Low Side by Oakland Airport

[jy116]

Sup BARF! I had an upper-fairing-smashing low side recently coming from hegenberger/98th to Ron Cowan. I was fine on the right turn sweeper, then as I transitioned to turn left, I lost traction and low sided at a speed a little higher than the posted 45mph limit. It happened so fast I couldn't even think of correcting before my hip slapped the ground and I was sliding in my back watching my bike slide away. I had only been riding about 10min mostly in a straight line, so I think the tires were cold and I was just going too fast, not smooth, road cold, maybe gritty. How long is a proper warm up for Dunlop Q3s?

Do you think an inline 4 is more prone to low side vs a twin? Not blaming the bike, but considering a switch to help my hip (this if my second low side, first one was much slower, very minor slide, but big bruise on same left lower hip bone). From this spill, I got a scrape on my calf about 3x5 inches, just the top layer because my riding jeans helped I guess! I just wish there was a pocket for hip protection (Street and Steel Oakland jeans)... Anyone interested in the road rash healing tips I found? WebMD FTW!

 

[Junkie]

Did you lose the front or the rear?

 

[jy116]

Must have been front because I didn't feel the back come out or bike rotate. I had just began the transition from right lean to upright and left

 

[jy116]

Arial view of the road and pin where I lost it
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bccuQVmpFwueNLsx9

 

[Maddevill]

Might have been some antifreeze or diesel fuel on the ground. Hard to see.

Mad

 

[cal scott]

Anyone interested in the road rash healing tips I found? WebMD FTW!

If you haven't found it yet, 3M Tegaderm is the answer to road rash. Amazing stuff. Not cheap but you can leave it on for up to 7 days (survives showering-I've even been in a hot tub with it on). It is a transparent membrane that let's the skin breath but prevents any fluid escaping or bacteria invading. Wound doesn't scab up so the risk of scarring is greatly reduced. You can literally watch it heal through the membrane. For rash larger than the 4" x 4" size, multiple membrane's can be overlapped. Just make sure you scrub the wound well before applying as any bacteria left will be sealed into a perfect environment for growth.

 

[ScottRNelson]

I had only been riding about 10min mostly in a straight line, so I think the tires were cold and I was just going too fast, not smooth, road cold, maybe gritty. How long is a proper warm up for Dunlop Q3s?

Yet another reason why I prefer sport touring tires to pure sport tires. They still have most of the grip when they're cold.

 

[berth]

Do you think an inline 4 is more prone to low side vs a twin?

Nominally, a twins power hits the drive train "harder" (2 big hits vs 4 smaller ones), but that's not universal, and likely not a problem.

Neither is a problem if the gas thingy isn't twisted too far.

 

[danate]

Yet another reason why I prefer sport touring tires to pure sport tires. They still have most of the grip when they're cold.

This. Sport touring tires are truly the best for street riding. It's hard to say why you went down, though, if you are not sure exactly what you were doing when it happened. Common problems in turns are adding gas as you add lean angle or rolling off/decelerating as you turn in.

Also, riding jeans rarely provide adequate protection for a crash. Get some real protective pants with good hip protection. I'm personally a fan of Motoport as it provides a lot of padding over the hips and legs (though I also use Aerostich and love it). Also, leathers, of course, provide good protection.

 

[EastBayDave]

cold tires? Quite possibly.

more likely you hit some fluid spill from a vehicle; oil, antifreeze, grease, etc. is all over the place.

what were the conditions at the time? (temp/weather)

 

[kneedraggeroldy]

If you haven't found it yet, 3M Tegaderm is the answer to road rash. Amazing stuff. Not cheap but you can leave it on for up to 7 days (survives showering-I've even been in a hot tub with it on). It is a transparent membrane that let's the skin breath but prevents any fluid escaping or bacteria invading. Wound doesn't scab up so the risk of scarring is greatly reduced. You can literally watch it heal through the membrane. For rash larger than the 4" x 4" size, multiple membrane's can be overlapped. Just make sure you scrub the wound well before applying as any bacteria left will be sealed into a perfect environment for growth.

Whoa....been riding decades and never knew this stuff existed! Thanks for info. Sorry to hear about the low side....agree hard to see but something on road can cause rapid in ohs as did something similar long time ago with oil in a set corner

 

[Gary856]

This crash analysis forum has really gone downhill. :facepalm

Debris, fluid, sharp objects, bubble gum - those are your guesses, not analysis.

Sport touring tires are best - that's your preference, not analysis.

Cold tire - can we not perpetuate this as a cover up for rider error? You expect wire warmers for street riding?

Tegaderm - yes, that stuff is awesome! :thumbup

Inline 4 more prone to low-side compared to a twin? They tend to have different power delivery characteristics which may affect traction when you ride at the limit, but one is not better or worse for normal, everyday use.


Some typical info that are needed for analysis:

- What time of the day was that? Light level? Visibility? Temp?
- Dry or wet road?
- What was your rpm?
- Were you accelerating, cruising, coasting, or braking?
- How hard were you on the throttle or brake?
- How hard/sharp was your transitioning to turn left?
- Are you familiar with this route - ride it routinely?
- Did you scan the road surface for anything unusual?
- Where were you looking at the time?
- How was your condition at the time - fresh and alert, or tired and distracted?
- What was the traffic condition?
- How often do you ride? Your weekly mileage?
- How do you describe your riding experience and skills level? Do you only commute or ride in the hills much?
- Tire mileage/condition?
- Front/rear pressure?

(At least we know what OP's bike/tire are, unlike the guy asking about tire mileage/wear but wouldn't even share what bike/tire he's riding. :rolleyes)

 

[ScottRNelson]

Some typical info that are needed for analysis:

- What time of the day was that? Light level? Visibility? Temp?
- Dry or wet road?
- What was your rpm?
- Were you accelerating, causing, coasting, or braking?
- How hard were you on the throttle or brake?
- How hard/sharp was your transitioning to turn left?
- Are you familiar with this route - ride it routinely?
- Did you scan the road surface for anything unusual?
- Where were you looking the time?
- How was your condition at the time - fresh and alert, or tired and distracted?
- What was the traffic condition?
- How often do you ride? Your weekly mileage?
- How do you describe your riding experience and skills level? Do you only commute or ride in the hills much?
- Tire mileage/condition?
- Front/rear pressure?

This list of questions should maybe go in a sticky at the top of this sub-forum. It would be much easier to analyze a crash with this information.

jy116, can you answer all of these?


As for the paragraph right above this part, a V-twin is definitely better for normal, everyday use.

 

[Saxon]

Excellent analysis questions!

 

[tzrider]

The questions are very good, though in this case you might not need the answer to all of them. From what we know so far, I’d say the most important questions will concern which other controls the rider was using while steering the bike:

We’re you on the gas? If so, what were you doing with the control right then?

We’re you on either brake? If so, how much? Adding pressure, holding steady or taking away?

 

[Idioteque]

OP, I drive that turn every morning. It wasn't you at all. That road has had a crash on it more times in the last few months than it should have. It's slippery as shit. All those tar snakes there make it so. On dry days there's little to worry about but if it's cold out or raining I take that turn super fucking slow.


Just my two cents as someone who frequents that little S-section

 

[tzrider]

OP, I drive that turn every morning. It wasn't you at all. That road has had a crash on it more times in the last few months than it should have.

Respectfully, if you haven't crashed there, you're doing something differently than other riders have. In saying, "It wasn't you," I think you're emphasizing that the road conditions are sketchy, but it also implies there is nothing he could do differently next time. There probably is and it's good and healthy to figure out what he could learn and apply.

Assuming you haven't crashed there, how did you figure out that traction is poor there without having to find out the hard way? Predicting traction is a vital skill and anything you can say about that could help.

 

[jy116]

The questions are very good, though in this case you might not need the answer to all of them. From what we know so far, I’d say the most important questions will concern which other controls the rider was using while steering the bike:

We’re you on the gas? If so, what were you doing with the control right then?

We’re you on either brake? If so, how much? Adding pressure, holding steady or taking away?

The questions are very good, though in this case you might not need the answer to all of them. From what we know so far, I’d say the most important questions will concern which other controls the rider was using while steering the bike:

We’re you on the gas? If so, what were you doing with the control right then?

We’re you on either brake? If so, how much? Adding pressure, holding steady or taking away?

Thanks everyone for the comments and tips. Sorry I forgot to add more data for analysis by this awesome machine that is BARF!

It was around 7am, dry outside, road looked clear, temperature was likely low 50s. I was rushing to get to carpool, had woke up late, and hadn't ridden that road on my FZ for a few months at least. I had driven it with my truck the the day before, similar speed. I was familiar with the entry, but the left kink did come up as a little surprise I guess because it's not the noticeable a transition in a cage. I was on constant throttle through the sweeper, but I let off slightly while prepping for the left transition and maybe wasn't smooth enough with the handle bars and change in body position. I wasn't braking at all. All I remember is going from right lean to upright, about to lean left but slapped the ground instead!

BTW, simple non-occlusive bandages from Walgreens did the trick on my road rash. It's 80% healed with just using those, greased with triple antibiotic ointment, changing every 12hrs.

 

[tzrider]

Since you mention changing body position, do you know where you did this in relation to where you steered into the left kink?

 

[Gary856]

I was familiar with the entry, but the left kink did come up as a little surprise I guess because it's not the noticeable a transition in a cage.

Did you feel the turn rushed up to you? Where were you looking? How far ahead? did you turn your head to look thru the turn? Were you looking down for some reason?