2 Days of riding and I wreck

[oiper]

I've been reading around here about wrecks and it seems most people haven't. I'm a bit discouraged about my own, but am going to take the MSF course in a month and hopefully learn how to avoid whatever it was that I did.

I own a 1982 Honda Highhawk CB450 SC. No previous experience on the street, but I felt good since I have "some" experience dirtbiking. First day, just rode around a bit in a parking lot, then in town for 45 minutes and went home to buy insurance. Day 2: Followed my dad and sister (on his Honda VTX 1800) around town. I don't remember most of that day, but from what I was told; We were only riding for 15 minutes around town, around 30 mph max, and we entered a long curve. I went off road near the end of the curve and flipped my bike after hitting a ditch next to someone's driveway.

I can't learn much since I knocked the memory out of myself. This bothers me and I'm a bit afraid that I'll repeat whatever happened. All I know is that:

1. A car came over the hill, into the curve from the opposite direction and might have caused me to panic. (This is one of my dad's guesses)
2. I didn't have any conscious concept of countersteering.
3. Simply screwed up.

I was lucky though. I had a concussion, fractured my left arm, busted my right shoulder, small cut on my leg, bit of rash, a busted helmet, sunglasses in my face!, etc... Small price to pay.

The bike on the other hand, took the worst.

It's still alive. It's been slowly rebuilt and is virtually finished. Anyways the wreck was in April 2005 and I have been anticipating the next ride. I didn't learn anything from my screw up except that I should take a course and get some armored clothing!

Deep down, I do get a weird feeling when I think about riding again. Honestly, I plan on riding a bicycle around a bit before taking course to try and gain some confidence back.

Just seeing if anyone has any interesting comments about all of this. I'd like to learn the easy way b/c the hard way hurts.

Here are some pictures of everything:

http://bryan.bearscanfly.org/motorbike.php

[flynrider]

This isn't all that unusual. I learned to ride back when they didn't have MSF courses and it was pretty common for noobs to dump a bike very early in their self-taught riding career. I lasted all of 10 minutes before flying off the bike on a slow corner in a residential area. A few other more serious mishaps occurred during my next few years of learning the hard way. The techniques they now teach in the MSF BRC would have allowed me to avoid most of my learning bloopers. I highly recommend taking the class to every newbie that asks me about starting to ride. In the long run it's cheaper and less painful than learning from your mistakes.

I think you're on the right track, and after taking the course, I think you'll be much more confident and armed with some good basic skills when you take to the road again.

[Ladymx]

Thanks for posting your story, as you are a lucky one. This is why it is important to take a course and why they have them now.
Glad the experience has made you stronger and your going to take the course.

[basshole]

Personally, I'm not going to touch a bike till I take my MSF course. I'm gonna go in like a dry sponge and I hope to emerge a soggy sponge!
Now if only I can get into a class here in So Cal...Been on a waiting list for a month and they are all booked up for the rest of the year! I'm gettin anxious!! Almost makes me want to look into a private training course if such a thing exists.

[cuyose]

I was freaked out too about riding before my Saftey Course, but had couple friends tech me some things in a parking lot and ride around with me, and 3 times out in residential areas and no problems.

Couple things that really helped me. Look where you want the bike to go! When entering a curve, dont consentrate on the curb coming up, which leads into the second item. Stay ON the bike, in a turn at speed stay on top of the bike, no need to lean the bike is doing that. Stay on top and trust the tires to do what they are going to do. Do not brake in a turn, slowly roll on throttle as you come out of the turn. Countersteering, this is instinctive, but when someone explaines what is going on and how it will feel, you will be more concious of it happening.

My biggest problem, is my first bike is extremely powerful and the throttle reponse is very touchy, I find myself short shifting frequntly to stay out of the powerband.

[Mr_X]

I Learn'd on a 92 Katana 1100 (1128cc's)
Its not as powerful as todays fuel injected.. but its still a pretty bawlsy bike..

I've crashed it twice, first time

I was showing off.. at night (Should'nt have been riding anyways cause I only had a permit) and I passed a friend doing 110.. was in the process of slowing down for a corner, and just like panic'd and looked off to the right shoulder and was like "dont go in the dirt".. next thing I was sliding on the bike sidewayz down some guys drive way.. my friend estimates I was doing about 50-60 during the time I downed it. and it HURT!! I only got road rash and a soar hip..

Second time I was showing off at a soccer game.. did like 0-70 on this straight infront of the field, and when I came to the corner following it, there was a van driving at like 15mph and I try'd to stop intime, and I just did a straight line, locked the back tire up, and did a flip over an embankment into the tree's. not so fun, but I did'nt actually get hurt, cracked the bike plastic.. but not too bad..

I dont know if anyones ever felt this feeling before, but like when you have to slow down quickly before a sharp turn.. after all the weight is trasnferred to the front, its hard to make the transition back into the turn, kinda feels like the "O Ring" end is gonna wipe out.. but thats the feeling I got both times, the last time I almost dumped it, it was raining, and I got that feeling, but I decided I was'nt gonna go into the gaurd rail so try'd my best to just counter-steer and lean, and sure enough.. it did what I wanted it to do

Most of it is behing comfertable on your bike.. Don't show off.. maybe after a couple years of expirence, but no one wants wheel around the dude who just did 0-100 into a brick wall and now cant feel his legs..

things I learn'd from my MSDF

1) Counter-Steering
2)Correct Braking (apply both brakes at a 70%-30% ration front to rear)
3)LOOK where you want the bike to go
4)Safety First

[Keyoke]

And the moral of the above story, showing off can be bad! (even though it can also be a lot of fun! )

Sorry to hear about your spill, oiper, It's something that happens to most of us at some point or another.

At least you're not letting it put you off riding altogether, best advice, take the course, rebuild your confidence, and get back on the road!

[JustJames]

Personally, I'm not going to touch a bike till I take my MSF course. I'm gonna go in like a dry sponge and I hope to emerge a soggy sponge!
Now if only I can get into a class here in So Cal...Been on a waiting list for a month and they are all booked up for the rest of the year! I'm gettin anxious!! Almost makes me want to look into a private training course if such a thing exists.

I don't know where are you at, but Socal Milds One group is gonna have a skillz day on October 07. Of course you will be overwheming by all the sports and super sports bike like 600RR, R6, R1, busa, and my V-Star custom 650, but there will be also a rat bike for beginner to pratice on. Feel free to visit http://forum.mildones.org/ introduce yourself and ask for help on skillz day. I bet everyone is willing to help you out and you might enjoy the group and become a member for a life time.

BTW I love fishing too, been fishing at Perris, Jenks, PUDD and city park in Hungtington Beach. We might just get on the bike and go fishing.

Let's Ride

[jmillheiser]

I managed to lowside on day 2 of my MSF course. During our emergency stop practice I managed to lock up the front hard on my first attempt and low sided it. Luckily I didn't have a scratch on me so I just got up dusted myself and the bike off and hopped back on. Still passed the course with flying colors and kept it upright during the rest of my emergency stops

[Ninja Geoff]

Don't get discouraged! And if you can still use the dirt bike, do so! The extra experiance isn't gonna hurt yah. And yeah, not remembering how you crashed sucks, but it'll come back to you.