My crash, what did I do wrong?

[Roki_nz]

On Good Friday I had my first crash which I thankfully walked away from with only a few bruises and a broken bike.

In my view it was a preventable crash if I had acted differently. While I have an idea of what I did wrong and what I could have done differently I feel it would be better to just say what happened and tell you what I did and let anyone who wishes to, give me their ideas and thoughts on what I did wrong and what I could have done differently so that I and others might learn from my mistakes.

I was riding on state highway two near Belmount, it was a sunny day and road surface was slightly slippery from the heat. I was riding with a friend who was at least three seconds ahead of me. As we came up to an intersection I see him start to break and I start to apply the breaks slowly, I quickly glance at my side mirror then back up to see that my friend is breaking very hard and I am coming up on him far faster than I anticipated. I slam on my breaks and start to slide in a straight line. I try and release the breaks and reapply them but the tail end start to slide to the left then to the right (I suspect that in the rush I only released my front break and failed to release my rear). I manage to keep it just under control for anther second until it finally tips over and I go over the bars and end up on the road.

At the time I believe I was doing around 90 to 100km before the crash and as I broke I am unsure if I pulled in the clutch or left it out.

Somewhere in there I screwed up, so what do you think I did wrong and what should I have done differently?

[JimO]

you should have used your brakes

[ducatilover]

That is hard to say, I can only think if you were able to apply the pressure to the brakes slowly instead of grabbing a handful, letting off and re applying was the right idea after locking up [in my mind] doesn't sound like either of you were being twats from your story, try practice emergency braking is all I really think would help. Hope the bike isn't too bad mate

[Grahameeboy]

I am puzzled why you checked your mirror...in that few seconds you lost valuable thinking time i.e. realising your mate was stopping quicker so you had to jump on the brakes quicker due to slight panic

[spookytooth]

If you have to get on the breaks hard like that shift your arse as far back on the seat as ya can,i

[Marmoot]

I was riding with a friend who was at least three seconds ahead of me. As we came up to an intersection I see him start to break and I start to apply the breaks slowly, I quickly glance at my side mirror then back up to see that my friend is breaking very hard and I am coming up on him far faster than I anticipated. I slam on my breaks and start to slide in a straight line. I try and release the breaks and reapply them but the tail end start to slide to the left then to the right (I suspect that in the rush I only released my front break and failed to release my rear). I manage to keep it just under control for anther second until it finally tips over and I go over the bars and end up on the road.

1. Looking back when braking is not a good idea. Don't worry, you won't go backwards like in Playstation even if you hold the brake.
2. Slam. Nice! Slamming a brake is the exact opposite of doing burnouts, but similar in consequences.
3. Release the brake would've caused you not to loose speed. Varying pressure would instead.
4. If your rear slides, don't panic and keep it that way.
5. If your front slides, don't panic you'll be on the ground very soon before you even know it.

[retro asian]

1. Looking back when braking is not a good idea. Don't worry, you won't go backwards like in Playstation even if you hold the brake.

I'm not sure if looking back is a good idea or not...But what if there's a huge truck close behind you?
Say you do a perfect sudden stop, but the truck ploughs you to death.

The better option in that case might be to veer off the road rather than brake?

[Katman]

I'd suggest not riding in the wheel tracks of the bike in front. If you're to one side it gives you more room to stop.

Checking your mirrors when braking is something I do very often - especially if I'm stopping in the middle of the road to turn right.

[James Deuce]

Everything that went wrong happened before you touched the brakes. The heavy braking and subsequent tip over are merely symptoms of a lack of forward planning.

Stop beating yourself up too, I think you had a damn good crack at avoiding a major, you just hadn't given yourself the mental space to avoid the problem altogether.

Now you have the perfect terms of reference for what to practice, both mentally and physically.

[CookMySock]

Good on ya for asking for review. This is what I think.

90-100k sounds a little quick in there.

The thing you looked at in the mirror - was that something you had noticed earlier? Preoccupied with it?

Braking so you skid the back wheel a bit is not too bad, but yes you are pannicing a bit there. Pretty much there is nothing more that can be done with the back brake at that point - all your concentration should have been elsewhere - the back brake is not really part of a good solution. Did you apply the front brakes equally hard from the beginning?

In the few seconds before impact I would have been searching for a gap and planning an evasive swerve. Release or reduce braking, bar-push hard, scrape footpegs, aim for gap, and hope. You are better to steer rather than freeze up and slide into something.

The clutch and gears are unimportant at a time like this. On a larger bike its important to physically close the throttle as its easy to brain-lock and hold quite a bit of power on.

If you can flip the bike under braking you have plenty of traction.

Summarising ;

What is behind you is not in front of you - ignore it!

Slow down around intersections and watch for hidden queues.

In an emergency brake early - HARD with the front brake. HARD and EARLY. Back off as the speed comes back.

ALWAYS plan an escape route when heading quickly into a convoluted environment. If you can't see a clear way out then SLOW DOWN NOW.

Be prepared to swerve HARD and ignore your angle of lean. If you are GOING to hit something, then swerve the fucker hard with your brakes off or greatly reduced. In emergency - repeat after me - "Bar push or die." You MIGHT ditch the bike in an evasive swerve, but you WILL ditch it if you dont. Do it.


IMO YMMV ETC AD NAUSEUM
Steve

[Marmoot]

I'm not sure if looking back is a good idea or not...But what if there's a huge truck close behind you?
Say you do a perfect sudden stop, but the truck ploughs you to death.

The better option in that case might be to veer off the road rather than brake?

Road Code said (and I agree with it in this issue) to scan your mirrors regularly every few seconds (I think it is either 6 or 10). If there was a large truck behind you at that time you should have known and have acted accordingly.

I still recommend against braking from 100kph while looking backwards.

[The Pastor]

You didnt stay upright

[The Stranger:Me]

I'm not sure if looking back is a good idea or not...But what if there's a huge truck close behind you?

You hope like hell he's not looking in the mirror as well.

[yungatart]

Always plan an escape route when you are riding. Forward planning could have given you somewhere to go.
Practice emergency braking in a controlled manner.
Do a Ride Right, Ride Safe course.

[varminter]

I'd like a bit more info. If, as you say, you were approaching an intersection then 90 to 100 K's seems too fast (I'm a cautious old fart). I would have been working down the gears anticipating having to stop. Was your mate stopping for something other than the intersection? was you trying to avoid him/her. I don't worry too much about what's behind me unless I'm changing direction, most of the danger's in front. Glad you're ok.