n00b questions- when in a slide..

[SlowHand]

I don't know if this has been asked before, but all this rain's made me think. If I'm going around a corner, and I run wide and hit the paint or gravel and the back starts sliding, what do I do? I guess gravel and paint require different approaches. Do I put up with it and easy off the throttle, start crying or pull it up? If you pull it up, could it throw me high side?

as a note, if any other newbies have similar questions, feel free to hijack the thread.

[jrandom]

If... I run wide and hit the paint or gravel and the back starts sliding, what do I do?

well, if the *front* wheel slides yer fooked, but you werent asking about that anyways.

if your face is still off the ground, ie the front tyre is holding, then just keep the throttle steady and pretend your girlfriend is watching and will get really hot as you demonstrate your mad skillz, everyone feels the back step out now and then, it'll find traction eventually and if you havent substantially altered the engine revs or added braking you'll just drive out of the corner with no more than mild dampness of the crotch.

if you grab heaps of throttle (why would you do that, anyway?) you'll probably end up arse-surfing.

if you jam on the brakes you could highside.

so just keep it steady, eyes on your exit point and pray.

[edit: I mean, theres no guarantees you wont fall off regardless, but then I guess you should have just gone in a little less hot, and youll remember the lesson for next time...]

[Mr Skid]

If I'm going around a corner, and I run wide and hit the paint or gravel and the back starts sliding, what do I do?

Crash most likely.

[jrandom]

Crash most likely.

yeah but dont tell the n00bs that or theyll jump off into a tree at the slightest provocation.

any slides encountered will probably just be tarsnakes or the like. no need to dive into the Gentle Embrace of the Tarmac.

[FROSTY:Me]

RELAX and accept your fate.
Im oversimplifying heaps here btw but relaxing and doing nothing really is the best thing to do at that point.

[jrandom]

Im oversimplifying heaps here btw but relaxing and doing nothing really is the best thing to do at that point.

no no no, I mean, I know your right but don't oversimplify it mate.

give them a bunch of detailed instructions so they can lie in bed at night fantasising about how their going to not crash.

maybe then when it happens theyll feel more in control.

like boxers using visualisation to prepare for a fight, innit.

[SlowHand]

oh c'mon fish, I might not remember it at the time of it happening, but I could have a very slight time to think. I had the back step on sat, I wasnt really leaning, so didnt freak me out too much.

So if Im in a lean lean- well a lean for a n00b anyway, I just stay with it and see where it takes me?

Here's question number two. Anyone ride when its REALLY pouring? what do you do on the motorway when there are pools everywhere? Avoid at all costs at a slower speed, or just not take the motorway?

[James Deuce]

Albin, sorry but you don't get any time to think. If you want to learn to deal with slides you have to practice.

Rear wheel slides are moderated by using the throttle to control wheelspin. Button off and you may, not will, highside. Sometimes you get away with it if you button off.

Front wheel slides. The theory is that you give it a bit of throttle until you've unloaded the front tyre enough for it to grip. On wet painted road, you've usually low sided by the time you try to manage the situation.

A dirt bike and a gravel road is a good way to learn how to slide a bike controllably. Give Motu some cash and he might laugh himself silly trying to teach you.

Riding in heavy rain just needs a common sense approach, much the same as it should in a car really.

[mstriumph]

................... Anyone ride when its REALLY pouring? what do you do on the motorway when there are pools everywhere? Avoid at all costs at a slower speed, or just not take the motorway?

I have been known to pull over and shelter under bridges .......

[2much]

What Jim said, also keep your weight low on the foot pegs.

As for the motorway when its pissing down, I've got a habit of tucking in behind trucks or buses, not particularly safe, but alot more comfortable.
Try to travel in the wheel track of the car ahead, the car's tyre will pump most of the surface water off the road for you.

[Gremlin]

This is not going to sound positive, but I've found I have learnt the most through practice.

Each time the situation is occuring, try something different and see what works. You'll find out very quickly which things should not be done.

For rain, common sense. Don't race around the corner with the same lean angle as in the dry, remember the bike can easily come out of shape if not heading in a straight line and you have to brake hard.

Also, on very slippery roads and braking for corners, be very wary of changing down into first. Easy to do, say coming up to a corner, you always change down one gear. Normally 3rd to 2nd. But because its raining, you are in 2nd... 1st is quite a jump from 2nd

yeah... I did this... excellent practice

[2much]

You'll find out very quickly which things should not be done.

Haha, yeah and you can reflect on these points as you slide along on your arse watching the sparks fly off your bike!!!

[Motu]

If it happens at a reasonable speed,like 100kph or so,by the time your heart has leapt into your throat the slide has been and gone,as Frosty says,keep it loose and don't freeze up.If it happens at slow speed,like going around a traffic island,you are on the deck before you know what happened.There are ways to save - at higher speeds,say 40,50kph up,very,very careful work on the throttle will help,you got to ride that thin line between highside and lowside,it's a thin line,but can be done,you'll go wide,so look to the inside of the turn.At lower speeds you can use your foot to boot yourself up.I've turned a front wheel washout in the wet into a more controlable rear wheel slide by punching the throttle,but you need enough power to break the rear,or else you'll just push that front out completly.....maybe a dab of rear brake to get control of the front.....if you go down,go down in a rear wheel slide,the front going out can trap you under the bike.

[FROSTY:Me]

Dude -if ya want it heres the complicated version---at your level of experience I don't believe you have the skill to react in a way that will actually help you. By just relaxing you're not introducing any sudden changes in the bike which quite frankly will just make matters worse.
a motorcycle in motion really just wants to carry on in a straight line untill its going so slow (20ish km/h) it just falls over.
I'd take all the offers to go practice on a traillie seriously because in gravel or sand at slow speed you can practice how to control a slide.
re deep puddles. Yea slow down- better to arrive late than not at all

[aff-man]

React....... only experience will dictate the outcome. I've pulled out of slides in more recent times that would have seen me on my ass a few years ago.....

The more you get comfortable with what the bike is doing how it's doing it what causes it to do certain things etc etc the more likley your reaction to a given situation will prove to be the right one......

My 2c.... just ride heaps shit will happen but you'll be a better rider for it.