Experiences

Is my VFR possessed?

An horizontal bike story

This could be filed under the "Stupid Human Tricks" category.

Saturday evening, I took a quick neighbourhood ride to get a DVD (Sideways), fill the tank and warm up the chain before oiling it. I therefore had the VFR on its centerstand overnight, waiting for Sunday's Big Ride ?. Sunday morning comes, I pack my tank bag, with the three-inch tall extension, where I place my rain suit, and load the contraption on the tank.

Then, it's time to back my almost new (to me) 02 VFR out of the garage to start it. To get it off the stand, the bag is in the way and I can't easily reach for the right grip. No problem, there's a handy grab bar that looks like the Devil's horn right there...

You think you know where this story is going, don't you?

Well, you're wrong.

I rock the bike forward, and all is well ? the bike is still exactly how it appears in pictures, that is, vertical. However, the sidestand is not down. So with my left hand on the left grip, and my right hand on the right grip, holding the brake as usual, I throw a leg over the seat cowl and, with my torso, lightly brush the higher-than-usual tank bag. That, coupled with the unusual lack of a side stand was enough to send the bike, ever so slowly, to the right.

I fight will all my might to bring it back where it belongs, but to no avail. My just-washed-the-day-before VFR slowly made its way to the horizontal position, as I was swearing like a French-Canadian. (Ms. Corbeau came down the stairs to the garage and said dryly with an ounce of sarcasm, "you need a hand with that?")

Well, I did, and once the newly christened "Heavy bitch" was up - the new name is for the Honda, not my wife - it was time to assess the damage.

First, my pride. Second, my heart, which was beating at well over the rate personal trainers recommend. Third, a right mirror. And the plastic, you ask? Not a scratch.

I breathed a sigh of relief. That is, as well as one can breath a sigh of relief when one's heart is trying to leave where it's been all its life.

I now think that my bike is playing mind games with me. Although it had exactly the same height, weight and weight distribution on Sunday than it did on Saturday, each time I got back on it, with the sidestand down, I swear it felt like it was going to tip over to the right again.

Is my bike possessed, or just getting even for me calling it "Heavy bitch?" Time will tell.