harveje, check out this post:

Tank Dent

Makcap wrote:
...I have a friend who drops his bike often. Most of the time is just not watching and brakes and forgets to get both feet down...

There's the problem.... At slow speed, almost stopped, you had better keep your hand off the brake and the right foot on the brake! If you have the wheel cocked at all and you use the hand brake... that motorcycle is going down - and most of the time you will not be able to stop it from doing so. Don't ask me how I know this.

You must get in the habit of using the foot brake to stop at low speed.

In my first month of owning my new-to-me Roadie, I dropped it three times. In anticipation of just such an event, I'd already been through the videos on YouTube, so it wasn't any big deal. No damage, due to the crash bars. I got the "Ride Like A Pro" DVD, and haven't dropped it since. At parking lot speeds, the front brake is a no-no. Dragging the rear brake and working the friction zone with the clutch helps to stabilize the bike. And of course, it doesn't hurt to be ready to throw a foot down (like a BMX rider) as a last resort, if you feel things start to go squirrely.

Frank_W wrote:
In my first month of owning my new-to-me Roadie, I dropped it three times. In anticipation of just such an event, I'd already been through the videos on YouTube, so it wasn't any big deal. No damage, due to the crash bars. I got the "Ride Like A Pro" DVD, and haven't dropped it since. At parking lot speeds, the front brake is a no-no. Dragging the rear brake and working the friction zone with the clutch helps to stabilize the bike. And of course, it doesn't hurt to be ready to throw a foot down (like a BMX rider) as a last resort, if you feel things start to go squirrely. Agreed, Frank, I have that DVD as well. Learning the "friction zone" is very important and wise. I still have a problem keeping off that front brake at slow speeds, but I am getting it...

PapaTom,
I tried the c02 and a heat gun with no luck. I asked a body shop about paintless dent repair and they said no due to gas and possible spark but could fix it for $250 using bondo. It buggs the ?iss out of me and it is right there where the VIN is located. I heard the clearcoat on the bikes are thin so I did not heat it much.
Thanks,

you mught try dry ice

When I was learning to ride at MSF school, I was told to use both brakes to stop. Well you know where this goes... I locked the front brake as the handlebars were turned a bit, lost control, flipped over the handle bars, I rolled once or twice, got up on my feet (it was embarrassing) as if it was cool, nothing happened, but I was in pain. Really screwed up the bike (250 honda rebel I think). For $250, I got to get a license to kill myself and was able to wreck a bike at no additional cost.

I've had my R* for over 5 years, I've dropped it once, going low speed into my driveway, came to a stop (raised curb) and my feet didn't reach the ground, off to the left I go. My wife was on the back at the time. In my defense I was operating on little sleep and was really tired (ok, that makes things worse ) . The floorboards protected most of the impact. A few scratches on a turn signal was the only damage I had.

Done the get off the bike without the kickstand down probably twice, but I've always caught it before she fell.

Front wheel turned, touch front brake, bike goes down. Yup, it works like a charm.

Done the slow roll dump myself. I bounce my head off the ground lucky I had a bucket on so I just suffered a headache. put a helluva dent in the tank and tweaked one of the floor boards.

OK since we are having confession here...a couple days ago I had the bike on the jack and since the bike is now lowered I have to have something for the rear tire to come down on in order to get the jack out. I have had the same piece of 2X12 for probably 4 years, but good ole dad borrowed it to work on his. So all I could find was a 2X4. Anyway somehow the tire rolled off the 2X4 so I am there trying to jack the bike up, position the 2X4, and hold the bike from falling. Well it started to fall away from me and it was all I had to just let it rest on the floorboard while I gathered myself together. Somehow I gathered my Schwarzeneger strength and pulled it back onto the jack and was able to get it down. I got to tell you those ape hangers are pretty strong! When it was all said and done I couldn't find a mark on her. I am glad I had my wheaties that day!

Another funny story...when I had my bike shop I had one mechanic that was a large guy (to put it nicely). Well one day he asked if he could stay late to use the shop to work on his own bike. My father had a car lot across the street from me and we would usually hang out there after work and talk shop. A little while later I come out of my dad's office and I hear someone yelling and I see him over there with his VTX1800 laying on top of him. It had him pinned against a wall and he couldn't get it off. The amazing thing was he really wasn't in pain the bike just fell in a way that had him in an awkward position and he was STUCK! We all ran over there and had a serious laugh!!!!