Newbie down NOW WITH PICTURES

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

Speedy recovery mate and hope your out and about on the bike quickly

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

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.

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.

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

Sorry you've had an 'off', get well soon.

[northwind]

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. 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. Do or die (of embarrassment)...

Stubborn pride's a funny thing.

Anyway, I hope you heal up and get back out there really soon.

[embee]

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.