Front wheel slipping out from under the bike - What to do?

[The Singing Chef]

Had my front slide out on me twice now, recovered the first one...not the 2nd. First was along ridge road and the was some gravel i hadn't seen which placed itself under my front tyre, slid briefly then managed to get the bike around the corner thank god.

Next was at Nass practicing emergency braking maneuverers, held the slide pretty well apparently, then bang onto my side. bloody annoying if you ask me.

[Beren]

And there was me being angry with myself for missing NASS several weeks on the trot

I will definitely be back, just one thing after another meaning I would be pushing the envelope too much and be riding knackered which I try not to do.

Parts of bike control are starting to become more instinctive now... definitely still need more practice - and hopefully will be back along to NASS before too long. Long days and lots of K's are not conducive to doing stuff in the evenings though.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

If the front is 'pushing' it generally means the front tyre is carrying more of the bikes weight than it can handle. Can be because you close the throttle, or brake,
In a turn. The answer is to take some of the weight off the front tyre by adding a little more throttle, and 'unloading' the front. Once the weight comes off the tyre hooks up again. Of course tyre choice, pressure, and road / track surface all come
Into it as well. Try a track day, you'll learn heaps.

[ClutchITUP]

I watched a shop monkey with big side burns once sitting on my bike(600RR) walking it thru his bike shop. We were talking an mucking around. He had his feet on the groung an he jammed the front brakes on the slippery shop floor. The front slipped away he just let the brake go and the bike popped back to standing. I guess Im try to say you dont have to be out on the road doing speed to practise you an your bikes limits.
If you want to test you an your bikes braking limits do it in a controlled enviroment. Slippery floor at walking pace with your feet already down ready to catch it sounds safe to me.
Repitition an knowing what to expect when it happens again cant hurt

[Rocket]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=98e_1262605863

The Snake

[GrayWolf]

Quote Originally Posted by Ferkletastic View Post
Quite honestly you shouldn't be splitting at speed in the rain as a newbie (even as a non-newbie really). Especially only a couple weeks into riding. The lines are slippery and car drivers are worse than usual in the rain.
Basically chill on the speed a bit, practise your emergency braking (like CFWB said, brake progressively always, never just grab a handful especially in the wet and even more especially on wet painted lines).
The best rule of thumb I've heard for splitting is that really you shouldn't be doing it over about 40k, slower in the rain for obvious reasons. The margins for error are small as and car drivers will not see you fluoro or not. This time you had to brake for a cop, next time it could be because suddlenly there's a van pulling across directly in front of you and the argument "They should have been looking" won't unbreak you or your bike.

Wise words indeed, and my thoughts also, given the Conditions/Rider experience.

Funny thing is, in the rant and rave section recently there was this thread

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...vs-blue-Falcon

Interesting reading as to how there are so many opposite idea's on lane splitting. Best thing I would say to the OP of this current thread? the two quoted posters are giving you sound advice....... Had you been travelling at 80kph? Your outcome could have been a lot nastier.

[actungbaby]

good reactions mate but like others say just stay calm sweeze the brake front and back toghter athough back just steddy the bike front slows you much more
yeah i fell of breaking on white line that i was in hurry late for work (yet again)
and that was 20 years ago u dont forget and learn, thats how we do.
you did well to keep bike upright i did same thing on my xl100 k2 dam hurt my foot though , hit judder bar only going 20 kph in car park but supesion was loose
on back and swung whole bike around nasty

After some advice this morning, had rather too close a call on the way in to work.

Coming in on the Northern I lane split between traffic - now mid way through my second week and I am starting to pick up speed a little.

So this morning I am drifting through the traffic at a reasonable pace wearing my bright flourescent learners jacket. It is raining, but not overly heavilly. the traffic is all behaving itself with a nice sized gap so I am doing close on 60kph. Suddenly I notice in the gap two cars in front is a police motorbike.

Thought process - Police, I'm going fast enough to be an issue, and I'm wearing a bright yellow Flourescent thing with 'L' Plates on it, and I'm on the motorway where I'm not supposed to be anyway, best I stop splitting then.

So in a slight panic I grab a handful of the front brake. Wet road, over zealous braking, then the already struggling front tyre finds the white line and the front end decides enough is enough and slips sideways.

The bike going over kicked in some very old motorcross instincts and with the application of my right boot on the road made it upright and past the copper straight and level. I'm suprised he couldn't smell me though!

Now apart from a slightly aching right hip, me and the bike are fine. Not sure if the copper wasn't paying any attention to what he should have seen in his mirrors but as I wandered past him at about 35k's he didn't bat an eyelid.

Obviously I was going a little too quick for my ability - as an emergency braking manuever in the conditions was not controlled. It was the hazzard I wasn't expecting that made me panic and not react correctly - next time speed will be shed more calmly or not at all. A ticket is far far better than being under a car!

However, if the front end goes out on a road bike is it already too late? Or is there anything other than putting your foot out that you can do to save the situation?

[CHOPPA]

If the front is 'pushing' it generally means the front tyre is carrying more of the bikes weight than it can handle. Can be because you close the throttle, or brake,
In a turn. The answer is to take some of the weight off the front tyre by adding a little more throttle, and 'unloading' the front. Once the weight comes off the tyre hooks up again. Of course tyre choice, pressure, and road / track surface all come
Into it as well. Try a track day, you'll learn heaps.

Pretty good advice right there

[Beren]

Pretty good advice right there

Holy thread revival batman I'm through my first 6000 Km now...

I would say that I am nearly in a position to start actually learning to ride... apart from having been hit by a car on Monday! That said I managed to keep it rubber side down still so perhaps I have learned something.

[CHOPPA]

Holy thread revival batman I'm through my first 6000 Km now...

I would say that I am nearly in a position to start actually learning to ride... apart from having been hit by a car on Monday! That said I managed to keep it rubber side down still so perhaps I have learned something.

You might wanna use a quote from a few posts before me...

[buzzard]

15 years on a bike, most of it in London traffic and I had the front wheel go out on me last week. I hit the ground with my knee, which managed to cushion the bike!. Fortunately I had some decent armour and gear on which protected me considerably.

I wasnt going fast, but the roads were wet. I just tapped the front brake lightly and the wheel went, so I am assuming that there was some oil or diesel on the road. There was nothing I could do except roll to the white cats eyes to get out of the way of the cars and trucks. Fortunately a good trucker stopped and a he and a lady in a car helped me out.

Thanks to St Johns and the biker that stopped to move my bike.

I guess to conclude, despite being careful and experienced, you need to be prepared to have an accident on a bike. Wear good gear, ride safely and within your limits and be careful becuase accidents do happen.

Cheers