To Dump or Not To Dump

[oldnslo]

I doubt jumping has much real-world value as an escape. Once you leave the bike, you have less control than the moment before, and have no control whatsoever over what happens next. In that stressful moment preceding collision, how can we calculate the comparative value of sliding/rolling on the pavement vs. staying on the bike and braking hard? Not possible.
Kevlar/Nylon/Leather/anything you can think of as clothing WILL NOT slow you down faster than braking hard and staying with your bike.
I think it is best to stay with the bike and keep the brakes in good working order, and practice emergency stops.

[Telesque]

Yesterday, I was riding two-up with my daughter down a hill at 40 mph, approaching a somewhat infamous intersection. Today it appeared to be threat free, as a car turned left in front of us (with plenty of time) and then stopped completely across both lanes. The pickup driver in the left turn lane behind her stopped, and I could see him looking at us wondering what we could possibly do, and what was he about to see. The left lane behind us was closed by a car barreling down on all of this. What he saw was a motorcycle panic braking nosedive to an almost complete stop, as the old lady finally rolled forward. We were going to turn right, into the open space. There is a separate right turn lane, and she wasn't in it yet...we could get stopped in the space left there, if necessary, but it never happened. If we had hit her, we probably would have ridden away. What's the point? My personal opinion, is...if you are riding within your capabilities, and are using proper traffic awareness, and you have time to think about jumping off, you probably have time to squeeze harder and get slowed down enough to make the impact minimal, since the bike will hit first. I'd rather be one obstacle for the other traffic to avoid, as well. I realize I may be a boring rider in traffic, but I use the flow just like I do in my truck at work. I just add a couple of extra mph most of the time to stay out front, and out of blind spots. I vote stay with the bike.

I don't think it should be called 'over alert', but I do tend to set myself up really well for potential hazards. Probably because I'm a new biker and don't want to lose my ride and not be able to afford another.

If someone turns out in front of me at an intersection (assuming they're not half a mile down the road), I'll already have the clutch pulled, coasting, with my thumb on the horn button and both brakes at the ready. Even if the one cage pulls out and gets moving along well, I still coast a bit in 'at ready' position until I know that the other cages at the intersection aren't going to do something stupid.

[Skier]

The coefficient of static friction of my bike's tires is a heck of a lot more than the coeffecient of kinetic friction between my Cordura and asphalt. Better to hit at 5 MPH than slide and hit at 30.

I'll stay on the bike, thank you very much.

[FZrider]

Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them.
I'd rather be a genius than an intellectual.

[JCS]

You will stop faster using your brakes on the bike than sliding beside it. While you are on the bike you still have some control over what direction you are going, too.

[High_Side]

I've been in many bike wrecks and I have yet to reach the conclusion that I have to bail. I WILL ALWAYS TRY TO RIDE IT OUT, until the point that I do crash. It's netted me quite a few big saves over years and I really can't imagine ever having to "lay 'er down" as the old bikers tale goes. I really believe that when most people say that they did that, they really didn't know what he h3ll they were doing (other than trying to sound like they knew what they were doing). I would be willing to bet that in 99% of the cases where someone "lays 'er down", they really have no clue what they are talking about.
My $.03

[bennettoid]

Every morning I stop and think, "to dump or not to dump?" before I go to work.

Some days I'm lucky and I dump. Other days its prune juice and coffee all day.

Its rough getting old.

[iwannadie]

i think thats exactly what happens. some rider with no clue gets in a bad situation does something stupid and the bike goes down they end up with some bumps and bruises. later on the story suddeny becomes 'ya this semi swarved in front of me head on i had no choice but lay'er down and ride it out, glad i did otherwise id be dead'. not sure who would suddenly throw away all experience and training to purposely wreck rather than try and controll the bike out of the situation. of all the close calls ive been in the idea of jumping off the bike hasnt occured to me suddenly.

I've been in many bike wrecks and I have yet to reach the conclusion that I have to bail. I WILL ALWAYS TRY TO RIDE IT OUT, until the point that I do crash. It's netted me quite a few big saves over years and I really can't imagine ever having to "lay 'er down" as the old bikers tale goes. I really believe that when most people say that they did that, they really didn't know what he h3ll they were doing (other than trying to sound like they knew what they were doing). I would be willing to bet that in 99% of the cases where someone "lays 'er down", they really have no clue what they are talking about.
My $.03

[9000white]

Every morning I stop and think, "to dump or not to dump?" before I go to work.

Some days I'm lucky and I dump. Other days its prune juice and coffee all day.

Its rough getting old.

Bennetoid!!! can we just for once try to stay focused???

[9000white]

how ridiculous--jump off and be sailing through the air--where is the control in that unless you can fly.and who has ever had time to go through a list of alternative choices when between a rock and a hard place.