My crash, what did I do wrong?

[EJK]

You are lucky that front didn't lose traction when you gave a handful at 90-100kph. I'm amazed.

[Ixion]

Don't brake, brakes are way overrated, only cagers brake. Dodge.

[madbikeboy]

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.

I agree with KatMan and JD.

Sounds like lack of planning, lack of thinking, poor situational awareness. Further, bad technique for braking, and if you hit what you're looking at, target fixation.

Planning is about making sure you've got an escape route planned every moment of every ride. If you can't do this, buy a car. If x happens, I go this way. If y happens, I do this.

Lack of thinking - the most important performance device on the bike, is between your ears.

Poor situational awareness - not positioning yourself correctly, and worse, not knowing what is around you. You're risking other peoples lives as well as your own.

Bad braking techniques - practice, practice some more, then do it again. I practice braking drills every week or two. And I've been riding a while.

Look, the answers are fairly obvious - get some time with a mentor - do some skill sessions, and do it now. The dinky test and plastic thing in your wallet in no way qualify you for the real life experience that is motorcycling.

Good luck, and take it easy out there.

KM, can you PM the lad some mentors in his area?

[tri boy]

Altitude is a pilots best friend.
Distance between your motorcycle and anything that can fuck you up is your best friend.

Speed, Time and distance traveled is the lesson to learn well.

[Tony W]

Altitude is a pilots best friend.
Distance between your motorcycle and anything that can fuck you up is your best friend.

Speed, Time and distance traveled is the lesson to learn well.

Bugger. What's the damage?
I think that little look in the mirror did it... just taking your eyes off what's happening in front, when following, for a split second can... well...

Hope everything works out ok.

[alanzs]

Good on ya for asking after your crash. Glad you are ok.

Sounds like you were too close and going too fast. Simple answer; stay back and slow down.

I'd like to think that I would have done better, but shit happens and I have been in accidents before. Thats why they are called accidents.

The best thing is that you are alive and able to ride another day.

[Roki_nz]

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.

We were on state highway two, two lanes one-way. My mate broke because the car ahead of him slammed on their breaks, I think because the lights had changed to yellow and the car closest to the intersection decided to break at the last moment instead of going through (at least that what the traffic cop thought, I only am sure that the car in front of my mate slammed on its breaks it all happened very quickly). I opted to break at the time, as the only possible escape route was too head up between the lanes and between the cars to give me more room to slow down and I remember thinking that I might skid on the cats eyes?

Anyways thanks to everyone who has given me feedback. From what happened and what you all have said sounds like I screwed up pretty good.

First by not planning ahead and not slowing down when I was approaching the intersection.

Secondly by checking my mirrors instead of looking ahead to see how hard the vehicle ahead of me were breaking. It would have been far safer to keep my attention forward until it was safe to see what was coming up behind me.

And lastly by not been competent in emergency breaking. In the past I have almost always gotten out of harms way by choosing an escape route but this time I felt it was safer to break.

Feel free to add anything I might have missed

Bugger. What's the damage?
I think that little look in the mirror did it... just taking your eyes off what's happening in front, when following, for a split second can... well...

Hope everything works out ok.

Also as for the question of damage to the bike short answer is foot peg ripped off, gear level broken, fairing scratched up etc to value of $4100, thankfully states paying most of that. As for me I was lucky that I managed to stop/crash the bike and didn’t hit anyone. I went over the bars and got up with only a sore heel and a couple of bruises so I am very lucky, wearing full gear certainly helped.

[Katman]

Secondly by checking my mirrors instead of looking ahead to see how hard the vehicle ahead of me were breaking.

Checking your mirrors was not a problem.

[cowboyz]

Ill +1 on the planning.

I often check my mirrors on initial braking to make sure nothing is there that I didnt notice before, but then I very rarely check my mirrors any other time.

I would say a little bit of stun set in when you realised the speed differenial between you and your mate. At this stage I would have been putting plan B into action which would have involved some or all of the following.

Escape. taking alternative route to avoid hitting something.
Using gearbox to pull the bike up quicker, being a bit careful about locking things up worse than they already are.
focus on the biggest, clearest gap I can find.

my thoughts and congrats for asking

[BMWST?]

Checking your mirrors was not a problem.

checking mirrors is a problem when he should have been watching what was unfolding ahead.In that split second he "lost control" of the situation.One should always be aware what is behind.If there was a big truck behind him that could mow him down he could have gone for the LH turn exit,but you cant decide that if you are lokking in the mirror!

[CookMySock]

the only possible escape route was too head up between the lanes and between the cars to give me more room to slow down and I remember thinking that I might skid on the cats eyes?

Now what would you do next time, with the advantage of hindsight? Those catseyes look a bit safer than hitting the back of some car or truck. As you say, you still COULD have clipped a car.

Secondly by checking my mirrors instead of looking ahead to see how hard the vehicle ahead of me were breaking. It would have been far safer to keep my attention forward until it was safe to see what was coming up behind me.

AFTER you have resolved the problems in FRONT of you, then it is the time to resolve the problems BEHIND you. If you are lucky you get to balance the two risks and make an informed choice - but great calmness during the crisis and a clear mind is required. Experience!

Checking your mirrors was not a problem.

No, but he spent too long there. Prioritise and solve each problem in turn.

Steve

[cowboyz]

you make it sound like checking a mirror is a big issue of turning round and painting a picture of everything around you while having a ciggy.

I absoultely condone checking mirrors when initially braking as a part of situational awareness. I think this was a correct move and did not contribute to the crash. Just needed a bit more planning and not panicing or tensing.

I always say you can do *anything* on a bike, just as long as you do it *delibriately*. And that is the key. If your actions are controlled and delibriate then you are much better off.

[discotex]

My mate broke because the car ahead of him slammed on their breaks, I think because the lights had changed to yellow and the car closest to the intersection decided to break at the last moment instead of going through

You mean they followed the law and stopped for an orange light if it was safe for them to do so? Amazing.

Sounds like your mistake was to assume the car would run the orange and you would too. Or your mistake was to not be aware that the lights went orange.

And you were following way too close if you didn't have time to do a quick mirror check and still keep the situation under control.

Not having a go as I've made all those mistakes myself. I've just got away with it.

[discotex]

I absoultely condone checking mirrors when initially braking as a part of situational awareness. I think this was a correct move and did not contribute to the crash. Just needed a bit more planning and not panicing or tensing.

+1

I almost always check my mirrors when braking. Been a number of times that it's saved me from being rear-ended.

[Katman]

checking mirrors is a problem when he should have been watching what was unfolding ahead.In that split second he "lost control" of the situation.One should always be aware what is behind.If there was a big truck behind him that could mow him down he could have gone for the LH turn exit,but you cant decide that if you are lokking in the mirror!

WTF?????????