Total Motorcycle Community Forums

"Don't grab the front brake" is great advice.

That's pretty much how I took it.

Don't GRAB the front brake is good advice, but the poster went on to describe how he doesn't even TOUCH the brake lever. That is NOT what we want to emphasize to new riders.

Riders don't crash, they just sometimes opt for pavement!

Erg0n wrote:When you are about to crash what's the best body position to try and get into when sliding on the ground?

Yep, theoretically 'on your back' is the correct answer, but if you are going to crash, do you really think you are going to have a choice? It's usually not like that.

Lion_Lady wrote:Okay.

Obviously you have never ridden or taken the MSF. I really hate this kind of post.

Now. That said. It is REALLY REALLY REALLY important to NOT think this way as a street rider. Its fine on dirt. But on the street, your utmost focus must always be to RIDE THE BIKE. Never consider 'bailing out.' You see, what often happens is that riders forget that a motorcycle has the tools to evade or STOP quickly enough to nearly ALWAYS avoid crashing.

The key is the RIDER. When you have in your head, "How to bail" then you occupy your mind with that, instead of "How to evade." A motorcycle has seveveral key advantages in crash avoidance: Light weight, means that ALL WHEEL braking is much more effective than a car. Two wheels, means that you can lean and swerve AROUND a suddenly stopped car or other obstacle. Light weight means greater acceleration thrust for getting out of someone's way fast.

Old timers riders have a mantra: No matter what happens, NEVER stop riding the bike. Physics will keep you upright and in a straight line, even after you've plowed THRU a deer and severely damaged the bike(I've seen the video). Practiced, HARD braking can stop you inches from the fender of that car - but you've got to stay on board to operate the bike.

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+1 Absolutely right on Lion Lady. Best possible advice.

And whenever you are riding into any potentially dangerous situation, you should always be looking for an escape route.

After 20 in my road racing career, I really only had control of the slide/tumble in half of them... and you only find out after you've left the bike and hit the pavement, so the best thing is to just stay on.

I've had some really fast easy crashes and some very slow bad ones. Once you've left the bike, you have no control and you're just rolling the dice. You don't really learn to crash well until you've done it half a dozen times... and I don't recommend that, especially not on the street.

As a rule of thumb, if you have time to plan your crash you have time too save it.

Kal wrote:As a rule of thumb, if you have time to plan your crash you have time too save it.

as a rule of thumb, I think thats probably accurate...

Hurts a damn sight less too...

Well it's an old topic but I feel like adding my two cents...

I grew up crashing a lot - not on motorcycles, but bicycles, skateboards, scooters etc. Every time I did everything in my power to NOT crash, but sometimes thats not enough.
When you start crashing it can go two ways - either it happened so fast you have no idea what the "h-e-double hockey sticks" happened, or it plays out in extremely slow-motion and you have plenty of time to think about whats gonna happen next. Both instances can occur in what seems to be a very, very quick timeframe.

When I crash - if I have time- I try to identify everything that i need to dodge and do my best to do so while avoiding whatever I am crashing off of (bike, skate etc) because those things can hurt you pretty good by themselves. Once I start getting intimate with the ground, I try to catch myself and turn my fall into a roll or slide, going limp in the process.

But usually, a crash happens too quickly. Especially on a motorcycle. And with an engine comes speed and when crashing speed is no friend. When I had my accident, after I lost control and began to caress the asphalt, I just went limp. To tell you the truth I closed my eyes because there was nothing I could do at that point. Even at a mere 50Km/H you have a LOT of inertia to dissipate. Don't worry the road is good at that.

The best advice I could offer for crashing is Plan A and Plan B.
A--Don't Crash
B--Go Limp

Hope you never have to execute Plan B!

Honestly the first time you crash I don't think you're going to know you even crashed..
That's with me anyways. I was riding along then the next thing I know the bikes on top of my leg sliding on concrete at 50 MPH.

It happened so fast I thought it was a dream.


My advice? 99% attention on the road and don't crash.