[Guest]

There I was cruising along at 100k's and an a$%#$%e in a Land rover merges into my lane. I jammed on the brakes locking up the back wheel putting my bike side ways while sliding into the right hand lane, some how missing a taxi that was cruising along at what must have been 130. Luckily I managed not to lay her down by using my leg to pop her up right,so the only damage to speak of is a sprained ACL and some bruised cartilage in my right knee. Everyone around us stopped to see if I was ok. Everyone but the driver of the Land Rover that is.

 

[okcommuter]

Oh god! Sounds like an unfortunate incident, that could have been a non issue had you not slammed on that rear brake.

Get out and practice some emergency braking...like when you are out on a ride, randomly shut her down, do this at least once on every ride so that the braking maneuver becomes second nature.

Slamming that rear brake is a reflex that dirt bike riders like me have to work on changing. I've done a lot of practicing for that panic situation, but I'm afraid that when the time comes I'd do the same thing you did!

 

[ruscook]

tourer_monkey, good reflexes and yes getting the foot down is instinctive and helps (even at the expense of ligaments) I had to do it at only 60K the other day (hit some oil in a roundabout - shudder)... But it works to keep you upright.

Good advice to practice emergency braking, I know I need to do more of it, and ideally we shouldn't lock up the rear, but sometimes it happens and you did well to keep her upright.

Geez Townsville (or at least FNQ) seems a dangerous place. Gavs got collected there (or Rocky).....


Alls well that ends well, good luck with the sprain.

Russ

 

[MNSpintST]

Let the sprain heal.. Dont stress it too soon. A full tear of an ACL is some pretty major surgery.


Keep your foot on the right peg in such a way that you have to deliberately move forward to be actually able to engage the rear brake.

Put the ball of your foot on the right peg as opposed to the arch near the heel... Also cover the front brake (just touching lever) with your pointer and middle finger.

This way the front brake is always going to be engaged alot quicker than the rear.. Once you have started slowing you and the bike will settle down a bit and you can decide how much rear brake to blend in.. Always initiate the panic stop with the front..

 

[DaveM]

tourer_monkey,
bad luck old son. But it could have been a lot worse as you of course are well aware.

I'm glad you are here to tell the story and hope you heal up well soon.

Do you think you may have hit a white line or deisel with the rear or just a tad heavy booted?

Although I'm not telling you how to suck eggs.

heal up quick and get back on dem two whells bro.

Davem

 

[Guest]

Normally I wouldn't jam the back brake but if I didn't put it sideways ze car would have made me one with ze pavement. Thanks for the advice all. Practice is never a bad idea.

 

[DaveM]

tourer_monkey,
I know exactly what you mean mate.

I have been in those situations where sometimes it is best to lay the bike down. I avoided the back of a milk truck once like that many moons ago.

I've had practise at going down the road a few times myself! :-D

Davem

 

[mglemans86]

Practice, practice. I came off a Guzzi with linked brakes and the only way to stop fast was to jump on all of the brakes. First time I tried that on the Sprint I was sideways.

When I ride the Norton things get really confusing. It has an opposite shift pattern on the opposite side. You stomp on the back brake and up shift or you go to bang a shift and you hit the rear brake. It takes a few miles and conscious effort to get it right. Fortunately those memory brain cells are only dormant and not fried.