Almost Crashed My Motorcycle Today - Weird Reason - Harley Forum

Buzz Kanter · #1 09-22-2009, 10:33 AM

I have been riding motorcycles for about 35 years. I was a motorcycle road racer and consider myself a pretty skilled rider. Yet I almost dumped my motorcycle today on the ride in to work.

Nothing special about the weather (warm and dry), road conditions (fine) or traffic pattern. I was wide awake and "in the zone" for my short 20 minute ride to the office on my motorcycle which was running fine.

Less than a mile from the office, and right in front of the Stamford, CT police department, I pulled up behind a car at a red traffic light. No big deal. As I slowed down I pulled in the clutch and downshifted to 1st. Then I put my left foot down to steady myself as I held up the bike, keeping my right foot on the rear brake.

At least that was the plan.

Somehow the shoe lace loop on my left hiking boot caught around the shifter arm and held tight so I could not put my left foot down. At first I had no idea what was happening, and almost dropped the motorcycle to the left as I could not get my foot down to steady it. Then, in a split second (that felt like a minute) I realized what had happened and forecfully pushed down on my left foot pulling loose the knot on my shoe lace and letting me put my foot on the ground before the bike toppled over.

I have ridden well over a quarter million miles on more than a hundred different motorcycles, yet this is a first for me. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Bikerbitch · #2 09-22-2009, 10:44 AM

yep.... same here.... I think all of us has experienced that.

Bigincher · #3 09-22-2009, 11:18 AM

Yes it happened to me once over 35 years ago, before I learned to wear motorcycle boots when riding a motorcycle. When hiking, I wear hiking boots. When playing softball, I wear cleats. When at work, I wear work boots.
Etc etc etc..........

botzman · #4 09-22-2009, 11:35 AM

yup.....lace caught on hwy peg though.

Trigger87 · #5 09-22-2009, 12:32 PM

I NEVER wear shoes with laces on the bike. NEVER! When learning to ride in high school, it was one of the things drilled into my head by the guy teaching me to ride (which is a whole 'nother story in itself). Glad that nothing came of it, Buzz!

Recneps · #6 09-22-2009, 12:38 PM

OK... this got me to register. Will post intro in new members area.

Yeah Buzz, just did this a few weeks ago. Was pulling my bike out of the garage to go on a Sunday morning ride. Buddy was waiting in the driveway. Went to put my left foot down and it ain't going down..... well it went down, when I went down, when the bike went down. WTF just happened!!! Now my left leg is pinned under my bike and the lace is still looped on either the shifter peg or foot peg and I can't get out.... "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up." I mean I am REALLY STUCK. My buddy and 10 year old son lift the bike a little so I can wiggle my foot to unhook the lace and extract myself from this embarrassing situation. Impact with the ground snapped off half the clutch lever and messed up the derby cover. Still went on the ride though.... just had to clutch with 2 fingers. That Monday got a new clutch lever and derby cover and we're good as new..... oh and also ordered some Chippewa boots with NO LACES. BTW, they are great boots and made in USA.