Glad you made it through, take care. Way too many bros' hittin' the pavement lately...

 

Glad you're ok.

My gunning it is bad advice. If the intersecting streets lights go green before you clear you might be in for a 30 mph + t-bone. Rather than a 10 miles low side slide.

If you haven't taken a rider course its a good idea. You'll get lots of practice with "full braking". Its that split second of deciding if you can clear the intersection on yellow or if you need to brake that's tough. If you can brake hard and stop no reason to go down. Might make your rectum clench a bit though.

Bones

 

Glad to hear your ok. I went down braking at a light just after it started to drizzle. The only bruises I got were my leg and ego. I took a MSF and would recommend that everyone take a course. Ride safe.

 

Figgymo, glad to hear you are ok.

I miss the ABS on my previous bike a BMW. I was really expecting to lock up sometime with the FXD, so far so good. Maybe it's that I don't ride in bad weather any more. Not like the BMW that I rode in rain, and I even got caught in a little snow once.

If I ever switch to a Touring model, it will probably have ABS. That being said, my friend's BMW ABS pump just went out and the dealer wants $2400 to fix it. Hopefully, the Harley version is cheaper!

 

Not only do you need to be able to control your bike in a skid but you need to be able to make decisions (the right one) and you need to do it in a fraction of a second and have the reflexes to carry out that decision. A good reason not to slow your reflexes and dull your senses by drinking and riding. That fraction of a second may save your life.

I don't know your case but if the intersection was clear you should have went through it. It would be stupid to lock the brakes and lose control of the bike for no reason. I always scrub some speed off aproaching an intersection. I cover both brakes. Both of these habits will buy some time in an emergency situation. I'm checking my mirriors, looking at driveways and checking the other vehicles if any aproaching the intersection, looking for pot holes, debris, sand, standing water, pedestrians, animals, kids, ect. And looking for escape routes if needed. I have purposely locked the rear wheel to do a 180 to avoid a car that decided to go straight instead of making a left turn in the turning lane.

Locking the rear brake and not using the front will cause the rear end to slide out with very little body weight shifting or imput to the bars. And if you let off the brake and the bike is more than about 30 degrees out of line with the front wheel will cause a high side unless you nail the throttle to straighten it out at the same time. You can lock the front wheel and use the rear brake to stay straight and just let the head shake and you will be ok. Dirt riders make great street riders because they are used to sliding the wheels and riding on less than perfect traction. When the wheels aren't turning you lose the gyroscopic effect so the bike will fall over very easy at low speed especially when crossed up or leaned over. Locking the rear brake and swerving, on trailing throttle can cause a tank slapper.

I was close to death myself yesterday. Aproaching a busy intersection on a narrow two lane, cross traffic was waiting on their chance to pull out on both sides of me. Alarm bells were going off, I scrubed some speed, covered the brakes and just as I got to the intersection the driver of a jacked up 4 wheel drive Dodge pickup on the left street stomped his accelerator. I grabed the brakes looking for escape routes (routes, not route because you don't know which way for sure until the last moment). His passenger alerted him I was there and he stomped the brakes straddling the centerline stopping oncoming traffic. I saw my opening and took it. He apoligized at the next light saying I was`in his blind spot. He saw the car behind me but not me. Pardon me for being upset with him but he almost ended my life. I guess he could have had them write "I'm sorry" on my tombstone.

 

I feel your pain. My girl and I went down in a sorta similar situation in Vegas a couple months ago. Woman ran a red light in front of me. The streets were slick and I went too heavy on the front brake. Couple thou in damages on the bike and we had minor scrapes. Her insurance paid for everything. A friend told me I shoulda went to the rear brake first to stablize it.
I've also been in the "brake or gun it" situation at lights too many times. Could ended up in a really bad place a few times. Now I try to keep the speed down and be hyper-aware at lights and look out for cagers trying to cut me off.

 

Guess the real culprit here is identifying your surroundings. I was a dirt bike rider first. I gotta say, I do not enjoy the "practice" on a street bike. Scares the shlt out of ya. Hope you heal up bud.
My experience has always been Slow a little, put the headlamps on the oncoming car. with left blinker on, (if there is one). And proceed with both eyes and ears tuned to your objective.
I took off sideways on the merrit parkway on Sunday, I was waiting for the riders from Durham. and I was in the wet morning dew for a bit. So when they showed up. I rolled the throttle. Almost fishtailed into the guardrail. Snapped off the throttle counter steered and one foot down, pretty much all at the same time. Reflex dirt biking. Like I said . not fun. Peace.

 

you live in Atlanta Ga? and say you have a riding season? thats all 12 months right? ..use the ins. money to get new mods and get indy to do it with quote from the dealership

 

Been to heavy with the front brake a couple of times, learned to feather instead of squeeze. Go slow with the wrist, let it heal up well before you try to use it like normal. Stay alert and live to ride, alot. Dennis

 

You would think, but when the temp drops to 16* during the day, it gets hard for some. Especially when snow melts and then freezes on the roads. Makes for interesting riding I do it, but then I crazier then most.