Murphy's laws of motorcycling.

[Deuce 1]

From http://www.aerostich.com

A great motorcycling resource. Every time I get the money together for one of their suits, I need something else more. Until I'm riding in the rain....


MURPHY'S LAWS OF
MOTORCYCLING

1) The farther it is to the next gas stop, the larger the bug that will hit your shield exactly on the sight line.

2) When you dry out after riding through some rain, it will start raining again just when you begin to feel comfortable.

3) The chance that your bike insurer will find out about that big ticket received in a non-reciprocal state is 100%.

4) If you run out of gas, no matter which way you decide to push, the closest gas station will always be uphill and in the other direction. Corollary: The likelihood of running out increases when all of the nearby gas stations are closed.

5) The chance of your helmet dropping hard onto a rough concrete or asphalt surface is proportional to it’s newness and expense.

6) You only realize the bike’s keys are in your pants pocket after you’ve put on all of your riding gear.

7) The more riders around, the more likely you will: a) Forget the kill switch is in the off position while trying to start your bike; b) Ride off with the sidestand down; c) Ride off with the petcock closed; d) ride along for miles with the turn signal on; e) get stung by a bee and do a roadside crazy dance shedding your riding gear.

8) The scarcity of motels and camping spots depends on how late in the day it is.

9) Your first successful multi-gear wheelie will be past a heretofore unobserved police officer who dislikes motorcycles.

10) How long it takes to receive any back ordered part is proportional to how badly it is needed.

11) When your throttle cable snaps, you will always coast to a halt in front of a crack-house bust in progress.

12) The patch-wearing guy named ‘Tiny’ really DOES want to know what you are looking at.

13) Your battery will die at the exact same time something else on the bike breaks and you will think they are related.

14) The cute girl is probably talking to you despite the fact you own a bike.

15) The chance of rain depends on how accessible your rain gear is.

16) A bad day of riding is better than a good day at work.

[pleifer 0]

dang those are expensive suits....
nice but dang...

good list....
accurate too

_________________________________________
The Angel of Duh has spoke

[flyingferret 0]

Also,

17) You will always start your bike in gear because you were looking at some hottie.

18) The last turn to work is always the harder one to make

19) 5 minutes after you stop to put on rain gear to avoid an impending flood, the skies clear

--
All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[wmw999 2,482]

Quote

6) You only realize the bike’s keys are in your pants pocket after you’ve put on all of your riding gear.

7) The more riders around, the more likely you will: a) Forget the kill switch is in the off position while trying to start your bike; b) Ride off with the sidestand down; c) Ride off with the petcock closed; d) ride along for miles with the turn signal on; e) get stung by a bee and do a roadside crazy dance shedding your riding gear.

[small voice] you mean it's not just me?[/small voice]

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Acensky 0]

Here is one more

Reaching over to your right hand and in the process hitting the kill switch and not knowing that you did. You wonder why it got really quiet.

I know it has happened to at least one person here.

Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

[wildblue 7]

Quote

Here is one more

Reaching over to your right hand and in the process hitting the kill switch and not knowing that you did. You wonder why it got really quiet.

I know it has happened to at least one person here.

Long ride with no throttle lock, grabbed the throttle with left hand, hit kill switch, moment of confusion, put kill switch back in proper position, almost shat myself because of the ensuing "BOOM!!!"

it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality

[Slurp56 0]

I can relate to some of those

________________________________________
I have proof-read this post 500 times, but I guarantee you'll still manage to find a flaw.

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

put kill switch back in proper position, almost shat myself because of the ensuing "BOOM!!!"

Bwaahahaha




My favorite for me is almost rollling back on the saddle while fumbling with the reserve switch which until this point has been easy to find and rotate and keeping the throttle open to keep the bike from dieing.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[wildblue 7]

Quote

Quote

put kill switch back in proper position, almost shat myself because of the ensuing "BOOM!!!"

Bwaahahaha

My favorite for me is almost rollling back on the saddle while fumbling with the reserve switch which until this point has been easy to find and rotate and keeping the throttle open to keep the bike from dieing.

Don't get me wrong, it's fun to do on occasion when someone is following too close, but when you're not expecting it - yikes!

My bike is fairly idiot proof - I don't have to hit the reserve switch; if the side-stand is down and you put it in gear it kills the engine; it won't let you start in gear unless the clutch is in and stand is up. This is all good, because I'm an idiot.

it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality

[wmw999 2,482]

When I took the MSF beginner's class (lo these many years ago) I was told about a woman who had ridden behind her husband for 20 years before deciding to get her license.

She did everything right in the riding part. Perfectly. Then, when it was time to quit, she got off the bike and let go and watched it fall.

She'd never had to put the kickstand down before

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[RevJim 0]

Don't forget the important one. I know (from experience, twice).

XXIV.) The only time you will ever wipe out your bike will also be the only time you do not wear a helmet.

It's your life, live it!
Karma
RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1

[kelpdiver 2]

What is this strange petcock thingie you speak of? Next you'll be extolling the joys of the kick start!

With fuel injection came the death of petcocks for many brands and no shortage of hilarity when you borrow another. While my BMW is getting serviced, they give me a triumph for the day. I'm aware it has a petcock and a reserve amount, and that I need to put some gas in. I'm not aware that it lacks any sort of fuel indication, and more importantly, that the petcock was set to the reserve by the last user.

When do I find this out? 1/2 way to the crest of the Dumbarton Bridge, a 3 laner with no shoulder. Thankfully after the initial stall enough fuel seems to collect to allow me to make the summit and coast down the other side. Then walking for fuel.

[pleifer 0]

Quote

Here is one more

Reaching over to your right hand and in the process hitting the kill switch and not knowing that you did. You wonder why it got really quiet.

I know it has happened to at least one person here.

I wonder who that was

Just cuz you were following me.... at least i did not vomit from getting stuck behind the sheep truck

(both happened on the same trip)

_________________________________________
The Angel of Duh has spoke

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

c) Ride off with the petcock closed;

That's a weekly occurence for me Anytime I'm making a quick stop, expecailly when getting gas, I turn it off, and then jump back on, hit the starter and drive off. Find out about a 1/4 later what I forgot.

[mattjw916 2]

Why on earth do you do that???

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[teamhypoxia 0]

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Why on earth do you do that???

So the thief won't get much further than he does?

[PhillyKev 0]

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Why on earth do you do that???

It's just habit for me to turn off the fuel when I turn off my bike. And it's habit for me to turn it on when I pull out the enrichener to start it. Except when it's already warm, I don't need to open the enrichener so I just hit start and go.

[mattjw916 2]

Quote

So the thief won't get much further than he does?

bwaaa ha ha ha!!!

Other than the above mentioned reason it is a LOT more dangerous to have your bike possibly die abruptly in a bad spot, e.g. a full-lean in a high-speed corner or the middle of an intersection at rush hour. You might want to reconsider your procedure. Unless you are going to remove the gas tank or store the bike there is no reason to shut it off.

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[AggieDave 6]

If your tank doesn't have a vacum shutoff, then leaving it on will foul your plugs, foul plugs don't fire as hot, so you can end up getting detination due to the fuel not burning fully which can cause all sorts of damage to your engine over time.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[PhillyKev 0]

Plus if you leave it open when you stop some gas will drain into the oil tank. Also, your carb float bowl can overfill and drain gas onto the ground.

[mattjw916 2]

In over a decade and half-a-dozen motorcycles I have never had these problems manifest themselves... sounds like "Harley-like" problems to me.

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

sounds like "Harley-like" problems to me.

Well, my metric cruiser doesn't have this problem...The newer HD's don't have this problem...buuuuut...

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[mattjw916 2]

lol, I was happy when I sold my Ducati 900SS, no more carburetors for me! My current Ducati and my BMW both have FI so no more petcocks or choke for me, woohoo!!!

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

If your tank doesn't have a vacum shutoff, then leaving it on will foul your plugs, foul plugs don't fire as hot, so you can end up getting detination due to the fuel not burning fully which can cause all sorts of damage to your engine over time.

How many bikes does it actually apply to?

My 1983 Suzuki GS450 didn't require this. And obviously neither of my recent BMWs did.

[PhillyKev 0]

Well, actually, I've never had the problem either. I've just heard about it. But as Dave mentioned, might not apply to newer Harleys, so I could be wasting my time.

But then again, the thieves won't get very far