Interesting Angle on "Laid Er Down"
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 36
From: Houston, TX
Raced motorcycles for years, have ridden on the street for a lot of miles now... never intentionally laid a motorcycle down... brakes work much better. Anyone who says they intentionally laid a motorcycle down is probably lying. It's also no mystery that in the world of of Harley Davidson, you can be guaranteed most HD owners can't ride, and it's not trolling by saying that. So many people buy Harleys with no riding experience or very little, or own harleys for years but maybe put 2-5k miles on them a year if that. It's funny watching you dudes wobble when taking off from a green light or duck walking and panicking as you stop... please take the MSF course and advanced riders course.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,427
Likes: 164
From: Home
Raced motorcycles for years, have ridden on the street for a lot of miles now... never intentionally laid a motorcycle down... brakes work much better. Anyone who says they intentionally laid a motorcycle down is probably lying. It's also no mystery that in the world of of Harley Davidson, you can be guaranteed most HD owners can't ride, and it's not trolling by saying that. So many people buy Harleys with no riding experience or very little, or own harleys for years but maybe put 2-5k miles on them a year if that. It's funny watching you dudes wobble when taking off from a green light or duck walking and panicking as you stop... please take the MSF course and advanced riders course.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
......Or did you just over apply the front brake and have the front wheel lock up or perhaps try and steer away from the threat while forgetting the bike won't steer with a hard brake application?
Last edited by fat_tony; May 10, 2015 at 01:26 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 107
Likes: 1
From: NC
Sorry to correct you but you are wrong.
The definition of a low side is the rear tire losing traction, sliding out and overtaking the front tire.
Anyone who has ridden dirt seriously has mastered that.
Locking up the front brake will likely result in a high side.
Low sides result in bad paint and road rash.
High sides result in broken bikes and bones.
I also think that most who say they intentionally lowsided their Harley are full of crap. They panicked and locked the rear tire up and wrecked. It just happened to be a low side.
Once all bikes are ABS it will be interesting if people are still claiming to intentionally lowside their bike.
The definition of a low side is the rear tire losing traction, sliding out and overtaking the front tire.
Anyone who has ridden dirt seriously has mastered that.
Locking up the front brake will likely result in a high side.
Low sides result in bad paint and road rash.
High sides result in broken bikes and bones.
I also think that most who say they intentionally lowsided their Harley are full of crap. They panicked and locked the rear tire up and wrecked. It just happened to be a low side.
Once all bikes are ABS it will be interesting if people are still claiming to intentionally lowside their bike.
A lowside will happen when the front brake is locked (this can be for as little as 1/8 second). The front tire tucks under, and the rider is then under the bike. Thus, the rider is on the "lowside". This is the fastest way to lowside. One could also lowside by locking the rear and then trying to steer. This takes much longer. When I intentionally crash like to do it as quickly as possible.
You said it correctly above. ABS will prevent most lowsides (laying it down) while traveling in a straight line. Please research and then tell me that I'm wrong again.
Wrong on both counts. Grabbing a handful of front brake will not make your rear wheel step out. Locking up the rear will for sure.
Yes, I've laid one down on purpose (dirt bike) to safely pass UNDER a barbed wire fence gate because there was no way the bike could have stopped in time. All things are not always as they seem.
Yes, I've laid one down on purpose (dirt bike) to safely pass UNDER a barbed wire fence gate because there was no way the bike could have stopped in time. All things are not always as they seem.
No, and handful of front brake will put you under the bike (on the "lowside"). There is no need for the rear to step out to go down under the bike by grabbing a handful of front brake.
Locking the rear and then releasing while the tire is stepped out will cause a highside.
I'll just agree to disagree. Please see my other response and see if you don't agree.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; May 13, 2015 at 10:45 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 137
From: Surprise, AZ
ALWAYS get a police report.
ALWAYS.
(no, really... I mean it. If a motorcycle is involved, get a police report, and talk to the officer to see the general idea of what it is going to say)
When I was cut off by a 16 year old texting driver, she admitted fault to the cop and to her insurance company. It ended up being easy for me, but I had a police report and witnesses' lined up as well.
Additionally, I pulled the "had I not done this, I would be in the hospital still, and my Military career of 15+ years would have come to an end. You would be paying me for that, my medical bills, and a couple new modifications to a brand new trike so that I could ride as a disabled rider"
Her attitude changed real quick, and I ended up with a nice check a couple days later!
July 20, 2014 I had a 16 year old driver cut me off. Long story short, I have never practiced, nor did I want to practice "dumping" my bike, but once I realized that stopping was not going to happen, and going around wasn't an option, it became a "get off the bike now!" kind of moment, and I did just that.
I was already on the brakes fairly hard. I just pulled on the right side to go left and as the front wheel locked up, the bike went down and I kicked off the tank, pushing me off the bike. Still have the console insert with my boot mark on it, for the time being....
ALWAYS.
(no, really... I mean it. If a motorcycle is involved, get a police report, and talk to the officer to see the general idea of what it is going to say)
When I was cut off by a 16 year old texting driver, she admitted fault to the cop and to her insurance company. It ended up being easy for me, but I had a police report and witnesses' lined up as well.
Additionally, I pulled the "had I not done this, I would be in the hospital still, and my Military career of 15+ years would have come to an end. You would be paying me for that, my medical bills, and a couple new modifications to a brand new trike so that I could ride as a disabled rider"
Her attitude changed real quick, and I ended up with a nice check a couple days later!
I was already on the brakes fairly hard. I just pulled on the right side to go left and as the front wheel locked up, the bike went down and I kicked off the tank, pushing me off the bike. Still have the console insert with my boot mark on it, for the time being....
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; May 13, 2015 at 10:46 AM.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
Raced motorcycles for years, have ridden on the street for a lot of miles now... never intentionally laid a motorcycle down... brakes work much better. Anyone who says they intentionally laid a motorcycle down is probably lying. It's also no mystery that in the world of of Harley Davidson, you can be guaranteed most HD owners can't ride, and it's not trolling by saying that. So many people buy Harleys with no riding experience or very little, or own harleys for years but maybe put 2-5k miles on them a year if that. It's funny watching you dudes wobble when taking off from a green light or duck walking and panicking as you stop... please take the MSF course and advanced riders course.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 460
Likes: 20
From: Manitoba, Canada
I had my first bike in 1965, my first Harley in 1983, and this 'debate' just goes round and round!
The only bike I ever "laid down" on purpose was a 1982 FLH. I was riding in the left lane of 4 lane road in a shopping district when a woman in a car moved from the right lane to the left lane directly in front of me and jumped on her brakes. There was oncoming traffic and traffic to the right of me with no room to lane-split. I had only about 1 bike length to stop and there was no way I was going to get stopped without driving my front wheel into the back of her car, doing significant damage to the bike and probably smashing myself into the handlebars or launching over the bars on to her truck.
Instinctively I locked it up and turned the bike sideways, laying it down to the left just before impact. I ended up standing on the road and the bike was under the back bumper of her car. I suffered no injuries and the only damage to the bike was a few scratches on the highway bars. After giving her a piece of my mind, I was on my way again.
If I hadn't "laid it down" I would have been replacing the front wheel, maybe the forks and the windshield as well and I would probably have had a bruise across my groin from meeting the handlebars.
Everybody is entitle to their own opinion on the matter. I would never lay a bike down unless it was an absolute last resort but if it will avoid a collision or minimize damage, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
The only bike I ever "laid down" on purpose was a 1982 FLH. I was riding in the left lane of 4 lane road in a shopping district when a woman in a car moved from the right lane to the left lane directly in front of me and jumped on her brakes. There was oncoming traffic and traffic to the right of me with no room to lane-split. I had only about 1 bike length to stop and there was no way I was going to get stopped without driving my front wheel into the back of her car, doing significant damage to the bike and probably smashing myself into the handlebars or launching over the bars on to her truck.
Instinctively I locked it up and turned the bike sideways, laying it down to the left just before impact. I ended up standing on the road and the bike was under the back bumper of her car. I suffered no injuries and the only damage to the bike was a few scratches on the highway bars. After giving her a piece of my mind, I was on my way again.
If I hadn't "laid it down" I would have been replacing the front wheel, maybe the forks and the windshield as well and I would probably have had a bruise across my groin from meeting the handlebars.
Everybody is entitle to their own opinion on the matter. I would never lay a bike down unless it was an absolute last resort but if it will avoid a collision or minimize damage, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
But yeah, I get what you're saying. When they run out of excuses, they'll come up with another.
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Joe Kucinski
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 137
From: Surprise, AZ
BMW as well...
And when you are cut of while traveling 45+ by a car that wasn't even in the left turn lane traveling at 45+ with less than 20 feet.... who then slams on the brakes DIRECTLY in your path, the options are simple. T-bone the car, or do whatever you have to in order to not hit the car.
Now, I don't know what kind of brakes you have, but mine are factory and 20 feet isn't enough to stop. I had already started to maneuver for her to continue at her speed, and then she slammed on the brakes...
I HAVE taken the MSF courses to include BRC, MSRC, and ARC... and I put 26k miles on my bike in 9 months of riding, all accident free on my part.
But when the road is 100% clear, and you are anticipating movements of cars but the turn lane is clean and no blinker on...
You are right. I don't know how to ride....
And when you are cut of while traveling 45+ by a car that wasn't even in the left turn lane traveling at 45+ with less than 20 feet.... who then slams on the brakes DIRECTLY in your path, the options are simple. T-bone the car, or do whatever you have to in order to not hit the car.
Now, I don't know what kind of brakes you have, but mine are factory and 20 feet isn't enough to stop. I had already started to maneuver for her to continue at her speed, and then she slammed on the brakes...
I HAVE taken the MSF courses to include BRC, MSRC, and ARC... and I put 26k miles on my bike in 9 months of riding, all accident free on my part.
But when the road is 100% clear, and you are anticipating movements of cars but the turn lane is clean and no blinker on...
You are right. I don't know how to ride....
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 3
From: Styxville
BMW as well...
And when you are cut of while traveling 45+ by a car that wasn't even in the left turn lane traveling at 45+ with less than 20 feet.... who then slams on the brakes DIRECTLY in your path, the options are simple. T-bone the car, or do whatever you have to in order to not hit the car.
Now, I don't know what kind of brakes you have, but mine are factory and 20 feet isn't enough to stop. I had already started to maneuver for her to continue at her speed, and then she slammed on the brakes...
I HAVE taken the MSF courses to include BRC, MSRC, and ARC... and I put 26k miles on my bike in 9 months of riding, all accident free on my part.
But when the road is 100% clear, and you are anticipating movements of cars but the turn lane is clean and no blinker on...
You are right. I don't know how to ride....
And when you are cut of while traveling 45+ by a car that wasn't even in the left turn lane traveling at 45+ with less than 20 feet.... who then slams on the brakes DIRECTLY in your path, the options are simple. T-bone the car, or do whatever you have to in order to not hit the car.
Now, I don't know what kind of brakes you have, but mine are factory and 20 feet isn't enough to stop. I had already started to maneuver for her to continue at her speed, and then she slammed on the brakes...
I HAVE taken the MSF courses to include BRC, MSRC, and ARC... and I put 26k miles on my bike in 9 months of riding, all accident free on my part.
But when the road is 100% clear, and you are anticipating movements of cars but the turn lane is clean and no blinker on...
You are right. I don't know how to ride....