High-sided my bike this a.m. video included - Page 4 - BARF

HappyHighwayman · 03-21-2012, 09:29 PM

I probably did grab too much brake but it's hard to remember at this time how it all went down. I might adjust the camera in the future to see my hands.

kangaroo · 03-22-2012, 12:25 PM

a couple things for future consideration when riding in the wet. Don't ride on the first day of the rain as the oil and grease and all the other slippery stuff is brought up to the surface. Give it a day or 2 before venturing out. Some useful techniques might be to cross train on dirt or mountain bike to practice how the bike feels with less grip.

Recommend:
grippier tires and lower air pressure
soften up the suspension
use more rear brake
ride more loose and relaxed
give the tire more time to find grip

Banjoboy · 03-24-2012, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kangaroo

a couple things for future consideration when riding in the wet. Don't ride on the first day of the rain as the oil and grease and all the other slippery stuff is brought up to the surface. Give it a day or 2 before venturing out. Some useful techniques might be to cross train on dirt or mountain bike to practice how the bike feels with less grip.

Recommend:
grippier tires and lower air pressure
soften up the suspension
use more rear brake
ride more loose and relaxed
give the tire more time to find grip

All great advise, but sum peeps ain't gotta choice and have ta ride in "first rains."

(I have a choice these dayz, yet usually choose ta ride.

)

Opie's FZ6 doesn't have much in the way of suspension adjustment; 'bout all ya can do is take out sum rear pre-load. That'd lower the C of G, 'n also help ta move weight ta the rear of the bike, which would help front end grip under braking though.

Solo-Six · 04-13-2012, 01:01 PM

I would say you were riding the oil streak .. Hit too much front brake .. Being from washington and racing WMRRA . We race in the rain .. I use alot less front brake in the rain and more rear brake ..

You will find the rear washing out is easier to recover from than the front as the front washing out is in most cases a situation like yours where by the time you realize it happened its over ..

So Sorry about that .. but you did great ... im glad your ok .. could been worse .. You coulda washed into that bus and sucked underneath it. Just Sayin

HappyHighwayman · 04-13-2012, 01:03 PM

I've been less afraid of riding in the rain since getting a bike with ABS but that will only save me in very specific conditions. I've decided to avoid commuting on heavy rain days. 18/20 miles of my commute is highway though.

Solo-Six · 04-13-2012, 01:22 PM

Rain riding is so sketch ... Even when I race i use Dunlop Race rain tires VERY SOFT COMPOUND and Siped for rain .. DOT tires are not designed for heavy rain use

TurboTiger · 04-13-2012, 01:52 PM

Glad to see you weren't seriously injured. Were you on your front brakes before the bike went down? Using the rear brakes at all?

HappyHighwayman · 04-13-2012, 02:01 PM

It was likely all front braking. I saw the yellow light, grabbed the brake, felt no traction, slipped before I could do anything about it.

I know we're supposed to use both brakes but I've lost the habit except for emergency braking.

russ69 · 05-11-2012, 08:24 PM

Just to be clear. That's not a high side or a low side. A high side is when the bike regains traction and throws you off the bike. A low side is when the rear loses traction and you slip off the inside.
You tucked the front. That's a hard way to fall. Everything is fine then before you know it, your hands are empty. The key is to get the weight to transfer before you apply too much brake. Take the extra time to get the front to dive before you apply more pressure.

HappyHighwayman · 05-14-2012, 09:33 AM

Yeah wasn't sure what to call it at the time.

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03-21-2012, 09:29 PM	#46
HappyHighwayman Ace of Knaves Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Francisco Motorcycles: 2012 BMW F800GS Name: Jordan	I probably did grab too much brake but it's hard to remember at this time how it all went down. I might adjust the camera in the future to see my hands.

03-22-2012, 12:25 PM	#47
kangaroo Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: bay area, ca Motorcycles: 04 r1, 94 900rr Name:	a couple things for future consideration when riding in the wet. Don't ride on the first day of the rain as the oil and grease and all the other slippery stuff is brought up to the surface. Give it a day or 2 before venturing out. Some useful techniques might be to cross train on dirt or mountain bike to practice how the bike feels with less grip. Recommend: grippier tires and lower air pressure soften up the suspension use more rear brake ride more loose and relaxed give the tire more time to find grip

04-13-2012, 01:01 PM	#49
Solo-Six Late Apex Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Carmichael, CA Motorcycles: 2008 GSXR 1000- 2006 R6 WMRRA Novice & Trackday Addict Name: Jeremy	I would say you were riding the oil streak .. Hit too much front brake .. Being from washington and racing WMRRA . We race in the rain .. I use alot less front brake in the rain and more rear brake .. You will find the rear washing out is easier to recover from than the front as the front washing out is in most cases a situation like yours where by the time you realize it happened its over .. So Sorry about that .. but you did great ... im glad your ok .. could been worse .. You coulda washed into that bus and sucked underneath it. Just Sayin

04-13-2012, 01:03 PM	#50
HappyHighwayman Ace of Knaves Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Francisco Motorcycles: 2012 BMW F800GS Name: Jordan	I've been less afraid of riding in the rain since getting a bike with ABS but that will only save me in very specific conditions. I've decided to avoid commuting on heavy rain days. 18/20 miles of my commute is highway though.

04-13-2012, 01:22 PM	#51
Solo-Six Late Apex Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Carmichael, CA Motorcycles: 2008 GSXR 1000- 2006 R6 WMRRA Novice & Trackday Addict Name: Jeremy	Rain riding is so sketch ... Even when I race i use Dunlop Race rain tires VERY SOFT COMPOUND and Siped for rain .. DOT tires are not designed for heavy rain use

04-13-2012, 01:52 PM	#52
TurboTiger Rookie Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belmont Motorcycles: 2003 Suzuki SV605s, 2012 Ducati Diavel Name: James	Glad to see you weren't seriously injured. Were you on your front brakes before the bike went down? Using the rear brakes at all?

04-13-2012, 02:01 PM	#53
HappyHighwayman Ace of Knaves Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Francisco Motorcycles: 2012 BMW F800GS Name: Jordan	It was likely all front braking. I saw the yellow light, grabbed the brake, felt no traction, slipped before I could do anything about it. I know we're supposed to use both brakes but I've lost the habit except for emergency braking.

05-11-2012, 08:24 PM	#54
russ69 Taking The Crest test. Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SoCal Chapter Motorcycles: MB5 Turbo Name: Russ	Just to be clear. That's not a high side or a low side. A high side is when the bike regains traction and throws you off the bike. A low side is when the rear loses traction and you slip off the inside. You tucked the front. That's a hard way to fall. Everything is fine then before you know it, your hands are empty. The key is to get the weight to transfer before you apply too much brake. Take the extra time to get the front to dive before you apply more pressure.

05-14-2012, 09:33 AM	#55
HappyHighwayman Ace of Knaves Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Francisco Motorcycles: 2012 BMW F800GS Name: Jordan	Yeah wasn't sure what to call it at the time.