Rider down - am I really that cr*p...?

Ok - you don't need to answer that...

It happened again this morning..riding slowly (10-15mph) along a quiet urban street which curved left: unsighted by a parked van so conciously thinking "careful - could be something coming the other way" - guess what:there was!!

I reacted by grabbing a handful of front brake, but as I was travelling so slowly just succeded in locking the front wheel, and 'cos the bike was leaning left it was down before I realised it.

3rd time I've done this at slow speed in 8yrs - is it just me? :bad bike handling?

Normal braking I use back with the front, but in an "emergency stop" type of situation, the reaction is to grab the front.

Maybe I need stabilisers...

[the_lone_wolf]

go down to an empty car park and practice progressive braking, gradually stopping harder and harder until you can do it without thinking, then you'll do it without thinking when you have to

Perhaps some training for you sir would be in order.

Sorry to hear about this mate.
It happens to everyone at some point. Don't touch the front brake if the bike's leant over.. it stands it up and can cause a low-side.
They say that in the dry (in a straight line) braking should be about 80% front and 20% rear brake, but in the wet that changes to 50:50.

What I found useful is going to a supermarket carpark after hours and seeing how quick you can stop from different speeds and how much you can brake before the wheels lock up. Obviously follow this advice at your own risk as you could drop your bike, 'though it's never happened to me when practising (do it when I get an unfamiliar car/bike).
When braking in a real emergancy situation it's very easy to panic. I guess there's no way you can completely stop this sorta' thing happening, but if you know the limits of your tyres and brakes, it definitely helps if you do need to use them

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

go down to an empty car park and practice progressive braking, gradually stopping harder and harder until you can do it without thinking, then you'll do it without thinking when you have to

+1... progressive is key.
In the wet you can get almost as much braking power down, but you just need to ease it on.

I just stopped caring if I die or not, if I fall off or not, I just take what comes and would rather wait a second and think about the situation and react. Lately there have been moments where I would have previously panic-braked and crashed, but thankfully experience and just having locked up the front before, knowing my bike, etc, means I'll just apply enough pressure to stop without locking up.

Practise in the carpark or a straight piece of unused road

Originally Posted by Jamiebridges123

I just stopped caring if I die or not

What about those you'd leave behind?

Only the missus would care... it's not like i plan to but if you think about survival, instinct takes over, and you'll crash.

Instict tells you to grab a load of brake. Experience and thinking the situation says to apply progressively. And well i know what i'd rather do!

First time i was in a situation like that i just did the newb thing and grabbed the front brake, down i went, but i don't imagine i'll be doing that again, and even now, months on, i'm much more aware of things. I don't know how much training will stop you from automatically grabbing the front even when you're leaning, i guess you just need to slow right down and take on that 'every car driver is a crazed killer and hates me' persona

Originally Posted by Thingus

I don't know how much training will stop you from automatically grabbing the front even when you're leaning,

You'd be surprised.

Not long ago I posted that I had an incident. I'd gone for a very agressive overtake & pulled back in just before a tight left bend. So I yanked the anchors, the front locked & I released immediately & re-applied.

Thanks to a combination of watching decent instruction, and car park practice, I now know exactly how hard I can get away with braking, and wht to do in the event of a lock-up.

I'd recommend anyone thats not sure to practice in a car park - so long as you release the brake when the tyre locks, you'll be fine.