Whew!!!
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 449
Likes: 197
From: NC Mountains
sometimes we all need to take a deep breath as the bikes get bigger and more HP is on sale like a {Blue Light Special} at K-mart.
Of course anyone can load your H/D on a boat headed for The Isle of Man and roll the dice.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,582
From: Wisconsin, USA
I was riding on a twisty road, that I was unfamiliar with. I was tired, and in a rush. I was supposed to meet my wife, and another couple for dinner, and I was late. I entered a curve too hot. I stood up the bike so I could brake, but there was gravel in the road, and I didnt want to brake. So I rode onto the shoulder to straighten out the curve, at 55 mph. Luckily there were no signs or obstacles and I made it through.
I went back a different day to analyze my mistake. I had spaced on a 25 mph curve warning. If I hadnt made the turn I wouldve flown into a 50 ft ravine, and been out of sight. Probably would have died. I take it easy when Im tired now. Better late than never.
I went back a different day to analyze my mistake. I had spaced on a 25 mph curve warning. If I hadnt made the turn I wouldve flown into a 50 ft ravine, and been out of sight. Probably would have died. I take it easy when Im tired now. Better late than never.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 14,866
Likes: 31,162
From: Whiskey Falls, Texas
Damn lucky and I had my angel riding with me...
Riding with friends today and I was ripp'n it with my buddy through the twisty's. He got aways ahead and I got on it hard to catch up, and got in a mostly flat 40mph curve at 80mph...(dumb ***!)
I started real tight on the inside but it started drifting to the outside...fast. It took be across the center line and thank the lord no one was oncoming...clear to the white line on the opposite shoulder with only about 6 inches before the gravel shoulder.
Leaning and pushing...and probably not the thing to do...applied a little brake, but saved it and got it back. Coming out I was still about 70mph.
DAMN I was beyond lucky and blessed to be writing this tonight. I slowed down, learned a lesson...and cleaned my shorts.
Riding with friends today and I was ripp'n it with my buddy through the twisty's. He got aways ahead and I got on it hard to catch up, and got in a mostly flat 40mph curve at 80mph...(dumb ***!)
I started real tight on the inside but it started drifting to the outside...fast. It took be across the center line and thank the lord no one was oncoming...clear to the white line on the opposite shoulder with only about 6 inches before the gravel shoulder.
Leaning and pushing...and probably not the thing to do...applied a little brake, but saved it and got it back. Coming out I was still about 70mph.
DAMN I was beyond lucky and blessed to be writing this tonight. I slowed down, learned a lesson...and cleaned my shorts.
I've ridden twisties all over this Country, and I have a thing about crossing that center line. It pisses me off because it's not just your dumb *** that can be killed, you can kill someone completely innocent coming around a corner expecting you to be in your lane, not COMPLETELY in my lane all the way to the line on MY SHOULDER. That's one hell of a phucking mistake.
If we had met, and wasn't killed instantly (doubtful), I would do everything in my power to crawl over and choke you to death before I died.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,009
Likes: 6,907
From: NC
Hard to do with linked brakes and ABS common on today's motorcycles.
I haven't had any issues trail braking with linked brakes. Have you had issues with yours? If ABS is kicking in while leaned hard into a corner, you're already out of traction.
It was HARD to break that 35 year old habit but front brakes, applied with linear pressure, really make all the difference.
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Club Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 5,887
From: Syracuse NY
plongson I did this just last week. Not as far left as you, but over the double yellow on an off camber hill crest, turning to my right. I almost head on a big Chevy pick up dead center.
I leaned it over right and went down the left side of the truck about 2-feet away. Which of course felt like 2-inches.
I tell everyone I make at least one mental mistake every single time I ride. Every. Single. Time.
This last one however, was a doozy!
I leaned it over right and went down the left side of the truck about 2-feet away. Which of course felt like 2-inches.
I tell everyone I make at least one mental mistake every single time I ride. Every. Single. Time.
This last one however, was a doozy!
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 415
Likes: 404
From: Central Arkansas
OP I had that happen to me 50 years ago when I was 16 YOA. 1 month of experience on a motorcycle and hit a 25 MPH curve at 60 MPH. I used up ALL of the road and was kicking gravel on the oncoming shoulder with a buddy on the back of my bike. I have no idea how I saved it cause it darn sure wasn't skill. That lesson has stuck with me all of these years. Don't ride faster than your guardian angel can fly.