Crashed on 101S (7/26/12, 9am)

[CL1380]

Just bought a new/used SV650 a few months ago. My 3rd bike.

I was riding like normal in lane #1 during my morning commute. About 3 miles before my exit, I started to make my way towards the far right lane. There are 4 lanes on this section of 101. I signaled and merged into lane #2 with no issues.

Shortly after merging into lane #2, I began to look for an opening into lane #3. I must have been too focused on trying to go right because I ended up in a position where I was in the right side blind spot of the Prius in lane #1. I failed to recognize the threat in this situation.

The Prius quickly and without signaling swerved into lane #2. The car didn't hit me, but I panicked and squeezed on the front brake hard. Next thing I knew, the front wheel locked up and I think I high-sided. Looking at the GPS tracking on my phone, I think I was going around 50mph, but I'm not sure.

When I got up, I saw the Prius driving away and my bike was behind me. At the time, I felt like I had been tackled by a pro linebacker. All the cars behind me had stopped. I can't imagine how lucky I must have been to avoid being run over from behind.

I walked back over to the bike, picked it back up, and assessed the situation. 2 people were out of their cars to check if I was ok. One woman said the whole thing scare the shit out of her. One guy helped block traffic with his van while I pulled my bike over to the right shoulder. I recall someone asking me if i wanted to call 911. I think I said yes, but I ended up leaving the scene before any help arrived.

I inspected the bike and found that the handlebars were bent and radiator was busted, but it could still start and run. I knew I was only a couple miles from my office, so the guy in the van offered to go slow and block me while I pulled off the closest exit. I made it to work and was ok enough to go to my first meeting. There was definitely some pain but I didn't bother telling anyone about the accident that morning.

Gear worn:
Padded textile jacket, full face helmet, jeans, knee/shin guards, plain leather boots, short cheapo leather gloves

Damage to the bike:
All on right side. Bent bars, smashed radiator, scraped levers, dented tank

Damage to gear:
Scraped helmet in the chin area, scraped visor, torn jacket at one shoulder and one elbow, scraped up my knee/shin guards, shoulder pad pulled half way out of its pocket

Damage to me:
Shoulder was pretty sore for a couple weeks. Bad enough that I couldn't sleep on that side. Some road rash on both wrists right where the glove ended. I think my watch got in the way and bruised a wrist bone when my wrist bent backwards during the fall. Knees were perfectly fine. Boots had a big patch scraped off the toe by the asphault. On my jeans, the seam going down the middle of my ass split open at a 4-5 inch section.

 

[CL1380]

Lessons learned:
1) This was a relatively new bike for me. I should have had a better understanding of how strong the front brakes were.
2) My panic brake technique is definitely flawed. I should not have squeezed so hard and suddenly. But it's so hard not to react that way. I need to practice this in a parking lot.
3) I should have been more aware of my buffer zone and kept more physical space between myself and other cars.
4) Looking back, I don't think I should have braked at all. If I had been more calm, I could have slowed down, let the Prius get in front of me, and then recreate the buffer zone again.

Any other comments would be greatly appreciated. I have not ridden on the highway at rush hour times since that day. It just doesn't seem worth it anymore to save the 15-20 min on the motorcycle. I also just recently purchased a high-viz helmet to try and make myself more conspicuous.

 

[Doobz]

Damn. This is scary. I find myself in a similar situation onu commute home heading west on 380. People on the far right dive bomb to lanes #1-2 to hit 280 south while the drivers in lane #1-2 dive bomb to hit either El Camino or 280 north. I feel safer staying in #2 and staying out of blind spots while watching for the dive bombers.

 

[Slate]

Glad you were ATGATT and glad you're ok. Do you remember if you used your rear brake as well as your front? I know a lot of people who say that you don't need to rear brake at all. I tried for nearly a year with only front braking and I found that using the rear as well as the front keeps my bike stable and more easily controlled, especially under hard braking. I've locked up the rear a few times during emergency stops, but like in the MSF course, I just rode it out and always came out good. The other thing I noticed is my stopping distance is much shorter with the rear brake, but maybe that's because I don't grab a fistful of the front brake.

 

[DataDan]

Thanks for the clear description. The initial situation--riding in a blind spot--is one we've all been in, and sometimes it's unavoidable. Usually it doesn't go wrong, but your experience is a good reminder that it can.

Lessons learned:
1) This was a relatively new bike for me. I should have had a better understanding of how strong the front brakes were.
2) My panic brake technique is definitely flawed. I should not have squeezed so hard and suddenly. But it's so hard not to react that way. I need to practice this in a parking lot.

Are you now practicing this? The crucial bit is the progressive squeeze. That's what you need to focus on as you practice. BTW, it's something you can practice at every stop: not braking hard, but the habit of the progressive squeeze. Like other riding skills, it's one of those things you have to think about as you're developing it, but then it becomes second nature and will happen without the conscious thought.

3) I should have been more aware of my buffer zone and kept more physical space between myself and other cars.

Sometimes it's not so easy to maintain a comfortable space cushion on all sides. Other vehicles tend to squeeze it down. But you still have choices about where you are within the available space, and the potential threats you're looking for. What specifically would you do if you found yourself in the same situation today? What would cue you to the increased danger? Where could you position yourself to reduce the danger? How would you divide your attention between your objective--moving into the #3 lane--and the threats?

 

[dowlinginchico]

I failed to recognize the threat in this situation.

This is how I got in trouble. This is why I quit telling people to be careful and started saying be aware. This is critical to do and sooooo easy to forget. Especially on your daily commute you have done for years. Sorry to hear about it but really glad you are ok. Traffic Sucks!

 

[CL1380]

I just read a recent crash article on Hell For Leather and was shocked by the degree on injuries on 30-40 mph crash. Like huge gouge in the knee, broken clavicles, exploded jeans with ass rubbed raw...

I don't understand how my crash was 10-20 mph faster yet I had almost no injuries.

 

[RRrider]

I just read a recent crash article on Hell For Leather and was shocked by the degree on injuries on 30-40 mph crash. Like huge gouge in the knee, broken clavicles, exploded jeans with ass rubbed raw...

I don't understand how my crash was 10-20 mph faster yet I had almost no injuries.

Gear.

Shit is amazing these days. While not preventing all injuries (by any stretch of the imagination), gear absolutely does perform miracles to prevent some of them.

 

[dowlinginchico]

I went down at appx. 35 and had very small patch of road rash on my leg, slightly sore wrist but a concussion. That's it! My leathers saved 99.9% of my ass. My helmet most likely saved my life looking at the damage. I love hearing about people using their gear! In other states (Denver, CO) your lucky to see 1 out of 10 wearing any sort of gear. About 70% do not even wear helmets! My prayers go out to them.

 

[kurth83]

I don't post this thought very often, but seeing how common these "I locked up the front and crashed" threads are, seems like every once in a while we should mention ABS. Mine has saved me from roughly three of those types of crashes. Wish more bikes came with it.

Glad you are ok.

 

[hitman5532]

I don't post this thought very often, but seeing how common these "I locked up the front and crashed" threads are, seems like every once in a while we should mention ABS. Mine has saved me from roughly three of those types of crashes. Wish more bikes came with it.

Glad you are ok.

I work at a BMW shop (most bikes come with ABS) and we often have crash units come in which the rider also grabbed the front brake and tucked the front, despite being ABS equipped. After talking to many riders post-wreck, here are two quick conclusions/notes regarding proper braking skills and ABS:

1) Many people PULL the brake lever instead of squeezing the lever, which causes a steering input to the bars while braking. The combo leads to a front end tuck because this asks more of the tire's traction than it is capable of providing, causing the front to tuck.

2) ABS is a REACTIVE system which never replaces intellegent PROACTIVE measures from the rider's brain, physical inputs, and mental riding plan.

 

[eddiet204]

A 50 mph get off with minimal injury. That's awesome! That being said, your reaction was a typical panic reaction that many riders, even veterans, make. While we go to great lengths to be seen, it's impossible to stay out of a cage's blind spot 100% of the time. Prior to making any movement, pick your path of travel, assess any threats that are present, and have an escape plan when the threat presents itself. The majority of my evasive maneuvers on the freeway consist of swerving, accelerating, or both. Rarely have I ever braked to avoid a collision on the freeway.

 

[tuan3742]

Man, i'm glad you got away from relatively okay.

I've come to learn that it doesn't matter how long you've been riding, never get too comfortable. Always be alert.

If your front locks up, and it starts to slide, release it and reapply the brakes. The idea behind this is how ABS was designed. Rear breaks, you have to ride it out because it's better to low side than to high side.