A lesson on braking

[Mikkel]

So here's a lesson in braking learned the hard way:

If, under hard breaking, you feel the rear starting to lift and thus relaxes pressure on the front brake, make sure to reapply brake pressure in a progressive manner - DO NOT under any circumstance chuck your brakes back on at the same pressure they were before.

That is unless you fancy loosing the front end and doing a faceplant!

As you relax the pressure on the brake your weight distribution will start moving backwards - in the case the brake pressure is reapplied at the same level as before relaxing the pressure you run the risk of locking up the front wheel as the weight transfer forward has not been achieved yet.

DAMHIK!

Oh, and I can attest to the fact that Shoei and Alpinestars makes gear that will leave you with only minor bruises (except for your ego of course) if you do a face plant and slide at 70 km/h! NEO gloves I can not recommend, they held - just...

That was about what I got out of todays advanced training course at Levels held by Mainland driving school.

So, to summarise:

Good things:
A lesson learned
Not too badly bruised
The sun was shining, making it comfortable watching the other guys enjoying themselves at the track
Took the bike down there on a trailer
I now know that my riding gear works
Mainland were very good and said I could attend their next course at no extra fee
No mechnical damage it would appear

Bad things:
I'm going to be bloody sore for a few days
I need a new helmet
I need some new gloves
My leathers needs a bit of attention
The pretty ZXR250A isn't quite as pretty anymore

Challenges for next week:
Making the insurance company see that doing an advanced handling course on a track is not a bad idea
Making the insurance company see that doing an advanced handling course on a track is not a bad idea
Making the insurance company see that doing an advanced handling course on a track is not a bad idea

So there ya go. Please don't go out and try to confirm this hypothesis by conducting you own experiments...

[discotex]

Ouch. Is it really going to be worth trying to clam insurance?

Helmet is usually not covered by bike insurance - it's usually contents.

[skidMark]

So you need parts then?

Gutted man, she was so pretty too

[mynameis]

Bummer !! Hope things are sorted out mate.

[homer]

damn shame man
i hope you get the bits sorted with the insurance .

Then theres next time
hope to get back there myself .

[mynameis]

Now that machine would be less than $3000 aye haha

[jrandom]

'A Lesson On Braking, or, Mikkel Gives Himself the Learn'



Ah, glad you're all right dude. And good to see you have the physics of your bin all worked out.

Harsh, but true; sometimes it's the best way to learn riding skills. I know I'm not likely to highside again from fucked-up throttle control after coming off the Snail that way and breaking my thumb.

You might not have binned on a more modern bike with better suspension, you know. How long do you have to wait until you get your full licence?

(Also, what tyres was the ZXR wearing?)

[owner]

Glad your ok.
challenges for next week : lie to the insurance company
; practice stoppies until you can roll them out

[gunnyrob]

Good to hear you're o.k. mikkel, makes me glad I have ABS & a BMW funny front end that can't dive.

Have used ABS twice in anger so far.

[No FX]

Good too hear you ok Mikkel and have thought about what happened and why, there's always things to learn and improve on it just sucks finding out the hard way!

[Mikkel]

Now that machine would be less than $3000 aye haha

Nah, about that mark right now I suppose... It's only cosmetics and I'll sort her out one way or the other.

So you need parts then?

Gutted man, she was so pretty too

Not unlikely. I'll be in touch after I've talked to the insurance company...

Ah, glad you're all right dude. And good to see you have the physics of your bin all worked out.

Yeah, it was simple enough to figure out what went wrong. Didn't stop me from feeling like a dumbarse though.

I was just thinking: "FFS, just get the other guys going I don't wanna be holding up proceedings. Yes, that is my spleen I can pick it up myself thank you now get the show moving again!"

You might not have binned on a more modern bike with better suspension, you know. How long do you have to wait until you get your full licence?

(Also, what tyres was the ZXR wearing?)

Well, I just bought another bike... Full will be about another 3 months at least.

And yeah I suppose the front tyre on the 250 might be getting a bit tired. Still, I don't think the stickiest slick from hell could have saved me this learning experience... Since it was a braking exercise I was of course focused on exactly that, braking... Forgot to think.

Glad your ok.
challenges for next week : lie to the insurance company
; practice stoppies until you can roll them out

Fuck no, lies are too complicated. The truth is easier to remember! That is one thing I have learned through much more painful lessons in the past than the lesson I learned today.


Anyway, here's a few pictures: First 4 is the damage to the bike, #5 is my shoulder and #6 my hip.

[Mikkel]

And the riding gear:

[No FX]

+1 to alpinstars then aye?

[No FX]

Don't tell your shoulder and hip i said that though!

[kevie]

Talking about braking lessons.... I was watching SCU on TV the other morning, they were examining a crash in Auckland between a motorcycle vs truck and the outcome was the motorcycle only used the rear brakes in the emergency stopping attempt which they said was only aprox 30% of his braking ability resulting in the impact with the truck and the motorcyclists death from the impact. It was a bit of a sit up and take notice for me as a motorcyclist..... as they came to the conclusion had he used front as well as rear brakes he could have had enough speed off to avert impact or at worse very much lessen the impact.