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pcsof8
Guest
What's your most embarasing moment?
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Catman
La Poderosa III
Uneasy Rider
Assuming we are talking about an embarrassing moment on a motorcycle, I respectfully offer the following:
I had just purchased my first bike, a brand new 1967 50cc Bridgestone. I had been riding for about a week and didn't have the slightest idea what I was doing. Gleefully riding along, I suddenly noticed the red traffic light in front of me. I skillfully nailed the rear brake only, having been warned by others that if I even looked at the front brake, it would immediately vault me over the handlebars.
Of course, I locked up the rear wheel and skidded a hundred feet or so, coming to a somewhat less than graceful stop right in the middle of the intersection. It was at that moment that I looked to my right and noticed about a half dozen members of the local 81 on their Harley-Davidsons, all laughing their asses off. Fortunately, the little Bridgestone restarted on the first kick, and I was able to slink off and find a place to check the status of my shorts.
I figure this was a pretty embarrassing moment, as I can still recall it vividly after some 40 years of riding. An inauspicious debut to be sure.
Assuming we are talking about an embarrassing moment on a motorcycle, I respectfully offer the following:
I had just purchased my first bike, a brand new 1967 50cc Bridgestone. I had been riding for about a week and didn't have the slightest idea what I was doing. Gleefully riding along, I suddenly noticed the red traffic light in front of me. I skillfully nailed the rear brake only, having been warned by others that if I even looked at the front brake, it would immediately vault me over the handlebars.
Of course, I locked up the rear wheel and skidded a hundred feet or so, coming to a somewhat less than graceful stop right in the middle of the intersection. It was at that moment that I looked to my right and noticed about a half dozen members of the local 81 on their Harley-Davidsons, all laughing their asses off. Fortunately, the little Bridgestone restarted on the first kick, and I was able to slink off and find a place to check the status of my shorts.
I figure this was a pretty embarrassing moment, as I can still recall it vividly after some 40 years of riding. An inauspicious debut to be sure.
Bullfrog
New member
It was a dark and stormy night.....No, wait! I was being transfered from the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA 
to Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX. (Don't know why a grunt would want to be on an Air Force Base!?!?!) I was on my beautiful Honda 550 Four and enjoying the ride immensely. It was the summer of '75, by the way. On day three, early in the morning, I reach El Paso and think I'm almost there, WooHoo!
Then, I saw the sign - San Angelo - 508 miles. WOW. After many hours, one sore butt (amazing how long one can ride a 2X4, isn't it?), pushing an out of gas loaded down machine, getting help from some really nice folks, and wide open spaces, I pulled into the parking lot at the Base.
Many of my compadres who had flown down awaited with open arms. I came to a gentle stop and promptly fell right over. Forgot to put my feet down
So, there it is.
Dave
to Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX. (Don't know why a grunt would want to be on an Air Force Base!?!?!) I was on my beautiful Honda 550 Four and enjoying the ride immensely. It was the summer of '75, by the way. On day three, early in the morning, I reach El Paso and think I'm almost there, WooHoo! Then, I saw the sign - San Angelo - 508 miles. WOW. After many hours, one sore butt (amazing how long one can ride a 2X4, isn't it?), pushing an out of gas loaded down machine, getting help from some really nice folks, and wide open spaces, I pulled into the parking lot at the Base. Many of my compadres who had flown down awaited with open arms. I came to a gentle stop and promptly fell right over. Forgot to put my feet down So, there it is.
Dave
F
From MARS
Guest
burning boot
Back in '73, I was stationed at MCAS (that's military for Marine Corps Air Station) Yuma, Az. There are some hills East of town on Isomething or other. Just the other side of them was a biker bar. I was riding my '71 Sportster for the first time. Had my new "Dingo" boots on looking cool; drinking in the noise of the pipes as we ( me and the bike) coursed our way through the "curves". Came down the other side and took the exit that led straight to the bar; rapping the throttle as I geared down. Those shorty mufflers were sweet back then, and everyone turned to look at the new biker.
As I slipped the Sporty into first and was idleing across the gravel lot to park, my right ankle began to get really hot. I risked a look down. Crap! My boots on fire. There's smoke trailing behind me, and everyone is pointing.
Instead of rolling into a prominent parking space, sitting on my new ride, and slowly taking off my helmet really cool like, I damn near dropped the bike trying to get stopped and the stand down. After bailing off the bike, I run over to the water hose while at the same time kicking my boot off. My sock is smoldering. Some real biker types are standing there filling canteens for the ride across the desert. One of them turned and took the hose and sprayed me from the waist down.
I bought a lot of beer that day.
Back in '73, I was stationed at MCAS (that's military for Marine Corps Air Station) Yuma, Az. There are some hills East of town on Isomething or other. Just the other side of them was a biker bar. I was riding my '71 Sportster for the first time. Had my new "Dingo" boots on looking cool; drinking in the noise of the pipes as we ( me and the bike) coursed our way through the "curves". Came down the other side and took the exit that led straight to the bar; rapping the throttle as I geared down. Those shorty mufflers were sweet back then, and everyone turned to look at the new biker.
As I slipped the Sporty into first and was idleing across the gravel lot to park, my right ankle began to get really hot. I risked a look down. Crap! My boots on fire. There's smoke trailing behind me, and everyone is pointing.
Instead of rolling into a prominent parking space, sitting on my new ride, and slowly taking off my helmet really cool like, I damn near dropped the bike trying to get stopped and the stand down. After bailing off the bike, I run over to the water hose while at the same time kicking my boot off. My sock is smoldering. Some real biker types are standing there filling canteens for the ride across the desert. One of them turned and took the hose and sprayed me from the waist down.
I bought a lot of beer that day.
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D
dbOnIce
Guest
Mine was on base
Back in '73, I was stationed at MCAS (that's military for Marine Corps Air Station) Yuma, Az. There are some hills East of town on Isomething or other. Just the other side of them was a biker bar. QUOTE]
I was going to say Reds Roost, but now I rember that was in town.
Sliding my bobbed glide into a snug spot of the scooter parking section of the lot, I nicked the tailpipe of the bike on my left with my footpeg. This pinned my foot in place. I had the world famous domino effect on the motorcycles to my left. Thankfully my ego was the only thing really damaged. Needless to say there was again some beer buying.
F
From MARS
Guest
Come on, knary, share. We all want to feel better about ourselves by knowing that somebody else has done something even more embarassing than we have. Besides, haven't you ever heard that confession is good for the soul?
Please don't ask Scott anymore. I've seen the photos of some of the things that were buried in his backyard. Lord knows what else is back there.
Easy
B
BUBBAZANETTI
Guest
16 years old, i get on my friend's 73 CB 360, which fired on one of two cylinders half the time. he explained to me the clutch and throttle. i kept saying "yeah, yeah, i know the principle of the thing". what i really didn't get was the finesse, i cranked on the throttle, dumped the clutch and went about 30 feet before slamming into the back of my own car. scrached bumper, bend fender on the cb and me on the trunk laughing with a bruised rib.
Rod Sheridan
New member
1974, on a 650 Bonneville in front of the movie theatre in the small town I lived in.
Cruising down main street, looking cool (hopefully), traffic stops, I stop, only problem was my pant cuff was hung up on the footpeg (remember the pant styles),
so of course I fell over in front of all my school mates. It took weeks for the teasing to die down.
Oh well, off to my next embarrassing opportunity........Rod.
Cruising down main street, looking cool (hopefully), traffic stops, I stop, only problem was my pant cuff was hung up on the footpeg (remember the pant styles),
so of course I fell over in front of all my school mates. It took weeks for the teasing to die down.
Oh well, off to my next embarrassing opportunity........Rod.
F
From MARS
Guest
screw ups
It really is our screw ups that make the best stories. Please keep 'em coming. My self-esteem is growing, but still fragile. Remember, its not how you screw up, but how you handle your screw ups that matter. We all screw up.
It really is our screw ups that make the best stories. Please keep 'em coming. My self-esteem is growing, but still fragile. Remember, its not how you screw up, but how you handle your screw ups that matter. We all screw up.
sjbmw
Roadster Rider
1986. I just sold my Honda CB750 Custom.
I just bought a Suzuki GS1150E, a 119 hp monster.
My sister gives me a ride to pick the bike up.
With a poor combination of shiny new tires, road sand, and torque I spin the back wheel as I pull away and I tumble sideways. Down we go, at about 3mph...I was rolling like Mannix.
Salesman and General Manager run into the street to pick me and the bike up with that "we got a organ donor" look..
No damage to the bike, no damage to me, and my sister is in her car, ashen faced, yelling "Take it back!" at the sales guy.
It would be 19 years until my next tumble.
I just bought a Suzuki GS1150E, a 119 hp monster.
My sister gives me a ride to pick the bike up.
With a poor combination of shiny new tires, road sand, and torque I spin the back wheel as I pull away and I tumble sideways. Down we go, at about 3mph...I was rolling like Mannix.
Salesman and General Manager run into the street to pick me and the bike up with that "we got a organ donor" look..
No damage to the bike, no damage to me, and my sister is in her car, ashen faced, yelling "Take it back!" at the sales guy.
It would be 19 years until my next tumble.
D
DanGreene
Guest
When I misspell a word on the internet for all to see.
testinglogin
Hogaan!
I don't think my embarrassing bike moment was too bad (I didn't feel TOO stupid) but here it is, for your enjoyment:
Heading to the VT rally last year, I first did some camping in Canada, and also stopped in Montreal. Anyhow, leaving a campground late one afternoon (bike fully loaded with saddlebags and a duffel on the rear seat) I stopped up at the camp store to use the bathroom before getting out of the park. It was loaded with people eating ice cream, hotdogs, and so on. I stop the bike, put my foot down, swing my right leg over the seat, and catch it on the duffel bag (I did NOT put the sidestand down, as I was planning to use the centerstand). I DID manage to get my foot back down on the right side, but at this point, the bike was slowly falling to the left, with me fighting it all the way. Eventually I heard the "thud" of the valve cover making contact with the ground.
I stepped off, took a quick bow, and then picked the bike back up. That was the first time I tried the "back into the bike" pickup method. It worked, and everything was fine and unharmed (and no gas leaked out of the cap), so it has a happy ending.
I was a little annoyed that everyone stood there staring, and nobody offered to help me pick the bike up, though.
Heading to the VT rally last year, I first did some camping in Canada, and also stopped in Montreal. Anyhow, leaving a campground late one afternoon (bike fully loaded with saddlebags and a duffel on the rear seat) I stopped up at the camp store to use the bathroom before getting out of the park. It was loaded with people eating ice cream, hotdogs, and so on. I stop the bike, put my foot down, swing my right leg over the seat, and catch it on the duffel bag (I did NOT put the sidestand down, as I was planning to use the centerstand). I DID manage to get my foot back down on the right side, but at this point, the bike was slowly falling to the left, with me fighting it all the way. Eventually I heard the "thud" of the valve cover making contact with the ground.
I stepped off, took a quick bow, and then picked the bike back up. That was the first time I tried the "back into the bike" pickup method. It worked, and everything was fine and unharmed (and no gas leaked out of the cap), so it has a happy ending.
I was a little annoyed that everyone stood there staring, and nobody offered to help me pick the bike up, though.
Rod Sheridan
New member
Josh, since you performed a quick bow, they thought you were the free entertainment, hence no help.
Great story, thanks for posting it..............Rod.
Great story, thanks for posting it..............Rod.
bigrider
Living the Legend
.... I was being transfered from the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA
Dave
Dave, brings back memories. I was at DLI the summer of '74 studing German. One of our classmates had a R75 Wehrmacht Beemer with sidecar. At the time almost all the male instructors were former Wehrmacht soldiers. If you took German you might remember Herr Portsig. He had only one arm. We had a BBQ one weekend and he was brought to the party in the sidecar. He then started to relate all the WWII memories he had about riding in the sidecars back then.
Dave H
San Antonio, TX
mewaybright
New member
Drop
Late 80's just finished pumping gas into my fully loaded K100RT, standing on the left side I take it off the center stand and it rolls into a crater in the pavement and promptly starts leaning to the right and me on the left... only thing I could do was keep it from crashing to the ground. Walked around picked it up and road off into the sunset... good thing it was a place where I was only passing thru. Of course this only ever happens when you have a full audience.
Late 80's just finished pumping gas into my fully loaded K100RT, standing on the left side I take it off the center stand and it rolls into a crater in the pavement and promptly starts leaning to the right and me on the left... only thing I could do was keep it from crashing to the ground. Walked around picked it up and road off into the sunset... good thing it was a place where I was only passing thru. Of course this only ever happens when you have a full audience.
