How Not To Fall

SeqArtMark · 05-29-2007, 01:05 AM

Hey All,

I keep reading that a newbie should buy a used bike because they'll drop it at some point. I just want to know why that happens and how (or if) it can be prevented? I find it hard to fathom being destined to lay a bike down but then again I never rode so maybe that's just how it is.

Just to clarify, I'm looking for specific reasons that new riders drop their bikes and how/if it can be prevented. Thanks.

cnk15 · 05-29-2007, 01:12 AM

There are tons of reasons why people drop they're bikes. First and foremost is lack of experience. This can lead to dropping it going too slowly in a turn, forgetting to put the kickstand down, not looking before putting their foot down and stepping in something slippery, etc

Another thing to consider is that it's not that noobs drop their bikes, but that they have a higher chance of crashing due to the lack of experience. Why crash a brand new bike while you're learning when you can crash a used bike and worry less about the cost of replacing parts. ;)

UberGoober · 05-29-2007, 01:30 AM

Two terms you need to become familiar with are Drop and Crash.

For "drop" I actually prefer the term "fall over." A fall over is usually done while the bike is either stopped or moving really slowly. Generally the damage from a fall over is pretty limited, a small scratch but things can get broken if the bike falls hard. They happen for a lot of reasons -

I've seen fall overs happen because the sun got the blacktop under a bike's sidestand hot and the weight of the bike pushing on it allowed the stand push through the pavement and the bike fell over.

I've seen guys drop their bike pushing it around (usually when the bike fell away from them rather than into them like they thought it would.) Same thing happens a lot to guys who think they can push a bike of its center stand.

I've seen fall overs happen at stop signs or lights when a guy's foot slips and I've seen them happen when a guy was taking off and the engine stumbled.

They also happen a lot when turning around in the grass or gravel...

Crashes are done at speed and usually involve a lot more damage. If we could explain to you all the reasons people crash we could save a lot of lives, but know that most crashes happen due to drugs/drinking, speed and inattention.

Ozy · 05-29-2007, 01:34 AM

the premise of riding / owning a bike is founded on the building blocks of Balance....

This statement is all you will need in order to comprehend the mythical situation where a bike is dropped or crashed.

SeqArtMark · 05-29-2007, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnk15

There are tons of reasons why people drop they're bikes. First and foremost is lack of experience. This can lead to dropping it going too slowly in a turn, forgetting to put the kickstand down, not looking before putting their foot down and stepping in something slippery, etc

Another thing to consider is that it's not that noobs drop their bikes, but that they have a higher chance of crashing due to the lack of experience. Why crash a brand new bike while you're learning when you can crash a used bike and worry less about the cost of replacing parts. ;)

Thanks for the quick response. The slow cornering crash is something that hadn't occurred to me (not that I should know that yet) but is definitely something to be aware of. I'm just trying to get a good understanding of the risks I'll be facing someday (hopefully sooner rather than later). Keep 'em coming, guys (and gals).

Ozy · 05-29-2007, 01:41 AM

Oh yeah specific reason number #243

Rolling (as in pushing) a bike around, mid turn, using front brake to stop... bike will go down.

SeqArtMark · 05-29-2007, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmkreutzer

Two terms you need to become familiar with are Drop and Crash.

For "drop" I actually prefer the term "fall over." A fall over is usually done while the bike is either stopped or moving really slowly. Generally the damage from a fall over is pretty limited, a small scratch but things can get broken if the bike falls hard. They happen for a lot of reasons -

I've seen fall overs happen because the sun got the blacktop under a bike's sidestand hot and the weight of the bike pushing on it allowed the stand push through and the bike fell over.

I've seen guys drop their bike pushing it around (usually when the bike fell away from them rather than into them like they thought it would.

I've seen fall overs happen at stop signs or lights when a guy's foot slips and I've seen them happen when a guy was taking off and the engine stumbled.

They happen a lot when turning around in the grass or gravel...

Crashes are done at speed and usually involve a lot more damage. If we could explain to you all the reasons people crash we could save a lot of lives, but know that most crashes happen due to drugs/drinking, speed and inattention.

Thanks for the good info. I'll have to pay closer attention to what people say since I thought the two terms were synonymous. I'd be willing to bet that other people interchange the two phrases, too.

Anyway, it's reassuring to know that drugs, drinking, speed, and inattention are major factors in motorcycle accidents since those seem preventable. As far as ways to drop a bike, hopefully I don't have to learn the hard way.

RayOSV · 05-29-2007, 02:35 AM

I dropped my first bike twice and crashed once. The first drop was while backing into the curb to park on the street. My foot slipped in something and the bike went over on top of me. The second drop was from pushing the bike around while standing on the right side of it. I didn't notice that the side stand had folded up a bit and the bike went over slowly with me holding onto it.

The crash was due to me losing focus in a turn, running a little wide into some gravel, sliding the front wheel, and having it regain traction. It was a low-speed high side. All three incidents were due to my errors. I like to think that I learned a lesson from each and pay more attention at all times.

kevin_stevens · 05-29-2007, 02:50 AM

There's another nuance - people who buy shiny new $$$ bikes to learn on can be so tentative out of fear of damaging the bike that they are reluctant to expand their skill envelope. I'm mostly talking about the low speed or drop scenario here. "I don't want to ride down that street, I might have to do a u-turn at the end." "I don't want to go out that steep exit ramp, I might have to stop the bike and put a foot down. Let's park on the street." You know, basically the same things I say when I'm pulling a trailer with my SUV.

Better to have a used bike you don't mind experimenting/practicing with.

KeS

UberGoober · 05-29-2007, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeqArtMark

Anyway, it's reassuring to know that drugs, drinking, speed, and inattention are major factors in motorcycle accidents since those seem preventable. As far as ways to drop a bike, hopefully I don't have to learn the hard way.

Just remember that a lot of times it is the OTHER driver, the one who hits you, that is drunk, stoned, speeding or inattentive.

But the truth is, if a person stays sober, drives at a sane speed and pays attention, they CAN reduce their chances of an accident. You can't eliminate all of the risks involved in riding, but you can reduce them enough to make it worth the risk.

WhoUtink · 05-29-2007, 06:49 AM

In the Ms class my girlfriendwas having some trouble, Im not sure what she was doing but the instuctor asked her why she couldn't do something she told him that she was scared to drop the bike. He told her to "drop the fucking thing then, really throw it on the ground. So you know whats its like and we can get past it". Its true though drop it so you will no longer worried about it so you can focus on learning.

R1oldguy · 05-29-2007, 07:20 AM

Uggh, there are soooo many ways to drop a bike.
A couple of my dumbest ones.....
1.Pushing it off the rear stand as someone said.
2.Kicking it into gear instead of hitting the kickstand. In a hurry and standing next to the bike.
3.Too much speed and too much front brake on wet grass
4.Too much front brake on a dead end road that was all gravel
5. (Really Dumb) Shoe lace wrapped around shifter. Couldn't get foot down and didn't know until it was too late.

As far as the crashes.
1. Highsided while doing my Freddie Spencer imitation(badly I might add). I hit oil on the road at about 50 and the bike (both tires) slid, then hooked up launching me. (Dislocated shoulder, road rash and bruised ribs)
know what's on the road when you are going to pretend to be a road racer!!
2. Ran into the back of a left turning car while all of my attention was focused on a girl sunbathing on a rock.
PAY ATTENTION at all times.

Just a few of the worst. Good luck and be safe!!

HUTSCBR · 05-29-2007, 07:43 AM

It happens to everyone at some point. I hit some sand in a parking lot then slid into a curb dropping my bike. 2 weeks later my best friend did the exact same thing. When we brought my wifes first bike home (F2) we were putting a tank pad on it. I stood behind the bike making sure it was straight. I was pressed hard on the pad to make it stick and the next thing I know the bike rolled forward. I was behind it and my wife was to my left. Neither one of us could get a good hold on it before it fell over to the right. She hadn't even took it on her maiden voyage and I dropped it for her in front of here face.

UberGoober · 05-29-2007, 08:00 AM

In Japan it's common to park next to buildings and I used to park my CBR250 next to where I worked. There was a thin diamond plated metal plate there about 10 inches wide and six feet long that covered the gutter so people could park their bikes there so I thought it was OK.

One day I parked like normal, the bike angled in, back wheel on the plate no problem at all. That night when I came out to go home, I stepped on the outside edge of the plate as I was putting my helmet on. Of course the plate had a slight wow in itand it levered the bike up off its stand and tipped it right into me. There I was with my helmet half on my head trying to stop this little 250 from falling over and even though it was right in my lap the best thing I could do was slow it down. It bent the brake lever pretty good but didn't damage anything else.

Just goes to show you, sometimes you can be right there and your bike still goes down on its side.

SeqArtMark · 05-29-2007, 08:52 AM

Wow, guys (and gals)! After hearing all of that I've resigned myself to dropping my bike

Ah well, it is what it is. As long as I can ride it afterward I guess it's not the end of the world. Thanks for sharing all your pain; better you than me