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My first.....I'm not a virgin anymore...

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GregWantsYZFun

GregWantsYZFun

The GOJO rides!!!!
Joined
Mar 2, 2011
Location
McKinleyville, CA
Moto(s)
Yamaha YZF600R (my Geisha) :-)
Name
Greg
Well Gang, I'm here to tell you I just experienced my first 'crash'. A low-side on Hwy 36, at a nice, tight, descending right-hand turn. Rated at 15 MPH, I think. I was third in a group of 5, had braked to appropriate speed, body in position, and looking into my turn. Lean angle felt good, and was just about to slowly 'twist the wrist', when suddenly no bike under me. It was surreal. As I was sliding, I was mad and thinking 'this gear really works'. I felt no sliding prior too the slip. It was a cool day, and the ride had not been agro, the tire temps may be a factor. In a twist of fate, 3 of us on the ride just finished Keith Code on Monday/Tuesday. As you look at the pics, the only thing I can think of is that the white/fog line totally let me go. I had apex-ed the turn, and was tight inside, but totally did not expect it to let go like that. All damage is cosmetic, and we rode home. I feel fine, no soreness at all, and am rather glad to have my first one behind me. Also that I was with friends who are all more experienced than I. Already discussed among ourselves was positioning in that turn, no so close to the apex, and tire temp.
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How long had you been riding before the crash?

What would you do differently next time?
 
As said earlier, how long had you been riding (were your tires warm), and also did you take you line correctly? From the looks of it, it looks like you cut in a little too deep (if you hit the fog line).
 
According to his profile:

Biography
Greetings. Been riding for about 2 years now, and have raked up 21K miles on my first bike. I found a 2001 Yamaha YZF600R, and have fallen in love with it.
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SNsMoto said:
According to his profile:
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How long had he been riding since the most recent stop? Were his tires warm or cold? The duration of his riding career does not answer that question.
 
GregWantsYZFun said:
Lean angle felt good, and was just about to slowly 'twist the wrist', when suddenly no bike under me. It was surreal. As I was sliding, I was mad and thinking 'this gear really works'. I felt no sliding prior too the slip. It was a cool day, and the ride had not been agro, the tire temps may be a factor. In a twist of fate, 3 of us on the ride just finished Keith Code on Monday/Tuesday. As you look at the pics, the only thing I can think of is that the white/fog line totally let me go. I had apex-ed the turn, and was tight inside, but totally did not expect it to let go like that.
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Looking at the bold above, were you getting the throttle rolled on as soon as you wanted to?
 
Any chance you hit the white and slipped? Looking at marks it looks like that was the point it let go but I dont' know, I'm also a noob to riding but that's my look at the pic's/info and question.

I also ask cause in my limited riding experience, paint scares the hell out of me. Racing cars, avoid the paint when your pushing the limit.

On bikes, and not even racing or pushing limits, I avoid the paint like it's the plague. Twice I've hit it and got real uncomfortable with it's reaction.
 
We'd probably been back on the road for?? 15-20 minutes after lunch. Outside temps and road temps were cool with some snow still on side of road. I don't think temps were really up to snuff. And, I apex-ed to sharply, and was right on the fog line. Really didn't think it would let go like that, but more like a 'tar snake', slip a bit and grab. I mean day before we were shredding to the coast and back, and the gravel was abundant. I had NO warning.
 
When was the last time you set your tire pressures, and what did you set them to?
 
Tires warm up in 15 or 20 minutes if they're going to warm up at all. Even if they don't it's the rider's responsibility to account for it. Cold tires are a red herring in these crash discussions, IMHO.

Bringing us back to Andy's question above, as well as line choice.
 
You're lucky no one was coming the other way... the poor driver would have been traumatized after they ran you over. Not to mention the damage you might have done to their car. Also, the quicker you pick the bike up, the better. You want to minimize the chance of getting a bunch of motor oil into the intake track (through the crankcase vent system), and fuel into the evap. system, and possible battery acid leaking out of the battery (not too likely). Plus, a CHP could give you a ticket for crashing if they came upon the scene while your bike was still on it's side and off the road.
 
Oh it was such a slow speed, I never crossed into other lane, far from it. Bike did since it was a descending pitch, but I got up and boogied to the inside. Buddy was following, and just said to self, 'oh look what happened, lets go around'.
 
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GregWantsYZFun said:
... And, I apex-ed to sharply, and was right on the fog line. Really didn't think it would let go like that, but more like a 'tar snake', slip a bit and grab. I mean day before we were shredding to the coast and back, and the gravel was abundant. I had NO warning.
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This, combined perhaps with a little overconfidence created by your Superbike school just a few days earlier, sounds like the problem to me. Bad juju will happen when you encounter painted features while leaned over, especially if it's a bit cool and/or damp. The fog line (paint) has very little grip compared to the pavement. Clean up your lines and stay off that stuff!
 
GregWantsYZFun said:
... Rated at 15 MPH, I think. I was third in a group of 5, had braked to appropriate speed, body in position, and looking into my turn. Lean angle felt good, and was just about to slowly 'twist the wrist', when suddenly no bike under me. It was surreal. As I was sliding, I was mad and thinking 'this gear really works'. I felt no sliding prior too the slip. It was a cool day, and the ride had not been agro, the tire temps may be a factor...
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You may want to examine the time you begin to throttle out.
How upright was your bike at the time?
Did you think you may have open and closed the throttle trying to adjust to being close to the fog line?
Do you think there was a way for you to save the slip?
 
as far as saving the slip, no. It was instant! one milisecond feeling good and comfy, next sliding. Lean angle felt good, looking into and through turn, no brakes at all. The more I think of it, the more I'm sure it was that fog line, with not optimum tire temp. For sure will stay the F**K off those lines
 
If you were off the gas when you hit the fog line, would that make it more likely that you'd lose traction at the front?
 
I was not on the gas yet, maybe just starting to apply slowly, and it sure felt like the rear slipped out.
As for going to the school just prior, sure it instilled some confidence, but not on this turn. I was taking this one mellowly. Friends were right in front and behind, so not in that mentality at all. The gang rode Hwy 1 from Leggett to the coast just the day before, and Hyper and I were really shredding that strech of road. If Code was riding at 95%, and Hwy 1 the day before in the 80%, this was like a 40-50% turn. Just blows me away that it happened.
 
GregWantsYZFun said:
I was not on the gas yet, maybe just starting to apply slowly, and it sure felt like the rear slipped out.
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Only you know what it felt like, but your description sounded like losing the front. When you lose the rear and lowside, you normally feel the rear swing out before you hit the ground. As you fall, you spin a little bit (ass swinging towards the outside of the turn) and your hip and leg usually hit the ground before the rest of your body. When you lose the front, the sensation is often that the motorcycle suddenly wasn't there. Your body usually has nearly the same orientation it did in the turn as you hit the ground and it feels like you drop onto your side, with the arm and shoulder often hitting first.

How did your crash feel in comparison to the two scenarios above?
 
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