This morning I dropped/laid down my bike coming to a stop... kinda of embarrassing but thought I would share as a learning experience and up open for feedback for what might have happened and what to do or look for with a dropped bike.

So here is the plot, I was on my way to work around 5am and the roads were wet from a drizzle rain the night before... I commute daily, 20K miles this past year, and have rode in light rain or after rain with wet roads, then even made it to work with no problems after I went down. I was just leaving my neighborhood and this was my first full stop of the ride.

Side note: This past weekend I did get a new set of tires, Dunlop Elite 4, and the dealership warned me about taking it easy the first 50 miles. This morning I already had close to 200 miles but i was still cautious as the pavement was pretty wet.

Below is a link to the video from my helmet camera...


Basically as I was coming to a straight stop, I stayed close but off of the lane line to avoid the middle oil spot of the lane, applied rear brake and easy on the front brake... but then felt the rear tire slip out, tried to correct and went off the side.

I picked up the bike as fast as i could, and put on my hazard lights so i could gather what happened and check for damages/parts... once everything appeared fine the bike started right back up and I was on my way!

All and all everything is good, no pain or damage to the bike, just the cap to the right grip came off but snapped right back in.

So part one... could this have been caused due to the wet road, new tires, improper braking, or combination of all three?

Then second part... what to do or look for if you drop your bike at a low speed?

*I will get pictures of the bike and tires to update tomorrow...

 

Painted arrow on the roadway. Rear wheel slid on it. You fall down, go boom.

Stay off of paint & tar snakes when wet.

 

Damn, that sucks... Glad you're ok.

I think the hazard lights activate automatically... Don't they?

 

Bummer! Glad you were OK. Those first rains in Southern California are treacherous. Last year, 2 people I know went down hard...broken ribs, knocked out, etc. very similar circumstances, coming around the curve on an entrance ramp in light mist. One of the guys was riding a brand new Road Glide CVO, and claims he was only going about 15. He remembered going into the turn, then woke up in an MRI machine.

Oil slicks, the damn white markings, and sewer plates...hate 'em.

By the way OP, doescyour bike have ABS &/or linked brakes? if not, do you think that would have helped you stay upright?

 

I'm also thinking the raised markings. I hate those things.

 

I did not see any Botts Dots, you mean the painted arrow? Those should have a sandy silica type grit applied to them while the paint was wet. Regardless, speed was the cause, not the slippery pavement or painted surfaces.
First rain brings up all the road snot dropped in the summer.

 

Doesn't look like you did anything wrong-it was dark, who knows exactly what was on the road, but the combination of accumulated "stuff" (like that "road snot" description), drizzle, and slick road markings all contributed to the upset. Glad you and the bike are OK.

As an aside, I often ride my RK to work (when I bother to go in to the office) 85 miles in the dark, and been caught in drizzle and/or pouring rain (10% chance of rain, my @$$!) more than a few times. Haven't dropped it yet, but I dread the inevitable. I avoid the center of the lane and the white paint markings like they're made of red-hot plutonium.

 

The thermoplastic marking are the worst. They're slippery even with the silica. The silica is only there for reflective purposes, not grip.

 

He locked up the rear brake and the bike went sideways, Doubt that would have happened with ABS.

ABS haters - have at it

 

My next bike will have ABS for exactly this reason.