Minor Crash on Bob
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 198
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From: Wellington, NV
Minor Crash on Bob
Greetings,
I never believed the old saying there are two types of bikers, those that have been down and those that will, howver, that all changed last Monday. The reason I am posting this is so I can learn from my mistake. I was on Hwy 4 and tight, narrow, cruvy road in California. Was a awesome day, and mistake #1 - I decided to ride in a tee shirt and tennis shoes. A mistake I dont plan on repeating! I came around a real tight turn, thankfully, at a low speed apox 25-20 and found gravel all the way across the turn. The next thing I knew I was flying thru the air and the bike was on its side. Thankfully I only had road rash and brusing to my right side. The bike will need new bars and turn signals, and the tank got a nice abrasion and well as the HD insginia. My question is how could I have avoided goiong down. I think I may have hit the front brake a little hard, but not really sure.
Thanks in advance!
I never believed the old saying there are two types of bikers, those that have been down and those that will, howver, that all changed last Monday. The reason I am posting this is so I can learn from my mistake. I was on Hwy 4 and tight, narrow, cruvy road in California. Was a awesome day, and mistake #1 - I decided to ride in a tee shirt and tennis shoes. A mistake I dont plan on repeating! I came around a real tight turn, thankfully, at a low speed apox 25-20 and found gravel all the way across the turn. The next thing I knew I was flying thru the air and the bike was on its side. Thankfully I only had road rash and brusing to my right side. The bike will need new bars and turn signals, and the tank got a nice abrasion and well as the HD insginia. My question is how could I have avoided goiong down. I think I may have hit the front brake a little hard, but not really sure.
Thanks in advance!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
I hit gravel riding 2up a week ago, didn't play attention, freak me out, one leg is on the ground dragging, almost dropped but saved it. I have been a few accidents 20 yrs ago but hopefully I WILL NOT lol.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,642
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From: Ogden, UT
Glad no major injury or damage.
Ride ahead of your bike, in other words you have to constantly look 50' ahead on the road to see what's coming at you.
If you realize you have loose ground in a turn, stay off the front brake, gravel, curves, and front brakes do not mix because you have no control if the wheel locks up on loose ground, or momentarily locks and releases it is difficult at best to control.
I recently had a similar dumping, but in the rain. My rear brake failed and I had to use the front, slick roads and front brakes do not get along very well, especially when it is an ohshit moment since you tend to grab more than you really should, human nature.
Ride ahead of your bike, in other words you have to constantly look 50' ahead on the road to see what's coming at you.
If you realize you have loose ground in a turn, stay off the front brake, gravel, curves, and front brakes do not mix because you have no control if the wheel locks up on loose ground, or momentarily locks and releases it is difficult at best to control.
I recently had a similar dumping, but in the rain. My rear brake failed and I had to use the front, slick roads and front brakes do not get along very well, especially when it is an ohshit moment since you tend to grab more than you really should, human nature.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,960
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From: Sonoma County, CA
Aside from seeing the gravel ahead of time and being able to straighten the bike up (ever so slightly) while using "mostly" back brake to come to a straight line stop, you should never hit the front brake in a low speed turn. Especially when there is gravel. You could have used the rear brake and possibly slid the back end out a little but when the front end starts to slide, you're done. Another point is that you should try to do all of your braking before entering the turn in the straight line, not while actually in the turn, if anything your roll the power on while your flow through the turn. Hope to have helped a little.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 10,366
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From: Connecticut
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 572
Likes: 2
From: Oregon
It's easy to talk about how to avoid gravel and tell you what you did wrong but I have been on the loosing side of gravel too... it was a lesson learned the hard way and that old saying is true for the most part.
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Texas
Ditto. Get the video "Ride Like A Pro". I learned a lot from it and my wife swears by it. Glad you're ok. Had a rear ender about 2 years ago. No broken bones, but $8k damage to my FJR 1300. My Fat Bob, has not had any such experiences and I hope she never does! And stay off the front brake in dicey situations.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,673
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From: Norfolk, VA
I am not an expert certainly and I would not take my advice on this because of that fact, but I do not touch either brake when I feel the bike losing traction. In my experience that only helps to lock the wheels up quicker and you lose control of the bike. If the wheels already have limited traction, hitting the brake is not going to help that situation, IMO. I come from a dirt bike background so when I feel the loss of traction I tend to do anything but hit the brake. Depending on the situation it might be rolling off the throttle or it might be hammering the throttle while steering the front tire in the direction I am sliding. Again, no expert, not claiming to be one, just my experience. Gravel in a blind turn is tough to deal with under any circumstances. Glad you came out of it OK.
Keep this in mind, if you cause your rear wheel, which already has limited traction to lock up by hitting the brake what is going to happen when it hits solid road again? The very popular high side and catapult.
Keep this in mind, if you cause your rear wheel, which already has limited traction to lock up by hitting the brake what is going to happen when it hits solid road again? The very popular high side and catapult.
Last edited by overhead; Sep 29, 2011 at 11:55 AM.
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