First real "Oh Shit" moment

[Dave H]

Went on a group ride last weekend and had my first "Oh Shit" moment in 4k miles of riding. Having completed my braking and tipped my bike into a downhill lefthand bend on a single track road, my front tire hit something slippery (I didn't see anything on the road) and slid. I don't recall what I was doing/not doing with regards to the throttle. Thankfully the bike stayed upright and it only caused me to run a little wide.

The ride was part of Doc Wong's clinic and, as luck would have it, the focus of the ride was on being relaxed and gentle on the handlebars to let the machine do what it needs to do. In this case I think the things I got right were speed (i.e. not too fast), nice and relaxed on the bars and recovery/reset (I surprised myself by being able to shake it off, take a breath and continue calmly). Things I think I got wrong, line selection. I was trying to ride a wide line with late turn in but I've noticed I have a tendency to turn in early on lefthand turns so think I could have been wider (not that I was in the middle of the lane or anything). Still getting to know the roads around the Santa Cruz mountains and can't recall exactly which road this occurred on...

While I think I understand what happened and don't want to over analyze it, would appreciate any additional insights from the good people of BARF to aid learning. Thanks!

@Mods - wasn't sure if this should be in general or elsewhere. Please move as appropriate. Thanks!

 

[mototireguy]

+1 on the staying relaxed, letting the machine/tires do what they need to do and staying committed to the turn.

Normal for tires to sometimes momentarily slip/skip/drift in a turn depending on road surface conditions. Staying relaxed and committed, maintaining mental/visual focus inside/thru the turn is good. Tightening up, hitting the brakes or looking to the outside of the turn bad.

 

[clutchslip]

Well it's not an accident, so you can't go there. It isn't a track day, so that is out. It wasn't a Doc Wong race, so no Racer's Corner. It wasn't a dirt bike. It is about motorcycles. General seems okay-dokay to me.

Tell me all about your tires: Condition, pressure, temperature. Then tell me if you were following someone specifically. And if you were comfortable with their pace.

I rode on Sunday and people were trying to kill me, I noticed. Not a news flash, but there were noticeably elevated attempts to take me out. I got a bit frustrated and passed a car in a very unusual location, and a place only my barf friends should try. I hit a big tree root bump that I knew nothing about, because you are not going the wrong way in that spot, usually.:laughing

Anyway ....... I flew in the air, but stayed on the throttle and made the pass, because I was relaxed. You might as well be relaxed, it's much less tiring.
:ride

 

[Dave H]

Tires are in good condition were at the correct pressure and we'd been riding for a while before it happened so I don't think that was the issue.

I was following someone who undoubtedly is a faster / better rider than me. On the corner in question, I don't remember feeling like I was trying to keep up and I wasn't feeling pressure from the rider behind me. That being said there were other moments in the day where I could feel that I was blindly following as opposed to carefully selecting my own speed / line. Don't think that was the case on corner in question but definitely something I need to be aware of.

 

[Schnellbandit]

You did what you were supoosed to do, you didn't over analyze which is good and your approach is spot on.

Experience is the accumulation of things that happen, not things that never happen. Chalk up another in the experience column.:thumbup

 

[ScottRNelson]

Tires slide sometimes. Usually it's the rear tire when I experience it. It feels like the tire moves way more than it really does. Congratulations on riding it out. I've done enough dirt riding that I don't ever give up on trying to make a save until the bike is actually down.

As for line selection, that is one of the most important things you can do to be a safe rider. Most things I've read tell you to hit a late apex, but still have you going back to the outside after the apex. My own method is to hit the inside of the turn at the very end of it and stay there, not drifting back to the outside of the lane again. That makes a big difference for S-turns where you can't see that it's going to be an S-turn when you first enter. It puts you right where you want to be for the next turn, at the outside for the "wide line".

Having a planned line through every turn also helps you realize very early if you're off of that line rather than realizing late as you're going off of the road. Being able to make correction when you're only off a tiny bit is way easier than after you're way off of your line.

 

[Junkie]

"correct pressure" meaning?

 

[mototireguy]

"correct pressure" meaning?

+1

This may have nothing or everything to do with anything.

But the actual numeric number you're using and when did you last check is much more useful than the phrases;

Correct Pressure
Factory Pressure
Sticker On The Swingarm Pressure
The Dealer Set The Pressure

I can't begin to tell you how many customer tires have come in with 15psi or 50psi and the owner insists they're using one of the phrases listed above.

Side note; Bicycle pumps and their built-in tire pressure gauges are terrible for accuracy. Most bicycle tires run in the 60-100psi range where being off by 10psi is no big deal. These bicycle pump gauges are terribly inaccurate when used in lower 25-40psi ranges. FWIW; invest $25 in a digital gauge.

 

[Junkie]

I've checked several $2 auto parts store stick gauges against my Accu Gage and most of them are within 1psi, all were within 2psi. That's plenty accurate for street use.

 

[mototireguy]

I've checked several $2 auto parts store stick gauges against my Accu Gage and most of them are within 1psi, all were within 2psi. That's plenty accurate for street use.

I was referring to bicycle pumps with the integrated pressure gauge.

 

[DucatiHoney]

Tire pressures, correct lines, whatev. Those things might have contributed, but if you were schlepping along the hills like most of us do (which ain't nothing) then you probably just slipped on a booger in the road. It was most likely the rear that slid. (I used to think my entire bike was sliding, like, FEET when it slid, until someone caught my back end scootin' about 4" out of line on some gravel on a ride on his GoPro. My perception versus the reality was...humbling.) Anyhoosiers, I'd probably just keep a look out for stuff in the road from here on out. Don't lean over too much, don't slam on the brakes--just stay relaxed like you did. I've done my fair share of canyon strafing and the problem with riding in the road is that there's always something. Hold back from what you think your abilities are a little all the time and that and luck should keep you out of harm's way a lot. Wear good gear for when you run out of skill and pavement--ride enough and it WILL happen. These types of incidents usually happen in pairs (cuz you're rattled from the first one). And if you want to go nuts and have a bit more control over your environment, hit the track and drain your bank account. It's still cheaper than the hospital.

 

[tuxumino]

I've found it's not uncommon for a motorcycle to slide a bit: some unseen oil or sand, tar snake or dead skunk can cause either tire to slide for enough to make my heart skip a beat.
Staying relaxed is the key.

 

[Dave H]

Thanks for all the replies.

"correct pressure" meaning?

I meant factory specified pressure which I checked in the morning before riding. I bought what I think is a decent gauge so hopefully it's accurate. I've seen other discussions on BARF around pressure being all about operating pressure given conditions and must admit didn't take that into account.

 

[NoTraffic]

To play devil's advocate, I think it was just a hiccup and nothing else.

4k is about 2 months of seat time for me, you will have these unexplainable events during your riding lifetime. The most important part is how you react to the slide and keeping it upright.

Be relaxed, but not too relaxed, just sorta relaxed. :thumbup

 

[Junkie]

Thanks for all the replies.



I meant factory specified pressure which I checked in the morning before riding. I bought what I think is a decent gauge so hopefully it's accurate. I've seen other discussions on BARF around pressure being all about operating pressure given conditions and must admit didn't take that into account.

The factory specified pressures are typically significantly above what makes sense for riding solo on twisty roads.

 

[ScottRNelson]

I meant factory specified pressure which I checked in the morning before riding.

We want to know the actual numbers. :x

 

[mototireguy]

I meant factory specified pressure which I checked in the morning before riding. I bought what I think is a decent gauge so hopefully it's accurate. I've seen other discussions on BARF around pressure being all about operating pressure given conditions and must admit didn't take that into account.

Still hoping for some clarification using numeric numbers.

 

[Blankpage]

(I used to think my entire bike was sliding, like, FEET when it slid, until someone caught my back end scootin' about 4" out of line on some gravel on a ride on his GoPro. My perception versus the reality was...humbling.)

Motorcyclists telling how much their tire slid is like telling those tales of I caught a fish this big.

 

[DucatiHoney]

Motorcyclists telling how much their tire slid is like telling those tales of I caught a fish this big.

So true. :laughing

 

[MapleRoad]

Man, I think my rear slipped about 20 feet (OK, like 2 inches) on the Noob ride last weekend, and my guts turned to water. Fortunately, my anal sphincter stayed tight and everything else stayed relaxed.