How I destroyed my first bike

[Smash Allen]

My eyes have different reference points based on where I am riding.

On the track my reference points are fairly simple: look at your next action point and as soon as you know you will hit that action point (braking point, apex, exit, etc.) then move to your next action point and KEEP YOUR EYES ON IT UNTIL YOU KNOW YOU WILL HIT IT. Repeat.

On the street my reference points include side streets, intersections, driveways, oncoming potential left-turners, etc.

It was an exercise to consciously stop my eyes from wandering on the track because they were used to the street.

People say you are safer on the street after riding at the track but I say that it is quite easy to put yourself at more risk if you cannot separate the skills of street and track riding.

 

[kangaroo]

That turn where you crashed is also downhill (northbound). The front will want to slide away more than usual. As the sequence of a long straight, then a left and right then the last left are all downhill. With each turn you may have been going faster than if it was all flat. Do you remember when you started drifting outward whether you were adding throttle, neutral throttle or closing throttle? It might seem counter intuitive but on downhill sweepers, I actually add a little throttle.

 

[brownwa]

That turn where you crashed is also downhill (northbound). The front will want to slide away more than usual. As the sequence of a long straight, then a left and right then the last left are all downhill. With each turn you may have been going faster than if it was all flat. Do you remember when you started drifting outward whether you were adding throttle, neutral throttle or closing throttle? It might seem counter intuitive but on downhill sweepers, I actually add a little throttle.

You said what I was thinking, as I've ridden Skyline a lot and seen lots of accidents on it. Also have made the mistake of being a gear too high, releasing the throttle in panic and then coasting into such turns with way too much speed. Being a gear lower and having some throttle made things more manageable. All that being said, I found that you have to know the road and the turns if you want to fly down a road like this. Otherwise you have to take it slow, or be very good at looking and increasing lean angle at a moment's notice. Hwy 35 and 9 are graveyards for bikes and cars.

 

[latindane]

... All that being said, I found that you have to know the road and the turns if you want to fly down a road like this. Otherwise you have to take it slow, or be very good at looking and increasing lean angle at a moment's notice. Hwy 35 and 9 are graveyards for bikes and cars.

Flying down a road because you know the road and the turns is a very, very bad idea.

 

[danate]

That turn where you crashed is also downhill (northbound). The front will want to slide away more than usual. As the sequence of a long straight, then a left and right then the last left are all downhill. With each turn you may have been going faster than if it was all flat. Do you remember when you started drifting outward whether you were adding throttle, neutral throttle or closing throttle? It might seem counter intuitive but on downhill sweepers, I actually add a little throttle.

I think adding throttle would not have helped, especially when going downhill. That's a recipe for going into a turn way too hot. For me, that turn would require more braking to a slower entry speed especially on a corner with limited vision like most of those in the wooded sections of skyline.

As has been said, vision is the key. First scanning the turn and identifying your ideal turn in point to the outside if possible. Then as you approach that point turn your head into the turn while keeping track of that turn in point in your periphery (as well as any immediate hazards - such as the white line). Practice this on every turn and you soon will not have to think about it.

 

[outblasted]

Do you remember when you started drifting outward whether you were adding throttle, neutral throttle or closing throttle?

I don't really remember. At the point when you look at the place you going to crash it doesn't matter what you are going with the throttle. Before that -- yes, I could have done something. If panic had not taken over I think I could have gased it and went through the turn with no problem...

 

[Losmeister]

the fact that you mentioned "planted a knee", going uncomfortably fast...

says it all to me.

glad you didnt seriously hurt yourself.

go slower.

 

[outblasted]

the fact that you mentioned "planted a knee", going uncomfortably fast...

says it all to me.

It is just after the crash that I've realized that planting a knee doesn't mean anything besides that combination of your lean angle and knee height allows you to reach the pavement.

Speed is a contributing factor, right. But hey, you know what they say? "You can teach a fast rider not to crash, but you can't teach slow rider to go fast." (Not that I'm saying that I'm fast ;D)

go slower.

Yep, thanks. I'm much slower on public roads. Mick Doohan - No Place to Race

However, I think drawing conclusion from two statements might be a bit judgmental. For example, you might have noted from the OP that I've been in the state of disbelieve after the crash. How was it possible to crash after planting a knee?! I should've been a world-class rider after planting a knee and hence immune to stupid crashes like that.

Anyway, 'knee' and 'uncomfortably' fast are not the cause as stated by previous posters -- lack of visual skill and target fixation. 'knee' and 'uncomfortably fast' just aggravated the situation.

 

[latindane]

Consider the possibility that "planting a knee" riding at street speeds is more a symptom of poor technique rather than a sign of a "world-class rider".

 

[Gawernator]

Ouch. How fast of a turn was this, and how fast were you going? I low sided my 300 when sideswiped and hit around 42 MPH and my bike looks 10x better... And I thought mine was bad lol. There's something to be sad for trashing a bike so completely and walking away almost unscathed!

Slow down dude... Look where you need to go

 

[outblasted]

Sorry to hear you lowsided your 300.

Ouch. How fast of a turn was this, and how fast were you going?

I was there only once and cannot tell how fast of a turn that was. If iI were to guess, and if you put that curve on a closed circuit, it might be as fast as 100 mph I think. I was going... I have no idea. Cops were asking same question and I couldn't say anything except that was around 45mph or so (that what I thought the speed limit at that place). Have no idea what the actual speed was.

 

[Gawernator]

Don't worry, total blessing in disguise for me after the settlement paid out... I wasn't at fault

 

[Enchanter]

Don't worry, total blessing in disguise for me after the settlement paid out... I wasn't at fault

Your poor judgement caused your crash (not a lowside BTW). What you still fail to realize is that you could have easily been seriously injured or killed all due to your actions.

 

[Gawernator]

Your poor judgement caused your crash (not a lowside BTW). What you still fail to realize is that you could have easily been seriously injured or killed all due to your actions.

Landed on the 'lowside', similar to someone spinning the rear tire loose and falling over from being greedy on the throttle

and yup you're right

Take extra caution to scan and see the "not on my watch" types that will try to hit you...

/offtopic

 

[Enchanter]

The car did not try to hit you.

 

[T100]

(Alright, this turned out to be a bit longer that what I planned)

I was traveling northbound on CA35, not far from CA9 (google maps link)... Lovely Sunday morning... First time on this road.

After negotiating a left and a right turn, I saw a white line approaching my front wheel from my right...

I knew I was going uncomfortably fast.

Slowly but steady the white line was getting closer, and closer, and closer... Until I went of pavement, experienced a crazy wobble, and the world became an one smudged oil painting being waved in front of me quicker than I could register what's on it. All I knew was that I'm crashing, that the sharp pain in my right shoulder probably means I've dislocated my shoulder (again), and that I was still moving.

After I stopped, I stood up, looked at my bike laying in the middle of the lane. I saw fluids dripping all over the bike. I approached the bike, turned of ignition key, and went off pavement, knees shaking, no pain, just the realization that I've crashed, my buddy is far up ahead on the road, I've ruined his Sunday ride, and there is my bike on the road. Front wheel was misaligned with handlebars.

A car that I've passed a minute ago approached, stopped. Two gentlemen asked if I'm OK, and helped me to get bike of the pavement. As I pulled its front wheel I've realized two things: the wheel is not really connected to the bike, and my shoulder really hurts. A couple cyclists stopped at the scene, one of them went to a fire station up south.

Firefighters came, checked me out. CHP came, checked me and the bike out.

Bike was a mess, and I was lucky to tell everyone that I was completly OK (except for the pain in my shoulder, I couldn't really lift my straight hand to the chest level, but they didn't need to know about it -- last thing I wanted was to go to a hospital).

Good thing I had not an expensive bike - stock, new, 2013 ninja 300. Overcharged for maintenance, overcharfed for destination and assembly fees. No abs. My first bike. Could've been the last...

Its parts were scattered for good twenty meters (60 feet)... Although some plastic I found wasn't mine - there were a lot of plastics from cars.

I could not believe that happened to me after 2 years of almost daily commutes (10 miles on 101 and back, one 35mph turn on a ramp), 3 track days at Laguna seca, planted a knee on a kart-track at a cornering school. And about 3-4 months break in riding just before the incident.

I've investigated my leathers for damage - none found. Alpine stars jacket and track pants did well. Dianese back protector with scapula blades, tailbone, and a waist belt did well. Dianese racing gloves did well. One of them tore at a place where sharp part of plastic reinforcement has cut through the leather because of prior use, but there was a second layer of leather underneath (I wanted to get a warranty repair on that, but was too lazy to go to D-Store in SF). D-air boots did well too. Shoei RF-1100 did well. Lost top-left vent cover. The heavily scratched visor gave me pictures of my faces left on the asphalt. I'm happy I had a full face helmet. Other than damaged helmet, torn glove, minor damage on a boot, and some dirt on the jacket - everything was fine.

I couldn't derive much of what happened by looking at the gear. I was sliding on my left wrist, and on my face. I hit dirt with my right shoulder. I hit dirt with top-left side of my helmet. That's about as far as it goes.

So, what did I do wrong?
- I was riding at speed beyond my comfort level on an unfamiliar road (overly confident).
- I've fixated on the white line instead of actually making the turn.

What did I do right?
- Used full gear.

Quite late to the party here but my take on what you have said is I think that you were probably going at a pretty good clip enjoying the day as you said.... you let your mind wander a bit and lost your focus.

Then you "woke up" to find that fog line rapidly closing on your right side and you fixated on it for a second, then wham! That was it.

Always stay acutely focused when riding, no mind wandering. Learn the skills to avoid target fixation.

Glad there was no major damage to you bod. Stay safe.