Front wheel going out from under you

**rocketman1** · 22nd October 2008, 20:19

Is there any remedy to save a bike once the front wheel goes out from under you.
Hit some gravel at an intersection on the weekend, was raining slightly which stuffed the vision through the visor a bit (thats my excuse) , anyway hit this patch of gravel, and the front wheel started to shoot out front under me, luckily I straightened up a bit and I must have been vertical enough for it to catch again without me going down, but it gave the asshole muscles one heck of a twitch.
Any KBs out there managed to save a certain low side, and if so, how did you manage it?

**James Deuce** · 22nd October 2008, 20:38

Little bit more throttle. Not always an option when there is something right in front of you though.

**kezzafish** · 22nd October 2008, 20:59

Originally Posted by rocketman1

Is there any remedy to save a bike once the front wheel goes out from under you.
Hit some gravel at an intersection on the weekend, was raining slightly which stuffed the vision through the visor a bit (thats my excuse) , anyway hit this patch of gravel, and the front wheel started to shoot out front under me, luckily I straightened up a bit and I must have been vertical enough for it to catch again without me going down, but it gave the asshole muscles one heck of a twitch.
Any KBs out there managed to save a certain low side, and if so, how did you manage it?

what you did! i find it's usually all over before i have any say in the matter

**Skyryder** · 22nd October 2008, 21:08

Originally Posted by rocketman1

Is there any remedy to save a bike once the front wheel goes out from under you.
Hit some gravel at an intersection on the weekend, was raining slightly which stuffed the vision through the visor a bit (thats my excuse) , anyway hit this patch of gravel, and the front wheel started to shoot out front under me, luckily I straightened up a bit and I must have been vertical enough for it to catch again without me going down, but it gave the asshole muscles one heck of a twitch.
Any KBs out there managed to save a certain low side, and if so, how did you manage it?

The old story of prevention is better than the cure. If the front goes it's down to the gravity gods and if they are pleased with you they just give you a warning. I tell them to go and get fucked by not useing my front brake once into the bend and leaning.

If you gota brake into the bend ya come in too hot and if needs you may be better to down size a cog or use both brakes together. But hitting the front brake on it's own in the corner is a no no.

Skyryder

**Big Dave** · 22nd October 2008, 21:31

Tucked doesn't rhyme with you-know-what for nuffink.

**dilz** · 22nd October 2008, 21:40

happens too quick to know for sure but the few times if experienced it its felt as though ive counter-steered out of it...but this may have done nothing and i was just lucky ha ha

**snowman** · 22nd October 2008, 22:19

I almost had this happen to me a few weeks ago coming around a sharp corner after a little rise in the road. Scared the fuck outa me too, dam Shinko tyres!

**erik** · 22nd October 2008, 22:39

Originally Posted by rocketman1

Any KBs out there managed to save a certain low side, and if so, how did you manage it?

I even got it on video (skip to 5:50)

:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO8TuakquPQ

I wouldn't bet on me being able to do it again though...

It was on the track at taupo, at braking at the end of the back straight, the rain was a bit heavier there. When it let go, I released the brakes and slammed my foot down (very briefly - basically kicked at the ground) and yanked on the bar and it regripped. Isn't run-off great?

I've also lost the front once on the road. Going a bit quick, was a bit distracted, thought "I'd better focus on this upcoming corner" started to brake and suddenly the front end shook a couple of times and I was sliding across the road. I was very lucky the oncoming traffic was 100m or so down the road. I think I must have grabbed the front brake harder or more abruptly than I realised.

**Shadows** · 22nd October 2008, 22:52

More gas so the back wheel catches up with the front, IF you have time to react. The problem is, if one isn't careful with the throttle, the back wheel will simply overtake the front, and then you'll find yourself getting fucked in a whole new way. Some may prefer that. Each to their own, I guess.

Avoiding the shit altogether would be a far better option.

The best part of twenty years ago I hit a gravel patch while banked over in a corner at night. The front wheel completely vanished from underneath me, a split second later my head hit the road. I did not have a chance to react in any way whatsoever.

Prevention (slowing down a bit so I could see the road surface outside the main beam of my headlight), would have definately been better than cure.

My bike ended up wedged under the front of a parked car on the other side of the road, throttle wide open and revving its nuts off, but I was in such a daze that I couldn't hear a thing but ringing, or see it for swirling stars and darkness. Basically just wandering around thinking what the fuck just happened would sum it up.

Eventually my senses came back on line, I dragged the bike out from under the car and rode home feeling quite under the weather.

Not sure if I've been quite the same since...

**dipshit** · 22nd October 2008, 23:46

Originally Posted by erik

I even got it on video (skip to 5:50)

:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO8TuakquPQ

I think I must have grabbed the front brake harder or more abruptly than I realised.

Your rough down changing technique is unsettling the bike.

**cowboyz** · 22nd October 2008, 23:48

A little while ago I was pootling back from a friends place with Mrs C on the back and we came up to an intersection in the dark and didnt notice the gravel. The front gave out mid corner and I hit the ground with my knee but just as I did everything caught and the bike ended up the right way up and we carried on. It was pretty lucky Mrs C sits so high on the bike and it happened too quick for either of us to react or we probably would have added to the drama. Gave the pair of us a hell of a fright. I was gone for all money but someone must have decided to be nice to me on that night.
If the front slides significantly then I dont believe there is fuck all you can do about it. Just pray to all 383 gods and hope one of them are listening.

**no-coast-punk** · 23rd October 2008, 02:50

It all goes back to the circle of traction.

Tires lose grip because they are asked to provide more traction than their loading allows. By taking load off the slipping tire it will regain some grip.

Grabbing the brakes is the first panic reaction, but it's also the worst thing that can possibly be done since it applies even more load to the front.

Best thing that can be done is to roll into the throttle to unload the front and load the rear. Once some weight has been transfered to the rear smoothly get the bars straight ahead again.

This is a lot to do in a split second... but it's the correct way.

The best thing to remember is NO BRAKES.

**Motu** · 23rd October 2008, 06:43

You can use the brakes - the rear one.Locking up the rear will also take the load off the front.Will depend on conditions also.The common denominator here will be tyres....modern,wide,not much tread.Adventure tyres or an older style tyre is less prone to total loss of control on gravel over seal.

**vifferman** · 23rd October 2008, 08:40

If you're going slow enough, stamping a foot down can help, but that's very rare. There was a classic video clip from MotoGP where someone (can't remember - it was either Stoner or Edwards) lost the front end and recovered using his elbow and knee.
I've lost the front end three times, on different bikes. Each time it was too quick to do anything about. First was hitting a gravel patch going around a corner (didn't see it - it was night and there were people standing on the road obscuring it). Second was hitting a squashed softdrink ca on the road, just as I tipped into a corner. I was on the road before I knew what had happened. Third time was bedding in the front brakes on the FahrtSturm, using all four fingers, on a greasy road (usually use only 1 or 2 fingers to brake). That was the only recoverable one - if I'd been using only two fingers, I could've eased of the brakes fairly readily and stopped the front end lockup.