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Newbie down NOW WITH PICTURES
On Monday evening I was traveling home from my sisters house which is about an hours ride away on some very good "biking" roads. I was about 10 mins from home going through a slow series of twisties doing about 50-55 mph. On the last right hander (I hate right handers) I felt that I was not going to make it and pulled on the brakes to try and scrub off some more speed. The result was a low speed highside as I hit a patch of gravel at the side of the road. Luckily there was a gravel driveway right at that part of the bend and I was thrown off the bike (landing on my left hip/arm) and slid for about 3m.
Initially I managed to get to my feet but after a few minutes I could not walk on my left leg. I called the wife and she came to collect me from the crash scene and the people who lived at the house there wheeled the bike into there garden. We arrived at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary at 9.15pm and did not get seen until 1.30am :shock: After an x-ray the radiographer said that there was a small 'line' on my pelvis that she was concerned about and would bring to the doctors attention. On further examination by the doctors they felt that there was no fracture to my pelvis (as they would not have been able to move my left leg like they had been) but they felt that there was severe internal bruising. I put this spill down to 2 things. My lack of experience and my fear of right hand bends :oops: . I know that had I just had bigger balls at the time I should have just counter steered slightly more and it would have probably gone round the bend fine. My fear of right handers comes from the unnatural feeling I get from leaning my body into the path of oncoming vehicles. The bike has been picked up by my insurance company's recovery agents for this area and I am waiting to hear what they are saying about it. From what I can remember (I was very shaken and speaking jibberish at the time) it is only cosmetic damage. Top fairing, mirror, gear lever, peg, side panels, clutch lever, bar end. I am currently signed off my work for a week and hopefully I will be up and about in the next day or 2. I can get around just now but have to use a dining chair as a zimmer frame :cry: Oh and my lid is trashed (along with my 2 week old dark visor) my Alpinestars gloves and trousers have a couple of scuffs as does my jacket along with the poppers at the back needing replacing. boots are ok. I am sooo glad I spent the extra few quid on decent gear that's for sure. This will not put me off riding but it does make me want to get some sort of extra training to build confidence/experience. |
Sounds like you've learnt an important lesson the hard way.
If you're going too fast while in a corner, then you're going too fast; there's nothing more you can do about it other than try and get the bike round. I've learnt it and got lucky. It can still sometimes take a conscious effort to not reach for the brakes if I realise that I've gone in too hot, though I think I'm now alot more cautious than I used to be. Slow in, fast out is how I like it. Anyway, glad you didn't suffer too badly. |
glad to hear you're alright.
Dont worry about it, i think we've all been there, or at least very very close to being there. I know i had a very close shave when i was getting to grips with my sv by doing the very same thing. Sounds like you've learnt from it, which is only a positive thing. |
Bad luck, not a nice feeling is it? Experience counts for a lot and the irony is that you would most likely have made the bend if you'd not hauled on the anchors and instead counter-steered heavily and focused on the exit point. It's all a learning curve, some things you get away with, others you don't. Could have been an awful lot worse, hope you get body and bike sorted quickly :wink: .
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Jonboy, your right about focusing on the exit point as the thing that really stuck in my mind was that I might hit the stone wall at the end of the driveway.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that I had a video camera strapped to my tank at the time so as soon as I get hold of something to play the tape on I should see where I went wrong. |
Sorry to hear about your off, glad you are relatively OK, hope you get back on the road soon
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bad luck dude. It sounds like you already know what you did wrong and have accepted the error as yours which is the first step to getting it right next time. :lol:
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unlucky
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Bad luck mate.
Sounds like you will learn from it tho. |
Bad luck, get better soon.
I feel uncomfortable in right handers unless they are roundabouts. the reason behind this seems to be the camber in the road. Most roads will camber out to the kerb so when on a left hander the road tends to bank slightly to your advantage, but on a right hander it goes away from you towards the kerb, this tends to give an unsettling feeling like you are going downhill while turning. Roundabouts tend to camber into the centre where the drains are. |
Thats harsh Glyn but your not alone mate and unfortantly its part of the learning curve. Just consider it a notch on your bikers belt ;)
I know what you mean about right handers and the feeling you get, everyone will experience a moment like that. I was mid bend when the bend was sharper than i expected, i impressed myself by not grabbing the brakes but by leaning the bike right over and scraping the peg on the ground, scary as hell but the bike got round. Learnt several lessons that day :shock: Speedy recovery mate and hope your out and about on the bike quickly :D Where abouts are you? there may be some bikers on here that could help ya get back your confidence, but a course or summin is also a good idea. Failing that just keep riding :thumbsup: |
Glyn..Such a sickener.No-one will gloat on here,I bet many have been close to doing this even with many miles behind them. It does sound crazy doesnt it? Going too fast in to a bend so lay it down more? Natural reaction is to touch those brakes and tip toe around it! Problem is the Laws of Physics always contrive to make this a no chance situation!
And how does the bike know your not looking where you should but as always head straight to where you are looking? Target fixation such a wee b*stard that one. So in future look only where you want to go..not where you least want to go! Once you are fit and the bike sorted maybe try to conquer your fear by being more central in your own lane and thus further away from oncoming traffic for your right handers? Give it a go I am sure it will be a big help. :wink: 8) |
Falc,
I'm in Aberdeenshire and I don't think there are any of the guys/gals from this site in my area. Thanks to all for comments and support and if there are any members from my area wanting to hook up then drop me a line. |
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First off, you are incredibly brave in posting this for all the world to read, and I admire and respect you for it.
Second, I shivered when I read it as it's exactly what I did last year, except I did it on a left hander when I got too close to oncoming traffic at 45 - 50. I broke my pelvis in two places. It was horrible, it could have been far far worse, and bad as it was, if there'd been something behind me I'd have been run over. I never saw the bike again. It was a write off. When I felt up to it I bought an ER5 just to get my confidence back (sold it asap!!!) and did more training. I still don't like left handers though. Golden rules - NEVER sacrifice safety for position, never brake in a corner unless you absolutely must, and then try to get the bike upright if you can. Welcome to the off club :thumbsup: |
Sorry you've had an 'off', get well soon.
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Ladies and gentlemen, i give you Glynmitch, the new me :)
Seriously though, the most important thing to do is to learn from it, and it sounds like you've already nailed the 2 key things- one that you're not comfortable in right handers, and the other that you should have trusted the bike more and not braked... When I binned it the first time, I know for a fact I could have taken the corner 10mph faster without problems- but I got in a flap and tried to lose some speed. It's the most natural thing in the world and it's bad news :) As for right-handers, I was the exact same- I think most people are the other way round when they're first learning- lefts are scarier because of the lower visibility and crossing the traffic if you crash, right? But for me, rights were always worse since you're head's closer to the traffic, and your wheel's closer to the **** in the gutter. It took nothing to shake me up in a right hander- one car on the line, in fact one car at all could put me off, and while I could plan a good line I always wandered off it. But you've worked out the problem- now fix it! All it takes is awareness, practice, and ultimately the faith in yourself and the machine to do things right. |
I feel your (psychological) pain! I'll never forget my first (and only so far) car crash, that moment when you have time to think "sh*t I've lost it and it isn't going to stop without hitting something!"
Haven't binned the bike yet, but I wish everyone else would stop crashing, its starting to feel inevitable. :( |
Hey... Really sorry to hear this but glad you're relatively ok. :D Good plan to get some advanced training.
When you're back up and running you could even think about doing a track day. You can get an instructor to take you 'round the right handers and teach you they're not so bad. :) I learned alot from my first track day. I've come close to doing what you did before but I think for me the shame of screwing up (and I don't mean you should feel ashamed or anything, I just know I'd feel absolutely stupid...and sore. ;)) is what steeled me to get the bike round. :lol: Do or die (of embarrassment)... :lol: Stubborn pride's a funny thing. ;) Anyway, I hope you heal up and get back out there really soon. :) |
like everyone else says, all good advice.
One of the most useful and basic tips is to look where you want to go, not where you're afraid you might end up. Practice this on easy steady roads, when everythings clear. Pick a spot in the road and aim for it, 99% of the time you'll go straight there. Gradually move on to doing it in corners, nice and slow, pick the spot you want to go over and fix on it. You'll find you invariably go where you're fixed on, so if you fix on a crash spot, that's where you'll go. It takes a bit of practice but it really works. If you think you're going into a bend too fast, brake in a straight line as hard as conditions allow, get off the brakes before trying to bank over for the bend, then stay off the brakes and fix on getting round the bend, gradually and gently easing on the power as you go round. If road conditions are reasonable, you're on decent warm tyres, the bike will go round a lot tighter bends than you think possible. |
Bad luck mate.
At least you're still here to tell the tale and its encouraged you top get further training as opposed to putting you off getting back on the bike. |
Thanks again guys.
I think your right Northwind, I need to have more faith in my bike and the tyres that are on it (D220's). Before I started riding though, I thought that it would be more planted on the road but I feel every movement of the back end and when it gets a bit twitchy mid corner I brick it!! I also know about counter steering and often 'do it' owhile riding. I recently put one extra click of preload on the rear (I am 14st without my gear on) and that has made a world difference to the way it handles in corners. It definately gave me more confidence. As for extra training, I really don't think I am ready for the IAM but am going to try and find out about a local MCC as they often have rideouts. I know that in Aberdeen they have a 'Breakfast Club' that meet on a Sunday morning and is organised by the instructors there. Will keep you all posted |
Btw, as for the not being ready for IAM thing, I'm sure a member will be along shortly to tell you that there's no such thing. Advanced training is for everybody, not just those who want to go fast.
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Sorry to hear about the spill :(
Have you had a look at the video footage? It might be worth a few quid. (And make you a TV star :wink: ) |
Unfortunately it's on an 8mm tape so I need to get it onto disc or something as I don't have a video player. Anyone got any idea's?
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If it's a digital 8 camcorder (Sony?) you should be able to put it on your PC through the firewire port. If it's analogue you need someone with a compatable digital camcorder you could borrow or a video capture card. Or you could record it onto VHS.
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Well advice you have had plenty of so I will just add my commiserations. Hope the insurance people give you a good deal or get the bike repaired real soon.
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Streetos,
My camcorder was strapped to the tank of my bike while I binned it. The camcorder is now in a bag, in pieces (oops!) I have recovered the tape but have no way of playing it. I am going to ask some relatives, neighbours to see if they have a camcorder I can borrow. I do have a firewire port on my laptop so should be able to get something rigged up. |
Sorry to hear that mate, don't let it knock your confidence!
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regards the iam thing ,,,,, i went twice and i was told to put more miles on it and get more exp .i hadnt owned a bike for a long time and felt that i wasnt ready either .its not about riding fast ,i just want a bit of time on the bike to feel comfortable on it cos i would be thinking about the basics of trying to ride properly again and not on what i should b thinking about(iam stuff) .so yes i agree with comment about <not being ready> il go back shortly and do it justice and not have to think about all the stuff that u usally take for granted.btw im no novice just a bit (a lot )rusty time passes and all that :wink:
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Sorry to hear your off m8, i had mine off 6 weeks after i got the bike, did the exact same thing by trying to slow down using brakes... lately, i have been trying to get rid of my fat chicken strips and attempting to do knee downs. while doing that, i find that you get far more play and confidence once you have shift the ass off the seat. I was doing that today on a same sweeping bend with sitting up right pos and shifting weight style... my god, what a difference it makes. same speed in the corner, sitting up right on seat makes me feel i may not make it, whilst shifting weight i feel i am too slow and can add another 20 mph on... give that a try as well (not the knee down, shift body weight wise), it may help...
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It just occurred to me that I've twice binned the SV by either braking inappropriately (in a corner) or too hard (on a trackday, found a wet spot on the track where I wasn't expecting it) but I've never once binned it by simply trying to take a corner too fast. There's a message there :) The only times I've come close, was rider error and not a lack of cornering potential too.
I've said this before but especially for beginners (and i still call myslef a relative beginner) the Sv's better at corners than you are, trust it even when you're brain's telling you not to. It has its limits but i you manage to find them while still learning you're a braver man than I :) |
I know what you mean and to make it worse my tyres were well warmed up as I had been riding for around 30mins prior to coming off. Just need my nads to grow a bit bigger me thinks :?
It's a hard lesson to learn, but learn the hard way I will. By the way, my brother is going to get some pictures of my bike tonight so hopefully I will be able to post some up tomorrow. |
Braking in a Corner Question ?
I have almost done this on a right hander. I quickly came off the gas and leaned over more than I was used to since I only had the bike 2 weeks. I must admit to very lightly applying the brakes mid corner, most on the front and a less for the back. I was very well aware of not to grab the brakes in a corner so I must stress it was slight pressure just to try and kill some speed.
My question : are using the brakes in this fashion, that is slow and slight pressure... is it accepted if the situation calls for it ? just to get you round in a panic situation assuming leaning more is out or more risky. |
Sorry to hear this and hope you (and the bike) are better soon.
I came off on a righthander going very slowly but it was icy about 25 years ago and often I still feel a bit anxious about them. As others have said I think it is the anxiety about oncoimg traffic which doesn't help and starting further to the left helps this plus trying to look where you want to go and not where you're scared of going... have to say this is easier said that done when it's happening, tho'. Hope you're back biking soon. |
Re: Braking in a Corner Question ?
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(if possible). At least that is what I vaguely remember my CBT instructor telling me. |
Just ordered this lid from racevisors.co.uk in black/silver for £59.99 delivered. BARGAIN!!
http://www.thebikereview.com/iup/get8.asp?ID=781 Plus I washed my black visor and it looks like it will live again. There are a few scratches round the bit where the push button goes on the left side but it does not interfere with line of vision :D |
Ouch :roll: :cry:
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