Found out I can pick up my FJ

[X-Ray]

The windshield went right through the corner edge of my trailer. Totally blows

Yep those damn trailers! Many years ago I got home tired after a long ride, parked the FJ in the shed, flicked down the stand, but not far enough. I got off, the FJ toppled over to the left on top of me, *JUST* scraping the front of our trailer on the way down, and pinned me there, lol. I had to yell out for a while for my wife to get the beast off me, I had no energy to do it. I now have a small gouge under the headlight as a reminder,   

[Capn Ron]

When I bought my '92 15 years ago, I drove it to meet some friends at a pub.  I parked it curbside right in front of the bar...y'know...because it just looked SO cool!  I was in the pub for maybe an hour...shot some pool...had ONE beer (I swear!) and headed out.  It was now dark and there were about ten people standing outside the door smoking as I put my gear on, warmed up the engine and put up the kickstand.  I went to pull away and BAM, fell over on the right side...in front of everyone!  I forgot that I put a disk lock on the front rotor!  DOH!

I put the kickstand down and put my back to the bike to power lift it with my legs...The fuel that spilled out of the tank made it too slippery.  I was about to lose it again and I said to the ten spectators, "little help?"...nothing.  "Little HELP over here???"  Two guys were on it and we managed to get her upright.

I now loop a bright orange zip tie over the ignition key cylinder whenever I use the disk lock!!

Cap'n Ron. . .

[Pat Conlon]

I dropped my '84 about 20 years ago. I used to turn my engine off with the key, but not anymore.

It happened at a gas station in Kayenta, Arizona after a long, long day riding. I was beyond tired.
I pulled up to the gas pumps, turned my bike off via the key, and got off thinking I had put my side stand down (not)
Crash.......Luckily back then '84 fairing parts were still available.

Now I use my side stand switch to turn my bike off. That way I know for sure that the side stand is down before dismounting. Although now, I have been known to leave my key on....but that's another story.

It seems that stupid shit happens to me after a long day in the saddle, they call it "road stoned".

[Picopower]

Yes that's the worst. Last week I was moving mine and stood it up and turned my back to here
The terrible crash sound. The throttle end punched a hole in my neighbors cinder block wall and
A piece of my windshield broke out. Your not alone, but reading your story made me think of
My recent tip over.
But it still runs fine. For now.
Dave

[fj johnnie]

 In 86 I picked up my new FJ 1200. Drove it home to show everyone. Parked on a slight hill. When I got off the kickstand was down, but as I swung my leg off the one side she went down on the other. I left it in neutral. Another stupid rookie mistake. The hill was just steep enough for it to roll forward. Bent the clutch lever and scratched the fairing protector. First day!!!!!!!!

[1tinindian]

My first year of ownership on my 91 FJ was going well until, one morning I pushed it outside and started it for a warm up before riding to work.
My mistake was that it was facing slightly down hill, (not much of an incline at all, really) with the front end slightly lower than the rear.
So I start it, adjust the chock for a proper idle, then turned my back on it to go back into the garage to finish putting my gear on when I hear the crashing sound of a bike falling over.

The side stand was down and the bars turned to the far right. The only thing I can think of, was that it was just enough of a down hill angle, on gravel, that the stand sunk into the ground and over she went.
Awesome luck had it, that with the bars all the way to the right, it landed on the left bar end, with no damage to the upper fairing and only very light scratches on the left mirror, left scoop, and ignition cover.

The scoop and mirror still have the marks on them and I  polished the ignition cover and added the case saver bars and installed the vibranators.

All in all, a very lucky tip over, with minimal damage and a lesson well learned.

Leon

[Tapartacus]

+1 on what Pat said. I use the kick stand to turn off my bike every time. Keeps the bike from rolling if I'm on an incline(or a decline, although never like parking it facing downhill). I feel it just keeps the bike in place. Are there any issues putting pressure on the transmission like that?

Andrew

[ribbert]

+1 on what Pat said. I use the kick stand to turn off my bike every time. Keeps the bike from rolling if I'm on an incline(or a decline, although never like parking it facing downhill). I feel it just keeps the bike in place. Are there any issues putting pressure on the transmission like that?

Andrew

The gearbox is designed to transmit 130hp of engine output to 260kg of bike which is about 2000% more load than holding the weight of the bike on a slight incline.

I also turn it off with the side stand, in part because I prefer to start it in gear, except for the first start of the day and I believe it's a good habit in manual cars and bikes anyway.
And yes, I have also left my ignition on occasionally as a result.

Having worked in bike shops I have seen and endless bikes dropped from their side stands and have developed an over cautious routine.
I always give the stand a kick forward after putting it down, wait until I can feel the bike unweighting onto the stand before I let go, then once the weight is fully on the stand, give a tug backwards on the bars to make sure.

FJ's, like many bikes of the era, have side stands that don't go far over centre. This is a hangover from when you could ride off with the stand down. The idea being if you forgot and it clipped the road, it would spring up without throwing you off.

More modern bikes generally have stands that go much further over centre.

Noel

[ribbert]

If you going to rely on the bike being in gear to hold it on a slope, it's a good idea to let the weight of the bike rest against the motor, that is, take up the transmission slack, before leaning it onto the side stand.
I've never bothered to conduct this test but the I reckon the amount of roll taking up that slack would put the stand perilously close to the centre point.

Noel

[fj1289]

If you going to rely on the bike being in gear to hold it on a slope, it's a good idea to let the weight of the bike rest against the motor, that is, take up the transmission slack, before leaning it onto the side stand.
I've never bothered to conduct this test but the I reckon the amount of roll taking up that slack would put the stand perilously close to the centre point.

Noel

X2! 

[simi_ed]

This is how I park when out on a ride.  Center stand is too much work, and I don't want to be bothered making sure I'm facing uphill.  It works for me (when I have a bike).

[Tapartacus]

Noel that is exactly what I do. 2000% you say? Worries be gone.

Andrew