Belief confirmed
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Illinois
Belief confirmed
Just read an article in a motorcycle magazine about motorcycle accidents.
The part of the article that covered missing a curve confirmed my belief about that type of accident. 600 accidents were studied and the findings were that all 600 could have made it around the curve if they would have tried.
Most just hit the rear brake and crashed.
There has been threads over the years with a lot of discussion and some saying that if the rider just picked a line and counter steered aggressively, that they would have been successful.
I always felt that way and knew that a rider should trust the tires and try to make it. That was the only way to possibly avoid the accident. Any other action guaranteed failure.
Most cruiser riders who did not come up from off road and sport bikes just do not know the capacity of their rides to hang on in a corner.
So if you are ever in an unexpected turn and think your going too fast stay off the brake and go for it. If you know how trail braking would help. But the ones that know how to trail brake would not have a problem with the curve to begin with.
The report also said that missing a curve was the second highest rate of motorcycle accidents and the one that could be avoided by the rider.
The part of the article that covered missing a curve confirmed my belief about that type of accident. 600 accidents were studied and the findings were that all 600 could have made it around the curve if they would have tried.
Most just hit the rear brake and crashed.
There has been threads over the years with a lot of discussion and some saying that if the rider just picked a line and counter steered aggressively, that they would have been successful.
I always felt that way and knew that a rider should trust the tires and try to make it. That was the only way to possibly avoid the accident. Any other action guaranteed failure.
Most cruiser riders who did not come up from off road and sport bikes just do not know the capacity of their rides to hang on in a corner.
So if you are ever in an unexpected turn and think your going too fast stay off the brake and go for it. If you know how trail braking would help. But the ones that know how to trail brake would not have a problem with the curve to begin with.
The report also said that missing a curve was the second highest rate of motorcycle accidents and the one that could be avoided by the rider.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 12
From: Haymarket, VA
Countersteering agressively is key. Most bikes can be leaned much farther than the average rider thinks providing you have the clearance. With the rake on my Deuce I really have to push on that bar.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
I think for the newer riders, they freeze up with fear and go for what they believe is the safest method of resolving the situation. It's basically fight or flight reaction.
My first time in the twisties, I noticed on couple of turns that I would tense up from the fear of wiping out and this made it harder to lean and turn the bike. Luckily for me, I was still within the boundaries of still making the turn but I can see that if someone new is riding beyond their ability, then it's just a crash waiting to happen. With practice, obviously, you get more comfortable, learn how to adjust your weight and lean off the side so that the motorcycle doesn't have to lean as much and learn to relax a bit but my guess is most curve crashes is probably due to lack of experience in the twisties.
For most new riders, if they haven't slowed down enough before the turn and they realize that they're going too fast while in the turn, it's usually too late.
My first time in the twisties, I noticed on couple of turns that I would tense up from the fear of wiping out and this made it harder to lean and turn the bike. Luckily for me, I was still within the boundaries of still making the turn but I can see that if someone new is riding beyond their ability, then it's just a crash waiting to happen. With practice, obviously, you get more comfortable, learn how to adjust your weight and lean off the side so that the motorcycle doesn't have to lean as much and learn to relax a bit but my guess is most curve crashes is probably due to lack of experience in the twisties.
For most new riders, if they haven't slowed down enough before the turn and they realize that they're going too fast while in the turn, it's usually too late.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 995
Likes: 2
From: Canada
My days of racing superbikes really opened my eyes, there is no reason anyone should ever not make a turn, they should low side or lose the front end long before. If anything I'll lowside my Dyna long before I ever run it off the road or into another lane..........pull on them bars!!
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
From: ct
Lets not forget also
shifting weight
cruisers do have reduced lean angle but if you get off your fat *** hang a cheek over seat lean in that will help carry you through and reduce some lean
laugh at sportbikers but there's a reason for hanging a knee on corners
shifting weight
cruisers do have reduced lean angle but if you get off your fat *** hang a cheek over seat lean in that will help carry you through and reduce some lean
laugh at sportbikers but there's a reason for hanging a knee on corners
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,945
Likes: 85
From: Florida
That statement is just not true. Go to the track and get some lessons on road racing.
Shifting your butt over on the seat or off the seat into the curve and you can get all the lean angle you need.
Buy yourself a used Ninja 250 and head to the track and really learn to ride.
Watch the guy on youtube that used to ride the yellow Goldwing on the Tail of the Dragon and tell me again you can't get the lean angle you need on a cruiser or bagger.
I type too slow, CtCruzer said it first.
Last edited by Jonesee; Sep 14, 2011 at 08:58 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,940
Likes: 296
From: Wyoming
I also can't help but wonder how many of them are attributable to lowered bikes. It's gotten pretty common for riders to lower bikes and if you're reaching the ground easier, you've also reduced the amount of lean available before you get metal on asphalt. If you don't have many reps, the first reaction when you scrape can be to pull up out of the turn.