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I used to race motorcycles and have crashed and unloaded about every way possible and still be alive. Making blanket statements like "never ever" -- you're just fooling yourself. You do what you have to and hope you made the right call. And with experience comes better judgement, but this is not the kind of experience you want.
The ABS brakes on the Street Glide I crashed a few months ago worked great, right up to the point the 18-wheeler changing lanes forced me off the road and into the ditch full of rocks and cinders. Having experienced ABS in gravel before I knew what to expect -- absolutely no brakes and a with serious drop off coming up. I forced the engine guard into the side of the ditch and rode it til it stopped then stepped off without a scratch. And minimal damage to the bike. Now if that's what you call "layin' it down" then that's what saved my skin as going off the drop off would have hurt for sure.
I was rounding a curve at 50 mph this summer - 2 lanes each way with a boulevard turn-around ahead. I was in the left lane. A pickup sat in the turn-around as I approached and when I got to about 15-20 yards from him, he started pulling out. No time to think about anything but slowing down. I jumped on both brakes, screamed bloody murder at the guy, and thankfully he slammed on his brakes. It was over in about 1-1/2 seconds. I missed his front bumper by a couple inches as I went by at 35-40 mph. If I had laid it down, I would have been hurt...badly. Since I kept it upright, all I had to do was swing by Kohl's and pick up a three pack of Jockey's and a pack of handy wipes.
Well, if you have enough time to react......With my accident last year, an SUV materialized in front of me in a nanosecond. Didn't even have time to brake.
I think most of the time the above scenario is true..... Not enough time.......
At 14, I was taught it was always better to emergency brake and hit something at 20, than slide into it at 45.
In 56 years, it has always been the better option, and because of it, I can emergency brake with out locking up my rear or turning my forks. You do in an emergency what you practice. I practice every spring emergency braking and swerves. With so many left turners, texting drivers, deer, elk, bear, turkey, dogs on the road, I don't want to have to think about doing the right thing.
Every single case I've seen others laying it down has been due to faulty braking. High, low side makes no difference. You might be the exception, but I still would doubt it was the better option.
About 5 years ago a friend and I got caught in a heavy rainstorm in IL.
We were well dressed with rain hear, FF helmets, etc so we made it throug th storm OK and decided to stop at Micket D's for a "comfort stop" and coffee and hot chocolate.
As we were riding through town on a four-lane street he made the traffic light and I was a bit behind him and decided to play it safe and stop.
WHen the light changed I proceeded and I saw the restaurant sign about a half mile ahead on the left side of the street.
The street was a little damp as it had not rained too heavily in that part of town, so I signaled and moved into the LH lane and was proceeding towards the restaurant at or near the posted speed limit of 35MPH.
I was ridding on my '13 CVO Ultra (which has ABS brakes(.
An old Dodge van passed me on my RH side, immediately pulled in front of me and stopped and turned on his LH turn signal!
I had oppoesing traffic to my left, traffic beside me on the right and the can sitting in front of me, probably two car lenghts (or so) away.
MY only options were to get stopped or hit the van!
I didn't even conside trying to "lay my bike down" as it could have slid to the right or left and going into traffic.
I had no option but to use my brakes to the maximum and to hopefully get the bike stopped in time to avoid hitting the van or to at least slow it down enough to avoid bodily injury.
All I can (or will say) is thank GOD for the ABS as the tires DID NOT slide and I managed to stop the bike before hitting the can
I've always rode at a safe "following" distance and also when going around curves but sometimes there are times when something happend that you have no control over.
In the last decade or so, I've had three close calls and two of them were within one mile of my home (none of my doing) so you never know when or where a tragedy is likely to happen. Ride safely and defensively!
I tried to go around, but there was no time. I gave it my best shot but didn't make it. My last thought was 'Oh ****, this is gonna hurt.' She was crossing my lane and stopped. Don't remember a thing after seeing her car until I woke up after flying over her car and skidding down the pavement. Came to and some lady was holding my head. I had been out for awhile. New bike tomorrow, '17 Road Glide with 534 miles on her.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
