Crash tales. What happened and why

[James Deuce]

Other times, it's not so bad. Sort of. Just a life changing and life limiting experience that means for the rest of your life you'll have pain as a constant reminder. And find there's a lot of stuff that you can't do any more. And your friends (And partner. And kids) don't really want to know you any more , because you're "strange". And "hard to live with". And you can't do your job any more. So the rest of your life is going to be scraping by on a benefit. In a caravan park somewhere. or a cheap boarding house.

I'm lucky to not be in that situation. Thankfully I am married to a women with a bit of gumption, and at the time had a boss who was a human being.

[ital916]

No crashing is not a ojke, i unfortunately have four more tales than i wanted, but i do not intend to crash and live life as a vegetable. I just hope new riders read my tales and the next time they enter a corner and have trouble, know that jamming the brakes on is not good and that you need to plant it over.Ride safe dudes....

[vifferman]

Whilst doubtless well intentioned, ... I feel that such a thread as this is of negative benefit as far as survival goes.

It reinforces the attitude that crashing is "a bit of a joke"; something that happens to everyone.

I guess that I haven't helped much with my posts.

It actually weighs very heavily on me every time I've had a crash (or even a near miss), and has made me think long and hard about my riding. Several times I have come very close to giving it up, and once was even on the point of buying a car (an Alfa) instead of another bike. If I didn't love motorcycling so much, logic would dictate that I give it away as "not for me". It seems of late that my mental state is often not the best for the concentration and self-control required to ride safely.

I have been extremely fortunate that I have not suffered major injury or death, and I can't even say it was due to skill that I did so. Of the crashes I've had, a large number were "not my fault", but even then, introspection told me there were things that I did (or didn't do) that contributed to the crash happening. Yes, my skills have improved over the 30+ years since I started riding, but I still make the occasional stupid "unforced error".

I envy you, Ixion, and salute you for not having any crash tales. I wish I could say the same.

[Pwalo]

Whilst doubtless well intentioned, and with much respect to the OP, nonetheless I feel that such a thread as this is of negative benefit as far as survival goes.

It reinforces the attitude that crashing is "a bit of a joke"; something that happens to everyone.


I don't have any crash tales to tell, sorry. And I mean to try really hard to keep things that way. I hope that the young riders starting out never get to have any crash tales, either.

I kind of feel that way as well. I'm pretty sure that a lot of these sort of threads are counterproductive.

The thing is NOT to crash, and I'm not convinced that looking at crash scenarios is the best way of doing it.

You don't want to think about crashing, you want to be concentrating on avoiding stupid motorists, obstacles, dodgy road surfaces etc, etc.

Unfortunately like a lot of things this requires patience and practice, which doesn't seem to be too fashionable.

[jrandom]

I don't have any crash tales to tell, sorry.

I admire your skill in riding on the road for so many years without falling off, but I do seem to recall watching a certain SV1000 end up on its side both on the way in and on the way out of a certain KBer's driveway...

Not that I'd want to spoil your rhetorical impact, of course. And perhaps that day was best forgotten.

However, for what it's worth, I don't think anyone looking at my hand surgery photographs would see my crash last year as 'a bit of a joke'.

[Katman]

However, for what it's worth, I don't think anyone looking at my hand surgery photographs would see my crash last year as 'a bit of a joke'.

And yet, that is exactly how you have subsequently treated it in posts on here.

[MSTRS:Me]

Ok so you guys have told the stories where you've been "lucky"
Heres one where "I" wasn't so lucky.
" I" was out riding on my own. "I" had been riding for only 4 months but my freinds told me I was a very good rider.
Out to prove how well I could ride I was riding on a tricky bit of road.
I miscalculated my corner speed,the tightness of the bend My lack of experience meant I diddnt lean deeper into the corner or brake to wash off speed so the corner was able to be taken.
"i" crossed the center line to the point I was in the middle of the oncoming lane.
A car coming the other way wasnt able to brake in time and I hit his car front and center.
I died at the scene

That's what we really should be discussing. But you've covered all the things you did wrong that led to the outcome. Can you have a word with some of the other inhabitants of where-ever you are, then come back with a tale of monumental tragedy that we can really get our teeth into, thanks.
Oh, and RIP.

[Jimmy B]

First and foremost, Vifferman, that’s the most entertaining series of posts that I have read in a long time. Similarly Jim2 thanks for sharing your experience as well, for me that sharply highlighted a very simple message and as usual it was very well written.

I have another one to share and it concerns the potential dangers of a very small number of simple mistakes all combining at thee wrong moment.

I take a great deal of care with my bike and correct tyre pressure is right up there. One wet cold winter day I went down to Raglan with a few others. The pace was pretty relaxed given the conditions.

Soon enough we were approaching Raglan and I came across a temporary 50 kph zone, the road surface was mainly devoid of chip and gloss black, like a mirror. I slowed to about 70. I was about half way through the stretch and I imperceptibly started accelerating, you know just creeping up without concentrating.

I was now travelling at about 80kph in fourth or fifth gear (a bit tall really). Without warning the rear wheel lit up big time and kicked viciously out to the right then back to the left, simultaneously revs shot up from 3000 to around 10,000. From here I developed a wicked tank slapper, bars almost lock to lock, feet knocked off pegs and I was sure that I was going to high side. I probably travelled about 50 or 60 meters like this, I backed off the power and it straightened up with a final good headshake.

Some will tell you to pull a wheelie or keep on the gas but in my situation it was inconceivable to clutch an 1100cc road bike up in 5th that’s already out off control 1000 rpm under the redline on a wet tar surface and I sure as hell wasn’t going to keep the gas on, at 10000rpm the X11 should be north of 240kph. Regardless, none of this occurred to me at the time because I was too busy crapping myself.

I’ll tell you the best way to sort out tank slappers is not to have them in the first place.

What caused mine:

Inappropriate speed on a crap surface that was signposted as a hazard.

Travelling in too tall a gear on a crap surface.

Tire pressure 10 psi too high i.e. around 52 psi in the rear. My tyres were too hard and subsequently too cold to achieve maximum traction.

My tyre pressure gauge was badly wrong and I had placed blind faith in it because it was a reasonable brand.

4 simple mistakes…

[onearmedbandit]

I'm one of those who have crashed and have a constant reminder of it every waking moment. Do I have a tale to tell, not really. Other than crashing can hurt, and hurt badly. I live in 24hr a day pain now, chronic pain. It sucks, it's not something I'd wish upon my worst enemy. On that particular day I was going to fast for the conditions, and paid the price. So kids, listen up, crashing isn't funny, it's not a badge of honour. Instead it can be something you're damn lucky to walk away from, or something that will hound you for the rest of your life. Or your families and friends.

(In saying that, I'm thankful to be alive, am glad I had the accident, welcome the pain now and use it to make me stronger - although that can be an intense battle in itself -, and live each day to the fullest. I still ride hard, some would say too hard, but I'm not going to give up living because of this little drama. Life goes on, I learnt what I did wrong that day, and won't repeat it.)

[Luckylegs]

While I think there is benefit to these threads (for learning some basic rules of physics or "what a bike will do under given consitions or user inputs") I am of the opinion that there are some things that only a practical example of ones own stoopidity can prompt action.

I rode for a year and a half before my first, and I wont call it a crash because it was much more of a "fall over". It was in general a result of inexperience but was caused by the fact that I suck at getting bikes around a corner. Now I can go round them "fast enough" but this was due to a pinch of Cunning and Guile, basic technique, (charm and good looks.... oh maybe not that, but I digress), and HUGE DOLLOP of luck !!! (yip every time and wasnt that I was going fast) I just couldnt bring myself to do it properly.

I had a couple of near misses using my patended technique but I had always been able to "stand it up" brake hard and gingerly fall around the corner, but alas, twas not to last and my bike fell over......

This cemented what I knew all along but didnt think I needed to address, and that was....

When approaching a corner (tight ones, blind ones etc etc) Id focus on "the corner", to be exact I would often find myself focussed on the >>>>> signs going eek that looks tight, given that my eyes never wandered I kept that tight corner thought in my mind and would panic or stress blah blah. Imagine my surprise now that Ive forced myself to look through the corner instead of at it, sure it might look tight or have >>>> signs, but as you get closer and without that image in your head you realise it aint that tight..... (Epiphany anyone)

I was just a matter of forcing myself to do what I knew I needed to do. This came in two parts, 1st that I had to change cos plan A hadnt worked and second finding a way of encouraging the bahaviour. This has come (courtesy of the wealth of info on KB) in the form of advice to look at the vanishing point. While I havnt fully nailed this and guess it will come with experience, In lookiing at (or in some cases for it) guess where Im looking... (If you said the corner, your wrong to the back of the class).....

Anyway, if youve got this far though my post... Congrats and I apologise

[onearmedbandit]

Really?
Why?
The only reason I can think of that you would say that is if you think you're a better person because of it. Perhaps because you now, "live each day to the fullest" ?
If so, I can understand that -

Yeah that does need clearing up. When I say I'm glad I had the accident I really mean I have no regrets or no resentment. I'm where I am now as a result of things that have happened in my life, I'm happy with where I am. So I see it as a positive experience.

There are some interesting benefits that have come about as a result of it though. Increased pain tolerance, improved ability to focus, an understanding of what pain can truly give you, independence. And corny as it may seem, yeah it does give you a renewed passion for life. You notice and pay attention to things that you normally would take for granted or not even notice at all. These things I am glad of.

To be honest, if you were to ask me right now, 'would you change the events of that day 10yrs ago?', I would have to say no.

[FROSTY:Me]

Ixion hey maybee you're right but you know it might get through to a few that its a deadly game we play.

[zeocen]

Here's my explaination of my recent (and only) serious crash, in video form! Because I can't be arsed typing it all out :P

http://www.livevideo.com

I welcome anyone with tips to overcome ninja gravel patches, this whole broken collarbone deal isn't as fun as I thought.

[Sharry]

The first thing I will be doing when I get my next bike is too know how and when to brake properly.

In 1981 I had a larvely 1977 Honda 400F which I was riding to work one night. Doing the speed limit like we always do and low and behold the car gods have parked a drunk driver on the wrong side of the road. As I rode closer I saw him pull out from the side of the road and drive towrds me.
Now you all know that two second spot that you have to make a decision that will impact the rest of your life.
I knew my bike had a quick take off and decided to exelerate and go around him as he looked as though he was going to drive down the wrong side of the road. BAD, BAD BAD mistake. Never predict what a cage is going to do next.
I recall opening the throttle (memory stops). I feel myself land on the ground (memory starts). Result? 6 fractures in one leg and knee damage that is permanent. Something to do with his grill, and no armour in 1970's gear.

Lesson to newbees and and young ones? Learn how to brake on your bike!!. Always attempt to stay away from a dangerous cage as apposed to attempting to out wit it.

[Chrislost]

I was happily cruzing around and i came to a corner where there were some slower bikes.
mistake one i decided to pass them around the outside
i then noticed that they were going wide and there wasnt room for me so i mistake two decided to cut behind them. I tipped my bike in deeper and wacked my exaust on the ground and lost the rear, fell about 10cm, and slid into the grass beside the tarmac.

im not exactly sure why i was trying to pass them onto the back straight as i was just going to get nailed after 50m anyway...

i probably should have just hung back and tried to out brake them onto the front straight.