My First Crash

[Bordiga]

As everyone says, "don't get cocky and ride over your head" and today I learned that lesson the hard way.

Ride started out pretty mellow, heading down lower Market out to 1 and then out of SF on 280. Took the half moon bay exit and headed to Skyline blvd since I had heard great things about it. It is my first twisty road and I am loving it! I feel proud that I am taking the turns so well (I think) and it is really exhilarating. I come up behind a Harley rider and he waves for me to pass and I accelerate by him.

Next thing I know I'm hitting some much sharper S curves that I am not prepared for, the first curve I barely get through without crossing the double yellow, the next I am way too inside for. I try to brake in a straight line before the turn but end up braking into the turn then hitting some mud by the side of the road and low siding out.

I come down on my left hand then roll and hit my right shoulder. Gloves are fine but the shoulder on my jacket is scratched up pretty bad. The visor on my helmet is also scratched on the right side. The left side of my bike is scratched up with the left turn signal snapped off and the gear lever bent in pretty badly.

The Harley rider I passed pulls over (cool guy) and helps me lift my bike back up and gives me the "everyone drops it some time" pep talk and helps me inspect the bike. He says he lost sight of me and was surprised I was entering those curves so quick, I tell him I'm an idiot who hadn't driven this road before. We decide I can probably ride it home but working the gear shift will be a little tricky.

I head back home much more careful than before with wounded pride and a sprained left arm, but I can't wait to get back on that road again :)


What I am sure I did wrong...

1. Had too much fun and got too confident, driving faster than what I could handle.

2. Panicked and ended up braking into the turn instead of counter-steering harder to get through it.

Any input appreciated!

[GhostRider]

... we live and learn.

i think you summed up your mistakes nicely.

also, please give the helmet an extra close look (and bring it to the dealer if in doubt).

helmets are very fragile, and if there is any scratches on it, it may just have done its duty and is to be retired.
there may be tiny cracks which could weaken it, and next time you need it it will break easily.

[snowface]

+1

YAY for gear! glad to see you wore the protection that saved you numerous serious injuries, hospital bills, etc... :thumbup

take it easy on that arm for a few days, couple advil with every meal for a while should help.

and you definately summed it up well, glad you and the bike are ok! like ghostrider said, double check that helmet. if it hit pavement, get a new one.

[Slowmofo]

Yea we all been there. Biggest thing is too admit your mistake and not try to cover it up with gravel in the road. We all tend to do that but when soemone owns up to a crash fellow riders don't look down on you as much. :laughing I used the gravel bit once :shhh

[Z3n]

Originally posted by Slowmofo
Yea we all been there. Biggest thing is too admit your mistake and not try to cover it up with gravel in the road. We all tend to do that but when soemone owns up to a crash fellow riders don't look down on you as much. :laughing I used the gravel bit once :shhh

+1...My accidents have all been my fault....a little while back i stopped blaming them on cold tires :laughing

Either way, the thing you need to do is relax on the bike. Light on the bars, on the grips, and when you get into that "oh shit i can't make it" situation, you need to relax, not target fixate, look where you're going, and push the bike in with the inside bar. Keep your outside hand relaxed. Many people forget to countersteer once they're in a corner, or their left hand countersteers but their right hand resists, or vice versa.

Glad you came out ok, and get that helmet inspected!

[cold100onhw1]

"Glad you came out ok, and get that helmet inspected!"

+1

admiting you mistake will let you learn from it.

[VTRZA]

I bet that harley guy thought it was pretty funny:laughing

[Nozzle]

This is exactly how I went down too. :)

Glad you came out with no lasting injuries, and definitely check out that helmet... I guess I should do the same, as I haven't taken it to the dealership either. Dang it I could have done it today.

[Bordiga]

Thanks for the advice. Think the helmet is OK since the only part that hit the road was the visor but I'll get it checked just in case. Yeah I'm sure that harley guy found it hilarious :|

[Ironbutt]

Coool.. now we all know that you crashed. heheh.. just kidding..

Um.. Good job.. errr.. wait.. glad your allright.. :-)

[Mudda Focker]

wow...good thing your ok man

[TimDC2x]

Be glad no one else saw you wipe out :teeth ;)

From one newb to another, I know the feeling of overconfidence and I'm also intimately familiar with what happens because of that (false) confidence! Needless to say, I've slowed down quite a bit in my 7 months on the saddle.

[fms1day]

Glad you're alright man.
All these crash threads are preparing me for when I finally get behind a bike!
Great forum!

[Variable]

Glad you're okay.

One thing you might consider initially, I still do this too, is when going thru the twisties, whether you know the road well or not, is to take it slow(er) the first time, like a recon mission if you will.
You don't know what is in the road (gravel, oil spill, pine needles, etc.) or the road condition itself (cold, slippery).

[caponerd]

Originally posted by Bordiga


What I am sure I did wrong...

1. Had too much fun and got too confident, driving faster than what I could handle.

2. Panicked and ended up braking into the turn instead of counter-steering harder to get through it.

Any input appreciated!

You forgot to say "not looking where I wanted to go".

Were you looking at the mud on the side of the road that you didn't want to go into?

It's truly amazing how much it can help to actually look at the corner exit while you're in a turn.

[Bordiga]

Thanks caponerd good catch. You are right, I think that is also something I didn't do correctly and haven't thought about a great deal. Usually I am good about looking through but in that instance panic and fixation definitely set in.

[caponerd]

Originally posted by Bordiga
Thanks caponerd good catch. You are right, I think that is also something I didn't do correctly and haven't thought about a great deal. Usually I am good about looking through but in that instance panic and fixation definitely set in.

Panic is a normal reaction. What's not normal, and can only be learned through practice is instinctive, automatic, and correct reactions to the situations that cause the panic.

The MSF training introduces you to the concepts you need to practice in order to train your body to react properly.
It's called "muscle memory". It's why people practice their Karate excersizes for years on end. Teaching your body to react properly on a motorcycle without waiting for your mind to get over the panic is no different.

[onsse]

I too, took a spill the same way.. I was riding on Panoche Rd and was getting confidents on the twisties when I took a blind curve leaning to the left - then all of a sudden there was a freaking driveway to the right.. my vision got distracted for a split second and by the time I looked bact at my line.. i had lost it and panicked. I grabbed the front break and highsided...

it sucks so bad.. came out with a sprained ankle and a scratch on the knee cap.. damage to the bike are plastics and a brace, tank is dented ..

was able to ride it back home.. cool old guy on a cruiser helped me up and rode back with me to Gilroy to make sure I was ok...

lessons learned?? slow down on unfamiliar roads / do not panic, roll off the throttle. now - i'm waiting to heal up and get the parts to arrive to get my bike running again..

onsse

[caponerd]

Originally posted by onsse


lessons learned?? slow down on unfamiliar roads / do not panic, roll off the throttle. now - i'm waiting to heal up and get the parts to arrive to get my bike running again..

onsse

I'm going to come across like a broken record; I've said this at least twice before.

When in doubt, the clutch is your best friend.
In a panic situation, when you think you're "rolling off" the throttle, you're probably really "chopping" it.
Too fast into a turn is not the best time to induce heavy engine braking to the back wheel.