OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign - Discuss OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign on CBRXX, the ultimate on-line community for Honda motorcyclists. Read it in General CBR XX Discussion. (General Discussion of the Honda CBR 1100 XX Super Blackbird that does not fit into the other specific forums.)

BobZ · 12-03-2008, 8:28 AM

For those of you that have replaced your lower cowlings, does the replacement come with the decals already on it? Mine has a few scrapes on it so for the cost it seems reasonable to replace it.

I think a lot of us have had similiar spills, whether we want to admit them or not. But consider it a cheap lesson learned and you were not hurt so all is well!

Bornagain · 12-03-2008, 8:49 AM

Sorry to hear you dropped it. Been there with my Bird and was lucky to avoid any damage other than the odd scratch.

I did pull my CBR6F on top of me off the bike lift, it was in the lowered position but it still hurt and broke DB screen and LH mirror. Sore leg for a few days.

fasterspider · 12-03-2008, 10:55 AM

The worst part of this whole deal is the fact that I actually let my bike go down. The money to fix the damages is a bit expensive but, my Bird is worth it to me.
I really love my Blackbird, she is an awesome bike that will continue to receive the best attention from me that I can possibly lay on her. And I only have 3 pieces left before I have a full new body set.
You all treated me a lot better than I thought you would for dropping my Bird, I appreciate that.

DarkRunner74 · 12-03-2008, 11:36 AM

Don't feel so bad...I bought my bird second hand and look at what I had to deal with in the first pic. He laid it down good and hard on that side.

But with some Automotive paint, Clear coat and some hard work I got it looking and running better. Even had to install a manual switch and other slight mods but I only replaced two minor parts. Didn't come out show room quality in the other pics, But I'm glad she's still runnin strong

amsiegel · 12-03-2008, 12:57 PM

I dropped my 3 feet from parking it in my storage unit. I caused more scrateches from trying to lift and slipping then I did from dropping it. I think it also think it landed right bar end and did something to the throttle becasue there is a slight vibration comming from the right grip now.

fasterspider · 12-03-2008, 1:57 PM

$25.00 and the weld is done.
My Bird is together again and looking better than ever.

TheDuck · 12-03-2008, 1:58 PM

On the broken lug, these can get broken off very easily, a 0mph drop almost guarantees it!
They can be re-welded but you do need a good welder and generally you need to drop the pan. They can distort though.
You can get round the problem by making up a bracket (bent piece of allu) and attaching it to the existing pan mounting bolt.
In the UK I found a good supply of new pans, a 'kit car' builder who uses Bird engines and dry sumps them .................... I bought 3 (along with pipework) for £50 ............. absolute bargain!

PJNXX · 12-03-2008, 3:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fasterspider

$25.00 and the weld is done.
My Bird is together again and looking better than ever.

Good for you. Did you take off the pan and bring it to a welder, or did you do it yourself?

fasterspider · 12-03-2008, 3:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJNXX

Good for you. Did you take off the pan and bring it to a welder, or did you do it yourself?

He welded it with the oil pan on the bike, it took him less than 3 minutes.
The little bracket was bent but a vice and my Vice Grip pliers made light work of that issue.

shewie · 12-03-2008, 4:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fasterspider

He welded it with the oil pan on the bike, it took him less than 3 minutes.

What did he use to weld it, mig or tig?

fasterspider · 12-03-2008, 4:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shewie

What did he use to weld it, mig or tig?

I really do not know the difference between mig & tig welders but the one he used was humming up a storm.
Jimmy @ A-1 Welders has been doing my welding for a few years now and has welded small aluminum parts for me in the past no problems at all.

shewie · 12-03-2008, 4:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fasterspider

I really do not know the difference between mig & tig welders but the one he used was humming up a storm.
Jimmy @ A-1 Welders has been doing my welding for a few years now and has welded small aluminum parts for me in the past no problems at all.

Umm. Okay, the easiest way to tell the difference - if it was a mig he would have had the gun in one hand; if it was a tig, he had the electrode in one hand, the filler rod in the other hand, and his foot operating a pedal.

fasterspider · 12-03-2008, 4:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shewie

Umm. Okay, the easiest way to tell the difference - if it was a mig he would have had the gun in one hand; if it was a tig, he had the electrode in one hand, the filler rod in the other hand, and his foot operating a pedal.

It was tig then.

bullet · 12-03-2008, 5:30 PM

sorry to hear that....maybe some shrooms as extra precaution..if the scratches ain't deep a good polishing/restoring may give good result..

deadman · 12-03-2008, 6:08 PM

Take the whole bike to a welder that has a TIG, 5 minute job, Weld it up on the bike, The earth lead must be on the end of the bracket being welded. not on the bike or the motor, otherwise it will cook wiring or seize bearings inside,
I have been welding like this for 45 years and never lost a battery or alternator yet, or cooked any wiring.
I hope this helps.
Brian.

Strek · 12-03-2008, 6:14 PM

Ray, Excellent. It looks great.

BobZ · 12-04-2008, 9:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logoman

Carolina Cycle lists your right lower cowl at $338.28 online. If you call Leon at the store, its even less than that. $403 is rape. My 2002 lower cowl is listed at $257.04 and I think Leon wanted less than $230 on the phone. Ask a brother for help in these matters and ye shall receive.

My lower mount got bent in my accident, too. I didn't figure that out until I went to put my lower cowl on a couple of days ago. I took that sucker off and banged it into fair shape and then ended up sticking a couple of washers between it and the bolt to make things work. I think I'm going to get my buddy to fab a new longer one for me, although a new one is only $4.41 or less at Carolina Cycle.

The 'Bird sucks at slow tight turns or doing what you did. I can't remember stabbing at the pavement with my foot on any other bike except the 'Bird. I think with a full load of fuel in the tank it would be hell to pick up. Like my 84 VF1000F. I had a wreck on that and had just fueled it up. I had to get help to get that thing off its side.

I did the old slow motion put the bike on the kick stand that wasn't completely down thing on my ST1100. It pinned me against the garage wall and I had to yell for my wife to get it off me.

Be VERY CAREFUL at toll plazas if you aren't already. Those places are slick as snot. I've almost dropped the bike just putting my foot down and having no traction.

I, too am considering replacing some body parts - anyone have an email/online contact for Carolina Cycles (I cannot call out from the office)? Seems their prices are the best, even compared to Ron Ayers or discounthondaparts.

chris.timmins · 12-04-2008, 2:32 PM

Hi
Still having flash backs from hitting some diesel on a tight left hand bend coming out of a service station. The bike must have only being going 10 miles an hours but skidded on it’s left side for a few feet with me lying on the tarmac in full view of a packed service station. Me and the bike were lifted to our feet once the onlookers had finished taking souvenir pictures !!!!! The point of the story is that I decided to fit some R&G crash protectors as I had nearly dropped it at a junction for the same reasons discussed. It did hurt me to drill holes in a perfectly good faring. The crash protectors saved all of the fairing and handlebars. The generator case was cracked and badly scored. A new generator case cost £100 to replace and the bike was back to normal again. Had a new set of R&G as well. For me these did save me a lot of cash in repairs but didn’t save me from having a red face. Still feel a bit nervous about leaning the bike in the wet.

Jeff · 12-04-2008, 7:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fasterspider

So I was riding up Piuma canyon heading for Stunt Rd when making a right turn, I decided to stop and wait for my buddy on his ZX-14. I should not have stopped before the bike I was 100% vertical, it was a stupid mistake that cost me a lot of money today.

No-one saw me fall but, I could not lift the bike and was laying there when my riding buddy came up the road to see me laying there stuck under my bike. We got the bike upright and away I went like it never happened.

Well, when I got home and looked at my bike after the ride, I saw what I did not want to see. She had a small rash and a bunch of scratches in the right side lower cowl and it cost me $403.57 for the new cowl.
Today when I went to put the cowl on, I found the lower front mount broken off the oil pan. I do not know what that will cost if I can have it fixed on the bike, should not be too expensive.

That part can be tig welded on the bike . just bevel the tab on the top side then have them put a smatt bead of 6061 or7005 aluminum on that side. Make sure they disconect the battery.

fasterspider · 12-05-2008, 1:05 PM

I just knocked over by Bird again onto the brand new lower cowling scratching her up. I am furious.

12-03-2008, 8:28 AM	#21
BobZ Join Date: May 20 2008 Location: Palm Coast FL Posts: 563	Re: OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign For those of you that have replaced your lower cowlings, does the replacement come with the decals already on it? Mine has a few scrapes on it so for the cost it seems reasonable to replace it. I think a lot of us have had similiar spills, whether we want to admit them or not. But consider it a cheap lesson learned and you were not hurt so all is well!

12-03-2008, 8:49 AM	#22
Bornagain Join Date: Apr 29 2008 Location: North of Scotland Age: 64 Posts: 193	Re: OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign Sorry to hear you dropped it. Been there with my Bird and was lucky to avoid any damage other than the odd scratch. I did pull my CBR6F on top of me off the bike lift, it was in the lowered position but it still hurt and broke DB screen and LH mirror. Sore leg for a few days.

12-03-2008, 10:55 AM	#23
fasterspider Join Date: May 16 2008 Location: Studio City, Ca Age: 48 Posts: 961	Re: OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign The worst part of this whole deal is the fact that I actually let my bike go down. The money to fix the damages is a bit expensive but, my Bird is worth it to me. I really love my Blackbird, she is an awesome bike that will continue to receive the best attention from me that I can possibly lay on her. And I only have 3 pieces left before I have a full new body set. You all treated me a lot better than I thought you would for dropping my Bird, I appreciate that. __________________ Ray#1 The fasterspider You must have bumped your head http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...birdavatar.jpg

12-03-2008, 12:57 PM	#25
amsiegel Join Date: Mar 02 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 43	Re: OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign I dropped my 3 feet from parking it in my storage unit. I caused more scrateches from trying to lift and slipping then I did from dropping it. I think it also think it landed right bar end and did something to the throttle becasue there is a slight vibration comming from the right grip now.

12-03-2008, 1:58 PM	#27
TheDuck Join Date: Oct 25 2008 Location: UK South West Posts: 1,253	Re: OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign On the broken lug, these can get broken off very easily, a 0mph drop almost guarantees it! They can be re-welded but you do need a good welder and generally you need to drop the pan. They can distort though. You can get round the problem by making up a bracket (bent piece of allu) and attaching it to the existing pan mounting bolt. In the UK I found a good supply of new pans, a 'kit car' builder who uses Bird engines and dry sumps them .................... I bought 3 (along with pipework) for £50 ............. absolute bargain!

12-03-2008, 5:30 PM	#34
bullet Join Date: Jun 12 2007 Location: GREECE-ATHENS Age: 40 Posts: 987	Re: OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign sorry to hear that....maybe some shrooms as extra precaution..if the scratches ain't deep a good polishing/restoring may give good result.. __________________ Nektarios a.k.a Bullet http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/...35&ref=profile http://s570.photobucket.com/home/neklek/allalbums

12-03-2008, 6:08 PM	#35
deadman Join Date: Aug 16 2008 Location: Lilydale Melb Australia Age: 62 Posts: 3,057	Re: OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign Take the whole bike to a welder that has a TIG, 5 minute job, Weld it up on the bike, The earth lead must be on the end of the bracket being welded. not on the bike or the motor, otherwise it will cook wiring or seize bearings inside, I have been welding like this for 45 years and never lost a battery or alternator yet, or cooked any wiring. I hope this helps. Brian. __________________ If ya not boppin, Ya in ya coffin. Rock and roll will soothe your soul. Mods, 6mm Shim, 12 inch risers, Double bubble Windsceen, Homemade Ventura type packrack, Expandable to 82 litre, Rjays rack bag, Lowered rear end frame by 3 inches. Suspension is still stock, home made Cans, awesome.

12-03-2008, 6:14 PM	#36
Strek Moderator Join Date: Jun 25 2007 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 5,215	Re: OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign Ray, Excellent. It looks great.

12-04-2008, 2:32 PM	#38
chris.timmins Join Date: Jul 01 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 7	Re: OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign Hi Still having flash backs from hitting some diesel on a tight left hand bend coming out of a service station. The bike must have only being going 10 miles an hours but skidded on it’s left side for a few feet with me lying on the tarmac in full view of a packed service station. Me and the bike were lifted to our feet once the onlookers had finished taking souvenir pictures !!!!! The point of the story is that I decided to fit some R&G crash protectors as I had nearly dropped it at a junction for the same reasons discussed. It did hurt me to drill holes in a perfectly good faring. The crash protectors saved all of the fairing and handlebars. The generator case was cracked and badly scored. A new generator case cost £100 to replace and the bike was back to normal again. Had a new set of R&G as well. For me these did save me a lot of cash in repairs but didn’t save me from having a red face. Still feel a bit nervous about leaning the bike in the wet.

12-05-2008, 1:05 PM	#40
fasterspider Join Date: May 16 2008 Location: Studio City, Ca Age: 48 Posts: 961	Re: OOOPS, I dropped my Bird at a stop sign I just knocked over by Bird again onto the brand new lower cowling scratching her up. I am furious. __________________ Ray#1 The fasterspider You must have bumped your head http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...birdavatar.jpg

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