Crashing

[ExPatTommo]

I had the unfortunate experience of watching one of my friends crash yesterday. In short he was chasing a faster member of the group and lost it round a corner. He's not that experienced so when he realised he had taken the corner too fast he jumped on the front break mid corner which brought the bike upright and then off the road. The bike then hit some loose dirt and off he came.

His damage consisted of a broken wrist in 3 places and the bike, luckily, isn't too bad. Just a few bent leavers, a broken radiator and scrathed exhaust. It could have been a lot worse!!

It got me thinking about riding in groups and I reckon that unless you have the presence of mind to ride at and only at your own pace then riding with a group of quicker riders can pose a large threat to your own safety. It's a shame my mate has to damage himself and his bike to find that out.

After 10 years of riding superbikes I have to admit that on occasion I still feel the 'red mist' decend when i have a faster rider overtake me!!

Am interested to hear what you all think??

[Hairball]

I save "tryin to win" for a track day, I could care less about riding 90% of my ability on the streets, I may be able to do it most of the time, But sand, oil or road kill says NO!
Not to mention other drivers.

My closest non-wreck was rollin over a freshly killed squirrel with both tires at full lean in Noth Carolina.
I have no idea how I managed to save it... Pure luck!

If I am going to wad my bike, It will be at the track, No curbs or guard rails for me.

[welshrob]

About 2 years ago I ran a 'raiding the border' RAT raid to Kyogle. It was an all day ride on twisty roads and we had 43 bikes turn out, mostly Triumphs but also some Jap and euro bikes as well. We had a slow group and a fast group but of course no-one wants to be labelled slow, so the fast group ends up much larger than it should be. After lunch, a guy on a Laverda binned it big time, trying to keep up with me on the twisties. No one said anything to me, the guy who fell off, he even said "don`t stress, it`s my fault," but I felt so guilty and kept apologising to him. I knew the roads a lot better than him and I had a better handling bike.
He didn`t break any bones but had major road rash with heavy bleeding and the bike was Trashed. I don`t know how I would have dealt with it if he`d been killed.
These days, when I go out riding with a group of sportsbikes, I switch my ego off completely and just concentrate on keeping within my limits.

[ExPatTommo]

I have to admit to feeling bad as I should have tried to reiterate that he shouldn't keep up with the faster riders unless his ability lets him do so comfortably. I suppose though it's up to all of us to show restraint and know where the limits are. The only prolem is the understanding of those limits only really comes with experience!!

[DaveM]

I know exactly what you guys mean, I have had two guys crash when riding with me in the last two years.

One was a total lunitic (I didn't know him he just joined in) who ended up with serious knee and shoulder injuries crashing at 120kph in front of me on a bumpy bend who was riding like a loon including blocking me as though he was on a track. Guess what he was riding? A BMW armchair! LT1200
I saw it somersault through the trees (3 metres high) which he himself hit.

The other was a young bloke I didn't know who we met on the way who asked if could join the group of four. My mate fred and I said yes but you must ride at your own pace and not try to keep up if any of us are riding outside your comfort zone................................. yeah right!

First set of mountain twisties the guy stacks it a bit like your guy ExPatTommo.
My mates and I spent the rest of the morning helping the Fire brigade and ambos. Oil all over the road etc.
It turned out he was wearing the worm race leathers he bought second hand along with the CBR 600 with warn tyres too. (Never judge a book by it's cover). He got off with minor injuries but wrote off his bike.

I prefer to ride with a few guys I know, we all know what the other can and can't do.

I am also guilty of the occasional "red mist" episode but mostly try to just enjoy myself and mind my own business and leave others to do there own thing as long as they keep outa my way and I will get out of the way of someone obviously better or nuttier than me.

DaveM

[BillT]

Its sad to see these guys think they can corner like Rossi because they've got the Dianese leathers and a Supersport between their knees.
When we go on group rides, I usually take the back. I don't mind having others ride ahead, and if I see anyone riding over their head, I try to get them to hang back with me.
I know I'm not the fastest guy out there and, frankly, I'm a bit old to drag a knee.

Like Welshie says, if you're running a group ride, you've got to keep your ego at bay and keep well within your limits.

One friend of mine has a rule that a rider can't run with the 'rabbits' unless he's been thoroughly checked out by those rabbits.

[stmike]

I ride canyons every weekend and sometimes I pass others and sometimes others pass me. I don't give a sh!t either way, as I'm up there to enjoy myself and ride my ride. I think when on a motorcycle everyone has to use some common sense and take responsibility for their own actions. It may sound harsh, but I won't take responsibility for anyone else's mishaps unless I'm the direct cause. Of course I'd feel bad for anyone who goes down, but I'm not going to pound myself with guilt if it's their own fault. JMHO.

[ctrhenry]

i tend to ride solo or with just a few other guys and its always the same talk at the beginning , ride your f$#@@ bike , dont worry about what anyone else is doing and dont think your going to impress anyone.

its also nice to have the leader get a good idea of what the others skills are . a hot head is quickly identified and given the first position, tends to slow em down a bit

[Goffe]

Our RAT leader is real good about stressing everyone to ride within their limits. Very few egos among the group, if any, that I have observed so far. I rode with another RAT group last week, and though most of the riders weresmart and reasonable, there were a few obvious ego problems, stupid moves, etc. I won't ride with them again, if I can help it. No crashes though, thankfully.

[ruscook]

The guys I do big rides on are mostly faster than me. The rest of us can be faster than each other on our day.. No one's slow though.

This has taught me to go at my own pace. Nothing worse than keeping up with a Duc 999 and binning it (which I've done!).

After seeing a mate (big Jim, Det) go round sportsbikes on outside on the Omeo-to Anglers Rest Rd on an older Gs1000 with only 3.5" tyres I *know* it's rider capability not bike that makes the difference so it's no good thinking about leading everyone just cos' speedy handles well :-)

Sorry to hear about your mate tommo - it's a hard way to learn.

Russ