Properly Executed Emergency Stop VS "Laid It Down"
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 550
From: Springfield, IL
Never laid it down, have had the brakes on hard enough to skid sideways after a ******** pulled out in front of me, bike and myself upright, driver of the car had huge looking eyes as I came to a stop parallel to his door.
Jim
Jim
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
Hey, I'll admit it. In a "panic" type situation my brain just freezes. I can't help it, it just happens. I'm one of those guys who is bending the brake pedal in half trying to get the bike to stop. Lucky for me it usually skids straight without going down. ABS on my next bike if I ever DO get another bike.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 7
Hey, I'll admit it. In a "panic" type situation my brain just freezes. I can't help it, it just happens. I'm one of those guys who is bending the brake pedal in half trying to get the bike to stop. Lucky for me it usually skids straight without going down. ABS on my next bike if I ever DO get another bike.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 116
From: Raleigh, NC
No matter how good a rider some of you think you are, there's always the possibility of things happening outside of anyone's ability to avoid a collision.
That doesn't mean you're riding outside of your abilities, but only that you're not clairvoyant.
Anyone who denies that is a fool.
If you're going to hit, and have the time for any sort of reaction, would you rather it be a high side or low side?
If I had the time to react but not avoid, I'd choose to lay it down and do a low side.
That doesn't mean you're riding outside of your abilities, but only that you're not clairvoyant.
Anyone who denies that is a fool.
If you're going to hit, and have the time for any sort of reaction, would you rather it be a high side or low side?
If I had the time to react but not avoid, I'd choose to lay it down and do a low side.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 826
From: Toronto Canada
the two times i've ridden my bike into a car that left turned in front of me , i really didn't have time to think about laying it down .
one of those times i might have had time to do it , but i was trying like hell to steer around him as i was braking as hard as i could . almost made it .
the other time i centerpunched that stationwagon , probably scared the crap out of the guy's kids but i was in no shape to find out
one of those times i might have had time to do it , but i was trying like hell to steer around him as i was braking as hard as i could . almost made it .
the other time i centerpunched that stationwagon , probably scared the crap out of the guy's kids but i was in no shape to find out
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 56
From: Knoxville, TN
"Had to lay 'er down" is just a way of protecting your ego. It sounds cooler than "I crashed".
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25,310
Likes: 2,446
From: Eastern NE
Hard to say either way...guess a rider's got to experience the particular situation/reason 1st hand to know the correct term to call it. In the times I had to dump my ride (1) I was young, drunk & stupid (2) I was new to riding street bikes and poor decision on gravel and (3) it was either hit hard & fly over car, or slide down and ride it out (cage backed into path fm driveway). Overall, it's how the story/situation unfolds...JMO.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 116
From: Raleigh, NC
The reason someone has to "choose" between a high side and a low side is because they gave it too much rear brake and the bike got sideways on them. If they properly executed a panic stop, they wouldn't be sideways in the first place.
"Had to lay 'er down" is just a way of protecting your ego. It sounds cooler than "I crashed".
"Had to lay 'er down" is just a way of protecting your ego. It sounds cooler than "I crashed".
I discussed when, beyond anyone's ability, you cannot avoid a collision. No matter how expert you are at panic stopping, there is always the possibility, by the laws of physics in a particular situation, that you are going to hit. If an impossible to see car suddenly pulls out in front of you, and the closing rate to him is 1 second, and the laws of physics say that you cannot stop in one second, and you can't get around him in one second, then do you hit him head on, or try to lay down and low side him?
So, I'll use the words high-side CRASH and low-side CRASH, and if given enough time, I would choose the low-side. CHOOSING is what gets you sideways, and that can be done in a lot less time than any panic stop attempt if know you're going to hit no matter what you do.
Last edited by mmancuso; May 30, 2013 at 08:23 AM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 518
Likes: 8
From: Biloxi Ms
which brings to mind Practice! I posted in another thread related to this. sit tall in the saddle balance and work the rear and front brake in a controlled fashion. to much rear and you will skid, to much front and you will dump (meaning the front will nose dive and flip you over the bars). The panic comes from inexperience yes but practicing controlled stops only makes you better. just like short turns etc... find a parking lot and practice techniques on occasion is a good point. stay aware of your surroundings, watch your distance and know your conditions. inexperience is not an option. head on a swivel!
less cleaning more riding!
less cleaning more riding!