KB Krashes!!

[sAsLEX]

Zed you will know of one of the crashes I tripped over, one rather experienced guy tripped up by decreasing radius corner who had two more bike follow him off the road. Was glad when he sat up and started swearing so I could tend to the others who were lying under bikes bleeding, but turns out was only a cut lip!

Another rider here I saw come off in front of me in a quite spectacular fashion after locking the rear and the cartwheeling through the air 30 feet above the ground! He to cut his lip and was rather groggy when I eventually found him!

Both those were on the infamous 22 and both, while travelling at a fair pace ( the first one I had only just let the back two crashers past and slowed for a bit as I thought the pace was getting up there) it was not that crazy fast, but the one thing is they didn't know the road. I could draw a picture of the first corner that got all those people in my head, I am turning into FF with a rather good knowledge of that road! and the second crash was caused by lack of road knowledge as well in my opinion.

So getting to my point I think a contributing factor to the KB crash rate is that KB rides take people out on to untravelled roads, and that people think because FF can go that fast it must be easy, without relising the intimate detail some people know their roads.

So if a road is new to you treat it with a bit of respect, you might not know about the decreasing radius corner etc that can trip up the unprepared.

ps sorry about using you as an example FF, long live FC

[The Stranger:Me]

It's a choice Zed.

I chose to crash, I didn't realise it at the time, but mostly it is a choice.

Sure some are mechanical failure, but these are few and far between, we saw one last Thursday. There are the classic human failures of attention and these are fairly common, after all most of us here are only human. But a large proportion are choice.

All the skill in the world and all the training in the world wont change the number of accidents. All it will do is ensure that they happen at a higher speed. Valentino Rossi still bins.

If I ride at 75% of my ability I won't crash. If I ride at 85% I wont, even 99% is ok. But if I ride at 101% well I crash.

I chose to push my boundaries and ride to 10whatever%. I will push my boundaries again until I get too sore (or dead) or am satisfied that I have achieved a level of ability that I am happy with.

That is why I wear leather at all times, cause I know I can't be trusted to behave myself at all times.
That said. In future I will pick my time and place to go pushing my limits and do it in the safest manner that I reasonably can, and not with a pillion ever again

[Fishy]

I also think there's a distinct difference between a newb crashing and an experienced rider crashing. Sometimes, shit does just happen, despite our best efforts.. Not every bin is cos of the manjuice within

Yep very true, sometimes you just can't avoid or predict things like....say a diesel spill on a corner, a cow pat in the middle of your line, hitting a large plastic real estate sign while fully tipped over etc...

[bugjuice]

ff does that road every other day. he'd know when you moved a stone on the side of the road..

For me, the 22 is an awesome road. There's every type of corner you can imagine and ride. But it's long and there's a lot of corners (how many ff?). For the first few times, I rode real cautiously and remembered the bad/tricky corners. Once you get those sussed, the rest of the corners can be worked on. If you're going to remember any corner of a road, remember the bad ones and their surroundings so you know for the next time you're down that way

[Zed]

Some great answers so far people, thanks!

Just over half of the crashes on KB rides that I've been on have been people who are still on Learners/Restricted licenses. A good size chunk of the rest (and the actual reason for a large number of the Learners/Restricted crashes) have been people trying to keep up. The remainder are just bad luck (ie Tony dropping the VStrom on his foot at 5kph).

Just from what I've seen, KB rides tend to have a wider range of abilities and experience then most other groups. Don't know why but it's probably something to do with being a website with no real world organisation and fluid rules, unlike clubs etc.

Two very pertinent points you make above MT, lack of experience and a mixing of a wide range of different abilities together can cause problems as I too have seen, hence the reason why I am stipulating the type of riders preferred on the rides I organise.

As I said in another thread, KB has organised group rides that cater for different skill levels & experience, and I think organisers should put more emphasis on tailoring rides for those different specific groups, rather than just a free-for-all anyone-turn-up type arrangement which is much harder to control!

[enigma51]

This might sound a bit mean but everything you guys are saying has been said about 4 milion times. Me I have made a descision to only go on a selected few rides (Call it invitation only or whatever) I dont like riding with the big groups anymore as there are to many people that go balls out when they should relax too much testorone I think. Know this is where the realy asshole side of me is going to show. I dont want to experience a death on a ride again espically not one of my mates and having been on a few rides of late I can say that tears are going to be shed very soon Im actualy suprised it has not happend yet.

I have been on some rides with some realy quick guys but the key factor has been I feel safe riding with these guys and i dont mind it but when you sitting behind someone going a good pace and he does some stupid overtaking move not once but repeatedly I shut the throttle and take another route!

Is this thread pointless I think so as I said in the begining we are repeating ourselves

[Zed]

Is this thread pointless I think so as I said in the begining we are repeating ourselves

Not at all, some things need to be said over and over again, i think we need constant reminding about some life & death issues. There are also many new members joining all the time and they need to think about these matters too, wot better way than to start a fresh thread!

Thanks for your input anyway enigma, i'll never forget that time you looped it leaving the Autobahn on a KB ride, wot actually happened there?

[Teflon]

99% of KB & non-KB rides i cruise.. the last ride/crash, maybe i was pushing the bike a little hard resulting in a tank-slap.. but ive had enough slaps in my time to call it bad luck.

Only advise i can give, wear your best boxers. you'll never know when it's your time to strip naked in front of nurses, x-ray chicks..

[enigma51]

i'll never forget that time you looped it leaving the Autobahn on a KB ride, wot actually happened there?

Penis got in the way!

Actualy dont know the rear just stepped out as I came on the gas felt like a real tit

[chickenfunkstar]

It is quite easy to get caught up riding someone elses pace instead of your own on some of the group rides. It can often happen without you realising it. I'm usually quite a sensible rider but I know that occasionaly, i'll have a bit of moment and then think to myself, whoa what are you doing Tom.

There always seems to be a massive race to get to the front of the pack as soon as we leave a meeting point, regardless of how fast a rider will be when we get to the twisties.

I've also noticed some silly speeds through residential zones, presumably so riders finish near the front. I'm not sure why this happens, there's no gold, silver or bronze for those who get there first.

I've sort of forgotten my point, but it was probably something to do with riders wanting to be seen as being 'one of the fast guys' by other riders.

[SwanTiger]

Most of the crashes I have seen were the direct result of stupid actions, however a few have been mechanical failures which by my definition do not count as a crash, they are 'accidents'.

I think people who organise rides have a responsibility to ensure that all riding styles are catered for unless stated otherwise. I believe most rides can accomodate slow and fast riders, so long as the route and 'pack' are managed effeciently.

HOWEVER, the rider themselves are burden with the responsibility to know their pace and only chase those who are within or slightly above their riding ability. I for one enjoy chasing another rider who is within my ability range. Take for example the two ZX7R's on the last ride that I was much quicker than through the corners. At one point I got ahead of them and pulled to the side to let them pass, so that I can chase them again.

There is no problem chasing other riders, so long as you are sensible about it, one will never improve on their riding ability if they stay riding at their own pace.

And for the record, my bin on marks Pitbike Monday night was a mechanical failure.

[bugjuice]

i have noticed (touching on something slightly ot) the speed thru towns and residential areas.. we often ride thru the same places, and those people are the last people we want to piss off. out in the sticks, fine, but thru towns and villages, it's not really on

[SwanTiger]

i have noticed (touching on something slightly ot) the speed thru towns and residential areas.. we often ride thru the same places, and those people are the last people we want to piss off. out in the sticks, fine, but thru towns and villages, it's not really on

Yep I think so too.

Something else I forgot to mention. There are some experienced riders out therer and it pays to behave if a newbie is following you, so that you can set a 'good example'.

I have learnt so many bad habbits from riding with certain people on KB rides and am still trying to shake them...

[sAsLEX]

i have noticed (touching on something slightly ot) the speed thru towns and residential areas.. we often ride thru the same places, and those people are the last people we want to piss off. out in the sticks, fine, but thru towns and villages, it's not really on

the lady on one of the coro rides with black yoshi, we all stop for a regroup and she is on the side of the road waving her arms like a crazy woman so half the people that took off did so on one wheel!

[chickenfunkstar]

I think people who organise rides have a responsibility to ensure that all riding styles are catered for unless stated otherwise. I believe most rides can accomodate slow and fast riders, so long as the route and 'pack' are managed effeciently.

What do you mean by this? I can think of no circumstance where an organiser can be responsible for someone else's crash.