My First Crash on the Track

[beyond]

Sorry to hear that Leong

From the photo, you wouldn't think your bike had been down the track at all.
Amazed at what appears to be very little damage, thankfully. It could have been a whole lot worse. Imagine a high side

[gijoe1313]

Cripes Leong, glad to hear you're okay - and hooray for the power of translating written facts into real practice! Sounds like you did everything by the book - 'cept for the binning part, your bike hardly looks damaged!

Good to see you putting it out there and trying to learn what you did and reflecting on it - hope you are back on the track soon!

[Leong]

Thanks for all the comments guys

dude, for a crash, thats amazing!!

As for the lever,

Get a file and file around the lever, then get some Knead it and make a new ball for the clutch lever. Good as new (kinda)

Got me back on the track manytimes

Sounds like the go for me, limited time etc. Hope Supercheap stock Knead it.

.

Did it just let go and send you sliding, or did it slide out, spinning for a bit, then go down?

It just let go. I heard revs rise and it was all over!!

Leong. glad your ok-- and the bike is semi ok--
out of interest what were ya tyre presures? and were ya tyres warm already?

I was running R31 F30 cold. On Friday each went up 4psi when hot. I though I had this sortd, but on Tuesday front was same ie up 4psi when hot, but rear went up 6psi.

Yes tyres were warm, it was close to the end of the 20min session, and I had been chasin that motard for 6-7 laps. Seen LOTS of guys go off on the first lap or two...

How does the bike behave at the limit? does it just let go, or slide a bit like G said. Hayden Fitzgerald said that it might have been a little dusty on the inside line where I was, given the windy day. I guess if it was slippery it might just let go.......

[Leong]

Sorry to hear that Leong

From the photo, you wouldn't think your bike had been down the track at all.
Amazed at what appears to be very little damage, thankfully. It could have been a whole lot worse. Imagine a high side

Mate, I think a high side even at Taupo where theres little to hit (except coming onto the new pit straight) would be rather painful!!

I appreciate how lucky I am

[beyond]

Dust would do it Leong. Your tyres were warm and normally you would feel them starting to slide or give a little twitch even under early power.
It sounds like you had a sudden loss of grip and wind blown dust on the track would certainly do that.

Sometimes you can never know why and what caused something which makes it more frustrating as one wants to learn exactly why something happened to prevent it next time.

I had the same thing on the road sometime back at the end of a long ride, warm tryres, nothing apparent on the road and the corner taken at what I considered a moderate speed. The back just let go on me without warning and of course then it's hang on for the ride.

[R6_kid:Me]

Dust would do it Leong. Your tyres were warm and normally you would feel them starting to slide or give a little twitch even under early power.
It sounds like you had a sudden loss of grip and wind blown dust on the track would certainly do that.

from what you've leong, the dust would be a reasonable explanation. Thats where i was sliding the most on friday. If you get in to a powerslide, unless you have a big jump in power somewhere in the revs, or the throttle wide open, its unlikely that it would just 'let go'. Maybe talk to other people that were there on the day (i see you already have talked to some) and see if they had any trouble with grip exiting turn one?

[Toast]

If it lets go unexpectedly, safest thing to do usually is freeze (unless you've really jammed the gas on hard). Bloody good things these bikes, the front will just catch up to the rear smoothly, all by itself (in my experience anyway).

Ofcourse, if you're game for it, you could keep rolling it on really slowly to maintain the power slide...but I don't know many at that level yet.

Weighting the pegs helps to keep the bike more planted in a slide too.

[blueblade]

I've had the back end step out many times on that corner and it usually happens when you are holding a very tight line on the exit. You not only have the dust and dirt to contend with but also a slight off-camber. It doesnt take too much extra throttle to induce a slide there. I previously had Dunlop 208rr's on my bike and they always let go progressively and gave plenty of warning. I now have pilot powers same as you (from memory). These tyres dont give the same level of feedback. They hang on well but when they let go it always seems to be very sudden.

You were riding superbly up till the crash. Looking very smooth and precise - and fast!!!

Hope you enjoyed riding home with us. Pretty quick trip eh

Bikies three H/P nil

[Leong]

Thanks to RG100!! I got some Quiksteel from Supercheap (I assume its similar to Knead it) and have patched up the clutch lever I think quite successfully. Replaced the worn crash bung, straightened the gear linkage, and eventually got the sheared off locating bolt off teh mirror. I've decided not to replace the mirror or tail fairing till I've done a few more trackdays.

I guess it's quite likely that dust was a contributing factor as a tight exit from turn 1 is my prefered line. So next time I 'll look out for dust and keep to the cleaner part of the track! Thanks Paul, R6 and Toast and Blueblade.

I've had the back end step out many times on that corner and it usually happens when you are holding a very tight line on the exit. You not only have the dust and dirt to contend with but also a slight off-camber. It doesnt take too much extra throttle to induce a slide there. I previously had Dunlop 208rr's on my bike and they always let go progressively and gave plenty of warning. I now have pilot powers same as you (from memory). These tyres dont give the same level of feedback. They hang on well but when they let go it always seems to be very sudden.

You were riding superbly up till the crash. Looking very smooth and precise - and fast!!!

Hope you enjoyed riding home with us. Pretty quick trip eh

Bikies three H/P nil

Yes I have Pilot Powers. Now not sure what to get next time. Definitely think a bit of feedback prior to letting go is a good thing.

Yes the ride home was good. Decided not to go home via Clevedon/Hunua because of the sunstrike on those roads at that time. You guys ride very decisively and predictably - always good!! Till next time....