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So I am new to street riding. Been riding dirt for forever i guess. On dirt if the rear end looses traction you either gun it to slip it around, or just ride it out. No problem there. The situation i ask about is gravel on pavement. If your rear tire from slippige in gravel, oil, wet or whatever shakes loose, what do you do to avoid/recover from a highside fall? Do you just lean it over and hope you can lowside it. Or do you pull in the clutch and hope the bike straitens out. hmmm?
Advice?

Oh PS! I am talking about street/sport bikes not cruisers/harleys(couldnt imaginge highsiding one of those things, yikes!!)

From what I hear you ride the skid out and hope you don't lowside. Its not a highside yet until its too late to correct. At low speeds, I've locked up the rear brake a few times in the rain. I jumped off the brakes because I wasn't very experienced and just reacted. It didn't feel like the bike was gonna so anything crazy, but like I said at low speed.

Go to the bookstore and get "More Profecient Motorcycling" By David L. Hough. Jam packed with great info. Alot of people say to get the first book first, but I feel its just a revision of the first book.

I locked the rear a couple times. Once I accidentally blew a stopsign (it was half-hidden by a tree) in a residential, and I panic braked. I would've been hit anyway since I skidded in the middle of the intersection, but it was just a panic reaction. As soon as the rear locked I did another panic reaction and let off it, and the back end whipped into alignment again.

The second time was at about 45 mph, and thankfully I didn't panic too much. It was in the rain and there were deer at the end of this corner, and I used the rear just a little too much making it lock. As soon as I heard that grating sound I pressed down on it even more so it wouldn't unlock, and just rode it out. The rear end slid somewhat out to the right but I was able to keep it up and not hit the deer. Once I was almost stopped I let off the brake and the rear once again whipped back in line. It felt like I had at least 3 heart attacks, but otherwise everything worked out ok. I don't know about other bikes, but on mine if you're going real slow and unlock it, it seems to give a jolt but not high side.

My bike's a honda cruiser, but the same basic principles appy to all street motorcycles. Don't unlock it at high speed or you're screwed.

If the rear breaks loose and starts to come around, keep the tire spinning as you correct. Once the tires are both pionting in the same direction as the bike is going, and that direction is as close to perfectly straight ahead as possible, you can let the rear hook up again. The more out of line everything is when the tire grabs, the bigger the lurch will be, maybe big enough to throw you off.

Mag7C wrote: I used the rear just a little too much making it lock. As soon as I heard that grating sound I pressed down on it even more so it wouldn't unlock, and just rode it out. The rear end slid somewhat out to the right but I was able to keep it up and not hit the deer. Once I was almost stopped I let off the brake and the rear once again whipped back in line. It felt like I had at least 3 heart attacks, but otherwise everything worked out ok. I don't know about other bikes, but on mine if you're going real slow and unlock it, it seems to give a jolt but not high side.

My bike's a honda cruiser, but the same basic principles appy to all street motorcycles. Don't unlock it at high speed or you're screwed.

EXACTLY what i was taught during my MSF class i.e. "keep it locked up and ride that sucker out"

Nick,

Step one: Go find a copy of "Smooth Riding the Pridmore Way"
Step two: Take a track day if you're not comfortable with the techniques.

*first* avoid the gravel situation if you can

When the back comes loose it's not much different than what you're used to in the dirt. The throttle is your friend.

Don't do anything rash. Don't panic.

STAY on the throttle or ease off (smoothly) and wait for it to hookup again. Too much throttle, or too much brake when it does hookup, that's what causes the high side. That instant grip with a non spinning/mismatched speed/to/road tire. Keep it smooth, and wait for it.

If you're already in the turn just hold it, worst case you will low side and that's the best you can hope for if you're going down. (meaning if it's really that bad, that's what you'd rather have)