PSA - Practice your panic stops!

[Reiterin]

At about 6:15 this morning I was headed north on 880 in the #1 lane traveling about 75 mph. Just after the Tennyson on-ramp a car in lane #4 merged into a semi in lane #3. The semi then swerved across lanes 2 and 1 and ended up against the median, crushing the 2 cars in front of me in the process, and blocking lanes 1 and 2.

I routinely practice panic stops but today was the first time I did one at highway speeds. Luckily I managed to stop in time but I doubt it would have ended well for me otherwise. I know, cool story bro (sis?)...

My point in telling this is to remind everyone that there are times when swerving isn't an option, so practice your panic stops!!

 

[ThumperX]

Good job! Panic stops are amongst the most important skills to be able to pull of with out any thought.

 

[The]

I can only imagine how scary it would be seeing a semi swerve into your path, not to mention taking out cars with it and creating a road block in front of you.

 

[Ant]

Great thread! Takes maybe a minute or two per week to do some panic stop practicing that can save your life.

 

[rritterson]

The semi then swerved across lanes 2 and 1 and ended up against the median, crushing the 2 cars in front of me in the process, and blocking lanes 1 and 2.

Dude, semi driving man, just let the car merging into you just bounce right back off. You might take some damage, but it's a hell of a lot better than plowing through two cars and bashing the median!

 

[rodr]

Anyone got a recipe for "practicing panic stops"? It's not at all clear what that means. If it means figuring out how hard you can brake without locking up a wheel, then you're probably gonna lock it up a couple of times and maybe hurt yourself... and then what you've learned applies only to that particular surface on that day.

My suggestion would be to practice stopping within a (reasonably safe) prescribed distance at various speeds.

 

[afm199]

Just lay the bike down, get on top of it, and slide to a safe stop. Or jump over the obstruction just before you hit it. Easy.

 

[CoolBDPhenom03]

Just lay the bike down, get on top of it, and slide to a safe stop. Or jump over the obstruction just before you hit it. Easy.

Don't forget the obligatory front flip and roll when you land.

 

[Reiterin]

Dude, semi driving man, just let the car merging into you just bounce right back off. You might take some damage, but it's a hell of a lot better than plowing through two cars and bashing the median!

I know, right? It was a little crazy. I think the semi guy just panicked, and it was still pretty dark out, so maybe he was a little unaware or sleepy or ...

Anyone got a recipe for "practicing panic stops"?

For me it means being able to stop as quickly as I can without any notice and without locking up or grabbing too much of the front brake. I usually practice in a parking lot going 20-30 mph and I get someone else to give me a 'stop' signal. This method has worked well for me so far.

 

[slowblood]

Good thing you were texting with your left hand!

 

[ThumperX]

Personally I think you better know how to handle your bike when you do lock up brakes because it will happen.

 

[planegray]

Dude, semi driving man, just let the car merging into you just bounce right back off. You might take some damage, but it's a hell of a lot better than plowing through two cars and bashing the median!

+2

damn..


OP; congrat's on surviving THAT clusterfuck, may you survive them all

ps; buy a lottery ticket

 

[CoolBDPhenom03]

For me it means being able to stop as quickly as I can without any notice and without locking up or grabbing too much of the front brake. I usually practice in a parking lot going 20-30 mph and I get someone else to give me a 'stop' signal. This method has worked well for me so far.

That's exactly what they do at the MSF range.

 

[n8]

im actually amazed by how much front brake you can use before your tire locks.

 

[CoolBDPhenom03]

As most people have pointed out, you'll get your rear to lock up WAAAAAY before you get the front to.

 

[Ironbutt]

I totally, totally, disagree with this 'practice your panic stops' line of thought.

I mean TOTALLY disagree.. I couldn't disagree more.. If we were together I'd be talking over everyone saying NO, NO, NO!

 

[Alphonsis]

I totally, totally, disagree with this 'practice your panic stops' line of thought.

I mean TOTALLY disagree.. I couldn't disagree more.. If we were together I'd be talking over everyone saying NO, NO, NO!

What's your counterpoint then?

 

[woot]

Ugh.. I went over the front end practicing this. Bike landed on top of me and I ended up breaking my arm. I was going harder and harder on the breaks to try and find the limit and it was about my 10th stop or so. Sure enough, braked hard, rear came up and the next thing I remember was being tossed.
Speed: 20mph in my friends col-de-sac.
I had full gear on, which I'm glad I wear because the bike landed on my back.

Ever since then I've been scared to brake heavily. Even at stop signs and stuff I take a LONG time to brake. I know I need to get out there and practice again, but lordy am I fearful of it.

 

[Ironbutt]

What's your counterpoint then?

How is practicing emergency stopping helping you adjust to situations as they evolve on the road?

Is stopping as fast as possible your only option? Why? What else can you do?

I never, and I mean never, stop on the highway if I can help it. Stopping is my last resort, right up there with bailing off a moving bike. I freaking hate emergency braking. It's a crap shoot..

SLOWING down(braking) is a transitional movement.. it's something you do and then you do something else.. like add throttle, swerving, or a combination of all the things.

Here's my advise to all you new riders.. Don't let your mind 'stop' on the stopping.. keep your mental thought process moving along, give yourself more options. Slow, then gas? Then swerve? Then shift? Then slow some more? Shift again? What? Do something, ANYTHING but stop.

 

[SlideSF]

How is practicing emergency stopping helping you adjust to situations as they evolve on the road?

Is stopping as fast as possible your only option? Why? What else can you do?

I never, and I mean never, stop on the highway if I can help it. Stopping is my last resort, right up there with bailing off a moving bike. I freaking hate emergency braking. It's a crap shoot..

SLOWING down(braking) is a transitional movement.. it's something you do and then you do something else.. like add throttle, swerving, or a combination of all the things.

Here's my advise to all you new riders.. Don't let your mind 'stop' on the stopping.. keep your mental thought process moving along, give yourself more options. Slow, then gas? Then swerve? Then shift? Then slow some more? Shift again? What? Do something, ANYTHING but stop.

I have to agree with all of this. Emergency stopping isn't a separate thing in itself. It's an extreme form of something much more useful: braking.

Braking, swerving, accelerating, and above all awareness are all tools which help you treat your motorcycle as if it were an extension of your body.

I never practice emergency stops (well, maybe a little at low speed when I first put on a new tire, just to test it out), but the very few times I have had to resort to a full on power stop I found my reflexes and my ability to balance front and rear grip was right where it should be. That's because I feel attuned to all aspects of the bike and it's hold on the road at all times. If I don't, I don't ride.