My first crash!

[malc0lm]

So had my first crash a few months ago now and it's been playing on my mind ever since, hoping that getting it off my chest and maybe getting some advice might help…

First of all I was riding a 92 Honda CBR 400 and have been riding for about 8 months.

It was a very wet day, had just stopped raining. I was heading towards Hunua from Papakura, South Auckland on country roads.

Crash happened on the exit of a left had bend that was posted as a 70, I was probably doing maybe 5 or 10 kms more … hard to say cause I was concentrating on riding and not watching me speedo. So I made it around the corner with no problems, this is where the drama starts. As the bike starts to stand up on the exit of corner I squeeze on the gas a little more, wouldn't say it was excessive either. The back wheel starts to spin and the ass of the bike starts to step out to the left in a big way. Hard to say what happened next, pretty sure that I backed off the gas. Because in all of half a second of the back stepping out I was doing a superman impression down the road. Bike ended up sliding next to me on it's right had side.

Should also note that right where the back wheel started to razz up the road surface changed from rough to smooth and also went over a slight crest.

Not that im blaming the road or the conditions … I know it was my fault for giving it to much gas.

However my question is … should I have stayed on the gas … ? Really did feel like if I had have stayed on it the back would have kept on coming around.

Also when you do find yourself doing a superman down the road, what's the best position to be in? Cause the road was wet and heading down hill I went a pretty long slide. Lucky it was straight and me and the bike pretty much stayed in the centre of the road. I started off on my chest heading head first down the road. Managed to roll over onto my back and spin so I was heading feet first …

I walked away … bike is back on the road. Found out im pretty handy at repairing fairings & clutch covers as well.

What are your thoughts?

Cheers
Mal

[Hitcher]

What are your thoughts?

Ride carefully, within your abilities and consistent with the road and weather conditions.

Either that or gun the shit out of it. I can never remember which.

[NDORFN]

This might sound a bit extreme but my reaction to being in the same situation would be to put myself back in it until I have the skill to induce the same situation repeatedly and get myself back out of it every time. That's what I used to do when I was mountain biking... intentionally repeat the accident until I was not only able to recover easily, but most importantly, had no fear of it happening again. I intend to do the same with motorbikes. I don't know how practical it's going to be in terms of having a bike I can repeatedly trash... there might be advanced riding schools out there with a shit bike that they use for teaching this stuff?

[p.dath]

I would consider going to a track day. It will give you a lot of confidence back in a safe environment.

I've been told by a couple of people that once you come off the bike to cross your hands across you chest and keep your legs together. Basically you want to pull your limbs in to stop them hitting things, bending in funny ways, and breaking.

[FJRider]

I wouldn't stress too much about it. Wet roads bring whatever is spilt on the road to its worst. One or more ... usually more than one ... factors combine to shit on you. Expert riders are not immune to wet day bins. They may happen to them less ... but shit does happen to us all. Glad you are ok, and can still ride the bike.

[Ragingrob]

But yeah in terms of what you could have done, I think it's highly recommended to never shut the throttle off. If you keep the same power or maybe slightly less it'll give the front a chance to catch up to the rear. Whereas if you shut the throttle, the rear will catch some friction and you'll get thrown off in a split second as you say!

[CookMySock]

Sounds like plain ol' "bad luck - you hit a slippery bit".

For myself, I just pootle in the wet on backroads. I find I can just never rely on the road surface, slippery shit, stock on the roads, and everything else that is "kiwi back roads."

Open road state highways are different. They are usually swept clean by the continuous traffic, and it's rare to find some obstacle on it, and my Michelin Pilot-Road-2's have made riding in the wet a near non-event.

It's hard not to take crashes to heart. For myself, when I have an incident (just a few so far!) I force myself not to ride until my mind has stopped re-working it. Then I wipe the slate clean and go! Well, thats the theory anyway.

Steve

[YellowDog]

But yeah in terms of what you could have done, I think it's highly recommended to never shut the throttle off. If you keep the same power or maybe slightly less it'll give the front a chance to catch up to the rear. Whereas if you shut the throttle, the rear will catch some friction and you'll get thrown off in a split second as you say!

Yes I would agree with this. When I feel my rear end slipping, I just ease off slightly and it usually goes straight back on course. If you suddenly shut off the power, you are adding a sudden force making less likely to right itself and more likely to overcompensate.

Also, it may be worth checking the tyres you are using. Are they noted as being good or poor in the wet?

[vifferman]

Malcolm, what you experienced was a high-side; when you backed off the throttle the back tyre regained its grip suddenly (which you weren't expecting) and catapulted you off. The best thing to do is (which is easy to say, but harder to put into practice) is to either keep the gas on, or ease it off. so the back wheel stops spinning less abruptly, giving you a small amount of time to adjust your bodyweight.
Even experts can get caught out by a highside, so don't feel too badly about it. Be a bit more cautious in the wet next time.

[javawocky]

Come ooonn! where's your commitment (Posted earlier today so, don't repost )

http://www.totalprosports.com/blog/i...rilliant-save/

[FROSTY:Me]

I know this sounds silly but quite often the best thing to do is --NOTHING.
The bike actually doesn't wanna have a lay down.

As for what to do once youre off the bike. My suggestion in the "ideal" world is to make like a starfish
the more surface area on the deck the better

[PrincessBandit]

This might sound a bit extreme ... I intend to do the same with motorbikes. I don't know how practical it's going to be in terms of having a bike I can repeatedly trash...

...and broken body bits??? (although I'm sure you could have just as bad injuries from mountain biking, still motorbike ones might be a little worse).

Open road state highways are different. They are usually swept clean by the continuous traffic, and it's rare to find some obstacle on it, and my Michelin Pilot-Road-2's have made riding in the wet a near non-event.

Steve

Just had Pilot road 2's put on the bandit - looking forward to seeing how they go (once I'm "allowed" back on my bike of course ) ahem.......

... When I feel my rear end slipping, I just ease off slightly and it usually goes straight back on course.

Oh Andrew, I am sooooo biting my tongue....

... don't feel too badly about it. Be a bit more cautious in the wet next time.

Wot he said.

[TimeOut]

Just had Pilot road 2's put on the bandit - looking forward to seeing how they go (once I'm "allowed" back on my bike of course ) ahem.......

I think you'll like them, I used to be really nervous in the wet but the PR2's have given me a lot more confidence

[Racing Dave]

Don't do the star fish! That's asking for broken bones.

Of course, you don't always get time but the suggested arms crossed on the chest and legs together has a lot of merit. Flailing around has no merit.

High-siding already sets you up for pain, so it seems that you got off lightly. If possible, try and look where you're going - if there's solids approaching you might be able to fend off.

All the gear, all the time - worth it!

[Hinny]

If you love your bike, let it go.
If it comes back to you, you've high sided.