridden something very similar to the bike you are looking at, then it can be hard to tell what it is supposed to feel like, but you can sometimes

Obviously look for damage, sometimes minor damage doesn't automatically indicate that the bike was dropped, since you can whack turn signals or mirrors on cars, garage doors, etc., but mainly look at the handlebars, forks, wheels, -- make sure they look straight, and if you take if for a test ride, make sure it doesn't pull to one side or wobble excessively (usually try to take it up to a decent speed to be sure).

Sometimes worn tires will give it uneven feel, make sure to check the tire pressure as some bikes sit for extended periods of time during the winter.

It's always a crap-shoot buying something used, but if you do a little research, maybe test ride a few similar bikes, you can find what works best for you at the same time as trying to find a good deal.

Answer 4

The worst thing about dropping one is the chance of bending something and causing the bike to be off balance.If you bend a wheel or fork tube you run the risk of the bike not handling right and getting in a bad accident.Also if you drop the bike you may damage an engine case and crack it which can cause fluid leaks and damage vital internal parts.

Answer 5

It's not good for them! That said, it's very common for you to drop your bike...it scratches the chrome, maybe breaks the mirror, dents the tank, bends the crash bars, etc. For street bikes, crash bars help limit the damages. Just make sure it's only been dropped & not "laid down" in an accident. Anyone who states they've never dropped a bike is likely saving themselves for marriage too!
You buying a street bike or off-road? Off-road bikes are dropped quite often.

Answer 6

It depends on how fast it was going and if it hit anything, ie a curb. (if it has then you are talking possible twisted frame ,engine damage or forks etc that need expensive replacement).
The problem is until you take it to bits you don't really know what is wrong. Look at the worst case and anything you don't have to replace the cheaper for you. If it was stationary then I have never had a serious mechanical issue but it can still cost a fortune to replace damaged faring , brake levers and indicators etc( some will only need changing for cosmetic reasons)

Answer 7

depends on whether the dropping occurs when the bike is parked o r standing still or if the bike is dropped at speed and is busted up a bit. At the least you get scratched paint and maybe a broken mirror or clutch lever. Worst case is ruptured cases and leaking fluids.

Answer 8

dropping a bike is like wrecking a car there are varying degrees of damage depending on a great many variables speed hight what it hit if you turn it over in your yard drunk at midnight while showing off for your buddies( not that Ive done it )there may be no damage at all hitting a parked car at 90mph may end you but the bike will be destroyed dropped is a loose and general term get specifics and come back .

Answer 9

dropped or crashed? some of the things are broken panels, steering out of line, break pedals, crack casings, bent frame, scratch the exhaust. most of these will be obvious by looking at it, the one to worry about is the steering What to do is (when the bike is standing up) run a piece of string from the front edge of the Tyre to the back edge of the rear Tyre, the string should touch 4 points on the Tyre's. and the handlebars should be straight

Answer 10

wHAT DO YOU MEAN BY DROPPED? I guess if you dropped it off a 10 story parking garage to the ground it would be totaly destroyed. If you dropped it trying to unload it out of the back of a pickup it would damage it abit but probably still ride able. Now if you were standing the holing it and just let it drop on its side It would probably bend something so your question about it being dropped really needs to be more exact