Triumphrat

WithBothFeet

I'm sure at least some of you have, so please fill me in on what might have caused it.

I dropped my '09 Speedie this morning.

It was around 50 degree F, dry and clear. I had just filled up with gas and was pulling out and coming to a stop at an intersection. I was only going like 3 maybe 4 MPH because the gas station is kind of part of the intersection.

Anyway, as I was coming to a stop the front tire just totally went out from underneath of me. It was so unexpected and fast that I didn't even realize what happened until I was on the ground.

After I picked my bike up and got it out of the way, I went back to look at the area in question. No oil, no water, no stripes, no gravel, not even worn pavement. After thinking about it all day, the only thing I can think of is that I must have picked up something on the front tire at the gas station.

FWIW - Only damage was broken front brake lever, broken signal lense, bent rear brake lever and a nice gouge on the handle bar end... and a bruised ego.

Sands

Did that last month, getting on the on ramp to the freeway, I had the yeild and as I tapped the front brake, it was like someone kicked the front tire out from under me. It sucked, people were behind me waiting to get on the ramp. Like you the worst damage was the ego.

DDon

Did you happen to look down?
Like other sports, the bike will go where you look. That's how I dropped my Trophy, moving away from a Gas Pump and trying to squeeze between the island and a Pickup.

WithBothFeet

Nah, I was just coming to a stop like any other time. My eyes were looking for potential traffic as I coming up because I was going to be making a right no red. The last thing I registered before going down was an approaching car that I had already determined was close enough that I should wait on it before going.

Catenaccio

3Xs actually: once on gravel, once on grass, and once on a curb/gutter steeper than I was prepared for. All occurred within the first 3 months of getting the bike.

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jonkster

Low speed manoeuvring and the application of the front brake can be an ugly combination.

Over the years I have tested this several times... solely in the interests of research of course... well that is what I told the people gathered around to pick me and the bike up afterwards

At low speeds you may have (relatively) significant turning of the front wheel from straight (possibly turned to follow your body when looking to the side) and because you are slow, there is little gyroscopic precession (which would make for more directional stability).

When you then apply front brake the front wheel may kind of 'snatch' sideways, (turning the bars further) and dump you on the ground very rapidly.

When manoeuvring at low speed it can be worth getting into the habit of just using the rear brake (even 'riding' the rear brake at slow speeds) and avoiding the front brake altogether. NB only for slow speed though!.

No way to say this applies in your case but thought worth adding to the discussion (in addition to other good suggestions that have been posted, particularly the 'where you were looking?' question).

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WithBothFeet

Actually, that totally makes sense to me. Plus, I imaging that at higher speeds, using the front brake applies more pressure to the ground due to weight transfer and therefor creates a larger contact patch due to compression of the rubber, which you wouldn't get at low speeds. So, possibly the same amount of braking pressure at slow speeds exceeds the available traction.


...or I could just be talking out of my ass. ...but I totally think the part you said makes sense.

Tbirdnz

I think jonkster nailed it here, that's a classic off in that situation particularly on gas station concrete which tends to be smooth.

I nearly had an off at a gas station where I entirely missed all the pumps and skidded across the front of them when the attendants had put sand down to mop up a spill. If there had been a vehicle at the far end of the pumps I would have hit it. I had been using both front and rear brake and had just started to put my feet down, releasing the rear brake when the skid started.

Definitely keep off the front brake in those circumstances.


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Ride on !

why II

You folks have just clarified for me something that happened a couple of weeks back on a slow stop with my Trophy. I'm shorter and it's higher and heavy and I'm always careful at low speeds and stopping, especially when getting ready to pull out in traffic from a parking lot.

I was rolling to a stop to leave a parking lot and at the last moment spotted a car moving faster down the road coming my way so I figured I'd wait. It was a slight down slope and I was going to turn left and put out my left leg and squeezed the front brake. The bike dove but my leg was out and my boots grip well so we didn't go down, just tilted a bit. But my knee is now hurting a bit.

From now on for slow speed stops I will be focusing on the rear brake.

OddballZ23

I think Jonkster got it right, as I did a low speed drop when trying to pull into a parking space while being a little too cute for my own good. Was going to pull in facing the space and tried to then cut back a little to line up to backpedal in. So, very low speed, wheel at an angle, and at the point I thought I needed to I grabbed all front brake no rear, and did a slow speed lower/drop. Ego hit indeed! Bike, luckily not so much, cracked right front turn signal lenses, pushed the headlight mount around (moved it back later with gentle pressure, but still a bit bent), small scratch to the pipe.

All in all, pretty lucky, and will try not to do that again!! Will try the low speed rear brake approach, sounds sensible.