DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO PLANS TO CRASH? Judging by the way some motorcyclists ride around in shorts and a T-shirt, it’s likely they believe it will never happen to them.
Wearing a helmet and protective jacket, pants, gloves and boots is one way to afford yourself better protection in the event of a mishap.
But even the best gear is no guarantee that you aren’t going to get hurt or killed when things go bad.
So, what else can you do?
Crash avoidance can be heightened with education, training and experience. Taking a break when you are tired, hungry, cold or hot can also maintain greater alertness and motorcycle control, resulting in enhanced safety – but of course with no guarantee of ultimate safety.
No matter how much gear you have, no matter how educated, trained and experienced you are, and no matter how alert you are…well…crashes happen.
What about your attitude or viewpoint on crashing?
So far, the best words I’ve come across on the subject were written by Keith Code in his book A Twist of the Wrist. Chapter 15 is aptly titled “How to Fall.” The following quotes highlight a few critical points, and I encourage any rider to get the book and read the entire chapter over and over. (The rest of the book is good, too.)
“No one wants to fall down, but once you’ve done it and it comes out alright, falling isn’t as fearsome any more. Your best insurance against falling is not to resist it.”
“If you resist falling, you are more likely to fall.”
“Be willing to fall off.”
“You don’t have to want to, but being willing to is very different, and it has to do with your attitude about falling. If you ride a motorcycle – and especially if you race one – falling is an activity you’re likely to become involved with. It goes with the territory of riding.”
“You simply decide that you might fall off and accept that it can happen, at any time, anywhere. You have to look at it and say, ‘Okay, I can fall off one of these things. I might break a bone or have a hell of a slide, or I just might die doing it.’ All of these things can and do happen to motorcycle riders. So, get it out of the way by taking a look at it and then making your decision from there.”
The book also elucidates the theory behind this. And, it also gives practical tips on what to do during a fall, and after a fall. There is even a section on practice falling (not while actually on a bike).
Hmmmmm…any chance you should do a little crash planning?
Someone once said that “anything worth doing…is worth doing poorly…until you learn to do it right”
Motorcycles are in the top most challenging man-made machines to operate proficiently. I my zeal to learn I made many of the classic mistakes…locking up the brakes; grabbing a hand-full of front brake with the wheel turned; sliding over last winter’s salt and slipping on wet leaves. My HD Classic has been on its side three times…fortunately all at slow flight and no injuries except my own pride.
What I’ve learned is…
-Keep the body relaxed, the bike will handle easier, but keep the mind alert
-Practice daily…a short ride each day is far better than a long weekend ride. You need to train your muscles to balance and react correctly and they learn better with constant training
-Expect other drivers to do stupid things…they won’t disappoint you!
-Practice “What-if” scenarios while riding
-Look where you need to go, the bike will follow
-Practice the Smith techniques of “Aim High” (look way down the road); “Get the Big Picture (keep an eye for everything around you); “leave yourself an out” (Don’t get boxed in…!); “Keep your eyes moving” (don’t allow your eyes to fixate but keep looking in the mirrors and around you); “make yourself visible” (lots of lights, modulating brakes, visible clothing, reflective tape)
-Be ready to ride…no booze, drugs, sleep deprivation, emotional upheaval, zoned out thought processes…
-Invest in the best safety gear you buy…your body will thank you…
-Learn to adapt to changes in weather, wind, traffic
-Keep your ride safe with good tires, good maintenance and customized to your comfort
-Use the right gear for all temperatures
-Wear safety goggles
-Avoid riding behind any trucks…not just rocks, but tires and wheels come off with disastrous results!
-Ride your own ride, don’t be bullied into exceeding your skill level
-Take advanced training and read all you can about how to improve your riding skills
-Have a favorite lot where you can practice U-turns and slow riding skills
-Ride with a Buddy, until you are comfortable enough to ride on your own
-Carry a personal satellite GPS locator if you travel off the grid on a regular basis
-Do a Circle check esp. tire pressure before EVERY ride.
-Swallow your pride and let the aggressive drivers whip past you…there day will come…
All the “There are two types of riders…” sayings are bullshit.
While it may be true to a large degree it does NOT have to happen. I think it is somewhere in the 40% range that NEVER CRASH.
As to the risk.
Get training.
Ride a proper bike. (Feet forward bikes take more discipline to ride)
Practice, Practice, Practice
Wear Good Gear…ALL THE GEAR ALL THE TIME.
Don’t Ride like a Wimp… Be Assertive.
Don’t Ride Drunk.
Don’t Ride on Drugs.
Don’t Ride Tired, Pissed Off, Cold…
Practice daily… The learning never stops.
Never expect drivers to see you.
Do not ride straight down the road when there is a potential left turning car… Or one potentially getting ready to pull out of a side street or parking lot. Weave a little to help them notice you.
Learn of Road hazards. Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough is a good book for this. Buy it. Read it. Read it again.
Never Never NEVER let your guard down when riding.
No Matter what comes up… be ready. (I go to my throttle way WAY more often than going for the brakes)
Budget about $2000.00 for riding gear. (Have gear for Hot, Cold, Dry, Wet…) Always wear it. Always!!! (You don’t need a $600 helmet. Look in the $200-$300 range.
Crashed on exist exam on rider training coarse. Not fast but hard under the bike stopping in a left hand turn. Failed the coarse didn’t get my licencse. Two things, after three months of recouping got my licencse. Everything I suceed at i have failures along the way. It also gave me respect for what could happen while riding a bike and the price I would have to pay healing and limpimg along for awhile. Best lesson out there especially in a controled enviroment. Have since taken extra training race training read articles about riding but on the bike you”re on your own remember that even in a group.
There are two kinds of riders out there, those who have fallen (probably will again) and those who have yet to spill godspeed to all
All I have to say it “BLACK ICE”. Started riding after maybe 38+ years, took all the courses have all the gear. Lucky for me I read just about every posting on this and other sites before purchasing my first bike.(soft tail deluxe). Well anyway road that for two years, but with the long trips I take, I needed to upgrade to a Ultra Classic. Love the bike, but last December at 6:30 AM. I made the all time mistake of not seeing the trees for the forest. Waiting for the light to change got lost in thought and when I looked up the light was green, eased off the clutch made the turn when into 2nd gear and heard on the radio LOOK OUT FOR BLACK ICE. Bam she when sideways and I rode her like a shown board sideways for about 6 to 10 feet, I let her go and slid be hide her for another 5 to ten feet of black ice.. Yes it hurt mostly my pride. Bike and I are fine, a little cosmic damage to the guards, but we are both fine. After getting to work all I did was rewind the whole thing over and over.. The bottom line is, when I walked out that morning I saw a lot of morning water on the cars and road, my eyes told me but because of the heated gear didn’t realize it was below 35 degrees.
Recently I had an opportunity to test the crash bars on my motorcycle. Like Jake, whenever I get into a hairy situation, I always try to rewind and make sure I did everything right. This is probably why this was my first accident in 25+ years of riding. But – as noted, sooner of later you will HAVE to lay it down. That was the situation I was presented with. A motorist cut onto the highway when there wasn’t enough room. No shoulder, traffic in the right lane – the only option was to emergency brake, then lay it over at the last minute. The damage to both me and the bike were minimal. Had i attempted to stay on the bike, I surely would have rear-ended the car, resulting in greater injury and damage to the bike. The resulting slide trashed my gear – boots, pants, jacket, gloves – but had i been wearing none of that, it would have been my skin. I rode away from a highway crash with a couple of broken ribs, a broken thumb, and some road rashed chrome.
1) Get good gear
2) WEAR your gear
3) always know what you’re going to do, practice and prepare.
As a relatively new street rider in my 50’s, I have always found it odd (or at least uncomforting) to constantly be reminded by other street riders which have previously gone down that “I too must some day crash”. Yeah, I have had my share of frightening moments. Any time one occurs I make it a point to rewind the episode and understand the mistake. Target fixation, too hot into a turn, out driving my abilities, etc…
I got a couple years under my belt now and I know that a bike mishap, just like an auto wreck, could possibly happen out there to any of us, but geez, I will never admit that it’s inevitable and the best thing to do is just get it over with already. My two kids ride and I, nor my wife would let them off the property if an accident was “inevitable”.
I hate to disappoint the “I told you so” crowd but being prepared is the correct outlook here, not crashing and being relieved its over because it was inevitable anyway. Yes/No?
ATGATT
Track time (if possible),
and
Practice the moves.
Regards,
George B.
No, there are THREE kinds of riders. Those who have gone down, those who will go down, and those who have gone down and will go down again. I’m pretty sure I fit in the last category. I fell many times during my early learning period off road, which I believe is the best place to learn to ride. I don’t like to see riders venture out onto the road until they feel completely natural on the bike, with responses coming automatically instead of having to think about it.
Then I got my license, and four days later had an intimate encounter with the front end of a ‘73 Ford Gran Torino. (Think Starsky &Hutch) I’m lucky to be alive, and even luckier still to be in possession of my right leg.
A few years later, with my ‘75 Honda CB400SS, I was lucky enough to take my AFM first-time-racer course at Ontario Motor Speedway, and a young Keith Code was the instructor. That was a wonderful experience, one that I will never forget. He didn’t teach me how to fall down, though. I was already an expert at that. I’ve worn out my share of leather, and thrown away more than my share of helmets. I’ve even had to throw away a brand new helmet after the first ride with it. I consider that to be an investment well made. Helmets are much easier to replace than skulls.
One of the things I have found myself doing, possibly as a result of my Navy flight training, is “chair flying” during rides. What I mean by that is, as I’m riding in a particularly tricky spot on the road (no shoulder, 2 lanes with guardrails on each side, etc.) I’ll ask myself, “what would I do right now if, a) the car in front of me locks up the brakes, b) the oncoming car comes into my lane, c) any other potential hazard I see right now rears its ugly head ? It makes for some valuable brain food back at home after the ride and frequently puts you in the scenario of being able to visualize that at some point you’re gonna HAVE TO lay it down.
I too started riding late in life–first with a scooter for 8 months, then my first “real” motorcycle at age 51. It’s taken me three seasons to learn to relax my hands and arms more so I don’t oversteer the bike which, as someone points out above, can lead to mishaps.
I think many riders my age are more sensible–they’ve taken a few lumps in life and no longer feel invincible. I know I can fall. So I gear up as if that could happen that day, and always try to ride with awareness and within my abilities.
That said, I do still fear falling – and fear my reactions would be all wrong when it happens. Maybe a little fear is good, but I would like feel more prepared to hit the pavement. Perhaps the book recommended here will help…
Ride Safe All,
Pat
Yes, we crash…or will. Nothing like a lifeftime of racing dirttrack for a basis of skills. Everytime I put a friend on one of my dirttrack bikes it is for the sole purpose of making them a better rider…they just have a boatload of fun doing it. When they come back later they are more confident in their abilities. I also get on the soap box about gear and threaten lives if I see them without. Statistically… riders that wear the gear are involved in fewer accidents. So wear all the gear you have and you will never crash!!
Situations, conditions and ability awareness are magic!
Hi MCg,
I don’t think Keith Code means that we should anticipate or expect to fall. But one of the survival reactions which will cause a crash is excessive tightness on the handlebars. So fear of falling will cause the tightness that will reduce your sensitivity to steering feedback, slow your reactions, and over-control the bike, causing the fall.
I believe race training is not just for the young hot-shots (I’m 53) who always double the speed limit, but also for normal sensible riders who might one day, through inattention or fatigue, find that they have exceeded the capabilities of their motorcycle and everyday skills.
A good example is this. I’ve seen about a dozen guys run off the side of the road because they feared they were going too fast. The bike gets unsettled and one or both of the tires starts to slide towards the sand and dirt on the edge of the road. So they immediately chop the throttle and grab the brakes. About half the guys and gals low-sided, or were tripped by a curb, or hit roadside brush or trees. The other half just ran onto a lawn and came back onto the road.
But If any one of them had taken even the first Superbike course, they would have learned that rolling on the throttle has the effect of setting both tires firmly onto the road, and settling the chassis immediately. They would not have ran off the road. Or if they knew how to hang off, relaxing their grip on the bars and just throwing a hip towards the inside or bending the torso downwards towards the inside might have changed the dynamics of the bike enough that they run off the “inside” of the road. It might seem like a squid-ish thing to say, but if you don’t practice it, you won’t think to do it, and won’t have the skill to do it right.
And yet 99.99% of people won’t do a lesson because “they don’t need it” or “it’s too risky.” Everybody’s perception of risk is different.
I was riding in a car where all 4 tires were dribbling after every pavement irregularity due to worn struts. The driver is 60+ thinks it is safe because he drives very, very, slowly everywhere. One day he’ll have to drive the car over a bumpy, rain driven, corner, and he’ll be in the guard rail. I wonder if he would pass inspection or his road test. I prefer to have myself and my vehicles in top mechanical condition, and drive faster. Everybody’s perception of risk is different.
My long winded point: If you’ve fallen, take responsibility it. Figure out why, and “fix” it. It’s in your own best interest.
Best regards,
Andy
I’m back to motorcycling for about a year. Before that, I had been riding 5 years, two of those years as a daily commuter (12 months) in New York City.
You can imagine that I’ve fallen off a few times on account of snow and black ice. My bike and I were adequately protected and undamaged through those falls. But, I’ve also been ejected by a tank slapper which totaled my bike. Both my rings on my fingers were crushed, and I broke a pinkie. Leather sleeve almost worn through in the gusset (3 layers of full thickness cowhide). Helmet not even scratched. I relaxed and tucked into a tight ball as I was going over the handlebars. I Judo rolled 5 times (as the bike somersaulted 3 times) before I slowed enough to get up and run towards the Jersey barriers–crazy NYC drivers were honking me to move out of the way. I was lucky I didn’t get squished by the tumbling bike.
The tank slapper was essentially a high-sider caused by accelerating across the slippery middle part of the lane (dry, fall evening). I had Metzeler Laser (bias ply) tires which were starting to square off. I only use premium sport tires now. There is a false economy to look for long tread life if the tires will square off or are slippery in curves. Will the rider outlast the tires?
It is important to understand the causes of your crashes and to develop new habits that fix the cause. I’ve taken the MSF Intermediate Rider’s Course, and there is some street wise information there, depending on the instructor. But MSF courses emphasize low speed maneuverability and liability avoidance, not bad weather or high speed handling.
Where I learned a lot about crash avoidance is from taking the California Superbike School Level 1 course. When the average rider, with barely adequate riding skills, pushes and travels two to three times his normal velocity, his every little mistake will be exaggerated by a factor of 9X. This evokes survival reactions which just make things much worse. Bad weather or road conditions will do the same thing, but in an unpredictable, unsafe way.
In my class section two guys repeatedly ran off the track. They were nervous, new riders, and lacked the confidence and skill to follow instructions. They kept snapping the throttle shut and hitting the brakes, which stands the bike up and runs it off the course. That is called a instinctive Survival Reaction (which could get you killed.) Thank goodness there are no yellow lines, opposing traffic, guard rails, or drop offs on the track, or these guys would need another 9 lives.
On the track, the speed will emphasize the mistakes you make. The coaches at the school will correct them, but it is up to you to fix them.
Practice, practice, practice, and ride mindfully.
Regards,
Andy
I bought my first bike two years ago when I was 51 years old, and have had a blast riding everywhere. I now have 22,000 miles on the bike. Someone once told me “There are two kinds of riders, those that have gone down and those who will”. Well last year I was riding in a very bad rain storm in New Hampshire, I exited off the highway and onto a two lane asphalt road and wham, just like that it went down. The bike slid 40 feet and I slid 20 feet on my knees. Both the bike and I were fine, but I got an education that day.
I had already taken the basic Motorcycle Training class and have since taken the advanced class. My advice is learn all you can from classes and also allow experience on the road to teach you.
Not long after coming back to riding in my 50s, I went into a corner badly after a very long ride and went into a slide off the side of the road. Lost a bit of skin and bent thebrake pedal,but otherwise ok. It turned to be very good thing. It was like I knew I had to come off some time and now I had got it out of the way and was able to relax more into the riding. But I do realise that not all falls have such a happy ending.