SPLIT SECOND DECISION

[BehindYa650]

Earlier today, I was just riding around running errands.

I was in medium traffic and the flow was going the speed limit, around 35 mph, if I had to guess.

As I approached an intersection... a three-way one, I could see two cars backed up with left turn signals on, waiting to turn. The two cars in front of me began to flow around them. As I approached the backed up cars waiting to turn, all of a sudden, the cars that were flowing around them suddenly stopped too. And I had nowhere to go.

I hit my rear brake, a little too hard, and felt my rear tire begin to slide out from under me. I began to skid and I could almost see myself sliding into the car on the right, which was still stopped. I let the brake go. I had just enough room to accelerate a little and go to the right, where there was a small triangle of sidewalk in the middle of the intersection. I hit both brakes and burned to a stop there, before going into another lane of flowing traffic.

I sat there for a few seconds shaking while traffic moved around me. I felt like I might collapse if I got off my bike, so I just sat there. A guy in a pickup truck, who was waiting for the light to turn green, saw the whole thing. His eyes were wide. "Whoa, you ok? I saw how they stopped like that." All I could do was nod. "Good control," he said, as I pulled off, still smelling rubber.

I was able to sit down a few minutes later. "Whoa" is right. I sat there and thought of all the things I should be thankful for. It was almost 45 min before my hands stopped shaking and I could ride back home.

One, I'm thankful that I'm an experienced rider. Experienced meaning, I've had my 650 for three years and this is absolutely the WORST thing that has ever happened. If I was a new rider, I would have been DONE for sure.

I was my icon jacket, full-face helmet, jeans, gloves, and boots. I wondered how much I would have been protected... or would I have been all crushed up inside of it.

And I am so so glad I was on my 650. I know for sure, had I been on anything with a clutch, I just wouldn't have had enough time to shift or do anything. I would have gone down for sure.

Whew.

[Brian650]

Good Handeling!!

[Daboo]

Great save!

Chris

[Scootereno]

I hate that feeling after a near miss situation where all you can do is shake and reflect (adrenaline over-load). Been there done that a few times! You question everything from gear to bike to your real skill level. It can be very unnerving for sure. Glad you had the skill and quick reaction to avoid an actual impact and didn't have to find out how well you, the bike, and the gear would have held up.

[G-Bo]

Wow, that's a tough call. Glad you're ok.

I remember from MSF when you lock your back brake, you might skid but the bike will correct itself and stay upright. Given your variables, each scenario is different.

[Flint]

So you were on a two lane road approaching an intersection with stopped traffic? They started to "flow" as you said it around the turning vehicles which means you went to the right of the lane and onto the shoulder? This is illegal where I live and most other places to if there is a solid white lane designating the edge of the roadway. Then you had to lock your brakes and leave your chosen path and go even farther to the right to avoid an impact? Not to be nosy but, just how fast were you going when this all started? You said maybe 35 or so but, there was a lotta stuff going on from 35 to zero and two lane changes?

I'm not trying to be critical but, if I see cars in my lane that don't appear to be moving I'm going to slow down quite ways back just to give me some time for an escape. This is where the burgie sux in that it doesn't offer a shot of power, and with a different bike, and some clutch and throttle I can kinda squirt outta the way even if it means taking the ditch to avoid being hit.

Glad you got through that incident without any crashing involved.

[greenyaris]

" hit my rear brake, a little too hard, and felt my rear tire begin to slide out from under me."
Having just done an advanced bike handling course, I have learned how to stop the bike in half the distance I could before, by using front brake only. The only time I use the back brake now is speed control with high steady revs at snail pace speed.
Thinking of the mechanics, if you are slowing rapidly, weight is thrown forward through front suspension to the tyre and thus grip to road. You need to keep that application continuing by continually squeezing the front brake thereby causing more weight to the front tyre, compressing it and more surface area contact with the road. Conversely the weight is lifting off the back tyre and therefore less contact with road...very easy now to lock the wheel. once it has stopped you have lost the gyro effect, ie it's ability to not want to change direction, and that is the time you slide on your side along the road.
So many non scooter riders find themselves sliding sideways because they ride with foot covering the back brake, and when tensed up in an emergency apply back brake probably without even realising it. How often when riding behind a motorcycle do you see the brake-light flickering, especially on a bumpy road.

[ErikDK]

Well, the Suzuki engineers' bad decision to make the bike gear way down when you release the throttle can cause the rear wheel to lock as the weight transfers to the front wheel when you apply the front brake hard.

I wonder if the ABS equipped Executive model gears back up if the rear wheel begins to lock and the rear brake can't be relieved further? (reverse anti-spin)

[greenyaris]

Didn't have any problems when practising emergency stops up to indicated 100mph on my course

[NormanB]

Erik I have never had the transmission cause a rear wheel lock up in any conditions at any time.

On the general subject of maximal braking. Due to the configuration of the Lardy, that is the centre of gravity and the length of the bike, the rear brake is able to contribute much more than a standard bike. Of course the front brake, the use of weight transfer remains key but do not dismiss the additional braking still available from the rear.

[ErikDK]

Its behavior sure doesn't help on a roller bearing surface like my recent encounter.

More dirt track practice would probably have done me good.



The total weight of these 4 bikes is less than one Burgnam 650

[bigfoot]

Flint wrote;
This is illegal where I live and most other places to if there is a solid white lane designating the edge of the roadway.

I agree.

[aa6vh]

The two motorcycle controls that can kill you if used too aggressively: The throttle and the rear brake.

The two motorcycle controls that can save your life, even if used aggressively: The front brake and the clutch (on bikes that have them).

Something I read on a motor cycle safety site.

[robbovius]

Ummm. no offense, but 3 years does not an experienced rider make. Overbraking the rear is a common beginner (and even "experienced" )rider mistake. 10 years, more like, 15 in the saddle is better. 20, yeah now you're getting there. if this is the worst thats happened, then, well, this 36-years-in-the-saddle rider thinks you've led a sheltered life, so far. try commuting daily. wait until somebody T-bones ya! that's a real party, trust me. I've been in just the situation you describe enough times that its fundamentally a non-event. may you also come to find that calm. good luck.

[Allred]

Well, I suppose each incident is different to some degree. My accident, two months ago, also involving similar speed and stopped or stopping traffic in front, was caused by too aggressive use of the front brake! A moment of lapsed attention followed by an instant of "panic" lead to locking the front brake and going down so quickly I could not believe it. That after 45 years of riding, and regarding myself as an expert.

I am humbly reminded now that despite years of experience, years of trouble free riding, accidents, errors, mistakes, etc. Can still catch you. All you can do is try to minimize the risks by exercising care and common sense.

[Daboo]

The two motorcycle controls that can kill you if used too aggressively: The throttle and the rear brake.

The two motorcycle controls that can save your life, even if used aggressively: The front brake and the clutch (on bikes that have them).

Something I read on a motor cycle safety site.

Your words really struck home to me. I read so many times of riders who feel the best escape from a hazardous situation is to use the throttle. IMHO, the answer is to distance yourself from the situation. The throttle is one option, but leads to its own problems. The brake can separate a rider from a bad situation just as fast, if not faster.

Chris

[Rotocop]

Good Handeling

[Flint]

This thread makes me think of the traffic situation we have here where i live. The lights don't have a very long yellow on them so a lot of people (myself included sometimes) is to look up and see the yellow and be almost "in" the intersection and hit the gas to get through. Only problem is, of course, that people not only "run" the light but they come through the intersection doing 40 or more in a 30 mph speed zone. If you are coming the other way it gets a little thrilling in the middle.