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

[eichh]

This one occurred last fall. I was cruising down a backroad and came up on some RR tracks, well they were a bit rougher and dropped on the otherside quicker than I had thought. I slowed down to about 40 and when I hit them the bike left the ground a good 8" which wasn't to bad because I stuck the landing but my seat came unlatched and bounced crossways on me. My first thought was holy crap I just snapped my bike in half! So I rode bowlegged off to the shoulder to assess the situation and just reattached the seat and to make a mental note of those particular set of tracks. I will admit if I saw someone do the same thing I would have tears in my eyes from laughing so hard but lucky for my pride there were no witnesses.

[Jarvicious]

Riding on busy road
BMW dies
Thumb starter, bike turns over
No ignition
Push bike to side road (happened to be downhill)
Attempt bump start mid hill
Lets just say that a carbureted bike will not run unless you actually turn on the fuel to the carbs


The most memorable one from when I first got the Duc was thinking that wet gravel was more than enough to support the kick stand, followed a few weeks later by the thought that 100 degree, full sun asphault was enough as well.  Wrong on both counts 

[somegirl]

Commuted on a friend's Ninja 250 today while we are working on my Duc.  Drive it about 30-40 miles, park it, go to my appointment. 

Come out, intending to take it to the gas station half a block away, then head down to my office.

Bike wouldn't start.  It had also been hard to start in the morning (after sitting for a month) so I figured something must be wrong with it.  Call up MrI, he comes by, takes one look, flips the fuel to Reserve, and it starts right up.

Guess I've gotten too used to having a fuel light.

[swampduc]

Bike wouldn't start.  It had also been hard to start in the morning (after sitting for a month) so I figured something must be wrong with it.  Call up MrI, he comes by, takes one look, flips the fuel to Reserve, and it starts right up.

And I'm sure Mr. I let it slide completely, huh? 

[Popeye the Sailor]

And I'm sure Mr. I let it slide completely, huh? 

I was the picture of helpfulness. I merely reminded the poor dear girl that motorcycles, do indeed, need gas to run, then went about my merry way.

[ArcDeDucati]

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

I usually never lock the bars as this "feature" has left me high and dry more than once.  I really don't understand the significance of it.

as for noob mistake? Gassing up, spilled gas all over my tank after stupidly letting it overfill. Also got some in my mouth as it erupted like a volcano.

[zenjim]

Non-Duc Specific
Age 15: Working on my buddys Honda dirtbike - something to do with the throttle. After several hours of what I would call "discovery", I decide I have fixed said problem and it's time for a test ride. This is in the city of Boston in winter. As I mount said vehicle (helmetless) my friend informs me there is no front brake. "Oh. OK." I reply, completely unfazed due to a psychological condition known as ignorance is bliss. My ride through the hills (no dales) was puntuated by as many moments of me leaning over the tank waiting for the throttle to "kick in" as there were whisky throttle moments. These were followed by what I would call "snow-plowing", some slides on the ice and car bumper bumps. I returned the bike to my friend red faced from the cold, teary eyed from the speed and declared, "I think we're going to need that brake."

Duc Specific:
Day freakin one of ownership. I park at the park to watch my son's football game. After several hours of parental bliss I return to find the key is still in the ignition! My embarassment was only hightened by the fact that my ex-wife noticed before I did. This was followed by a discussion of why can't you give me more money if you can afford a motorcycle (though I gave her the house free and clear... Oh wait that's another forum)
Day freakin two of ownership. Return to bike after a long hard day of thankless working in the salt mines. OK it  was a cubicle. Boy that's a good lookin bike. Funny, I don't remember leaving the light on...

[ab]

I heard about a rider here who stuck his finger while working on his bike chain and had to obviously go to emergency hospital.  What possesses anyone to do that is beyond me.

I saw him a few weeks later with bandaged fingers.  Didn't want to ask him for more details as it probably was embarrassing enough for him already.

[mstevens]

I'll give it some thought, but most of the dumb n00b things I've done HAVE resulted in crashes.

[r_ciao]

Rode down Lombard Street (aka the crookedest street in the world) in San Francisco on my M696.  I thought it would be fun, but it wasn't.  All I did was ride the front brake with both legs fully extended so I wouldn't drop it on the steep descent in the curves.  It was a great view, but the road was crowded with cars.  I made it out safely, but it wasn't worth the trouble.

[darthmoto]

I was on Lombard heading towards the bridge when I stop up front at a light. I pop the bike into neutral and sit up relaxed while looking around. The bike pops into first and lunges forward and I nearly fall off the back. I dive to catch the bike, but not without struggling for a good 20 seconds trying to keep from tipping over. The driver next to me just stares at me with a gaping mouth and cross traffic comes thru very slowly watching me do the struggle dance. Deep breath as I get the bike back up, flustered and ride off like a bat out of hell.

[weemonster]

my first mod was to disable the suicide kick stand and the kill switch.

Guess what i did first time i went to ride off when there was anyone there to witness it?

yep rode off with the stand down.

[acalles]

went to a buddys house who has a briggs & stratton mini bike.

I asked him if it runs, he says "make the beast with two backs yeah"

so I start that sucker up and get on it to take it for a ride around the block, failing to ask if every thing works I crank on it. takes off faster then I expected and even gets the front wheel up off the ground a bit .. as I come to the stop sign, it becomes very apparent that the brakes suck serious, might as well not even be there ass. 

didn't crash, or even go into the intersection, but I sure toasted the shit out of a brand new pair of shoes. I rode back at about 2 mph... sat on the porch and 

[duc996]

I'd have to say ,stopped at a light waiting for the light to turn green,showing off a little bit when i released the clutch it stalled on me.Quite embarrassing.

[5lv]

I was on a brand new 1982 GPz550 doing slow figure 8's in the parking lot at work, when my right foot scraped on the ground and was pulled off the footpeg. I ended up running over my own foot but didn't dump it. I wasn't a newbie either, with about 15 years of riding experience.