Droppped my bike today.  So pissed.  I was pulling out of a parking space, waiting for a car to go by, and as I was turning out, somehow lost my balance and set the bike down.  I was barely moving when this happened.  I caught myself with one leg, but didn't have the strength to pick it up balancing on one foot while leaning over, and had to set her down.  I am so upset with myself for doing something so stupid.  It broke my heart to see my bike laying on the ground.   Good news is there wasn't really any damage.  The rear brake lever was bent in a little, and there is a small scratch on my bar end mirror, but that's it.  I guess I am lucky I caught myself falling and could set her down very easily, otherwise it could have been worse.  I have dropped/ thrown away/ yard saled plenty of motocross bikes, but this is the first time on the street. Does anyone know how much a stock rear brake lever runs for a 696?  Or do you think I should just break out the torch, heat it up, and try bending it back out?

/rant

Sux that you went down but at least it was slow and you are ok!! Hopefully thats the one you had to get out of the way .  It will probably be costly to get a new lever, i wouldnt try bending it back if its processed the same way as my 695 and 1098 was.  I'm not sure what manufacturing process its called but it breaks easily when u try to bend it, i know heh. 

Try ebay and the parts section or just ride knowing you have to bend your right foot a little more in to hit the rear brake.  It sux to drop a new bike and i understand you probably want  the piece fixed and it perfect.  However take your time and dont go spending 100$ on a new lever from the dealer.  I rode with a bent rear break lever for a good 2months on my 1098 after i dropped her.

How badly is it bent? I bent my back brake lever on my S2R back to where it needed to be without a torch.


Well, I didn't, a guy at the shop did it for me.

Quote from: livefastdiefun99 on October 02, 2008, 12:31:44 PM
 I was barely moving when this happened. 

There is a poll here on how many of us have dropped a bike.  The percentage is way above half.  The question is not if, but when and how many times.

The two most common reasons for a drop are parking lot speed turns and a foot slipping out.

Sorry man, but don't kick yourself too hard.

Tommy T.

Quote from: livefastdiefun99 on October 02, 2008, 12:31:44 PM
<snip>  Or do you think I should just break out the torch, heat it up, and try bending it back out?  <snip>

Not sure of the order to recommend.  Aluminum (I assume) work hardens very quickly, one or two bends.  To soften a non-ferrous metal heat it up and quench (cool) it quickly with water.  I would probably heat it, bend it, then reheat and quench.  Worked on the un-obtainium handle bar on the SRX6 that the kid mangled.

Sorry to hear of the MINOR drop.  You are lucky.  Go to http://www.ducati.com/en/bikes/service/parts/2008.jhtml?family=parts to download the parts catalogue.  You can then go Ducati Omaha's website http://www.motospecialties.com/partorderlookup.asp?store=DucatiOmaha to plug in the part number to get a price quote.

The  levers are cast aluminum. Castings create porosity, which when heated, can make them brittle; however, applying a little bit of heat could soften the metal just enough to make it somewhat pliable. Depending on the severity of the bend, you could save it. Give it a try, if it doesn't work, you can get a new one. Might as well try it.

Sorry to hear about your mishap

Sorry to hear that.

It happens to all of us sooner or later. I dropped mine in a parking lot as well. I threw my fat body between the bike and cement so I was lucky to have no damage though 

it does happen sooner or later.
for some, sooner rather than later.

i dropped mine on the first day i rode it.
zero damage, i wasn't even moving...

Mishaps will happen,  Sorry to hear of yours.  I also put my bike down not soon after I had it.  It was a slow one but my body saved most of it.  Put a good dent in the muffler but was getting new ones so it all worked out. Good luck and don't beat yourself up to much.

Welcome to the club! you are lucky that you didn't get the infamous tank dent.. then you'd be crying.  Now you just have to get familiar with the bike's steering at ultra slow speed.. your 696 though has a wider range of motion, from what I remember when I rode one, than previous monsters, but nonetheless.. very different from other brands if you were used to another bike.. therefore the fall. It won't happen to you again.. I hope! 

Welcome to the CLUB, like it or not dropping the bike comes with riding.
Its so easy to lay down a bike, its Newton's law of gravity.
I know it sucks, but its one of those things no one is immune.
It happens to the best of us, the best part is to get back up and keep on riding.  [moto]

You shouldn't really need a torch to bend the brake lever back.  A heat gun would provide enough heat to help it move.  Or you could just not use the rear brake.

I've done it before too. Probably don't need heat to bend it back.  Just watch for the alignment on the rear brake light switch as you are bending.

LA