My First Crash on the Track

[Leong]

Well I guess it had to happen sometime. I've done 8 trackdays and 2 Pukekohe open days this year, and in the last two months my bikes only been used to do and get to trackdays!

On Tuesdays HRC trackday at Taupo I was doing reasonably well in the fast group. Trying to catch a guy on a motard some distance ahead, I proved to myself that smooth and consistent really is quicker. Aaron Slight had said that I was getting on the power early coming out of corners, and should cut this back a bit. I was also working on braking less and thus increasing my corner speed. Coming out of turn 1, the rear let go as I eased on the power. My next recollection was watching the grass and sky go by as I slid down the track to about half way between turns 1 and 2. I remembered reading Keith Codes chapter on falling off and skidded a little on a large surface area of my previously mint leathers. I remember reading about the temptation to get up before I stopped sliding, so didn't do this and waited till I stopped. I watched my bike slide all the way to turn 2, fortunately, staying on the track and on it's left side. Then I remembered reading about staying still on the track so following riders could ride around me instead of having to guess which way I was going to move. Fortunately, there wasn't anyone behind. I got up, raised my hand to say I was OK, and saw Robyn wave the red flag! Blueblade and Tim stopped to help me out and check my bike. Thanks guys!!!

Damage to the bike was minimal, all considered - the crash bung was worn to half it's width. Scraped a mirror (usually take these off, but having sheared off one of the locating bolts on Friday, I left it on), also scraped a bar end, rear fairing and rear axle bolt. Broke the clutch lever and bent the gear linkage. After checking the bike over, I rode back to the pits and later did the next session on the track, albeit at a slower pace!

So what did I learn from this?
1) Having good protective gear works!! apart from a slight bruise under my left elbow, I'm unhurt.
2) Crash bungs are a great investment (see photo)
3) Reading a Twist of the Wrist was worthwhile, and you do remember what to do when the need arises.

What I would like to know - How to avoid this next time.
How do you know when the rear is about to let go? I think the reason for my bin was that I had entered turn 1 quicker than previously, yet still rolled on the throttle at the same point on the way out. I'm unsure of the significance of the bike sliding down to turn two virtually on my usual line down that short straight - it suggests to me that I was out of the corner when I lowsided. I have experienced wiggles from the rear before, especially when I wound on too much rebound on the rear, but there was nothing this time. Any comments on the fine art of track riding appreciated!

Also is there anyone out there with a clutch lever to fit a GSXR-600 K6. There is no stock in NZ and I'll probably need one to pass scrutineering at the GSXR trackday on 10 December.

[SpankMe]

Also keeping the pillion pegs on would have saved your tail fairing as they did mine at the KB Taupo track day when I low sided.

[Sketchy_Racer]

dude, for a crash, thats amazing!!

As for the lever,

Get a file and file around the lever, then get some Knead it and make a new ball for the clutch lever. Good as new (kinda)

Got me back on the track manytimes :)

[mynameis]

Sorry to hear about your bin Leong, but the damage is really minimal. What sort of speeds were you doing ? Did you apply the rears at all or to hard? Must say I am impressed with the oggys aye! Have you tried Trade Me for the clutch lever? Or would other years Gixxers lever fit? Or perhaps one from a thou? Just a thought. Good luck bud!

mynameis

[kiwifruit]

Sorry to hear you binned it man, best place to do it none the less (on the track).





Did you apply the rears to hard?

mynameis

the rears? the rear brake per chance? id say his foot was no where near the rear brake lever..... one would hope so anyho

[SlowHand]

Doh! Heard throught the JandalVine(tm) at least the damage to yourself and bike is minimal. Hope ya get it all sorted quickly L.

[NinjaBoy]

What I would like to know - How to avoid this next time.

Also is there anyone out there with a clutch lever to fit a GSXR-600 K6. There is no stock in NZ and I'll probably need one to pass scrutineering at the GSXR trackday on 10 December.

How to avoid ... slow down and let the Ninja riders overtake on the outside.

Maybe look at some aftermarket CRG ones like mine from www.Motostyle.co.nz or if it is a Nissin style one my spare one might fit...if you can bear to have Kawasaki part on a Gixxer

[R6_kid]

Coming out of turn 1, the rear let go as I eased on the power.

What I would like to know - How to avoid this next time.
How do you know when the rear is about to let go? I think the reason for my bin was that I had entered turn 1 quicker than previously, yet still rolled on the throttle at the same point on the way out. .

Did it just let go and send you sliding, or did it slide out, spinning for a bit, then go down?

On Friday morning at Taupo my Supercorsas were coming to the end of their lives (the rear was anyway). And as such they were beginning to get a bit loose under power. The first few times were just wiggles, but having wanted to 'drift' my bike for a while i opened the throttle more than usual out of turn one and the rear 'let go' a bit. From what i remember the rule is to keep the power constant and look where you want to go - thats what i did, and thankfully the rear stepped back in to line.

Hopefully with a bit more info about the rear actually letting go in your case will allow someone more skilled/experienced to give you some tips with a bit more confidence than me.


Maybe look at some aftermarket CRG ones like mine from www.Motostyle.co.nz

not a bad idea actually, they have the standard length ones, the foldable ones? that wont snap the end off, and the 'two finger' ones that aren't long enough to hit the ground... if you got the money then might aswell be pimp!

[SuperDave]

Damage to the bike looks very minimal, I'd be stoked about that.
Bugger about coming off but good to hear you're okay and as kiwifruit says, best place for it eh.

[R6_kid]

Damage to the bike looks very minimal, I'd be stoked about that.
Bugger about coming off but good to hear you're okay and as kiwifruit says, best place for it eh.

Dave, if you crashed, i think you would be crying. :dodge:

[GIXser]

Leong. glad your ok-- and the bike is semi ok--
out of interest what were ya tyre presures? and were ya tyres warm already?

see ya on the tenth bud"

[Brett]

Crap Leong, looks like you got away with very minimal damage, i am glad to see that! ALso sounds like you are getting some good experience on the track.

Hope you get it fixed soon!

[onearmedbandit]

Wow, if only my bike looked like that after my off. That is amazing. Glad to hear you're all good as well.

[SuperDave]

Dave, if you crashed, i think you would be crying. :dodge:

Quite possibly. I nearly opened the taps after reading your comment.

[Fat Tony]

Lucky escape for the bike there eh? Nice to know the crash protectors did their job :)

[beyond]

Sorry to hear that Leong :(

From the photo, you wouldn't think your bike had been down the track at all.
Amazed at what appears to be very little damage, thankfully. It could have been a whole lot worse. Imagine a high side :(

[gijoe1313]

Cripes Leong, glad to hear you're okay - and hooray for the power of translating written facts into real practice! Sounds like you did everything by the book - 'cept for the binning part, your bike hardly looks damaged! :gob:

Good to see you putting it out there and trying to learn what you did and reflecting on it - hope you are back on the track soon! :rockon:

[Leong]

Thanks for all the comments guys


dude, for a crash, thats amazing!!

As for the lever,

Get a file and file around the lever, then get some Knead it and make a new ball for the clutch lever. Good as new (kinda)

Got me back on the track manytimes :)

Sounds like the go for me, limited time etc. Hope Supercheap stock Knead it.


.

Did it just let go and send you sliding, or did it slide out, spinning for a bit, then go down?



It just let go. I heard revs rise and it was all over!!


Leong. glad your ok-- and the bike is semi ok--
out of interest what were ya tyre presures? and were ya tyres warm already?


I was running R31 F30 cold. On Friday each went up 4psi when hot. I though I had this sortd, but on Tuesday front was same ie up 4psi when hot, but rear went up 6psi.

Yes tyres were warm, it was close to the end of the 20min session, and I had been chasin that motard for 6-7 laps. Seen LOTS of guys go off on the first lap or two...

How does the bike behave at the limit? does it just let go, or slide a bit like G said. Hayden Fitzgerald said that it might have been a little dusty on the inside line where I was, given the windy day. I guess if it was slippery it might just let go.......

[Leong]

Sorry to hear that Leong :(

From the photo, you wouldn't think your bike had been down the track at all.
Amazed at what appears to be very little damage, thankfully. It could have been a whole lot worse. Imagine a high side :(

Mate, I think a high side even at Taupo where theres little to hit (except coming onto the new pit straight) would be rather painful!!

I appreciate how lucky I am

[beyond]

Dust would do it Leong. Your tyres were warm and normally you would feel them starting to slide or give a little twitch even under early power.
It sounds like you had a sudden loss of grip and wind blown dust on the track would certainly do that.

Sometimes you can never know why and what caused something which makes it more frustrating as one wants to learn exactly why something happened to prevent it next time.

I had the same thing on the road sometime back at the end of a long ride, warm tryres, nothing apparent on the road and the corner taken at what I considered a moderate speed. The back just let go on me without warning and of course then it's hang on for the ride. :(

[R6_kid]

Dust would do it Leong. Your tyres were warm and normally you would feel them starting to slide or give a little twitch even under early power.
It sounds like you had a sudden loss of grip and wind blown dust on the track would certainly do that.


from what you've leong, the dust would be a reasonable explanation. Thats where i was sliding the most on friday. If you get in to a powerslide, unless you have a big jump in power somewhere in the revs, or the throttle wide open, its unlikely that it would just 'let go'. Maybe talk to other people that were there on the day (i see you already have talked to some) and see if they had any trouble with grip exiting turn one?

[Toast]

If it lets go unexpectedly, safest thing to do usually is freeze (unless you've really jammed the gas on hard). Bloody good things these bikes, the front will just catch up to the rear smoothly, all by itself (in my experience anyway).

Ofcourse, if you're game for it, you could keep rolling it on really slowly to maintain the power slide...but I don't know many at that level yet.

Weighting the pegs helps to keep the bike more planted in a slide too.

[blueblade]

I've had the back end step out many times on that corner and it usually happens when you are holding a very tight line on the exit. You not only have the dust and dirt to contend with but also a slight off-camber. It doesnt take too much extra throttle to induce a slide there. I previously had Dunlop 208rr's on my bike and they always let go progressively and gave plenty of warning. I now have pilot powers same as you (from memory). These tyres dont give the same level of feedback. They hang on well but when they let go it always seems to be very sudden.

You were riding superbly up till the crash. Looking very smooth and precise - and fast!!!

Hope you enjoyed riding home with us. Pretty quick trip eh:innocent:

Bikies three H/P nil:scooter:

[Leong]

Thanks to RG100!! I got some Quiksteel from Supercheap (I assume its similar to Knead it) and have patched up the clutch lever I think quite successfully. Replaced the worn crash bung, straightened the gear linkage, and eventually got the sheared off locating bolt off teh mirror. I've decided not to replace the mirror or tail fairing till I've done a few more trackdays.

I guess it's quite likely that dust was a contributing factor as a tight exit from turn 1 is my prefered line. So next time I 'll look out for dust and keep to the cleaner part of the track! Thanks Paul, R6 and Toast and Blueblade.


I've had the back end step out many times on that corner and it usually happens when you are holding a very tight line on the exit. You not only have the dust and dirt to contend with but also a slight off-camber. It doesnt take too much extra throttle to induce a slide there. I previously had Dunlop 208rr's on my bike and they always let go progressively and gave plenty of warning. I now have pilot powers same as you (from memory). These tyres dont give the same level of feedback. They hang on well but when they let go it always seems to be very sudden.

You were riding superbly up till the crash. Looking very smooth and precise - and fast!!!

Hope you enjoyed riding home with us. Pretty quick trip eh:innocent:

Bikies three H/P nil:scooter:

Yes I have Pilot Powers. Now not sure what to get next time. Definitely think a bit of feedback prior to letting go is a good thing.

Yes the ride home was good. Decided not to go home via Clevedon/Hunua because of the sunstrike on those roads at that time. You guys ride very decisively and predictably - always good!! Till next time....