Whoops (system cases slide good)

[sud-z]

So I found out the other day just how well system cases slide down the road when they fall off the bike. Running errands, didn't lock one case (by accident) and took off. Got almost all the way home, but when I hit a familar bump in the road, I heard a loud bang from the left side. I looked back and saw the case chasing the bike. It rolled over once, landed the inside side and came to a halt. I was doing bout 45 at the time. So what happend? Fortunately not much. Minor scuffing, but not on the places that show. Picked it up, put it on the bike and latched it this time, and that was that.

Got off easy for such a bonehead move. Glad it wasn't really cold or I bet it would have cracked.

Nice new forum we have here, eh?

Cheers,
-Shawn

[Garth Fawcett]

I have done the same thing twice ,but havent heard or seen it happen,going too fast its amazing what they will stand up too, didnt notice untill i was many ks away ,luckly both time they were handed into the boys in blue ( they are good for some things) and there are some honest people out there.

[Wayne Dowers]

Happend to me once as well. I stopped at a red light and bag kept going.

[moa_lek]

Whew! I thought I was the only one...

Happened to me twice. The first was most eventful: morning commute, carpool lane going 80+ish. A GS was behind me the whole way. As I exited, the guy on the GS waved and made the thumbs-up sign. "wha?" I thought. Got to work, and went to get my papers and checkbook. No left case. Oh nooooooooo! Still mystified by the GS thing, tho.

Hopped on the bike (after checking the other case) and rode all the way home, then retraced my route trying not to panic. About two miles from my home, there it was - sitting against the barrier on the left side of the road. A little less panicky, made my way over to the right shoulder where by coincidence there was a CHP cruiser. My first thought was "oh s**t, I hope it didn't hit anyone or cause a massive accident or summat."

Parked, got off the bike and removed my helmet (never approach a CHP with yer helmet still on. Trust me.) Explained my plight to the really nice CHP lady, who promised to go get the case for me and disappeared. While she was looping back to get the case, tho, another CHiP arrived on his (nice R1100RTP!) bike and began to hassle me about what I was doing there. He wasn't really buying my explanation until the first officer reappeared in dramatic fashion. She executed a rolling roadblock to bring all traffic on the freeway to a halt (this is Hwy 101 near Palo Alto in California - rush hour and very very busy). Parking perpendicular to traffic, she hopped out and retrieved my bag. I think I made a lot of people late to work that morning. Ooops!

When she brought it back to me, it was mightily scuffed and abraded. Apprehensively I put it back on the bike and firmly locked it down with no problem. Amazing! Off to work only an hour or so late. Contents of the bag were unaffected.

I realized then that the thumbs-up from the guy on the GS in all likelihood meant that he saw the event and was letting me know that the bag landed safely without anything bad happening. In any event, I scanned the CHP live reports when I got to work to see if there was an accident reported there, but found none.

whew. I'd like to say this was the only time, but it happened again not much later, this time on a more desolate route. Never found the bag but was lucky it had nothing in it. Lucky again! Currently riding bagless and using a courier satchel for my things until I figure out what to do on the bag front.

[bigbikergeoff]

...and I thought I was the only one to do this.
Mine got pretty chewed up too. It ground down the lugs that fit the case on to the frame and put some impressive scratches on the outer lid. Everyone thinks that I must have dropped the bike so I have to embarass myself even more by explaining all over again.
Haven't decided what to do about it yet. Scratches won't polish out. I shall just have to wear the scars as evidence of the trials and tribulations of real motorcycling.

[chris d]

Also had my left side bag 'jump' off the rails at 120 kms/hr. Luckily a friend was behind me and saw it happen. I am sure the bag was locked on, so cannot explain how it fell off. Apart from some serious scratches it came off remarkably well (pardon the pun!) Anyone got a painted left bag or lid for sale? (see Wanted ads!)