Crash tales. What happened and why

[FROSTY]

It just occured to me that it might be a good idea to tell our tales of woe.
What happened to us and on hindsight why/what caused it.
The what caused it bit is really important.
The idea being NOT to be a brag session or a my crash was worse than yours game.
More a hey this happened to me and this you can do to avoid it.
I think it could be really useful for newer riders or as a reminder to us all.

[MSTRS]

But if you mention a real crash in which you died, expect a mod to delete the thread.
Otherwise, just what we need....

[FROSTY]

To start the ball rolling.
I'd been riding on the road the grand time of 4 weeks.
In the wet I turned from a main road into a side street.
Halfway round the corner I found myself sitting on my ass on the road.
On hindsite I did everything wrong.
I changed down a gear,I braked with the front whilst turning on a white line.
On a white line meant limited traction . Then turning reduiced it more changing down broke the back end loose and front brakes broke the front loose--
Newbee mistake for sure Good news was all that was dented was my pride and a slightly bent footpeg -coulda been heaps worse

[FROSTY]

But if you mention a real crash in which you died, expect a mod to delete the thread.
Otherwise, just what we need....
actually mate I disagree. --its all about Timing dahlink.
3 deaths I can think of where enough time has passed so we could disect with no offence to anyone.
One very recent death I can understand timing means leave it alone for awhile

[MSTRS]

Braking is always a good one.
I had (a year or two back) a TS125, little 4" drum brakes, a pillion of reasonably generous proportions and a long straight to see how fast the thing would go...you guessed it...90 degree corner at the end of the straight. Bike topped about 115kph and needed about the length of the straight to stop again. Alas, I'd used most of that getting up to speed. Lucky the bike was light, and didn't actually go over the fence at the bottom of the bank.
This was on the back road from Paraparaumu down towards McKays Crossing.

[jrandom]

Here's my most recent one.

Turning left on my GSX-R750 SRAD from Brigham Creek Road onto SH16 last July about 9pm, it was dark and wet, roads were greasy. I'd been tip-toeing along all evening and was getting frustrated, was only 500m from my destination, and randomly fed the bike a handful as I straightened up onto the main road.

Bad call; the back end spun up and slid sharply to the right. Next bad call, I chopped the throttle and highsided myself straight onto SH16. Didn't even wind up on the wrong side of the road, just came around sideways and flopped off.

As is usual with highsides, the piece of me that touched down first shattered. In this case, it was my left thumb (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1152424#post1152424).

The relevant lesson is, when the back end lights up, stay on the throttle. If I'd lowsided I would have walked away unscathed. The only reason I wound up with eight titanium screws in my hand was my own faulty control inputs and the fact that I hadn't been expecting a sliding rear end.

I spent a while while I had my hand stuck in a cast drumming the "stay on the gas" message into myself, and I've subsequently ridden out a few such slidy moments with no drama at all.

(Obviously a subsidiary lesson is to be smooth and cautious with throttle inputs in the wet - on the whole, it's better not to go sliding around sideways on the road if you can avoid it.)

[Blue Velvet]

In this case, it was my left thumb (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1152424#post1152424).

Dude, those pics are awesome. So detailed and clear. Titanium owns. And how cool they obliged and took pics for you :2thumbsup

[vifferman]

What happened: I crashed.
Why: Dunno. Perhaps Satan dunnit. :confused:

And another time -
What happened: I fell down.
Why: Dunno. Maybe a local gravitational anomaly.:confused:

[jrandom]

Dude, those pics are awesome. So detailed and clear. Titanium owns.

You should see them in the original hi-res off the camera!

:yes:

[jrandom]

On another note, I've always felt that identifying what the rider did wrong is the key part of crash analysis.

If I fall off, I won't feel good about riding again until I know how I fucked up. I'll never blame the bike or another road user (unless they drive off the road and hit me while I'm sitting on the bike in my driveway).

In the end, it's always going to be my control inputs that lead to me sitting on my arse in a ditch with a bent bike and broken bones.

IMHO, any rider who can't identify what they did wrong after a bin (jerky throttle inputs in the wet, target fixation, overloading the front tyre's available traction while turning under brakes, failing to maintain situational awareness about other road users, etc) is doomed to repeat the same crash.

:yes:

[Blue Velvet]

On another note, I've always felt that identifying what the rider did wrong is the key part of crash analysis.

+1

Although I fully believe that Vifferman's bins were caused by Satan.


You should see them in the original hi-res off the camera!

Can you send them?

[Jimmy B]

Weapon: Shiny maroon SR250 (borrowed)
Time and conditions: 9.00pm and raining
Location: Broadway Palmerston North

Travelling in the centre lane at about 50kph the vehicle to my front left slowed and pulled to the kerb like they were about to stop. Without indication they then hung a rogue U turn. I braked hard and locked the rear, low siding into the back panel of the car. Had the wind knocked out of me for sure. The lady who was following made sure I was OK then proceeded to tear strips off the young blokes inside. The mighty SR was flooded and wouldn’t start and the battery was iffy. She made the driver push start me. It took quite a while.

Lessons learnt:

Manawatu housewives have an extensive and colourful vocabulary.

Beware the slowing or stationary car (with driver) to your left.

In the wet, it is impossible to stop a shiny maroon SR250 at 50kph inside 15 feet.

Low sides hurt and are to be avoided.

[Nagash]

Err, most recent. (Few days ago)

Thought it'd be a laugh to tie to bicycles to the back of a car. Hooning aroung at 60k's, my mate started to get speed wobble round a bend and decided to jump off the bike into a patch of grass with out informing me. His bike slid right into me and I flipped over the handle bars and slid down the road on my skull :laugh:

Stitches on two sides of my head, lots and lots of road rash (was wearing a singlet and shorts with jandels! ATGATT..) Broken and dislocated wrist and will be going in for an operation on two weeks time to stitch up a torn ligament that stops the bones from popping out of place :pinch:

Why it happened: I would like to believe lack of communication, but as the trophy I got says, we were being twats..

[vifferman]

I fully believe that Vifferman's bins were caused by Satan.
Yes. It's true.
Let's catalogue them all, in detail:
Dropped bike on hill: Satan caused it to tilt imperceptibly to the downhill side, overbalancing and falling on top of me. Satan laughed, while I suffered .

Clipped a Mini with my handlebar: Satan caused me to wear a blue visor at dusk, rendering the Mini nigh on invisible. (Either that, or he momentarily invisibilised the Mini).

Dropped bike in gravel, while swerving around pedestrians: Satan caused a hole in the road, then the council workers covered it with gravel, then Satan disguised it by getting a family of pillocks (the Pillock Family, of Rotorua) to walk out onto the road, and stand in front of the gravel to camouflage it till the critical moment. A masterful piece of timing.

Hit a cyclist: Satan caused a sweet young schoolgirl, fostered by a Christian family, to swerve across the road in front of me without looking.

T-Boned a car: Satan caused the car driver to go through the intersection and not give way. A beautiful piece of work, planned to occur on Christmas Day.

Bike fell over going around corner: Not a local gravity anomaly as first thought. Upon inspection, it appears Satan got someone to carelessly discard their V can instead of putting it in the trash. He then caused it to spend some time being swished around the road till it was all road-coloured, then a puff of wind (or a local gravity anomaly) caused it to park itself under my front tyre at the exact moment I tipped into the corner.

Ran over pedestrian: I saw her, and tootled: Satan made her ignore me.
I swerved around behind her: Satan made her spin her head through 540-degrees, then her body through 180 degrees, then leap into my path.
I ran her over in order to exorcise the Satanic spawn from her body.

Yay! My Bike's Repaired: "Haha!" says Satan, and makes a BMW driver change lanes without looking first. Unfortunately, the BMW is surrounded by a local gravity anomaly, so even though it appears to not touch the bike, it falls down anyway.

Fuck You Satan, I'll Repair it Again!: "And Fuck you too, Vifferdork - I'll send a brain-dead moron to u-turn into you!"

Aha! I'll replace it with another bike!: "Gravity anomaly. New Brake pads. You know you can't win, Vifferdork!"

What about this bike? It's blue! And perfect!: "Blue, Schmoo! Why don't you try overtaking on the inside of those cars, Vifferdork?" :devil2:
I know, I'll try overtaking on the inside. Uh-oh - that truck's moving forward: no room!
"There's always the verge. And look - there's a nice little gravel ramp thingo to ride up!"
I know - I could ride up that nice little gravel ramp thingo, onto the footpath, around the traffic snarl-up, then back onto the road!
"Or you could fall off on the wet grass!"
D'oh! :doh:

Gravity Anomaly, Too Many Inputs, Satan Shuts Down My Brain: Bike falls over for no apparent reason.

"Let's Play 'Distraction', Vifferdork": Cars stopped.
Cars moving.
Big black satanic hound on side of the road.
"Look at the hound, Vifferdork! Just for a second... you know you want to..."
Cars stopped.
Bike moving.
Bike stopped. Pity it wasn't 10cm earlier.
D'Oh! :doh:

Damn you to hell, Satan!! :mad:
Oh. Too late... <_<

[James Deuce]

But if you mention a real crash in which you died, expect a mod to delete the thread.
Otherwise, just what we need....

I did that, I died lots from one crash. Thankfully the, "she loves, she loves me not" cycle came out in my favour.

I was invulnerable. Sometimes I wore red underpants on the outside of my leathers. My record from Christchurch to Picton is 2 hours 45 minutes. 120.37 km.hr average. I didn't look at the speedo once and I wouldn't have stopped for any flashing red lights on top of any live rear axle Ford or Holden either. Mind you, you never saw those fellas in the South Island in them days. If you saw one, you knew there wasn't another for at least 300 kms.

I get to Picton with half an hour to spare and head straight to the queue for the ferry, down a 50 km/hr street, at 50 km/hr which feels like a snail's pace after my "heroic" run to catch the Ferry at all costs. I relaxed and 100 metres from the Ferry gates an old, slightly drunk guy pulls out in front of me with his lights turned off. On an unlit street. I braked so hard I flat spotted the front tyre but still the impact ripped the headstock out of the frame rails, rammed the front wheel into the oil cooler which was pushed into the sump, getting ground up in the crank. I only remember flying over the bonnet and waving to his wife, red undies on the outside of my leathers.

Then I died.

The chap who resuscitated me in situ said that when he tried to take my helmet off I stood up, took it off and handed it to him and then collapsed. I'd had no heartbeat when he checked. "Brains".

He reckoned the old guy had panicked, run me over and then got beached on the wreckage of my bike trying to get away. When he ran me over he folded my head over 180 degrees so it lay along my spine. My airway was obstructed through being hyper extended and folded back on itself.

Mr Resus got me going by carefully keeping my head and neck stable with my jacket and a few puffs got things working. However I started fitting and turning blue about the time the ambulance turned up.

Then I died.

The nurses who manned the Ambo got me going again, stabilising my neck and back and strapping me to the board before intubating and bagging. Got me going again. Apparently I spat the tube out and started talking on the way to hospital but I have no memory. Probably because my lungs had decided to shut down because of the irritation to that part of my central nervous system. I died again, but apparently a position change and frantic bagging did the trick.

Things got better from there, over 10 years.

But I don't wear undies on the outside any more.

Who am I kidding though. YOU there - you with the sportsbike - It's not going to happen to you, is it? Yeah Right.

[vifferman]

I did that, I died lots from one crash. Thankfully the, "she loves, she loves me not" cycle came out in my favour.
That was a very startling tale, Mr Jim2.
You are very fortunate to be alive.

Damn that Satan! (Uh... not for you being alive, but for all the rest of the shit. He must've really wanted you dead.)

[Blue Velvet]

Yes. It's true... Damn you to hell, Satan!!

Thank you. I'm still :lol:

[James Deuce]

That was a very startling tale, Mr Jim2.
You are very fortunate to be alive.

Damn that Satan! (Uh... not for you being alive, but for all the rest of the shit. He must've really wanted you dead.)

I think it was God actually. I think Satan is on my side, or I wouldn't have these eyebrows.

[rocketman1]

A few years back a Morris Minor did a U turn in front of me poor old duck didnt see me at all.
Boy it put the shits up me though I was on 250 trail bike , had it side ways for what seemed a about 30metres, I dont know how I missed her, I didnt even have time to abuse her.
I dont know to this day if she knew i was even there.
I sure check (the first sign) ie the front wheels turning on cars parked on the side of the road since then.
It is amazing how paranoic you become about things like this when you have had a close shave like this.

Moral....DON'T do U turns in cages, and save a bikers life

[McJim]

I had been riding for 6 weeks. Riding along a street at 50kph. Saw a green light. rode through green light. Got hit by people carrier.

What did I do wrong? Assumed people obeyed traffic signals in New Zealand. I didn't know they were optional.

[ital916]

I think I have a pretty bad record for a noob, so I will share. Four weeks and four bins was my unlucky run.

1. First time was when I had just got the good ol two stroke. I encountered the power band mid corner whilst learning throttle control. Did the noob thing and jammed on the rear brake, instant lowside.

Lesson: DOn't jam the rear brake mid corner or ever.

2. Low sided whilst going through a thirty k corner in second gear. Why because of the shitty rear tire i had on.

Lesson: Always check your tires and make sure your bike is in proper nick!

3. Crashed whilst out riding with the SMC crew. Was going round a corner at eighty, nice line and all. Came upon all my fellow bikers stopped on side of road and middle with ehab2wheeler picking himself up out of the bushes. Did the noob mistake of grabbing somefront brake. Having been riding three weeks, not expecting the bike to go so straight. Managed to scrub off most speed before i hit gravel and the front locked up and then washed out, promptly throwing me ass first into the gravel.

Lesson: never brake in a corner if your not gonna make it, tip it over more! Hence why I always shift my weight even road riding! Just in case i have to plant it.

4. Riding home in pouring, 20 k hairpin turn uphill with a off camber. Went slow, little lean hit diesel, went down.

Lesson: Ride to the conditions, avoid the diesel like the plague and if you fall off in the midde of the road, hi tail it to the pavement, i find rolling helps.

[breakaway]

Bulletproof / Invisible Syndrome: Going way too fast, corner way too sharp. Put it down to rider error misjudging the corner. When I realised I wasn't going to make it, got HARD on both brakes, ALMOST made it, till I hit the last foot or so of road, which was unfortunately littered with gravel. Hit that, was still on the brakes, front locked, bike lowsided and was headed down into rocks. When I realised that it was headed for the rocks, I hopped off, ended up almost going in myself. Fortunately I didn't hit anything hard while rolling along the ground. Came off at about ~100 KM/h.

Was so winded and in shock that I couldn't say that I was alright when someone came up behind me to check. Hell, I had no idea if I was, because I knew that the adrenaline was numbing my pain. Slowly moved my knees, my arms, verified nothing was broken. I was relieved to say the least.

I was wearing all the gear, so came out relatively unscathed. And I was fortunate enough to have good people around me who took good care of me and sorted out my bike.

Full story / photos here. (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=55252)

Needless to say that calmed me down real good, and I've been taking it easy ever since.

[325rocket]

nice idea for a thread



I changed down a gear,I braked with the front whilst turning on a white line.

why should you not change down a gear?

[McJim]

nice idea for a thread



why should you not change down a gear?

Ideally you should have changed gear and braked to an appropriate speed BEFORE you turn.....not during.

[DEATH_INC.]

Mmmm time for a bad boy story....
Did a wheelie :oi-grr: , caught up to a car and simultaneously dropped the front and applied the brake....then slid down the road on my ass.....and went for a ride to hospitable......:doctor:
moral(s): wait till the front lands and the wheel catches up before braking, don't trust a cold race tyre, and leave a bit more room to slow down/stop.... :laugh: Oh yeh, and wear all ya gear, even just riding 5 mins to work...

[DUCATI*HARD]

chased by a copper,got away,then pulled into the next street too fast,into the ditch i went,,,that was 10 years or so ago:Police:

[DUCATI*HARD]

all i will say is ive come off at 120k+ and it farken hurt:spanking:that was a year ago

[Grub]

why should you not change down a gear?

It's the same as jamming yer back brake on. Especially on a lean in marginal grip conditions, that's going to lowside you

[325rocket]

Ideally you should have changed gear and braked to an appropriate speed BEFORE you turn.....not during.

thanks


It's the same as jamming yer back brake on. Especially on a lean in marginal grip conditions, that's going to lowside you

and thanks

[ital916]

I know about countersteering, and i know now not to brake in turns, jim2.

[Patch]

I've fallen off more times than I can remember.

My last crash I don't remember at all (Taupo Race track Dec 06), all I do remember is flying thru the air.
A couple of months later my head stopped hurting (something to do with my brain smashing into my skull causing the pain and unseen damage) my collar bone had healed, but my back still hurt (had fractured L4 & L5, causing nerve damage)

Today I still feel the effects of concussion and the odd twinge in my spine. I may fully recover I might not, but I'm still here.


Falling off is sometimes funny (in hindsight), but crashing is not.


Moral of my story - save the limit testing for the track. I have no idea whose (the bike or my) limits I was testing that day. Thankfully I had friends to help me thru my mistake. They know more of what happened than I do.



Take my post for what it is, my experience, my lesson, my advice - The safest place is the track. Crashing hurts, its a long slow road to recovery . . . . if you survive.

[Number One]

Not a crash per se...but a drop nonetheless. Nothing as dramatic or life threatening as other stories....man some of those scarey...Jim2 esp!

Anyway this was just embarrassing but found that I was not alone with this at the time so will share for the benefit of lesser mortals like myself

:baby::pinch::o

Loooonnng time ago when I took my very first bike for it's very first drink I pulled up at the Mobil. Got off and filled up...all hunky dory. Had my bike a sum total of about 24 hours and was still feeling pretty damn chuffed - shit I was cool...a chick on a bike...yeah I can see you staring over there my Ute man....wondering if I really am a dyke on a bike. ANyway - pay spotty station attendant. Put gloves and helmet back on....twit in front still not finished phaffing about at his pump, parked real bad. Decide I'll back up.

FIRST learners lesson about pushing bikes: GET OFF BIKE FIRST! THEN PUSH - you are not stable enough straddled your machine...especially when you not yet really used to moving your bike around.

SO there I am Straddled my 'beast' I pushed off to go backwards, foot got trapped on PUMP island, bike went over, now trapped under bike with foot caught...MR ute man can you please come and pick this up off me please....thankyou so much - SHAME!

SECOND learners leson about gas stations (particularly Mobil): The pump islands are shaped like bones (kinda) fat ends...watch where you put your feet! :baby::pinch::o

[vifferman]

Fark! Grrrrr! That Satan!:mad: (no, not him - the other one!
He tricked me into forgetting some stuff that he did.

The first bike I bought, ended up in the owner's rose garden after the test ride. Satan done it! He was trying to make me actually fall into a rose bush, and whilst untangling myself the owner would come out and catch me, but he underestimated my embarrassment and desire to not be found out.

And then there was the time I was riding in The Swampe, doing trials-type stuff (Oh OK - I was just playing at it, alright? Happy now?!?) and a Satan reached out of the bog with one of his claws (disguised as a piece of rusty barbed wire), and grabbed me by the ankle. Oh how I did laugh. Y'see, I'd forgotten to wear boots, and the claw easily sliced through my (non-armoured) sock, and the tender skin underneath.

And that brings to mind the repressed repressions of other off-road excursions, such as when I worked for the Gubmint on a SheepTorturingStation, devising new ways to punish them for their evil and pernicious pernicity and evilness. Oh how I (didn't) laugh as I stood there in befuddled bewilderment after Satan shoulder-barged me into the electric fence.

But I didn't laugh even more on the times when I had to cart sheep in the trailer: bikes, trailers, hills and EvilSheep do NOT mix. So don't try this at home (or anywhere else), even with StuntSheep, not even dead StuntingSheep.

My virginal Bike+Trailer+Hills+Sheep was, I guess, a trial run. Well... a trial I'd have liked to run away from.
"You! Boy!" (I wasn't Vifferdork in those days) "Go and collect those dead EvilStuntSheep from that paddock OverYonder!"



So, off I set into the aforementioned PaddockOverYonder (although it took me several hours, because I couldn't locate the Yonder), and quicklyish located the sheep, due to the unique and unpleasant Eau de Mort they were wearing. They were at the [I]bottom end of the paddock, natcherly.
So, I loaded 'em up, sang a few choruses of the "Rawhide" song, girded my loins and loined my girdles, and set off.

Wah-HEY!! :eek:

The EvilStuntSheep must've just been playing possum (evil ones, natch), and not dead at all, for now they were all at the back of the trailer. Natcherly (of course), as they bounced up'n'down in the back of the trailer, this made the front of the trailer very light, lifting the back of the bike up.
Natcherly, the laws of physics not being suspended just because I was in the presence of Satan and his EvilStuntSheep, this meant the bike had no traction on the (literally) shitty grass, and I fell over, the bike ran backwards, and the trailer came off and ran away a bit.
Satan laughed. Prick.

So, I retrieved my wits, my dignity (such as it was, now that I was all shitty of mood and clothing), and the trailer, and tried again. This time, I tied the sheep up, seeing as they obviously didn't know they were dead and shouldn't be moving around. I also tied them to the cage of the trailer. :niceone:

And off we go.

Waaah! Heeeeyyyyyy!

The sheep are now (semi)behaving, but the trailer has too much weight on the drawbar, which pushes down on the back of the mighty AG100, and causes me to have no steering, courtesy of the front wheel of my mighty stallion pawing at the air, as it were.

[sigh...]

So, while I'm sitting there on the ground, in the sheepshit, there comes a mighty roaring, a TERRIBLE gnarsty noise, seemingly from the very demons of hell! WTF is Satan up to this time?!?

A top-dressing plane flies over, and top-dresses the very paddock I'm in. :shit:
Great! Just fooking great!
You, Satan, are an EvilTwunt!

But you knew that...

FootlingNote: Yes, yes, I know some of you who have made it this far through this sorry tale want to know "What happened to the EvilStuntSheep, Mister?" :spudwhat:
Well, eventually, desperation triumphed over TheKingdomOfDarkness, and I dragged each sheep one at a time up to the gate, then the trailer, then put the whole thing back together, and delivered the EvilStuntingSheep back to Satan, via a very deep and smelly Secret Portal, known to us Gummint Sheep Torturing Station workers as The Offal Hole.

The End.
But not of my SheepvsTrailer Adventures, as the4re were very many more of those. Eventually, I became a master of Sitting on the tank and wheelying/wheelspinning my way over the most difficult of terrain, with the securely-tied sheeps bouncing away in the trailer behind me.

[James Deuce]

I know about countersteering, and i know now not to brake in turns, jim2.
Stand the bike up and stop. Don't fanny about braking while leaned over.

My comment was that it isn't body weight that steers the bike, it's controlled inputs at the handle bars. If you want more lean, you dial it up at the bars, not by hanging your arse off.

[mowgli]

What pisses me off is when you're scanning ahead and you think "what if that guy ..." then a couple of seconds later it happens just as you imagined. Only trouble is your initial thoughts weren't translated into any sort of defensive stance so instead of simply stopping or riding around now I'm in having to take emergency steps. So far no bins but there have been a number of situations where I could have easily avoided throwing out the picks.

I'm now trying to act on those early signs even if all I do is move a couple of feet in the lane or roll off a little throttle. Eventually it should become instinctive but this seems to be a pretty hard nut to crack. Practise, practise, practise me tinks.

[vifferman]

What pisses me off is when you're scanning ahead and you think "what if that guy ..."
When following, don't take the same track as the guy in front of you (offset it a bit) and don't follow too closely.

When you're riding, it's a good idea to run little "escape scenarios" through your head: "If that car comes over the centre line, I could ride off the road there"; "If that tractor pulls out onto the road, there's enough of a gap there", "If Satan pushes Vifferdork off the road here, I'll go to the right".

This does two things: it helps make you aware of potential dangers, and it helps you to establish a mindset of focusing on solutions, not the problem. In an accident, too many people look at the approaching vehicle or whatever instead of a way of avoiding it.

Say the guy in front of you bins: the most common reaction is to stare at his bike crashing, which means you'll invariably follow. Instead, switch your gaze to the best route away from where the crash is occurring.

[Number One]

When following, don't take the same track as the guy in front of you (offset it a bit) and don't follow too closely.

When you're riding, it's a good idea to run little "escape scenarios" through your head: "If that car comes over the centre line, I could ride off the road there"; "If that tractor pulls out onto the road, there's enough of a gap there", "If Satan pushes Vifferdork off the road here, I'll go to the right".

This does two things: it helps make you aware of potential dangers, and it helps you to establish a mindset of focusing on solutions, not the problem. In an accident, too many people look at the approaching vehicle or whatever instead of a way of avoiding it.

Say the guy in front of you bins: the most common reaction is to stare at his bike crashing, which means you'll invariably follow. Instead, switch your gaze to the best route away from where the crash is occurring.

AND above all else - look out for Satan Aye VMan? :niceone:

[mowgli]

... too many people look at the approaching vehicle or whatever instead of a way of avoiding it.

So true! There is this one one corner on my commute where the road turns back on itself. There are manhole covers, tar banding, paint and the surface is channelled where successive vehicles have caused the seal to slide a little. It used to give me the shits every time I came to it. I'd creep round at about 25-30 when in a cage I would easily go around at 50.

It dawned on me one day (after reading some advice on here) to look less at the hazards and look through the corner. Now I can easily go around that corner at 50+ in the dry while still avoiding most of the hazards. I was focussed on the hazards and not the corner!

Dumbass noob! Probably a good way to learn the lesson though. It's certainly stuck pretty good.

[vifferman]

It dawned on me one day (after reading some advice on here) to look less at the hazards and look through the corner.
Guess what?
"What, Vifferdork? Tell me! Please....."
Where you look works on a less 'macro' level too. If you look at a pothole, or a piece of wood on the road, that are vaguely in your path, you'll almost certainly NOT miss it.
Gravel on the road? - Look for a clear piece of road next to the gravel patch.
Wet roads? - Look at the road between the giant slippery letters / symbols painted on the road when you ride over them. If you need to brake, your tyres won't be on them. Similarly, spot the diesel spills, antifreeze slicks etc. then make a point of focusing on clean bits of road.

Eventually, you'll end up with a habit of looking WAAAAY ahead through corners, while briefly flicking a glance over the road surface to scan for hazards, then if there are any, being aware of their location while focusing away from where they are, then return your gaze back to looking ahead through the corner. :niceone:

[slick]

Distractions have been a major factor in most of my prangs!

1. bloke jumps a red light so while I'm giving him what for as I pull away I don't see the woman who also decides to jump the lights, T-bone! RS250 write-off

2. near-miss on the way to work, too busy thinking 'what if I'd been a millisecond earlier, I'd be dead, that was bloody close....' not concentrating on what I'm doing, 10 minutes later I'm in an ambulance. R1 write-off

Lesson = concentrate on the here and now, not where you've been or what other people have done, where am I 'going' and what are people 'going' to do.

Target fixation is a nasty one, easy to say look for an escape route, not what you're trying to avoid, but instincts are difficult to ignore especially when you've only got milliseconds to make a decision, I've tried and failed several times!

[FROSTY]

Ok so you guys have told the stories where you've been "lucky"
Heres one where "I" wasn't so lucky.
" I" was out riding on my own. "I" had been riding for only 4 months but my freinds told me I was a very good rider.
Out to prove how well I could ride I was riding on a tricky bit of road.
I miscalculated my corner speed,the tightness of the bend My lack of experience meant I diddnt lean deeper into the corner or brake to wash off speed so the corner was able to be taken.
"i" crossed the center line to the point I was in the middle of the oncoming lane.
A car coming the other way wasnt able to brake in time and I hit his car front and center.
I died at the scene

[ital916]

Stand the bike up and stop. Don't fanny about braking while leaned over.

My comment was that it isn't body weight that steers the bike, it's controlled inputs at the handle bars. If you want more lean, you dial it up at the bars, not by hanging your arse off.

I understand what your daying, and i know you have to turn the bars on the bike to turn. I just find if i shift my weight i don't have to "dial" it in as much, i.e i don't have to apply a lot of turn to the bars, if worse come to worse then, i'll just apply all i can ot the bars and lean the bike fully over..sorted. Thanks for the advice though. :cool:

[skelstar]

I understand what your daying, and i know you have to turn the bars on the bike to turn. I just find if i shift my weight i don't have to "dial" it in as much, i.e i don't have to apply a lot of turn to the bars, if worse come to worse then, i'll just apply all i can ot the bars and lean the bike fully over..sorted. Thanks for the advice though. :cool:

All thats happening is when you're shifting your weight to the inside of the bike and promoting the countersteering by changing your arm/shoulder/bars geometry (as I understand it). This is covered pretty well in another thread (I think the 'moving weight' (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=64995) one). Well worth understanding whats going on (as you probably do).

[Ixion]

Whilst doubtless well intentioned, and with much respect to the OP, nonetheless I feel that such a thread as this is of negative benefit as far as survival goes.

It reinforces the attitude that crashing is "a bit of a joke"; something that happens to everyone.

After all, here's all these experienced riders yarning about all the crashes they've had. They're still here,aren't they; none the worse for it. Or at worst, a few scars, and chicks dig scars, right.

So, crashing's no big deal, eh. Gonna happen, and so what if it does, Just gotta make sure you've got insurance for the bike, and wear the Magic Gear.

The tales we need to hear are the ones that won't be posted. Because the posters aren't around anymore. Or , if they are, they're too busy just drooling away and waiting for someone to change their adult nappies.

Certainly , sometimes people walk away from crashes with no more than minor injuries, and a good tale to tell at the pub.

But it doesn't always happen that way

Other times, you don't walk away at all. Ever. And all that's left is for your parents or partner to bury you. And your kids to grow up wondering what the Dad (or Mum) they never really knew would have been like. Or your parents to keep your photo always on the sideboard, and choke back a sob when they look at it on what would have been your birthday.

Other times, you don't die. Unfortunately. Because the rest of your "life" will be as a vegetable. With no consiousness except a constant unremitting pain. And your partner comes to see you every day. Until eventually - he or she decides there's no point. And finds someone else. And then all you've got, and all you'll ever have, is the pain. And the tubes.

Other times, it's not so bad. Sort of. Just a life changing and life limiting experience that means for the rest of your life you'll have pain as a constant reminder. And find there's a lot of stuff that you can't do any more. And your friends (And partner. And kids) don't really want to know you any more , because you're "strange". And "hard to live with". And you can't do your job any more. So the rest of your life is going to be scraping by on a benefit. In a caravan park somewhere. or a cheap boarding house.

Those are the realities of crashing. It's not funny, it's not smart, and it's not inevitable

I don't have any crash tales to tell, sorry. And I mean to try really hard to keep things that way. I hope that the young riders starting out never get to have any crash tales, either.

[Katman]

Whilst doubtless well intentioned, and with much respect to the OP............
..............I hope that the young riders starting out never get to have any crash tales, either.

Excellent post.

[James Deuce]

Other times, it's not so bad. Sort of. Just a life changing and life limiting experience that means for the rest of your life you'll have pain as a constant reminder. And find there's a lot of stuff that you can't do any more. And your friends (And partner. And kids) don't really want to know you any more , because you're "strange". And "hard to live with". And you can't do your job any more. So the rest of your life is going to be scraping by on a benefit. In a caravan park somewhere. or a cheap boarding house.



I'm lucky to not be in that situation. Thankfully I am married to a women with a bit of gumption, and at the time had a boss who was a human being.

[ital916]

No crashing is not a ojke, i unfortunately have four more tales than i wanted, but i do not intend to crash and live life as a vegetable. I just hope new riders read my tales and the next time they enter a corner and have trouble, know that jamming the brakes on is not good and that you need to plant it over.Ride safe dudes....

[vifferman]

Whilst doubtless well intentioned, ... I feel that such a thread as this is of negative benefit as far as survival goes.

It reinforces the attitude that crashing is "a bit of a joke"; something that happens to everyone.
I guess that I haven't helped much with my posts. :blink:

It actually weighs very heavily on me every time I've had a crash (or even a near miss), and has made me think long and hard about my riding. Several times I have come very close to giving it up, and once was even on the point of buying a car (an Alfa) instead of another bike. If I didn't love motorcycling so much, logic would dictate that I give it away as "not for me". It seems of late that my mental state is often not the best for the concentration and self-control required to ride safely.

I have been extremely fortunate that I have not suffered major injury or death, and I can't even say it was due to skill that I did so. Of the crashes I've had, a large number were "not my fault", but even then, introspection told me there were things that I did (or didn't do) that contributed to the crash happening. Yes, my skills have improved over the 30+ years since I started riding, but I still make the occasional stupid "unforced error".

I envy you, Ixion, and salute you for not having any crash tales. I wish I could say the same.

[Pwalo]

Whilst doubtless well intentioned, and with much respect to the OP, nonetheless I feel that such a thread as this is of negative benefit as far as survival goes.

It reinforces the attitude that crashing is "a bit of a joke"; something that happens to everyone.


I don't have any crash tales to tell, sorry. And I mean to try really hard to keep things that way. I hope that the young riders starting out never get to have any crash tales, either.


I kind of feel that way as well. I'm pretty sure that a lot of these sort of threads are counterproductive.

The thing is NOT to crash, and I'm not convinced that looking at crash scenarios is the best way of doing it.

You don't want to think about crashing, you want to be concentrating on avoiding stupid motorists, obstacles, dodgy road surfaces etc, etc.

Unfortunately like a lot of things this requires patience and practice, which doesn't seem to be too fashionable.

[jrandom]

I don't have any crash tales to tell, sorry.

<_<

I admire your skill in riding on the road for so many years without falling off, but I do seem to recall watching a certain SV1000 end up on its side both on the way in and on the way out of a certain KBer's driveway...

Not that I'd want to spoil your rhetorical impact, of course. And perhaps that day was best forgotten.

However, for what it's worth, I don't think anyone looking at my hand surgery photographs would see my crash last year as 'a bit of a joke'.

[Katman]

However, for what it's worth, I don't think anyone looking at my hand surgery photographs would see my crash last year as 'a bit of a joke'.

And yet, that is exactly how you have subsequently treated it in posts on here.

[MSTRS]

Ok so you guys have told the stories where you've been "lucky"
Heres one where "I" wasn't so lucky.
" I" was out riding on my own. "I" had been riding for only 4 months but my freinds told me I was a very good rider.
Out to prove how well I could ride I was riding on a tricky bit of road.
I miscalculated my corner speed,the tightness of the bend My lack of experience meant I diddnt lean deeper into the corner or brake to wash off speed so the corner was able to be taken.
"i" crossed the center line to the point I was in the middle of the oncoming lane.
A car coming the other way wasnt able to brake in time and I hit his car front and center.
I died at the scene

That's what we really should be discussing. But you've covered all the things you did wrong that led to the outcome. Can you have a word with some of the other inhabitants of where-ever you are, then come back with a tale of monumental tragedy that we can really get our teeth into, thanks.
Oh, and RIP.

[Jimmy B]

First and foremost, Vifferman, that’s the most entertaining series of posts that I have read in a long time. Similarly Jim2 thanks for sharing your experience as well, for me that sharply highlighted a very simple message and as usual it was very well written.

I have another one to share and it concerns the potential dangers of a very small number of simple mistakes all combining at thee wrong moment.

I take a great deal of care with my bike and correct tyre pressure is right up there. One wet cold winter day I went down to Raglan with a few others. The pace was pretty relaxed given the conditions.

Soon enough we were approaching Raglan and I came across a temporary 50 kph zone, the road surface was mainly devoid of chip and gloss black, like a mirror. I slowed to about 70. I was about half way through the stretch and I imperceptibly started accelerating, you know just creeping up without concentrating.

I was now travelling at about 80kph in fourth or fifth gear (a bit tall really). Without warning the rear wheel lit up big time and kicked viciously out to the right then back to the left, simultaneously revs shot up from 3000 to around 10,000. From here I developed a wicked tank slapper, bars almost lock to lock, feet knocked off pegs and I was sure that I was going to high side. I probably travelled about 50 or 60 meters like this, I backed off the power and it straightened up with a final good headshake.

Some will tell you to pull a wheelie or keep on the gas but in my situation it was inconceivable to clutch an 1100cc road bike up in 5th that’s already out off control 1000 rpm under the redline on a wet tar surface and I sure as hell wasn’t going to keep the gas on, at 10000rpm the X11 should be north of 240kph. Regardless, none of this occurred to me at the time because I was too busy crapping myself.

I’ll tell you the best way to sort out tank slappers is not to have them in the first place.

What caused mine:

Inappropriate speed on a crap surface that was signposted as a hazard.

Travelling in too tall a gear on a crap surface.

Tire pressure 10 psi too high i.e. around 52 psi in the rear. My tyres were too hard and subsequently too cold to achieve maximum traction.

My tyre pressure gauge was badly wrong and I had placed blind faith in it because it was a reasonable brand.

4 simple mistakes…

[onearmedbandit]

I'm one of those who have crashed and have a constant reminder of it every waking moment. Do I have a tale to tell, not really. Other than crashing can hurt, and hurt badly. I live in 24hr a day pain now, chronic pain. It sucks, it's not something I'd wish upon my worst enemy. On that particular day I was going to fast for the conditions, and paid the price. So kids, listen up, crashing isn't funny, it's not a badge of honour. Instead it can be something you're damn lucky to walk away from, or something that will hound you for the rest of your life. Or your families and friends.

(In saying that, I'm thankful to be alive, am glad I had the accident, welcome the pain now and use it to make me stronger - although that can be an intense battle in itself -, and live each day to the fullest. I still ride hard, some would say too hard, but I'm not going to give up living because of this little drama. Life goes on, I learnt what I did wrong that day, and won't repeat it.)

[Luckylegs]

While I think there is benefit to these threads (for learning some basic rules of physics or "what a bike will do under given consitions or user inputs") I am of the opinion that there are some things that only a practical example of ones own stoopidity can prompt action.

I rode for a year and a half before my first, and I wont call it a crash because it was much more of a "fall over". It was in general a result of inexperience but was caused by the fact that I suck at getting bikes around a corner. Now I can go round them "fast enough" but this was due to a pinch of Cunning and Guile, basic technique, (charm and good looks.... oh maybe not that, but I digress), and HUGE DOLLOP of luck !!! (yip every time and wasnt that I was going fast) I just couldnt bring myself to do it properly.

I had a couple of near misses using my patended technique but I had always been able to "stand it up" brake hard and gingerly fall around the corner, but alas, twas not to last and my bike fell over......

This cemented what I knew all along but didnt think I needed to address, and that was....

When approaching a corner (tight ones, blind ones etc etc) Id focus on "the corner", to be exact I would often find myself focussed on the >>>>> signs going eek that looks tight, given that my eyes never wandered I kept that tight corner thought in my mind and would panic or stress blah blah. Imagine my surprise now that Ive forced myself to look through the corner instead of at it, sure it might look tight or have >>>> signs, but as you get closer and without that image in your head you realise it aint that tight..... (Epiphany anyone)

I was just a matter of forcing myself to do what I knew I needed to do. This came in two parts, 1st that I had to change cos plan A hadnt worked and second finding a way of encouraging the bahaviour. This has come (courtesy of the wealth of info on KB) in the form of advice to look at the vanishing point. While I havnt fully nailed this and guess it will come with experience, In lookiing at (or in some cases for it) guess where Im looking... (If you said the corner, your wrong to the back of the class).....

Anyway, if youve got this far though my post... Congrats and I apologise

[onearmedbandit]

Really?
Why?
The only reason I can think of that you would say that is if you think you're a better person because of it. Perhaps because you now, "live each day to the fullest" ?
If so, I can understand that -

Yeah that does need clearing up. When I say I'm glad I had the accident I really mean I have no regrets or no resentment. I'm where I am now as a result of things that have happened in my life, I'm happy with where I am. So I see it as a positive experience.

There are some interesting benefits that have come about as a result of it though. Increased pain tolerance, improved ability to focus, an understanding of what pain can truly give you, independence. And corny as it may seem, yeah it does give you a renewed passion for life. You notice and pay attention to things that you normally would take for granted or not even notice at all. These things I am glad of.

To be honest, if you were to ask me right now, 'would you change the events of that day 10yrs ago?', I would have to say no.

[FROSTY]

Ixion hey maybee you're right but you know it might get through to a few that its a deadly game we play.

[zeocen]

Here's my explaination of my recent (and only) serious crash, in video form! Because I can't be arsed typing it all out :P

<div><embed src="http://www.livevideo.com/flvplayer/embed/C42D522950F24708BE339CDDE2677251" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" WIDTH="445" HEIGHT="369" wmode="transparent"></embed><br/><a href="http://www.livevideo.com">http://www.livevideo.com</a></div>

I welcome anyone with tips to overcome ninja gravel patches, this whole broken collarbone deal isn't as fun as I thought.

[Sharry]

The first thing I will be doing when I get my next bike is too know how and when to brake properly.

In 1981 I had a larvely 1977 Honda 400F which I was riding to work one night. Doing the speed limit like we always do and low and behold the car gods have parked a drunk driver on the wrong side of the road. As I rode closer I saw him pull out from the side of the road and drive towrds me.
Now you all know that two second spot that you have to make a decision that will impact the rest of your life.
I knew my bike had a quick take off and decided to exelerate and go around him as he looked as though he was going to drive down the wrong side of the road. BAD, BAD BAD mistake. Never predict what a cage is going to do next.
I recall opening the throttle (memory stops). I feel myself land on the ground (memory starts). Result? 6 fractures in one leg and knee damage that is permanent. Something to do with his grill, and no armour in 1970's gear.

Lesson to newbees and and young ones? Learn how to brake on your bike!!. Always attempt to stay away from a dangerous cage as apposed to attempting to out wit it.

[Chrislost]

I was happily cruzing around and i came to a corner where there were some slower bikes.
mistake one i decided to pass them around the outside
i then noticed that they were going wide and there wasnt room for me so i mistake two decided to cut behind them. I tipped my bike in deeper and wacked my exaust on the ground and lost the rear, fell about 10cm, and slid into the grass beside the tarmac.

im not exactly sure why i was trying to pass them onto the back straight as i was just going to get nailed after 50m anyway...

i probably should have just hung back and tried to out brake them onto the front straight.

[Swoop]

Did a wheelie
Hmm. With all the posts referring to hitting a patch of "sudden increase in gravitational pull" or similar, I believe that your front wheel must hit some patches of "decreased gravitational pull".:clap:

[discotex]

It's the same as jamming yer back brake on. Especially on a lean in marginal grip conditions, that's going to lowside you

I don't tend to change up when cranked over in case I miss the gear. Not that it's likely to drop you in the dry but in the wet I'm glad it's an automatic habit.

My crash tale is pretty long to explain again (diagrams, photos and everything) so I'll just link to it (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=60442).

Turned out for the best.. Got 90% of the value of my helmet and gloves plus 95% of the value of my ZXR out of the other guys insurance.

[discotex]

Here's my explaination of my recent (and only) serious crash, in video form! Because I can't be arsed typing it all out :P

I welcome anyone with tips to overcome ninja gravel patches, this whole broken collarbone deal isn't as fun as I thought.

Have you got the other colour bikes as well? I got obstacle's son the whole set for xmas. They're so fuckin cool I wish I got myself some.

As for gravel the only thing I can think of is to always late apex to give yourself a better view of what's ahead. Works great for tightening corners as well.

[zeocen]

Have you got the other colour bikes as well? I got obstacle's son the whole set for xmas. They're so fuckin cool I wish I got myself some.

As for gravel the only thing I can think of is to always late apex to give yourself a better view of what's ahead. Works great for tightening corners as well.

Haha nah I just have the green one, but I have a GPX Ninja 600 model as well, it's on a stand though so I couldn't use that one :P

Re. late apex, I sometimes do it, but then I'm kinda guilty of getting in 'the zone', I do love my cornering. Could be my downfall.. it's not like I speed or anything and I have never gotten my knee down, I just like taking corners. But yeah, was definitely an eye opener.. in hindsight if I did go more on the outside I would have seen it earlier and been able to stand the bike up and maybe save it.. but I rarely go to the edge of the line on corners because I'm paranoid about cars skipping lane.

Ah well, looks like a lot of supermarket parking lot practice for me when I get back on the saddle to 'relearn'. Thanks for the post mate!

[Blue Velvet]

Whilst doubtless well intentioned, and with much respect to the OP, nonetheless I feel that such a thread as this is of negative benefit as far as survival goes.

I've been following this thread since it started. And after last night I disagree with the posts saying this thread is counter-productive.

On my ride home last night I recalled something posted on here. So if nothing else, it helped one rider be more aware on their journey home.

[vifferman]

I knew my bike had a quick take off and decided to exelerate and go around him as he looked as though he was going to drive down the wrong side of the road.
"They" say that if a vehicle is approaching on the wrong side of the road, never assume it's going to stay there. Look for an escape route on your side of the road.
I'd guess that in practice that's not that easy.
But (as you obviously know), even though people talk about "having enough power to get you out of danger". there are few times when acceleration is a good accident-avoidance measure.


im not exactly sure why i was trying to pass them onto the back straight as i was just going to get nailed after 50m anyway...
Ego.
Testosterone.
Adrenaline.


I believe that your front wheel must hit some patches of "decreased gravitational pull".:clap:
Yes.
An extremely localised and front-biased gravitational anomaly. Possibly an anti-statistical gravitational anomaly.


On my ride home last night I recalled something posted on here.
What was it, pray tell?
Don't leave the iron on?
Correct use of apostrophes?
Don't post personal information on the Interdweeb?
I before E, except after C (except if you're illigitimate).
Always wear clean undies?
:spudwhat:


BYou've one massive thing in your favour in regards to motorcycles and their operation. You're a woman.
And therefore favoured by statistics. That must be nice.
"Statistics indicate fewer women are involved in motorcycle accidents".
Almost a carte blanche to take advantage of the stacking of numbers (albeit semi-imaginary ones) in your favour.

[yungatart]

Wouldn't it be nice if one of our friendly local girl riders could share a crash story or two, with analysis?

:Pokey:

Okay!
Really didn't want to go over this again but....maybe someone will learn from this.

We were going through some nice open corners on a back road. The surface was good as was the weather. I was in the lead, came to a left hand down hill corner that tightened up, went wide, crossed the centre line, front wheel hit the shiny 'chipless' patch and washed out on me. I slid right across the road (nothing coming the other way, thank the Lord), stopped just short of a huge rock!

I was only doing about 35 k, but ended up with a spiral fracture to my left ankle, a broken right thumb, and took a chip of bone off my left knee.

Analysis....too fast for the corner given my ability (or lack thereof), a front tyre that was showing signs of a triangulated wear pattern and should have been replaced, and an inability (through ignorance/inexperience) to read the corner right.

I have since walked through corners with a mentor to learn how to read them, and "yungatarts corner" is now signposted 35 kph with those blazing chevron thinggies. (IT helps to complain sometimes)

If the corner had had any speed recommendation on it I would have been prepared for it, and it may not have happened.

[Swoop]

An extremely localised and front-biased gravitational anomaly. Possibly an anti-statistical gravitational anomaly.
This is, in fact, a very good thing. Luckily the front wheel takes all of the impact of this "anti-g anomaly" and ensures that there is nothing left for the rear wheel to encounter.

Research is continuing into whether Evel Kenevil's bikes used to encounter a different form of "anti-g" which was able to affect both wheels.:eek:

[Luckylegs]

....those blazing chevron thinggies.

Aha.. I knew when describing them in my post yesterday as >>>>>>>>> signs, there must a better decription, and there it is. :clap:

[onearmedbandit]

Lets try to keep this on-topic please. The intent of the thread is to share experiences and learn from them. Not to debate who the target audience is or whether they give a damn or not.

[Lissa]

The rest ride in a way that blokes find boring, but the arrive 2 minutes after you and they've taken in some scenery.I have put my hand up and say... yup thats me!!! :niceone: I dont have balls!

[Mulisha_troop]

well this just happened recently i have a yamaha ag200 for a work bike (dairy farmer) while cruising home thinking about what to have for tea after a hard days work the front wheel hit a rather large stone doing so it chucked all my weight to the right quick to respond i stuck my leg out only to have it fold under the weight of the bike my gumboot go stuck under the side stand and dragged me under trying my hardest to get off the throttle as i was being pulled down sadly i couldnt, ended up with a 2cm deep hole on the side of the knee a 3cm long gash but quite deep ,alot of gravel rash and a few days off work.ended up going to hospital to be poked and prodded with needles and tweezers ... moral of the story farmbikes are not moto x bikes dont wear shorts and dont ride ag200s full stop:crybaby::doh:
<a href="http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/BADTX3/?action=view&current=DSCF0141.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/BADTX3/DSCF0141.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/BADTX3/?action=view&current=DSCF0140.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/BADTX3/DSCF0140.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/BADTX3/?action=view&current=DSCF0139.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2/BADTX3/DSCF0139.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Mr Skid]

The rest ride in a way that blokes find boring, but the arrive 2 minutes after you and they've taken in some scenery.I've had blokes describe my bike as boring, and I have on occasion arrived late after taking in some scenery before.

[the mouse]

Lessons learnt.

1/ Wear a full face helmet.
2/ Don't let inexperienced people ride your bike, especially if you are going to sit behind them.


How'd it happen. I let my brother who was used to Jap bikes take control of my minter Triumph 500 (this was some time ago) as i sat happily on pillion.
In an emergency stop, he hit the brake, trouble was this was a Brit twin with the brake on the left, and it was actually the gear lever he stomped on resulting in a tail ender with another bike, over we all went. Put me worst off. In hosp with extensive head injuries (didn't feel a thing,k.o'd) and wrote my bike off (that hurt).

[Jiminy]

This thread provides good reading, lots of tips to apply on the bike.

I have a slow speed one to share. On a slightly rainy, after 6 months of riding (no, I wasn't too tired ;)), I noticed a big 'Give Way' painting on the road approaching a round about. No worry, let's just brake well in advance and everything will be sweet.

I did brake so well in advance that I forgot about the painting, and then down shifted from 2nd to 1st (thought I was in 3rd). My bike had a hiccup and my front wheel went away. I remember asking myself "Where is my bike?" as I was already half way down.

Braking early was good.
Putting my wheel on the wet paint was bad.
Down shifting on the wet paint was bad.
Down shifting from 2nd to 1st was worse.

Still my worse fall to date, crossing fingers.

[justsomeguy]

Lessons learnt - Crashing isn't fun and you could die, which is cool/fine/not a problem if you don't care. What isn't cool or fine is that it isn't that simple.

Usually you don't die.

You also inconvenience a lot of people around you and really stress them out.

You could kill/injure someone else sharing the road with you.

Huge nuisance if you don't die and have to recover and live like a vegetable. A scenario much better avoided.

Some of us are accidents waiting to happen, the sad fact is most of us don't care enough to change ourselves.

Keep it for the track, or stop riding till you can afford enough track time to get it out of your system and let you cruise on the road. Otherwise find something else as a hobby. There is more to life than motorcycles.

------------------------------------------------------

Details -

Crash 1 -

April 23rd 2005 3pm or around then. 3 months riding experience.

Bike shitty ZZR250.

Went for a ride with Zed, 6Chris6, Death, Draco, Loosebruce down SH22.

Started to rain on the way back.

Started raining harder.

I kept "practicing" late breaking and riding like that jerk JSG. Locked the front or something, lowsided, landed on my face at 70kmph and slid to a stop.

Bike was rideable.

I was fine.

Continued to ride even faster on the way back to Death's house for a warm cuppa.

Lesson learnt - Nothing really, was quite happy that I crashed and lived:clap:
-----------------------------------------

Crash 2 -

Sept 16 4pm or around then. Over 2.5 years riding experience.

Bike - Mint, near new gixxer thou with only 4500km, with the obligatory yoshi full titanium system, braided lines, larger rear sprocket - lots of little bling bits, phuckin noice bike in other words....meaning it hurt more to lose.

No memory of crash. Ambos said I hit a rock on the road. Massive highside.

Bike totalled. Bounced through the air several times damaged every panel, tank, both subframes and both wheels. All gear totalled including gloves and boots.

No insurance, I was too busy at work and didn't get around to transferring it to the new bike.

Damage to me: Lots of broken bits including my skull, two months off work to recover.

Real cause of crash - I got away with riding like that jerk JSG so many times I thought I'd developed it into an art....... I thought wrong.

[swbarnett]

There is more to life than motorcycles.
There are some of us that would strongly dispute this. To each their own...

[Ixion]

Piffle. Of course there's more to life than motorcycles. There's beer. 'S obvious.

[jrandom]

I got away with riding like that jerk JSG so many times I thought I'd developed it into an art...

I recommend changing the style of bike you ride when you eventually replace the pile of gixxer thou bits.

The GSX1400 is working a treat for me when it comes to staying happy while 'just cruising'.

:yes:

[swbarnett]

Piffle. Of course there's more to life than motorcycles. There's beer. 'S obvious.
And good single malt Scotch... (And the wife of course).

Life wasn't nearly as good before I got back on a bike though.

[jcupit69]

Heres mine:
Riding down from my house, doing bout 45-55 kmh in a 50, just letting my bike warm up (little zxr250c), and some ass in a 4x4 coming the other direction decides he wants to do a u-turn crossing my lane. This charming fellow decides he doesnt need to check if anythings coming and doesnt need to indecate, he'll just go a do his turn.......

upon seeing this huge ass 4x4 pull rite in frount of me, i slam on the breaks and aim as far back on his 4x4 as possible, unfortunitly he only left me about 2 meters to do all this, so bang!!!!

Bike nailed into the back of the 4x4, i fly over the back and go bouncing down the road on my head, leaving a huge dent in my gas tank on the way.
From there i proceded to drift in and out of conciousness, untill arriving by ambulance at wellington a&e.

I spent about 10 hours in a&e getting my head checked and my balls examined by everyone and their friend in the hospital (not fun at all), their was talk at one point of sergery and potential amputation, which thankfully never occoured. I was discharged home with my mother, as shes a nurse, otherwise they were gona transfer me to a ward so they could monitor my poor testical :crybaby:

After having my head well and truely messed up for bout 3 weeks, and walking like john wayne for about the same amount of time, i was thankfully back to nearly normal and had my insurance pay out (100% his fault so i kept my no claims bonus :) ) so decided to celebrated by going and getting an rs 250!!!

Never did find out if it was a man or woman driving, all i know is the police said 100% their fault, and gave them an $80 speeding ticket for failure to give way (which i thought was abit pathetic really)!!!

Thankfully i wasnt driving like a nutter, and was very luck in so many ways....bottom line is it doesnt matter how good a rider you are or think you are, it only takes one prick in a cage to kill you, no matter what your doing.

Still would rather die on a bike than live without one though, but i dont intend to do eitha.

p.s. props to the ambulance man for taking the pics at the scene and bluetoothing them to me on the way to hospital, thats what i call good service :clap::clap::clap:

[Blue Velvet]

Heres mine

Weird. That cage is called an Isuzu Alive

[jcupit69]

Weird. That cage is called an Isuzu Alive

Thank you, id been wondering what the hell it was!!!

[Mikkel]

I spent about 10 hours in a&e getting my head checked and my balls examined by everyone and their friend in the hospital (not fun at all), their was talk at one point of sergery and potential amputation, which thankfully never occoured. I was discharged home with my mother, as shes a nurse, otherwise they were gona transfer me to a ward so they could monitor my poor testical :crybaby:

I can see from the 2nd of your pictures why your testicle might have hurt a bit! :eek:

Good thing you're okay - but ridiculous only charging the driver with "failure to give way". That would have been at least "careless driving causing injury"!

[Finn]

I'm getting nervous. It's been two years since I started riding and I haven't come off.

[Mikkel]

I'm getting nervous. It's been two years since I started riding and I haven't come off.

Damn, you must have a sore ass by now...

[Finn]

Damn, you must have a sore ass by now...

He's not sore, just resting.

[Mikkel]

He's not sore, justing resting.

How the fuck did you get him to do that? I've been trying to get my ass to lie down for years!

[vifferman]

Never did find out if it was a man or woman driving, all i know is the police said 100% their fault, and gave them an $80 speeding ticket for failure to give way (which i thought was abit pathetic really)!!!
I agree.
They should've been charged with careless use causing injury at least.

I bought my first bike from a gurrrl who'd been t-boned by some old lady who made a habit of not stopping at intersections. Her leg was broken in 6 places, she had spend a few eeks in hospital in traction, then had a plaster cast up to her chest for a couple of months, then another full leg one for weeks, then she had calipers, then had to walk with a stick. For all I know, she probably still has a limp.
The old lady was fined some pathetically small amount for failing to give way.

[Swoop]

Bike nailed into the back of the 4x4, i fly over the back and go bouncing down the road on my head, leaving a huge dent in my gas tank on the way.
Oooohhh! Cringe inducing photo if ever there was!
Your friends' don't call you "horse" by any chance?

I spent about 10 hours... getting my balls examined by everyone and their friend
You could have spent a lot of money, in certain places of town, to experience the very same thing...:msn-wink: