stock joint guard explains why I might have fallen over.......

[jimmy z]

i also almost fell last summer same issue.Somehow i unhooked pant leg before falling.I did manage to fall off my yamaha raz moped and seperate my shoulder last summer (front tire went flat).Very embarrising.Anyway thanks for the thread.Will order guard. Jim

 

[fredz43]

I did 34,000 miles on my 2012 and over 8,000 so far on my 2014 without one, and had no problems, but since it has happened to others, I didn't want to push my luck and installed an Altrider guard this week.

 

[JRE]

I was very mindful of it when I rode this past weekend. I was wearing draggin jeans and they are a bit flared to go over boots which is something that will really be prone to catch. Normally, I wear overpants that velcro at the bottom which shouldn't be an issue. The altrider guards are relatively cheap (compared to many other farkles) though so why not.

 

[frez]

Not an issue for me, my pants have velcro fastners at the bottom that means there is no slack to go over anything. I'll keep it in mind if I ever nip out in jeans though.

 

[oldbear]

Got my guard today. Beautiful quality and went to install. Fit great BUT the top mounting bolt could NOT be tightened. What the heck? After fooling with it for a bit, I gave up and called Altrider. Seems the one I got is for a FOURTEEN S10, and will NOT work on the '13 and earlier bikes. Called back to Revzilla and they are shipping me a version for the '13. (Great customer service from Revzilla as Always!! ::013: Anyway, long story short be sure to specify the model YEAR of your bike when you order. Who'd a thunk?

 

[JRE]

I'm pretty sure when I ordered from AltRider I had to specify the '14 model vs the '11-'13 models. I thought when I checked Revzilla they were only offering the '11-'13 model, otherwise I would've ordered from them as I have $40 in Zilla cash

 

[mrpete64]

A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

I fell over on my bike on my way back from my trip out west. I was a few hours from home, after riding 5,000+ miles and decided to stop and have lunch before my final push. I stopped for lunch only to fall over in a parking lot...separating my left shoulder. Two guys helped me pick up my bike. Went in and had something to eat. The waitress has to help me put on my jacket. Went out, got on my bike, lifted my left arm up with my right hand, and off home I went...in pain!
I could not, for the longest time, figure out what happened. I first thought that my left leg must of slipped and that caused me to fall. It all happened very fast. Reading this site I found several individuals who posted a similar experience but were able to catch themselves before they went...splat!
After getting a copy of the Altrider catalog I noticed their universal Joint guard with the following description: Prevent you pants from getting caught. It then dawned on me that that is what happened to me. My pant leg must have gotten caught on the stock guard and before I realized it it was too late!
Obviously, I now own this part. For the few dollars that it costs it might be something you might consider. I have NOTHING to do with Altrider. I see a few suggestions to avoid getting your pant leg caught.
All you have to do is experience this once and it can easily ruin your day/trip. I am sure that Yamaha reads these blogs and is aware of this design flaw but as my lawyer friend told me they will not fix it because then that will admit it was faulty in the first place. Hence, lawsuits!
The least you can do is bend it over, a suggestion from a KLR owner, to help keep it from catching your pant leg. Learn from my mistake.

Mr. Pete------>
aging hippie

 

[yz454]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

Cost me a broken ankle , took it off ,fixed .

 

[SDJeff]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

Thank you, thank you. This is why I love this forum. Just ordered the altrider guard. Any time I can learn the easy way , thats great in my book.

 

[Hungry Tiger]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

Hey, mrpete and all of my wonderful Super Tenere comrades. Tip overs happen to all of us. My last two were in my driveway, and stopped at the gas pump prying my credit card out of the wallet. Keep your damn elbows tucked IN and execute a PLF (parachute landing fall). It's all in the rolling action. Too many shoulder/rotator cuff injuries lately.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

A weird injury I've heard of a couple times is the arm getting between your rib cage and the ground and breaking ribs. Ouch.

 

[Feral]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

Another thanks, Pete. I just ordered mine today. Shoulders are notoriously finicky. Make sure to start the PT as soon as you can. Heal up fast!

 

[twodogs]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

Hello MrPete, do hope you are recovering quickly.

You know I've been watching and enjoying this forum for a while and don't put a lot out there. Me bad for that :-[.

Felt I needed to share my experience on my Alaska trip last year. I've read several comments on the tip over and had been proactive and ordered the Altrider guards. Now I feel I'm in control . Off we go, all's going well until July 26th. Had to do a quick stop for a personal break and parked on a dirt side road. As we are all aware these machines set in a rather upright position (as compared to my Harley). Well this time I was in a real hurry, so it ended up in a more upright position ???, and off I go. Upon my return I grab the left grip, through my right leg over (with a little hop, from my left leg) and oh s@#$, my right pants leg cuff catches on the peg. Now, I have lots of time to experience what's going to happen. The bike starts moving under me to mother earth. All I can think of is get away from the machine. So, jerk the right leg out and plant it on the ground and do my best double half gainer with a twist and propel myself away form the bike into a tuck and roll away from the bike. Spiked the landing on my left shoulder and rolled over. All I hear is a thud of the bike :'( and my riding buddy yelling are you alright? I was fine other than my pride being killed .

Bottom line is just to let all know that the guard is not full proof. Well perhaps it is unless you do something stupid.

My friend and I attempted to pick the bike up without unloading it..... failed :-[. So with quick unpack, setup and repack we were on the road again ::001::.

I will add that I had on all the riding gear and it did it's job well. Oh, also there was no damage to the S10 ???

Again, take care and ride on ::26::

 

[limey]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

I have the altrider gard and I have had my pant leg get snagged.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

I have the Altrider gaurd and I have had my pant leg get snagged.

What did it snag on?
If I lace my hiking boots short, skip the top, I wind up with larger loops than normal, I've snagged them a couple times on the pegs. The wind does something to get the loop wrapped up somewhere. The cleated pegs most of us have will reach out and snag a pant leg if it passes too close. Riding boots and tucked in pants cuffs will fix all these snag problems folks are having. O

 

[Tyke]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

Thanks for the heads up MrPete...Ordered mine today ::008::

 

[Checkswrecks]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

What did it snag on?
If I lace my hiking boots short, skip the top, I wind up with larger loops than normal, I've snagged them a couple times on the pegs. The wind does something to get the loop wrapped up somewhere. The cleated pegs most of us have will reach out and snag a pant leg if it passes too close. Riding boots and tucked in pants cuffs will fix all these snag problems folks are having. O

It absolutely astounds me to see people wearing shoes or boots with laces on motorcycles. Shoe laces are one of those things which sooner or later will catch and over the person goes. It's almost comical as a commuter to see this once in a while, usually when those folks are coming to a traffic light, stop sign, or in a parking lot.

 

[shrekonwheels]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

It absolutely astounds me to see people wearing shoes or boots with laces on motorcycles. Shoe laces are one of those things which sooner or later will catch and over the person goes. It's almost comical as a commuter to see this once in a while, usually when those folks are coming to a traffic light, stop sign, or in a parking lot.

::026::

Yup, I even fell over on my zx6r when the soul on my hiking boot hooked on my rear set, that was embarrassing.

 

[Maxified]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

A weird injury I've heard of a couple times is the arm getting between your rib cage and the ground and breaking ribs. Ouch.

Got to experience such an injury after high-siding off my FZ-1. Landed on elbow between tarmac & body. Had on decent gear (Motoport) & only cracked 3 ribs, did not actually break them. Still uncomfortable...

 

[mrpete64]

Re: A "strong" suggestion.....and maybe you will not separate your shoulder

Thanks, very much, for your comments. My shoulder is doing...better! When you get "older" it take a bit longer to heal up. I'll be ready for my July trip to Alaska.

Mr. Pete-------->
aging hippie