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dropping

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:59 am
by dbarnes8923
so is there a strategy for the dropping the bike maneuver, cause what if your brakes fail or something

Re: dropping

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:28 am
by Skier
dbarnes8923 wrote:so is there a strategy for the dropping the bike maneuver, cause what if your brakes fail or something
I'm sure there's strategies out there for laying down the bike, but the odds of your front brakes failing at the same time as your rear brake and powertrain are so astronomically small, I wouldn't worry about it.

Mechanical failures account for something along the lines of two percent of motorcycle accidents according to the Hurt report.

Re: dropping

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:14 pm
by ElChado87
Skier wrote:
I'm sure there's strategies out there for laying down the bike, but the odds of your front brakes failing at the same time as your rear brake and powertrain are so astronomically small, I wouldn't worry about it.

Mechanical failures account for something along the lines of two percent of motorcycle accidents according to the Hurt report.
+1 But if you DID have to lay it down, and your rear brakes were intact I guess mashing them down and turning hard would do it. Brakes or a large downshift.

I did it once by accident on a friends bicycle, yes it's different than a motorcycle but it did look like one!!! I was going for a skid record and i turned the bike too soon... Slid just like in the movies...

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:39 pm
by oxbow1
Take a beginning rider course, and ask them that question

Re: dropping

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:52 pm
by flynrider
dbarnes8923 wrote:so is there a strategy for the dropping the bike maneuver, cause what if your brakes fail or something
Why drop it? Just downshift and make like Fred Flinstone :laughing:

Seriously, Skier is right. The chances of losing two independent brake systems simultaneously are pretty slim. You'd be better off thinking about what to do if you're attacked by bees or struck by lightning.

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:54 pm
by oxbow1
Mabey I wasted my money taking that "what to do if Bigfoot attacks you "
course :wink:

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 3:27 pm
by dbarnes8923
well i didn't mean brake failure i meant like in case something bad goes wrong, that was just an example.

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:09 pm
by ElChado87
Can something bad go right? lol

I dunno about you, but I would much rather have a controlled crash into anything rather than a controlled or more likely an uncontrolled slide into anything. At least if you are upright you could maybe dodge whatever...

Even my little bicycle slide left me pretty darn sore, and I was still a resilient kid then!

I think what we are leaning towards (correct me if I'm wrong) is you are better off NOT doing such a maneuver. It would also seem that none of us *really* know how to do it either.

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:19 pm
by Skier
dbarnes8923 wrote:well i didn't mean brake failure i meant like in case something bad goes wrong, that was just an example.
Laying down your motorcycle is not an accident-avoidance technique. It's a hallmark of poorly trained, unskilled riders. You'll scrub off more speed using maximum braking than letting chrome and plastic slide across the pavement.

Think of this: if a collision is imminent, would you rather continue maximum braking up until the point of impact, hitting something at 10 MPH, or lay down the bike and hit the same object at 45 MPH?

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:21 pm
by ElChado87
Exactly.

Well said, Skier

:motorcycle4:


Keep those wheels down!