I had my first motorcycle drop last Saturday and wanted to share the experience. I also thought I would do a simple root cause analysis.

What Happened

I approached a stop sign but did not come to a complete stop. Then I saw a car and grabbed the brake hard. The bike started falling, and I was unable to stabilize it before it hit the ground.

Outcome

Nothing serious happened. I was fine, and the bike had no visible scratches. Two gentlemen got out of their cars and helped me pick it up.

Immediate Cause

There was a blind spot on the road, and I did not come to a complete stop at the stop sign.

Bike-Related Causes

1. The brakes and forks have significant brake dive. The suspension movement made the bike harder to balance.
2. The clutch cable was not adjusted to my usual setting, and the lever was too difficult to pull. I think the clutch may not have been fully disengaging.

Rider-Related Causes

1. I took the bike on a long ride without being fully used to it. It is a new-to-me used bike, and this was its first long ride in about a month.
2. I knew about the clutch issue but hesitated to fix it.
3. I did not come to a complete stop at a stop sign despite the blind spot and unfamiliar location.

Preventive Actions

1. I lubricated and adjusted the clutch cable. The lever is now much easier to pull. I may lubricate it again using proper cable lubricant and a cable-lubing tool.

2. Come to a complete stop at stop signs, especially when there is a blind spot or I am riding in an unfamiliar area.

Please let me know things that I did not consider.