I stuffed up today, nearly a head on...

**rocketman1** · 10th October 2009, 20:55

I consider my self a careful rider, I have said plenty about cornering on the site , and I consider it sensible. However, today on tight roads near the Tron, I nearly crashed head on.
I did give me fright, a hell of a fright.
I had Rounded about 50 tight corners on a quiet back road through Waingaro.
Beautiful road, weather great, the bike had just had an oil change, so just taking it for a run, running sweet as.
Getting to near the Raglan Road I had what I can only look back on as a lapse in concentration.
I entered a 45kmh corner far too fast, in too higher gear, too upright, I thought I've done it now.!!!
I leant the bike over, tried to scrub off some speed with my back brake and little bit of front, I realised I was heading over the white line when a car appeared come round the corner, just in my projected line of travel, I must admit I panicked , tried to lean over more, but realised i was still going to hit the car. F--K was all I thought. I realised I was over to far to brake heavily I for some reason tried to slow by getting the bike more vertical, and braking harder, this was probably the wrong thing to do, basically I wanted lessen the impact and survive, I did not want to brake hard and slide under the car.
how this all happened in about 2 seconds I dont know, but time slowed down and I was very aware of everything happening like in slow motion.
The driver of the cage quickly moved over thinking I would hit him, but for the life me I dont know how I missed him. I had actually not crossed the centre line like I thought I was going to.
But for all purposes I thought for that second I was gonna, another statistic.
I have taken thousands of left hand corners, no problems, fast & slow.
I just dont know what happened here, but it gave a good wake up call.

I guess one momentary lapse in concentration is what caused it.
I think the big issue for me was that I was in too higher gear, for the corner there was no engine braking, I just didnt feel right.

For the next few corners I slapped my helmet, told "myself off" for being asleep , and told myself ...learn from that you idiot... and boy will I ever.

Just thought I would share with you what some (poor souls) riders, never have the good luck to write about..

**sAsLEX** · 10th October 2009, 21:04

Originally Posted by rocketman1

I think the big issue for me was that I was in too higher gear, for the corner there was no engine braking, I just didnt feel right.

I dislike that feeling as well.

One thing to note, is that even though you "think" you can't make the corner the bike probably can.

**steve_t** · 10th October 2009, 21:09

Glad you're OK. Those momentary lapses in concentration suck. Ride safely mate

**aahsv** · 10th October 2009, 21:12

Glad to hear you're alive and are dissecting this one carefully...what are the chances of you having that momentary lapse in judgement on a back road corner and a car being in that same spot to make contact...someone's looking after you

**CookMySock** · 10th October 2009, 21:16

Originally Posted by rocketman1

I entered a 45kmh corner far too fast, in too higher gear, too upright, I thought I've done it now.!!!
I leant the bike over, tried to scrub off some speed with my back brake and little bit of front, I realised I was heading over the white line when a car appeared come round the corner, just in my projected line of travel, I must admit I panicked , tried to lean over more, but realised i was still going to hit the car. F--K was all I thought. I realised I was over to far to brake heavily I for some reason tried to slow by getting the bike more vertical, and braking harder, this was probably the wrong thing to do, basically I wanted lessen the impact and survive, I did not want to brake hard and slide under the car.
how this all happened in about 2 seconds I dont know, but time slowed down and I was very aware of everything happening like in slow motion.
The driver of the cage quickly moved over thinking I would hit him, but for the life me I dont know how I missed him. I had actually not crossed the centre line like I thought I was going to.

blahblahblahblahblahblahtalktalktalktalktalktalkta lktalktalktalk
talktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalktalkblahbl ahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah
blahblah..

Dood, PUSH ON THE FUCKING BARS. DO IT OR DIE.

Dont fiddle with the gears or complain that you are not "set up right" - Just steer with the bars please. Do it fast! The bike will corner a lot harder than you think.

Originally Posted by rocketman1

for some reason tried to slow by getting the bike more vertical, and braking harder, this was probably the wrong thing to do

doya think?

The real question is, What are you going to DO about it? You panicced and froze. You either have to train it out, or slow down. Either way, you need to decide quick, while the picture is clear in your mind. In a weeks' time you will have shrugged it off.

Steve

**YellowDog** · 10th October 2009, 21:27

Yes I do know that feeling.

My method is straight back upright, heavy on the brakes, and then straight back down again.

Where I have been caught out before is when the bend dips down hill at a sharper gradient than expected. The too higher gear thing is a big worry. I rarely take a corner at less than 5000rpm, just for the purposes of throttle control.

When it happens, keep looking at where you want to go and not at the car about to squish you.

Not all live to tell such a tale after the event.

Well done.

**Jantar** · 10th October 2009, 21:39

Well, I must admit I much prefer to read this sort of story than the "I binned it" type. You have learned a good lesson, and as a result you will almost certainly not make the same mistake again. Good riding in the future, you will be a survivor.

**beyond** · 10th October 2009, 22:47

At least it's not another rider down thread. Good on you for sharing this experience, many wouldn't.

As you have found out, you cannot have even a momentary lapse in concentration, even for a split second. Must always keep our eye and mind fully on the ride at all times.

**TuonoTom** · 10th October 2009, 22:59

Originally Posted by beyond

At least it's not another rider down thread. Good on you for sharing this experience, many wouldn't.

As you have found out, you cannot have even a momentary lapse in concentration, even for a split second. Must always keep our eye and mind fully on the ride at all times.

Agree, but we're human and that means every now and again we slip up...

**Dave-** · 10th October 2009, 23:33

I hear so many people talk about this slow motion effect, where they're aware of everything happening, but it's slow.

and there's all these medical theories that back it up.

but it's never happened to me, I dont get it, every time I've come close to death where this apparent "slow motion" effect seems to happen, it's never happened.

HOWEVER i do sometimes get like a feeling something's not right, and then sometimes it goes pear shaped, other times I'm able to dodge whatever it was because of that weird feeling.

this isn't limited to just motorcycles either, it's happened all my life....and I dont even believe in this shit!

**crazyhorse** · 11th October 2009, 06:17

Important fact remains - you are fine

**BiK3RChiK** · 11th October 2009, 06:41

Originally Posted by Dave-

I hear so many people talk about this slow motion effect, where they're aware of everything happening, but it's slow.

and there's all these medical theories that back it up.

but it's never happened to me, I dont get it, every time I've come close to death where this apparent "slow motion" effect seems to happen, it's never happened.

I've had the slow motion effect happen to me, except I was driving a big vehicle and a drunk driver came sliding sideways around the corner taking up most of the road. That happened in 1990 and I can tell you the details of the whole episode as if I was watching a DVD. It's very weird, but the whole scene slows right down and becomes kind of tunnel vision (including your reactions) and then for me, it sped up to real time in the last few seconds before the big bang...

I don't think you'll forget this one easily Rocketman. It'll replay over and over in your mind even years later, making it a lesson you can draw on in the future. At least, that has been my experience...

I'm glad you lived to learn from it. As you say, many don't.....

**jrandom** · 11th October 2009, 07:26

I bet you haven't done many trackdays (if any).

www.motott.co.nz

Get into it, rocketman1. When luck runs out, track time saves lives. And you just used up your luck.

**rocketman1** · 11th October 2009, 07:31

Originally Posted by YellowDog

Yes I do know that feeling.

My method is straight back upright, heavy on the brakes, and then straight back down again.

Where I have been caught out before is when the bend dips down hill at a sharper gradient than expected. The too higher gear thing is a big worry. I rarely take a corner at less than 5000rpm, just for the purposes of throttle control.

When it happens, keep looking at where you want to go and not at the car about to squish you.

Not all live to tell such a tale after the event.

Well done.

Ive had a few these corners as well they just tend to push you wide very easily.
Yes I will not go into a corner in too higher gear, hey I should know this after years of riding, but if you think the corner is not as tight as it is...well enough said.

**rocketman1** · 11th October 2009, 07:34

Originally Posted by BiK3RChiK

I've had the slow motion effect happen to me, except I was driving a big vehicle and a drunk driver came sliding sideways around the corner taking up most of the road. That happened in 1990 and I can tell you the details of the whole episode as if I was watching a DVD. It's very weird, but the whole scene slows right down and becomes kind of tunnel vision (including your reactions) and then for me, it sped up to real time in the last few seconds before the big bang...

I don't think you'll forget this one easily Rocketman. It'll replay over and over in your mind even years later, making it a lesson you can draw on in the future. At least, that has been my experience...

I'm glad you lived to learn from it. As you say, many don't.....

Hey I have gotten over it, but I did relive it in my minds several times last night.