White paint and Rainy days - (also I'm sick of crashing)

[Matariki]

Well, I just got back from the hospital after my crash.

I ended up skidding on that son of bitch white paint that they use for roads and now my right knee is shredded, I've torn some of the muscles in my shoulders (rotor cuffs) and pulled my Achilles heel. I got off light... of course naturally after crashing I cried like the little bitch I am, more likely due to terrible anxiety I suffer with.

The cops and doctors said that It was fortunate that I was wearing my padded motorcycle jacket. I found myself loling at myself in the hospital and I found it even more hilarious that I crashed outside of a church. Fail.
Lucky for me though I didn't crash into the car that was about to take the turn at the intersection.

What can I learn from this? And of course how do I prevent skidding on the dreaded white paint on crappy, rainy days?

(No, getting a car or giving up riding are not options)

Chances are that this thread is probably going to come back and bite me in the ass...

[Ocean1]

Bugger. Hope they gave you drugs.

What can I learn from this? And of course how do I prevent skidding on the dreaded white paint on crappy, rainy days?(

You're asking, that's a very good start.

You can learn to take lines that avoid white lines, (or anything else smooth) when it's wet.

You can also find a nice greasy field and spend a bit of time provoking slithers so you can learn what they feel like and how to give yourself the best chance to get it back under control. Best wait a while for that, though.

Rest. Heal.

[That looks like fun]

Remeber that stupid road campaign they used to run "drive to the conditions when they change decrease you speed". Well thats about it in a nut shell.
Watch that shoulder, 5 months and mine is still giving me grief from a rotor cuff injury so be gentle with it.
Now go get back on that bike

[bogan]

Sorry to hear about the accident, hopefully you'll make a full recovery and have no nagging knee pains etc. The best way to avoid slipping on wet white lines it to avoid the lines completely. If you have to cross them, ease up on the brakes/power, and no abrupt direction changes.

My first (and only) road off was on an oily spot just after it started raining, in some ways lucky to have it a low speed, get all the learning without any permanent damage.

[steve_t]

Sorry to hear about your off, Hottie. Did you lock the front wheel, or lose the front or rear wheel sideways? What pants were you wearing?
As Bogan said, it's just about avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction over those slippery bastards.
Hope you heal quickly and well, and have heaps of awesome drugs

[skinman]

bad luck coming off
what tires do you have?
they can make a huge difference esp the front, also be gentle on brakes on the slippery stuff,again esp the front as it can be easy to lock it up.
I have done it too when I had a 250, broke my thumb.

[Matariki]

What happened was that I locked the front wheel and the rear wheel slid out from underneath me. All because I forgot to slow down enough to make the turn safely.

I ended up landing on my shoulder and scrapping my knee across the ground. I was wearing jeans at the time, but after this incident I'm buying proper motorcycle pants. I was given some Voltaren and Panadol at the hospital, both me and the doctor agree on the damage was mostly soft tissue, thankfully there were no fractures. Although there is some concern because I've had my right knee operated on in the past so the speicalists are rechecking the scans. My knee feels a bit loose but I'm able to get around on it.

[Matariki]

what tires do you have?

I'm not sure, but I'm getting them changed. They suck on both gravel and wet roads.

[baptist]

Glad you are ok heal well.

[rustic101]

Well, I just got back from the hospital after my crash.

What can I learn from this? And of course how do I prevent skidding on the dreaded white paint on crappy, rainy days?

Chances are that this thread is probably going to come back and bite me in the ass...

Get yourself a copy of this and have a read while you are resting:

Police riders' handbook to better motorcycling - Motorcycle road craft

P.S pleased you're walking about albeit a bit stiff...

[Gremlin]

- Avoid the lines... they are slippery
- In the wet be gentle and smooth in all your motions, avoid violent actions as it upsets the bike and puts more strain on tyres and suspension
- Losing the front, well, you normally find out about it when its way too late, however, being smooth and not locking the front will assist. If cornering, and being smooth, and you lose the front, and its not suspension, tyres etc, then there isn't really anything you can do (been there before)
- Use the gravel riding to learn how to control the rear sliding, as its much more manageable than the front sliding

[The Baron]

Hi HK
Very sorry to read this.
Take it easy for a bit and recover at your own speed.
Best wishes.

[yungatart]

- Avoid the lines... they are slippery
- In the wet be gentle and smooth in all your motions, avoid violent actions as it upsets the bike and puts more strain on tyres and suspension
- Losing the front, well, you normally find out about it when its way too late, however, being smooth and not locking the front will assist. If cornering, and being smooth, and you lose the front, and its not suspension, tyres etc, then there isn't really anything you can do (been there before)
- Use the gravel riding to learn how to control the rear sliding, as its much more manageable than the front sliding

What he said...and get yourself a mentor.
Learning the hard way is painful and unnecessary.

[sinfull]

Bugger. Hope they gave you drugs.



You're asking, that's a very good start.

You can learn to take lines that avoid white lines, (or anything else smooth) when it's wet.

You can also find a nice greasy field and spend a bit of time provoking slithers so you can learn what they feel like and how to give yourself the best chance to get it back under control. Best wait a while for that, though.

Rest. Heal.

Wot he said

Oh and the pants? horse, bolted, etc

[Nasty]

What happened was that I locked the front wheel and the rear wheel slid out from underneath me. All because I forgot to slow down enough to make the turn safely.

All said below is good. But one thing to remember is that if you have not slowed down enough to take a corner - especially if there are lines and rain etc - DON"T take the corner. There is almost always another turn you can make further up the road, there are very few places where there is only one way. If that is the only way - then go up, u-turn safely and do it that way.