Embarrassing fall..?

Question

I am a female in the process of getting my motor bike licence. On the second lesson I was on the road and the sudden appearance of a truck at an intersection startled me, I braked suddenly (something I had never done on a bike before) and I think I must have forgotton to put my foor down (not something you have to think about in a car!) because I fell off and the bike fell on top of me. I was SO embarrassed and it took me 3 months to get my confidence back to continue my lessons.
Has this happened to anyone else?

thanks so much to you all for taking the time to write such thoughtful answers.

I am a bit worried about how common falls are. I weigh 57 kilos and am 5"4. I couldn't even pick the damn bike up my instructor had to do it.

Every answer has been great! Thank you all so much...so glad I found this site!

By the way I am in Australia and the streets they had me on on the day of the fall was almost deserted, but I have since been out on busy roads...SCARY...but FUN!

Answer 1

I am a motorcycle officer and have dropped my bike on a traffic stop. A car sped past me on the freeway driving like a fool, weaving through traffic. By the time I caught up to him and got him to pull over, I was a little steamed since he had me weaving through traffic with him, siren blaring, trying to get him to look in his rearview mirror and pull over.

He finally pulled to the shoulder of the freeway and I was gearing up to give him an ear-full. I stepped off the bike, forgetting completely about the kickstand and over it went. I just grabbed my ticketbook, wrote him and sent him on his way before walking back and uprighting my motor while thinking in my head, "move along, nothing to see here".

Yeah, the guy got a ticket, but at least it was offset with him being able to laugh at me and tell all his buddies about the stupid cop that stopped him.


Oh, there's a trick to lifting your motorcycle and strength has nothing to do with it if you do it properly. As others have stated, go take a true MSF course to learn the proper way.

Answer 2

How about doing around 35mph in a parade of bike on a toy run. I got too relaxed, turn the guy next to me to say something and noticed the bikes were stopping. Went down and did some asphalt surfing, the bike slid on both sides and still tapped the bike infront hard enough to bend his fender.... newbie mistakes.
Now I have a big Harley touring bike. Pulled upto an intersection was about to pull out and as I lifted my feet a car came flying around the corner. My bike hadn't even moved 2 feet, but as I grabbed front brake over we went, in super slow motion.

Funniest one for me. Was on my first solo long distance ride, 1000miles+. It was March in Germany and not far above freezing. I had ridden almost 2 hours and needed fuel. Pulled up at the pumps, and when I came to a complete stop I couldn't react and put my feet down. Me and my biga$$ fat Harley tourer just leaned and fell against the pump. Now will all the people there nobody wanted to come help get that bike off me. When going to pay the kid at the register asked what the bike weighed, I told him with my luggage around 900lbs. He got this scared look and says "and you picked it up yourself...is there anything else you want?" All I wanted to do was leave and go lick the wounds to my pride *laughing*

It happens.
There are 2 kinds of bikers.
1-Those who have fallen
2- Those who will fall.
Being part of group 2 does not mean you are not part of group 1.

Keep the shiny side up and enjoy one of the coolest modes of transportation I can think of!!!!

Answer 3

You're taking lessons and they're teaching you on the street in traffic? That's not cool. You should have the MSF (Motorcycle Safety foundation) course of instruction, or something similar (I don't know what country you're in) before you ever go to the street, then braking, swerving and stopping/starting issues will have already been locked into your head. That said, I would not be more than momentarily embarrassed at a tip-over, even now (in my 37th year on the "wheel") And I agree that staying off the bike for three months is bad strategy-you learn nothing if you're not out there on the bike. Hey, S--T happens, or en espanol, Kaka pasa...Kenny ;o)

Answer 4

Oh so you think that's embarassing do you.

Now THIS is embarassing:
When I was maybe 17 or 18 years old on my old dirt bike, I ran into the back end of the same pickup truck twice in less than an hour. Now after the first slam, you'd think I'd pay attention. But no, I lollied on around a curve and smacked it again. Damn lucky it was a twisty gravel road and I was going slow.

Needless to say, every one of my buddies was laughing it up. I think the guy in the pickup was ready to lay me out too.

Answer 5

When I see some of the things that people do on bikes I'm wondering if these driving schools really teach the proper way.
I've been driving for 30 years and yes I've been in embarrassing situations.
My friend whom I taught how to drive, drives with a lot of confidence,
I took him to a parking lot and the first thing I taught him was hard sudden braking, next hard braking IN A TURN, then how to turn a bike with the handle bars NOT with his weight or leaning his body.
I hope they showed you how to brake with both front and rear brakes.

Good luck and don't be discouraged.
Biking is fun!

Got any questions email me.

Answer 6

Lot of moving parts on bike to get used to... left hand is pulling in on the brake, right hand is rolling off the throttle, left foot is down shifting, right foot is applying pressure to the back brakes... and all of this at the same time... and that's just under normal conditions. A lot of coordination involved here. Takes some time to master. Practice in safe conidtions, so that when that "panic situation" presents itself (and it will, sooner or later), you don't "panic" but "react". Doing the right thing at the right time without alot of thinking may save your life. Get back up on your bike and practice, hopefully someplace safer like empty parking lots or quiet (paved) backroads. Practice emergency breaking and swerving (using counter-steering). Both are vital tools any biker's bag. Conifdence will come with time.
P.S. Bet you'll never forget to put your foot down again ;) See, you learned something already.

Answer 7

We all make careless mistakes. With my first bike, I once wheeled it out of the garage, then dismounted to close the garage door. It was only after I took several steps away that I realized I'd forgotten to put the sidestand down, and it fell over.

Many would-be riders drop their bike when learning. So, I have three tips on dealing with it. One, remember you aren't the first to make that mistake. Two, it's good to wear protective riding gear, including appropriate pants. Three, start with a bike that doesn't weigh too much.

Answer 8

I'm a female same height but 120lbs. I had on my bright pink riding jacket and gloves when I fell off my bike in the middle of a busy store parking lot. I turned too sharp going too slow. Everyone saw me. I murdered my pride but ordered engine guards just in case it happens again. A few guys rushed to pick it up for me but I can pick my own bike up.

Keep riding but have confidence. most accident happens within the first 6 months of having your bike. Now you've already had your accident ;)

Answer 9

Those who have fallen, and those who are about to fall

I used to have a dirt bike, YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT FALL'S ! I would walk in the kitchen in SO MUCH PAIN from falling, and fake it in front of my mother, if she ever found out, that I got hurt on a dirt bike, it would be gone, one day I couldn't hide it very well, the limp gave it away, the bike disappeared mysteriously

Answer 10

All good replies,Just. & most of us learned on dirtsters as kids.You may consider some trail/dirt bike riding for street training.The bikes are light and EZ to handle.