Dumbest newbie thing you've done (that didn't result in a crash...)

[OwnyTony]

I have a feeling most of these posts will have SOMETHING to do with either the kill switch or the kick stand.

+1 and +1
Done them both.

[ab]

On the bmw 1100GS, which I don't own anymore, I was topping off the oil and forgot to put the cap back on. I started her up and took off. Luckily I looked down after only a couple of miles! But oil was all over the cylinders and my leathers... 

Yep, I ruined a nice jeans that way     I was wondering why my leg was feeling warm and opps I had forgotten to put cap on.  Walked back with a buddy of mine about 1/2 mile with flash light and found the cap   

[hydra]

Yep, I ruined a nice jeans that way     I was wondering why my leg was feeling warm and opps I had forgotten to put cap on.  Walked back with a buddy of mine about 1/2 mile with flash light and found the cap   

LOL...wow, you're lucky you found the cap!
since the cylinder's on the boxer engine on bmw's stick out, i usually just place the cap right on the cylinder. luckily it was still there when i stopped 

[damianS4RS]

I bet everyone did that at least once. 

When I first got my bike I was so excited to wave to other riders I beeped my horn trying to give the cool 2 finger wave back. My wife was on the back and laughed so hard she almost fell off.

[toaster]

went out to eat the other night and my roommates decided it would be funny to move the bike to where everyone was parked.  somehow they hit the shifter enough to trigger the neutral switch but not put it into gear.  when i got on the bike it wouldnt start, and i checked everything.  messed with the wires from the right side switch (different bar switches), pushed it back and forth to make sure it was in neutral, then i pulled the seat and looked at the gauges (04 with just the board under the seat) and all the lights were coming on but the neutral light.  shifted it into gear and back to neutral and it started up just fine.

felt like a tool because everyone was right there and several people we didnt know saw me messing with it and being zebra striped, its pretty obvious who i am next time im seen out in town.

[ryandalling]

Not even a newbie thing... just dumb....

Sunday... last 5 miles of a 12 hour day on my 848...  my right hand was cramping up ... so I reach over with my right to hold the throttle... I hit the kill switch while moving the hand over.... and am trying to figure out why the throttle isnt working when I use my left hand... then I realize it and have the wrong hand on the throttle and am trying to swap back and restart it... all with out dumping it....

I just remembered thinking... "I see those Goldwing guys doing it all the time..." 

[Craig Thomas]

Dumbest newbie thing you've done (that didn't result in a crash...)

Put on all my gear on a chilly winter morning.  Wheel the bike out, warm her up, then realize I don't want to go riding.

This happens during the summer time, too.  It's just too hot to be an enjoyable ride.   

After a few years of riding bikes, I find it rather boring riding alone.

[Pink]

Oh man, what a moron.

So I've been having some electrical problems as of late which I'm on the way to fixing. I've been riding around the block a few times trying to recreate the battery drain that has been causing me so much grief. I haven't wanted to go further than I care to push the bike if the battery dies again. A few miles then onto the multimeter, a few more and so on. Getting good readings. 13.5v off, 13.9v on, 14-ish with some revs.
I just got back from a pretty spirited bit of freeway driving and pulled back into my parking lot. I turn the bars left and rotate the key all the way anticlockwise and pull it out and put it in my pocket. The lights stay on. Hmm, never noticed that before...

I wished I'd known that there is a key position further than LOCK. I am hoping that this is my problem and that all it's going to have cost me is a bit of basic battery maintenance kit that I should own anyway. Perhaps in a couple of days I'll find out I'm wrong and I'll need a new alternator or RR. But for now I'm giddy with happiness and embarrassment!

[swampduc]

Oh man, what a moron.

So I've been having some electrical problems as of late which I'm on the way to fixing. I've been riding around the block a few times trying to recreate the battery drain that has been causing me so much grief. I haven't wanted to go further than I care to push the bike if the battery dies again. A few miles then onto the multimeter, a few more and so on. Getting good readings. 13.5v off, 13.9v on, 14-ish with some revs.
I just got back from a pretty spirited bit of freeway driving and pulled back into my parking lot. I turn the bars left and rotate the key all the way anticlockwise and pull it out and put it in my pocket. The lights stay on. Hmm, never noticed that before...

I wished I'd known that there is a key position further than LOCK. I am hoping that this is my problem and that all it's going to have cost me is a bit of basic battery maintenance kit that I should own anyway. Perhaps in a couple of days I'll find out I'm wrong and I'll need a new alternator or RR. But for now I'm giddy with happiness and embarrassment!

^^^
You are far from the only one to have had trouble with that "feature."

[GLantern]

^^^
You are far from the only one to have had trouble with that "feature."

Very true i always double check the lights when i use the steering lock   

[eichh]

#1. Last year I stopped by a bar and grill for some lunch at a place that has outdoor seating by the parking lot. Well when I went to leave there were a bunch of people checking out my bike, so I get on and have my helmet on the tank while I start the bike to warm it up and at that point I found out that with the kickstand down and in false neutral the bike will move. It lunged forward about 4 feet and Im fumbling to grab the handlebars in case it started and took off, man I put my helmet on as fast as I could and got out of there  I felt like such an ass. 

#2. I rode to Alabama and stopped at a hotel, locked my bars and went in to shower came out to get some food and see my lights on. I knew the keys were not in it so Im figuring some make the beast with two backser tried to steal my bike so I run back into the hotel get my keys start it up to make sure its alright shut it down and everythings fine. When I got home I did a search on this site and found out about the lights on lock great idea someone had.  Live and learn I guess.

[ducrider45]

A hot girl pulls up net to me on her bike while I was at a light. She honks the horn twice and waves. I in turn hit the start switch twice and then look down to see why my horn does not work. She laughs very loud and takes off. I thought that I had blown a chance for an introduction, but I ran into her at a bike night a week or so later. She thought that I was joking the whole time and thanked me for the great laugh. I played along. 

[Doctor Woodrow]

A hot girl pulls up net to me on her bike while I was at a light. She honks the horn twice and waves. I in turn hit the start switch twice and then look down to see why my horn does not work. She laughs very loud and takes off. I thought that I had blown a chance for an introduction, but I ran into her at a bike night a week or so later. She thought that I was joking the whole time and thanked me for the great laugh. I played along. 

and . . . . . ?

[ab]

I just remembered a couple - not sure if is newbie instead

-- I step out of my apartment and got my gear on and am about to step on the bike.  There was a Mom and her young son like around 5 watching the bike.  She is like, "look at the bike to her son" and now they have stopped and are watching me and waiting for me to start her and head off.  I wave and get on the bike and try , start the bike.  Bike is dead !  Battery is dead !   I was kind of disappointed that I did not put on a show...   ( ok, lame story)

-- does looking at some girls on the road while riding in a slow traffic downtown and then almost hitting the car in front but avoid by swerving to the middle turning lane count?  I learned quickly to never do that again.

[CMDRDAVE]

  Since this is almost a year ago, I am at a point that I can admit this.  Finished changing the belts on the 748 and I am placing the tank back in place.    While out for a test ride on the highway I am approaching my exit, roll off the throttle and it sticks at 65 mph.  I roll back on the throttle and roll off, still stuck at 65 mph.  I hit the kill switch, pull over, try to restart and RPM's peg high.  Call the wife to pick me up in the truck.  After investigation I found that the rag I used to keep from scratching the tank or frame had fallen into the airbox and jammed the throttle body in position.   
  Hopefully now someone will learn from my mistake.  Count your rags!!