Why did Lawrence of Arabia crash?

[newbould]

I have noticed over the last few months that KB'rs seem to be able to diagnose the causes of each others crashes with unerring accuracy and mutual agreement so thought we may be able to shed some light on this tragedy. Wikipedia reckons there was a dip in the road which hid a couple of kids on bikes, he swerved to avoid them, lost control and whammo. So was there target fixation involved? could he have stopped rather than swerving, was he riding too fast for the conditions? Maybe british roads are as poorly maintained as in NZ?

My personal theory - his bike ran into a time warp and was converted into a GN 250 with the now infamous braking power. Unused to this our hero hit the brakes as usual but his brain was unable to stop in the required 2 meters and was sieved by his nasal passages

[Gubb]

It was the man in the Book Depository.

[Laxi]

It was the man in the Book Depository.

and hears me thinking he went into hiding with elvis

[Ixion]

Have you ever ridden a Brough ? Wonderful bikes, just one wee weakness (shared by almost all Briddiah iron unto the 1970s)

[rickstv]

No. It was the guy on the grassey knoll.

[Hitcher]

Upside-down forks were clearly to blame.

[xwhatsit]

GN 250 with the now infamous braking power.

There's nowt wrong with the brakes on a Ginny, you can lock the wheel with even a girlie clench-fist.

Have you ever ridden a Brough ? Wonderful bikes, just one wee weakness (shared by almost all Briddiah iron unto the 1970s)

Are you referring to the brakes? I've read a couple of books now that run down the brakes as being shit-house while the rest of the bike was quite good. Myth borne out of the Lawrence of Arabia crash?

[Mikkel]

our hero hit the brakes as usual but his brain was unable to stop in the required 2 meters and was sieved by his nasal passages

Funnily enough a few people seem to be able to survive that ordeal - repeatedly.

[Ixion]

Upside-down forks were clearly to blame.

No, the SS100 had Castle patent forks, which were very good indeed. I don't know if Lawrences machine had the optional extra rear pivot fork suspension or not.

The brakes, on the other hand .........

[Motu]

There was no reason for our hero to die if he was wearing the correct safety gear - proper one piece colour coordinated Brough Superior leathers,matchting race boots and gloves,a back protector and full face helmet in the graphics of his favorite MotoGP rider...and it would of been all sweet.

There would of been a crash report of Lawrence of Arabia crashing on a group ride,but saved by his Quasi leathers.

[FJRider]

No... obviously the local Council is at fault. The lack of appropiate warning signage, to warn of changing road conditions is clearly a breach of public safety. And must be prosecuted at all costs....

[cheshirecat]

I have noticed over the last few months that KB'rs seem to be able to diagnose the causes of each others crashes with unerring accuracy and mutual agreement so thought we may be able to shed some light on this tragedy. Wikipedia reckons there was a dip in the road which hid a couple of kids on bikes, he swerved to avoid them, . . . . .

Some years ago I researched this subject regarding a film "Backing into the Limelight". There was some speculation as to whether it was an accident or not, though we found no evidence it wasn't. LoA had great difficulty fitting back into 'normal' life and no one knew how to handle him.
Shame about the bike.

[Okey Dokey]

But was he waving at the time of the crash?

[scumdog]

Funnily enough a few people seem to be able to survive that ordeal - repeatedly.

And still post regularly on KB...

[Mikkel]

There was no reason for our hero to die if he was wearing the correct safety gear - proper one piece colour coordinated Brough Superior leathers,matchting race boots and gloves,a back protector and full face helmet in the graphics of his favorite MotoGP rider...and it would of been all sweet.

You forgot the high-vis vest - the cornerstone of all safety gear