Expert Riders -- A Question??
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 784
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
RE: Expert Riders -- A Question??
Well I can tell you I was put in this situation last summer andI had to ask the driver of the cage what I did after I got out of the hospital. To this date I still couldn't tell you what I did after I saw her pull onto the street from the parking lot. I do know that she told me I hit her in the front driver's side quarter panel. She must be right cause my front forks and frame were bent so that my front tire was tight against the frame and her car had to be towed from the scene. From the looks of the bike, I never did laid it down - the front end is the only thing that was damaged.
I have not been riding as long as others in this post but I have been told many times that you should never intentionally lay it down. From reading the other responses, this is a general consesus from experienced riders. I've been riding on and off for about 25 year but I didn't get my first Harley until 1.5 years ago. I'm taking a MSF course this summer just to learn the things I've been doing wrong
I'm hoping my 07 Road King and I will remain unscathed for a long, long time and everyone else the same
I have not been riding as long as others in this post but I have been told many times that you should never intentionally lay it down. From reading the other responses, this is a general consesus from experienced riders. I've been riding on and off for about 25 year but I didn't get my first Harley until 1.5 years ago. I'm taking a MSF course this summer just to learn the things I've been doing wrong
I'm hoping my 07 Road King and I will remain unscathed for a long, long time and everyone else the same
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 410
Likes: 2
From: Southern Utah
RE: Expert Riders -- A Question??
Why lay it down? if it is on it's side, you have no control. You and the bike go in the direction of the slide. Ride it into a "Safe Zone", stop and clean out your shorts and carry on.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,934
Likes: 2
From: Reading, PA
RE: Expert Riders -- A Question??
ORIGINAL: Snobal
This is a follow-up question to Mikeeeeeeeeee's post:
"A car pulls out in front of you.
There is traffic coming in the other direction so you cant go left.
Lay it down?
Ride it out?"
I am a new rider. If the answer to Mikeeeeeeeeee's question is "Lay it down," exactly what is your technique to "Lay it down?"
The onlytechnique I can figure out is:
1. NEVER practice quick stops or swerving
2. PANIC when the car pulls out in front of you
3. GRAB the front brake and totally lock the front wheel
4.When the front wheel stops turning, the bike will automatically fall on its side
5. If you live through the experience, brag about your ability to "lay it down"
Could someone with more experience than I have please share the proper technique to "lay it down?"
This is a follow-up question to Mikeeeeeeeeee's post:
"A car pulls out in front of you.
There is traffic coming in the other direction so you cant go left.
Lay it down?
Ride it out?"
I am a new rider. If the answer to Mikeeeeeeeeee's question is "Lay it down," exactly what is your technique to "Lay it down?"
The onlytechnique I can figure out is:
1. NEVER practice quick stops or swerving
2. PANIC when the car pulls out in front of you
3. GRAB the front brake and totally lock the front wheel
4.When the front wheel stops turning, the bike will automatically fall on its side
5. If you live through the experience, brag about your ability to "lay it down"
Could someone with more experience than I have please share the proper technique to "lay it down?"
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 502
Likes: 0
RE: Expert Riders -- A Question??
I rode in Los Angeles and San Diego areas for years, a bike being my only form of transpo. I went down from oil once and hit two cars that pulled in front of me. I avoided hundreds, or so it seems. I would concentrate on practicing avoidance skills and defensive driving. Most of the time, the cyclist will see (or should see) the car before it moves in his path. You have to assume that all on-coming or side traffic might move right in your path. If you anticipate, 99% of the time you can use avoidance manuvers to avoid the accident. A simple horn honk can work too. If you practice swerving and hard braking techniques you'll be much better off. No one should ever change lanesand hityou.You have to expect that. You also have to anticipate the "left turn in front of you". Always have an out. I can't tell you how many times I swerved and braked out of an accident. That's why I quit riding for so long, but now I'm back. And you just can't relax in any kind of traffic. I try not to ride too much in it at all.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 600
Likes: 2
RE: Expert Riders -- A Question??
When I was in Daytona for bike week a few years ago, there was a bad accent where a rider was on a chopper. His throttle was stuck wide open. So he jump off turning the bike into an unman missile. The bike went into an intersection hitting some cars and killing some people.
Would have been nice if he knew how to lay down a bike, or maybe pull the clutch in and let the engine blow or even turn the igniton off.
When a rider tells me they laid their bike down. It's just another way of saying they lost control of the bike without admitting of the fact.
Would have been nice if he knew how to lay down a bike, or maybe pull the clutch in and let the engine blow or even turn the igniton off.
When a rider tells me they laid their bike down. It's just another way of saying they lost control of the bike without admitting of the fact.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
RE: Expert Riders -- A Question??
Over the years, I've had every bike I've owned down at least once. So I guess that makes me an expert........at wrecking [:@]In every single case it happened when I failed to control the bike due to a bad road condition, or asked the bike to do something it could not, or tried to do something I could not. Never once did I "lay it down" to avoid an accident. Laying it down was the accident.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Expert Riders -- A Question??
ORIGINAL: Snobal
Thanks for the input. I am new rider --- just learned to ride in1966. Learn more about riding every day that I ride.
I have been teachingMSF Basic Rider Courses and Experienced Rider Courses a few years. I alsolearn more about riding from each class.
As long as I can remember, I've been hearingpeople say, "Had to lay it down to avoid a crash."
I have yet to have one ofthese people explain their technique to "lay it down." Typically, they do not seem to know "how" they layed their bikes down, they "just did it." All that I can figure out is that theyslammed on the brakes, locked one or both wheels,and crashed into the ground (andoften whatever they were trying to avoid).
Was just hoping to learn more about the advanced technique of "laying it down" from the expert riders on this forum.
ORIGINAL: whaap
Asking what the technique is to "lay down a bike" is like asking what's the technique for having an accident. Pretty hard to explain as they're both collisions. Ones with a vehicle or object and the other is with the road. Not too much different.
Asking what the technique is to "lay down a bike" is like asking what's the technique for having an accident. Pretty hard to explain as they're both collisions. Ones with a vehicle or object and the other is with the road. Not too much different.
I have been teachingMSF Basic Rider Courses and Experienced Rider Courses a few years. I alsolearn more about riding from each class.
As long as I can remember, I've been hearingpeople say, "Had to lay it down to avoid a crash."
I have yet to have one ofthese people explain their technique to "lay it down." Typically, they do not seem to know "how" they layed their bikes down, they "just did it." All that I can figure out is that theyslammed on the brakes, locked one or both wheels,and crashed into the ground (andoften whatever they were trying to avoid).
Was just hoping to learn more about the advanced technique of "laying it down" from the expert riders on this forum.
Been teaching MSF courses, ok, that tells me your egotistical, and no doubt wear a 2x-large helmet cause you think your the best. and You do not know how to lay a bike down on purpose?? God help us all..as a expert rider that I am, I can not go into how it is done, I have never laid down a bike on purpose, but I have seen films of it..
Bear with me here Grasshopper, do you remember reading about WW-2?? ever hear of the Motorcycle Scouts?? they were trained to lay it down, and to come up with a Tommy-gun blazing. and how do I know all this, I saw it on the History channel, on TV, but better then that, I worked with a Scout from WW-2 Now I must say i sometimes thought he was pulling my leg until I saw the film on TV..So it can be done, now go take your ultra-classic out andtry it and come back let us know how it went[sm=icon_stickpoke.gif][sm=laughat.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif]Been rideing since 66? [sm=boink3.gif][sm=happybounce.gif]
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,289
Likes: 3
From: Rowlett, Texas
RE: Expert Riders -- A Question??
Pull the brakes and steer into a safe zone. If you have been riding for awhile, you will find it.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 370
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From:
RE: Expert Riders -- A Question??
ORIGINAL: Bear64
Well Grasshopper lets see here, learned to ride in 66, ok, hang in there you will learn how someday
Been teaching MSF courses, ok, that tells me your egotistical, and no doubt wear a 2x-large helmet cause you think your the best. and You do not know how to lay a bike down on purpose?? God help us all..as a expert rider that I am, I can not go into how it is done, I have never laid down a bike on purpose, but I have seen films of it..
Bear with me here Grasshopper, do you remember reading about WW-2?? ever hear of the Motorcycle Scouts?? they were trained to lay it down, and to come up with a Tommy-gun blazing. and how do I know all this, I saw it on the History channel, on TV, but better then that, I worked with a Scout from WW-2 Now I must say i sometimes thought he was pulling my leg until I saw the film on TV..So it can be done, now go take your ultra-classic out andtry it and come back let us know how it went[sm=icon_stickpoke.gif][sm=laughat.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif]Been rideing since 66? [sm=boink3.gif][sm=happybounce.gif]
ORIGINAL: Snobal
Thanks for the input. I am new rider --- just learned to ride in1966. Learn more about riding every day that I ride.
I have been teachingMSF Basic Rider Courses and Experienced Rider Courses a few years. I alsolearn more about riding from each class.
As long as I can remember, I've been hearingpeople say, "Had to lay it down to avoid a crash."
I have yet to have one ofthese people explain their technique to "lay it down." Typically, they do not seem to know "how" they layed their bikes down, they "just did it." All that I can figure out is that theyslammed on the brakes, locked one or both wheels,and crashed into the ground (andoften whatever they were trying to avoid).
Was just hoping to learn more about the advanced technique of "laying it down" from the expert riders on this forum.
ORIGINAL: whaap
Asking what the technique is to "lay down a bike" is like asking what's the technique for having an accident. Pretty hard to explain as they're both collisions. Ones with a vehicle or object and the other is with the road. Not too much different.
Asking what the technique is to "lay down a bike" is like asking what's the technique for having an accident. Pretty hard to explain as they're both collisions. Ones with a vehicle or object and the other is with the road. Not too much different.
I have been teachingMSF Basic Rider Courses and Experienced Rider Courses a few years. I alsolearn more about riding from each class.
As long as I can remember, I've been hearingpeople say, "Had to lay it down to avoid a crash."
I have yet to have one ofthese people explain their technique to "lay it down." Typically, they do not seem to know "how" they layed their bikes down, they "just did it." All that I can figure out is that theyslammed on the brakes, locked one or both wheels,and crashed into the ground (andoften whatever they were trying to avoid).
Was just hoping to learn more about the advanced technique of "laying it down" from the expert riders on this forum.
Been teaching MSF courses, ok, that tells me your egotistical, and no doubt wear a 2x-large helmet cause you think your the best. and You do not know how to lay a bike down on purpose?? God help us all..as a expert rider that I am, I can not go into how it is done, I have never laid down a bike on purpose, but I have seen films of it..
Bear with me here Grasshopper, do you remember reading about WW-2?? ever hear of the Motorcycle Scouts?? they were trained to lay it down, and to come up with a Tommy-gun blazing. and how do I know all this, I saw it on the History channel, on TV, but better then that, I worked with a Scout from WW-2 Now I must say i sometimes thought he was pulling my leg until I saw the film on TV..So it can be done, now go take your ultra-classic out andtry it and come back let us know how it went[sm=icon_stickpoke.gif][sm=laughat.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif]Been rideing since 66? [sm=boink3.gif][sm=happybounce.gif]
Thanks for your input!
Sorry but my helmetsize is large, not 2X.
Yes, I'm a 'late bloomer' and didn't start ridinguntil 1966 - you've been riding abouteight years more than I have -[sm=hail.gif]- but it does not matter - I know that the best I'll ever be is an"average" rider.
No, I'm the most mis-coordinated rider that ever lived. I have to practice, practice, practice.
Let's see, you were about five years old when the war ended.What do yourememberabout it? I still have some ration coupons - fun to showto the grand kids.I had a classmate that was really worried about being drafted and sent to Korea.
You got any great grand kids yet? I've been talking up college to my grand kids - in hopes they won't make me a great grandfather
Ihoping tolearn the techniquefrom an 'old timer' that had been trained tolay down bikes.
Dropping bikes is easy, I dothat frequently
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 837
Likes: 1
From: NORVA / Pittsboro, IN
RE: Expert Riders -- A Question??
Here we go again,
Everyone check their Cod Piece for the inspection.
"to apply the tourniquet, use a belt, neckerchief and tighten and release every..."
" in case of Frostbite, immediately submerge the affected limb in Ice water...."
Crap changes. Your absolutely right. is that enough?
Everyone check their Cod Piece for the inspection.
"to apply the tourniquet, use a belt, neckerchief and tighten and release every..."
" in case of Frostbite, immediately submerge the affected limb in Ice water...."
Crap changes. Your absolutely right. is that enough?