Sorry to hear of the crash and resulting injuries to your wife and you. It would do you well to practice panic stops from a variety of speeds. Just remember to go easy on the brakes...learn to apply max stopping pressure without locking the rear wheel and especially the front. If you lock the front, your prolly going down

 

Glad to hear that your wife is going to be back to normal in 6 months. Will continue to keep you both in our thoughts and prayers.

There is no need to practice threshold combination braking at 50mph. A good starting speed is 15-18mph bumping it up a few mph as you progress. And 30 to 35 should be the max for practice. There is a reason most pro sports practice at half speed, the risk of injury from full speed full contact is too great.

Remember you are building muscle memory and getting a feel for what happens so that when it happens, your body will react accordingly. And don't forget to follow through. By that I mean to keep applying pressure to the lever and pedal for 3-5 seconds after the bike has come to a complete stop. This will build muscle memory to avoid let up. Let up is something we all do every day when braking. Every action we do in life from operating the TV remote to swinging a baseball bat builds muscle memory. Whenever we come to a stop in our cars or on our bikes we let up, meaning we apply brakes, then let up at the last moment and coast the remaining 3-6 feet so our vehicle stops right at the front of the stop sign or at the crosswalk. We all do it otherwise we would be stopping way before our intended point. What we don't realize is that we are building muscle memory that says "brake, let up and roll, and brake again to a complete stop". And this can translate directly to the street in an emergency stop. Riders wantings to make an emergency stop will often let up at the last moment without realizing it thus increasing their stopping distance. I see it in practice all the time. So by continuing to apply pressure for a few seconds after the bike is stopped will build muscle memory that hopefully will avoid let up.

Rest up, get better and keep posting.

For your next bike I suggest the Screaming Eagle Street Glide!!!!!!!

 

Yeah, it's ALOT different and yes, practice alot more
Once again, glad to hear ya'll are ok well, for the most part anyway

 

I am so glad you and your wife are going to be OK. All the advice given here has been spot on. Only thing I would add is this: Theory is wonderful, as is hindsight. You did the right thing, you avoided a collision. Encourage your wife to get back on the horse. If you had a wreck in your car, would she never go to the grocery again? We all have mishaps, anyone who hasn't has that experience yet to come. Let's learn from it, grow stronger because of it, and move on and enjoy life. Don't let it take away that which was good.

 

I once was one my first bike, a 76 CB750, going down a hill in a urban area, when the pickup ahead of me hit his brakes. I slowed, only to realize that he was stopped and was attempting a left turn! Locked up the rear brake, and steered the bike around the truck on the right side with the rear locked up. Serious pucker factor, but I got it done. Once the rear is locked keep it that way until the bike is pretty much straight before you let off the rear brake or you're gonna high side. If you have time, take the gearbox down about 2 gears from where you are when it happens, and use the engine to slow your forward progress before hitting the brakes. Now, if you're on wet pavement when you downshift 2 gears, the rear is gonna slide. Anticipate it, and slowly apply front until the compression catches up with the rear wheel. Maintain as straight a line as possible when the rear is locked up. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!!!!!70% of your braking power is in the FRONT not the back.........hope this helps, and get well, mano! Hope the ol lady gets back on with ya!