"Skill saves motorcyclists"

[Ixion]

I suppose the reason piston parts company with crankshaft is if there isn't enough Engine oil?

In the case of Ducatis it probably started with a blown light bulb.

[98tls]

In the case of Ducatis it probably started with a blown light bulb.

Or possibly the burden of carrying round so much more character than other motorcycles.

[Ocean1]

Or possibly the burden of carrying round so much more character than other motorcycles.

One understands Ducatis ooz character, sometimes rather faster than their owners can replentish it.

[piston broke]

Here we go again - Physics 101.

A motorcycle can achieve little more than 1 Gee of braking force. A rear wheel lock-up (on its own) will provide perhaps half a Gee, probably less.

At 100kph (about 28m/sec), a half-gee braking force (5m sec/sec) will take around 5.5 seconds to stop the bike, during which time the bike will travel about 75 metres.

maybe, but i'm damn sure i would and was on the front brake in less than 5.5 sec's and came to a halt in wayyyy less than 60m.
p.s i was only on an 80's xl125.
lesson learned,,check the oil level.

ed: if i haven't done something with the front brake within 2 sec's,it's time to stop riding

[caseye]

Main thing is they're both going to ride again! well maybe, who knows, but it's a nice change from " a motorcyclist hit a tree and died today"' and any other sort of accident involving motorcyclists, being reported by a news hungry press that doesn't care that the poor old biker got the raw end of the stick and became the meat in the sandwich.

[tigertim20]

No but I had a mate at school go poof on me. Is that the same?

Pfttt. You're not a real biker unless you've done hard time on the dirt. Otherwise you're just a commuter looking for trouble.

hard time on the dirt? did motorcross for three years, ridden dirt bikes for 12 odd years now. That enough to satisfy you?
End of the day, when something goes wrong on two wheels at 100km, its nothing short of fuckin lucky neither of them are dead.

[piston broke]

End of the day, when something goes wrong on two wheels at 100km, its nothing short of fuckin lucky neither of them are dead.

what b.s. .

[Mikkel]

Here we go again - Physics 101.

A motorcycle can achieve little more than 1 Gee of braking force. A rear wheel lock-up (on its own) will provide perhaps half a Gee, probably less.

At 100kph (about 28m/sec), a half-gee braking force (5m sec/sec) will take around 5.5 seconds to stop the bike, during which time the bike will travel about 75 metres.

Indeed, but your front brake should still be working - so you can brake harder than that. Also, a locked up rear wheel providing half a gee of braking would be rather generous I think.

As has been said, pulling the clutch might not release the rear-wheel if the internals have had a good buggering... however, if you can keep it upright for 60 meters you should be able to apply the front brake and scrub off some speed...

Also, the article only say that the bike stayed upright for 60 meters - nothing about how fast it was going when it tipped over.

Not that all of this matters - main thing is that everyone survived to ride another day.

[tigertim20]

what b.s...

yeah. sure...

[sinfull]

I suppose the reason piston parts company with crankshaft is if there isn't enough Engine oil?

In the case of Ducatis it probably started with a blown light bulb.

and ended in a lack of oil when said rod made it's way through the cases !

[Str8 Jacket]

This just highlights to me why 2-stroke motorcycles should be compulsory for learners.

What does 'cover both clutch and brake' have to do with a seized transmission?

I see your concern Jim!

[bungbung]

What does 'cover both clutch and brake' have to do with a seized transmission?

I see your concern Jim!

If the transmission is seized, then pulling in the clutch will do absolutely nothing

[peasea]

I know very little about Ducati motorcycles but four stroke internal combustion engines in general are something I know a bit about. I can't imagine why a broken con rod would cause a siezed transmission, unless the transmission is directly below (or closely adjacent to) the contents of the crankcase. I doubt that.

Comments have been made relating to pistons detaching themselves from crankshafts. It doesn't happen, ever. The reason is.... the piston is attached to a connnecting rod. The piston can become detached from the rod and the rod from the crankshaft but not the piston from the crank.

All things being equal and the makeup of the Duke's mechanicals being similar to most other motorcycles I'd say if the engine dropped a rod and the engine locked up then surely by pulling in the clutch you can coast to a stop with the dead engine being simply that; dead.

Moons ago I threw the rods on a 650 Triumph, both came out of the front of the cases at once. I over-revved it in 3rd gear on the Hutt M'way. I grabbed the clutch and coasted to a halt without a skidmark on the road (but a size L one in my panties). The most dangerous thing that happened was getting engine oil on the back tyre.

A broken con rod caused the trans to lock up? Hmmm. Email that to Ducati and see what they say.

Rant over.

[peasea]

If the transmission is seized, then pulling in the clutch will do absolutely nothing

Agreed, but how does a con rod sieze the trans? That's what has me flummoxed.

[tigertim20]

to be fair, we are assuming the reportergot all the details right. which doesnt happen often...