Path down toward Stinson Beach

[cypilk]

I was riding with my buddy today and we came from san francisco toward mt. tam / stinson beach area. Going down stinson beach, one of the few downhill left turns is banked very poorly so I lost traction and skid into the dirt. Luckily I had no fairing damage and my bike still looks good. Has anyone ever done this or known of others that have?

[budbandit]

Here, let me fix that for you:

Going down stinson beach, one of the few downhill left turns is banked very poorly. Unfortunately I was riding over my head and not prepared for this so I lost traction and skid into the dirt.

YOU fucked up and dumped your bike. Take ownership of the wreck. That road didn't reach up and bite you, you dumped it.

When you get on your bike, your destiny is in your hands and your safe return is your responsibility. Part of this is adjusting your pace such that your skillset can handle not just the expected perfectly banked, grippy, nicely cambered turns but also the unexpected crap road surface, off camber turn, bicycle, dog or child in the road etc.

[caponerd]

Originally posted by budbandit
Here, let me fix that for you:

Going down stinson beach, one of the few downhill left turns is banked very poorly. Unfortunately I was riding over my head and not prepared for this so I lost traction and skid into the dirt.

YOU fucked up and dumped your bike. Take ownership of the wreck. That road didn't reach up and bite you, you dumped it.

When you get on your bike, your destiny is in your hands and your safe return is your responsibility. Part of this is adjusting your pace such that your skillset can handle not just the expected perfectly banked, grippy, nicely cambered turns but also the unexpected crap road surface, off camber turn, bicycle, dog or child in the road etc.

He's right, you know, a lot of people ride there every weekend, and most of them don't go off the road.

But, to answer the original question, yes, others have gone off the road around there.

[cold100onhw1]

Originally posted by budbandit
Here, let me fix that for you:

Going down stinson beach, one of the few downhill left turns is banked very poorly. Unfortunately I was riding over my head and not prepared for this so I lost traction and skid into the dirt.

YOU fucked up and dumped your bike. Take ownership of the wreck. That road didn't reach up and bite you, you dumped it.

When you get on your bike, your destiny is in your hands and your safe return is your responsibility. Part of this is adjusting your pace such that your skillset can handle not just the expected perfectly banked, grippy, nicely cambered turns but also the unexpected crap road surface, off camber turn, bicycle, dog or child in the road etc.

+1
The storys of people crashing or almost crashing in that area, my backyard, bug the heck out of me. don't ride over your head. Alot of the roads in west marin are in poor shape and they get worse every year. Not the place to push it if you don't know the roads and what you are doing.

[cypilk]

Yeah, That was my first wreck and I was riding too fast for myself to handle. Good thing that there wasn't any serious damages though.

[i_prefer_yeti]

Actually, let me fix that for you both.


Originally posted by budbandit

The other day I was riding to Stinson Beach with some of my chums. Unbeknownst to me, one of the road's downhill left turns has a rapid grade challenge.

Unfortunately, I was riding over my head and I improperly judged the speed of entry for this turn. Thusly, my motorcycle's tire lost traction and I skidded into the dirt.

Kudos for my quick-thinking mates as they rallied about me faster than a crowd of hobos chasing a button.

With a quick cry of "hoist-her-laddies!" they had me righted topways lickity-split. I was off with narry a scratch, but with a far heavier load.


:teeth

-G

[canyonrat]

BB, very harsh, but still true.

It looks like you were riding a ninja 250...with hard tires I bet. That played a small role in you get off. You likely also dropped the throttle, which overloaded your front.

I'm not trying to show off with what your about to read, lot's of riders do this and even better than this, but it serves as an example.

I have personally gone through gravel situations on down hills at verious speeds and kept the bike up and on the road. It just takes time. I even once went through 1 inch of gravel at 40 mph while braking and turning, and kept the bike up. It just takes time, practice, and skill.

Mark

[Enchanter]

Let's keep this thread on topic with constructive comments, and lighten up on the sarcasm. I would like this area of BARF to be 'safe' to come to and learn.

[moto-rama]

Originally posted by cypilk
Has anyone ever done this or known of others that have?

Was it that hard downhill left/hairpin with the guardrail on the outside?
Did you notice the numerous bits of plastic, motorcycle parts scattered around there?

You wouldn't be the first to eat it on the Panoramic, especially on that turn.

One thing about turns though, they rarely have antlers.

[Variable]

Going down to Stinson has MANY left hand turns.
Next time you go down a road you don't know very well, keep it slow so you know the condition of, and where the debris is, on the road.
Take it easy up there, I grew up in Mill Valley, the road (pavement) to Stinson is crap and if you fly off the mountain, chances are no one is going to know about it unless they see you or are with you.
I've known many folks who have eaten it up there.
Glad you're okay.

[snowface]

Originally posted by cypilk
Yeah, That was my first wreck and I was riding too fast for myself to handle. Good thing that there wasn't any serious damages though.

nice, props to coming back and owning the mistake. pretty simple error (speed), and even simpler fix. if your buddy was pushing a pace that was too fast for you, then make sure you mention that to him should you ride together again.

glad you and the bike are all good.

[Maiden 4EVA]

Originally posted by cypilk
I was riding with my buddy today and we came from san francisco toward mt. tam / stinson beach area. Going down stinson beach, one of the few downhill left turns is banked very poorly so I lost traction and skid into the dirt. Luckily I had no fairing damage and my bike still looks good. Has anyone ever done this or known of others that have?

Where were you, on HWY 1 or a side road?

If you wiped out on 1 itself, then really PAY ATTENTION to what happened. There are lots of places on that road where if you lose it, you LOSE EVERYTHING.

(There is one turn on Fairfax/Bolinas that EATS BIKES regularly. You'll know it when you see it because of all the broken bits of turn signal littering the ground like YELLOW SNOW)

[sportbikeguy]

How long have you been riding for? I've been riding for almost 3 years and since my firs track day I've lost complete interest in going fast on the road. I was never one to speed in the first place, but you want to push it, naturally.

After realizing what 90+ mph turns include or 140+ straights with hard breaking at the end feels like, the small roads with poor road conditions provide great scenery and a relaxing ride. No more urge to push it.

I'd suggest hitting up a track. There are several great ones in the area (t-hill), sears point, etc. Even if you are on a 250 you'll find you can go plenty fast and learn plenty much. Riding a 250 with a lot of skill is, IMHO, a lot more impressive than using a higher cc bike to go much faster in the straights.

I've ridden that road to stinson a few times. It's a great view but you have to be careful of other riders plus cars, gravel, etc.

Good luck and I'm glad to hear you learned with minimal cost.

[moto-rama]

Originally posted by Variable
the road (pavement) to Stinson is crap

Actually the Shoreline (Hwy One)is newly paved from Muir Beach all the way to Stinson Beach.
The Panoramic is somewhat scuffed up but still doesn't qualify as crap.
"crap" is Pinehurst Road, and part of Bolinas Fairfax are pretty dinged up, too.
Don't let anyone know about the fresh pavement on Hwy One.

[xgambit]

i was just there on saturday! that road was great! loved those hairpins!