The very first riding lesson I give a person who is
moving up to a larger bike is how to dump it. If they are not,
yet, riding a big bike, I even let them learn this lesson using my
FLHT. I have them take the bike onto a grassy area with
relatively firm ground and, with the engine turned off, I have them
lean the bike slowly over to the left.
I have explained before we do any of this that what
I want them to learn is that there comes a point in leaning the bike
where the center of gravity of the bike will move past the side of
their tank and that most of the weight of the bike will be on their
"down" leg. That at this point nobody can hold up a large bike
and that to try to do so can result in injury! That they are to
decide for themselves when they have reached that point and then to
stop trying to hold up the bike. They are to let go of the
lower grip, quickly step on the high peg and step as wide away from
the bike as possible with their "down" leg as the bike lays down.
If they do this correctly, they will find that they
remain standing, one foot on the ground, the other on the high per,
with the bike between their legs on its side. It usually takes no more
than two tries to get this right—the first try usually finds them
landing on their hands. (If they do, I remind them that they
might want to let go of the lower grip before it pulls them to the
ground.) But, by the second time they get the idea that they
have to let go of the lower grip, shift their weight very fast to
the high peg and step away with the other leg. This "move"
tends not to be forgotten long after it is learned.
With the bike down, they then observe, at least for
baggers, that it usually does not even leave its wheels because of the
engine and saddlebag guards, and that neither is there damage to the
bike.
By the way, I extend this lesson into a discussion
of when you should keep your feet on the pegs and when you can safely
step away from a bike that is going down. If the bike is moving
faster than you can walk, keep your feet on the pegs! If it is
going slower than that, stand on the high peg and let the bike fall
between your legs and walk (hop) away from it.