Laying down the bike...
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 493
Likes: 92
From: NJ
Laying down the bike...
I have to ask, I just read a post that said "I never had to lay down the bike"
I also remember with a heavy heart, the Marine riders who where killed in NH, and one of the riders who survived said "I had to lay her down" meaning the bike.
What's the idea behind laying the bike down, when you have a choice between a proven stopping method that uses breaking power+rubber tires+pavement to slow down/stop a vehicle, or plastic and metal chafing against pavement.... I think without a doubt that the first method regardless of the situation is more reliable if used correctly to stop a 700-900 pound bike.
I mean, it was designed to stop that way and to do so in case of emergencies right?
There is no control over the bike whatsoever once it goes on its side, and no control of the situation either.
I have it in my head, Everytime I get on the saddle that "laying my bike down" is simply not an option if I want to stay alive.
With that said, this is obviously a matter of opinions and facts, so I am stating my opinion based on personal experiences but of course I don't hold all the facts.
What's your opinion on this?
I also remember with a heavy heart, the Marine riders who where killed in NH, and one of the riders who survived said "I had to lay her down" meaning the bike.
What's the idea behind laying the bike down, when you have a choice between a proven stopping method that uses breaking power+rubber tires+pavement to slow down/stop a vehicle, or plastic and metal chafing against pavement.... I think without a doubt that the first method regardless of the situation is more reliable if used correctly to stop a 700-900 pound bike.
I mean, it was designed to stop that way and to do so in case of emergencies right?
There is no control over the bike whatsoever once it goes on its side, and no control of the situation either.
I have it in my head, Everytime I get on the saddle that "laying my bike down" is simply not an option if I want to stay alive.
With that said, this is obviously a matter of opinions and facts, so I am stating my opinion based on personal experiences but of course I don't hold all the facts.
What's your opinion on this?
Popular Reply
Oct 20, 2019, 09:00 AM
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
Grand HDF Member
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From: West Central Florida
I had to lay it down on pourpose once. Not my harley but an older jap bike. I t-boned a dump truck that pulled out in my lane and did not see me. In all honesty i didnt see him untill it was to late. If i didnt "lay it down" i would have been decapitated. I hit the rear tandem wheels which cushioned the blow. I totalled the bike and stayed at the hospital for a few days. That was 30 years ago.
My fault, my learning experience.
My fault, my learning experience.
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From: Clayton,N.J.
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SIPDE
Experienced riders know how important it is to remain aware of what is going on around them at all times. SIPDE is a great way to organize your awareness and turn the idea into an easy-to-remember practice.
Scan
Be vigilant when scanning the road for hazards when you ride. Scan in front, on all sides, and behind so you know what is happening around you.
Scan for traffic, road conditions, pedestrians, environmental hazards, and anything else that could lead to a dangerous situation.
Identify
Most of what you see when you scan will not require any action, but you need to be attentive so you will spot the things that could hurt you when you are riding. It's especially important to be attentive in situations where visibility is limited, where there are a lot of distractions, and in locations where motorcycle crashes happen often, like intersections.
Predict
If you spot something that you think could be a hazard, you need to quickly consider the different possible outcomes. What is the likelihood that you will need to act or react to this situation? Consider the speed, distance, and visibility of both the hazard and your bike, then try to plan ahead accordingly.
Decide
Once you have considered the possible scenarios, you need to choose how you will act or react if your prediction is correct. The more time you can give yourself, the better, which is why it's so important to scan and predict aggressively. Trust your instincts; if something seems off and you can safely maneuver away from the situation, don't wait.
Execute
Be ready, and if possible be proactive. If you think a situation is unfolding, prepare to act accordingly. Use all the tools at your disposal, including horn and lights, to make yourself seen and heard. Then slow down, change lanes, or take whatever evasive action necessary to avoid the hazard
SEE
Using SEE as a memory aid can help riders to purposely and methodically keep an eye on the road and react appropriately if they come upon a hazard. Three little letters can make a big difference when it comes to safe riding.
Search
Carefully and attentively searching your surroundings can help you to spot hazards and reduce the risk of a crash while you're riding. Be sure you are scanning all around you: front, sides, and using your mirrors to scan behind you as well. Riders need to watch for immediate hazards while keeping an eye out for potential risks on the road ahead. Motor-vehicle traffic, construction zones, pedestrian areas, intersections, and other more congested areas, as well as places with limited visibility, all require vigilant searching for hazards by the motorcyclist. Anything you can do to give yourself time to react safely to the situations you encounter can make a difference.
Evaluate
Evaluating your surroundings means thinking about the potential hazards you can see and how they might affect your ride. Riders need to take into account not only the hazards they see, but also the road conditions, visibility, traffic signals, and any other factors that can influence their riding strategy. Good evaluation can give you extra time to avoid a hazard and have a safer ride.
Execute
You have a number of tools at your disposal to help you safely avoid hazards. Use your horn, lights, and turn indicators to let other people know your intentions. Change speed, change lanes, or move laterally within the lane in order to find a safer path to ride. If you spot more than one hazard ahead, adjust your speed to give yourself time and space to evaluate them one at a time, and react accordingly. Always ride within the limits of your abilities.
https://www.themotorcyclelawyer.com/254.html
Experienced riders know how important it is to remain aware of what is going on around them at all times. SIPDE is a great way to organize your awareness and turn the idea into an easy-to-remember practice.
Scan
Be vigilant when scanning the road for hazards when you ride. Scan in front, on all sides, and behind so you know what is happening around you.
Scan for traffic, road conditions, pedestrians, environmental hazards, and anything else that could lead to a dangerous situation.
Identify
Most of what you see when you scan will not require any action, but you need to be attentive so you will spot the things that could hurt you when you are riding. It's especially important to be attentive in situations where visibility is limited, where there are a lot of distractions, and in locations where motorcycle crashes happen often, like intersections.
Predict
If you spot something that you think could be a hazard, you need to quickly consider the different possible outcomes. What is the likelihood that you will need to act or react to this situation? Consider the speed, distance, and visibility of both the hazard and your bike, then try to plan ahead accordingly.
Decide
Once you have considered the possible scenarios, you need to choose how you will act or react if your prediction is correct. The more time you can give yourself, the better, which is why it's so important to scan and predict aggressively. Trust your instincts; if something seems off and you can safely maneuver away from the situation, don't wait.
Execute
Be ready, and if possible be proactive. If you think a situation is unfolding, prepare to act accordingly. Use all the tools at your disposal, including horn and lights, to make yourself seen and heard. Then slow down, change lanes, or take whatever evasive action necessary to avoid the hazard
SEE
Using SEE as a memory aid can help riders to purposely and methodically keep an eye on the road and react appropriately if they come upon a hazard. Three little letters can make a big difference when it comes to safe riding.
Search
Carefully and attentively searching your surroundings can help you to spot hazards and reduce the risk of a crash while you're riding. Be sure you are scanning all around you: front, sides, and using your mirrors to scan behind you as well. Riders need to watch for immediate hazards while keeping an eye out for potential risks on the road ahead. Motor-vehicle traffic, construction zones, pedestrian areas, intersections, and other more congested areas, as well as places with limited visibility, all require vigilant searching for hazards by the motorcyclist. Anything you can do to give yourself time to react safely to the situations you encounter can make a difference.
Evaluate
Evaluating your surroundings means thinking about the potential hazards you can see and how they might affect your ride. Riders need to take into account not only the hazards they see, but also the road conditions, visibility, traffic signals, and any other factors that can influence their riding strategy. Good evaluation can give you extra time to avoid a hazard and have a safer ride.
Execute
You have a number of tools at your disposal to help you safely avoid hazards. Use your horn, lights, and turn indicators to let other people know your intentions. Change speed, change lanes, or move laterally within the lane in order to find a safer path to ride. If you spot more than one hazard ahead, adjust your speed to give yourself time and space to evaluate them one at a time, and react accordingly. Always ride within the limits of your abilities.
https://www.themotorcyclelawyer.com/254.html
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 493
Likes: 92
From: NJ
Well, my question really is whats other people's opinions. I am unsure of .y own opinion, in fact, as I stated in my post I have it very clear that laying down the bike IS NOT am option if I want to stay alive.
As someone else implied in his answer, if you have enough skills, you know better not to "lay the bike"
The other questions in my post are more rethorical than anything else.
Again, I am just trying to understand the idea behind the practice of laying the bike down, as it does not make any sense to me whatsoever.
Like most everyone here I've been cut off, stop short in front of me, have had people cross in front of me, etc.
Following distance, throttle control, observing speed limits and breaking skills have come in very handy in all those instances.
As someone else implied in his answer, if you have enough skills, you know better not to "lay the bike"
The other questions in my post are more rethorical than anything else.
Again, I am just trying to understand the idea behind the practice of laying the bike down, as it does not make any sense to me whatsoever.
Like most everyone here I've been cut off, stop short in front of me, have had people cross in front of me, etc.
Following distance, throttle control, observing speed limits and breaking skills have come in very handy in all those instances.