Ducati Monster Forum

So Saturday Tony took my bike out on its maiden voyage. And he stayed on the bike all day because he thought the little 400 was just so much fun. He picked me up later in the day and we cruised around on it for a while, and it was an absolute blast! Never will I let someone poke fun at me for riding a 400 because this thing has some spirit for sure. And it is F*ing loud!

By the time we got back from our little jaunt I was a bit tuckered out (the riding position surprisingly isn't too far off from that of riding pillion on his Monster...) I was just sitting on the bike in the driveway shooting the breeze with T when he asked me if I wanted to roll it into the garage and put it away. I tried walking it into the garage while still mounted up but my legs are just too short; I couldn't push myself forward with my riding boots on. This was somewhat frustrating, but I figured whatever, I'll just get off the bike and just push it. No shame in that.

Well, I dropped it. Again. While trying to dismount I somehow lost my balance and the weight of the bike shifted. Luckily, I didn't really hurt myself or the bike. This is now the second time I have let my bike go down and I'm not even riding yet. The tank wasn't even full, so the bike wasn't even at its heaviest. This has me pretty rattled, and quite embarrassed. I'm sure T is thinking "and she's going to ride this thing?"

The first time I laughed it off, because it was pretty funny the way it all went down (no pun intended). The second time I laughed it off... and then the doubt creeped in. At this point, I'm trying not to worry about it too much, but seriously - if I can't even move this thing around without dropping it every other time, in a flat driveway, or a flat garage, how the hell am I going to ride it - on the street, with potholes, and road crown, and all kinds of other things? This is a small bike. I feel like a total loser when I think about it. Maybe I should have bought a Blast...

I still haven't received confirmation of my MSF class either, which isn't really sitting well with me since I mailed the application- and a $200 money order deposit- at least 3 weeks ago...

 :'(

Tony walks the bike around like it's a toy. But I have to wrestle the damn thing around, with the bars almost to my chest when I stand next to it. Being petite is a pregnant dog.

If I had one wish... I would ask to just be a normal make the beast with two backsing sized person! I'm tired of this 100 lb 27" inseam 4'11" bullshit!

Lately I wonder if pillion isn't the appropriate place for me...
 

Hang in there.  It's normal for you to feel rattled right now.  Glad to hear you didn't hurt yourself. [thumbsup]

It's also normal to have issues learning to balance and handle the bike when you're new, especially for us petite people.  Parking situations are the worst in general.  I've ridden over 15K miles so far, including some track days, and I still get nervous in some parking situations. 
Most of my drops happened early on.  It does get easier with time and experience.  Taller people can't really understand how challenging it is for us to move bikes around, and how a tiny motion can make all the difference for us.

Did you see this list?  It might help you feel a bit better:
128 ways to drop your bike (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=3151.0)

The little cruisers they have in the MSF class will be easier for you to handle, so you should have less to worry about there.   Why not try calling them to confirm?

I think once you actually get ON the bike, and are not only rolling it around and parking it, you will discover that being small is not so bad.

Being small does have some advantages too:
- better gas mileage
- faster acceleration
- easier to get your fingers into tight spots when working on your bike

And for the record, here's my bike-dropping history to date:
1. MSF class - first time across the parking lot, I forgot to put my feet down at the end and fell over.
2. First time on first bike (Suzuki GS500F), I was practicing in a parking lot, my boyfriend at the time jumped out in front of me to take a picture, I tried to do an emergency stop, ended up with my foot over a storm drain, and fell over.
3. On Suzuki, first time trying to park it in a spot with a slight slope, I mis-calculated, and fell over.
4. On Suzuki, first time trying to do an uphill start (accidentally ended up on a 20% slope), I stalled and fell over - this particular time I was accused of doing it deliberately for the benefit of the firefighters across the street. ;)
5. Trying to move the Suzuki into a parking spot next to another bike (this was standing next to it and rolling it), at one point I mis-judged my position slightly, and it got away from me (luckily not hitting the other bike).
6. On Monster, trying to pull out of a parking lot where I had a steep uphill slope, poor visibility of oncoming cars, poor road surface, and wet ground, I wasn't use to the clutch, and so ended up not giving enough gas as I was turning and fell over.
7. On Monster, someone tried to do an illegal U-turn into me, I managed not to get hit, but didn't have enough room to stand up the bike after my emergency swerve and went over.
8. While cleaning and lubing the chain on my boyfriend's bike, I was rolling it back and forth (no rearstand for his bike), at one point I must have bumped up the sidestand and not noticed, and dropped it onto myself.

Oh, ye of little faith.  Don't be so hard on yourself.  The bike is the least stable at slow speeds and while standing still.  In the case you were talking about, you have a sidestand, so USE IT!  Sure, a lot of guys can swing a leg over, but I can't.  I'm assuming you had the same problem.  My track tool doesn't have a sidestand and no matter how much shit I get for it in the paddock, I will always have someone either hold the bike or have someone put it up on a rearstand.  Same for getting going.  My ass is in the saddle when it comes off the rearstand or if it has to be backed out of the pit, I'll have someone do that for me.  I'm not going to let my pride get in the way of a session because I was too much of an idiot to ask for help moving my bike around and I dropped it and broke a lever. 

When you're at slow speeds and you think you might be turning a sharp corner crawling, don't be afraid to put your toes down.  That was my one and only drop while on a bike on the street.  (I had my one agricultural adventure at the track, but that's for another post.)  I was turning a tight corner at about .5 mph and should have just tiptoed it into the spot.  My ego got in the way and over she went.   [bang]

Don't be too hard on yourself.  Mistakes will happen.  Just learn from them and use the tools you have not to make the same mistakes again.   [moto]

This is great to keep in mind as an emergency option, but I wouldn't want to depend on it.  Unfortunately for those of us with short legs, there are a lot of places, especially coming out of driveways into streets, where the ground dips far enough that toes won't reach.

In fact if I am pulling out of a driveway into a street and have to make a quick stop at the wrong moment, I won't be able to put my feet down and I will definitely go over.  So I make sure to scan as far as I can before I start pulling out.  It can be challenging if there are lots of parked cars or something else blocking my view.

some great advice so far for you biposto...

i've been riding for 3 years and still need more confidence and experience, especially in parking situations.
riders that have the strength and can reach the ground just don't understand how difficult it can be.

my advice... don't be hesitant to get off the bike and turn it around, and always put the bike on the side stand before your dismount.

... hang in there  [thumbsup]

Thank you for all the great tips and advice; I knew I could count on my girls to help calm me down a bit.

A lot of my frustration stems from the fact that I'm just plain frustrated with being so tiny, in general. Dropping the bike is a bummer but it's more just the icing on the cake. Shopping for gear is a pain in the ass, shopping for regular clothes and shoes is a pain in the ass, I have to use a stool at home to do just about everything, driving certain cars can be a challenge, shopping for a bike was a REAL pain in the ass... it just gets tiring after a while, ya know? As you all said, people just don't realize how difficult everyday things can be for those of us who weren't gifted with legs that go all the way up.

If I had used my sidestand the other night when dismounting the bike, it wouldn't have fallen over. And now that it's been brought up as a point, it will probably stick, especially since I don't like to make the same preventable mistake twice.

Another thing that bugs me about the situation is that Tony hasn't let me try to pick the bike back up by myself. With 4 carbs, the thing barfs gas all over the place when it's on its side. He always gets the bike back up in a hurry because he doesn't want gas all over the driveway or doesn't want the engine to flood. I can understand this, but I really wish he would just let me try and we can deal with the gas issue after the fact if necessary. If I knew that I could pick it back up by myself, it would give me some confidence and dropping it wouldn't feel like such a big deal. Boys just don't get it sometimes.

you forgot to mention that you can never see the stage at a concert,
unless you push your way to the front  ;)

for every disadvantage there is a work around :)

I'm one of the taller gals around here, and just reading these posts makes me feel sorta guilty....

IMHO moving the bike while standing next to it is the very hardest thing to do, right after picking the damn thing up after a drop.  [bang]

Hang in there with it! Once you get a little more experience under your belt, you'll wonder why you were so frustrated....

True that!  It will feel awkward at first, but you'll develop your own tricks manuver the bike around (when you're off it).  I lean the bike's tank into my hip.  I have way more leverage to push it around that way than trying to keep it upright by way of the bars.  Use the kick stand as your friend untill you get comfortable.

i also lean the bike into my hip... it feels less tipsy that way

+2

+3.  Even us tall girls use that trick [thumbsup]

Dropped mine twice!  Lees than 2 miles an hour each time.  You'll be fine once you start riding/handling the bike.  The more you do it, you realize your body shifts to help you out.  The first drop was a u turn to the left, on a street that sloped to the left.  A year later, I realize our driveway is the same turn, less slope, and my body leans the bike just slightly to the right and it steadies the bike (while making the right foot easier to reach the ground). 

Don't beat yourself up for things all of us do!!  Review it in your mind, ask questions and figure out how not to have it happen again.  I've learned a lot of stuff just from reading the Ducati Forum. 

good advice above, and you're learning a lot about how the weight moves and getting the feel of the balance point.
+4 on walking the bike with a hip-touch.
i don't ground guide more than i absolutely have to.  it's just something i suppose have to put up with as shorties, we don't have the angle.  i watch guys at the shop and dealer move them around like sliding furniture, no worries at all.
maybe feel better knowing it's not really a strength issue, it's leverage, too.  taller folks reaching down get a much wider angle and much better leverage; we're short and when i'm walking my bike i figure my arm's angle from shoulder to bike is maybe 50°, where some tall folk loom over the top with 100° or much better.  they move the weight side to side like a feather and are less likely to over correct.

i'm always on the brake and am really careful about the angle of turn - because man, if that wheel folds it gets away from you like lightning going down.

also, hey, why not - put out some blankets and the two of you lower the bike, have your M8 spot you {against lifting injury and then on the other side of the bike} while trying out some practice lifts.
i love this, possibly because of the miniskirt - http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html

i had a 400lb moto for 17 years and i never got comfortable walking it, always me with the waddle in the saddle.  tres graceful - not.  and the same on the Duc.  but i figure even waddling ducks look smooth in the air. 
 [thumbsup]

A lot of it comes with time and experience. I dropped my first bike three or four times. All of said times....were dummmb. Such as parking it facing downhill. Well....then it just rolls forward, kickstand comes p, and it falls on its side. Weee.


One time on the Ducati while riding, the seat came loose. So while stopped at a light with my left hand on the bars, I twisted wayyy around and stood up to push the seat back into place with my right hand. At which point, I lost balance and dropped it.

Dunno if it's +5 or what, but I do that too, and I'm 6'1".
Use whatever technique or trick works for you.

I'm more comfortable pushing a bike from the right side, and that works well with the stand on the left.
Just keep an eye out that you don't snag it on something and unknowingly fold it up.

99% of the time, I'm handling a customer's bike, so I'll do most anything to keep from dropping it.

Don't even bother trying to learn to paddle-walk the bike while sitting on it, at least not at first. It doesn't work for us shorties. (After years of practice, I can do it one-footed, but it's ridiculously laborious unless gravity is in your favor, so my normal method is to get off and walk it.) Spend some time just practicing holding the bike up and feeling the weight as you move it side to side, then walk it around a little. Keeping your weight on your toes might help you feel more balanced. I also like to keep a hand on the front brake lever so I can slow or stop the bike easily. It's harder than it looks to walk a bike, especially if you're small, so don't feel bad for taking a while to master the technique.

If I am walking the bike forward and have to go up even the smallest incline, I keep it in first gear with the engine running and feather the clutch to keep the speed to a walking pace. That's probably a little much to cope with as a complete beginner but it'll be useful to know later on.

As for dropping your bike, I dropped mine dozens of times. After over 12 years, I still do it occasionally. (Yes, I am a klutz!) One thing that will make you more stable when you are sitting on the bike, but is sort of counter-intuitive, is to put only one foot down solidly rather than trying to tiptoe the bike on both sides. You will either have to slide over to one side of the seat or lean the bike a tiny bit.

For getting on and off the bike, you might want to try one of the methods I posted in the short riders FAQ.

Have you seen this:

http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.faq.html

from these guys:

http://www.ki.org/sbl/

big

i've never seen that, thanks bigiain  [thumbsup]
I liked this quote...
"Just accept that your heels will never, ever touch the ground and will never be part of your riding. Then learn to live with it from there."

walking the bike is just like riding it in that it takes practice.   It's boring and feels kind of silly, but take an hour a week, have him hang out with a beer to watch/help, and walk the bike out of the garage, turn it around, walk back in, walk it backwards, walk it uphill, etc.etc.etc.

My RS is high enough (or I'm low enough) that I can just barely tippy toe so no on-bike maneuvering for me.

Thanks big, I had also posted those links in our Short Rider FAQ (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=1853.0).

Thanks for the additional tips guys; I need to go back and finish reading through the short rider FAQ as I haven't had a chance to explore all the links. I think the fact that I dropped it twice in such a short period of time was part of what had me stirred up. I know it will happen again. And again and again.

I'm used to riding mountain bikes - little tinfoil bikes compared to the 400!  [laugh]

I always have my hand on the front brake when I'm moving it, or sitting on it, or holding it up so it doesn't get away from me. I never try to walk the bike around when I'm on it; I don't know what posessed me to try the other night but it was stupid and I knew better. It was the sloppy dismount that bit me in the ass. I didn't wait for the bike to settle before swinging my right leg off.

The way the pegs on my bike are set up, it is difficult to swing the sidestand down from the seated position. I will have to practice this so I'm not wiggling all over the place to get it down before I dismount.

My bike looks so small parked next to T's monster, and I'm so small next to my bike. I'll have to make him snap a pic so you can all see how ridiculously tiny I am  [cheeky]

Turn the gas off and run the bike til the carbs run dry. Then you can take your time after it is "gently" laid over, to practice picking it up. Watch your technique and do not use your back AT ALL. All legs.

Doh, I don't know why I hadn't thought of that before. We've done it to clean fouled plugs; no reason why we couldn't do it so I could practice picking it up off its side. Before I even had my own bike I read up on the proper way to lift a fallen bike... even in a miniskirt  ;) But I'd rather be able to practice and get it down before having to do it in a stressful situation... like with people watching  [laugh]

WORD.
one of my motorcycle nightmares is mounting or dismounting and hacking off my leg at the calf with the razor sharp footpegs.
it's like they're designed to slice through leathers and boots.. i say this and yet no damage to the rocket pants or bootsides yet, wacky perceptions.

pun intended?

 [laugh]

 ;D

i finally met biposto over the weekend,
and she is as small as she says she is...
in fact i think someone else suggested a pocket bike for her  [laugh]

but i still think she's going to be fine... practice, practice, practice  :)
good luck, and keep us updated on your progress!

I told you I was micro!

I still haven't received a date for the MSF. I've called a couple of times but no one seems to feel the need to get back to me. I'm tempted to send an email but I don't really want to bug them too much as I'm sure they have a pile of applications due to gas being what it is. ($47 for a tad over 11 gallons last night, in my little VW 2.0. >:()

I went online and found that two of the three weekends I asked for are showing up as full. The last weekend I picked still appears to be open. WTF!?

I called my credit union to see if the $200 money order I sent for deposit had been processed. And it has. So they definitely have my money, which means they definitely got my application.

I'm dying to know if I got into one of those weekends showing full! July is closing in on us at a pretty rapid clip- the first weekend I asked to attend is only 3 weeks away!

I was really frustrated by how long it took them to let me know i got into my MSF class as well.  I found out two weeks before the class, and only because I called several times.  It's frustrating but I think you'll find the class worth it.  I'm at the halfway point today (I take the written portion of the test tonight.)  My instructors are great and very very patient.  Plus, if you're lucky one of the instructors might be a shorter rider who can give you first hand tips!  Good Luck.

Thanks for the reassurance Kyna. Knowing that you'll be just as new to it all is really comforting. Good luck on your test tonight!! I know the class I signed up for takes only a very small number of students at a time so I'm hoping that helps with my nerves.

I'm the type of person to worry about things so maybe it would be better getting my date close to the actual class; less time for me to obsess over it and get myself all nerved up.

Around here the procedure to sign up is crazy.  They open the classes for June-August in April.  The lines start at 5 a.m. to open the doors at 7 a.m. and you start signing up.  They always fill up.  BUT - if you show up the first day of the class, you may get lucky.  If you aren't in class when it begins,  they start taking people that have shown up. 

they say you can take the chance and mail in your registration but they can't guarantee anything.

If they have cashed your check, however, I would guarantee you're in there somewhere.  I'm like you, I would be obsessing about it. 

i registered by mail the day they posted the dates, and the earliest class was already full :(
bummed that i'd have to wait an extra month, i signed up for one of the later dates.
then i recieved a phone call the week of one of the classes because someone cancelled  [thumbsup]

good luck on your test kyna :)

I'm a total obsessor as well.  That's partially why I called (repeatedly) to check on my registeration.  Here we don't mail in a check with the registration, they bill you.  All I could do was sit at my computer and watch the classes I listed get marked "FULL."  I'm with Dolci - if they cashed your check then you are definitely in at least one of the classes.  Let that be a bit of a comfort to you.  

Just a tip, I'd get to the riding portion of the class early so you have a chance to scope out the available bikes and see which one you are most comfortable with.  It's nice having first pick of the bikes.  However, if you aren't comfortable on a specific bike for whatever reason speak up to one of the ride coaches.  They might be able to get one out of the garage that fits you better.

Good tips.  My MSF instructors gave me first pick of bikes as I was the smallest one in my group.

Sorry if this is a threadjack...but since you are as obsessive as me I thought I'd share some new found MSF knowledge.  I just sat down to my last class when my tablemate asked if I'd taken any of the practice tests.   D'oh silly me had not spent very much time on the actual MSF website.  So, if you care to indulge your obsessive nature once you start the class here is (one of?) the practice test(s) (http://www.msf-usa.org/CourseReview/Questionframe.htm).  I think it would have put me a bit more at ease prior to taking the test.  I believe I did fine, but I wasn't entirely sure what to expect for questions.

I am not certain how similar they are, but in Maryland, the test is almost directly out of the course materials on the site.  Another thing I discovered was that the Maryland DMV "learner" test is different from the MSF.  If you want a learner's permit, specifically print out your state's materials.

I don't consider it a threadjack if it's useful information  ;)

Hopefully you have some good news to share soon Kyna!

I have indeed spent some time on the MSF's website playing around with the practice tests and other materials to try and familiarize myself with the format and content.

HB-

One thing I didn't see mentioned- how cops pickup their bikes.

Since they weigh like 900 pounds.  Even us tall guys would have trouble with that.

They get on the seat side of the bike, put their hip into the seat and walk it backwards while keeping the bars turned so it moves in a circle.  The further along the circle you get the more the bike stands up (keep leaning on it)

Here's another method that's similar http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/pickup.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPjYweKeiLk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4MPyX0QCYw&NR=1

My suggestion is to empty the carbs as mentioned above.  Lay it down in grass to help protect the bike.

Do it without Tony around, it will help keep you from being self conscious.

Also, make sure you ask Ducpainter about the tiny girl who raced.  Ask him how she got on her bike and handled it.  It'll blow you away.

I hope this helps [thumbsup]

Hi, I am brand new here but i just thought I would share my awful moment too, cause it is the worst feeling to think you are the only one who has dropped your bike! I bought my monster as a 30th b-day present to myself and dropped it less than an hour after bringing it home. The monster was a much bigger bike then  my two before, so I spent the whole next 2 days doubting a questioning myself. Practice makes perfect. I love me ride now, and I laugh about it now. This too will pass.
Tara

/threadjack

Tara, not to invade your privacy but do you live on Whidbey Island?  I think that is one of the most beautiful places ever.  It is on the top of my "places I'd Love to Live" list.

end threadjack/

kyna,
yup i sure do live on whidbey! that is so cool that you know where we are! where are you? my husband is stationed for the navy here, but love it and i want to stay here permanently! i love the mountains, and the water. it is so beautiful and still so rustic and uninhabited. i am an emergency nurse and i love my little country hospital. and it is a great great place to ride the ducati! anyway, you should move on up here! you won't regret it!
tara
 [thumbsup]

I grew up in Oregon, but currently live in Wisconsin.  So no Whidbey for me, at least not for a while.   :'(